Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-11-18
OLD WORSHIP
OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERMON
A Vigorous Discourse Delivered by
Rev. @. l. Palmer

Kingston. y. Y.-The following cru.
dite and eloquent sermon ON Ancient
Worship" was preached sunday in the
Reformed Church OF the Comforter by
the pastor. the Rev. c. l.. Palmer. Or.
Palmer said:
History diScioscs hat the worship
OF the New Testament is not the crea-
ton OF the later diSpensatiOn. but is
the result OF a long and complex pro-
cess 81 evolution. All we know re-
Specting the time of its inception is
that az is as old as the human family.
which confirms the belief that religion
and life are iuscparable
Three principal elements constitute
religion. worship. doctrine and life.
Worship is the attitude OF the indivic-
ual or nation toward it's deity. Doc
trinc is the abstract formation OF truth
into definitions and conception. Life
is the conduct that Is presupposcd 90
conform 20 ones belief Which shall
be more prominent is determined by
the spirit Of the age.
Since religion is both natural and SUI
peruatural we must look beyond the
former for the channels OF revelation.
All creation is one harmonious doxol-
oEy 90 the Creator. but His works do
not give us an the information re-
quired for She true Worship OF God.
Accordingly God has appointed certain
ones 90 communicate His will The
prophets We're class chosen 20 in-
Struct the people in the character and
requirements OF God Their teachings
are called the word" OF God. Saces
uttered proverbs. riddles and dialogues
while priests gave instruction iu the
form of law. which recognized no dis
tinct.on between civic and religious
life
Notwithstanding forms and habits
have undergone many radical changes.
there are certain features OF worship
that remain essentially the same.
There has always been certain place
dedicated 20 the service OF God. With
us 10 is the church. but in the early
times 30 was the temple. synagogue.
tabernacle. altar or grove.
a certain number 90 mon are dodi-
Gated On the work OF the Christian min
istry. but i'm the earlier days there
We're priests and prophets who labored
FOR the elevation of mankind. AZ n
still earlier time the father 90 family
or head enc ~ q tribe or clan conduct
I ed The worship
S1crincial offerings have been dis
/ continued among Christians. because
the Lord Jesus Christ has been sacri-
feed once for au. 10 was not SO in
+ tho distant past. IL was tlCn hc-
T levei that the fellowship between God
I and Ills people was fostercd hv sacri-
I hce. The occasion was not unlike q
+ social meal BOD which the god of th.
/ clan or family Dartook of the repas'
/ with its members. While the original
/ idea OF communion with The deity WAS
4 paramount. sacrifice DID not assume
. its fuil religious significance until per
F fected iu the temple ritual Other
4 acts 90 worship. such as prayer and
. the vow have ever occupied au im
+ portant place as we'll as music. and al
times dreams. sorcery and dancing.
Worship presupposos q time for th'
7 service ~ God In the remote past
. when the people lived a wandering
. lie. DO was not possible 70 have "a par
f ticuiar time and place. ont when they
f settled down to agricultural lie tlre'
+ fea>ts were instituted. one in IN.
spring. another in the early summei
and the third in the autumn. CORE
I spending to our modern Easter. pcnte
cost and thanksgiving.
Worship without hymns and songs Is
inconceivablc. II we were deprive,
90 some Of our fayorite hymns 60 woui,
destroy one OF the most potent motive
OF worship The psalms were just q
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