Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-01-02
A SERMON
PREACHED ny

KEW. 4. H. W L''H-Ns - ''N
Al the Dedication o, the new Cumberland
Pr,sLy,crinn Church In Dallas TeSsfi
August 10Th, 1868.
unEgui. Chapter NJ nnd With Sorse'
"tsd ,-.R .Lals al aarous, dsd ihs d''i'' y 49,
ta., flalIcanr, aud r.N fithi'Aoa' TA gi"'t' so"
tie lord u hosts"
How great wcro the difficulties
presented TO the minds Of the cman-
cirntcd Jews, after Il long and tedious
captivity, wrecked in their fortunes
and their country sacked aud pii.
LACED, to be sent back to their old
homes to rebuild n house for God!
These difficulties were increased
when il is rccollccted, on their re-
turn, they had to contend against II
most formidable opposition from
those who had settled in ;hcir coun-
try. and ignored their lormcrtitlcs;
Thus their poverty, and surrounded
by enemies who opposed them at
every step, they were embarrassed
with difficulties and hindrances al
most insurmountabIc. They were
also discouraged when they recol-
Iectcd the glory of the former Tenn.
pie. which, when finished, fitted
with such exact nicely that it had
more the. appearance of being the
handiwork of the Supreme Archl-
tect Of the Universe than the work
of man. But few persons can read
description Of Solomon's Temple,
its beauty, magnificcacc,. and cX-
pensc, exceeding all others in its
finish. grandeur and design, and not
be filled with wonder and astonish'
ment, when they contemplate that
splendid building, supported by
fourteen hundred and fifty three
columns, twenty hundred and
six piIastcrs, all hcwn from the finest
white marble; and so nicely joined
t methcr that they appeared ono
entire stone; and the covering of
pure cold. so that whom the sun
shone thereon the reflection was so
rcfulgcnt and the splendor and daz-
zing brightness so vivid, that it
was difficult to look upon it beneath
clear sun. Yet it was the Lord $
House, built by divine appointment,
dedicated to the service of the Most
High, and was the glory of the jew
ish nation and The admiration of
the world.
No wonder a people wrecked, and
worsted by servitude in foreign
land, without houses or homes,
means or money, sufficient for the
undertaking, should feel the want
of everything necessary to com
mrnce aud carry forward a work
which, when complete, was designed
to exceed in glory the former Tenn
pIo. They, as is usually the course
pursued by the men of the world,
thought the first thing necessary on
their return was to build themselves
houses, clear up their fields, sow
their grain, and plant their vine
yards, although they had been sent
back to commence the Lords House
Immediately, and its foundation had
been laid amid the weeping of the
old men and the rejoicing of the
young. Yet they stopped, and
nothing more was dono for some
time, waiting for moro convenient
season. They erected an altar and
Il tabernacle near the altar, in which
the sacred vessels and treasures
were deposited and guarded. But
let us. say they, first build our own
houses and furnish them, ard in
the meantime let bare altar serve
MS. as it did our father Abraham.
They did not say they would not
build a Temple, but not yet. 1t
will be done in good time, when all
things are ready. Thus they rea-
soned. and like thousands of the
race of men, the great business for
which they were sent into the world
TO perform is postponed under the
pretence that twill be done in good
time, but that good time never
comes. What a world of loss has
been sustained by such sinful delays,
especially in building churchesl
But God inspired the prophet
Haggai, as the first after the captiv-
ity, as a special messenger from
heaven to reprove his people for
their cold-heartcd indifference and
encourage them to again revive the
work.
is it time for you, oh yel to dwell
in your ceiled houses. and this
house be waste. Now therefore
thns saith the Lord Of hosts, consid-
CT vour ways. ye have sown much
and bring in little; ye eat, but ye
hare not enough, ye drink bot re
are not filed with drink. ye eiOtbe
von. but there is none warm, and be
that enr1Iefh wages TO put il into
bag rith holes. Butthns saith the