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JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.

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SERMON,

DELIVERED JANUARY 22, 1815.

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DEDICATION OF THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP,

ERECTED BY THE

Calvinistic Congregational Church and Society.

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FITC HI5UR G, MASS.

BY EBENEZER W. BULLARD,

PASTOR

PRINTED BY REQUEST.

FITCH 13 URU :
PUBLISHED BY S. & C. SHEPLEY.
1845.

W. J. Merriam. Printer, Fltchburg,

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JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.

SERMON

DELIVERED JANUARY 22, 1845,

DEDICATION OF THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP,

ERECTED BY THE

CALVINISTIC CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY,

FITCHBURG, MASS.

BY EBENEZER W. BULLARD,
Pastor of said Church and Society.

PRINTED BY REQUEST.

FITCHBURG :
PUBLISHED BY S. & C. SHEPLEY.
1845.

SERMON

Ezra, VI. 16.
And the children of Israel, tho priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the child
ren of the captivity, kept tho dedication of this house of God with joy.
Many causes conspired to this result. The Jews had been
long in building the second temple. They had incurred
heavy expenses while prosecuting the work, and suffered
severely from the secret machinations and open violence of
their enemies. But now, in the completion of this house of
God, they have cause to rejoice, in that these toils and
dangers are terminated.
They might also well recognize, in this happy consum
mation, a token for good. God had been with them through
these labors, and he seems now, in very deed, about to return
to favor Zion and to dwell with his people as aforetimes.
Moreover, their long destitution of the Sanctuary and its
privileges, would naturally add not a little to the joy with
which they keep this dedication. They would rejoice to
take down their long neglected harps, and sing the Lord's
song in the midst of his temple.
But more than all, these children of the captivity had
been led to anticipate for this house, a glory even greater
than that, which had crowned the temple of Solomon. Poor
and broken though they were, God is able to supply all
their need, according lo his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus.
And he had assured them that he would; and made them
acquainted, by his prophets, with the means by which he

4 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
would confer so great a blessing. He would raise up The
Branch, — The Desire of all nations, their own Shiloh and
the Consolation of Israel was to come to this house, fill it
with glory and there give peace.
" All that the Ark did e'er contain,
Could no such grace afford."
These gracious promises dried up the tears of the old men,
and excited the liveliest anticipations in all minds. A great
er than Solomon was suddenly to come to his temple, even
he in whom were to be realized all the types affd shadowy
glory of the first house.
These causes might well suffice, to make Zion once more
the joyous city, while all her children kept the dedication of
this house of God.
To-day, we keep the dedication of this house of God —
the house which was builded these many years ago, which
our fathers builded and set up. Need I say that we, too,
however diverse our circumstances, from those of the chil
dren of the captivity, have gre^t occasion to rejoice in the
services of this day 1 They are highly proper in themselves,
dictated by every sentiment of piety, conformed to a Godly
usage and strictly scriptural. Such services have indeed
been abused. And so also have all the forms of religious
worship, the house of God itself, and the whole and every
part of our holy religion. But for this cause shall we de
prive ourselves of Christian privileges, turn our backs upon
the good things of the kingdom, cast reflections upon the
pious dead, and dishonor upon our God1? He has been good
to us through this whole enterprise. Except the Lord build
ihe house, they labor in vain that build it. But lo! the house
is builded and set up; for hitherto the Lord hath helped us.
It is therefore, in our hearts to speak of his goodness to-day,
in the midst of his temple.
God has granted unto this people, unanimity in counsel,
and zeal in prosecuting this work unto the end. He has
protected the lives of the builders. Through his blessing
they have brought their work to a happy issue; and we
have, as the result, this chaste, commodious and substantial

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. 5
edifice— an honor to them and a gift from God to us, for
which we would praise and bless his holy name.
The Lord has dealt kindly with us, too, while deprived
of a sanctuary of our own. How slightly have we felt
those privations, which seemed inevitable, when we left our
former house, and saw the doors of that beloved Bethel close
upon us forever. Friends* have been raised up, gener
ously to minister to us in our time of need. Deeply are we
beholden to them ; and I am sure that I should do, signal in
justice to the feelings of my people, and great violence to
my own, were I not, in connection with these sacred duties
and services, to give utterance to our sense of their kindness
and our obligations. Allowed no more substantial method
of meeting these obligations, they will permit us to tender,
them (that which is not the less real) our hearty thanks
and warmest wishes.
It also greatly enhances the joy of this occasion, that our
neighbors and fellow-citizens generally, have manifested
abundantly their good feeling, and kind wishes toward us
throughout this enterprise. They have rejoiced to befriend
us ; and it gives us pleasure to see so many of them present
to-day, to mingle their joys with ours.
We rejoice, too, in large and delightful anticipations.;
We hope that the Lord God, for whose service we have
erected this house, will indeed take pleasure in it, receive it
as a work of piety and faith, here meet us, our children)
and children's children, and the stranger that is within our
gates, and make us all joyful in his house of prayer. It is
our hope and fervent prayer that Almighty God, the Father
and the Son, and the Holy- Ghost, the One God, for whose
* The members of the First Parish in Fitchburg. When it was understood that
the C. C. Society were about to take down their meeling-house, and build a new
one, and while the people were in no small perplexity with regard to a suitable place
for holding public worship, a committee was sent from the First Parish with the unso
licited and g-enerous offer of their house, at such limes as might bo agreed upon.
This offer was gratefully accepted, and arrangements speedily made, that have
proved exceedingly agreeable lo those thus befriended, and indeed not less so
though not a little inconvenient, to those befriending us. From the 31st of March,
1844, to the 19th of January, 1845, both societies have worshipped in ihe same house,
each holding two public services every Sabbath.

