The New York herald., 1874-10-19
PHILLIPS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Gods Love for the Church-serm0n by


Gods Love for the Church-sermon by
tho Rev. DR.. snodgrass.
The new edI1ce OF the Phillips Presbyterian
church, corner OF Madison avenue and seventy
third street. was formally dedicated yesterday
morning. There was quite large attendance,
made mp considerably or former members OF the
Fifteenth street church, especially invited TO be
present. After the preliminary dedlcatory eXer-
cises, in which the pastor-Rey. DR.. Alexander
participated. the dedicatory sermon was preached
by the first pastor OF the church, Rev. Dr. Snod-
grass, who chose as his text Psalms. lxxxvil..
2--.Tne Lord loveth the gates OF Zion
more than all the dwellings Of Jacob,r Gates IN
the time OF David were places OF concourse. Zion
is the city OF the Great King Zion is only another
name Tor the place where the people drew to-
gether to praise the Lord. Our text, tnen, means
that the Lord loves the places where the people
congregate TO worship HIM more than other
places where they collect together for other pur-
poses The distinction OF any place which is dedi-
Gated to the service OF God does not lie in It's
locality nor In the material OF which 1t Is COM
posed. Jacob SAID, 'ihis Is none other than the
house Of any description. He was covered by the
vault of heaven and his pillow was stone. When
he arose IN the morning the place had rot changed,
occurrence which would have halowed any spot.
ladder was placed upon the earth which reached
forth upon 1t. God renewed His promise that He
would not iorsaKe him. Jacob cried out, "Surely
the Lord was IN this place." And this is what
made the dlference between the night and the
morning. There Is no especial advantage or value
worship is made. The architecture does not rem
der 1t more or less hoy. 1t Is house Ior the
worship OF God. place OF intercourse between
Him and those who seek His iavors Regarding
the gates OF Zion as htly representing
THE HOUSE OF GOD,
offer TO your consideration the reason why the
Lord loves such places more than others. Because
any such house IS house OF PRAYER, and then
has name which towers over the names OF all
other houses in Importance. The same thing may
be SAID OF every sanctuary when is consecrated
TO the DIVINE worship, no matter to what branch
OF the CHRISTIAN Church t may belong, II they only
pray, The church Is not a place Of prayer 10 the
exclusion OF all other places. In connection with
this. there is another place Tor prayer. We pray
at home for our families, and we are told TO pray
privately to God in our own closets We pray IN
church Tor all conditions oil men, foc the
poor, for the sick, and Tor those who 60
down upon the sea in ships. In our
relatives and those with whom we are acquainted.
Consider the place which prayer holds IN the Di-
vine approbationi You may thus see how the
Lord delights IN the gates oil Zion. First, the
church Is place where prayers are offered up;
and second It IS place where the Word az God Is
dedicated to Him accounted lor. There is nothing
in which He more delights than to see that HIS
words are listened to. Inc church, then, Is o sa-
cred building, set apart not only for prayer, but
ior the publication oi Gods word. Long may TINS
church stand among the many gates OF Zion that
surround the Throne. Let 1t be sanctuary In
which true prayer shall be made and answered,
where the weary and heavy laden shall IND rest
for their souls, and where songs shall be sung that
snail be prelude to the one In heaven.