Professing Christians will do weU to remember our Lord's words in the present day. It is meet and right beyond doubt that buildings set apart for Christian worship, should be worthy of the purpose for which they are used. Whatever is done for Christ ought to be well done. The house in which the Gospel is preached, and the Word of God read, and prayer offered up, ought to lack nothing that can make it comely and substantial. But let it never be forgotten that the material part of a Christian Church is by far the least important part of it. The fairest combinations of marble, and stone, and wood, and painted glass, are worthless in God's sight, unless ^ there is truth in the pulpit, and grace in the congregation. The dens and caves in which the early Christians used to meet, were probably far more beautiful in the eyes of Christ, than the noblest cathedral that was ever reared by man. The temple in which the Lord Jesus delights most, is a broken and contrite heart, renewed by the Holy Ghost.
Let us notice, for another thing in this passage, our Lord Jesus Christ's solemn warning against deception. His striking words about the temple drew from His disciples an important question : " Master, when 'shall these things be P and what sign will there be, when these things shall come to pass P " Our Lord's reply to that question was long and full. And it began with a pointed caution, " Take heed that ye be not deceived."
The position which this caution occupies is very remark- able. It stands in the forefront of a prophecy of vast extent and universal importance to all Christians, — ^a prophecy reaching from the day in which it was delivered, to the
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di^ of the aeoond adTent, — a prophecy leTealing maliers of the most tiemendoiis interest both to Jews and Gen- tfles, — and a jfmfhecy of whidi a laige portion remains yet to be folfilled. And the Teiy first sraitence of this wondrous projdiecjr is a caution against deception, ** Take heed that ye be not deoeiYed."
The necessity of this caution has been continually proTod in the histoiy of the Chnrdi of Christ. On no subject perhaps have divines made so many TnisfftlrAa as in the interpretation of unfulfilled prophecy. On no subject haye they shoim so completely the weakness of man's intellect^ and confirmed so thoroughly the words of St Paul, " We see through a glass darkly : — we know in part'' (1 Cor. ziiL 12.) Dogmatism^ positiyenessy controversial bitterness, obstinacy in maintaining unten- able positions^ rash assertions and speculations^ have too often brought discredit on the whole subject of the pro- phetical Scriptures, and caused the enemies of Christianity to blaspheme. There are only too many books on pro- phetical interpretation, on the title-pages of which might be justly written, " Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge ? "
L6t us learn firom our Lord's warning words to pray for a humble teachable spirit, whenever we open the pages of imfiilfilled prophecy. Here, if anywhere, we need the heart of a little child, and the prayer " open thou mine eyes." (Psalm cxix. 18.) Let us beware, on the one side, of that lazy indifference which turns away from all prophetical Scripture, on account of its difficulties. Let ns beware, on the other side, of that dogmatical and arro- gant spirit, which makes men forget that they are