0 J0Y IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
worship, and- unto whose adorable name we have builded
this house, will, in very deed; make it the place of his rest
among us, satisfy us with the goodness of his house, .even
his holy temple, and cause that all who worship here
shall become indeed the ¦ sons and daughters of the Lord
Almighty. ¦ \..-
But other than these personal themes, claim our atten
tion — themes restricted in their application to no one people,
but which exhibit the general reasons for joy, when any
people are permitted to dedicate the house which they have
builded unto the name of the Lord their God.
The true worship of the true God being the object, the
good of man the motive, then always, is the erection and ded
ication of the house of God an occasion of peculiar joy ;
and for the following reasons — God himself delights in these
labors of his people— the holy and excellent of the earth
have ever delighted in them — and the house of God holds a
most intimate and vital relation to all the best interests of
our race.
For these considerations it is proper to esteem it a joyful
event, when another watch-tower rises upon the walls of
Zion, giving new strength, beauty and attraction to the city
of our God — when another centre of influence, another
radient of heavenly light, points to the throne of God, call
ing men to the Lord, their refuge. Such an event is hopeful
to the community in which it occurs, and full of lively in
terest, when viewed in its relations to the world at large.
I. Those who have builded and do dedicate the LorcPs,
house, have cause for peculiar joy, because God himself de
lights in these labors of his people.
From the earliest periods God has required of men public
worship, and suitable accommodations for its celebration.
He has allowed, indeed, the mode and form of the one, and
the location and architecture of the other, to vary with the
varying circumstances of the age; but so only, as not to
impair either of these two ideas, public worship, and a con
secrated place, where that service shall be statedly performed^
The ceremonials, the rites, and ordinances of his presc'rip-

JOY IN Tim DEDICATION .. OF THE SANCTUARY. 7
tion, have ever had respect to the condition of the worship*
pers, and have been carefully ordained as meansi and not in
themselves an end. And so of the house of God. He de
mands, not the classic temple with its carved pillars and
gilded turrets, stretching upward towards heaven, nor yet
the massive cathedral, with its marble dome and fretted
vault; but only some place; sequestered from common use,
where, the world shut out, man may commune with God.
" The groves were God's first temples. Ere man learned
To hew (he shaft and lay the architrave,
And spread the roof above them — ere he formed
The lofty vault, to gather and roll back
The sound of auihems — in the darkling wood,
Amid the cool silence, he knelt down
And offered to the Mightiest, solemn thanks
And supplications.''
Thus did the patriarchs with acceptance worship.1 They
planted groves, and builded altars ; and these, though rude,
like their own habitations, they, called The house of God.
To these they went up, with their numerous families, to
call upon the name of the Lord, and there to pay him their
worship and their praise. And there they found the very
gate of heaven.
Afterward Jehovah walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
He went from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to
another, till Solomon built him a house. Moses had long
before spoken of this more stable sanctuary, as the place,
which God would choose for his holy name, and unto which
the tribes should go up to perform their more public and
solemn worship : for this might not be done in every place,
but there only where God should appoint. Thus did Zion
become the holy habitation. There alone, for a long time,
were the public solemnities of the Jewish religion to be
celebrated. But the literal Zion differed from all other
places of public worship, only as does the lofty mountain,
which catches the first rays of the morning, — rays however
that must not, cannot linger there, but haste to kindle on
every other mountain and hill, and pour themselves in floods
of light through every valley and over every plain. So

