National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-29
THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD.
what Constitutes n Temple of the Lord
Churches and Churches.

-CnufCneS ana SnurCneS
Dr.. Robert N. Baer, pastor Of Waugh
Chapel Third and A northeast, recently re-
appointed to that charge, to the qualification
Of the entire congregation, preached yester-
day morning from First Kings, viii; 81
"But viii God indeed dwell on the earth9n
lie said there were many temples of the pres.
ent day that were marvels Of architectural
skill, but there probably never was temple
erected upon the earth so glorious to behold
as the temple Of SOlomon-not that It was
20 vast in its dimensions, but because Of the
costleness OF the materials used in It's con
stTuCtion. II was while in the midst Of his
prayer OF dedication, when this temple, be-
fore the assembled multitudes OF Israel, was
being consecrated as the habitation OF the
most high God, that Solomon paused, and,
ms II overcome by the sudden thought OF
the greatness Of God whom he was be-
seeching TO take up His abode in that tenn
pie builded by human hands, exclaimed,
"But will God indeed dwell on the earthr'
Belief In the affirmative or the negative
answer TO this question constituted the es-
scntal difference between those who be-
lleved and those who believed not, and
presented the very difTerentia of the life
that men live here upon the earth. Men
might stumble upon difficulties II they
should seek a confirmation Of the Chris
tlan's belief by the stern processes OF logi-
cal deduction, but II was n source OF great
Joy to every Christian heart that the idea OF
Gods nearncss to man was brought out so
clearly In the Scriptures, and that God was
God to be worshipped and sought after.
This was not the God Of the materialist or
81 the pantheist or even OF the nationalist,
hut the God who was interpreted TO hannah
understanding by Jesus Christ
The earth was represented In the Scrip
80 Ill u,,I
Of man and the scene Of the dlspensation of
the divine government. The origin Of the
earth was the act OF n personal creative
power. The preacher made this statement
at the risk OF being thought unscicntiflc.
Mcnknew nothing about these subjects; the
Bible assured us not Of the eternity Of mat
ter, but Of the eternity Of God, and the
earth bore everywhere the marks of d.
vine orlgin--the footprints Of deity; 1t was
not selfOTiginating.
II was admitted that the earth was but q
mote In the sunbeam OF creation. 1t was
even the smallest but two In our own plan
etary system. This was one Of the argu-
ments Of inGdelty against the existence Of
personal God who would reward and
punish. But why should the insignillcance
81 the earth be used as valid objection to
the belief that God was using II for the
purposes ~ His infinite wisdomp Ought
the size pf the slate upon which laplace
wrought out his demonstrations for the
accomplishment of the great results Of
science 10 be valid objection TO the truth
81 those Demonstrations II might be that
God was solving problems In this world
that were TO enter into the history OF UNI
numbered worlds.
As an intellectual argument, II God be
God lie must be everywhere. The fact of
the divine omnipresence lies at the very
basis Of the idea OF God and the truth OF
religion. But though we may come to a
knowledge Of Gods presence by argument
and by investigation, yet after all We never
know the answer TO this question In truth
and IN sincerity until VIC know by expert
euce that God has come TO dwell with us.
Wesley said 20 those that were gathered
about hls deathbed. "The best Of all is that
God ia with u.s. This has been verified in
the Christian experience OF myriads of
those who have been faithful disciples OF
their Lord, and, like Elijah aud Enoch Of
old, have felt the proof that God was with
them and that they had strong hold upon
Him,