The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-25

Sketch Of Sermon preached at th'
opening for Worship Of the Lseturc
Room Of the United Pres5yteria,
Church, Richmond, "a, On Sab5atI
morning, Nou. Sth, 1868. By the
Pastor, Rev. Charles II. Read, ID. d.
"Arise o Lord, into thy rest thou and the
Ark of thy strength. Let thy Priests be clothed
with righteousness and let thy saints shOu
aloud for joy."-PsALM cxxxu. s, 8.
In conducting these services, assembled
as We now are, under Gods favor, the
first time, in this house which we have
undertaken to build for His worship and
the honor of His name, something may
be expected, and something is obviously
due, in the subject matter Of Our medita
tiOns, that shall have special reference to
the pecuharities of the occasion.
This structure is yet incomplete--itS
architectural design being but partly de-
veloped, and opened to criticisms which
it is believed will be softened, if not 81
fenced, as the work advances. And yer
so much of it as We now occupy is SC
conveniently tenable and so pleasant,
that l deem it meet to congratulate this
Church and congregation that these ac-
commOdations are open to us to-day,
through the prospering favor of Our
God.
do congratulate you, brethren and
friends, with grateful JOY and an afec-
tionate welcome. / am reminded to-day Of
Paul's experience and Outburst of feel
ing, on meeting the Christian brethren
at Appii Forum, on his journey to Rome,
when it is said of him, that 'he thanked
God, and took courage" His journey,
so full of trials and perils, was not yet
ended; the Pontine Marshes were yet
before him; but he saw the beginning Of
the end. He felt the sweet inspirations
of Christian sympathy aud fellowship
the hardships of the past melted from his
memory as he pressed the warm hands Of
the friends who came to meet him, and
to help him on his way; whom when
Paul saw, he thanked God, and took
courage"
Our work is not done; but we are at
a pleasant landing plaee,-pleasanter,
reckon, than the "three taverns on
the borders of the Marshes, and here, in
these aisles and pOrches, we may well
join hands to-day, thanking GOD ana
taking courage.
But to our text =" Arise, o Lord,
into thy rest, thou and the ark Of thy
strength. Let thy priests be clothed
with righteousness; and let thy saints
shout aloud for joy"
Fust.-Let US attend to the import of
the term, CREST" as here used Pri.
marily, it signifies a respite from labor
breathing time, when weary and ex-
hausted 1t denotes also quiet and
fixed habitation, after a period of wan
dering; a place of settlement. Again,
and prominently, this term, "rest, de-
notes a special d0elliRg place Of Con
among His people. Thus David said to
the chief men of Israel, Il Chron.
xvii: 2, Il had it in mine heart to
build an house Of rest for the ark of the
Lord, and for the footstool of our God. y
Such was the temple on MOriah for the
ark which before had been borne about,
having no fixed place or settlement.
In a more comprehensive, spiritual
sense this word, "rest," denotes the
Church and House of God, where Goo
an Christ rests in His wisdom, power anG
grace; as in Isaiah XII: 10, I'm that
day." (that is the Gospel DispensatioI,
"there shall be a root of Jesse, which
shall stand for an ensign of the people
to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His
rest shall be glorious.
When David had, with much prepara
ton in the purpose of his heart, erected {
HOUSE FOR GOD, he penned the solemn
resolve and summons, "we will 90 int
His tabernaeles We will worship at Hi
footstoOl;" and then he invites and sup
phcates God to take possession; "Arise
o Lord, into thy rest. And to this in
vocation he was moved by Divine inspira
ton to say, Jas an answer from God,