God. And to the spiritual apprehension, the orderly arrangement, the symmetrical proportions of the temple, and the provision made for all proper services, nil speak ol the Church of Christ, which is obviously symbolized by the sanctuary bcheld by the prophet in his vision. I. THE FACT OF DIVINE LAW m THE CHURCH, With the increase of habits of observation and of accuracy, with the diminution of superstition, meu have come to recognize throughout the universe the presence and operation of law. Many different opiuions prevail regarding natural law; but it is recognized as a reality. No wonder that a settled conviction should have formed itself in men's minds that "order is Heaven's first law." It would be strange, indeed, were the Church, God's noblest revelation of himself now on earth, exempt from what seems a condition of all God's works. As there was a law of the house in the Jewish temple, so also is there in the Church of the redeemed, the living temple of the Spirit, II. THE RANGE OF DIVINE LA w IN THE CHURCH. Referring to the context, we observe that the prophet notes the application of law to the form, the furniture, the ordinances, the holiness, of the temple. When we come to consider the range within which law is observable in Christ's Church, we find ourselves constrained to believe that the principles are universal and unmistakable, but that in the details there is uncertainty. Opinions differ as to the measure in which law of an explicit character governs the constitution, the ministry, the observances, etc., of the Church of Christ. Some students are disposed to look to Scripture 11.nd to primitive usage for more explicit instructions regardinii; Church matters than are others; and this holds good of those taking different views of what are known as ecclesiastical principles. But all are agreed that mutual love is a universal obligation, that acceptable worship must be spiritual, that efforts are to be made for the enlightenment and salvation of mankind. And such laws as these are of far more importance than many customs and regulations upon which different opinions prevail. ill. THE AUTHORITY OF DIVINE LAW IN THE CHURCH. It is the authority of right, which, however it may be misunderstood and practically repudiated by any, is not denied, but is admitted by alL It is also the authority of love; the Divine Lawgiver himself declared, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." IV. THE BLESSINGS OF DIVINE LAW m THE CHURCH, These are apparent to those wbo consider how wretched would be the state of a Church without a law, and how little less wretched the state of a Church handed over to the control of fallible and imperfect human legislators. The past history of the Church shows that it bas truly prospered just so far as the rules laid down for it by Divine authority have been obeyed, just so far as man has been kept in abeyance, and human policy and human selfishness have been repudiated. Beside the direct blessings which have accrued to the Church itself through subjection to " the law of the house," it must be borne in mind that the world has benefited by the example which has thus been set to earthly institu- tions and secular rulers, that owe more than they are forward to acknowledge to those principles of authority and subjection which by the Church have been introduced into and impressed upon the world.-T. Ver. 27.-.Acceptance. The purpose of the temple is the establishment and main- tenance of harmonious relations between God and the sons of men. By sin those relations have been interrupted; by religion they are restored. What was symbolized by the material temple at Jerusalem-its priesthood and services and sacrifices-is realized in the spiritual temple of the new covenant, in which Christ is the Sacrifice and the Priest, and in which the Holy Spirit sheds the Shechinah-glory through the holiest of all. Acceptance thus takes the place of estrangement. I. ACCEPTANCE IS OF Goo's Gll.ACE, AND IS UNDESERVED. 11 ACCEPTANCE IS IN VIRTUE OF THE lllGH PRIEST'S MEDIATION AND mTER• '1EBSION, Ill. ACCEPTANCE IS FOB 'l'HE OBEDIENT, THE COMPLIANT, THE BUDMIBSIVE, IV. ACCEPTANCE IB ALIKE OF TUE PEll.SON AND OF 'l'HE SERVICE. V. A.ccEPTANCE INVOLVES THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL THE !IANIFESTATIONB AND CONBEQITENCES OF THE DIVINE FAVOUR. APPLICA'TION. 1. One aim of a spiritual ministry to men ie to convince them that C!IJ. :ltLIII. 1-27.J TtlE noo:rr or '.rHE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 87!)
in their sinful state they are without acceptance with God. 2. Another aim of such a ministry is to exhibit the divinely nppointed method of obtaining and enjoyin;; acceptance with God. 3. Yet another aim is to expose false and delusive representation~ of the way of acceptance. "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due timo."-T.