prayers have been offered. The patriarch Jacob, when, in a night vision, he was blessed with a special view of the heavenly state, and of the intercourse carried on between this world and another, was deeply impressed with a sense of the divine presence, and erected an altar to the Most High; this altar became the tabernacle of the Lord, and was designated by the patriarch as the house of God. Surely, said he, the Lord is in this place; this is none other than the house of God; this is the very gate of heaven. But the house of which the Psalmist more immediately speaks, was the tabernacle of the congegation, a portable building, which was carried from place to place, during the journeyings of the children of Israel through the wilderness; and afterwards erected in different places of the land of promise, till it was at length fixed at Jerusalem. This tabernacle was divided into two apartments: the holy place, and the most holy. In the latter of these was the ark of the covenant, the lid or covering of which was the mercy-seat, overshadowed by the wings of the cherubim of glory. Upon this, between the cherubim, the cloud of glory, or the symbol of divine presence, appeared. And from this place, God communed with Moses; so that the Psalmist seems to have respect particularly to this, as the place where Jehovah's honor or glory dwelt. But this habitation gave place to Solomon's temple; and that temple was succeeded by another, whose very foundations have been ploughed up, in fulfilment of the Redeemer's prophecy. But does it follow from hence, that God dwells no longer with man upon earth? Has he no longer a habitation wherein to dwell? Yes, my brethren, there is a sense in which the universe itself is the temple of the Lord, hallowed by his sacred presence. Jehovah's temple is everywhere streaming with glory; for every devout heart is the habitation of the Lord. The temple where Jehovah dwells, is where the incense is continually ascending to God Most High. The church is, also, his temple, associated together for his honor and glory. This chapel is also the house of God, his spiritual house, where he has promised to dwell-the house where he resides. Here, says he, will I dwell, in the house where his family dwells, and where he spreads an ample table, and makes his family satisfied with the fatness of his house, and drink of the river of his grace. Under the dispensation of the gospel, the church is his house, the place where his people assemble to worship; for he expressly says, In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. And can any good man enter such a place without emotions like those of the Psalmist, when he uttered the language of the text? Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.

The attachment which the Psalmist cherished for the house of God was a strong and ardent affection; an affection that absorbed his whole soul, and enkindled in his heart the most ardent flame of devotion. Hence, he could appeal to the Searcher of hearts, when

he desired to interest him in his favor, for the honesty and sincerity of his profession. And such was the address of Peter, on another occasion: Lord, said he, thou knowest that I love thee. And such should be the zeal and fervor of every professed follower of Jesus, in his cause, that he can appeal to God, in the utmost sincerity, for the uprightness of his course and conduct. This attachment of the Psalmist to the house of God was also a constant affection. When speaking of the past, he could say, Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house; and the same affection still prevailed. His heart was still full of it. Hence, he delighted to dwell upon the subject, and declared that, in the congregations will I bless the Lord. This attachment of the pious Psalmist to the house of the Lord was, furthermore, a practical affection. Hence, he says, I will compass thine altar, O Lord; that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. He was not a mere nominal professor, of which there have been but too many in all ages. We do not mean here those whose tongues and purses are ready on every public occasion; but those who profess to be friendly to religious institutions, while they withhold everything but good words and wishes. David was a practical saint; and such should be the followers of Christ, in all ages. The alms and the prayers of the people of God should go up together, for a memorial before him.

Perhaps, if some in the present day had heard the king of Israel speak the words before us, they would have looked down upon him with pity and contempt, calling him an enthusiast. But, my friends, if the captain of the host of Israel be an enthusiast, it is an enthusiasm with which every chapter of the Bible abounds. If attachment to the house of God be enthusiasm, then it must be an amiable enthusiasm. If this be enthusiasm, then prophets, and kings, and apostles, and the most useful of men who ever lived, were enthusiasts. If attachment to the house of God be enthusiasm, it is a useful enthusiasm; advantageous and useful to the individual himself, and to the community at large. If this be enthusiasm, it is a rational enthusiasm; and my heart says, if this be enthusiasm, O for more enthusiasm! O for a warmer attachment to the house of God! But, we have said it is a rational enthusiasm; and if reasons should be called for, reasons are at hand.

II. We shall, therefore, in the second place, endeavor to show the grounds of this reasonable attachment. These are many, and various; and we propose, on the present occasion, to illustrate the truth of the position we have assumed, merely by a reference to a few of the most prominent.

1. Every devout man loves the house and service of God, because he loves him to whose glory it has been erected. It is the very essence of piety to love God supremely. The true Christian loves him with a true heart fervently; but he knows there was a time when he did not love him. He now regrets that he lived so many

He was for

years without God and without hope in the world. merly a lover of sin, and a lover of this world; but there was a period in his moral history, there was a crisis in his moral character, when the word of the Lord was sharper than a two-edged sword to his conscience. And in that moment, the commandment came home; sin revived, and he died. He received the sentence of death in his soul; and, as a contrite sinner, he asked the momentous question, What must I do to be saved? To this question the gospel gave an answer: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. And on the Lord he did believe. At this time, the love of God was manifested to him, and enkindled in his heart. He could then say, from the fulness of his soul, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Now, as it is the essence of piety, not only to love God, but also to love everything which belongs to God; the pious man must, therefore, love the house of God. Why does every good man love the word of God? Because it contains some of the oldest records in the world! Because it contains some of the most inimitable specimens of poetical genius! Because it is a charter of human salvation, and is the nursery of human redemption! He loves it for all these reasons, but more especially because of him by whose authority it is stamped; because it is the Book of God; and because it came from him whom they love. Why does every good man love the sabbath? The philanthropist looks upon it as a day of rest, for man and beast. But does the Christian love it on this account, principally? No: he loves it because he is not to think his own thoughts, nor speak his own words; and especially because it is the sabbath of the Lord. And why do men love the ministers of the sanctuary? Not merely because they are useful-no; but for the Master's sake, and because of the message they bring from him, to a world lost in sin. And, for this plain reason, a good man loves the sanctuary of God.