8 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
from the heights of Zion proceeded a universal worship,
confined to no one place, but filling cities, villages, and
hamlets with temples to the living God. When the Desire
of all nations came, then began the mountain of the Lord's
house to be established upon the top of the mountains and
exalted above the hills, and all nations to flow unto it-
Then instead of one place where men ought to worship, the
words of Jehovah began to be fulfilled. "From the rising
of the sun to the going down of the same, my name shall
be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall
be offered unto my name, and a pure offering." This pre
diction points to a process, which has been in progress ever
since the Gospel began to be preached. The Christian
sanctuary has not only supplanted the tabernacle and the
temple, but is advancing to fill the whole earth, and appro
priate to itself, in the affections of God's people, all the
glowing language of the Bible, which describes the beauty
and loveliness of those earlier sanctuaries, and Jehovah's
delight in them. It is the purpose of God that the earth
shall be filled with his knowledge and glory; and for this
end, he is spreading abroad his worship, causing his house
to be builded, and his word therein preached among all
people. And he takes pleasure in all those labors of his
people, whose design it is to co-work together with him in
this appointment of his love. As in olden time, so now, his
way is in the sanctuary. That is still the place of his rest ;
and there will he d well forever, for he hath desired it. The
Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings
of Jacob.
This, then, is a reason for peculiar joy, on occasions like
this. And well may any people indulge in unusual degrees
of joy, when their sources of delight are the same as those
that give joy to the Infinite Mind ; and their pleasure in
things in themselves pleasurable, may well become intense
when Jehovah takes pleasure in the same things.
II. Another reason for peculiar joy, on occasions like this,
is found in the fact, that the holy and excellent of the earth

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. 9
have ever delighted in the erection and dedication of the
Lord's house.
The example of those that have loved and served God
best, and in whom Jehovah has taken great pleasure, be
comes a motive to us. And it not only gives countenance
to those, who experience similar joys, but tends also to excite
and deepen those joys.
We have abundant evidence, that the best of men have
ardently loved the sanctuary and its services, have taken
great pleasure in building, restoring and beautifying the
Lord's house, and have kept its dedication with joy.
The lofty strains which celebrate the praises of the sanc
tuary, and give utterance to the joy of the saints, in the
services of that holy place, are no less fresh at the present
day, than when penned, in olden times, by those who spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. They are still
upon the lips of the ten thousands of Israel, and have the
same power to stir the deep fountains of religions emotion,
and wake the whole soul to rapturous delight.
Patriarchs and prophets have delighted themselves in the
place where his Honor dwelleth ; mourned when far from
his abode, and cried out for the living God, desiring above
all things, again to see his beauty, so as they had seen him
in his sanctuary. Kings and mighty men have gone up
with joy to the Lord's house and returned with regrets to
their palaces. " Where God resorts,
I love it more,
To keep the door,
Than shine in courts."
Apostles and martyrs have loved to worship God in his
temple, and. there enjoy the communion of the saints. And
thither have the people, gathered from city and country,
from the halls of legislation and the seats of learning, from
the mansions of the rich, and the cottages of the poor, from
the farm and the work-shop, the highways and the hedges,
gone up, from age to age, with the voice of joy and praise,
to keep holy time, and there as they sat together in heavenly
2

10 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
places, have they been blessed with all spiritual blessings
in Christ Jesus.
Heavenly places indeed ! Where God came down to hold
communion with his friends — where all his people taste the
vast delight his temple yields I and where angels and glori
fied spirits mingle their joys with the sons of men ! For
where should those ministering spirits meet their charge, if
not in scenes like these? — so linked with heaven and so
pervaded with the very atmosphere they breathe around
the throne of God. And over what spot should those mes
sengers hover, as they wait the joyful tidings, another sinner
hath repented, if not the sanctuary 1 the very place of
which it shall be said, when God writeth up the people,
this and that man were born there.
Nor has there been less interest in building, restoring and
beautifying the Lord's house. The Godly have not been
content to dwell in their own ceiled houses, while the house
of their God lay waste. Nor has their's been that penu
rious, selfish spirit, which is forever asking, (when it is pro
posed to build the Lord's house, or take away its reproach.)
To what purpose is this waste"] We behold specimens of
their true temper in the wilderness, when Moses was obliged
to prohibit any more free-will offerings for the tabernacle,
because the willing people had already brought enough for
all the work to make it, and too much ; and in the royal
city of David, when that good old king stood up to survey
the immense stores, that had been contributed for the tem
ple, and, filled with gratitude and joy, exclaimed, What am
I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so
willingly after this sort. Such is the spirit with which
those who loved the Lord's house, have consecrated their
service, and the best of those things which God had given
them, to the building and beautifying his holy place, — that
centre of their wannest affections and sublimest joys.
But if such have been the feelings of the Lord's people
on the ordinary occasions of public worship, and while
building or restoring his holy habitation, it is easy to believe
that they would take pecidiar pleasure in its dedication.

