"GOD is the LORD who hath shewed us light-bind the facrifice with cords, " even unto the horns of the altar! "Thou art my GOD, and I will praise "thee-thou art my GoD, and I will "exalt thee." XXXIV. [76] XXXIV. THE TEMPLE. FOUR years are foon elapfed, in preparations for the houfe of GOD. Solomon avails himfelf of the exquifite art of the Tyrians, of the zeal and ardour of his own people. Hiram Hiram procures him artificers in gold, in filk, in purplethirty thousand Ifraelites in their courses hew down the stately cedars-while the humble Gibeonites, the objects of Saul's furious and unhallowed zeal, (being in number an hundred and fifty thousand) are employed in hewing ftones, and bearing burthens. None are fo mean, but they may be useful in their callingseven less honourable fervices are equally neceffary. neceffary. Let us but labour with honeft alacrity, and GOD will accept our industry, and count it for skill. THE temple is framed in Lebanon, and fet up in Sion. Neither hammers nor axes are heard in this holy ftructure. There was nothing but noife in Lebanon-nothing in Sion but filence and peace. Whatever tumults are abroad, all fhould be quietnefs and fweet concord in the Church. O GOD, why do we fuffer fchifm and furious contention to be heard within thy fanctuary? LORD, knit the hearts of thy fervants together in the unity of the Spirit, and the bond of peace-that we may mind and speak the fame things-that thou, who art the GOD of peace, mayft take pleasure to dwell in our fouls! Now is the foundation laid, and the walls are rifing of that glorious fabric, which all nations have admired, and all ages celebrated. Even thofe piles, which were laid on the base of the building, were not rugged and rude, but hewn and coftly-the part which lies covered with earth was no lefs carefully wrought, than those which are more confpicuous. GOD hath delight in the hidden value of his fpiritual temple. How many noble graces of his fervants have been buried in obfcurity; neglected, or forgotten by men, but held in their due estimation in the fight of GOD! THE matter of this fplendid frame vies with its proportion. Nothing but white marble is feen without, nothing but gold and cedar within. Upon the hill of Sion stands that fnowy fabric, which both invites and dazzles the eye of the paffenger afar off. GOD admits of nothing that is not pure and exquifite-His Church confifts of none but the faithful-He dwelleth only in the heart which is devoted to his fear. THE THE fashion of the temple correfponded with that of the tabernacle in the wildernefs-both were conftructed under the fame heavenly directions, the fame mystery was fhadowed out in both. But the one was framed in the state of Ifrael's wanderings, the other in the land of promife-the one was fitted for motion, the other for reft-the one denoted the good will of a multitude, the other the munificence of a king. BUT why do we faften our eyes on wood, and ftone, and metals? GOD has no pleasure in these for their own fake, but for their spiritual fignification. Wherever He is, there is his temple. O GOD, thou vouchsafest to dwell in the humble and contrite bofom-while we have our being in thee, thou haft thine abode in us. The Heaven of heavens is not able to contain thee, but thou doft not despise the hallowed mansion of a regenerate foul. In the heart of thy faith ful |