The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-12
"A Little Sanctuary"
tselected for the Tlmes-plspatoh.)

He (SeleCted for the Ilnles-DispatohD r
~ will be to them little sanctuary:S
Ezekiel xi.15
All the words In our language derived
from the Latin word "snnotus" have q
kindred meaning. The Idea pervados
nll,-thnt Is something consecrated or set
apart from a common to n hnllowed use.
In the Ancient Temple there was the
apartment which was the most sacred
OF all; ana when the sanctuary was
spoken Of reference was had, not to the
whole temple with its different courts,
but to that ono consecrated place, over
which an3,nlIftad veil hung thropghout
all the year; except when the High Priest
entered with blood upon the altar, TO
make intercession for the people that
stood worshipping within
In process or time the Whole building
came to be called the sanctuary. and then
the word was very naturally and prop
erly applied to all buildings erected III
every part OF the world for the service
and worship Of the great God. # K
These arc hallowcd places, places OF
rest, Of communion with God. and where
men are trained for service here and
prepared for the higher and nobler SER
vice Of tho opper sanctuary.
God still delights in the worship OF
His people IN the churches which have
boon organized In His name, and where
they meet to praise and pray together
and to hear the word of5God, But Divine
Wisdom and goodness has also been
shown to those who are denied such
privilege. Null s.33s &
In ancient times, one Of the strangest
.ctlstoms-thcn universal, now obsolotn--
prevailed. When two nations were at war,
the victors carried away by hundreds and
by thousands the vanquished, and made
them capt.vcs in their own land. This
was especially true of Palestine. That
little country stood5at the angle where.
three great countries touched, and across
its narrow territory swept the great in
vading forces. As q result Of one attack
upon the city Of, Jerusalem, the people
Of that city were carried away into,
captivity for q period Of seventy years,
While In this captivity their enemies
tainted them, saying: Sing lis one OF
the songs of Zion" But they said: How
can we sing IN a strange land?" They
wept when they remembered the temple.
where the tribes went up with the null
ititudes which kept holy day. Part Of
their desolation consisted in the thought
that they were separated from their
brethren, and could not unite with them
in the worship of God at His temple. 3
How does God comfort them? He says:
II will be to you more than the long line
Of priesthood; you need not the golden
altar. I will be to you little sanctuary;
II will gather you to me. closely to me hi
the secret tabernacle Of my love, IN the
tender pavilion Of my heart. I will hide
you; there you may wonder and worship
and love- @
That. did the Patrarchs do before there
was temple or a church N the world?
Did God leave them w.saout any con-
/ ISOLATION? We know one of them laid
down at night on the ground with only
stone for pillow. Yet he had such
vision of Gods love and care that he
| d.u nus Ia 4IluCtI CNe HOUSE OIL Qua,
| the gate of heaven"
There was no"house." no gate" there.
| What did he mcan?" He meant that God
] revealed II mse!f as q dwelling place,
I shelter, home, and you recall that scene
! In prison. when, their feet made fast
In the stock at midnight Paul and S.las
not only prayed, but sang praises to
God? Truly God was there with them,
J was to them little sanctuary,
| And SO it has been all down through
history To the covcnanter In the caves
| to Luther upon his mountain crag; to
Bunyan in Bedford jail; to Baxter in
his Two years SO journ IN PRISON.; to all
| Of these the promise was abundantly full
filled: II will be TO you a little sanc-
tuary,
And then consider how many that the
love and kindness of his God was the
gate, the den In which he entered and
found mercy,
How many arc there in our own coun-
try who are destitute Of the privileges
of the house of God. They live In re-
gions where the population IS very scat
tered. and tho people very poor. DO you
suppose that God forsakes them because
they have no house OF worship in which
to gather? All no! He comforts them BY
saying: 81 will be to you little sane
tuary."
And even when there is no house In
the neighborhood that can be used. there
is often a church in the family with tho
father for the priest and the members
Of the family the congregation and God
comes down to visit and to bless them
with His grace.
mink Of the multitude who have no
-