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Ritual. iugagr the nev the wh( completi the once this stati enraged. fulness a ality of t about thi tance for for makii First] of worsh service, t he says ( hy the m sacrifice, service "- tion' in pi sense ther way of CO whether y Ritual of t # w ♦ I J TRUE AND FALSE RITUAL. 'V*" SE&MOir I. RiL^^lt^"" f"^*" '•"''' '" y»" *« evening upoo Kitnal. It M a subject, whieh at the present day i, atlrL? -gagreat deal of attention. It is sp'oken o X: W ful2« * ^""'^ '''•^°''" ^* ^*' Poi'^t to it, with thank- service, the worship of the fc h s T^ ''°''.''""'"'" he says (ifom. ^i 1 \ « T M 5^^ '"' '"J"'"' "''en by the mere.™ of ci ..V'^'^*"'' J"" "■e-'efo'-e, brethren, sacrifice T! ;, ^° P"""" ye" "es a livinJ eacrioce, holy, acceptable to GnA mh:„u • "ving service"— ami ii.. , i '"™ " ^eur reasonable «o.i: praTetr;xtr„LT::rttrr"- :^;Tc:rti;T^,rr;T^t ^-^-- whether very ZLJ^' ^ ?"" "°^ '' ""y >». Rit„aIof.he\:!:Mr "' """" " "'"'"'"' " ''• Now with reference to Hitual, there seem to be fa the main three views, which I shall endeavojiir very briefly to describe. There is, however, a difficulty in doing this ; it is hard to describe any views other than one's own. It is easy to caricature others* opinions. This I have no wish to do. I shall try in as few words as possible, to give as far as I understand them — the principal views about the matter : — First, there are those who, like the Quakers, think that everything outward in worship is actually opposed to what is inward, and therefore should as far as possible be avoided. Secondly, there are others who willingly acknowledge that when persons unite for any common acts, certain rules and regulations ar« necessary for the preservation of order, and that this is as true of worship as of everything else ; therefore they say, some outward rules are necessary, but these are only matters of natural necessity and of human convenience ; at all events, the farthest they would go, is that they may tend to edification. In the third place, there are those who believe nothing connected with divine worship to be of small importance, that the slightest action therein performed has direct reference to God, and sLould be so thought of; and further they believe that there are certain principles which underlie all worship, and which, when rightly understood and acted upon will produce a true Ritual, not altogether unworthy of Him whom in our worship we endeavour to approach.* It is this last view that I shall try to bring before you and establish on the two occasions on which I am to address you here. The subject will naturally divide * 1 think S. Paul may fairly be claimed as one who held and aoted moat deoidedlr upon this view. For fnatance, the question whether women should nave their beads covered or uncovered in Church is submitted to him. As- many now think, this would be a mere trifling matter of social etiquette— Not so thought the great Apostle. He goes back to first principles, and diMttsses the mutual relationshipr of Kan to Woman> and of both to God and Christ.— <1 Cor. xi.) Thi must c so in h Operati promisi truth. Was, wl "In Earth," ther an( our mil time, w He, «ii True, th perfectly) Trinity, divine a1 great att Persons ( God was ButjV some obj( called, bj ■■* I 1 be in the r briefly to t is hard to is easy to Irish to do. as far as I matter : — think that ed to what be avoided. ivledge that I rules and order, and ; therefore t these are mvenience ; ■ they may those who be of small ibrmed has ;ht of; and pies which understood altogether deavour to I'y to bring vhich I am Eilly divide id acted most romen ohoultf 1 to IHm. A»- lal etiquette— rinclplea, nnd both to God 1 I f itself into two main parts, yh: The princiries .nJ ,1. practice of E:,„al. of these two, .he former wfl.oc. »o,.of„„ «.^ «„„,,, : settled™ wmheZ paratively easy for every one by appIyW them to !• between true and false Eitnal. ^ " ''""='™ There can be but little hesitation as to what tea of R„. Scnpture will be most suitable for a discourse In th! °^ cples of Ritual. One immediately sug3s , Jf ' ■"""" OS the key to the whole matter- ' «""°8 " The Word was made Fi.esb.>'_5(. Jihn i. U. That is, rightly to understand the meanins ofR!.,,.! must consider the doctrine of the IncarnaZ T ' ? so iu humble dependence upon that hT Spirit t wt *" therandall the son, tfaZ .ZZZly"' Z':^: our mnds run back bp«i^,.n 4U- *• J®^* -But we let «.e, w, e Lt^nt: .tr;ro:;X':e:hf perfectly self-sufficLt nnA in Vr^ **"^' ^® ^^^ Trinitv thp.1T \ ^^ "^^'^^^ °^ *^e Eternal- inmty, there was ample scope for the exercise of «li ,^ ■But, we believe, in order that H;« ;«««•♦ i . Y it was done." And of this creation, there are two great divisions, the spiritual and immaterial on the one side ; on the other the sensible and material. Whether the spiritual was first created, or whether, as some have thought, both wore contemporary is not revealed, nor need we ask, it does not concern our argument. One thing we are told, that man was last created. On the one side, lay all the spiritual creation, the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim and Seraphim, Powers and Thrones, and all the wide range of intelligent spiritual beings. On the other side lay all the world of matter, all that is within the region of sense. And at first these two were, so to speak separate, until God made man, touching with one side of his nature the material world, aiid with the other the spiritual. His body formed out of the dust of the earth, and then the breath of life breathed into his nostrils, so that man, (whose name signified red earth) became a living soul. And so in the person of man, these two natures, the material and spiritual, were united, he was the keystone which held all together ; and so by man, the last created being, all creation was united.