V, THE EXPilESSION AND FORM OF WORSHIP MUST VARY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL WORSHIPPER AND HIS OIROUMBTANCES. It is narrow bigotry to insist upon one form of spiritual service or of uttered adoration and prayer. ,There are occasions upon which worship may be spontaneous and ejaculatory; and other occasions upon which it may be elaborate, artistic, and protracted. The worship of the individual who is momentarily touched by what is beautiful in nature, or impressive in the Word of God, is as acceptable as the liturgy of a cathedral service, or as the fervent service of praise in which expression may be given to a nation's gratitude for signal favours. VJ. THE SEASONS FOR WORSHIP ARE ROTH OCCASIONAL AND CONTINUOUS. The text speaks of the "new moons" and the "sa.bbaths" as opportunities for solemn and public services of devotion. Yet we read a little later of the daily offering. The truth is that there is no season when worship is unsuitable on the part oi man or unacceptable to God. Yet there is wisdom in the appointment both of regular and of special seasons and occasions of worship. None can worship God too much, or too reverently, or too fervently. " From every place beneath the skies Let the Creator's praise arise I Let the Redeemer's Name be sung In every land, by every tongue I " T. Ver. 11.-Feasts and solemnities. In all religions there are instituted festivals and public functions, which serve to manifest and to sustain the religious life of the community. This was especially the case with Judaism, which prescribed many stated solemnities. Even the Christian religion has its appoiuted sacraments, aud, in addition to these, which were instituted by the Divine Founder, the Church has at various periods set apart times and seasons for certain public observances, participation in which has been fonnd conducive to religious earnestness and vitality, as well as to ecolesiastical prosperity. I. RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND SOLEMNITms ARE JUSTIFIED AS HARMONIZING WITH THE VERY NATURE OF THE BUMAN MIND. It is not in human nature to proceed in one undeviating and monotonous course. Life is best lived when the regular and stated order of things is varied by occasional diversities. As in ordinary existence, so in the religious life, it is well that there should be variety, and that men should be invit8d to special engagements of a spiritual nature, whether of humiliation or of rejoicing, whether commemorative or anticipatory. Men do not cease to be men because they are Christians, and Christianity is not only compatible with, it is promoted by, special sacred festivals, fasts, and other observances. ll. RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND SOLEMNITIEt! ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE NATURE OF DIVINE INTERPOSITIONS WHICH ARE OCCASIONAL AND SPECIAL, The Jews had, in the course of their national history, experienced wonderful interventions of Divine meroy upon their behalf. And it is evident that the solemnities, which formed so beautiful a feature of the Jewish religion, were for the most part designed to celebrate the great things which God had done for his chosen people. The treatment of the nation by God had not been of a uniform and regular character; and it wns natuml that there should be o. correspondence between the national history nnd the natiounl religion, between what Jehovah had effected on behalf of his chosen people, and what that people did in acknowledgment of the Divine mercy. Similarly with our Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide; we celebrate the special mercy of God in the advent, the death, and the resurrection of our Saviour, and in the fulfilment of "the promise of the Father" in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Ill RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS AND SOLEMNITIES ARE JUSTIFIED IlY THE SUOOESSIV:U: GENERATIONS WHO NEED TO BE lllPRESSED BY THE BAME GREAT SPIRITUAL TRUTHS. With reference to the Jewish Passover, we are expressly assured that one purpose of its observance was to train the rising generation in the reverent memory of the signal favours of God. When the son of the household asked, " What mean ye by this ser- vice?" the answer was given that it commemorated the loving-kindness and faithfulness of the God of the Hebrews, who had delivered his chosen people from destruction and assured to them his lasting protection. How much more powerfully was such a lessou 438 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [olI. XLVI, 1-24.
taught by such ordinances than by words I The youthful mind is especially impressed by sacred solemnities, and by their observance provision is made that the attention of successive generations shall be directed to the glorious truth that God has visited and redeemed his people.-T.