Knots Untied by JC Ryle (Available from Amazon or free here)
Today Ryle discusses the subject of public worship.
Firstly we see the general importance of public worship - it has always been the practice of God's people and commanded by God.
Secondly we are shown shown the leading principles of public worship. It should be
(i) directed to the right object - God;
(ii) through the mediation of Christ;
(iii) Scriptural;
(iv) intelligent;
(v) of the heart;
(vi) reverent.
Thirdly we are taught the essential parts of complete public worship. It should:
(i) be on the Sabbath;
(ii) be led by a minister;
(iii) include preaching of God's word;
(iv) include public prayer;
(v) include public reading of the Scriptures;
(vi) include public praise;
(vii) include regular use of the two sacraments.
Fourthly we are shown what should be avoided in public worship:
(i) disproportionate honour given to any ordinance;
(ii) excessive quantity of decoration;
(iii) sacrificing priests.
Fifthly Ryle gives us some tests by which our public worship should be tried. True spiritual worship will:
(i) affect a man's heart and conscience;
(ii) draw a man into close communion with Jesus Christ himself;
(iii) continually extend a man's spiritual knowledge;
(iv) continually increase the holiness of a man's life.
Particularly helpful was Ryle's discussion of the benefits of good public worship: 'True spiritual worship will continually increase the holiness of a man s life. It will make him every year more watchful over tongue, and temper, and time, and behaviour in every relation of life. The true worshipper's conscience becomes annually more tender. The false worshipper's becomes annually more seared and more hard. '
The benefits of regular public worship cannot be underestimated.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 14 (The Christian Sabbath).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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