* But something more is still needed. The creation, though itself united, is still apart from, unconnected with its Creator. And God's ineffable love towards His creation will not be satisfied, until by some means it shall be more closely con- nected with Himself. How shall that be done ? The Incar- nation is the answer to the question. The Eternal Word, dwelling from all eternity in the bosom of the Father, comes forth from that home, and in the womb of the Blessed Virgin is made man, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is * So George Herbert says — To ttiia life thiDg[B of Bense Make tbelr 'pretence; In th' other Angels nave a right by birth .- Han tiea tnem both alone, And makes them one, With th' one bund touching Heaven, with th' other earth. being ea Butt] ^nd direc diately fj somewhn more, the Jense. I '0 are two great he one side ; on her the spiritual 7e thought, both i we ask, it does re told, that man all the spiritual Cherubim and le wide range of side lay all the 1 of sense. And until God made ) material world, ormed out of the ife breathed into lified red earth) a of man, these i united, he was , so by man, the creation, though with its Creator, tion will not be lore closely con- le ? The Incar- Eternal Word, e Father, comes B Blessed Virgin . natures, that is ' otber earth. ^/^e^r ■::? j^= i-- --^^ ..e ,p,-„-.„., God.M«„, ,ho Creator and h"c««.'° '°° " *» the mystery of God's Witl Z '^'" '"'/«■■» °-"ted, aod so a.spe„sa.,-o„'of .rfl^o Tme^t 'r"';-' """'"' ono aa thing, i„ Christ, both JS !Je if?""' '"S"""" '■'■ o™ 00 earth, even in Him »-^r ' oT^ "'' ^^'"^ pleased the Father that inW- u^^. ' '• *' '") "For it Kcdomptio; and SatSeaC otthT whT '^ ''"'^'"^ "■" remember that "the Cr..t ''^'^ Creation, for 'hough it .as «4e te? 'ZeTr ° "J.^t '» ™-V forth nothing is to be ealled T^^ '' "'"• *"•> Hence- "ay " arise, slay and aUf aH " r^'^""' «• !"='«- of .1.0 earth and wildtl 1 7"°".°' '""'■'"^^'^ '^'^^ of the air."_(^rf, x 1^ ,3V"'i.'''r°S """S"' "d fowl, only a few an mals, only so™. v^f'T '" ""' ^^^niation, could be offered to G^T ° ^''' "'^ Wi-'c^ "a'orial, "■«t great even,, evemhL "" ^^°''. "■ «« Service , after F«.her may bo ZhS T- '""'• ^° "" P'-^s .he Gentile, BarbariarS S Z - '"' ," °"'*" "^^ - the first principle ;hich wed!. ' T *'''' '^"' "c" " luoamation. ^he wh^o creation"!,'' m ""^ '"'"' "' *= ual, has been bron^ht !„,„.' *''""' '' "»" « spiril- la, been ^anetird-Llpir l""'" f J'-" -'"«- •-oiag employed inw shfa' 1'" °'"°"''W'°g »'of Bu. there is a furtherprincl „ wM ^ *■■' - >'» "Sh.. «od directly bearing upon „r«„l>°" '"''rf'^a'J "PpHcation *«.ely from the ifcarnati "a d'th'T °'' '"""^ ™"- somewhat fully, ft ;, ,y°' '"^T'"* « »"« consider /nore, the Divine acts outwrr^*": d;";!,''- T"'""'' ""^ H- ^'-«-..a.dinrp:::::i^:t:;:^- yr »f*»^p^pj— 8 considerlag tbo Peraon of our Blessed Lord — Who lie was, and what He did. Oa the first Christmas night at Bethle- hem, there lay in Mary's arms a helpless Babo. The shep- herds who came there, aaw Him with their outward eyes, they litarA His infant cries, had they so wished they could have touched Him with their hands, yet he was God of God, Light of Light, the Very and Eternal God. Up to that time God had dwelt shrouded in the splendours of glory inacces- sible ; but now the only Begotten has come forth from tho bosom of the Father, emptied himself of His great glory, taken upon Him the form of a man — men could see their God. He was visibly present to them, living and working among them. One was seen to put forth a hand, and to touch a diseased body, and it was made whole, for that touch was the touch of God. A voice is heard, proceeding from human lips, which cries " Lazarus, come forth." And Death and Hades hear the voice of the Son of God, and give forth their dead, and Lazarus comes forth. The doubt- ing Thomas sees with his bodily eyes, even if he does not touch, the nail prints, and the wounded side, and he says to Him who stood before him there, " my Lord and my God." It was to this time that the Apostle referred, when he wrote-^ (and weigh well each word as you read,) " 2hat which was from the heginmng^ which we have heard^ which we have seen with our eyes^ which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of Life. For the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and hear witness, and show unto you tha^ eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.' — (1 St. John i. 1,2.) A human form hid and yet revealed the presence of the Eternal God. A human voice expressed His thoughts, the outward actions of a man revealed God's Will ; and so as I have above said, the Divine acted outward and visibl) in the region of sense. Now this being so, the world oi| sen spii are the nati hav visil that help musi betw of Wi may cases cnun( you s you n words Does Him ) of you God V most a his lif becaus outwar vent a Thougl 3 he is qi attempt soon ca argume would q He tans I — Who He was, uight at Bethle- labo. The shep- Ir outward eyes, rished they could vas God of God, Up to that time of glory inacces- forth from tho His great glory, Q could see their ing and working a hand, and to >le, for that touch proceeding from le forth." And ion of God, and >rth. The doubt- in if he does not [e, and he says to rd and my God." , when he wrote-^ •' That which was jhich we have seen id our hands have (S was manifested^ how unto you tha^ id was manifested e presence of the His thoughts, the Will ; and so as ward and visibly 80, the world ol| : 9 are wo,,.h. by1h„ g ° ' r r "V""""' '«'°'" '""= "<1 .he™ea„:„rri„!2:^^^rMt:t*r^^ visibi; we 1" i r; iTn: rr'' *:t "-"--^ -^ tlmt ™„„ sliould through ^aCJ "^ "'" "^ ™"S help of o„.w„d aoj^pirhT^:^' " »' '7' -•"• «■» Oiun bo nckaowled-ed that iW • ' " """ """='' ofworrtipu„aecop.