St. Matthew xv. 9. (1) Our sorrows: especially the danger of schism,
through questions of Ritual. (3) The remedy lies in an appeal to first
principles useful by reason of general ignorance, (4) but especially
when ignorance is danger. (5) How to use this Lent. (6) Preliminary
sketch of plan. Our first principle is to go to God for principles.
(7) Danger of Pharisaism in all ages. (8) Inability of human precepts
to create or preserve Worship. Disguises of 1-zeal, (9) 2-the glory of
God, (10) 3-the assistance of the Holy Spirit, 4-the Bible. (11) The
truths of God the same in the Old as the New Testament, but working
out differently. (12) Hence caution. The "Shakers" or "Millenial
Church." (14) The Disciples to be followed in regarding Christ as the
source of instruction in Prayer. (15) Principles thus gained; their
bearing. Deductions: 1-No authority in heathen systems; 2-or in
our own tastes and feelings. (16) Yet human nature not to be disre-
garded. The last great danger; human gloss on Christ's words. No
fear of results. (17) Note: Peculiar Ritual of the Shakers.
LECTURE II. The seed sown. Agreement in Prayer the For-
mative Principle of Christian Public Worship.
St. Matt. xviii. 19. (21) Recapitulation: Christ's voice must be heard.
(22) His two voices. Objection that His meaning has been perverted.
(33) The first voice: Agreement in Prayer. Other Bible testimonies:
(24) I.-A distinctive principle is what we want: principles non-distinctive.
(25) That of agreement, distinctive, implying not mere spiritual_agree-
ment, but "assembling;" (26) does not extinguish Private Prayer.
(27) II.-Objection that it does not apply to Praise. Connection of
Prayer and Praise : (29) the leading idea of the two. (30) Answer to
objection. Other particulars of Service conducive to agreement; the
Sermon. III.-Rival distinctive principles considered: 1-the glory of
God before men (32) 2-the awakening of our spiritual desires :
(33) danger of excitement in religion. (31) IV.-The formative principle,
thus described, precedes, in discussion, the ultimate principle, or final
cause, of worship. V.-Summary. Why do we pray in Public ?
(35) What spiritual value in agreement? Agreement not impossible;
(36) and sufficient for its purpose in the world. (37) Its immediate
application; (38) in preparing for Church. (39) Note. Private Prayers
for the beginning and end of the Service.
LECTURE III.—The tree after its kind. The Christian Principle
distinguished from the Mosaic Principle of Public Worship.
St. John iv. 24. (41) Reasonableness of this distinction. Centralising
principle of Jewish worship illustrated; (43) its purpose. The Samaritan
imitation. (44) Our Lord decides against the Samaritan, but (45) promises
a new worship. What was it? (46) False ideas of spiritual worship.
True mode of investigation here. (47) Application to this case. In the
new worship principle of diffusion, combined with principle of agreement.
(48) The same object in both old and new, but in the new worked out more