JOY IN THK DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. 11
What wonder that Jerusalem was indeed the joyous city,
when Solomon and the tribes assembled to dedicate the
Temple. The hosts of Israel were there, and, when the
presence of the lofty One declared emphatically his accep
tance of the work, that vast multitude shouted for joy; and
every voice and every harp waked to unwonted notes of
praise. So when Hezekiah purified the temple and restored
its services, the king and all the people rejoiced, they sang
praises with gladness. And when the second temple was
completed, the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites
and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedica
tion of this house of God with joy.
Kindred scenes light up the whole history of the church.
The people of God are one people, and their joys one. They
have felt how amiable were the tabernacles of the Lord God
of host?, and often have they been allowed sublime commu
nion with the Eternal, as they have lifted up their hands in
his name, and besought him to enter into the place which
they had prepared for his rest. Surely, they have been led
to exclaim, the Lord is in this place. This is none other
than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
III. The intimate and vital relations, which the house
of God sustains to all the best interests of man, afford
another reason for joy. on occasions like this.
We are not to suppose, that God or his people have re
joiced as above described, without some good and sufficient
reason, and that derived from the very nature and design of
the sanctuary. Moreover from the known character of God,
who requires man to build and frequent his sanctuary. We
infer that it does embody a benevolent intention. And since
Jehovah is not worshipped with man's hands as though he
needed anything, but stoops to walk and dwell with men on
the earth, however glorious his temple, that intention must
have respect to human well-being, and his house must be
regarded as a part of his plan of grace, for the children of
men. It may be difficult, if not indeed impossible, to graduate

12 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
with perfect accuracy the various elements of that plan.
All are important and together compose the perfection of
the system. Nevertheless, as in all other systems, so doubt
less in this, certain elements are plainly more vital and im
portant than others. And can we doubt that the sanctuary
stands high among those of the first class? That it holds
a most intimate relation to, and exerts a most vital influence
upon all those instrumentalities, which Diety has conde
scended to ordain for the good of his rational creatures upon
earth? It is that centre, around which, more than any thing
else, visible to mortal eyes, they all cluster, and from which
the whole frame-work, and all the prominent features of hu
man society do palpably and largely take their hue and
character. Where the house of God is planted and appro
priately used, there all the operations of Providence and
grace take large effect, and all the interests of society pros
per. There is a green and fertile spot upon which we love
to look, and of which the pious will say, the blessing of
Heaven is upon it. Nor are such cases to be met with, the
world over, beyond the circle of sanctuary privileges and
influences. As to the traveler over the desert, the thrift and
beauty of the lofty palm-trees, indicate from a distance the
place of water, herbage and of rest, so do the appearance
and the use, to which the house of God is put, declare be
forehand to the Christian traveler, the general state of so
ciety, the intellectual and religious condition of the people,
through whose territory he is passing. Great and compre
hensive indeed, is that blessing, which results, directly or
indirectly; to any people from the enjoyment of the house of
God. It is no small part of that which distinguishes a truly
Christian, from a Pagan or Infidel people; aud it is such a
blessing, that the more eagerly and generally the whole
community flock unto, and seek to experience its entire vir
tue, the larger and more divine does it become, and the
more perfectly does it mould society into its best form.
Every institution and every interest, for time and eternity,
feels its benign influence.
But, on the other hand, what more wide-spread and ef-

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. 13
fectual blight can fall upon a community, than the subver
sion of this centre of varied and salutary power? What
more decisive indication of hopeless ruin than its deliberate
and final rejection ? A fatal blow is struck at the root of
every fair and pleasant thing; and all will wither and die,
if the people thus sacriligious and suicidal, are sufficiently
isolated from those of a better spirit, and are left to walk in
their chosen ways, without external restraint. The sanc
tuary abolished, and public worship is no more, the Sabbath
is blotted out, the Bible moulders away upon the shelf, or is
cast into the flames — the form of godliness, all virtue and
morality, even in name, sicken and die, if they are not
openly repudiated. And with these the blessedness of do
mestic, social and civil relations, the virtue of law, the very
decencies of. life, the healthful motives to industry and
thrift, the protection of property and persons, and conse
quently their value, are all very much impaired, if not ut
terly prostrated and trampled in the dust. And, what is
infinitely worse, while the life that now is, is thus made a
thing of nought, the next is shrouded in impenetrable gloom.
This is no fancy sketch. Its living original meets us in
every age, in communities that have done what they could
to realize all the bold features and dark coloring of this pic
ture. Society is in ruins, property greatly depreciated, the
manners depraved, the whole moral atmosphere pestilential,
the mind and soul, brutalized, and life itself scarcely desira
ble. Perchance you may meet there some Lot, who has
turned his back upon the house of God, and the fellowship
of the faithful, to go down and dwell in such Sodoms. But
you will find none of the children of faithful Abraham, un
less as laborious missionaries of the cross, striving to build
the old wastes, to repair the breach and restore the paths to
dwell in.
The long and checkered history of the Hebrews is to our
present purpose, as exhibiting the place which God has de
signed to his sanctuary among the interest of men. One of
the most affecting indications of their state, is always found
in connection with the public sanctuary. As this was gen-