„b ;g<^ 1^7 TT' '"""'^ »"" cases, at times all nnhn^w *• i P'^^J^o'ces to say m certain on.ooia.ed. Thtrtroitrxt f "'-r ^■"'' you »ay a praver' Wl,., , ° y°" "'o "b'" you nolZ7:Lel^:jZJ'f- '"""" "^ P™^"' ''» -rds) ia your app 'r.o G:d W, ^'"."'■'"'^'''"■^ Does God ueed word, .," ''^ ^'' ^''" ^° »» ? of your m„s '!? L "^ ""'"■''' "- y™ »»' »"■•« Hmt aome GoL,.,i:\reirv;:r:/™r/7r-'^-»<> '» most ardent anti-ritualisl v.!.! 7 ? ^°'' ^" "">"''• "« Ws life prayiug/" ,re,t\ ™™ '° *° '''""=•' because he ULTo::ZX\:12 """ °' P™^-' outward bodily worshio hT ^ I ^ "°^ "PP™""''' '» vent auy,hin/„r,™.d .„ . " ™' ''""""-^'^ '» P«- Though L knows h.f .'°° """'" ■■'' '»"' "■"J God? be is °,ui.e .::rtX TcLTreTa't-r "'-'^ °''''^''■^• attempt to spiritualize Z «'a'>vely so to him. An -n ise M:r:::xr r s^irit'or"" ^-^^"^ afgument might be pressed^vl/r,? . '"'''^"- ^^ yom queslion the n!ces!^,t Z "''"' ""' """^^ •"> <"" He taught Hi, di!cWe,1I ''°? ""'"''' "f P™J''-'. -hen 10 «: From the doctrine of the Incarnation, we have thus far . deduced two truths. (1) That no part of creation (it being all redeemed by union with the Creator) is unfit to be em ployed in the worship of God. And (2) that there can be no such antagonism between spirit and matter, as to render outward acts of worship unacceptable to God. With refer- ence to this last, we have also seen that it is almost (if not quite) impossible to approach God without outward acts. Now let us turn to Holy Scripture and see if these deductions are supported by what we shaU find there. In this, as in every matter, let our appeal be to "the law and to the testimony;" let us like the Ber^ans, "search the Scriptures and see whether these things are so."— (^c/s xvii. 11.) The first truth then to which, in this part of our investi- gation, I shall call your attention, and which I will ask you to bear in mind throughout all that shall be said, is that so clearly enunciated by our Blessed Lord—" God is a Spirit, AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HiM, MUST WORSHIP HiM IM SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.»-(^^ John iv. 24.) There can be no possible doubt as to the meaning of these plain words. All acceptable worship of God must be spiritual ; no unspiritual worship can possibly be acceptable to God, who is a Spirit. We cannot put this too strongly. But now think— did this first become a truth when Jesus spoke these words at Jacob's well? Certainly not. God always was a Spirit ; these words contain an Eternal Truth, necessarily deduced from the very nature of God. Our Lord revealed this truth ; He did not make it. God is unchangeable. « I am the Lord, I change not." God ever will be, ever was a Spirit, and this premiss being ever unchanged, the same conclusion ever shall, ever must have been true; they that worship Him, they that through all etdrnity shall worship Him, all who ever have offered Him acceptable worship— the worship of aU must be in I have thus far ation (it being ofit to be em t there can be r, as to render . With refer- almost (if not outward acts, ese deductions In this, as in w and to the the Scriptures tvii. 11.) >f our investi- [ will ask you lid, is that so 5 IS A Spirit, IlM IM SPIRIT e can be no 1 words. All 10 unspiritual is a Spirit. li when Jesus \y not. God ternal Truth, God. Our it. God is " God ever being ever r must have hat through have offered must be in 11 I Spirit and in Truth. " As it was in f i,« i. • . and eve. rtaU be, world wtiomla.'^"'""""''" °°"' No worship that is ».spirit„„ , vor In bT 0^" " "f"' heen acceptable to God. ' ' ""' """ '"'" But, most unqaestionably, any worship which God Bin. the nature ofJewishworshir That i, ^ '''°™S monial, all are a-reed Y. •' . f I ""^ '"""^''y »«re- which oontailthe: lirectt '"'i *; f\ '"" '*''"'^' of .he revelation to Mos^n Sinaf r" t th T '"^ °"'" ^r'^t^ir)ra:^iv^^"-^=^^^^ „ ■'•"®'^ *^ere comes C-E'a; xxii Q ti\ covenant-feast in the Presenr-^ nf r- Ti , ^^^^ * to the Mount of God thZT ^^' *^'° ^^'^« g°«« "P law and colm^dl^^^ '^''^ ^' ^^o-' ' while there the Lord ;:it^^ Moltlirnfr ^j' ''^'^ from the heading of chap xxv ^ " wT'/.t r^ "" ^^ *1"°*« offer for the makin^ TLTk'^ Y ^* *^' ^''^^"^«« °^»«' the ten curtain^of It W^^^^^^^^^^ goafs hair, &c &^ " "°°"""~' ""e eleven curtains of garments a;e appt^d fhe" T." '"(^*--"-) Holy twelve precious Toes 1 " °?' ""■ ""■"Mate with for AaL-s sonr'Ni^ob :«" -' T' •"'° i-™'"" appointing " accessorie, „fVr ^' ^^'' " * ^P'"'' « to Himsdf. A most h^ " ''''""° ' """" "' '«^'"'P'»'"« a most highly ceremonml worship, thewfore, 12 Hi (( is not necessarily unspiritual. Tliere is, if possible, a still stronger proof of this in eh. xxxi., when the Lord saith, ■ See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and 1 have filled htm with the Spirit of Oody in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of tim- ber, to work in all manner of workmanship." Here it is expressly stated in Holy Scripture, that a certain person was directly inspired by the Holy Spirit to enable him to devise cunning works and to work in gold and silver, and in cutting of stones, and in carving of timber. Can such things then l»e unspiritual? Now let there be no misunderstanding with reference to this argument from the Jewish ceremonial. I am not main- taining that this ceremonial is in the least desree bindin". I do not believe it to be so. It is all done away with, even the moral law comes to us with other and far higher sanc- tions than it did to the Jews. But the argument here em- ployed, is not in the least degree affected by the complete abolition of this particular worship. Had that worship been appointed for but a single day, a single