But still, if while we think upon these things, we find that "to us belong shame and confusion of face," the last words of this day's gospel, while they warn us of our danger, yet afford us a comforting assurance that as yet we may prevent our present shame from ending in that "everlasting contempt" of which the prophet Daniel speaks. For as long as we are able and willing to listen to the exhortation which bids us agree with our adversary quickly whiles we are in the way with him, so long may we obey its call, and be saved from the condemning sentence of the Almighty Judge. And in too many ways, brethren, have we reason to fear that now this adversary meets us. He meets us in that pure

law of God which we have oft-times broken or evaded or explained away; he meets us in our brother whom we have wronged or hated; he meets us in our Lord whom we have not rarely forgotten, or whose salvation we have despised. But, as yet, by God's mercy, we are "in the way with him;" as yet there is time and opportunity given us to strive to obey that law more perfectly and heartily; to reconcile ourselves to our brother, and act towards him more christianly and more lovingly; to seek Christ's face more earnestly, and trust in Him more faithfully.

And may God grant us grace so to use the time He gives us, that no such prevailing adversaries may at the last day bring accusation against our souls, and no attendant angels receive us at the Judge's hands, to bear us from His presence, and cast us out for ever from the New Jerusalem.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

Sermons for the Christian Seasons.

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

THE COURTS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH.

ISAIAH lvi. 6, 7. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the Name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

THE mountain which God in these words claims to Himself, saying, "Them will I bring to My holy mountain," is Mount Moriah, on which the angel of the Lord had once stood when he "stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it." The house which God through the prophet claims as His own, saying, "I will make them joyful in My house of prayer," is the temple at Jerusalem, which was built by Solomon "in Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the

place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, (2 Chron. iii. 1.) From the sin of David in numbering the people, God took occasion to choose unto Himself a place where He would dwell among men ; and the building of that altar which was reared by David unto the Lord in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite was as it were the beginning of that house which God was pleased to call His own dwelling-place.

Now why, as we read to-day, did David refuse to accept as a gift that which Araunah freely offered unto him as a gift? Why did David buy the threshing-floor for 600 shekels of gold, by weight, and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver, before he would offer them unto the Lord ? "All these things did Araunah as a king give unto the king." But David would not thus accept them, because he was about to offer them unto a King, and he would not offer unto his King that which cost him nothing. In the same spirit David afterwards made costly preparations for the temple, knowing that it was to be the dwelling-place of a King: and accordingly, when God by the mouth of Isaiah graciously promises that He will bring near to Himself all the nations, that is, the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and will

accept their offerings in His house of prayer, He first claims that house as His own abode, saying, "Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." The temple was already the house of God: therefore He would make it to be the place whither all people should come to pray unto Him.

A more full consideration of this matter will lead us to see more clearly our part in the blessing here promised to the Gentiles: for we shall find that, even apart from the wondrous privilege of our having a house of prayer, a place where God has promised especially to hear and answer our petitions, we are bound to bless and praise our King for allowing us, yea commanding us, to enter continually into His courts upon earth we shall learn to thank God for the words "Mine house," as well as for the promise, "an house of prayer," when we keep in mind that He is indeed our King; and that even in this life we may "come before His presence with thanksgiving."

In many places of Holy Scripture God has been pleased to receive to Himself the name of a King and indeed since He alone preserves and orders all things, He is alone a true King: and earthly monarchs are but called kings: these re