WORSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 8

WORSHIP.

The Rev. J. Maxwell, recently speaking upon the subject of "Worship," remarked that there were those who said that they found that incense and music, and architecture and paintings, gave them a greater love of worship, but he very much doubted it. The worship of the sanctuary should be simple and natural. Many arguments had been used of late years to introduce a ritual into their Nonconformist Churches, but if that were done, he believed their spiritual life would suffer to an unlimited deaiee. However, he thought that the voice of the people, as well as the minister, should be heard in public prayer, and a short liturgy should be prepared for the purpose. — (Many voices : Hear, hear. ) A most beautiful sight was a family offering earnest prayer to Almighty God, aud what great influence such examples had upon the world. The late Dr Ttios. Hamilton told them of an English gentleman who paid a visit for a few days to the house of a Christian friend. The visitor was a man of great accomplishments, but he was an infidel. Four years afterwards he returned to the same house, and related how he became a decided Christian through hearing the family read the Bible on the first night of hia previous visit. That, he believed, was not a solitary instance. To illu&trate the necessity of work as well as worship, they were told that a monk was praying in a convent, and he thought Jesus appeai-ed to him in a vision. He was entrained with the beautiful vision when he heard the convent bell summoning him to other duties. He knew not what he should do. T'len a voice within his breast appeared to say, "Do thy duty and leave to God the rest." Slowly from his coll he departed, and gave to the beggar of the night the food provided for him. When he returned, he found Ihnt Christ was still there ; and Jesus said, " If thoa hidst not gone, I must have left." They should learn from that, he (Mr Max. well) said, to recognise the presence of God in their labours.

ANOflHLjr in Yachting.— The pff-uig fa otoU/ Qwonweted with the start,