hour, the argument would still hold. During that single hour (or as the case really is during the whole period from Moses to Christ) the Unchanging God was a Spirit. Yet during that period, by his own appointment. His service was conducted by men clothed in garments made for glory and beauty, and was accompanied by an elaborate Ritual ; therefore, such a wor- ship is not unspiritual. It you say that it is, you must either say that God appointed a worship which was not acceptable to Himself, or else, that once God was not a Spirit, and therefore could be worshipped otherwise than in Spirit and in truth. [^ *i? 13 if possible, a still the Lord saith, m of Uri, the son lied htm with the standing, and in tnship, to devise rer, and in brass, 1 carving of tim- lip." Here it is jrtain person was ble him to devise er, and in cutting such things then ivith reference to I am not main- Jgree binding. I away with, even far higher sanc- jument here em- by the complete lat worship been jr, the argument (or as the case loses to Christ) 'ing that period, )nducted by men beauty, and was are, such a wor- you must either IS not acceptable 3t a Spirit, and than in Spirit I But now it might be said, that it may be quite truo iha* at one time God would accept such a woUp', but h t a.y such ,s unsuitable for the present dispensation' of th Spi7 well to obviate it as to strengthen our position from Holy Scnpture; let us now turn to the last written book in the Bible, written after our Lord's Ascension, after Pent cost just at the close of the Apostolic period. The writVr "that' book tel s us that he was "in the Spirit" (liev. i. 0) when he received the revelations therein deta led. After the messages to the churches, a door is opened in heal through which he looks, and hears a voice sayin^, "come uptu er and I will shew thee things which m^us^'be e"! rtepUorrfl"*'^' ,'' " "^'" ^'^^ 'P'"'" ^^^'y 'or the tobe her .1 '^""'' i'"^^- ^^^ ''''^^'^'^ °^the things to be hereafter, is made, as is well known, in the form of tltZT!" '^"^"^'^ ''' ^P-''^^ o^ the seirthe sounding of the trumpets, the pouring out of the vials Th! place where this is seen is hLen,\nd so his pte L ^ev. IV. & V. The first glance over these two chapters worshiD lull u J' '^''''°' ^'^" '"S"^' «P'"t"«» this trexnL?"? ^" "'' '"'^ '^'' "° ^^^Sos unsuitable to express the most exalted idea of spiritual worshin will set m heaven, and one sat upon the throne, and he that sal was to look upon as a jasper and sardine stone. And the^ IZl ta '"""i ''°"' ''" *'^^°« ^«^« '0-^ -d twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiments, and they had on heL h ads crowns of gold and there were'seven lamps f fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirU of u God ! " Then comes the description of the living creatures, and we are told that " when they give glory to Him that flittoth upon the throne, the four and twenty elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne." And again when the Lamb had taken the sealed book, " the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them lamps and vials full of odours (margin, incense*) which are the prayers of the saints, and they sung a new song." Now read carefully over this magnificent description, of which I have only quoted parts, and what do you find about the Ritual of the heavenly worship. A central point of ♦worship, the throne set in heaven, gorgeous colours, the jasper, sardine, rainbow, emerald. White robes for the leaders of the worship, whose seats are around the throne go'den crowns — burning lights — incense — prostrations (they fell) and other acts of bodily worship, such as casting down their crowns — musical instruments and choral songs of adoration and praise. Many of you, if you had seen such outward signs and acts employed in our worship here to- night, would have been startled, perhaps oflFended. Yet whatever you might have said about it, one thing you could not say, with your Bible open before you : you could not have said that it was unspiritual. And here again let me specially call your attention to the argument drawn from this portion of Holy Scripture. I do not say that this is a literal description — I know that it is not. The streets of heaven are not paved with gold, it is not a city at all, there are no such things as we here call lights, incense, white robes, songs ; all this is readily granted. But what is maintained is this, that after the foundation of Chap* vuf r*"^ **"* translated " odours " is translated " incense " in theC Spirit worsh The J desire purpoi to be ( These expres images one vei man to toward Obs am onl; acts, th Want u Christie I think I desire lations ( but I fie pion to t Way, th Cdopt th ne who Why kind of Words of tTe knov We often faying th( yrhkh ar( piost earc I living creatures, lory to Him that ' elders fell down shipped Him that rowns before the taken the sealed twenty elders fell ' them lamps and h are the prayers It description, of lo you find about central point of ous colours, the te robes for the md the throne — rostrations (they as casting down choral songs of 1 had seen such vorship here to- offended. Yet thing you could : you could not our attention to Holy Scripture. — I know that it 1 with gold, it is as we here call readily granted, e foundation of sted " incenae " In 15 stl?tf '°-^^"''' '^''' *^' ^^"*^^«**» gift of the Holy Spirit, there 18 given a detailed account of a most Jj.v i lie Apo8Ue S. John at. er the guidaace of the Holy Spirit desu-es 10 convey to men the idea of this worshin for tw purpose he employs certain «.,.or flgnresTwh oh'a« stn to be emmently ceremonial, what would be ^Ued ritn^r These .mages then certainly are not now unsuitaHrM express th, idea of spiritual worship. GoTharu d he.