106. Inward More Than Outward.

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord you God. - Joel 2:13.

EXPLAIN the oriental custom of rending robes. People were ready enough to use the outward signs of mourning when, as in the present instance, locusts appeared to devour their crops, or when any other judgment threatened them.

They failed in mourning as to the Lord, and in rendering spiritual homage to his chastising rod. Hence the language of the text.

Let us revolve in our minds—

I. THE GENERAL DOCTRINE THAT TRUE RELIGION IS MORE INWARD THAN OUTWARD.

The expression "Rend your heart, and not your garments," casts somewhat of a slur upon the merely outward.

1. This respects forms and ceremonies of men's devising. These are numerous and vain. "Not your garments" may in their case be treated in the most emphatic manner. Will-worship is sin.

2. It bears also upon ordinances of God's own ordaining if practiced without grace, and relied upon as of themselves effectual.

Among good things which may become unprofitable we may mention—

· The regular frequenting of a place of worship.

· The practice of family prayer in one's own home.

· The reading of Holy Scripture.

· The holding of an orthodox creed.

· The practice of private prayer.

· The attendance upon sacraments.

All these good things should have their place in our lives; but they do not prove saint-ship: since a sinner may practice them all, after a sort. The absence of a true heart will make them all vain.

II. THE FURTHER DOCTRINE THAT MAN IS MORE INCLINED TO THE OUTWARD OBSERVANCE THAN TO INWARD MATTERS.

Hence he needs no exhortation to rend his garments, though that act might in certain cases be a fit and proper expression of deep repentance, and holy horror for sin.

Man is thus partial to externals—

1. Because he is not spiritual, but carnal by nature.

2. Because the inward is more difficult than the outward, and requires thought, diligence, care, humiliation, etc.

3. Because he loves his sin. He will rend his robes, for they are not himself; but to rend off his beloved sins is like tearing out his eyes.

4. Because he cares not to submit to God. Law and gospel are both distasteful to him; he loves nothing which necessitates the obedience of his heart to God.

Many throng the outer courts of religious observance who shun the holy place of repentance, faith, and consecration.

III. THE PARTICULAR DOCTRINE THAT HEART-RENDING IS BETTER THAN ANY EXTERNAL ACT OF PIETY.

1. Heart-rending should be understood. It is—

· To have the heart broken, contrite, tender, sensitive.

· To have the heart grieving over past evils.

· To have the heart rent away from sin, as by holy violence.

· To have the heart torn with holy horror and indignation in the presence of temptation. The sight of sin should rend the heart, especially when it is seen by the light of the cross.

2. Heart-rending is to be preferred to external observances, for—

· These are not commanded for their own sakes.

· They are good or evil as the heart may be.

· Their observance may co-exist with sin, even with great sin.

· Outward signs may even be Antichrists keeping us from Christ.

· They can never supply the place of Jesus himself.

3. Heart-rending should be practiced. "Rend your hearts."

· This would need a great tug. Can a man rend himself?

· This drives us to look to a higher power.

· This is met only by Jesus. Looking to him whom we have pierced, our hearts are rent.

· This, when fully done, leaves us at his feet, who alone "heareth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."