The Religious Aspects of the Age Author:Samuel Osgood Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: WORSHIP—ITS NECESSITY. BY REV. B. PETERS, Of Wittiamsburgh. Mr. President : As this is the Anniversary of the Young Men's Christian Union, I cannot but re... more »gard the theme upon which I am called to speak, as one peculiarly fitting. A union of this kind must be made up of young men, who not only appreciate the importance of worship, but who, at all proper times, seek its hallowed influence for the better cultivation of their noblest faculties. We should ever bear the fact in mind, that man is not only a physical being, but that he also possesses a spiritual nature; and that worship is just as essential to bis spiritual life as respiration is to his physical. 'We have lungs of devotion, by whose healthy action the vitalizing influence of Christian truth is sent through our entire spiritual framework ; giving life, health, proportion and beauty to the whole. Man is peculiarly distinguished by this capacity to worship; and not only distinguished, but exalted and honored thereby. By the exercise of this capacity, man holds communion with God, the Great Father of all, and the very fact that we hold communion with him, is demonstrativeproof that we are linked to God by ties of the nearest relationship. How tenderly, and trustingly does the little child nestle in its mother's bosom ! How confidingly do faithful children always look to a kind father for aid and protection ! And what is worship, but a recognition of God as our Father ? What is it but the outpouring of the human soul in gratitude to him for his goodness and mercy ? What is it but the man—the full grown child nestling in the great Father's bosom ? In childhood we look to our parents for aid and protection. It is just as natural for us to do so, as it is for us to breathe; but when childhood passes away and manhood take...« less