14 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
erally loved and honored, so did they prosper. The God
whom they worshipped, suffered none to do them harm.
He made them too strong for their enemies; and increased
them with men and all manner of stores. Their nobles
were of themselves, and their governors proceeded from the
midst of them. Their officers were peace and their exactors
righteousness. Their sons were like plants grown up in
theiryouth, and their daughters like corner-stones, polished
after the similitude of a palace. There was no people like
unto them, whom the Lord God planted and made great.
But all their pleasant things vanished like the morning dew,
when the people turned away from the house of God. The
fruitful field was turned into a wilderness. Their enemies
vexed and consumed them on every side. Their cities were
sacked, their sons slain in battle, or driven into exile, and
their wives and daughters worse than murdered.
Thus did the whole circle of human interests fluctuate,
age after age, with the Hebrew nation : and God himself
has given this simple solution. Ye looked for. much, and
lo, it came to little, and when ye brought it home I did not
blow upon it. Why ? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of
my house which is waste, and ye run every man unto his
own house. Consider now, — even from the day that the
foundation ofthe Lord's house was laid,— from this day will
I bless you.
General history may not display all the strong outlines, or
the same vividness of painting in the filling up of this pic
ture. The patriarchal and Jewish dispensations were some
what peculiar. In them the government of God stood out
more boldly, and was administered with more of august
majesty and miraculous power. And yet, all general his
tory as we trace its records in the character, condition, and
institutions of men, carries us back to the same great Mas
ter; pursuing everywhere, and in all ages, the same great
plan, and impressing the ever wakeful activities of his
moral' government, upon the affairs of men, — while yet he
points forward to the future, for the perfect display of his
wisdom, justice and love. We have no occasion to doubt

JOY IN THli DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. 15
that God is still upon the throne of the universe, as jealous
of his law and name as ever. The proof may lie more in
wide-spread analogies, and silent indications, than formerly.
It may be seen in partial results, in process begun, but
awaiting a sequel, rather than in results adequate and com
plete in themselves. But all this is favorable to that impres
sion which God is intent on effecting upon mankind, alike
in his word and in his providence, to wit, that this is not
the world of perfect retribution. Even his great and open
judgments and mercies, under earlier dispensations, though
approximating nearer to such an exhibition, are yet far from
satisfying the thoughtful mind, when viewed as complete in
themselves. It is not, till they are seen in the light of God's
word, and the cumulative evidence of history, all pointing
to the future, where they are to be cleared and perfected,
that we can, as logical thinkers and as Christians, believe
and affirm that they are altogether right. In the sanctuary,
in the deep recesses of revealed truth, and in the analogies
of nature, as studied from these high points, we behold the
inter-lockings of eternity with time, and every heart that
reposes upon the Saviour, responds to the anthem of heaven,
Alleluia, salvation and glory, and honor, and power, unto the
Lord our God: for true and righteous are his judgments-.
With these remarks in view and properly applied, man's
treatment of the house of God still solves, as in the case
ofthe Hebrews, a large portion of those diversities, apparent
when we compare nation with nation, community with
community, families and individuals with each other, or
the different eras in either.
What higher blessing for any people on earth, within the
gift of God, than an enlightened, religious, public sentiment!
And yet, the public sanctuary, in all cases where such a
sentiment has existed, was its visible centre. It has never
been produced, and it can never flourish without the house
of God. And its life and efficiency has ever fluctuated as
have the affections 'of the people for that house. When a
people love the Lord's house ardently, and use it aright, this
public sentiment gains strength rapidly, and spreads in yet

16 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
wider circles, manifesting its tokens in every pulsation of so
ciety and writing its records deep on all the interests of man.
It declares itself in the church, and in the school-house, in
the public institutions and edifices, in the dwellings of men,
their shops, farms, gardens and roads — in the whole aspect,
tone and enterprise of the people. And when we descend
into the inner life, the deeper and more permanent elements
of their happiness, we still return to the same common
centre. The house of God attracts to itself, like a cherish
ing mother, all that is lovely in that intelligence, and civili
zation, whose adorning is high moral excellence, all that is
lofty and noble in genuine benevolence, all that is wise and
provident for the entire existence of the young, .all that is
patient and refining in trial, all that is divine in piety, hope
ful for the future, and all the softness and more than mor
tal beauty of that rich sun-set, when the ripe Christian
passes from our sight into the spirit world. These are the
streams of the sanctuary, whose living waters make glad
the city of our God.
How painful is the contrast where this visible centre of
influence does not exist, is generally despised, or radically
perverted. Every latent element of evil springs into active
life, and presses toward its mark through an open field.
The fundamental work of infidelity and irreligion is accom
plished. The lines are carried, and the enemies of Chris
tianity gloat on such a field, as to all intents their own.
How strong the testimony of this one fact, to the vital im
portance of the sactuary, its enemies themselves being
judges. If the house of God be overthrown, or turned into
a synagogue of Satan, and the people love to have it so,
they assure themselves of a speedy victory. They are em
battled against all vital religion. To exterminate God's
system of purity, of moral power, and stern restraints, is
the height of their ambition ; and the sanctuary has ever
been one of the prominent points of their deadly assaults.
This they would either utterly extirpate, or radically per
vert. Upon this they concentrate their forces, and like
skilful soldiers, they never leave so strong a fortress in their
rear.

