The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-10-29
The Temple of the Holy Ghost
by CHARLES S. ROBINSON, D. D.

BY CHARLES S. ROBINSON, D. d.
This article from the Sunday School Times
is especially appropriate in view of the Sunday
School lesson for November Cd.
At last the supreme moment arrived,
and all the wonderful work of these seven
years was to be dedicated to the God
who would hereafter be worshiped by the
whole nation. What fashion of service
might now be used in the formula OF
transfer?
All great things are simple. Solomon
was the wisest king that ever lived. He
knew Just what was 6ttest. He came
forth in person, although he was not an
ordained priest He boldly took the en-
tire pageant into his own hands. The
liturgy he employed he probably COM
posed himself, and, perhaps, he commit
ted it to writing as we have it now, its
general form uninpaired.
There can be no doubt that many an
earnest teacher would be very glad to
occupy himself with the detailed study
of this incident as a matter of history.
The description Of the services would be
picturesque, and the theme would be full
of interest. But if one can only link with
the development of the tale some ordinary
lessons, of spiritual and practical applica-
ton, concerning truth and conduct, there
might be lost nothing in the vividness,
and there might be gained much in the
vigor.
We recall anew two passages in the
epistle of Paul, where each believer is
declared to be a temple of the Holy
Ghost ." Il Cor 6: 49, and 3: 16, 10. 1t
becomes a serious question whether it is
expected that this individual temple
should be formally dedicated, as was that
of Solomon. And if it be true-as mani
testify it has been held in all ages of the
lchurch-that each Christian is to bring
himself in an act of solemn conservation
unto God, before the Holy Spirit will con-
sent even to become an indweller in his
soul, it is also a question how such an act
is to be fttingly performed May it not
be that Just here, in the procedure of
IsIaels king now under our observation,
there are discoverable some counsels and
directions of the highest value as to the
discharge of ones duty? Let us analyze
the formula.
l. For example, Solomon begins with
the expression of his sober sense of divine
greatness. He exclaims Lord God of
Israel, there is no god like thee, in heaven
above, or on earth beneath" Now it
will be of no use whatsoever for any
human being, who is intelligently propos-
ing to oonsecrate himself fully to Gods
service, to attempt to covenant with the
Almighty without realizing that he has
entered upon the most awfully serious
moment of his life; for he is dealing with
the one supreme Head of the universe.
Even Abraham, who reached the highest
stand a creature ever stood upon, and
was called the Friend of God, was awe
struck and hushed es he tried to utter
his prayer of intercession for the wicked
in Sodom: Behold now, l have taken
upon me to speak unto the Lord, which
am but dust and ashes"
2. Then, next to this, as an expert
mental step in the dedication of one g
self as temple of the Holy Ghost comes
an affecting remembrance of the divine
grace. Solomon openly admits that ne
is now In the Immediate presence of that
God who was accustomed to keep cove
nant and mercy with his servants that
walked before him with all their heart.
He recalls the promises pledged to his
father David, and comforts himself with
rehearsing ancient engagements, each one
of which had been faithfully performed.
1t is likely that no man who has been
formerly sinner in the sight of Heaven
could ever have the face to offer himself
again to God, unless he felt deeply that
his Maker had been kind and forbearing
all along, and is yet merciful and graci-
Gus, and unwilling that any soul should
be lost, speaking, with his mouth, words
of gentle encouragement to all that would
trust him, each of which he would, in in
exhausIble love, fulfill with his hands.
3 In the third place, Solomon makes
an humble acknowledgment of the divine
condescension. No sentence in this ad
dress is more pathetic than that found in
the twenty seventh verse. 1t is the grand
simplicity OF such an exclamation that
fixes an unusual character upon it the
candor of the confession shows heart
penetrated with the consciousness that It's
very best gift must be sanctifed by the
altar of God it lies upon, before the in
finite holiness of Jehovah can accept it.
1t is this honesty of public admission
which proves that the king bends his
heart and will, as surely as his kness.
Oh, how much Of mockery there is in our
modern CONSIDERATIONS Just now it is
heralded across the world that the king
OF Cambodia has suffered his head to be
II