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I. THE COMPONENT ELEMENTS OF TRUE WORSHIP. As it is the chief fact with regard to man, so it is of the highest consequence.

1. It has its inward principles. Its root is in the soul. "God is a Spirit," etc. There must be —

(1)  Profound reverence. This is the basis of religious excellence, and is inspired by the contemplation of God and of ourselves in His sight.

(2)  Humility.

(3)  Submissive trust and love.

(4)  Humble hope.

2. It has its proper external acts. As the face is the index of the emotions, so outward acts are the index of the spiritual feelings within. There must be —

(1)  Appropriate postures and demeanour.

(2)  Appropriate times.

(3)  Appropriate acts and places.Splendour of churches is only blameable when it interferes with charity; God, who requireth charity as necessary, accepteth the other also as being an honourable work.

II. THE REASONS RENDERING DIVINE WORSHIP OBLIGATORY.

1. It is based upon our relations to God and the constitution and nature of the human mind.

2. It is a Divine institution. In the Old Testament it is abundantly commanded; taken for granted in the New Testament.

3. It is of supreme importance to the mental and spiritual welfare of the world.

(1)  Its importance to ourselves is great. It maintains a sense of religion in the soul.

(2)  To others the value is great.Without our days, and acts, and places of worship, men would become entirely abandoned to a worldly and irreligious life. The maintenance of worship is the proclamation of the fundamental truths of religion, which bring blessedness to the individual soul, and peace and prosperity to society. Seek to attain the highest ends of worship in yourselves. Make your life one act of worship, "one great psalm."

(James Foster, B.A.)

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KJV: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

WEB: Oh come, let's worship and bow down. Let's kneel before Yahweh, our Maker,