with national interests and national characteristics. These are all earthly conditions; nnd in these conditions is laid the basis for collective prayer, for public and united worship. 'l'he man that refuses to unite in public worship is breaking away from the claims of his common humanity; refusing to recognize the conditions under which God has placed him; and withholding the sympathy which his fellow-creatures have a right to demand from him. Further, it may be shown that in meeting for public or universal worship, we do but follow the indications that have been given us of the Divine will. In Jewish history great importance attached to large national gatherings for acts of worship. From the tirr.e of the great meeting between the Mounts Ebal and Gerizim down to the times of Messiah, there were three great religious meetings of the people every year, besides occasional special gatherings. The Jewish service included praise and prayer, in which the whole people might unite. The best men, such as David, turned from the joys of private devotion to the yet higher joys of God's house and worship. Our Lord set the example of private prayer, hut tbe evangelists are careful to remind us that "he went, as he was wont, into the synagogue on the sahbath day." And the apostles urge the early Christians "not to forsake the assembling of themselves together." • II. IN NEGLECTING PUBLIC WORSHIP WE HAVE TO DELUDE OURSELVES BY MAKING VEBY UNWORTHY EXCUSES. To put our reasons out into the li11:ht, to get them fairly expressed, is to make us feel ashamed of them. Some incline to say," Your worship is not intended for us; it is meant only for those whom you call 8pecially Christians, and we do not call ourselves by that name." Our worshipping arrangements have ce1tainly been made on this principle; but the worship of God is for men, all men, everywhere. Whether men agree with our ideas or not, let them come and worship the God that made them, clothes them, feeds them, care8 for them, loves them, and would save them from their sins. Perhaps most of those who slay away from worship do so in sheer heedlessness; they yield to the indifference which settles down on men who are simply living to self and sin. The real evil is that sinrul man is indisposed to worship; the only shrine he cares for is the shrine of ease and self- indulgence. We must try to make God more rtal to men, and so get the persuasion of his love as the constraint, urging men to offer to him their" gold, frankincense, and myrrh." We must try to make the services of our sanctuaries more suitable fur tho expression of the universal dependence and the universal praise. Christian worship should be the best possible medium for lifting up the hearts of men, as men, unto God; the best utterance of the universal sense of the Divine Creator-hood. It should be man's acknowledgment of God, our God, the ono Go,l, the holy God, the redeem- ing God. It is "he that hath made us, and not we ourselves." It is he that "re- deemeth our life from destruct.ion." It is even he "that s .. ut his Son into the world, that we might live through him," 11 Let 1111 kneel," let UB all kneel together, 11 before the Lord our Maker,"-R. T. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH.
VOLUME IL CHAPTER XXXVL TIJIDI& PA.GB
TRl':HB PAOE The God in whom we trust 28 Wise e.nd Foolish Trust 6 Righteousness in Prayer 28 The Fe.Jae Boe.stings of tho Wicked The Intoxice.tion of Success, etc. 29 confuted by the Event ... 6 Root e.nd Fruit, or Character in its Silence the Best Answer to many an Completeness ... 30 Argument 7 Returning on our We.y 31 Hezekiah and the Assyrian 8 Carrying Troubles to God 31 The Broken Staff ... 9 Responsibility of Pro.yer-Lrnders 32 Contemptuousness 10 God's Message to the Troubled 33 Treacherous Trusts 10 The God of all Kingdoms ... 34 The lnvite.tion of the Enemy 11 " Holy One of Iarael" 3! Right Attitude in Times ot' Threutc11- God's Agents o.re never beyond hL3 ing 12 Restrainings 35 Se.tire on our Human Confidences 12 " The Zeal of the Lord" 35 Mistakes concerning him whom we Humiliating Judgments 35 trust ... 13 Cle.ims to spee.k for God 14 CHAPTER XXXVIII. Security of Stable Government H Insult offered to our God 15 The Duty of Men, in View of Dee.th, The Strength of Silence 1G to set their House in Order 40 The Power of Prayer 40 Sickness e.nd Recovery of Hezekiah ... 41 CHAPTER XXXVII. The Song of Hezekiah 43 Spiritue.1 Advice in Time of Need not Hezekiah's Prayer hcurd H to be despised, even by Gree.t Kings 23 The Grief of Old Age 45 Te.king our Cross to God, e.nd casting Music in the Heart 45 e.11 our Co.re upon him 2-l A Vision of Death 4G Fe.ith neither Blind to seemingly Human Life; the Kindness of God Adverse Fe.cts, nor Chary of ad- and the Wisdom of Me.n ... 47 mitting them ... 21 Health and Sickness 47 Hezekie.h's Resources 25 The Great Disclosure 48 Ce.ution against Fear 26 The Life of our Life 4!l Our Highest Solicitude 27 Parente.I Obligation 1U ll 1NDE:X.