(cultus Dei) Amounts to the same with what we otherwise call religion. This worship consists in paying a due respect, veneration, and homage to the Deity under a sense of an obligation to him. And this internal respect, &c. is to be shown and testified by external acts; as prayers, thanksgivings, &c.
Private Worship should be conducted with,
1. Reverence and veneration.
2. Self-abasement and confession.
3. Contemplation of the perfections and promises of God.
4. Supplication for ourselves and others.
5. Earnest desire of the enjoyment of God.
6. Frequent and regular.
Some who have acknowledged the propriety of private worship have objected to that of a public nature, but without any sufficient ground. For Christ attended public worship himself, Luke 4:1-44 : he prayed with his disciples, Luke 9:28-29 . Luke 11:1; he promises his presence to social worshippers, Matthew 18:20 . It may be argued also from the conduct of the apostles, Acts 1:24 . Acts 2:1-47 : Acts 4:24 . Acts 6:4 . Romans 15:30 . 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 : Acts 21:1-40 : 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 . 1 Corinthians 11:1-34 : and from general precepts, 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:8 . Hebrews 10:25 . Deuteronomy 31:12 . Psalms 100:4 .
Public worship is of great utility, as,
1. It gives Christians an opportunity of openly professing their faith in and love to Christ.
2. It preserves a sense of religion in the mind, without which society could not well exist.
3. It enlivens devotion and promotes zeal.
4. It is the mean of receiving instruction and consolation.
5. It affords an excellent example to others, and excite them to fear God, &c.
Public worship should be,
1. Solemn, not light and trifling, Psalms 89:7 .
2. Simple, not pompous and ceremonial, Isaiah 62:2 .
3. Cheerful, and not with forbidding aspect, Psalms 100:1-5 :
4. Sincere, and not hypocritical, Isaiah 1:12 . Matthew 23:13 . John 4:24 .
5. Pure and not superstitious, Isaiah 57:15 .
We cannot conclude this article without taking notice of the shameful and exceedingly improper practice of coming in late to public worship. It evidently manifests a state of lukewarmness; it is a breach of order and decency; it is a disturbance to both ministers and people; it is slighting the ordinances which God has appointed for our good; and an affront to God himself! How such can be in a devotional frame themselves, when they so often spoil the devotions of others, I know not.
See Watt's Holiness of Time and Places; Kinghorn and Louder on Public Worship; Parry's Barbauld's Simpson's and Wilson's Answer to Wakefield's Enquiry on the Authority, Propriety, and Utility of Public Worship; Newman on early Attendance.