In John 4 it is to a depraved woman, that had lost her character, to whom no one would care to speak except-wonderful to say-the Son of God, that the Lord brings out the great truth of the gift of the Spirit: no longer merely acting morally on the soul or quickening, but Himself dwelling in the heart, the Holy Spirit the power of divine fellowship and worship. What a joy! the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers, the Father seeking such to worship Him. Do you know this? Or are you still trammeled by what is now passed, what once existed and then had the sanction of God? by the rule of a past dispensation for an earthly people? by rites which no longer have the slightest value in His sight who reveals Himself as Father? The day of forms and ceremonies is entirely gone.
How often people say, We do not attach importance to such things! The truth is that they are now a very bad thing and contrary to God's actual order. It is not only that fine sights and sounds should not be an object in worship, but it is a positive sin to seek or admit them. It is, in principle, a going back to idolatry and a condemned world. [12]