ed. Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghoft *? Again, he speaks of Christ dwelling in the heart t. Chrift in you the hope of glory ‡. And in another place, re are the temple of the living God, as God hath faid, I will dwell in them, and awalk in them §; agreeably to his promise by the prophets. He liveth in them, as the principle of their life, wisdom, and power; therefore the apostle fays, I live, yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me . There is a mutual indwelling between the Lord and his people. They in him as the branch in the vine; and he in them as the fap in the branch. He in them as in his temples; they in him as in their ftrong tower of defence. And from hence we infer the duration of their life of grace; that it shall continue and spring up into everlasting life; fince it is properly not their own, but his; and fince he has faid, Because I live, ye shall live alfo. He dwells likewife among his people in their collective capacity. His whole church, comprizing all the members of his mystical body, built upon the foundation of the apoftles + Col. i. 27. * 2 Cor. vi. 19. § 2 Cor. vi. 16. VOL. II. + Eph. iii. 17. Gal. ii. 20... and prophets, form a building fitly framed together, a palace, a holy temple for the Lord the great King. He dwelleth likewise in every particular fociety, who walk by his rule, and adorn the profeffion of his truth, by a conversation becoming the gospel. He is a wall of fire round about them, and a glory in the midst of them*. When they meet together in his name, he is there. He walks in the midst of the golden candlefticks. It is his prefence that gives life and efficacy to all his ordinaces, and communicates a power to his word, by which the minds of his worshipping people are enlightened, ftrengthened, healed, and comforted. Here he manifefts himself to them, as he does not unto the world; and they can adopt the words of the pfalmift, A day in thy courts, is better than a thousand. To his prefence they owe their peace and increase, their union and protection. And if he withdraws, Ichabod be written upon their folemn affemblies; for even his own appointments can afford them neither profit nor pleasure, unless they are animated by his glory. Their graces languish, their harmony * Zech. ii. 5, 10. may 1 Sam. iv. 21. is interrupted, ftrifes and diffenfions take place, evil roots of bitterness fpring up to trouble and defile them; men arife from among themselves, Speaking perverse things, and fierce wolves break in, not Sparing the flock, if the good Shepherd fufpends his influence and prefence. I trust he dwells and walks in the midft of us. He is here as an obferver, and as a gracious benefactor. He fees who draw near him with their lips, while their hearts are far from him; and he likewise takes notice of them that fear and love him, and who esteem the light of his countenance to be better than life. The high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, who dwelleth in the high and holy place, dwelleth likewife with` those that are of a contrite and humble spirit ‡, to revive and bless them. * Heb. xii. 15. † Acts xx. 29, 30. ‡ Isa. lvii. 15. SERMON XXX. THE PUBLICATION OF THE GOSPEL. PSALM 1xviii. 11. The Lord gave the word, great was the company of those that published it. [Or, of the preachers.] ERHAPS no one pfalm has given PER greater exercise to the skill and the patience of commentators and critics, than the fixty-eighth. I fuppofe the difficulties do not properly belong to the pfalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Pfalmift alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The firft verfe is the fame with the stated form of benediction, which was used whenever the ark of the Lord fat |