° Observe I have so far only said, would it be wron..? I .m on y to-night contending for the admissib 1 ty Tffnch acts, that they are not nnspiritual, and this is Tuth^rT Sit*" ""'Vr- ^"' ^ ""-^ -o "«»" et ng Chr t.an would bo content to stop here. Such a one woull I th ok «.y_I have certain spiritual ideas of worship Zhich Lira:: zi: ^:z x^r '° r . ^° ''^^-^ ^^■ MiandthittheHij; sz:^Tz^z^ re ^■on to these ideas ; I cannot be wrong • it will hi ,1, T -ay the way of faith and hnmili^f Lnd I^^p ct Tf"! kiltPr^l Tjv «'"''' l>=«"««^«''«ac.ion, almost « J^osferi^'LLtsi^T; ""' '""=" '"""°°' *• 3 intercession. And can we not easily under- 16 :i < i i 4 •iden* stand, how the Christian Church might well feel that there is a special satisfaction, a special safety in employing that ritual which the Holy Spirit saw to be most suited to show forth a worship of the most exalted and heavenly kind. But as I have said, this view I do not press. Enough if we have seen to-night one blessed effect of the Incama'tron, the redemption of the whole Creation ; enough if we have it, an( learnt from the way in which God wrought that redemption, suppo that there is harmony, not antagonism, between the seen and point unseen. Fortified in these truths by the express teaching of fuide Holy Scripture, and especially by the great revelation of our |enerf Lord as to the spirituality of all acceptable worship, we Ou (have seen some of the principles which are to guide the 4 Glo Church and individuals in their Ritual. There are others 3 which we must consider next Sunday evening. ^ ^st m( 0omme .ply t. Imigfa The ce, c 4°d th( |vimari] #>ubt 01 %t it is lie migh ^nking **He tha y Now #id not t #e shall i)lemn B irell feel that there ia employing that be most suited to alted and heavenly SERMON ir. press. Enough if of the Incarnatfon, enough if we have ht that redemption, Jtween the seen and express teaching of at revelation of our )table worship, we are to guide the There are others aing. _ Last evening was occupied almost altogelher ;„ c„„ .. 18 Book of Revelation, will seem to us very unmeaning, at the best to be a sort of remnant of Judaism in the mind of the Apostle. In fact when men come to the consideration of this subject, having made self the centre, they are acting just as the old astronomers did who tried to explain the motions of the solar system while they made the earth its centre. While they did so, everything seemed to them to be m complete confusion ; they could make nothing satisfactory of it. By and bye, a truer philosophy came in, they saw Ae Sun to be the central point, and then everything at once fell mto its proper place and the beautiful harmony and regularity of all the movements of the heavenly bodies were at once discovered. So think of worship, as for self; talk in that selfish way which is so common of « coming to Church to get good" (as if that were to be the first thou-ht m the mmd of a Christian worshipper,) and aU solemn out- ward worship will seem frivolous and unmeaning; nay, worse, soon the very idea of worship will be lost altogether. Men will begin to ask of any act, " What good does it do?" meanmg what good does it do myself. But believe that in worship you desire to glorify God ; and you wUl strive first of aU to lift up your hearts in real adoration, but you will not feel satisfied to rest there, you will not be content that the body, which too has been made partaker of the redemp- tion, and shall be sharer of the gloiy, should be without Its part m the glorifying of God; end the bended knee and the bowed head, will not be mere convenient or idle customs, but solemn acts of reverend worship offered by the Creature to Its Creator. And more, if you look around upon this beautiful world of God's, and think, with intense thank- fulness, that all has been redeemed and sanctified by the Incarnate, that it too is " saved by hope" as « its earnest expectation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God " (Rom. viii. 19) you will rejoice if you can in any way ' though I the BIc |ever, a libecome *borne h Ideath, f fWas tak it saw n f The tl ^nto hea umphani 'i But t >lilways r )Church fias serv Ibot be a I unmeaning, at the the mind of the consideration of they are acting 1 to explain the ide the earth its ned to them to be thing satisfactory me in, they saw erything at once il harmony and enly bodies were %3 for self; talk of " coming to the first thought all solemn out- nmeaning; nay, ! lost altogether, [ood does it do?" believe that in will strive first a, but you will be content that • of the redemp- luld be without iQded knee and or idle customs, by the Creature ound upon this intense thank- inctified by the is "its earnest sons of God," m in any way 19 "Hhgn,dging%„.;ei„„ ™" f;i.:f"' =">" -'« »»., of Go,r, House or servfce, .„ sL if . T M '""'^ °™™°' « free .„dge„er„„a heart /ou^ut! 7 ^"'' '"' "'"■ Mjou can of that which God l.t ""'''''^ "' "'"'''' -. i. Which ,0. oantt.te^- -;;-■■; "oh.ee. J uusemso. ihat IS our second princinl.. Again our worship mii« l>, . • . 1^ "'P"=- Whom do we worship' ?! '""'"''''«« ^"^ Joyous. Wd, one Who Sand J^ Ctr" '''" '"""'""' evermore, holding the kevslr/tC f " ™" »"'■« '<»• ' " "ow in „ory il bI^Z "rtlZ,: *"""' '"' """ .■though not vet, is Je„„ „„i ' f f ' "' "™'"''""- 'hat (.bough s„I,i'nH;;t"eTff''°"''' " "'^ =•"" ""'• the Bloody Sweat, th del^ ^nill'V ' ""^ "^"^ '"^ Wer,andHe has'enterod L o Hi gor Z""''' !^' Aecome "The sign of triumph " lh°7' "''°" '"^ ■borne before us this evenin! i! ""'' "^'"^ ™s fcth, for it wis emptv H ' '° "' "'"""^ "»■■ »' Hi. was taken from thel-t afd Td ?""/""" ""H'^ """^ it saw no corruptbn °'n ?!. ? ""^ «'"''• >"« 'here ^' The third ^aTHeVsea™^'"^'"^'^ "" "°* »»"■"») Jnto heaven." fifclnrii W^ 7 ''"''• "' '^'^""'^ «n.phan. oonqueCthe Ch,. k""" ' '""^'"'" « «"'='■ « '"- ■' But this is I r^n her o "''"'"■'' """ *' '"•«>»?