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. If
And who are they that rally for this conflict? And where
do they look for future recruits? As a- mass, they come
from the retreats of vice. They are the idle, the unruly,
and the profane, those whose brow is brass and whose necks
are sinews of steel, who hate law and restraint, who love
pleasure and this world supremely, who envy the prosperity
of the industrious, the good name of the virtuous, the honor
of the wise and pious, and the bliss of the peaceful. And
from such as these, they expect new strength.
And what may we expect, in the light of their past
achievements, should they effect their object?- May we
hope for a purer morality, a higher tone of virtue, a sweeter
hope, a more calm and peaceful death, a more rational light:
to rest upon the grave ? May we anticipate the advancet
ment of all, or any of the interests of civil, social, and d©-<
mestic life ? that competence, and even wealth will flow in
a deeper, wider channel, and yield their treasures to more
of the children of men ? Would there be less wrong, op
pression and outrage, a more peaceful policy between
nations, a more generous spirit and practice between the in
dividuals of this one great family? Would such a revolu
tion dry up the tide of vice and misery, quench the fires of
the still, close the haunts of the gambler, and bar and bolt:
forever the path which takes hold on hell? Gives it the
least promise of producing more refinement, kindness, chas
tity, and true nobility? Let the life and spirit of the.
enemies of spiritual religion answer. They carry. on their-
very fronts, the sentence of their condemnation. They rush-
to the conflict from the sinks of infamy. They come at,
the call of their master-spirits — sensuality, revenge . and
deadly bate, and while they promise liberty, they are them-.
selves the slaves of corruption. And are these to be our,
reformers? Will such as these bring in the golden, age?:
When they have demolished our temples, and turned haclo
forever the streams of Gospel grace and mercy, may we;
hope that a better order of things will spring from this chaos,
instinct with powerful life, to mould, with more than heaven
ly art, a disjointed world into speedy perfection? -Shall we
hope that now the crown will sparkle upon the unsullied

1-8 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
brow of virtue, and the sceptre be swayed with god-like
benignity, over a joyous people— that now —
" Men, high-minded men,
With powers as far above dull brutes endued,
In forest, brake or den, '
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude,
Men, who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing dare maintain,
Prevent the long-aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain" —
That such "men will constitute the state "? Far better
might we hope for every good, from the overflowing scourge
of ruthless hordes, poured forth from the dark places of the
earth. These might be tamed, and even taught to love the
sanctuary, and the blessed light of which it is the radiant.
They that conquer, might in turn be conquered. They
come, not to subvert our temples, but to live, and reap our
harvests, or eager to enjoy the golden prize of which they
have heard from afar. Perhaps their cupidity may be sated.
Perhaps they may pause to reflect upon our happy condition,
and learn, at length, how it has all resulted from our insti
tutions. These they may yet admire, and admiring choose;
yea, bow to us as learners and as friends. But hope goes
out in deep despair, when those that war successfully upon
us, strike first, and with deadliest hate at the very citadel of
all that makes us blest — when they deem nothing done, till
they have driven the plough-share over the sites of our
temples, and swept the whole field of Zion, from centre to
circumference, with the besom of destruction. All is now
waste, and the proud enemy may sit him down amid the
desolations and revel in his fiendish glory.
Ah ! there is no dispensing with the public sanctuary. Its
design, its history and its sacred influence should enshrine
it in the human soul. Its glory is the glory of those who
love it. Its marring the marring of our heritage. Its rejec
tion, the despising of our birthright. Yes, and how often is
the house of God the very sun-light of those, who neglect
and hate it. How many families and individuals of this very
class are blessed in a thousand ways, by the fact that they
were born in a land of sanctuaries, and have lived within the
circle of their varied benefits,

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OK THE SANCTUARY". 19
But the place, thus claimed for the house of God, does not
result from an arbitrary arrangement. Its relations to our
best interests spring rather from the very nature of our ne
cessities as creatures, and especially as sinners. Its power
and its glory lie in the great ideas which it embodies, the in
fluence to which it gives a visible centre and rallying point,
and the gracious system of means, for the renewal and sanc
tification of the human heart and the salvation ofthe human
soul, to which it gives " a local habitation and a name."
There are unfolded instructions of the utmost solemnity.
There the immortal man is called to grapple with themes
of profound interest and everlasting consequence, — themes of
divine and human character, of personal and relative duty,
and of final destiny. And it displays the wisdom of God,
that these should be urged upon the conscience and heart, not
merely of each man apart by himself, nor yet only in the
family and more private and select circles of social life, but
more fully and especially in the great congregation and in
the most sacred of all earthly places. And still farther is
that wisdom illustrated, both in the fact that God's ambas-
sador to man, is man, and also, that that ambassador holds
a special commission for public preaching in the house of
God. Go, stand, and speak in the temple to the people all the
words of this life. Every thing there conspires to warm and
kindle the whole soul of the speaker. He stands on holy
ground. He stands before his God and between the living and
the dead. It is a dreadful place — dreadful to the private wor
shipper. How much more to him who negotiates between
God and man. And yet he must preach the preaching that
God has bid him. Necessity is laid upon him, yea, woe is
to him if he preach not the gospel. Nor are the cir
cumstances of public preaching less favorable in their ten
dency upon the general mind. As the people meet in the
holy place, regarding it as indeed the house of God, the
mind, the heart, the social principles, sympathies and fellow-
feelings of all are powerfully addressed. It is on a holy-
day, in a holy place, and on sacred business, that a whole
people, rulers and subjects, parents and children, friends and
neighbors, thus listen to the voice of their pastor and teacher,

