"God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord 'thy God with all thy heart."-In the temptation of Christ, the devil "saith unto him, All 'these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall 'down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto 'him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and 'him only shalt thou serve." No being in heaven or earth was entitled to any worship but the only God.

King Hezekiah, in his memorable prayer in the temple, when he and all his people were involved in the utmost anxiety and distress, "prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God 'of Israel, which dwellest between the cheru'bims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all 'the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made 'heaven and earth." He proceeds to plead with him to defend his people and his worship, against the enmity of idolaters, who served gods that were no gods. The Lord heard his prayer, and brought to Israel a great deliver

ance.

In the last of Revelation, the beloved disciple gives us the following account of the nature of divine worship. "And, when I had 'heard and seen, I fell down to worship before 'the feet of the angel which shewed me these 'things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it 'not for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy 'brethren the prophets, and of them which keep 'the sayings of this book. Worship God."

Thus this great truth is kept in view, through the sacred volume, as a primary doctrine of divine revelation, that the one true God is the only proper object for the worship of all rational

creatures.

We shall now find that the scriptures teach the duty of paying divine worship to Christ. The first instance that we shall notice is that interesting interview between the Saviour and Thomas his disciple. He would not believe, without the fullest sensible evidence, that Jesus was risen from the dead. "Then saith he to "Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold 'my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and 'thrust it into my side and be not faithless, 'but believing. And Thomas answered, and 'said unto him, My Lord, and my God."This was, most plainly, an act of direct worship. It was a most solemn acknowledgment that he was indeed the true God, whom he confessed as his God, whom he would worship and adore. The singular incredulity of this disciple was most wisely ordered in the holy purposes of God, that the fullest evidence of the character of Christ, and of his resurrection from the dead, might be exhibited. This acknowledgement of Christ, as his God, was expressly approved by his Lord, who replies immediately, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast 'believed." He believed in him as he truly was. It is further to be noted, that the disciple makes this declaration in the most delib

erate manner, as the result of irresistible evidence.

We are told concerning Christ, after his resurrection, "Then the eleven disciples went 'away into Galilee, into a mountain where Je'sus had appointed them. And when they saw 'him they worshipped him."

At the time of his ascension, in the presence of his disciples, "He led them out as far as to 'Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and bless'ed them. And it came to pass, while he bless'ed them, he was parted from them, and car'ried up into heaven. And they worshipped 'him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." Whether they worshipped him before or after his ascension, it makes no difference; for, though in heaven, if he be not the true God, he was no more to be worshipped than any other creature. John was expressly forbidden to worship the angel that was sent to make known to him the truths of heaven.-Of all persons that can be named, the apostles of Christ had, certainly, the best opportunity to know the true character of their Lord; what he was, and what he requires of his people. And as they were to lay the foundation of the christian church, we cannot believe that the Holy Spirit would suffer them to be deceived in any important truth. Yet we perceive that they worshipped the Lord Jesus, as the true God.

The Saviour was worshipped by the ancient patriarchs and prophets. It is said of Abra

ham, Gen. 18; "And the Lord appeared unto 'him in the plains of Mamre :-And he lifted 'up his eyes, and looked, and lo, three men 'stood by him." The patriarch addresses one of them, "My Lord, if now I have found fa'vour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant." The person whom he addresses says to the patriarch soon after, "Lo, 'Sarah thy wife shall have a son." And when they doubted of the truth of the promise, he subjoins, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord ?" That is, himself; for he had made the promise in his own name. He then made known to the faithful patriarch his purpose to destroy the cities of Sodom, because of their great wick-. edness. Abraham then made his intercession for those cities, and received a gracious answer to his repeated supplications. In these supplications he observed, "Behold now, I 'have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, 'which am but dust and ashes.-Wilt thou also 'destroy the righteous with the wicked?-Shall 'not the judge of all the earth do right?" That the person, whom this eminent patriarch worshipped, was Christ, can admit of no reasonable question, since it is the same that covenanted with him, whom we have before shown to be Christ the Saviour. He calls him the judge of all the earth. This Judge is Christ.-No man hath seen God," (that is the Father,) "at any 'time." It is Christ alone that has ever assumed a visible appearance, and been exhibit

ed to the human eye. Thus it is he that appeared to Abraham, and was worshipped by him as the only true God.

The same being appeared, a little after, to Lot, rescued him from the impending danger which was shortly brought upon his devoted city, and received his reverence and worship. He says to Lot, while leading him forth from the city, "Escape for thy life;-escape to the 'mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot 'said unto him, Oh not so my Lord: Behold 'now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, 'and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou 'hast shewed unto me in saving my life ;-Be'hold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it 'is a little one: Oh! let me escape thither, and 'my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, 'I have accepted thee concerning this thing al'so, that I will not ovorthrow this city for the 'which thou hast spoken." Thus he receives the prayer of jsut Lot, and for his sake, spares Zoar, otherwise appointed to destruction.

The Saviour, that was the God of Abraham, was also the God of Jacob. By this latter patriarch he was repeatedly worshipped. When he wrestled with Jacob, he says to him, "Let 'me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, 'I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.'And he blessed him there." Jacob prayed with an earnestness, a determination, which would not be denied. And he obtained his blessing. In view of this event, Jacob said,