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for it where it may be found, even in the ordinances of God, in his word and sacraments in this place rightly administered; for, although we are ordered every where to lift up pure hands to God, yet1 profaneness lies at their door, unless they be bed-ridden or otherwise unable, who do not seek in the Church that knowledge of the salvation which is through Christ Jesus, which the priest's lips should keep, and which the people should seek at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts 2. shall conclude these remarks in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, beseeching Almighty God to water them with the "continual dew of his blessing," that so they may bring forth much fruit in the hearts of all his people: "Hear ye and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains; and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive"."

In what has hitherto been said, the sacredness of

1 The meaning of profane literally is, a standing pro-fano before the temple; neither entering in, nor admitting others. Standing so in the way as to hinder them,-being in short a okávðalov, an offendiculum,-a stumbling-block. "Of scandal, or giving and taking offence," see Jer. Taylor, vol. iii. Discourse xvii. p. 206, and for what a profane man is, Barrow's second Sermon on the Profitableness of Godliness, Theol. Works, vol. i. p. 52. Ed. Clar. 2 Mal. ii. 7. 3 Jer. xiii. 15.-17.

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Churches dedicated to God's service, and the spirituality of worship there required, has chiefly been insisted on. I shall now make a few remarks on the necessity of looking to the outward structure of those houses where it pleases God that men should be gathered together, and where his name should be invoked. But here let none confound the outward structure of this Church, now beautified by private beneficence, or the outward structure of any other Church with the Universal Church of Christ, with that Catholic Church which is made up of all those people, nations, and congregations, every where, who worship God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, in spirit and in truth, and in the beauty of holiness. "The structure of one is of stone and wood, of the other is of living The ornament of the one may be of gold and silver, but of the other the ornament must be the divine graces of faith, charity, hope, sanctity, truth, piety, and all other virtues, to which, gold itself were but trash 2."

stones.

"Albeit, we frequently read in the plural of the Churches of the saints, the Churches of Asia, of Macedonia, of Galatia, of Syria, and Cilicia ;' yet all these are members of one and the same Catholic Church, as many cities of one kingdom, and many houses of one city. For all the persons, all the assemblies and associations in the world, who acknowledge and worship one true God, and one mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus, walking by one and the same rule of faith and love in the Gospel, do all make up but one Catholic Church." See Bishop Reynold's Works, vol. v. p. 422. "The Staves of Beauty and Bands." See Hall, ut suprà, p. 526.

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As concerns the outward structure, then, it should needs be on a par with, that I should not say infinitely superior to, the dwellings of a people'. There is no need to dwell on the propriety of such a remark. It is better to feel it, to praise God, and to be thankful. Nevertheless, I may call to your minds the anxiety of David. Touching him it is written, That it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about him from all his enemies; that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains 2.” David, you see, could not bear to think that the house of an earthly potentate, should surpass the glory of his house who is "King of kings, and Lord of lords.” He would, therefore, (as you will find in the hundred and thirty-second Psalm,) fain have found out a place for the temple of the Lord, and an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob3. David, however, had shed much blood in fighting the battles of the Lord, and it seemed not good that the foundations on the holy hill of Sion, should be laid otherwise than in peace.

1 "Should a stranger, who has seen in our houses an elegance of building without, and of ornaments within, enter into our temples, and find there no appearance of that wealth and plenty, which he has every where else observed, would he not conclude that we were all children of this world, and that the fear of God is not in this place? If, therefore, we have any concern for the credit of our religion, we cannot suffer such a blemish, in the esteem of the world, to rest upon it." Rogers's Sermon, ut suprà, p. 213. Jewell, ut infrà, p. 185.

* 2 Sam. vii. 1, 2.

3 Ps. cxxxii. 5.

Still he found favour in God's sight, for his holy wish, and on account of his anxiety, the Lord promised to build him, like the midwives in the Exodus, an house, to enlarge, that is, and to continue his family, and to bless them out of the treasury of heaven. David, accordingly, did not raise the temple he wished unto the Lord; but Solomon built him an house1..

Upon this I shall beg to add two remarks. First, that since it has now pleased the Almighty to be worshipped in temples made with hands, (albeit the heaven of heavens cannot contain him,) those temples, our churches that is, should be kept decently and in order, according to Apostolic precept. Moreover, (though it has been excellently said, that the best ornament and beauty of a church is a holy priest and sanctified people,") the building should, nevertheless, be in accordance with the means of those, on whom, roundabouts, the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, according to the prayers of the faithful, dispenses the benign influence of heaven, sending rain, and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness. And thus, in

1 Acts vii. 47.

2 On this head no one surely can read what is written in Exod. c. xxxvi. 1, 2. relative to the wisdom and understanding given to Bezaleel and Aholiab, to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, and not put it to account. It is referred to for the edification of those who will read, and understand, and profit by the Old Testament, without meddling with foolish questions. See Greswell on the Parables, vol. iv. pp. 86, 87. Note. 3 Acts xiv. 17.

many a way, the evil and the unjust, the despiser and the blasphemer, partake of those blessings which the Lord withholds not for the righteous' sake. Oh let such read the word of the Lord to Haggai the prophet, and if they be rich, let them answer to this',-Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? O! let such consider their ways, lest the heaven now, as then, be stayed from dew, and the earth be stayed from her fruit. My Christian brethren! the times we have fallen upon are evil, but have we sufficiently examined each the plague of our own hearts? If not, we have not read to edification, the prayer of Solomon at the dedication,-we do not know, so as to understand, that which is written in God's word;- When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. And thus much as concerns the first question.

The other remark, arising from the notice of David's godly inclination, which I would refer to, is this, that the hands of that man who builds a church had needs be clean. David's, because

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See the Homily for Repairing and keeping clean and comely adorning of Churches; and Bishop Jewell's Sermon on Haggai, c. i. 2-4. Ed. fol. 1611. Black letter, p. 171. as well as the The zeale of thine house hath eaten mee.

Sermon on Ps. lxix. 9.

p. 185.

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2 c. i. 4, 5. 10.

3 Isaiah xxvi. 9.

On this subject see the timely remarks (in every sense) of Bishop Latimer, in The Second Sermon of the Card, vol. i. pp. 20-22. Ed. Watkins, 1824.