*<.«. ..iways much rZ^t^r^^ZTZl f" ^"'■" "■- « Aaroh militant here o!T2 . 'f """""'''S '■- 'he |.as service, for penUen ° f ' "'"' "" >■"» »«»»»». *e Jiot bo all. '^ °°' """^ "■"""■'■'S- But that must " ^^ 'hould the children of . King 2 ^ ""rarning all their dajs." I J ■ -m,M.iu,j.ii.i,jtiaaam§ ' 30 and an Apostle bids us " Rejoice evermore" and tells us • that the KingdoKs of God is « righteousness and joy and peace." The prophetic description of the mystic bride is that she " looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners,' {Cant. vi. 10.) And well may it be so, for the Church through all her sorest conflicts is assured of final victory, we shall be more than conquerors, we march to victory, and we will, we must, shew in our worship that we have the " full assurance of hope." This then, we must bear in mind- Christian worship must be triumphant. But now it may be said— granting what has been brought forward— you have shown nothing more than that these out- ward acts are not altogether wrong, but after all io there anything to make us think that they are at all necessary. I tiiink we may now take this step and not so much prove, as see from experience that ritual of some sort is absolutely necessary to worship. It is unquestionably natural to man, outwardly to express his inner feelings. In fact he has been made as he is that he may do so. Such is the wonderful connection between mind and body, that the countenance, the step, every move- ment, of the body, the whole appearance, will at once express joy or sorrow. The bright, joyous face, the elastic step or the clouded, gloomy brow, tell their own tale. If a man strive against this, and has such an impassive coun- tenance that it never betrays the least emotion, he is acting unnaturally, no one admires such stoicism, or thinks any the better of him who practises it. Nay, such a one in con- cealing all that he feels, comes dangerously near being a hypocrite ; let him go a step further and put on a gloomy look when happy, or feign satisfaction when displeased and he is one. Should we then desire the Christian Church never to give outward expression to her joyous feelings of • I only I 4 of the hon js conducted. s i )re" and tells us tess and joy and mystic bride is ur as the moon, \y with banners, , for the Church final victory, we 5 victory, and we 5 have the " full bear in mind — has been brought m that these out- fter all io there all necessary. I ) much prove, as art is absolutely jrardly to express ide as he is that inection between tep, every move- e, will at once I face, the elastic own tale. If a impassive coun- an, he is acting ir thinks any the I a one in con- '' near being a tut on a gloomy displeased and iristian Church ous feelings of 21 adoraliou and praise ; shall sho be forced >„.„ . • stoicism or a glooray hypocrisv' oTl ""'""''" ordinary object; tl,ey iavanabrarCh .j^' "°"'' "" '"^ feelings bycerraio outward sigas „ Ic" W f""".""'^ a. a fa„oral-„eo are supposfd thent feel ILf r^'" many outward si^ns of it urp,1 ♦ n C ^ ' ^"^^ "® what is not unfamnilr totu n this > '""' ^'"^ '' —What is if ih.f ./'"^^''^'^^-a soldier's funeral ~:i"Usirt.r::rd irrr^™"^' ^-^ these arefel. .o be .«i.a k „ 1 occali o\„ b" T""' *"' wheo^fo t;„ee Hri^e'""""'- °° " '^^ «' dicing Visits us, boHo Ve r^ve wrVTr"' ""''"-"^^ shouts of joy, „i.h bells riX LLeTirln ''«"°^' "'* not on .be li^s ? "'°'' '""'°'' '"^"^'^ -«» » ">« hear., »ef witllrtaf n'aTarr ' """ ^■"" "'•'•''<' "" <>» expression to .heTr'varTourfe.r ^ ". " ''°'^' «"" °"""-^ all societies fo^ed for Ll™l *'" \°' "' '°°" """ '^■'»' igreatuseof ritiT ^.7^™"" '*'"'*'"» °'y-"='« »«ke juual^ The Good Templars-Sons of Temper- 22 i M ance—national 8oo>J^ties— -notably the Masonic bodies, have their badges, their drosses, their solemn ceremonies. They do this in obedience to the dictates of that nature which God has created, which he has redeemed, and which is not, in religious matters to be done violence to, but to be sanc- tified. Fearlessly, then, let the Christian Church encourage men to employ in the service of God, every faculty and power of their nature. And even if the beauty of art, and of music, and all which through the senses can influence the soul, have too often been employed in lower ways, — still let the redeemed people spoil the Egyptians of their jewels of silver and jewels of gold, that with them too they may do sacrifice to the Lord God of Israel. ' I ask any candid person, which gives most honour to God, and most fills our heart with joyful thankfulness to Him, to look upon the things of sense as in themselves necessarily evil,* and therefore never to employ them in God's service ? Or, knowing that all are redeemed, all since cleansed by the Precious Blood, fit to be offered to God, that every part of our nature may be made to minister in spiritual things, and that as God has so made us, that through our senses, our minds and souls can be influ- enced, therefore to insist upon it that our senses shall be pressed into the good work, and forced, or rather allowed ■ to help us in our approaches to God. Men never doubt about the principle for -r. 