Worship

prominent position. It appears to me to be the chief instrument by
which the Holy Spirit not only awakens sinners, but also leads on and
establishes saints. I observe that in the very last words that Paul wrote
to Timothy, as a young minister, he especially enjoins on him to "Preach
the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and
encourage — with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy
4:2)
I cannot therefore believe that any system of worship in which the
sermon is made little of, or thrust into a corner, can be a Scriptural
system, or one likely to have the blessing of God. I have no faith in the
general utility of services composed entirely of prayer, reading, hymnsinging,
sacrament-receiving. I hold firmly with Latimer, that it is one of
Satan's great aims to exalt ceremonies and put down preaching! There is a deep
meaning in the words, "Despise not prophesying." (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
A contempt for sermons, is a pretty sure mark of a decline in spiritual
religion.
(d) In true public worship, there should be united public prayer. I
can find no account of religious assemblies in the New Testament in
which prayer and supplication do not form a principal business. I find
Paul telling Timothy, "I exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." (1 Timothy 2:1)
Such prayers should be plain and intelligible, that all the worshipers
may know what is going on, and be able to go along with him who prays.
They should as far as possible be the joint act of all the assembly, and
not the act of one man's mind alone. A congregation of professing
Christians which only meets to hear a grand sermon, and takes no part
or interest in the prayers — seems to me to fall far short of the standard
of the New Testament. Public worship does not consist only of hearing.
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