se it
is so beyond all question, therefore woe to the irreligious world that
never puts it in practice! O, what excuse can you have, who have not so
much as a form of godliness! Do you not know, that it is beyond all
controversy that God must be worshipped? Why then do you deny that in your
practice, which all men must confess in their conscience? Is not he God,
the Lord, a living and self being Spirit? Then must he not have
worshippers? Beasts are not created for it, it is you, O sons of men! whom
he made for his own praise, and it is not more suitable to your nature
than it is honourable and glorious. This is the great dignity and
excellency you are privileged with, beyond the brute beasts,--to have
spirits within you capable of knowing and acknowledging the God of your
spirits. Why then do you both rob and spoil God of his glory, and cast
away your own excellency? Why do you love to trample on your ornaments and
wallow in the puddle; like beasts void of religion, but so much worse than
beasts, that you ought to be better, and were created for a more noble
design? O base spirited wretches, who hang down your souls to this earth,
and follow the dictates of your own sense and lust, and have not so much
as an external form of worshipping God! How far are you come short of the
noble design of your creation, and the high end of your immortal souls! If
you will not worship God, know, he will have worshippers. Certainly he
will not want it; because he hath designed so many souls to stand before
him, and worship him, and that number will not fail. He might indeed have
wanted worshippers: for what advantage is it to him? But in this he
declares his love and respect to man, that he will not want honour and
service from him. It is rather to put honour upon him, and to make him
blessed and happy, than for any gain that can amount to himself by it. For
this is indeed the true honour and happiness of man, not to be worshipped
and served of other fellow-creatures, but to worship and serve the
Creator. This is the highest advancement of a soul, to lie low before him,
and to obey him, and have our service accepted of his Majesty. I beseech
you, strive about this noble service! Since he must have worshippers, O
say within your souls, "I must be one! If he had but one, I could not be
content if I were not that one." Since the Father is seeking worshippers,
(ver. 23,) O let him find thee! Offer thyself to him, saying, Lord, here
am I. Shou