'nstant ir anything, except in their religion; anr «; ;. o^iy because they are hampered by the very prevalent and very old error, that spirit and matter are opposed to one another. It was just this same mistake that led to the false aaceticism of a former period, and to many still greater evils. Wt; say, than, that not only is a solemn ritual in worship, I !i ; ! * This l8 in fiiv, just the old Gnoatic beresy which so troubled the Church la earlier days. two in be don Pro the mu that yo the bes enthron ♦with th the fron singing, Agai corps, c suitable your ch( simple ai robe? ] ^to the sir It unque •^pride and mic bodies, have remonles. They ature which God which is not, in but to be sanc- hurch encourage ery faculty and auty of art, and 3an influence the r ways, — still let f their jewels of 00 they may do most honour to thankfulness to \s in themselves employ them in ! redeemed, all .0 be oflfered to lade to minister made us, that i can be influ- ir senses shall rather allowed r o.ri 'nstant i' \ ouiy because very old error, other. It was asceticism of a ual in worship, oubled the Church 33 not unspirilual, but that it is renniro,! w „ . when reg.oera.o aad sancifle? Wo 'fl, " °'"""' '"" saw a service without if ti r, , "^cessary— you never .•on,c.-e„ee, ,it, do'.n .„ Jot^^^^'!''^' " -""- "t outward exprcasioa to an idea W. 1, ' n"^ ""' *=''""« true or false I do not say aTj .„ '"" """' '» worship, there „„st be a way of doin"! Tl uT"' '° ■"■ right or wrong? Is u wo«h .1, I ° ' '""" ""' ""^ '"' "hall be sure or at 1 aslt ' , r ^''*. "'"'"' "> """ '>« leave it to ohaneo Lk! " 7 '"''" '' "«'"' »■■ »'"'" we without J:^Xt :^ "t *» "7 b^" -custotned to, iug or false Eitual A, «!, 'Ip . ='ovenly, unmean- 'wo in».aucesof hattu",", r""°° ''' """'" °"» " be done either rightCron:;"" '" '""^ "»^' "°^ "»> .ho^r:fTet':i~ h'e- ""■■' ^^ --'-' '» - that yon „,„st put yo," ohoirl 7 ^'"'""'' " ''°"<"" the best plaee for fh m 'it .h r J"/ "*"" "■"■"" " enthroned in a lofty galry a^ tf .t f f -^-Sation, •with the peoDle nn. ,t , ^ '""' """""S to do the front, (2 ,0 s ' ; T'' "'"" "«"» ? Or pLed in -giogo ai;'ti:xf;c;w''hri' -r '° '^""' "■'- '- Again, when men foil "'''" ""«'" '° ^■ corps, or any thTr of 1\TT '""" "' " ^■"'''■'"« "■"ahle nnifoL ; I ^,^Z>^ ^1^^'- 1"' " your choir, leaders of tb, Ol.,. i, ' "' "'""' "«" .^Pleand approp^ilt iS:!"'^;^ ""M -- a robe ? Does it not adH fn .k ^ ' ** '^ ^'^^ ^^^ '^e 24 day, are much better kont as far I, !f , °°' "' ""^ Choira that are so dressed are t r.a CVe'.f ' "' ''""'''"°- the back of the congrcation In 7'^ '"" ""^ "' true and a false Ei.ual ° "'" """'" "'"« « • But having your choir and havin.. then, „„;f„, j -"St get, hem, in someway ,„ thefr X 11- ™ there are two courses~nno *« i . .u ^ ^^^ ^S&^^ one, when theyTCsom:enften;'™^°"'^ -•"• "- "^ menced • nr tL, ■ T ^ ^'^^ '^^''^'^^'e I'-is com- their places. Which „f , ^^"'^'^' '"'<' ■•«verenlly take Apostolic precert f ul ;,,™'' ''""'" ""'' <■""» «■» in order." ^ ^ ^' "" """'"' "« ^"-^ -l^^ently and Then there is the whole subiVf f nf tj,« Church, in which there ' "j"'/^ '^" ^™S«™ent of the with reference to it ofL • ^ ! ""-acfon, arranged Me «.*e„e:rma "v y" IZab;: 'T 7 '" ''"'' '- with rich carpets and ha'dsZe hangings retfTn°" gives the idea of snu- worldlv c^f . * ^ The whole thrag rious congregation who hje^„rf^^ of a fastidious, l„x„. p.aoe in whic°h they ma Ti^a:" t "^ 7:!° ^ th.s miserable selfishness that the grand idea of' w„ " ™ Goo has degenerated. Thle Is to.her\:7:; 25 arranging a Church Thr. '^, ^"'•""•P. while eve^whe" !''i°''''' ''■''''»<'»'•' »f »'*, there h „, „„ehTbZ ! Tf "" ""' ''"'''' ^^^ '»-;" God, „o. tor o„r° *v« "^ T"''''- -« "ave hU words „p„„ tki>. Any one can iell "" "^^"^ °<" «P»»<1 ^""ga Church, whetL mTlt'", "" ■°"''"' "P"" en- ke .dea which they who b™"i° h ' "■■ '^""''» S'"^ ^ I -'-^ed pri„a4 a / pa " Tf '""«"■- " '» » n.a», or as a place in which w "'' "^ ''" "> «»'en These are b„. ,;„ „ ^jj"^ J' are ,„ worship God. he Principles already la d down "^ ' "■" ""^ '■" "hich «>;■» io „ind, any p„L of riZ? ""^ ^ W'-^l- Bearing -« -. be difflcn^el f„™ : e„t7,„^\---^-d, and if B« now (here are one 1 , """"'"'"oa «bont it. -e" .0 give abon. .his whole sublr^^' ""'•'" '^ -en., "eeessary „„,, agains, unrcah^' ' r J'! «"'• »-' a „o,. *«"» been considering „„tCar7 . ™'- ^" along we 7^ feeling,, and pfead nlT.hT "/ !^''"»''"°- "^ -•»- ^'y because they are so wLT" admissibility or ncces- adopted and „sed for show thTv L ^^ ""''' '"'" "'"'"^^• Upon .hi, point we canno 1 !""' ™'"°'""°S »l>«»» oar Churches .0 express .he dea. ha.'""? ^^ '^^ ''-•'1 «ad worship God, .his shouU . " ""^ ^"""^ 'o honour careful .„ see .ba J „tT '°'^ ""*^ "' "•« "-ore offer .bat living, ncceptable se ! "\.''°°°"' »„, .h„. ^^^ I' ■» well .0 bow the head a. hi """ "° "''» ""-andT way we n,ay worship ffitltT °'/""'' '''"''" 'h^ bat remember, this is bu."„ 1. . """'''""'' """'"'■.y; bean's adoration, if ,ha. b, """'' «P"ssion of .he --e o, false,™: L; X*^ '."» »'her is the'.e y' ^h;' «3 in everything thin'/'eiT;/;'""'™- ^" '«»' --a ■" f« i<» own sate. Wh ° v°™b ''l""" "^'»' ^ "" wo should do is this— valued 26 bend all our efforts to deepen the true spirituality of the heart, to see that all there be real, and then to allow these deep real feelings to find their natural expression either in the commanded or the voluntary acts of devotion. There seem to be two errors about this matter ; the first that of true hearts whose devotional feelings are deep and real, but who from various prejudices and fears, will not allow themselves outwardly, as would be natural, to express these feelings in the way in which the Catholic Church has always en- couraged or enjoined. And so they lose not a little ; and spoil the perfect harmony of their worship, and unintention- ally do dishonour to one part of their redeemed nature. May God give to all such as are thus true of heart, to enjoy in their worship all the glorious liberty of the children of God. Then there is the far worse error, nay more the grievous sin of those, who are taken with certain externals, and from love of show, or desire of singularity, or of a pretty effect, perform acts which are most solemn without any real feeling at all in the matter. May God convert such souls as these and give them true spirituality, that