great aim of God's revelation is to bring abou.t the dwelling of man with God, and of God with man (cf. Exod. xxv. 8); (2) that this is one of the thoughts of God unfolded in its different stages in the Scriptures. 1. There was the patriarchal period, when each holy man might commune with Gvd, or erect his altar or his Bethel any- where. 2. There was the Mosaic and prophetic period, during which there was one place that the Lord chose to put his Name there. 3. There is the present Christia!l period, of which it is said (1) in prophecy (Mai. i. 11); (2) in promise (Matt. xviii. 20), that wherever God's people meet in his name, he will be with them. 4. There will be the heavenly state (Rev. xxi. 3, 22, 23). We have not yet come to the rest and inheritance which the Lord bath promised to give us. The fourth stage is yet ahead. 'l'he second is past. The third is ours. To the believer, any room where but two or three meet in their Saviour's name may be as really a house of worship ns the proudest cathedral. Such worship-rooms were common in the early Christian age. 1 The worship itself consecrntes the place. And the presence of God is >1 it, brcause it is with those who worship there. No Church has any monopoly of this Real Presence. 'l'o all believers the Living One has said, "Go l teach, baptizc, and lu ! I am with you all the days, to the end of the age 1" ]II. THE LIVING PRESENCE OF GoD, WHEREVER REALIZED, SHEDS A BADIANCY OF GL0r:Y. 'fhe ark was to the Hebrews the symbol, sign, and token of the Divine presence, and when it was conveyed to the Hill of Zion, that hill at once attained a proud pre- eminence, before which hills of far greater height became quite insignificant. Hence Ps. lxviii. 16.1 And whelher in earlier or later days, in tabernacle or temple, God's " way" was " in the sanctuary." Note: The tokens of God's presence, and these alone, will light up any place of worship with glory. That presence is realized : 1. In the blest fellowship the saints have in their worship, with. all the redeemed on earth and in heaven, as well as with the Lord. 2. In the concert of prayer, as they plead for each other and for all men. 3. In the messages of love that come to them from their Father's Word. 4. In partaking of the tokens of love which are given in the ~acrament of the Lord's Supper. 5. And in the reception of new bles,ing and power for life's service through the energy of the Holy Ghost-, who in his blest fellowship quickens and inspires. Surely, any place where all these boons are enjoyed is indeed radiant with light and blessing l IV, ALTHOUGH TIIIS PRESENCE MAY FILL THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP, NOT ALL l'fl.EREIN WILL DE EQUALLY CONSCIOUS OF IT. Surely this must be the deep meaning of vers. 3-6. The question in ver. 3 is unintelligible. As a matter of fact, any one could ascend the hill of the Lord, and even take up his abode in the sacred precincts. Dut physical proximity to the ark of God, and spiritual nearness to the God of the ark, are two very different things. It is easy to be where God is blessing his people ; it is another thing to be one of those who get the blessing. Moral and spiritual rrcoptivity is nee<lful if wo would enjoy the fu\ness of that blessing. Mechanism is nut inspiration. Posture is not devotion. 'l'he Real Presence cannot be had through tlio bread and wine of the sacrament. It will not come to any through II line of officiating priests. While no one may limit the extent of the blessing so as to shut out RUY true worshipper, on the other hand, not even the holiest place will ensure the blessing to any except the worshipper is true. " He that bath clean hands and a pure heart; he shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from tho God of his salvation." V. BY SU0H AM WORSHIP IN BPinIT AND TRUTH, THE SACRED GATES MAY DE OPENED WITH JOYOUS ACCLAIM, TO RECEIVE THE KING 01!' GLORY. (Vera. 7-10.) Yea, "the King of glory shall come in." He will. '!'here is no doubt of it. 'l'ho gates will not be opened in vain. The joyous host of devout souls wending their way thither will not be doomed to disappointment (Pss. xxvi, 8; xxvii. 4-6; xiii. 4; xliii. 3, 4; xlviii. 9; !xvi. 13-19; !xiii. 16, 17; lxxvii. 13; lxxxiv.; lxxxvii.; cxvi. 14-19; cxvii. 19-27; cx:cx:ii.13-16). They may tako up the grand choral song of this psalm, nnd make it their own. That they and God thus may meot is the only rea~on why these houses of worship are erected. That they do thus meot, the experience of the saints declares. 'fhat they will thus meet, the promises of God's Word ensure. Note: 1 Cf. Dr. Jncob on' The Ecclesiastical Polity of the New Testl\ment.' 1 See rendering of this in notes of' Vl\riorum Bible.'
PSALMS. • 178 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, XXIV, 1-10. --- ----------------- ------------- 'l'he dignity of God's worshippers. Not only do they go to speak to the King, but the King of heaven comes to meet them 1-C,