is made_ i~ this 11lace.''. The temple_ was designed_ to be a place of prayer for nll peoplo (ha. )"1'1 •. , ; Matt.. xx1. 13 ; Mark x1. 17; Luke x1x. 46), for all people to resort to with supphcat10ns for themselves and on behalf of all sorts of people; the like characteristics belong t.o the ~Chnrc~ of -~he New Testament (Luke xviil. 1; xxiv. 62, 63; Eph. vi.18 i 1 Thess. 'I", 11; 1 Tim. 11. 1, 8). . II. FoR ITS MINISTE~s. That they migh~ be clothed with salvation (ver. 41), or righteousness (Ps. cuxn. 9)-the two terms in the Old Testament being synonymous or at least so connected that the one implies the other (cf. Isa. lxi. 10), Rightly understood, salvation is the outcome and result of righteousness. The sonl that is righteous outwardly and inwardly, judicially or legally, and morally or personally, is saved; while none are saved by whom that righteousness is not possessed, either in whole as by the glorified, or in part as by Christian believers- " Whose faith receives a righteousness That makes the sinner just." In _seeking, then, that th~ temple priests might be clothed with salvation, Solomon desired: 1. That they might be personally good men. Upright and sincere in their hearts before God, virtuous and correct in their walk before men-men like Noah (Gen. vii. 1), Abraham (Gen. xvii. 1), Job (i. 1; xxix. 14), David (Ps. vii. 8), and ~at_hanael (,John i. 47); since only men themselves righteous, in the sense of being Justified and accepted before God as well as renewed and possessed of the germ of holi- ness, were warranted to minister at God's altar (Exod. x.xii. 31 ; Lev. xi. 44; Ps. 1. 16). The like qualification the Church of Christ should ever seek in those who serve in her pulpits. .Anything more calamitous than an insincere and immoral, because unbeliev- ing and unconverted ministry, can hardly be imagined as befalling the Christian Church. The :first requisite of him who would preach the gospel is a hearty acceptance of the same in faith and humility, love and obect ience-the foundation of all true piety. 2. That they might be clothed with salvation in their official ministrations. That their whole being should be absorbed (and so visibly that men might behold it) in the work of saving God's people. If iDdispensable as a mark of a true Heaven-appointed priest under the Law, much more is this requisite as a qualification of the Christ-sent preacher under the gospel Pastors and teachers in the New Testament Church who aim not at the salvation of themselves and their hearers (1 TinI. iv. 16) are intruders into the sacred office. The one theme which has a claim to monopolize the time, talents, thought, eloquence, zeal of the Christian minister is the gospel of Christ+-" the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom. i. 16). III. FoR ITS PEOPLE, That they might rejoice in goodness (ver. 41). Notice: 1. The designation. Saints (1 Sam. ii 19; Ps. xx.x. 4; I. 5; cxlix.1). The term literally signifies kiud, excellent, one who shows favour, hence pious (Gesenius); or one who has obtained favour, hence beloved (Perowne). In both senses were God's ancient people "saints." They were objects of Jehovah's favour (Deut. vii. 8; 1 Kings x. 9; eh. ii. 11), beloved for the fathers' sakes (Rom. xi. 28); and were, or should have been, kind and beneficent (Lev. xix. 18; Ps. cxii. 5 ; Prov. x. 12; Zech. vii. 9). So likewise are New Testament believers beloved for Christ's sake (Rom. i. 7; Eph. i. 6), and com- manded to love one another (John xiii. 34, 35; xv. 17 ; Rom. xii. 10; Gal. v. 13; 1 Pet. ii 17; I John iv. 7, 21). The customary sense in which the term" saint" is need is that of separated, or holy one (Deut. xx.xiii. 3; Job xv. 15; Ps. xxxiv. 9; Acts ix. 13; Rom. L 7; 1 Cor. i. 2; Eph. i. l). 2. The emotion. Gladness. Nothing more remarkable than the emphasis placed by both 'l'estaments upon "joy" as an experience which should belong pr-minently to God's saints (Deut. xxxiii. 29; 1 Sam. ii 1 • Ps. v. 11 ; J.xxxiv. 4; c. 1, 2; Isa. xxix. 19 ; Rom. xii. 12; xiv. 17 ; Gal. v. 22; Phil iiL 1; iv. 4). Where joy is habitually absent, there is reason to suspect that either the individual is no true believer at all, or is under mistaken apprehensions con- cerning God or himself, or is affected by some malady, bodily or mental, which disturbs his peace. Yet the primal fountain of all joy for the religious soul is God (Neh. viii. 10; Job viii. 21; Ps. iv. 7; xxx. 11; John xiv. 27; xv. 11; xvi. 22; xvii. 13; Rom. v. 2; xv. 13). 3. The occasion. Goodness; i.e. in the highest sense. Not merely God's common gifts of corr,. and wine, though even in these a saint can exult with a propriety which none can feel but those who recognize everything they have as coming err. vn.1-22.J THE BEyOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 83
from a Father's hand; but chiefly God's highest gifts of grace and salvaUon, and in particular God's greiit and unspeakable Gift, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. ix. 15). IV. Fon ITS KING, That God would regard him with favour (ver. 42). God's anointed in the passage under consideration was Solomon; but the great Anointecl, of whom he was e. shadow, was Christ, whom God anointed with the oil of gladness above bis fellows (Pe. xiv. 7), and set as King upon hie holy hill of Zion (Ps. ii. 6). The language of the prayer, therefore, may be applied to Christ, the Church's Head and Kiner. 1. In meaning it may signify that God would continue to regard him with favour, an°d show this by not denying hie request (1 Kings ii. 16). As thus interpreted, it teaches that Christ's Church has a deep interest in the success of all Christ's prayers on their behalf, and should make this a frequent burden of her supplications, that Jehovah would hear the intercessions of her anointed Head within the veil for transgressors (Isa.. Jiii. 12), for believers (Heb. vii. 25), for the sanctification of his own (John xvii. 17), for the conversion of the world (John xvii. 20), for the final consummation of all thincrs (John xvii, 24). 2. The arguments by which the prayer may _be supported are twi: (1) The king's relation to God-he is God's anointed (Ps. xiv, 7); and (2) the cove- nant engagement which God has made with him as David's son. These were the pleas advanced by Solomon; they are more befitting in the mouths of Christians regarding Christ. Learn: 1. The sublimity of true prayer. 2. The comprehensive scope of prayer. 3. The exalted character of the Church e.s God's dwelling-place, and as Christ's kingdom. 4. The grand aim of tbe Church as a visible institution to promote salvation, 5. The entire dependence of the Church for efficiency on God.-W.