their outward devotion may be an index of real feeling. For be surely has the right way, who, when God has given him, true loving adoration of Jesus, feelings of deep reverential worship ; loves to honour God by expressing these to Him in every possible way ; first of all by a life of holiness, and then by all reverent demeanor, by every outward act, when engaged in the great duty of the immediate worship of God. May God grant to His whole Church, every part of it, every individual member of it, to know and practise this the good and the right way. This is our first warning. Our second is against superstition about Ritual. Many are inclined in these days to make a great deal too much of ritual observances. This may be done in two ways. It is done by those who put any reliance for th^ir salvation in 4 M* \ 27 ".ough he has never L^^rLlnT ■''''' *'"'" whose worship „ever goes heyo J ::;' ^r; °' "' »»« toot, and who trusts to these for hi! saWa.i! "' " ''°'« enough denou-ee such auperstiti^o ":'::I:::f "»"-f ^ too much of ritual. Aud we say r 2,7 B ^ " °°' °"*'' not just as superstitious, just as su^lv ™ >,• "^ "" "° """" »^-"-es, if we' attrihute s^rvtri': 7"''' "' iuem as to sav that tu^^ . ■ ^^ importance to -.e it ZZ^TooT7.T-f '""""<" ""^ most harshly about these thin 7 ^''^^'' """ '"^«'«'- are absolu.el w™!! •- c.?'' '""' " """' ''''««« «mt they you reverently bows his hL 7 " ""'' '' "'""'"'M^ "f unostentatiously aid devoutl 1" "°"''^'' "" ^"°"^' <" ■"-selfofhisWd'sptrnLdT" "^''^ '" '«""■«' Will you be so supersUruTabout Z T , T'T' ''«"• as to think that God will not »™! , °^ ""™ "«'»• because so accompauild 11? ^°°l '"°"'"'' "°"'"I" you for not so doi' g Wh"",^!' ■"; "«"" '» «■"' fault with with him for so doiul? Th ' Jt ■"""= ^"^ "> «■"» &«!« auces-most true SL J I ^°^' "" ™' «'™S »">«- -me would sel'to ^iHh : "p^l^^ ^"--S actions as ".superstition •^^oZt^T^J:;^:"^;^'^^^''^ " reverently into God's House with » °" """^ them, it will be said .1,7, .u' " '"■°'' "^"''^ ^efofe losing all oonflden^finr,' ^-^ J"«ify a layman in such; procession ItVasterar"''"''"'' ""^■' ""' '" ™y be perfectly accepiTAS: G^d %'";' " ';^-"- stands still while singin<- if bur?? . ,f '" ''"«"' begin to walk and sin. it J ' "'°"''' ''°'"°™ 'o 8.ng, ,t becomes a terrible abomination to 28 be denounced at the street corners by self constituted judges and accusers of their brethren. Against this superstition about ritual let us most emphatically protest. It is the duty of every mnister of the Gospel to lift up, in these dangerous days, a warning voice against such exceeding want of cha- rity, and to ask with the indignant Apostle, " Who art thou that judgest another man's servant ? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand." (Bom. xiv. 4.) True while thus claiming Christian liberty and the right properly to exercise private judgment about these matters, it is not said that every one may do just as he please?. Ritual observances are of two kinds, general and congrega- tional, or special and personal. The former, " every par- ticular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change and abolish," and it is the part of loyal obedience to accept these without scruple, " for whosoever through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, which be not re- pugnant to the word of God, «*nd be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly." (Art. xxxiv.) Such are these, which the Church of England has ordained of kneeling to pray, bowing at the name of Jesus, standing to sing ; also the ornaments of the Church, and of the ministers, at all times of their ministration, and various ritual acts.* Without going into any details about these, or pronouncing any opinion upon points which may soon be questioned, I would say this much, that unquestionably the lawfulf ritual of the Church of England, is fuller and more ceremonial than what we see commonly practised in most of our Churches. I feel quite confident that any one who • e. ff. The sign of the cross ia Baptism,— givlne the ring at Holy Matrimony, Ac, Ac. ^ o ■ d j r J 7.^^ *®J"™ " •»wful" may mean either permitted or commanded by law. I believe the statement above to be true for both meanings of the word." 29 / examines this question must come to that conclusion To pronounce an opinion without at all examining the question (confessedly a difficult one) is not a sign of either modesty or candour. ^ Besides these acts of the congregation, there may be of course many personal acts about which every Christian must under the guidance of an enlightened conscience judge for himself; but about which he has no possible right to jud^^e for his brother. ** '^ We have now spent some time during two evening* ia considering this subject of ritual, it is not a matter of first importance, but it is connected with the worship of God it occupies the minds of many at the present time. And we must remember that it is closely connected with many great truths of the Christian faith. These truths give life to tLe outward forms and make them something more than mere Catholic faith in its perfection, I would close the subject. Some of you, it may be many, have accepted in all its fullness the teaching of the Catholic Church, and know its power and its blessings. Hold fast by it, live by it, and by your lives of holiness, humility and Christian love, draw others to what you have found, to Him who is thereby so dearly revealed Some of you want it, you feel your need of more than you have yet found. There has been too much of coldness and distance and unreality in your past faith and love ; but you are beginning to hear a voice call you on o something better, obey that call, your heart tells you to do so, It will lead you where you would be, «Mv heart hath