20 JOY IN THE DEDICATION .OF THE SANCTUARY.
the man ; whom the Holy Ghost has set over them in the
Lord. He preaches, not himself, not the wisdom of this
word, but Christ Jesus the Lord, the simple and eternal
truth of God, which alone can save their souls. In all this
there are elements of moral power, such as it. is not in the
nature of any other earthly services to surpass or to equal.
This foolishness of God is indeed wiser than men.
It is the house of God, also, thus employed and raised on
high as a dreadful, glorious place, that gives vigor to the
most important influences and institutions that bear upon
the individual, and upon general society. It tends to infuse
more and more the spirit of true religion into all the business
of life — to sustain and rightly direct industry and enterprise
— to, conserve the peace and good order of the community,
and nurture all the blessed charities that should obtain be
tween man and man. When properly employed it softens
the manners and refines the sensibilities of a people. It aids
the cause of general education, quickening individual minds,
and enlisting the intelligent in those benevolent exertions
whose object it is to diffuse the means of intellectual, as well
as religious knowledge. It excites to greater parental fidel
ity, and co-operates with all who are engaged in training the
young in the ways of true wisdom. Its proper influence is
on the side of the common rights of man, and would rally
all its friends, not to a Utopian, or fanatical, but a safe, ra
tional and Christian standard of reform, based upon princi
ples of, universal love, and sustained by a profound sense
of man's obligation to man, and his stewardship to God.
Again, the sanctuary is the place of public prayer and
praise, of concentrated feeling and sublime devotion. The
voice and soul of prayer from thence ascend like incense
unto God. There are sung the Lord's songs, with the music
of the lips and the melody of the heart. Sometimes the
great congregation is borne away, almost in extacies, and
sometimes subdued and melted into penitence and love,
while mortals strive to catch seraphic strains, to
 "soar and -touch the heavenly strings,
And vie with Gabriel, while he sings
In notes almost divine."
How many have thus suddenly found their whole moral

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.

21

nature moved by an influence before unknown. They have
been overcome, convinced of all, judged of all, and the
secrets of their hearts made manifest, and so falling down
they have worshipped God,- and gone away, no longer
to live in indifference, or to scoff, but to report that God
is in his people of a truth.
In the house of God, moreover, are the doctrines of the
gospel preached and enforced upon the practical considera
tion of men. These doctrines it is all important for man
to know and receive in love : for they lie at the foundation of
true religion, and constitute the tests of our faith and lives.
They compose that positive faith, which was once delivered
to the saints, and in the reception and keeping of which
consist the facts and the proof of Christian character.
Where this faith is truly preached, and the mind and the
heart of the hearers concur therein, there is living Christian
ity, based upon evangelic principles, and instinct with an
evangelic spirit — the only life that God approves, that) can
claim the fellowship of the church, or rightly excite and
sustain the hope of heaven. The church of the living God,
is the pillar and ground of the truth, but the doctrines of the
gospel are that truth itself, and therefore the life and power
of the church. Now, in every true sanctuary of the Lordr
these precious, mighty doctrines are preached, and God
makes them to appear, what they are indeed, the sword of
the spirit. He thus causes the foolishness of preaching to>
result in the increase of Zion with men like a flock ; and?
by the same means, he causes these men to be fed with
knowledge and understanding and the fear of the Lord*.
But above all, the house of God is the plaee which Je
hovah himself hath chosen for his habitation on earth, andi
where he most delights to meet and to bless the children off
men. There most often does the Holy Ghost co*e down to>
convince of sin, renew the soul and lead into all truth;:
there the Savior is in the midst of his waiting people t&
put special honor upon his word and ordinances, and of ttetj
above any other earthly place, have glorious things foeen
spoken. / will abundantly bless her provisions, I will sat
isfy her poor with bread.
How exalted, then, should be our views ofthe importance

