The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28
GODS HOLY TEMPLE.
STRENGTH AND BEAUTY ARE IN HIS
SANCTUARY.
Dedication Sermon by Rev. w. Il
Thompson, Of CharIcstOn. =. &.

tuary.-Psalm XcVl, Vcrseb.
"When the Lord turned again the captivity
OF Zion we were like them that dream. Thcr
was our mouth filled with laughter and on
tongue with singing. The Lord has done
- great things for us whereof we are glad.''
SO sang the ancient Hebrews upon the occa
sion of some pre-eminently gracious dealing
OF their God, presenting us with that vel
known mental state,swherein temporarily
dazed by phenominally blessed experience
one fears he is the subj Get OF a iona dclusion
that at any moment may suffer cruel disSipa
ton: followed by burst of rapturous JOY as
the conviction is attained that 1T Is indeed q
thrilling, glorious reality. Do we not find
ourselves heartily endorsing the sentiment o
the text and vocing with a kindred emphasis
its note OF grateful praise upon TINS moSt
memorable and auspicious morning? Can II
be that the enforced and Sorrowful exile Is
over, and that we arc once more gathered IN
heavenly places that we can call our own for
the worship of our Lord?
Genius has touched this site with its trans
forming spell, prayer has brooded over it with
agonizips supplication. Love, tireless and
self-sacrificlng has foStered 1t with devoted
vigil, and God has blessed it; hence this grace
full temple greets our glad and wondering gaze
today. And as we look around upon the ele-
gance OF all of these appointments, .sponta.
neously we eXclaim with the sweet singer OF
tuary." 1t is beyond all question that David
employs these words in their obvious and
simplest sense. They are the assertion of an
existent and visible fact. There stands the
tabernacle, with its FURNISHED columns of aca-
ella wood, with It's gorgeous tapestries, richly
embroidered with the figures Of the Cheru-
bin, there is the golden table for the shew
bread, the golden altar Of incense. the seven
pronged candle-stick of gold, shedding over
all subdued mysterious light There is the
Holy OF HOLES, with the Ark Of the Covenant
overlaid with gold, covered by mercy seat OF
the same royal metal! supporting two cheru-
BIN of beaten gold with outstretched wings,
and there between them burns and CLEANS
that awful sacred fire, the shekinah attesting
the earthly throne room Of the Eternal.
Doubtless this minstral seer discerned
emerging from or standing amidst the shad-
ows or the future, that temple the result OF
long years of arduous labor, very treasure
house of costly woods Of Ghise,ed granite anS
crowned the summit Of Moriah, "beautiful for
situation, the joy of the whole EARTH" That
temple which as the glare OF MONDAY rel up
kindiing its varied splendors, resembled those
creations the sun sometimes erectS upon the
far off airy crests OF the summer evening
clouds.
David was right; strength and beauty are 10
his sanctuary. They are there by warrant
that is Divine. There by the general suffrage
of his believing people in all the past. There
by 8 law Of fitness that is evident, and to
says amen. 1t may be objected that these
structures belonged to ceremonial economy,
and that their distinctive features were SYM
bolical. Granted; am not now cont %contending
more. The objection does not lie against EN-.
bellishment as such, but against the form God
prescribed and the meaning he assigned 1t, for
purposes which have been fulfilled; To revive
It In Its old form possibly, and with any OF its
old meanings certainly would be PROCLAMATION.
In this matter Of church architecture and Or
namentation these principles will serve as
safe and proper guides. Pride must not De
permitted to operate as motive. There must
be no infraction OF the second commandment.
