The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-09-13

NOluen leAI- WIN
cend into the hill of the Lord!
Or who shall stand in his holy
place? He that hath clean hands,
and a. pure heart.-Psalm "a "a
The book of Isaiah has been
called "The Gospel of the Old
Testament" From At Of its TO
chapters there are quotations IN
the newsTestament. In his open
ing chapter the prophet contrasts
false and true worship.
REBELLION AGAINST GOD:
FALSE WORSHIP
DenunciatiOn of Sin IS aimed
at false worship which involves
rebellion against God. Cd A re-
ligion of formalitv is unaccept-
able to God and utterly, Valn'
The worshipers are actually, not
worshipers, but, even though l0yaI
residents and sanctimonious &C.
clesiastics of Jerusalem, may be
characterized as rulers Of wicked
Sodom and people of degenerate
GomOrrah. The sacrifices may
measure up to the letter OF me
law and even surpasS it IN multi
tude and magnificence. But The
burnt offerings of all the ANIMALS
designated as acceptable for sac
rifice. including rams, bulloeks,
lambs and he-goats, amount TO
nothing without the self-surrend-
er of him who makes the sacri!-
flee. The oblations also though
orthodox in their bloodless con-
tent and presented in prescribed
manner are vain without the
spirit of worship. Even the trag-
rant incense generally accompa-
nying the obiation is meaningless
unless it typifies the prayers
rising heavenward. The set times
for religious Observances maygre-
ceive punctiliOus attention: Inc
festival Of the new moon starting
every month: the sabbath every
week and the extra sabbathS on
festal occasions: the annual
feasts including Passover, Pentte-
cost, and Tabernacles; and the
great assemblies of the people
for alleged religious purposes. II
such obServances are bodily ana
external. it is Of no avail to claim
to come before Jehovah, to tram
pie through his courts, to make
the designated offerings and to
spread forth the hands to
heaven. The divine attitude to-
ward such pretense and hypocrisy
is strongly expressed. He delights
not in it. He is weary OF 1t. ne
hates it as an abomination: he
hides his eyes from it. tie re
fuses to hear a hypocrite. ~
But there is a religion of reality
II has first of all its negative
aspects. The worshiper must by
divine grace wash and be clear
in heart. Then he must put away
evil from before him as a course
of conduct and the goal of en-
deavor. And he must actually
cease to do that which is evil, VI
the positive side, he must learl
to do we'll, a lesson which car
only be taught by the Divine
Teacher and practiced with ms
aid. And when one learns to az
we'll he will seek that justice
which will give every one a fan
chance. He will extend the hant
of help to those who are Cypress
nd He will see that the father
less in their dependence are no
maltreated. He will take up the
cause of the widow and see thai
her rights are not taken away
but promoted for the common
welfare.
REASONING WITH GOD:
TRUE WORSHIP
Invitation to the Sinner is IN
cluded in true worship which in
wolves reasoning with God. IL,
There is the invitation to come
| No sinner is left alone and heip
! less in his sins. (2) There IS tn
invitation to reason. True re
I Iigion is the most rational course
open to men. (3) There is thu
invitation to pardon, purity ant
peace. Thus only can scarie
sins be washed into a whltenes
exceeding snow. Thus only ,cal
crimson inquitieS become as clear
as washed wool. (4) There Il
| the invitation to Willingness. Th'
saved are to serve; but they art