The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-28
RELIGIOUS READING.
LOVE OF TuE CHURCH.

LOVE OF Tue CHURCH.
There is something very beautiful and
touching In the affection which the dcyout
Israeltes. in the purer eras of their history,
entertained for their temple and church. AZ
we find II expressed in the Psalms, or excm.
plined In the conduct Of David and Asaph,
Ezra and Nehemiah, a sentiment more ex.
alted or honorable or lovely il hardly con.
ceiyable. II was the strength OF patriotism
made beautiful by the loveliness OF picty the
fervor of family and national attachment hal.
lowed by devotion and the love OF God.
Three times In the year the tribes were sum-
moncd to the enjoyment of these social and
sacred festivities, and as the period for set
ting out upon the pleasing crrand drew nigh,
they cried with one accord, II was glad when
they said unto me, Let us 20 into the house
OF the Lord" And US they pressed FROM hill.
top to hilltop, and at length caught sight OF
the distant columns OF the temple consCcratcd
10y so many affections. and the scene Of so
many marvcls. they gave uttcranco To- their
pious admiration--"Bcautiful for situation,
the joy of the whole earth il Mount Zion. on
The sides of the north, the city OF the great
| King As the mountains are round about Je-
rusalcm, so tie Lord Is round about his peo-
| pie from henceforth even forever" Reach.
! ing the entrance Of the Holy City. the
| vast multitude probably often reaching u
| million IN number-liitcd up their voices Ia
| chorus. "Our feet are standing within thy
| gates o Jerusalem. Jcrusucm Is huillcd "a
| a city that is compact together. whittier the
| tribes 20 up. the tribes of the Lord. unto the
testimony Of Israel, to give thanks unto the
| name OF the Lord For there are set thrones
| OF Judgment the thrones Of the house oi
David. Pray for the peace Of Jerusalem. for
! they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be
within thy walls and prosperity within thy
| palaces. For my brethren and my compan-
| ions sake ! will say, Peace 10 within thee
| Because Of the house OF the Lord our God, |
/ IL ~ 4 49,, !, al, La az
! lection worthy Of the cmbalming In divine
| song which IL has received, and honorable to
the dcvoutc lsraeite that cherished It as hts
| life blood. There was neither tigutry, cNclu-
sivcnoss or sectariansm in II II was a just
! reverence for an object worthy OF the hearts
| most tcrycnt admiration.
The church is still the place Of Gods abode
| As the home of all the associati, n- and mcm.
orics of his grace In Christ, aud favor To- our
rnce. 1t IL still as worthy Of affection and zeal.
| Gus interest IA ever There l. picty and dig
nifty and moral beauty st !, IN the sentiment
that ioyerscs the church, and rc-cchocs the
cong Of ccnturies,-
"I love thy Kingdom, Lord.
The house of thine abode"
Though the splcndors Of the temple have
long ago become dim and Jerusalem has
! been troddcn under feet there Is still house
OF God. a shckinah raging forth ~ clear "a
light aud u communion n genuine and lovely
us ever thrilled the heart of dcvotcc or saint
Of old. Tho church Of the great company of
| belicvcrs-thc aggregation Of all the pure
good AMI excellent upon earth-thosc in
whom the image Uf Christ is found, and
whose names are written in the palms OF the
Almightys hand. II Is n dirnined venerable
admirable body, containing moro real worth,
| more pure affection more blessed possessions,
more glorious hopes and more honorcd re-
latiunships than any community on earth. II
A. .ts... a. l...
ence IN this world. II is the church that Christ
give himself fOr-thc place where God re-
cords his name-The home of every pure de-
sire, every noble purpose and disintercstcd
sentiment. The memories of the martyrs and
the faith and horoism Of the fathers cluster
around II. The wealth of u thousand hon.
orcd associations enriches 1t. To II belonged
Paul and Polycarp, Luther and Augustine,
Calvin and Brainard. Edwards and Howard,
and eye:y other really bright name or sacred
memory that adorns the annals OF our race.
This sentiment meets TO be more cherished
"a the present day ,aau itis lhere 40 i0i
only nothing TO be ashamed OF In conne3.
tion with the church, hut everything In II 10
be desired nnd held in esteem. As Gods
great agency for Accomplishing his purposes
OF mercy towards the world, the church de.
serves the intelligent love Of every good man
CAPABLE of desiring the worlds goods A.
the communion Of all the excellent and
worthy and God-icarng people on earth, II
is worthy Of all the care, the Kind Offices, the
sacrifices and III" affection We can hc-tOw
To promote It's peace. to Increase it, means
| Of doing good, tp impHrt to II dignity or in
iluoucr. /. 10 aid To the only effective force
by which mankind are TO be- really elevated
enriched or saved. II Is TO cooperate with
God In the grandcst Of his purposes. 1t /,
to do good in III" most cilcctuul manner. and
on the largest scale. No man ever loved the
church too warmly n" sacrifice, for its vel
fare can be too great; no interest IN It's
duing-. nor sympathy with It's trias, can be
too liycly IN. \. Evangelist.