The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-12
CITY INTELLIGENOE.
nov Additional oily IateWgcnce see g5n pogc.
OmURcH LoT-rERY ANn GAMnLINe.

the following extract from discourse delivered
by Rev. j. w. Schenck, pastor Of the Tenth and
fhbert streets church, on Sunday night last,
being continuation of q course on the Life of
Christ" in the delivery of which some extern
pore references were made to the perniciOus
mode of promoting the financial interests of
some of the Christian churches. As the thoughts
Of this fearless minister of the Gospel are based
upon the Divine law and our Lords example,
the Christian public will not hesitate to confirm
the sentiments presented by faithful ambas-
sador of the truth
We will consider our Lords purifying act of
driving out the traders from the temple courts,
and its lessons to us.
BY degrees, in the lapse of time, the usage
had grown up OF keeping booths and stalls in
the courts of the temple, where everything
enjoined for sacrifice was sold. God had
enacted that instead of burdening themselves to
carry with them the animals, and flour, and oil,
and other requisites, they who lived at a dis.
lance from Jerusalem might take the money
aDd purchase these things, and then offer them.
Hence arose the custom OF holding these things
for sale at points convenient to worshlppers.
The business, in itself, therefore, entirely in
accordance with the Divine provision. But
human greed Tor gain had taken advantage of
thls gracious regard to the convenience and
comfort of Worshippers And the traders had
presumed to place their marts IN the very
affairs presence. Here, too, was the money!
brokerage, which served the purpose of ex-
changing the Roman com, which was the me-
dunn IN ordinary transactions, for the Jewish
half shekel, which was required for the sane
tuary.
This was the sight that greeted our Lords
eyes as He came into those hallOWed courts.
He 'fOund in the temple courts those that sold
oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of
money, sitting" He heard the clatter of con
fused voices, as one and another trader urged
customers to deal with him. And where the
solemn and silent attitude and bearing of prayer
was alone appropriate Buy my wares!" came
uppermost to the ears. His spirit Is stirred by
holy indignation. To His work He goes
when He had made scourge of small cords,
He drove them all out of the temple, aud the
sheep, and the oxen, and poured out the
changers money, and overthrow the tables"
The doves, for some reason, he spares. (Was 1t
because the Holy Spirit had chosen the dove as
His symbol when He anointed HmO To
those who sold doves he came, and with
sottened qtteranGe, perhaps, but not relaxed ii
determination, He says, Take these things
hence Make not my Fathers house house
OF merchandisen What must have been the
emotions of that band of traders as they hear
nom Him whom they had seen at the Jordan,
where came the voice from Heaven, ''Ihis is
my beloved Son. the peremptory order,
''These things hencein And, in explana-
ton, the strange designation of the TEN.
pie, my Fathers housen What a rush of
prophecy to memory How in startling form,
stood before them that rebuke, now animated
with very resurrection lite, "ls this house,
which is called by my name, become den of
robbers IN your eyes Behold, even have seen
it, saith the Lord" We'll might "the disciples"
in such scene, remember that it was written,
The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up ~
How expressive this OF the manner in which
that zeal must find vent How demonstrative
that that zeal will by no means spare the carnal
abuses that creep into the sanctuary of God,
through lack of proper reverence for that sacred
place and its Holy Lord!
And what class or age of men Is exempt fr ON
its application? As He who was ''the glory of
the latter housen explains ellis sudden com.
ing" and peremptory 'purging" OF those hal
lowed courts, by the command, "These things
hence Make not my Fathers house house
of merchandise" sound of authority starts
on its solemn way, that reverberates severe
visitation upon all kinds of PROCLAMATION OF the
sanctuary, to the whole succession of genera
tions of men. Now it sends its warning TO us,
and it says, "Prolane not that house by bring
ing into its sacred courts your secular affairs.
Use not this place to make or contrive your
gains. Plan not here your worldly enterprises.
Load not your mind on coming here with your
temporal pursuits, your accounts, your schemes
of obtaining the things OF this life"
And especially regulate not the appoint.
ments OF that house on secular principles.
Make not the management of the house of the
Lord matter OF bargain aud sale, question
OF profit and loss. Beware that the aim to
secure revenues and make striking impressions
on the populaCe lead not TO heshly appliances
and sensational eXpedients to draw the crowd
and to obtain money. Beware that tastes, un-
godly and lme-serVlug, be not catered to, and
De Lot made to determine Inc manner OF effort
to build up the house of the Lord. Beware
that so-called "liberal Christianity" be not
made the master whom ye follow" and so
practices which the pulpit must denounCe be
admitted into the sanctuary, and put into the
hands of enemies as a terrible argument TO
nullify the teachings of truth
And with peculiar applicableness do these
notes OF warning come to us. Already do we see
the strange picture of the lottery, and the auc-
ton, and the theatrical performance even,
largely used for the purpose of raising funds to
build, and repair, and support the house of God
Fhink OF taking a tencent piece, the property
OF a little boy deceased, and at the time OF ser
vice holding it up and calling for bids upon IT,
until the aggregate rises to one hundred and
fifty dollars Think of keeping a ''trottine
maren at a church fair, to be ''voted" (rafled
not y for as means of ''prospering' (!) tht
church of Jesus Christ Think of play in tn,
very sanctuary, with the pulpit stretched out Il
the dimensions of a stage, in which the promi
nent character is a drunken, staggering, swear
ing lrishman- the object to raise reventre t
sustain the ordinances of the house OF God
Behold the gradation! How it calls up tn
first Psalm, walking in the counsel of the u1
gO0y;" "standlng IN the tCdy OF sinners" 'stt
ung in the sessions of the scOrRflu." Well doe
a secular paper of this city close its commen
on the last OF these proceedings with Repent
ye sinners I" What would He who pUrged tn
temple so summarily do should He walk into
one Of these popular" and ''prodtabI
''schemes' for putting the peoples money int
the church's treasury? Methinks the "mare
would make better time than ever; and th
aactOrsn would play strange pantomime; AM
the projectors Of these enterprises would,
ween, partake of the feelings Ofthe Jew trader,
How this city would echo with "these thing
The house Of God was built for His WORSHIP
exclusively. Its ordinances are channel
through which we render to Him His prope
service and glory; and through which He con
Veys to us the rich awards of His grace in Jesu
4 e e.