Christians, Temples of the living GOD.
2 CORINTHIANS vi. 16.
_Ye are the Temple of the living God._
ISAIAH, speaking of the glory of gospel days, said, “Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O GOD, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Chapter lxiv. 4. Could a world lying in the wicked one, be really convinced of this, they would need no other motive to induce them to renounce themselves, take up their cross, and follow JESUS CHRIST. And had believers this truth always deeply impressed upon their souls, they could not but abstain from every evil, be continually aspiring after every good; and in a word, use all diligence to walk worthy of Him who hath called them to his kingdom and glory. If I mistake not, that is the end purposed by the apostle _Paul_, in the words of the text, “Ye are the temple of the living GOD.” Words originally directed to the church of _Corinth_, but which equally belong to us, and to our children, and to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call. To give you the true meaning of, and then practically to improve them, shall be my endeavour in the following discourse.
_First_, I shall endeavour to give you the true meaning of these words, “Ye are the temple of the living GOD.” The expression undoubtedly is metaphorical, or figurative: but under the metaphor, something real, and of infinite importance, is to be understood. And there seems to be a manifest allusion, not only to what we call temples or churches in general, but to the _Jewish temple_ in particular. I trust, that but few, if any here, need be informed, that the preparations for this edifice were exceedingly grand, that it was modelled and built by a divine order, and when compleated, was separated from common uses, and dedicated to the service of the incomprehensible Jehovah, with the utmost solemnity.
It is thus that christians are “the temple of the living GOD,” of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; they who once held a consultation to create, are all equally concerned in making preparations for, and effectually bringing about the redemption of man. The Father creates, the Son redeems, and the Holy Ghost sanctifies all the elect people of GOD. Being loved from eternity, they are effectually called in time, they are chosen out of the world, and not only by an external formal dedication at baptism, or at the LORD’s supper, but by a free, voluntary, unconstrained oblation, they devote themselves, spirit, soul, and body, to the entire service of Him, who hath loved and given himself for them.
This is true and undefiled religion before GOD our heavenly Father: This is the real christian’s _reasonable service_, or, as some think the word imports, this is the service required of us in the word of GOD. It implies no less than a total renunciation of the world; in short, turns the christian’s whole life into one continued sacrifice of love to GOD; so that, “whether he eats or drinks, he does all to his glory.” Not that I would hereby insinuate, that to be christians, or to keep to the words of our text, in order to be temples of the living GOD, we must become hermits, or shut ourselves up in nunneries or cloysters; this be far from me! No. The religion, which this bible in my hand prescribes, is a social religion, a religion equally practicable by high and low, rich and poor, and which absolutely requires a due discharge of all relative duties, in whatsoever state of life GOD shall be pleased to place and continue us.
That some, in all ages of the church, have literally separated themselves from the world, and from a sincere desire to save their souls, and attain higher degrees of christian perfection, have wholly devoted themselves to solitude and retirement, is what I make no doubt of. But then such a zeal is in no wise according to knowledge; for private christians, as well as ministers, are said to be “the salt of the earth, and the lights of the world,” and are commanded to “let their light shine before men.” But how can this be done, if we shut ourselves up, and thereby entirely exclude ourselves from all manner of conversation with the world? Or supposing we could take the wings of the morning, and fly into the most distant and desolate parts of the earth, what would this avail us, unless we could agree with a wicked heart and wicked tempter not to pursue and molest us there?