The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 422

was "King above all gods." 4. Venerable also: '' from the be 6innir.g," from the first days of their national life, God had chosen a place for his Name-beneath the rugged cliffs of Sinai then, 1md now in the magnificent temple, the place of their sanctuary. llut- II. Is DESIGNED TO SUMMON GoD'S PEOPLE TO TRUST IN HIM. 1. For to asse.t that the place of their sanctuary was a "throne," was to assert that Jehovah was a King. Kings occupy thrones. The sovereignty of God is declared by the prophet's words. And what a King! How glorious, let all the records of their race declare. How pre- eminent over all the gods of the. nations, let the gods of Egypt, of Philistia, of Tyre, and others confess. And he was the eternal God. " From the beginning" his rule and majesty had been confessed. But the prophet reminds his countrymen of all this that they might see and own the folly of trusting in gods of the heathen as they were so prone to do. 2. And he reminds them of the nearness of God. For the place of their sanctuary was his court, his throne, bis abode. 'l'.herefore to forsake such a God, and one so near, for iilol-gods, and they afar off,-what folly, what ingratitude, what sin that I But the same ·memory cherished concerning God, his glorious sovereignty, bis all-superintending power and his nearness to us,-how would this strengthen and cheer our hearts often times I Oar sins and sorrows, our faint-heartedness, our fears and dismay, are all largely owing to our forgetfulneBs of that glorious and precious truth which the prophet here declares; And- III. MAY BE TAKEN AS A BETTINO FORTH OF WHAT OUB SANCTUARIES SHOULD BE. 1. For God should rule in them. A Christian Church, whether we speak of the fabric or the people, should be a throne of God. His Law supreme, his will the rule confessed of all. Human governance in any shape or form which will infringe on the Divine authority, is forbidden. Christ is the Head of-the Church, and the " crown rights of the Redeemer " should be jealously maintained. "Let Ciesar's dues be ever paid To Cresar and his throne, • But consciences and souls were mo.de To be the Lord's alone." 2. And if our churcl1es be the Lord's throne, he will make it "a glorious high throne." We should try to make our church buildings glorious outwardly, so far as we may, coveting what is splendid, majestic, beautiful, in architecture, music, adornment, to by as a tribute at our Sovereign's feet. Where, consistently with other claims, this may bo done, it should be. Ilut he himself will mnke our Churches his "glorious high throne," by coming into their midst. On how many a Sunday his people have known that he has been with them I "The King himself comes near And feasts his saints to-do.y," And by asserting his power over men's hearts. This is his most glorious power-to sway the spirit, to lead the will, to bend the heart. And this, by his Spirit in connec- tion with the proclamation of the Word o( bis grace, he will do, and so the Charch will become "a glorious high throne" of the Lord. 3. And because of " the communion of saints," and the consequent union of the Church of to-day with the Church of all the ages past, therefore the Church is God's throne which has been "from the beginning." '!'he Church of to-day is in the honow·ed succession of the Church of the first days, through its long lino of patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, saints, and thus may claim to have been the" glorious high throno" of the Lord" from the beginning." Let us cherish and seek to hand on this succession, and thus justify our claim to the august title con- tained in these words. 13ut most of all these words- IV. REJl[IND us OF CHRIST AND BIS CROSS, THE TRUE SANCTUARY OF SOULS. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ-type of all ignominy and shame, though it was-bas becowe the Lord's "glorious high throne." From it and by it he has wielded a sovereignty so glorious, so wide,',so holy, so enduring, that, fe.r moro than the mercy-seat, its ancieut Rymbol, it deserves thus to bo described. Whether wo consider the number of his subjects, their character, the means by which his rule over them has been won anu. is sustained, or the nature of his rule,-all justify the ascriptiou to his cross and to hi:11 4-28 TilE DOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [art. x.vn. l-Z7,