Rechabites thought themselves bound to abstain from wine, a thing indifferent in itself, because of their father's oath; and are commended for it.

The rash oath made to the Gibeonites in the days of Joshua was found binding in the days of Saul and David, although it was only the princes of the congregation that swore. The oath of Zedekiah king of Judah to the king of Babylon, a heathen, though prohibited in the law of Moses was found binding; "Shall he break the covenant, and escape?" The bond of any city or community, though made only by those who presently govern, is found binding in law upon their successors in office in the same society. And yet, will any deny that the oath of God, so solemnly sworn by king, nobles, gentry, commons, and persons of all ranks, with uplifted hand to the great God, for maintaining and upholding his tabernacle in the land, is not obligatory upon us their posterity? And therefore, I say, if we do not concur in building the fallen tabernacle of David, according to these oaths, we are guilty, not only of rebellion against the divine authority, but also of perjury.

5thly, Hell and Rome, and all their auxiliaries, are at work to ruin the Lord's tabernacle; and yet shall the friends of Christ be slack-handed to build and uphold it? None more active to ruin and pull down the tabernacle than a set of corrupt clergymen, who by ways and means of their own, have usurped the sacred offices of the tabernacle. We have seen by their acts, and now we may see it in print, a scheme and project laid to ruin the church of Christ into a politic engine for serving the interest of the state, and all the stipends of Scotland into livings for gentlemen's sons; and thus they propose to build the tabernacle of David. But if this was the way of Christ and his apostles it is easy to judge from Matth. xi. 25; 1 Cor. i. 26–28. Now, I say, when men are so active to ruin the Lord's tabernacle, shall not the lovers of Christ be concerned to build it up?

6thly, The curse of God will follow those who do not help to build up the tabernacle of David. The cry seems to be given in the camp of Israel, "Who is on the Lord's sideagainst the mighty?" You that are idle spectators, and refuse your helping hand, remember that awful word, Judg. v. 23: "Curse ye Meroz, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof: because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty."

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7thly, If the tabernacle of David fall, or be lifted from among us, many woes will follow upon it: Yea, wo also unto them when I depart from them:" nothing but desolation "Be instructed, O Jerusalem, lest I make thee deso

ensues.

late, a land not inhabited. I would have gathered thee," (says Christ to the Jews,) "as the hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" and therefore "behold your house is left unto you desolate." Let us but look to Shiloh, and see what the Lord has done there; let us look to the famous churches in the Lesser Asia, the once famous church of Rome; let us look to France, Spain, Germany, and other parts, where the tabernacle of David once flourished, and see what darkness and desolation is there through the removal of the tabernacle; and let these be beacons to warn and guard us against indifference about the concerns of the Lord's tabernacle, and motives to excite us to activity and concern for maintaining and upholding of his tabernacle as in the days of old.

8thly, Let it encourage every friend of Zion to lend their helping hand, that it is God that builds the tabernacle of David, and his faithfulness is engaged in the text to do it. "We are encouraged to "work out" the work of our personal salvation with fear and trembling," under a sense of our own weakness and impotency, because "it is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his own good pleasure." So let it encourage us to put our hand to the work of the Lord's tabernacle, that it is God that builds the tabernacle of David: "God doth build up Jerusalem, and gather together the dispersed of Israel." If he smile upon our impotent efforts at the work, he will make the work to go on and prosper. is no matter how insignificant, how few or small the instru ments be, if he work with them or by them; for he can make one to chase a thousand, a thousand to put ten thousand to flight. The battle is not to the strong, nor the race to the swift.-Worm Jacob" in his hand will arise “and thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and make the hills as chaff.”

It

9thly, If we do not help up with the tabernacle of David, we bring the blood of David upon our heads; for the tabernacle was reared at the expense of his blood: and we bring the blood of all our ancestors, who suffered for maintaining of God's tabernacle in the land, upon our head. Yea, we bring the blood of our souls, and the blood of all our posterity, on our head: for if the tabernacle of David fall, and be removed, our own souls perish, and the souls of our posterity, the very means of their salvation being gone out of the land: for "where no vision is, there the people perish," says the Lord by Solomon, Prov. xxix. 18.

In order to our successful building of the broken and fallen tabernacle of David, there are these following particulars I would suggest to my reverend brethren at present, to myself, and to all hearing me:

1. In order to tabernacle-building, it is necessary that every one of us prepare a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob in our hearts. It is scarcely to be supposed that that man who refuses Christ a room in his heart by faith, will ever be very active to build him a tabernacle in the land: and. therefore let every one of us comply with that summons, Psal. xxiv. at the close: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may And then, having given him a habitation in your hearts, provide room for him in your families. You that are heads of families, say as Joshua, Let others do as they please, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Let God be worshipped in sincerity morning and evening in your families, and make it your business to instruct your families, children, and servants, in the good ways of the Lord, after the example of Abraham the father of the faithful.

come in."

