pestilence among my people. If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place, for now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever."

Why, why, must the sinner repent toward this house? Why, oh why, must prayer be made in this house? Why must the sorrowing captive, an exile from all he holds dear, why must he, in a foreign land, cast his eye toward this city and toward this house? Why is he thus expressly enjoined? Why not repent elsewhere? Why not pray,-why not look elsewhere? Because," without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin," there was no other way of access to the Father but through the place where sacrifice was wont to be made; for, by that sacrifice, at the temple in Jerusalem, was typified "the blood of the Lamb; on that altar was set forth daily, Him, who, by His precious blood-shedding, should destroy

"the enmity," and make an atonement for the sins of many; that they, who were "sometime afar off," might be "made nigh by the blood of Christ: "—hence, God's delight in that House: here was it that He loved to dwell; for there was and is "no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved:" there was and is no other foundation but that "laid in Zion:" there was and is no other way to the " mercy seat," save through Him who is "the way, the truth and the life:" and who is this,-but THE BELOVED SON in whom God is well pleased.

To the Temple hastening, might be seen the joyous throng, going up to Jerusalem for to worship. In the Temple might be found the prodigal returned. Toward the Temple does the pining captive direct his eager gaze, as he pours out his prayer in the name of Him, for whom the Temple stood.

And now, I pray you, examine the picture

set before us in the vision the text reveals. See the Lawgiver on one side, the Prophet on the other;-why these worthies of old? why

Moses and Elias? why not Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob? why not Solomon or David the King? Reverend Sirs, a grand truth has here to be revealed. Behold this glorious scene, mark its lovely hue, gaze on the heavens opened! In the foreground, recognize the glorified three: on the right hand, stands Moses, grasping the Law; on the left, Elias, as one of the Prophets; in the centre, conspicuous, He, of whom both Moses and the Prophets spake. Watch their earnestness; let their converse fall on your ear;-" they spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem," for, "thus it behoved Christ to suffer," that He might fulfil the law.

And now, at this solemn moment, all heaven is "attent," for the office of Moses and the Prophet is no more, as He, of whom they spake, comes forth and as, in a dissolving view, the scene, on which the eye has rested, is swallowed up of another; so, now may be seen the rent in the veil, the fracture of the stately pillars, the bowing of the lofty

D

pinnacles, the cracking of the deep-set walls, the disappearance of the noble dome,—as the NEW TEMPLE, “not made with hands," stands out, as the living Temple, "eternal in the heavens makes its appearance! Then do Moses and Elias resign their office; then all heaven bursts into praise; then does Jehovah the Father dedicate Jehovah the Son, and Jehovah the Spirit light on Him, "in the form of a dove;" a voice from heaven declaring, "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

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THE NEW TEMPLE " dedicated: thus is the divine purpose accomplished: and henceforth it should come to pass, that "whosoever will, may take of the waters of life freely," -the weary traveller in the ways of sinthe hoary-headed sinner or the youthful prodigal ―all, all are welcome, for it is written, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me, and whosoever cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."

In a few years is the temple of Solomon level

with the ground, a ploughshare passing o'er its site: then is fulfilled the Saviour's announcement to her of Samaria, that "the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father: but the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him:"* and henceforth, whereever, north, south, east or west, "two or three are gathered together in His name, there will He be in the midst of them:" wherever and whenever, a sinner, moved by the Holy Ghost, should feel sin and come up to the fountain opened in the New Temple, there should be "full, perfect and sufficient satisfaction,"-for,

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a new and living way" has been established, and that, through the "beloved Son, in whom God is well pleased."

III. And now lastly, what says "the voice?" This is my beloved Son, Hear ye Him. "This is He that came by water and

* John iv., 21.