any man to carry even a veffel through it, to defile it; fuch was the refpect paid to the Sanctuary even by our Saviour Chrift himself, who was the true owner and proprietor of it.

And as to the material part of GOD's House or Sanctuary, though we want at present in these remote parts the neceffary folemnity of dedicat ing this Church, and fetting it apart by a regular, decent and authoritative feparation for the use it was intended; yet in this also, even in this Church, unconfecrated as it is, there is a decency required; and that not only in refpect to the Majefty of GOD, in whofe more immediate prefence we are; but in regard to that religion we own, and the dignity of our profeffion: For as the respect and grandeur of an earthly prince is maintained by the pomp and fplendor of his palace, fo is the Majefty of our heavenly King in fome fort fet forth by the external glory and magnificence of his Temple; the loftinefs of whofe facred and venerable fabrick raises the devotion of the most zealous fuppliant, and ftrikes the beholder with a religious awe.

It was for this reafon, no doubt, that in making the Tabernacle, fuch care was taken, that what it wanted in extent, might be made up in contrivance, coftliness and grandeur, that it might be as beautiful and as rich as art could make it; and in building the firft Temple, that glorious and magnificent work of King Solomon, what vaft preparations were there of all things, of filver and gold and precious ftones; what extent and contrivance, what ftrength and beauty, what variety and order, and excellency of workmanship? And what was all this for? but to the honour of GOD, to render the palace exceeding glorious, to raise the admiration of every beholder, and

spread

fpread its fame and glory throughout the whole world.

In like manner alfo in our Chriftian Churches, that reverence we owe to GoD and his religion, ought undoubtedly to be preferved, by a decent and honourable provifion for it; and provided we diftinguish betwixt a falfe and too artificial a beauty on the one hand, and a mean and fordid deformity on the other, what coft can we think too great to be bestowed on the place of God's worship? or what expences too much for the honour of his fervice? In this, we give the world a teftimony of our affection to that religion we profefs; in the other, we declare that honour we acknowledge due to the GOD we ferve; in both we promote the glorious end and defign of the gofpel: For fuch palaces are not made for man, but for the Lord God.

III. I am to lay before you the univerfality of this duty, by the enlargement of Christ's Church, here foretold in my text; with fome proper inferences fuitable to this folemnity. The great end and defign, you know, of our Saviour's coming into the world was, that all the world through him might be faved; that as in Adam all died, fo in Chrift fhall all be made alive; that all nations, Gentiles as well as Jews, even the whole race of mankind, might come to the light of the glorious gofpel, and that all flesh might fee the falvation of GoD.

In order whereunto it pleased the Almighty, when the fulness of the time was come, to fend forth his Son, his only begotten Son into the world; who by taking the ftate of our nature upon him, undertook the redemption of loft mankind; thereby completing thofe ancient prophecies

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phecies, that foretold the coming of the expected Meffiah, promised to our firft parents Adam and Eve in paradise; in that, the feed of the woman should break the serpent's head.

And that he might the more effectually deftroy that exorbitant power which the Devil and his Angels had ufurped over men; it pleased our Saviour before he left this world, to establish his Church and Kingdom here on earth, commiffioning his Apostles to carry on that great work, which he had begun, and to extend the limits of his established empire over the face of the whole .earth.

The universality of which Church and Kingdom of our Saviour's was foretold by the royal Pfalmift, and the Prophets that fucceeded him; that GOD would give him the heathen for bis inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his poffeffion; that bis dominion fhould be extended from fea to fea, and from the flood unto the world's end; that all Kings should fall down before him, and all nations fhould do him service; that the mountain of the Lord's House should be established in the top of the mountains, and that all nations should flow unto it ; that the earth fhould be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the the fea; agreeable whereunto was the enlargement foretold by the bringing in of the Gentiles to the obedience of the faith, and in calling the House of GOD an House of Prayer for all people.

In confirmation of which ancient and glorious prophecies, our Saviour alfo affures the Jews, that the time would come, when the Gentiles fhould be admitted to the fame privileges with themfelves, faying; Other Sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they fhall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and

one

one Shepherd. And before Chrift's afcenfion into heaven he exprefly charged his Apoftles, faying; Goye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; and again, Ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And as the Church of Chrift is thus univerfal in respect to place, fo is it alfo perpetual in regard to time; the Jewish oeconomy being to laft no longer than the coming of Chrift, and then to cease when Chrift appeared; but the Chriftian Church, or Chrift's kingdom here on earth, was to be established for ever; as long as the fun and moon endureth, even throughout all generations; and that it fhould be fuch as fhould never be destroyed. No weapon that is formed against it fhall profper; neither fhall the gates of hell be ever able to prevail against it.

The fame alfo was foretold by the angel Gabriel; that Chrift should reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there should be no end; agreeable to that promise made by our Saviour to the Apostles, and to their fucceffors that he would be with them, and affiit them always, even unto the end of the world.

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Hence we see the Church of Chrift is by its very nature and first original conftitution of it, an univerfal fociety, fitted and defigned for the reception of all men into its rights and privileges; making no difference between Jew and Gentile, circumcifion and uncircumcifion, bond and free, male and female; being all one in Chrift Jefus : For by one fpirit we are all baptized into one body, and by one spirit we are all built up a fpiritual house, raised upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jefus Chrift bimfelf being the chief corner ftone.

And here what a fpacious profpect have we in fight? how glorious an appearance doth this open to our view? how infinite a fociety may we fuppofe this to be, that is made up of all the faithful in Chrift Jefus, from the beginning of the world unto the end of it? And from whence may we date the original of this bleffing? but from the important tidings of this good day, the nativity of our bleffed Lord and Saviour; ufhered in by a multitude of the heavenly hoft, praifing GOD, and faying; Glory be to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.

This is that day, from which, as from the fountain head, thofe mighty bleffings confequent thereupon do fucceed and flow; this is that feaft, which above all festivals is crowned with the honour of God's peculiar making, the queen of feafts, and birth-day of the world; this is that day, which father Abraham forefaw, and rejoiced even at that diftant fight of it. Now are thofe illuftrious prophecies fulfilled, that pointed out to us the gracious defigns of Providence; now is the partition-wall broken down, that old diftinction between Jew and Gentile, and the kingdom of heaven thrown open to all believers; now is Divinity efpoufed to Humanity, and Heaven and Earth contracted together; now is the marriage of the Lamb come, the greatest wedding that ever was, the marriage between Chrift and his Spouse the Church, and GoD and man reconciled to each other.

Well therefore may we break forth into joy, with the royal Pfalmift, and fay with him; This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes: this is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice, and be glad in it.

And