testimony of those things which were to be spoken after ; but Christ as a Son over his own house: whose house are WEh." The truth is, that " God dwelleth not in temples made with hands." Even while his tabernacle and temple were yet standing, God testified respecting them, that the temple which alone he regarded, was a broken and contrite spirit1.]
To us therefore may the direction fitly be ad- dressed—
[Make ye, my Brethren, a sanctuary for the Lord, that he may dwell among you : let every one willingly present unto him his heart, and entreat him to fill it with his presence. Let his habitation too be furnished with every thing suited to the worship which you have to offer. You are not called to carnal ordinances, and therefore have no need of such things as were wanted under the Jewish dispensation. It is with the gifts and graces of the Spirit that you are to serve and honour God. Abound ye therefore in them. Grudge no expense whereby you may obtain them. Let them all be formed according to the model shewn you in the mount. In Christ Jesus you have a perfect pattern of them all. " Look to it," that your graces accord with his. Let none be wanting, none be different. Let the command of God be the reason of all that you present unto him, the example of Christ the pattern, and the glory of God the end. Whatever you have brought with you out of Egypt (out of your unconverted state) honour God with it : let it be gold and silver, or talents of any kind, consecrate them to the Lord : make use of them for the building of his tabernacle, and the exalting of his glory in the world. Remember too more especially to be conformed to the pattern in this respect; his tabernacle was most glorious within : on the outside were rams' skins, and badgers' skins; but within, all was of gold and linen exquisitely wrought. O that our interior might be such, as most to glorify our God! We are far from saying that the exterior should be neglected : but it should be modest and unassuming : and they who from their connexion with us can penetrate within the veil, should see that our hidden virtues are the most eminent, and that God is most honoured in those dispositions and habits of ours, which are most concealed from public view.
In vain are you baptized into the name of the Sacred Trinity, if you do not " observe and do all things whatsoever Christ has commanded you :" nor indeed can you in any other way hope for the accomplishment of that promise, " Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world k." Let me therefore
h Heb. iii. 5,6. ' Isai. lvii. 15. andlxvi. 1, 2. with Acts vii. 47 — 50.
k Matt, xxviii. 19, 20.
99.] aaron's breast-plate. 471
entreat you to seek for "grace," whereby you may serve God acceptably; and to make the blessed resolution of the Psalmist, that "you will give neither sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eye-lids, till you have found a place (in your own hearts) for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob1."]
1 Ps. cxxxii. 2 — 5.