rclrnar~ed in these chapters. They contain the seminal principles which Christian work still demands, and by which the Christian Church shuuld1be guided. Far then from alighting and underrating the significance of the sacred principles that u~derlay ~he religion of_ elder day~, and of t_hat chosen people, to whom it was conveyed in all its o~ter <let.ail by special revelation, let us be ~ncouraged to consider it attentively, now, m respect of that holy house, the temple, which stood for so much in the minds of a great and remarkable nation, and which was a manifestation of so much of the mind and will of God to them first, and through them and after them to the world. For wo are here reminded of- I. THE STRESS LAID UPON THE VERY PLAOE WHERE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE TEMPLE SHOULD BE PLANTED. It was the place: 1. Where sin had beon sternly r<'minded of its just punishment (1 Chron. xxi. 15-17), and had grievously felt it. 2. Where the interposing angel of the Lord appeared, and spoke and stayed the destruction and pestilence (1 Chron. x..xi. 27), in answer to confession, repentance, and sacrifice. 3. "\l,There that same sacrifice was offered on the new-builded altar, which was paid for, and everything necessary to the sacrifice upon it paid for by David, that it might as far as possible be the perfect offering of self. The house and the altar were almost synony- mous (1 Chron. xxii. 1). And we are reminded of the greatest fact, the central fact, that there is no such thing as a true Church without altar. The one, only true and ever-abiding Church of the living God on earth is the sacred environment of the solemn altar, is founded one with it, built up round about it, grows out of it-, commences, as did the temple of David (1 Chron. x.xii. 2) and Solomon, from it, and ever must have tt for its centre. II. 'l'HE FACT OF THE DIVINE INSTRUCTION GIVEN FOR THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE IN ALL ITS PARTS. This fact, per se, may be justly regarded as marking: 1. The Di vine estimate as to human need of revelation for all that pertains to real religion. There is something that inevitably and invariably differences natural religion from revealed religion. It lacks direction, stability, and a real living connection between the worshipped and the worshipper, the great Adorable and the humble sinful adorer. This is supplied by revelation, which is by most deliberate preference not partial, not :fitful, not a thing to be taken or left, but uniform, spreading everywhere and penetrating to each detail. 2. The reverence towards all that affects our spiritual and eternal weal, which Heaven would help us to feel and earnestly to believe in. 3. The kind sympathetic interest with which the August Majesty himself would wish to help us assure ourselves that he tends even the human side of religious institutions. He "dwells in light unapproachable," and yet himself is not inaccessible, is not afar off, is nigh to us. Wbat a welcome thought, inspiring thought, that he helps us build our very place of worship! Notice- IIL THE CAREFULJIESS .AND EXACTITUDE WHICH THAT DIVINE INSTRUCTION :MODELLED FOR OUR IMITATION. After the tabernacle, in time indeed, but second to it in no other sense, nor strictly separable from it, here was the beginning of corporate Church life and institution and building. All things must be done "decently and in order· " "as to the Lord, and not to men," alone ; " not with eye-service." And as real religi~n is the only real life, how sure were all the carefulness and exactitude now pre- scribed and exemplified to draw up, and constantly to tend to draw up, lesser life, home life, and individual life! The individual life (time and illustrations without number have shown it) will grow more divinely ordered for that man whose taste, whose knowledge, but above all, whose deep principle reverences, observes, and "observes to do" all the words of such commandments, with those that correspond with them, and are their heirs and successors, as are contained in these chapters. IV. THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN THE MATERIALS .AND CONTENTS OF THE TEMPLE, IN THEIR BEING SUFFICIENT IN .ALL SMALLEST DETAILS, BEAUTIFUL IN DESIGN .ANV MAKE, GENUINE AND SOLID, .AND OOBTLY, V. THE THINGS IN OR BEFORE THE TEMPLE, WHIOB WERE ORE.ATER TH.AN IT. Beside the many lesser vessels and instruments, each of which had its ancillary (and therefore not unimportant) relation to the greater vessels, or to the worship, service, and sa.crifices for which those greater were ordained, there were some of special, marked, leading importance; while the distinguishing importance of some others lay strictly in their import. Call attentir;,n to just the things which are said of: 1. The greater house; en. m. 1-17.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 37
its gold; ite ceiling, with fine gold, palm-tree figures and chains; its walls, with graven cherubim. 2. The most holy house; its fine gold; its two symbolic cherubim; its veil, with wrought cherubim. 8. The two pillars; their height; their cbapiters, with chains and pomegranates; their names and respective positions. [The general homiletics of eh. iii. and iv. combined close here, and the more par- ticular homiletics appropriate to eh. iv. separately, follow that chapter.]