and obtained in the house of God, must be exhibited and exemphfied in our daily walk : and, if there be not a correspondence between the two, what do we but proclaim ourselves hypocrites before the whole world ? We " cannot serve God and Mammon too ;" nor must we pretend to " fear the Lord, whilst we are serving other gods." But, if we will indeed devote ourselves to the Lord, then shall our prayers descend in blessings on our souls, and the services of time be a prelude to the enjoyments of eternity. Hear the answer which God made to Solomon on this very occasion : ^' Now, mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place : for now have I chosen and sanctified this house : and my name shall be there for ever : and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there continually. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land"."
Permit me now, in conclusion, to take yet further the example of Solomon for my guide ; and, as he in his prayer addressed himself to God in behalf of his own people, and of the strangers who sojourned amongst them, so now to address myself, first, to the stated inhabitants of this place, and then to those, who, as strangers, are sojourning here only for a season.
The stated inhahitants I would congratulate on the further accommodation which they will now receive for the worship of Almighty God. For though the provision now made is very inadequate to the wants of this daily augmenting population, it will doubtless be of important service, and serve as a prelude, I trust, to somewhat which shall be still more effectual.
The necessity of waiting upon God in public is here obviously proclaimed. But there is an improve- ment of the occasion, which, though less obvious, is
" 2 Chron. vii. 14—16,