December 18

“Rend your heart, and not your garments.” — Joel ii. 13.

^^ARMENT-RENDING, and other outward signs of 1) religious emotion, are casih manifesttd, and are f-equenthj hypocritical: but to feel true repentance w far more diflBcuit, and consequently far less common. Men will attend to the most multiplied and minute ceremonial regulations, — for such things are plcusing to thejlcsh, — but true religion is too humbling, too heart-searching, too thorough for the tastes of carnal men; they prefer something more ostentatious, flimsy, and worldly. Outward observances are temporarily comfortable; eye and ear are pleased; self-conceit is fed, and self-righteousness is puffed up: but they are ultimately delusive, for in the article of death, and at the day of judgment, the soul needs something more substantial than ceremonies and rituals to lean upon. Apart from vital godliness, all religion is utterly vain; offered without a sincere heart, every form of worship is a solemn sham and au impudent mockery of the majesty of heaven. — Heart-eend-ING is divinely wrought and solemnly felt. It is a secret grief which is personally experienced, not in mere form, but as a deep, soul-moving work of the Holy Spirit upon the inmost heart of each believer. It is not a matter to be merely talked of and believed in, but keenly and sensitively felt Id every living child of the living God. It is powerfully humiliating, and completely sin-purging; but then it is sweetly preparative for those gracious consolations which proud, unhumbled spirits are unable to receive; and it is distinctly diicriminating, for it belongs to the elect of God, and to ihcm alone. The text commands us to rend our hearts, but they are naturally hard as marble: how, then, can this be done? We must take them to Calvary: a dying Saviour’s foice rent the rocks once, and it is as powerful now. 0 blessed Spirit, let us hear the death-cries of Jesus, and our hearts shall be rent evea as men rend their vestures in the day of lamentation.