11ecration of it was another, and though, indeed, it was not even such fire as this tho.t by itself did the consecration or was of the essence of it, yet it was the evidence of it and the visible sign and act of it. The fire of holy feelincr, of devoutness of devo~ tion, of lo~•~, of pure ad_oring worship, is no~ of natur~, nor of the ministry of man, nor of the ability ol the high priest or any priest, to kmdle, 'l'he kindling must come from the throne itself, whither whatsoever it is that we may have to offer is ascend- ing. The sacrifices of prayer, of praise, of a poor, broken, contrite heart, need all and each the inspiring illumination and fire of and from the altar itself. What a thought, what a truth, for us I Our worship and our works of devotion need to be pervaded, with this conviction, and if they were so, at how much higher a level would they be found, and with how much steadier life would they show themselves forth I Moments and sometimes even hours, of our inner consciousness would in no way fall short eo: impression, conviction, and surpassing joy and peace, of what were present actu~lly now, in the rapt, and again the impassioned, experience of all Israel. That moment was indeed a moment worth a nation's living for. Read the verses (1, 2, 3) themselves. But the instance is but one of a thousand, that tell how soon impression fades away, of what may be most grand, most significant of all, when its source comes from with- out. The deeper things of our hearts may last longer. Let us therefore seek, honour, prize, them rather! II. The fact that, with the finishing, dedication, and consecration of the temple, THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF THE SERVICES OF RELIGION WAS ESTABLISHED. In four parti- culars this is noted, viz. the unanimous effort of king and people to accomplish the full number of sacrifices; the falling of the priests into their places, and the filling of their regular offices; the same of the Levites with their instruments of music; and lastly, the hallowing of the middle of the court before the house, as an auxiliary place for the offering of burnt offerings and of the fat of the peace offerings. This was by no means the one solitary time, or the last time, that has illustrated the general principle of the utility of having the enter form and the outer institutions of the Church order in their place and in distinct prominence; While the Church is on earth, at least, the things of the eye, the things of the ear, memories, associations, company, and the stronger kinds and forces of anticipation-all help religious fidelity; they are naturally fitted to do so, and, as thus naturally adapted to high use, are not justifiably to be neglected, slighted, underrated, or presumptuously regarded, as either optional in all cases, or quite dispensable in the case of those who credit themselves with a larger measure of spiritual power and principle than belongs to others, This very assumption is, per se, too generally decisive of an opposite state of things. We have at present com- paratively little to do with what may prove to be the mode, the infinitely grander mode, of worship and service up above. But here the form has its importance; and if so, the righter form, or more perfect form, or more beautiful form remains to be studied and sought. Have we not even here an instance of the educative genius of sincere religion, however simple it may be? It certainly insists on" cleanliness." It certainly insists on order. And as matter of fact, and lying iu the whole course of the history of the Church for eighteen centuries, how unmistakably and undeniably it bas nourished all "things lovely," sights of beauty and sounds of beauty,-postulating and necessi- tating in turn what underlie these, viz. thoughts and feelings of beauty and of truth I Ill. THE DISTINCT NOTICE IlEC0BDED OF THE SATISFACTION THE WHOLE PEOPLE EXPEBIENCED WHILE THEIB BELIGIOUS FESTIVAL LASTED-some fourteen to fifteen days -AND THEIB GBATEFUL, HAPPY MEMORIES OF IT, ON THE HIGHEST GBOUNDS, as they returned and journeyed home. It was no doubt, in countless instances, on countless occasions, true that there was a humble rehearsal of the saying of the two disciples (who had journeyed to Emmaus in the holiest of company, and in the most sacred of religious instruction, and finally service of breaking of bread), "Did not our heart burn within us?" The people now returned to tent and home, "glad and merry in. heart for the goodness that the Lord had showed to David, and to Solomon, and to !Brael his people." There is no higher joy than religious, no better company, and no better cheer of good company. IV. A FBEBH DIVINE VISION GBANTED TO SoLOMON. This vision was gr&.nted fer the threefold purpose of assuring Solomon: 1. That his temple-prayer had been heard, and that it should be irn,plwitly and explicitly answered from time to time. The accepted cm. vn. 1-22.J THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 87
e.nd hallowed "house of prayer," dedicate now and consecrate, should be a perpetual living oratory. There was everything now about the house and in the house to con- stitute it fitly such, and it is now written with authority and with promise, "My house shall be called the house of prayer." What a centre of life, of hope, of refuge, for that people unto e.11 J1;8Derations if they know and remember the day of their merciful visitation I 2. That the Divine covenant with him, should not fail, should never fail, and the Divine promise to him should be established for ever, if he remem- bered, aud remembered to do his part involved in, the covenant. Here ancestral memories were drawn upon, and brilliant promises of the future were called in, to exercise their powerful influence, and both for the service of offering direction and warning and encouragement. 3. That exemplary and certain and most noutble retrioution would be the portion of the nation if they turned away to idolatry. With simplest grandeur and force is this dread reverse (in a possible, alas I too probable future) announced, if ha.ply the announcement may be an effectual deterrent. The people shall be plucked up by the roots, like plants from the land; the sanctified hou_se shall be repudiated, made a by-word and a proverb, and the very mark of astonishment to all by-passers. It shall excite and awake the wondering questions of many a nation-those questions to receive one simple, faithful, but dreadful answer : "Because they forsook the Lord God •.. and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped and served them."