I have heard many curious stories illustrative of that veneration with which the Sabbath is regarded in Scotland. Let me mention one or two. A geolo gist, while in the country, and having his pocket hammer with him, took it out and was chipping the rock on the way-side, for examination. His proceed ings did not escape the quick eye and ready tongue of an old Scotch woman. “What are you doing there, man?” “Don’t you see? I'm breaking a stone.” “Y'are doing mair than that: y’are break ing the Sabbath.” Another old woman's inquiry of one who, on the Sabbath-day, passed her on the road, singing as he went, was equally characteristic. It was very brief. “Songs, man, or psalms?" Now, I am well aware that many readers will at once say, “What ultra severity " " and will be only able to see something absurd and ridiculous in these sayings. Others, among whom I readily number myself, will view them in a light altogether different—as apt, amusing, and characteristic, no doubt, but as most valuable testimonies to the strong religious feeling of the people, and to that habitual decision with which many among them carry out those scriptural princi ples, regarding the observance of the Lord's-day, which they have imbibed in their childhood, and put into practice from Sabbath to Sabbath during the course of their lives.—Trench.
"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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