A PIOUS young man, who was desirous of devoting himself to the work of the ministry among the heathen, and had been recommended with that view to the Committee of the London Missionary Society, on undergoing the usual exami- nation, stated that he had one difficulty: he had an aged mother entirely dependent upon an elder brother and himself for maintenance ; and, in case of that bro- ther's death, he should wish to be at liberty to return to this country, if his mother were still living, to contribute to her support. Scarcely had he made this ingenuous statement, when a harsh voice exclaimed, " If you love your mother more than the Lord Jesus Christ, you will not do for us." Abashed and con- founded, the young man was silent. Some murmurs escaped the committee ; and he was directed to retire while his proposal was taken into consideration. On his being again sent for, the venera- ble chairman, (Dr. Waugh,) in tones of unaffected kindness, and with a patri- archal benignity of mien, acquainted him that the committee did not feel them- selves authorized to accept of his ser- vices on a condition involving uncertainty as to the term; but immediately added, " We think none the worse of you, my good lad, for your dutiful regard to your aged parent. You are but acting in con- formity to the example of Him whose gospel you wish to proclaim among the heathen ; who, as he hung upon the cross in dying agonies, beholding his mother and the beloved disciple standing by, said to the one, ' Woman, behold thy son ;' and to John, ' Behold thy mother.' My good lad, we think none the worse of you."
"Heaven is my throne...Isaiah 63"
GOD'S REJECTION OF ALL MATERIAL TEMPLES. There was a time when it could be said that there was a house of God on earth. That was a time of symbols, when as yet the Church of God was in her childhood. She was being taught her A B C, reading her picture-book, for she could not as yet read the Word of God, as it were in letters. She had need to have pictures put before her, patterns of the heavenly things. Even then, the enlightened amongst the Jews knew well that God did not dwell between curtains, and that it was not possible that He could be encompassed in the most holy place within the veil It was only a symbol of His presence. But the time of symbols is now passed altogether. In that moment when the Saviour bowed His head, and said "It is finished! " the veil of the temple was rent in twain, so that the mysteries were laid open. So, one reason why God saith He dwelleth not in temples made with hands, is, because He would have us know that the symbolical worship is ended...
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