of our nature, will be the least disposed to underrate
the importance of the outward frame-vx>rk of religi-
ous duty. Although Christianity is not a religion of
forms and ceremonies, it claims the assistance of many
external observances; such, for example, as retirement
&om society for the purpose of private devotion, the
appointment of stated times for reading the Scriptures
in our families, the orderly keeping of the Sabbath-
day, and the regular attendance of our places of pub-
lic worship. Yet all these things are useless, and
inay even be a means of the further hardening of our
hearts, unless we maintain, in connexion with them,
the life of true worship. " God is a Spirit, and they
that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth." To frequent the house of prayer; to bow
the knee before him ; to draw near to him with the
lip — while our hearts are far from him — can be re-
garded only as a mockery and offence. << Bring no
more vain oblations ; incense is an abomination unto
me ; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of as-
semblies, I cannot away with ; it is iniquity, even the
solemn meeting. Your new moons and your ap-
pointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble
imto me, I am weary to bear them."^

Little will it serve the purposes of friendship, to
seek the company of those whom we love, if we forget
them while in their presence, and refuse to give our

« Isa. i, 13, 14.
