eloquenco, reo.soning, force,-they co.nnot resist the power of godliness; it is like the Influence of lea.van; it is like the testimony of the dawning day, which men muHt heed. Jerusalem of old-Jerusalem spiritualized a.a the modern Church-may well be bidden to "put on the beautiful garments" of godly !.i.ving, and "arise and shine." -R.T. Ver. 7.-God's presence the glory of Goife house. "I will glorify the house of my glory" (comp. Hag. ii. 7-8; Mai. iii. 1). Rendered literally, the sentence would read, "My house of beauty will I beautify." Foresbadowings of this spiritual truth a.re found in God's presence making the charm of the Eden-home ; God's presence a.biding as a. glory between the cherubim in the holy of holies; and God's presence coming in the symbol of the descending cloud on Solomon's temple. It was the great glory of Herod's restored temple, that the God-Man walked and worshipped and taught within its courts. It is the exceeding great glory of the Church, the spiritual temple, that God the Spirit comes to it, dwells in it, is the inspiration of it, and glorifies it. There is no glory in a shrine without the Deity. The sunshine, streaming through the windows of the old cathedral, fills the whole place with wondrous and solemnizing lights a.nd shades; a.nd the sunshine of the Divine presence fills the heart and the sanctuary with the only true glory a.nd beauty and joy. "The Church is the house of God's glory, where he manifests his glory to his people, and receives that homage by which they do honour to him." I. WE OUGHT TO GLORIFY Gon's BOUSE. One idea of the text is that the restored temple at Jerusalem wonld be honoured by abundant supplies of sacrifices. That old way of worshipping has given place to spiritual forms, such as prayer and praise and instruction ; then we should give the best possible attention to these, that in so doing we may honour God's house. The best song, the best gifts, the best architecture, all should be devoted to the glorifying of God's house. And, the best, most regular, most reverent, attendance at public worship may be our way of honouring God. "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, a.nd call upon the Na.me of the Lord." That is the way to glorify God for his goodness. II. Gon ALONE OAN TRULY GLORIFY Gon's BOUSE. If he is not present, accepting the worship, inspiring the worship, and sanctifying the worship, then it is all vain show, empty form, deluding ceremony. Write up" Ichabod," for the "glory is departed." God's presence is known in the enduement of his ministers with righteousness, and in the making of his chosen people joyfnl.-R. T. Ver. 11.-0pen gospel-gates. "Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night." Compare the picture orthe new Jerusalem, in Rev. x.xi. 25, "And the gates thereof shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be no night there): and they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it." The figure is taken from a country in which the cities were defended by walls and gates, and these gates were closed at night. Closed gates represented the old limitation and exclusivenesA of Judaism. Open gates suggest the fulness and freeness of the gospel provision and the gospel offer. "Here the open gates have their special reason assigned-to admit the ever in-streaming world, with its offerings and homage." "The words of the text imply a state of peace, in which there would be no danger of attack; and the constant stream of pilgrims, with their offerings, entering by night as well as by day." I. OPEN GATES ARE A PR0OLAUATI0N OF PE.A.OE. The Church does not want to hurt anybody, so it feels no fear of anybody wanting to hurt it. Illustrate from the open country of America; it can keep its gates open, because it does not want to injure or take advantage of any other nation, and eo it is unable to conceive of other nations wanting to injure it. George Macdonald has, in 'Thomas Wingfold, Curate,' a very curious, but very striking, conception of a. heaven of sweetest peace, whero there is no money to create greed, and where everybody wants to serve his neighbour, and nobody wants to injure hie neighbour. That place co.n keep its gate open; and so can Curist's Ohurch. Even in some parte of our country, people's doors are never locked. It is ll delightful sign of peaceful living. 4,12 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAI.AlI. [ott, LL 1-22,
II. OPEN GATES ARE AN INVITATION TO ENTER. Illustrate by the silent, yet powerful, call_ of the open church doors on the sabbath day. We hear them singing to us and 118.J!Dg- "Oome in, come in, Eternal glory thou may'st win I'' The gospel's "whOBOever will" is Divine persuasion. It gives ue confidence; we all oan come under that" whosoever." Ill. OPEN GATES ARE AN ASSURANCE OF WELOOl\lE AND PROVISION. There is some- t?ing inside the .~mple, inside. the city, wb~ch thus boldly dares to open its doors. 'I here must be a fe!lst of fat thmgs, ... of wines on the lees well refined." Illustrate from our Lord's parable of the gospel-feast. He would not open thus wide his doors if the oxen were not killed and the fatlings ready. Unfold what precious and all- satisfying t.hings for souls the Lord Jesus bas provided, and plead that, whether it be morning-time of life, noontime, evening, or night, the gates are open, and we may enter not0.-R. T.