Direct approach to God In worship must not
be obstructed. Debt should not be incurred
where reasonable provision for its cancella-
tion has not been made. Such obligations
should not be allowed TO serve as a bar to that
beneficence demanded by the precept thou
served, then sink the foundations deep, carry
up the high imposing wall, the heaven-pier-
cling spire, spring the symmetrical arches in
air let the windows glow with soft and radl-
ant hues; let cultivated taste and Skill give
exhibition Of their rare attainnents; let
chiming bells announce to listening ears the
day Of God and hour for worship, and let the
full organ with majestic diapason, assist the
joyful strains that rise from grateful hearts.
it is not to be debated that David also en-
ploys these words with profounder meaning
than appears at glance, and with higher ref
erences than to things seen and temporal,
which perish with the using. Let it be re-
membered, David was only vocal chord in
the great harp Of Scripture, over which the
breath OF inspiration swept with spiritual
communications Of ipestimable value to the
natural rhapsody he is heard TO say, strength
and beauty are in his sanctuary, his language
becomes Ineligible above as it is brought iu-
to relation to other portions Of his own grand
songs. Hear him in the 9th Psalm, as he eS-
claims: lone thing have desired OF the Lord,
that will seek after, that l may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life."
And for what, David? ITO behold the bean-
pie" What the sun Is to the solar system,
what the principle OF life is to the physical
creation, what the thinking and informing
spirit Of man is to his body, that and more
God Is to his temple; and all the shrines Of
earth, the magnificent realization of the high
est dream Of art are but Of passing interest,
ship, wanting the presence OF the living God,
the strong and beautiful God, the incarnate
Christ the only II King gi in Zion' Zion - Is & he not the
the Lion of the tribe of judah. All things were
made by him. All power is his in heaven and
upon earth. He fills immensely with his
presence, and peoples it at will with his crea-
lions. He is called Wonderful, Counsellor,
the Mighty God. Is he not the beautiful One? :?
All realms have been canvassed to furnish the
embems of his loveliness. He is the Vine,
the Branch, the Lilly OF the Valley, the Rose
OF Sharon, the Pearl of Great Price, the Light
Of the World, the Sun OF Righteousness, the
Brightness Of the Fathers Glory, and the En-
press Image of His Person, the Lord Of Glory.
holy temple, let ali the earth keep silence be-
fore him." But Is not this, my brethren,
enough to make this a dreadful place for
man? Engaging in Its material features, the
moment it is regarded in its spiritual aspects
rs the peculiar residence of the Holy One of
Israel, 1t can only inspire with terror poor,
perishing transgressor. Righteousness must
be both strong and beautiful for Sinless Great
ures, but can it be other than terrible for him
who is selfconyicted as unholy?
One of three things must be true, that man
and God may meet In peace that God to man
may appear lovely in his strength; either
God must require no satisfaction for sin, or
man must render satisfaction for himself, or
satisfaction must be rendered for him by some
other.
The first Of these propositions is untenable,
for the reason that God cannot lower his de-
mands without ceasing to be God. They are
holy, Just and good, to abate them would un-
dermine the foundations Of his throne, and
affiict the moral universe with instability.
The second Of these propositions is equally as
untenable for the reason. man is already
criminal, he cannot make atonement for the
past, nor render service for the future free
from lmperfection. Shut up then, to the third
proposition, where beyond himself, shall he
obtain righteousness equal to the demands
and sanctions of the holy administration of
the King Of kings? In Christ alone. Gener-
ated by the power OF the holy spirit the entail
Of sin Is cut off. He partakes of mans nature
without inheriting his guilt, or in sharing his
defilement. He takes mans place, obeys for
man, and having no sin of his own, he as
sumes mans sin and bears his penalty. He
thus magnities the low, maintains Gods char
QCter, SECURES MS BONeIumelll, anu lHtihcS u
way into the holiest of all, for the most aban-
doned Of sinners.
This Is the explanation Of Calvary and the
reason for the existence Of the church Of God
on earth, 1t is the sum Of my theology. 1t is
the ground of my confidence. 1t embosoms
all my hopes and may my right hand forget
her cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof
of my mouth, if ever SO falsify my high vo-
cation md criminally betray the immortal in.
forests Of my fellowmen, as to preachfor their
salvation aught save Christ crucfed, the wis
dom and the power of God. Almighty Fa.
ther, read thy presence in the stern grandeur