22 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUA'RY.
of the Lord's house; and what wisdom and goodness in
God to ordain such means for subserving and securing the
best interests of men. Because we are brethren; because
we are social and sympathising1 beings, with common neces
sities, dangers, hopes and duties, because it is a law of our
nature that we should act and react morally upon each
other, he has given us a common sanctuary, and therein a
common worship and a common tuition.
God is indeed in every place. He visits every closet and
every domestic altar. He dwells in every humble, believing
heart, but his strength and his beauty are in his sanctuary.
In this has he set up his earthly court and brought it to our
very doors, thus soliciting our return to duty, and to life.
And this is all the more affectingly- joyful, because, while
it is so contrary to our deserts, it is yet so indispensable
for us. These consecrated places had been the less needful,
if needful at all, had man continued loyal. When John
beheld in vision the glory of heaven, he saw no temple there
in: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were the
temple of ii. But now every temple, erected upon the Gos
pel foundation, is a standing testimony to human sinfulness,
and the divine mercy and goodness. Of the former, because
its prescribed services were vastly absurd and irrelevant, but
for the fact that we are sinners. Of the latter, because these
same services are full of the good news of great joy to sin
ners. They all cluster around the cross of Christ. They
speak of pardon bought with blood — of God waiting to be
gracious, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all
that call upon him. And while they thus seek to save the
soul, they stoop to the bitter waters of this present life to
heal these also, or to render them at least medicinal and
make them all work together for gdod to those that love God.
Such is the house of God — the holy habitation where he
desires to put his name, and in which he greatly delights —
the place, too, of all others, most enshrined in the warm af
fections of God's people in all ages, and so intimately and
vitally related, as the grand visible centre of salutary in
fluence, to all the best interests of our race for time and
eternity.

JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY. 23
Blessed be God, that we are allowed to open again His
holy sanctuary among us — and keep its dedication with joy.,
Now, therefore, O Lord, arise, we beseech thee, into thy
rest, thou and the ark of thy strength. Enter with all thy
heavenly train. Here dwell a constant guest. Here reveal
all the fulness of thy grace, put everlasting honor upon thy
word and ordinances, and cause thy Gospel to be glorified.
In this desk let faithful men, full of faith and the Holy
Ghost, proclaim thy eternal truth, declare thy whole counsel,
and gather fruit unto life eternal. Upon the pages of this,
thy Holy Word, leMhy Spirit breathe and bring the truth to
sight. Within these walls let willing worshippers attend be
fore thee, and do thou satisfy them with the goodness of thy
house. In this choir let a band of happy singers lead thy peo
ple in the chant and the loud anthem, in the songs of Zion
and the hymns and psalms of adoration and of praise. Let
them be taught to sing with the spirit and with the under
standing also, making melody in their hearts unto the Lord.
Here, as the last supper shall be celebrated, let thy people
behold Jesus Christ evidently set forth crucified, while every
heart is prepared to exclaim, The Savior died for me. This
is my beloved, and this is my friend. Here let thy people
bring their infant seed, and in baptism dedicate them to
thee, the God of the everlasting covenant, with believers and
their seed- after them. And here may they grow up before
thee, 'like trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,
that thy name may be glorified. Here, O God, let the aged
still bring forth fruit, and the young belike plants grown up
in their youth. Here teach us all to live ; and here may we.
learn to die — to live the life of the righteous, and to die as
the righteous do.
But, my hearers, we must not linger in these delightful
services. We must not prolong the keeping of this dedica
tion. Another service, of a very different character, waits
for its place in this house of God. The righteous ruler of
all, has ordained that a most impressive, and, we would
hope, profitable lesson should be read to us this day. Now
we are here rejoicing before God, with one another and with
these neighbors and friends ; but, in a few hours, we will

24 JOY IN THE DEDICATION OF THE SANCTUARY.
come again. We will tread more softly, speak with a
a more subdued voice, and sing with notes more chastened
and solemn. We will come, and bring our dead with us —
bring the lifeless body of a dear brother,* who has fallen
while anticipating this joyful day. But he came not up
with us. The strong man has fallen — strong in faith, strong
in all the duties of life, ready for every good work, and en
deared to a numerous circle of relatives, brethren and
friends. He had a mind to the work of building again
this house of God. But he was laboring for others. He
needs not this temple. We hope he is now enjoying that
temple, which the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb con
stitute in the world of glory. In life and health he aspired
so high, and, even while in his sickness, his mind lay under
a cloud, and his reason was dethroned, yet for hours was he
engaged in that exercise in which he delighted in health,
and in which he has so often led our devotions at the throne
of grace.
Ah well ; the mingled services of this day will be in keep
ing with all things else in this mortal life — like an April day,
sunshine and shade. Let them speak to all, and teach us
lessons of wisdom — teach us to serve the Lord with fear, and
to rejoice with trembling.
* Mr. John Dole. Mr.. Dole, after a short but severe sickness, died Monday
morning, Jan. 20, and was, buried the Wednesday following, from the. New Meeting.
house, the funeral services commencing at 3 o'clock, P. M,, about an hour and a half
after those of the Dedication. Ho was a much esteemed brother in the church for
nearly twenty years, an active member of the Society, an upright, industrious and
respected citizen, a kind husband and father, and a faithful and warm-hearted friend.
He was cutdown in the prime of life, (aged 38,) leaving a wife and five small chil
dren, (one an infant,) and a large circle pf relatives and friends to mourn his loss.
His memory will long be cherished. The God of the widow, the Father of the father
less and the unfailing friend of his people has done it, and at such a time as this.. Bu'
he has done all things well ; and blessed be the the name of the Lord.

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