God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." In that heavenly house, all the spirits of just men made perfect, all the angels of God, securely, happily rest and dwell; for that is a house which cannot be removed, but abideth for evermore. And justly may the words of the text be applied to its heavenly inhabitants; for they indeed are truly blessed, being for ever engaged in the worship, and employed in the service of a present Saviour. But to us, it does not appear, from the connexion of the text, that heaven is here intended, but rather, reference is made to the house of God below, to the church militant, to the worshipping assemblies of the saints, to the tabernacles of the Most High. David refers evidently to the Jewish tabernacle, whither, no doubt, he constantly went up to worship; and the term, house of God, applies at large to the whole church, to every congregation of believers, and to every assembly of the people of God. The church of God, we say, is a house; it is called so in different passages of Scripture; thus we read, that "Wisdom hath builded her house:" that the spouse was

brought to Christ's banqueting house, and his banner over her was love:" that "Christ, as a Son, was faithful over his own house, whose house are we:" "that he was High Priest over the house of God:"" that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it:" that "holiness becometh the house of God."

With respect to this house, be it observed, that Jesus Christ is the foundation on which it rests: for "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." The inhabitants of

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it are redeemed sinners who have been taken from the ruins of the fall, and adopted into the family of God; here they reside and share domestic blessings, expecting, ere long, to be transplanted from this earthly residence, to the house of God above; where they shall all be made pillars, to go no more out for ever. Spirituality is the characteristic feature of the men who dwell in this house, of the code of laws by which every thing is regulated, and of the employments and engagements of all belonging to it. But the idea of our text is not merely that the church is a house, but that it is the house of God. Let us for a moment investigate the propriety of the term, and show the claims of God to this building. The psalmist calls it, "thy house," and it will evidently appear to belong to no less a person than Jehovah, if we consider him as the planner, the former, the furnisher, and the inhabitant of the church. Observe then,

1. That Jehovah planned it.

In the councils of eternity, he determined to make man, foresaw his fall, and devised a scheme for his recovery. He was resolved, in his almighty mind, to rescue man from the pit of perdition, and frustrate the designs of hell, by sending his dear Son into the world, to lay down his life to redeem him. Hence he knew the number of all his saints, and determined on the objects of his sanctifying grace, so that those who really belong to the church of Christ are the chosen of God; thus saith David in another psalm : "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts." Nor less did the Almighty foreordain the means by which this church should rise in the world; for he beheld it from eternity, notwithstanding all opposition, and

looking like the temple of God amidst all the attacks of his enemies; he so ordained it, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and he well knows the time when its great Zerubbabel shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it." Almighty, however, not only planned, but, 2. He actually formed the church.

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Every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God:" all the creation is the product of his infinite power and skill: "the heavens declare his glory, and the firmament showeth his handy work;" but in a more particular sense, in a spiritual point of view, is Jehovah the builder of the church: hence says the apostle, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before ordained that we should walk in them." He laid the foundation, and he erected the edifice: by calling men under the preaching of his gospel, he makes them members of the mystical body of Christ, and inhabitants of the church of the living God. Every man that is a Christian, is so by the work of God: no human aid, nor will of man, can make a new creature; for the church of Christ consists of men that are 66 born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Whatever believers are, they are so by the grace of God. How mistaken, then, are those persons who imagine that they have always been in the church even from their birth; have been brought up in the house of God! whereas a man must be a new creature, must be born again of the incorruptible seed that liveth and abideth for ever, before he can say that he dwells in "thy house, O Lord of hosts." But once more we observe,

3. That it is by God that this house is furnished. When we say that it is furnished, we mean that it is provided with every thing needful; and who can doubt that this is done by God? For the perusal, the instruction, the correction, the nourishment of his children, he inspired and conveyed to them his own precious word. The saints also are adorned with every gift and grace of the Holy Spirit their faith, their love, their patience, their hope, their zeal, their humility, are all of the operation of the Holy Spirit: by these they are enabled to believe the promises of God; to entertain the highest affection for their great Householder, and for one another; to suffer the difficulties of the present state, and to bear them all with the prospect of a glorious immortality; to promote the cause of their Redeemer, and to wear the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Adorned with these graces, they look forth as the morning, "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." They are all glorious within; how wisely and how well are they provided in their spiritual house with every thing that is necessary for their welfare! They are by no means left to themselves; for God "is their sun and shield : he will give grace and glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.' Oh how "beautiful for situation is Mount Zion, the joy of the whole earth!" "Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following." But I must observe, lastly, and chiefly, that the church is called the house of God,

4. Because it is inhabited by God.

The Lord dwelleth in Zion: there in a peculiar

manner he displays the greatness of his glory, the wonders of his power, and the riches of his grace. Of the church he says, "This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell, for I have desired it." "This is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever." The apostle John says, "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us; and his love is perfected in us :" and "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." Here he constantly bestows his ordinances, and affords his gracious, supporting, and comforting influences. Oh, what honor does this confer upon us, to have God himself dwelling among us! Oh, what condescension does it display, that he should reside among those who have rebelled against him! Oh, what safety does it insure! for if God be for us, nothing can possibly hurt us! Oh, what happiness does it promote! for it is his presence that makes heaven; and surely no person is so happy as he whom God deigns to visit and to bless by his constant presence.

Thus you see that the Lord's people is his portion: Jacob is the lot of his inheritance: thus you learn that the church is the house of God. This is the place so peculiarly distinguished; it is the church. Observe, then,

II. That there are persons who find an abiding residence in it.

"6 Blessed," says my text, "are they that dwell in thy house." The psalmist here has a reference to the priests and Levites, who were frequently officiating there, in their turns, night and day; and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Gibeon, where the ark and tabernacle were, who had frequent op