The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-18
The Essentials of Public Wor-
ship.


emblem suggests, that all offerings on
Gods altar should be at once simple and
sincere. And it applies with ten-fold
force to the service of the Christian sane
tuary, and the worship of that God who
is Spirit, and seeketh only such as wor-
ship Him in spirit and in truth.
The essential parts of Christian wor-
ship are very few and simple. They are
Prayer and Praise, the reading and
preaching of Gods Word, and the use of
the two saeraments, Baptism and the
Lords Supper. Each of these has its
proper place, and each one is exceeding
ly simple in its original design and use.
The ambition of men has indeed distorted
and amphfed the forms of some of these,
until the formalities not merely of Juda-
ism but heathenism have been adopted
under Christian name. The apostles
and early Christians would not know
where they were, if they could be raised
from the dead, and led into some church
es called by their names
For nearly 800 years they worshipped
without any church buildings at all
Their services were held in private
houses or at such other places as might
be convenient. These were enough for
their simple rites. No complicated cere-
monies, no spectacular shows, or childish
nummeries were devised and cherished
amid such scenes of primitive, heroic
faith. But when Christianity emerged
from the perils Of matyrdom, and sud
denly assembled the throne of Constan-
tine, with popularity and worldly power
came weaker faith and greater pomp.
At length pure religion was well-nigh
lost in gaudy ritualism.
The Reformation, in a large measure.
scourged the trafickers in superstitious
shows out Of Gods temple, yet not alto
gether. The Church of Calvin adopted
the rule: " Nothing but what the Word
OF God approves" The Church of Luth
er and some others adopted quite anoth-
er rule: Nothing that the Word of God
condemns" Between these two, there
was broad territory of matters not men
toned In the Word of God at all. This
underlined territory, ritualists have ever
since been busy to fill up with works of
art and mans device 1t is the battle
ground between high and low churchism
in all their phases in different denomina-
IL.
In their zeal against superstition and
ritualism probably some of the reformers
went too far, and abolished some things
which ought to remain, but in its proper
application the rule of Calvin was un-
tory 81 tt55 tie 5aRsFFGfHp G and in the his
adopted it have been distinguished above
all others as Christians of robust in
tellect, manly faith, healthy piety, and
useful lives. The nearer the sonl il
brought to God in simple and direct com.
mGIunlon,, with only the mediation of
GJhrlst, the instruction of the Word, and
the grace of the Holy Ghost, the purer
will be its piety and the more acceptable
its worship.
But service may be very simple, vet
utterly devoid Of spiritual character
1t may be very plain Journalism, or a
bit OF selt-rlghteous morality The Ma
hometan abhors idols, and elaborate cere-
MONIES at the appointed season, he fasts;
at the proper hour, he falls on his knees
ana prays, wherever he may be. But
there is no spirituality in it. So in
Christian churchs, men may 90 thronob
forms of worship which are not only base,
but dead. ''
The spirituality of worship must be
adjusted to the great spiritual doctrines
Of the gospel. That strips away all sun
erstltlous generation for the temple. the
priesthood, or the ceremonies of Gerizin
or Jerusalem, Of Rome or Canterbury
and says,-as Jesus said to the woman Of
Samaria, =" God is a Spirit, and thew
that worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth" The doctrines in
volved in our worship, are intensely
spiritual Our guilt and helplessness,
our redemption through the atonement Of
Jesus Christ alone, our regeneration by
the Holy Ghost, our faith. penitence and
love, or conformity of heart and life to
Jesus Christ all these are spiritual doc.
trines, which go through and through our
being.
They appeal not to fancy, not to sen,
tlmentalism not to mere aesthetic taste
but they gosdown into the profoundest
depths Of our spiritual nature, and thew
lift us up to the heights of our immortal
hopes before the throne of God. Every
part Of our worship ought to glorify
Christ. We rightly honor the Father
only when we honor the Son, the one
only Mediator, the one only Saviour.
Rightly knowing, loving and honoring
Him, we shall be indeed such worsbip.
Pers as alone the Father seeketh to wor-