correspondence between the feelings of onr heart, and the offerings of our lips —
[If, for instance, we confess our sins before him, it is not sufficient that our words be humble ; our spirit must be humble too, and a holy penitential sorrow must fill our hearts. If we present our petitions before him, it is not sufficient that we ask for such things as are good and desirable, but we must feel an ardent desire after them in our souls, and plead for them with an importunity suited to the importance of them. So also, if we return thanks to God, we must not rest in unmeaning compliments, but adore and magnify our God from our inmost souls. If there be not this correspondence between our feelings and our words, what " truth" is there in us? Our services are no better than a solemn mockery, that must offend, rather than please, the Majesty of heaven.]
Such sincerity the very nature of God requires —
[" He is a Spirit," that pervades all space. He is equally present with all his creatures; nor is there a thought in the heart of any person in the universe, that is not " naked and open before him." Were he able to behold our actions only, he might be pleased with our services, though unaccompanied with any devout affection: but when " he searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins," and " weigheth" with infallible accuracy " our very spirits," how can he listen to our heartless addresses with any satisfaction? Verily such prayers must be, as he declares they are, an utter " abomination unto him." When some under the Jewish dispensation brought to him " the blind, and the lame, and the sick, for sacrifice," he appealed to them, " Whether it was not evil?" " Go," says he, " offer these now unto your Governor; will he be pleased with you, or accept your persons'5?" What then must he say to those who think to impose upon him by prayers which proceed " from the lips only, whilst the heart is far from himf?" Assuredly he will say, " Bring no more such vain oblations," ye hypocrites, for " in vain do ye worship me :" " your most solemn services are an iniquity " which I utterly abhor, and " I am weary to bear themg."]
Unite with me then, whilst I make your prayers a
subject of strict inquiry —
[It is to be feared that many of you, who would yet wish to be thought good Christians, Hve without even the form of prayer. Look back only to this very morning ; look back to the past week ; look back throughout your whole lives ; and see, whether you have ever spent one single hour in secret
e Mai. i. 8. ' Matt. xv. 7—9. e Isai. i. 11—14.