TIMES OF WORSHIP by S. S. Times

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 20, 1887

TIMES OF WORSHIP.

By S. S. Times

THE nature of worship settles some questions regarding times of worship. The devotional habit should characterize the Christian. This does not mean that he should always be engaged in devotional exercises, or that the devotional state is wanting when it is not finding actual manifestation. Maternal love is our type of unsleeping, tireless, unwavering affection; but even it is not always a matter of conscious thought or of outward expression. It is so in religion. We should pray without ceasing; but this does not mean that we should be always on our knees, or that devotion should destroy our power of work.

The devotional habit, however, does not make seasons of devotion unnecessary. It is a great mistake for men to say, "Treat every day like the Sabbath, and then we need no Sabbath." They forget that periodicity is a large element in the formation of habits, and particularly of the devotional habit. The man who has special seasons for his devotions is the man who is most likely to be habitually devout. There are, of course, no special reasons beyond those that the beginning and close of each day suggest why morning and evening should be so generally considered as proper seasons for devotion. But these reasons are sufficient; and we simply neglect one of the best means of promoting our religious life if we do not make a great deal of the idea of periodicity in religion.—S. S. Times.