The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-03-01

speaker, was composed of men, women
and children who had been made
"alive to God through Christ. The
Spirit OF God. almighty in its grac-
ious works. took these stones from
the quarry OF nature, rough and un-
st as they might seem to be. and
dressed them and fashioned them ac-
cording to his own plan. But in all
this process of perfecting these build
ing stones. so that each one might as
sumo it's place and fulfill its destiny
in this spiritual life, there must be on
their part not only passive yield
ing, but also an active cooperation
with the spirit.
The design OF the spiritual temple
was that God might dwell therein.
Not that God was in need OF dwell
ing place: Heaven is his throne, and
the earth is his foot-stool." The sun
and the stars were his. and all the
infinite depths Of space.
Myriads OF shining angels who never
sinned were his. Creation, yea, and
the uncreate were him temple. in
which he dwelled and manifested him
self in his attributes OF omnipresence
and power and wisdom. But in his
holy church he manifested himself in
peculiar manner. in his attributes OF
mercy and goodness and love. eNer-
cisinG them in relation to and for the
benefit OF those who have sinned.
But not only was the church set be-
fore us under the figure OF temple
in which God graciously dwells. said
Mr. Scherer, but each individual be-
lever was represented as such tenn
pie. The grand thought OF it all was
this: that we who were separated from
God by reason OF sin and were far re-
moved from all fellowship with him,
were now made nigh: that God came
and made each believing heart a sane
tuary and set up there mercy-seat.
He who himself was Love established
himself in the very centre OF Our be-
ing, that our whole life might be love
and that toward him above all our
hearts might ever turn.
Mr.. Scherer concluded as follows:
God claims his own, not as Roman
Catholics, or Lutherans or Episco-
palians, or Presbytersans or Metho-
dists or Baptists, but as those in
whom is the life OF faith and love and
obedience to Christ the Lord. These
all he is building together into the
one temple, which has been rising ST.
len,ly through all the ages growing
with certainty towards glorious
completion according to the plans and
purposes OF the Divine Builder. 1t
has risen in spite of all opposition, and
it will still rise until that day when
the great Architect shall bring forth
the top stone" and all the hosts of
heaven shall shout, Grace, grace unto
it," And in it shall be realized the
union of God with his people, and
those who have been redeemed and
restored out OF lost race. In it he
shall dwell forever. imparting to it
the iullness OF his life and love, and
receiving in return, from all the living
glorihed throng who compose it, love
and alteration and praise unceasing.
Then the mystery OF God in re-
demption shall have been finished:
God and the creature shall be one:
and with mighty voice out of heav-
en-, reaching to all parts of Gods uni
versal dominion. it shall be proclaim
ed: Behold, the tabernacle. OF God
is with men, and he will dwell with
them. and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them,
and be their God"