2. A good man loves the house of God, because it is the residence of the Proprietor. It is not only the property, but the habitation of my Friend, my Benefactor, my God; the tabernacle of thy honor, and therefore I love it. Hence, David set his heart upon it, and declared, that one thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after; that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. Here he met his God, and enjoyed sweet communion with him. Here he beheld the glory and beauty of the Lord, and conversed with him face to face. But, we are aware, there may be other inducements to our attendance in the house of God. It may be an elegant place, the music may be good, the preacher may be attractive, the society may be engaging; or, we may deem it to be both for our interest and honor, to give the place our encouragement and support. But it should be remembered, that just as much of respect to God as there is in our service, just so far it is good and well-pleasing in his sight, and no farther. We should come to the

house of God, not merely to be interested and delighted, but to be made wiser and better; so that we may approach nearer the presence of our Maker, and understand and know more fully his will concerning us.

3. The good man loves the sanctuary of the Lord. because of the exercises performed therein. My house, says God, shall be called a house of prayer-prayer for ourselves, prayer for our neighbors, prayer for our families, prayer for the church of Christ; prayer for our rulers, for our country, and for the whole human race. Now, every good man loves prayer, and must, therefore, love the house of prayer-love the place where prayer is wont to be made. The good man loves the living oracles; and because he has an appetite for this food, he loves to be where they are read. Our Saviour says, Search the Scriptures; and the Apostle Paul commanded that, These epistles be read in all the churches; therefore the good man comes with an appetite for this spiritual food; he eats it, and his soul is nourished in the sanctuary of the Lord. Here the word is also to be enforced and expounded; Jesus saith, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Thus it behoveth Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, that repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name among all nations; and It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. Now, every good man knows how to value the preaching of the word, and he delights to be where it is preached by divine authority to the benefit of his soul. And here, again, the praises of God are to be sung. It is very remarkable that one of the Evangelists has recorded a fact, that singing constituted a part of their worship. Jesus and his disciples sung an hymn; and how often do the inspired apostles give command that we are to sing with the spirit and with the understanding also, making melody in your hearts unto the Lord. And how delightful it is when we assemble with the people of God in the sanctuary, and unite to celebrate his praises. The words of the venerable Dr. Watts, though composed for children, may well be used by adults:

"Lord, how delightful 'tis to see,

A whole assembly worship thee;
At once they sing, at once they pray,
They hear of heaven, and learn the way;
I have been there and still would go,
"Tis like a little heaven below."

Yes, it is like what it is; it is a little heaven below, when all are in tune, and sing with grace in their hearts. These exercises of the sanctuary are in perfect accordance with the best convictions of the mind of every truly pious man, and he cannot be pleased with those things that do not accord with his feelings; therefore, it must be a good man that loves the exercises of God's house. vicious man, were he to speak out, would say, how wearisome it is.

The

But when the good man comes to the house of God, he finds himself in his element; he finds himself quite at home, and he engages in its institutions with a holy delight; yea, when the rich and the poor, the young men and maidens, old men and fathers, all join together in the worship of God, it is delightful-it forms a moral constellation of melody. No wonder that the believer exclaims, Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.

4. The good man loves the habitation of God's house, and the place where his honor dwelleth, because of the company with whom he there associates. Man, from the very principles of his nature, is obviously formed for society; he is not intended by the God who made him, for solitary ends. When, by the operation of Divine Providence, any sudden and oppressive calamity befalls a man, wo to that man if he be alone; but if he can have the kind sympathies of a friend, Oh! what an alleviation to his wo. And when we meet with anything appalling to the feelings of humanity, what pleasure, what delight does it give to have some kind friend near, to wipe the tear of affliction, and to pour the balm of consolation into the wounded heart! On the other hand, if any joyous circumstance occur, we are not satisfied till we go and tell it to another; for the Scriptures saith, It is not good for man to be alone; from hence it is apparent that religion and the Bible cannot have their full effects in private. The Christian should first meet his God in private, and then come into the public sanctuary of the Lord, and then the maxim of the wise man will be verified: As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend. At such a time, and at such a place, the power of holy and heavenly sympathy is brought into action, and runs from bosom to bosom, till all catch the sacred flame, and all partake of the glory of the Lord. Brethren, with whom do you associate in the house of God? The doors are open, it is true, to the most profane, and we are glad to see them here, hoping that a word may be spoken that will reach their hearts, and do them good; but whom do you expect to see here generally? The believer comes to the house of God, and he expects to meet his brethren and his sisters here; and who are they but the saints of the Most High? The good man expects to find, and here he expects to meet the pious and the good; and with David he can say, My delight is with the saints of the earth, and with them that excel in virtue. But with whom do you associate in the house of God? Not merely with the wisest and the best of men. The Bible teaches us that beings of a higher order, though invisible to us, are here also. According to the sentiment of the gospel, The angels of the Lord encamp round about them that fear him. And again, Åre they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation? And when the services of the sanctuary prove successful, and when some poor penitent begins to smite upon his breast, breathing the prayer of