National Republican., 1882-12-18
PULPIT PRECEPTS.
The Truths EnunCiated in Some Of the Wash
ington Churches.
Bishop Simpsons Eloquent Sermon at
Wesley Chapel
What tho Rev. Dr., Hicks Preached at the
Tabernacle
Rev, Byron Sunderland nt the Fourth
Presbyterian Church.
THE PATTERN DIVINE.

wesley Cnapel, aU Un6 corner OF II lltn ana II
streets northwest, one of the Oldest churches
in the city, has been renewed in its appear
ance by extensive repairs, and the reopening
sermon was preached yesterday morning by
Bishop Simpson. After reading the twenty
first psalm and the first twenty-one verses of
the ninth chapter Of Hebrews, he gave as the
text portion of the fifth verse of the eighth
chapter of Hebrews:
For see, saith he, that thou make all things nc-
cording TO the pattern showed to thee in the
mount
And in substance said: The epistle to the
Hebrews contrasts the Jewish dispensation
with the christian and shows how the latter
was development OF, and makes more clear
the meaning of, all the preceding types and
shadows.
The text shows the care God has for worship;
not only that worship shall be given, but his
care that it shall be properly rendered.
Worship was established not because God
needed it. Surrounded as he is with the
glorious company of heaven, who rejoice in
his presence and continually praise him, our
worship cannot be to him essential.
But man needs it for the uplifting and
growth of his being, that he may become
son of God and honor his divine origin
Philosophers tell us we have no knowledge
of surrounding objects except by the aid of
our personal consciousness.
The child, looking at objects above, has no
idea OF distance, DuJ tlme ana culture OF ltS
powers lead it to understand, and science, a
further development of our knowledge, is
leading us to understand the purpose for
which God made the world.
The visible things of the creation only sug-
gest the invisible. They show the design
and work of being whose wisdom and pow
er are apparent, but do not clearly reveal his
interest in man. While the senses are of no
help in understanding spiritual things, we
nave an instinct for the invisible, and God has
gratified this longing of the soul by revealing
Himself in his word and has taken pains to
show us that He is pleased with the reverence
and homage of the worshiping heart.
We admire grandeur We stand before a
mountain, and its massiveness and solidity
excite our wonder. We look at the heavens
at night, and the starry hosts awe u.s. We
look at the surging waves of the ocean, and
we feel how great is God. The little knowl-
edge we have enables us to admire God, but
the revelation of His word that he cares for
us enkindles our love.
The people of Washington have many cares.
How would we feel if the care all were rolled
on us?
The fourteen hundred millions of the popu-
lation of the earth are all on the heart of
God. He will hear every prayer of every
soul, even while making worlds, and answer
at the same moment. Then will you not love
Him, Casting all your care on him, for he
careth for you"
power of God in His upholding all things.
Added to this power and grandeur is the fact
of His holiness. By this revelation how
vastly is His character raised. "Be ye holy"
like your God? "Be ye perfect, even as your
Father in Heaven is perfect" is the pattern
He shows us in His holy word after which it
is our high privilege to transform by His aid
these living temples of the ever-present low
ing Father. And walking, working with
Him in spirit of worship, we can say, " lie
doeth all things well, and His work is perfect"
When He manifested Himself in the flesh
there was much disease in the world and He
healed even the lcper who had been driven
from men and kept apart for fear Of contagion.
And as an assurance of the minuteness of His
care He declared not sparrow falleth to the
ground without his notice, and even the hairs
Of our heads are all numbered.
A mother takes the child of her love and
carefully dresses and curls the darling's hair,
but whoever knew of a mOther'to count it.
But God so loves us all and cares for us all that
our trust in Him is encouraged by His dec
laration that even the hairs of all our heads
are all numbered. Look into all the many
evidences of His care and we are led up step
by step to that highest expression, "God so
loved the world that He gave His only be-
gotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life"
As man thinlleth in his heart is he.
Acts show to men around an index, but to the
man himself his thoughts make his character.
There is not more precious thought than
that of a man when he feels he is right with
God.
Christian worship elevates individuals, and
by and by the whole nation of individuals is
elevated. The thought, the song, the prayer,
all lift up and purify.
The details of the temple ceremonial were
ordered to be made according to the pattern
shown in the mount, because they were typical
of Christ, even though Moses probably did not
understand them.
In the worship of the tabernacle and tom
pie every part was typical in character, and
the types were only fully understood after the
hnal sacrifice once offered ON Calvary.
The tabernacle and temple sacrifices at 8
and forshadowed the sacrifice of Christ on
Calvary, where he was placed on the cross at
o'clock and expired at o'clock. And so
every part Of the temple service pictured in
advance the life and death of Jesus. The
veil was only lifted once gear, and then only
by the high priest, who entered under it into
the holy of holies.
At the crucitixion, as the earth rocked the
veil was rended from the top to the bottom, and
opened the way to the holiest of holies for
every creature.
There have been images in all heather tenn
pies. But God is invisible. No image of God
was allowed in the holy place or in the holy
OF hOlies. There was thus taught the truth
that " God is spirit and they that worship
Him must worship in spirit and in truth"
The christian church is a development from
the tabernacle where the law was read and
the announcement made, "If you have a
word of eXhOrtatiOn, say on"
Now, he reioiced to know that at every
rising of the sun his rays fall on Il new chris
tian temple. In the light of this fact how err
rOneous is the thought that christianity is a
failure.
On the occasion of the giving of the law on
Mount Sinai the people trembled, and Moses
ayppali ulN faarad and nnalraH
On the mount Of TRANSPORTATION there was
brightness and cloud into which the disei-
pies feared to enter; and voice which said,
This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him, indica-
ting the transfer of authority from Moses to
Christ. But at the closing scene instead of
terror there was joy, and the disciples said,
I" 1t is good for us to be here"
On this occasion there was representation
of the law by Moses and the prophets by Elias
"who spoke of His decease, which he should
accomplish at Jerusalem"
At the sepulchre two men in white-angelic
beings-appeared TO the disciples and pro-
claimed His resurrection. And at His ascen-
sion two angels spoke to the disciples, and en-
couraged them to trust in His Teappearing sin
like manner rs they had seen Him going into
heaven" All things patterned had been now
accomplished.
We have still the pattern Of things on the
mount. To-day we are privileged to enter
this temple, renovated and made new; and as
we rejoice in gratitude let us seek anew for
the witness in our hearts that we believe in
the Son of God and through him are made
holy and ad NJ In, CHRIST Jpgue