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2. In order to our building the tabernacle of the Lord's congregation in the land, it is necessary that we be well acquainted with "the pattern showed in the mount," particularly of the New Testament revelation; and what a length the work was carried in the days of our forefathers, who took themselves and their posterity engaged by solemn covenant to preserve, maintain and carry on that reformation in the land; and what contendings and wrestlings, even unto blood, there have been in that glorious cause. Ignorance of the cause of Christ, as it has been stated from the word of God, both as to doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, and how it has been adopted by solemn oath, makes people to work in the dark, and to dispute and contend about they know not what. And therefore, let us study the testimony of the Lord's witnesses in former times, and what testimonies have been, and may be, emitted against the defections of our own day and generation.

3. Having laid these things as a foundation, it is necessary that, like Elijah, we should be "very zealous for the Lord God of hosts," and his tabernacle in the land. It is said of Christ, when he was purging his temple, and casting out buyers and sellers who profaned it, that "the zeal of his Father's house did eat him up," John ii. 17. Something of this holy zeal should possess all the members of Christ, and all his ministers. There is a generation of Gallios and Laodiceans, who, under the name of moderation, falsely so called, will look upon you as madmen, and hot-headed zealots, and what not? But as fire burns with the greater heat, the colder the climate and weather be; so true zeal will rather be kindled and increased, than cooled and quenched, by such discouragements. Only let your "zeal be according to knowledge,"

founded upon a true acquaintance with the person, natures, and offices, and cause of Christ; for indeed blind zeal does more harm than good: our zeal should be accompanied with the serpent's wisdom, and the dove's simplicity and inno

cence.

4. In building the tabernacle of David, we had need to count the cost, and to reckon what tabernacle-work may cost us; lay your account with the loss of your name; lay your reputation down at the Lord's feet. As Christ despised the shame of the cross in saving us, so must we in following him and his cause. We must lay our account with the loss of our worldly substance, and "take joyfully the spoiling of our goods." Let never your own houses, lands, and riches, be laid in the balance with the building of God's tabernacle; otherwise Christ and you will soon part, like the young man in the gospel, who "went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions." We must lay our account with the loss of our lives in building of the Lord's tabernacle: many a life has gone for it in Scotland; and, if it need our lives also, we must be ready to part with them, rather than quit the Lord's tabernacle, Rev. xii. 11.

5. "Come not nigh unto the tents of these wicked men,' who usurp upon the priesthood and service of the tabernacle without the Lord's call, and who are active in carrying on a' defection from the attained to reformation of the Lord's tabernacle in Scotland. The countenance and encouragement given them by professed friends of Christ, hardens and fortifies them in their way and method; such are partakers of their sin. It is the express command of God, from such to "withdraw, who walk not according to the tradition we have received:" and therefore every one that wishes well to the Lord's tabernacle should say of such, as Jacob said of Simeon and Levi, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret ; unto their assemblies, mine honour, be not thou united; for the instruments of wickedness and cruelty are in their habitations."

6. Unite with all ministers or Christians who are endeavouring honestly in their sphere to build up the tabernacle of David. It is a sore matter, and looks ominous, when the real friends of the tabernacle come to be divided among themselves. Although we be commanded to separate from tabernacle-destroyers, yet we are not any where commanded to separate from tabernacle-builders, who "keep the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless," and are, according to their sphere and situation, endeavouring to promote the public cause of David our King, and opposing his ene

mies.

"He that is not against us, is with us." Let us stu

dy to be with all those that are with Christ, or upon his side, and his covenanted cause in the land; but especially with those that stand as it were in front of the battle, and against whom the strength of the enemy is levelled.

7. Pray and wrestle much at the throne of grace that God may come and work the work himself; for "Except the Lord build the house, the builders build in vain." 0 pray, that the cloud of his presence may rest upon the tabernacle; that his Spirit may be poured out from on high upon king, nobles, gentry, commons, ministers and people; and then the building of the tabernacle will go on apace.

8. Lastly, Let every one attempt, through grace, the reformation of his own heart and life, and to have a walk like those who believe that the God of the tabernacle is in the midst of us. Israel were obliged to guard against all moral and ceremonial uncleanness, because "the holy One of Israel was in the midst of them;" so let us study to act and walk, as in the sight of that God who "searcheth Jerusalem as with, lighted candles." "Be ye holy, as he that hath called you is holy." The untender walk of professors is a reproach to the God of the tabernacle, and causes the enemy to blaspheme. Let the laws of the tabernacle, particularly those of the moral law, as a rule of obedience, be "a light unto your feet, and a lamp unto your paths." "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be on them, and mercy, and upon all the Israel of God."