The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-05
DEDICATORY SERMON.
Delivered by Rev. ]. s. MOhat. Oi
Chester, Sunday July 2, 1893.
al will fill this house with glory.

Temple built after the return Of the Jews
from Babylonish captivity. Herruo6abel, the
prince and civil ruler, and Joshua, the High
Priest, were the leading spirits in rebuilding
this Temple.
tion OF the SamarilAns caused the work TO be
arrested. For fourteen years no progress was
made The people fell into cold aud legth-
argic state. They pre- Ierred their own tenn
poral prosperity to the restoration of God =
house.
Even when the way was opened to renew
work on the building, They said The time
Is not come-lhe time that the Lords house
should be built.
Haggai was one OF the prophets sent by
God " arouse the people to their duty aud
to slim mulate and encourage them TO COM
pete the Tempe. In this chapter he Is eX.
horLing them In the name OF the Lord TO take
heart and sci about the work at once
Yet now be stroug, U Lerrubbaoel, ana
be stong D, Joshua son OF Josedeck, the High
Priest, and be strong all ye people OF the
land, saith the Lord and work. iorl am WIN
you."
One of the encouragements and induce
menls held out TO urge them on liz ned
In the words Of my, text, land will fill this
house with glory"
Can any of you tell me whether we ever
read in the Bible that this house was filled
with glory? If 1t had been spoken regarding
the Tapernacle-the first Temple OF God anu
the pattern Tor all that iOllowed-we would
un nhesi ling say 1t was literally fulfilled.
For we read that when this portable tenn
pie had been finished and set up and all its
furniture put In place and the priests aud all
had been consecrated, with holy soleinnity.
"Theu q cloud covered the tent Of the congre.
CATION and the glory Of the Lord filled The
tabernacle"
II this language had been spoken OF Solo.
mons Temple, we could know that 1t came
literally 10 pass. For we read when 1t was
completed aud was about 10 be dedicated
with solemn and imposing ceremonies
when the priests We're come out OF
the holy place. that the cloud filed the hous
of the Lord, 80 that the priests could not
stand 10 minister, for the glory Of The Lord
had rlled the house Of the Lord.
But so far as l know we have no record
that the glory of the Lord did MI this house
which Zerruboabel and Joshua built.
This leads us 10 observe that the Tenn.
pie was symbolic structure, a type OF the
church OF God. This Temple was Gods Wis
ible dwelling place in Israel. Here He man.
ifested himself to His chosen. Where He
commanded Moses " build the Tabernacle
and directed what materials to bring. He
said. "let them make me q sanctuary
that may dwell among thern," and When
terings, God said again, aud there will L
10 eel with the children OF Israel and the tab.
ernacle, shall be sanctitied by my glory"
Through David, He spoke. This IL my rest
forever. Here Will l dwell"
The material excellence and splendor OF
the Tabernacle and Temple were designed to
typiiy The spiritual excellence and beauty of
the church. As It is exressed under another
figure The kings daug ghter Is all glorious
within. Her clothing is Of wrought gold:
SO shall the king greatly desire thy beauty"
"Even as Christ loved the church and gave
himself for IL that He might sanctlfy and
cleanse IL with the washing Of water oy the
word. that He might present 1t 10 himself q
glorious church not having spot or wrinkle
or any such thing but that II should be holy
without blemish.
II is In this light that we are to view the
declaration and this text. II will I'LL this
house with my glory II Is prophecy con.
be all glorious, filled with the glory OF the
Lord.
The glory of the Lord and the cloud Of glo-
~ filling the Temple Of solomon were visi-
port. the glory that woold rest In and upon
the church Of God.
What will be the glory that will fill the
church?
~ II will be the glory arising from the
enlarged recognition Of Divine truth.
The time has not yet been when It could be
said that the whole church has apprehended
all OF Divine truth.
Error yet dims much OF her history and
glory. In nothing IL the depravity OF the hu.
man heart more clearly seen than In the
disposition to run into error, 70 garble and
disLort the truth or set 1t aside by human
surely be full Of glory In that day when "the
light OF the glorious gospel OF Christ aud the
knowledge Of the truth as IL is In this book
shall be practically agreed ppon by all the
ed In the church upon earth. Perhaps not
absolutely, but 1t will be approximately.
II is true the pages OF the history OF the past
WIN sbs ,hs story OF gsvGss depart
said the tendency Of The church is 10 leave
the old paths TO throw orthodoxy overheard
| 10 embrace heresies and TO lapse into lati-
tudenarianism and laxity or doctrine.
dences OF degeneracy IN all the branches OF
the ch hurch? With what show OF reason then
can 1t be held that the church is approaching
nearer 70 the whole truth aud nearer thai
day when all shall see eye to eye?
The explanation IL to be found in the fact
that the defections and departures from truth
comes from worldly and carnal elements In
the visible church, while the spiritual ele.
ments are coming closer and closer together
and these spiritual elements are the real
church OF God.
These very defectIons are driving the de-
vout saints In closer concord and into greater
uEity OF faith and doctrine.
AS the stamp mills OF controversy and ex-
perience work. and the stream OF lime washes
the intertnixed mass, the sand settles TO the
bottom but the pure ore is gathering about
the quicksilver Of truth.
Even things which seem most baleful to us
are working TO this end in this world.
There are Investigations and researches
and Observation-Disclosures and archaeology
W hich bring disquitetude and fears and fore
bodings into some hearts. There is q destruc-
tive criticism abroad which seems to be
spreading and removing the very founda-
tions. But all these things will be fOund-the
end 10 issue-a fuller recognition and a secur.
er establishment OF the truth OF Gods word.
These very teachings and agitations will
cause the faithful TO know more OF the word
and understand 1t better, and the more they
know and the better they understand II the
closer will they be drawn in belief and prac-
tice.
Denominationalism also tends to the same
result. know there are those who decry the
division In the church into denominations.
They regard this condition wholly al the
invention and device OF the Devil, aud they
would blot out all denominational lines and
merge all into one great organization.
l used 10 think thus somewhat, but my
views have undergone q change. l believe
that when Christ prayed that all his deciples
might be one He meant something more
than a mere sentimental spiritual union of
believers, but do not believe he meant that
all were TO be one visible organized body.
1t is true perhaps that denominationalism
has been carried too far, that these divisions
and scbisms are groundless and sinful
1t is deplorably true that UNCONVENTIONAL
ism frequently degenerates III TO mere unseen.
ly sectarianism. and yet am disposed TO
believe that tdenominationalism within prop
er bounds, is wise ordering Of the Lord-a
wise ordering for the discovery, exhibition
and recognition and preservation Of the
whole truth Of God.
am 1urther disposed 10 oelleVe that IL has
80 turned out that the true people OF God are
nearer together In their beliefs to-day than
they know or are willing TO admit.
1t appears TO me that constituted as men
are. denominationalism Is essential to tho
finding and displaying and maintaining Of
divine truth.
Truth is vast thing. Men are narrow and
limited beings. No one mind takes In all
truth. No one in life time can start on
search for truth and go round 1t all and view
II all. One gets glimpse, he takes In one