REFLECTIONS

READER! while you and I pause over the account here given of David's zeal for the Lord's house, and behold with what generosity and greatness of mind he prepared his silver and his gold, for the service of Him, from whom he received, and to whom he owed all he had: while we pay all suitable respect and praise to David, let us duly consider to what nobler services we are called under a gospel dispensation, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God in Jesus Christ. Silver and gold, (may many a precious soul say, with the Apostle), have I none, but such as I have, would I offer to the Lord. Oh! dearest Jesus! it is thou which hast made all thy followers kings and priests to God and the Father. By thee, therefore, would we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. And while contemplating the vast preparation of Solomon's temple, in the gold, and silver, and wood, and stones, think of the vast and long preparation from the foundation of the world, for the introduction of him whom that temple represented. Oh! thou blessed Jesus! give me continually to meditate with rapture and delight on that love of thine in which God our Father laid the foundation of our everlasting happiness, and formed the temple of thy body for the express purpose of salvation. Here was mercy indeed built up forever. Here was a temple indeed formed for eternity, in which all thine, being incorporated, should he kings and priests forever. And when the temple of thy body, by the sacrifice of thyself was destroyed, according to the determinate counsel and fore knowledge of God, thou didst by thine own power, agreeable to thine own prediction, raise it again the third day. Make us, blessed Jesus, even all that are thy people, make us, as thou hast promised, pillars in thy temple; that being built upon the same foundation as the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; and in whom the whole building is fitly framed together! we may grow up unto an holy temple in the Lord, for an habitation of God, through the Spirit.

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