to the Lord for help or mercy : and an intimation was given, that, even if they should " return to God with all their heart and all their soul," it would not suffice, unless they also " directed their prayers towards that place b." From hence, as well as from the examples of their holiest prophets0, they were led to suppose, that no prayer would be accepted, but such as should be offered in that precise manner. There was indeed under that very dispensation ample evidence that that conclusion was erroneous : for God had said, " The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool : where is the house that ye build unto me ? and where is the place of my rest ? To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my wordd." Still, how- ever, this matter was not generally understood, till our blessed Lord proclaimed, that Jehovah was a Spirit, and therefore not confined to any place, but pervading all space, and accessible to all who desired to draw nigh unto him. He no longer now was to be approached with mere bodily service, or in carnal ordinances, but " in spirit," as opposed to the one, and " in truth," as opposed to the other : and they who so approached to him should never be permitted to " seek his face in vain."]
In this view it is of importance to ns also —
[We are apt to lay an undue stress on externals ; and to imagine, that a peculiar measure of acceptance is to be found at the table of the Lord, more than at any other time or place. (Let me not be here misunderstood, as though I would undervalue the ordinance of the Lord's Supper : for it is our bounden duty to commemorate our Lord's death in that ordinance ; and from a spiritual and believing participation of the bread and wine, we may undoubtedly expect the richest benefits.) But from a mere formal attendance on that ordinance we receive no more good, than from a similar attendance on the common services of the Church. It is to the heart alone that God looks : if that be not right towards him, no service whatever can be " acceptable in his sight:" but, if that be under the influence of penitence and faith, its offerings, under whatever circum- stances they be presented, shall surely come up with accep- tance before him.]
That this truth may be more fully brought before you, I shall consider the text,
II. As an instruction suited to all times and circum- stances—
The thing which God expects, is, that there be a
b 1 Kings viii. 44, 48. c Ps. xxviii. 2. Dan. vi. 10.
d Isai. Ixvi. 1, 2.