III. CHRIST TELLS us WHEN AND WHERE WE ARE TO WORSRIP. Upon these points his lessons differ from the maxims and the practices of those who follow tho narrow ordinances of superstition. For ~·hercas men have usually set aptut special places and sp~cial seasons as peculiarly suitable for worship, ns peculiarly acceptoble to God the Lord Christ speaks on these subjects with a breadth and freedom quite superhu~an, I. .At all times, irrespective of human ordinances and customs. Thora are special sea- sons when it is well, when it is in accordance with the practice of the Church, and even with the authority of the priruitive:Cbristians, to offer stated, solemn, and spiritual sacri- fices. But both the precepts and the example of Jesus assure us that we are not con- fined to such times, but that there is no season when sincere worship is not acceptable to God. 2. In every place worship may be presented to the omnipresent Creator. No longer on the heights of Gcrizim or in the temple of Jerusalem, i.e. exclusively and specially, is the Eternal Father worshipped. Wherever God's people meet toaetber in a devout and lowly attitude of mind, and under the guidance of the Spirit of G~d, there is a consecrated place. Nay, the scene of retired and solitary worship is holy; for a worshipping nature and a worshipped Deity are together there, IV. CHRIST TELLS us WHY WE ARE TO WORSHIP. 1. One reason is to be sought in ourselves-in our own nature; we have been made capable of this lofty exercise. This is a prerogative denied to the inferior creatures of God. We live beneath the high possibilities of our being, if we restrain worship and draw not near unto the Father of our spirits. 2. Another reason is to be found in God himself; his nature and character are such as to command and to invite our worship. Our heavenly Father cannot be known by any who a.re capable of right judgment and right feeling without appearing to such deserving of the lowliest and most fervent adoration. 3. God seeks believing worshippers. An amazing proof both of condescension and compassion I How can we withhold from God that which he, the Almighty Lord, deigns to seek from us ?-T, Ver. 23.-The Divine search. That we should seek God seems most natural and proper. Poor, ignorant, sinful, helpless creatures that we are, we should be insensible and infatuated if we did not seek him who alone can supply our wants, pardon our errors, and secure our happiness. But that God should seek us seems passing strange, This is like the king seeking the rebel, the philosopher seeking the boor. Yet we havt- here an instance of the troth that " God's ways are not our ways." I. WnoM Gon SEEKS. 1. Spiritual natures are the object of bis quest. To him nothing is more precious than the souls of men. 2. They whom he seeks are his children. When once we realize the fatherhood of God, the difficulty disappears in the wa.y of believing that the Eternal can concern himself with such a quest as this. II. WHAT Gon SEEKS. It is the trne worship of his people, his children, that the Father desires. He seeks : 1. Sincere worship; that which is not of the lip merely, but of the heart. 2. Intelligent worship; that which is not superstitious or formal, 01 traditional, but such as proceeds from a nature convinced of the Divine existence, and appreciative of the Divine attributes. 3. Sympathetic worship; rejoicing in the faith- fulness, the righteousness, the love, of that adorable Being who is justly praised and honoured. 4. Consistent worship ; i.e. such as is supported by a life and conduct truly harmonious with the langnage and the sentiments of devotion. IIL How GoD SEEKS. The Omnipotent can be at no loss to devise means by which bis purposes may be brought to pass. Men, indeed, often seek what is dear to them in e. manner which defeats their own aims; but it cannot be so with the All-wise and Almighty. 1. God seeks true worshippers by manifesting himself. If be be not known, or be not known aright, those ignorant of him cannot render suitable e.nd accept- able worship. One great purpose of revelation, and especially of the Incarnation, ii- this-that God may so be seen and known that he may be duly glorified and served. 2. By removing the obstacles which prevent sinful men from worshipping aright their holy Crea.tor and Lord. The great work of redemption must be regarded ltB the chief e.nd most ~irable method by which the King of glory seeks to secure the homage and loyalty of hie sinful subjects. 3. By the actual invitations of his Word, Inasmuch as he is infinitely the Superior,anyadvances must come from him. And the commands such as," Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only she.It thou ee"e," are intended to press upon ua what is his good pleasure; whilst the invitations suoh as, ou. 1v. 1-64.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 193
"0 como, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker," aro ,losignc<l to encourage us to lay aside our fears, and to worship him "in the beauty of holiness." IV. WHY Gon BEEKS. It is sometimes objected to Christian worship that it assumes a Being delighting in his own praises, and so partaking of the infirmity of human vanity. It is said that if even wise men o.re above this weakness, it id dishonouring to the Eternal to ascribe to him any desire to de.light himself in the adoration of bis creatures, whose praise.<, after all, may be very litrle worthy of bis acc•·ptance. But ir is a misapprehensiun to artribute suc:b littlerH·ss tu Jehovah. He" 11,hab,teth the praises of Israel;" but he simply claims what it is right for him to have, an,t pr,,tit., Lile for men to offer. To withhold worship from the All-worshipful would evince the ~rossest insensibility and ingratitude. And experience shows that there is no attitude, no exercise, of the human spirit so fitted as is worship to exalt and refine the affections, an<l to purify and dignily the whole nature.-T.