The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-22
THE ETERNAL TEMPLE.
DIR. A. A. f. Taylor Yesterday at the Sec
Ond Presbyterian Church.

DIR. A, A. f. Taylor Yesterday at the Sec
Ond Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Dr. A. A. E.. Taylor, president of the
Presbyterian University at Wooster. O., preached
at the Second Presbyterian Church, yesterday
morning, his discourse being one of much force
The text of the sermon chosen from Kings,
vi: "And the house. when il was in building
was built of stone made ready before it was
brought thither; so that there was neither ham
mer nor AK nor any tool of iron heard in the
house while it was in building"
This extraordinary passage, DIR. Taylor said
seems to convey a mystery. 1t Is selected from
the general description of the temple that
was in building by King Solomon,
wherein worship might be offered to
Jehovah and the shekinah. King David, whose
greatest glory it to be styled by the Lord "a
man after his own heart" had not been per-
mitted to erect this temple, as he desired, but
peacefully slept with his fathers. In fulfllment
OF the promise of the Lord to David, we behold
Solomon, his son and successor in the kingdom,
erecting, on Mount Moriah, IN the city of j erusa-
lem, II temple SO gorgeous and respondent as to
become the wonder OF the whole earth. The
temple was faultless in its majestic proportions,
and matchless in its dazzling splendur. Its
walls were of solid stone, lined with cedar,
carved with beautiful devices, and these were
overlad with pure gold, Magnificent in
al its appointments, furnished with a lavish
prOfusion hitherto unknown to the amazed
| world, and yet, marvellous TO relate. this whole
temple, as never elsewhere occurred built
| of stone made ready before 1t brought
thither, so that there was neither hammer nor
| ak, any tool of iron heard in the house
| while it was in building. There is nothing
meaningless either in Solomon's words or his
| works. AS the city of Jerusalem was typical of
| the new Jerusalem, the city of God in the skies,
| so the temple of Solomon was but n type of that
! temple of God--the "house not made with hands,
eternal in the skies"
There are many false conceptions of the prov
! ince of the earthly church. and from these,
! false premises. We deduct many unbound ed con-
| clusions A true scriptural view of It's work
! We remark accordingly, first that earth is only
| a field and workshop wherein materials are
| prepared for the erection of "A distant temple.
| The church on earth is the band of laUOrers in
! the quarry and in the shops Apply this
| truth to the position of the church and
| you will see at once that the visi-
| BILE church is not end unto
| position of the church on earth is not that of a
! body which is merely irving to establish num-
beers and acquire social rank and influence for
! itself. 1t exists for a nobeT because q higher
! purpose. IL stands not for its own sake bur TO
prepare souls for the spiritual temple of God,
| and we do not merely ask you TO Join the
church. nor do we teach YOU that this will prove
| your salvation; but we point you to o higher
duty, namely, that OF seeing that your hearts are
! and fitted properly 10 take yUur place as one OF
the stones, tried and precious in the everlasting
! temple of the Lord.
The church il accomplishing it's work makes
| men better, just stone or timber is improved
| and made valuable by he wOrkmen in its prepar r
alton. what would avail the labOr OF the Quarries
il soues were TO DO left yng in tue Quarrts, even