SERMON X. ECCLESIASTES, V. I. Keep thy Foot when thou goeft to the Houfe of God. 'HE figurative expreffion here used THE Keep thy Foot-plainly alludes to an ancient custom among the eastern nations, of putting off their fhoes, when they went into their temples.-A ceremonious act of pious reverence-though perhaps accompanied with a peculiar moral; the unavoidable pollution of men's fhoes being no unfit emblem of those worldly affections daily contracted VOL. I. N as as they fojourn through life, and which are always to be cast off, when they draw nigh unto him, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Be that as it may the general intention and spirit of the precept was doubtlefs to caution the publick worshippers of God, in what manner they approach the divine presence: Left by a profane and undistinguishing behaviour in his house, they turn their fervice into mockery, and their prayers into fin.And well did it become the wisdom of that religious Prince, whom God chose to build a glorious temple to his name, and who was now examining into all earthly vanities, to take cognizance of thofe alfo which are to be found in the facrifice of fools. What I propofe farther on this fubject, is, Firft, To offer a few Remarks on the quality of the Place, ftiled by way of eminence, the House of God. And, Secondly, To enquire into the nature of the duty incumbent on us Chrifwith reference to publick tians 1. First then I obferve that as all nations, even the most barbarous, have been ever led to the acknowledgment of a Deity, so have they always affigned certain places for his more immediate worship and service. And if the former be a good prefumptive argument for the being of a God; fo is the latter for the expediency of confecrating fuch places to his worship and adoration.—Add to this the practice of God's people throughout every age, together with the apparent neceffity of the cafe, and all farther reasoning about it is fairly precluded. N 2 But But now the condition of any place fet apart for the publick worship of Almighty God is fuch, that it acquires thence a peculiar relation to him; and is upon that account, and that only, fitly termed holy. Moreover that the property of fuch places, and all right in them might, as it were, be transferred and given up unto God, and the holiness of them be thereby fecured from the profanation of impious men, was the folemn institution of hallowing and dedicating them commanded Mofes at the erection of the tabernacle, reverently observed by the royal founder at the finishing of the firft temple; and afterward by the Children of Ifrael, when returned from their captivity; who kept the dedication of the fecond temple also with a holy joy. And that these confecrations were well pleafing to the Almighty, we are abundantly affured; in that both at the hallowing of the tabernacle, and alfo of of the temple, the houses were filled who gave with the glory of the Lord; thereby fignal evidence of the poffeffion he took of them. But," will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much lefs this houfe which I have built"- faid Solomon, 'in a pious rapture at the wonderful condefcenfion of God; who had expreffed his reason for their making him a fanctuary, viz. that he might have a house to dwell in among them. The infinite, omniprefent Spirit is not indeed to be limited to any space, much less to the dimenfions of an earthly fabrick, how magnificent foever. 'Tis yet a certain and comfortable truth, He is in a special manner prefent in his house. In the fanctuary of old the cloud |