SERMON XI. .

THE LIVING TEMPLE.

ZECHARIAH vi. 13.

He shall build the temple of the Lord, and he

shall bear the glory.

To understand this portion of scripture, we must consider when the prediction was uttered, and to what it primarily refers.

Zechariah was the prophet whom God sent to the children of Israel, after seventy years captivity ; when, by the permission of Cyrus, they returned to their own land, and began to rebuild the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem. Joshua was their high-priest, a man zealous for the honour, and faithful to the cause of God. He urged the captives, now restored to their native land, by every

encouraging

encouraging motive, to carry forward the building of the temple ; but, through the opposition of its enemies, and the poverty, timidity, and indolence of its friends, he beheld, with grief, that the work did not advance according to his wishes. He, and Zerubabel, the governor, had laid the foundations of the temple, but he dreaded that he never should see it finished; he was apprehensive, that when Zerubabel and he were no more, the temple of the Lord should be left neglected, and that the children of Israel would forsake the God of Zion, and return to worship the idols of Samaria.

To relieve his anxious mind, and to animate his soul with the prospect of happier days, the prophet Zechariah is sent with a special message from the Lord, to assure Joshua, that the temple should be built; that his fears were without foundation; that his

prayers should be answered, and his utmost wishes accomplished.

That this heavenly message might be better understood, and more deeply impressed upon the mind, an outward sign was appointed to represent the events foretold.

This sign was the coronation of Joshua; for him were to be made two crowns, the one of silver, and the other of gold. These were to be placed upon his head, as emblems of priesthood and royalty; and were then to be deposited in the temple, as memorials of what God had determined to accomplish in future times.

Thus were the minds of the children of Israel led to contemplate a more durable and glorious temple than that which they were building. In the language and symbols of prophecy, they were told, that the Messiah, whose name is the BRANCH, would be much more to this spiritual building, than Joshua was to their external temple; that he would sustain and fulfil, with perpetual efficacy and honour, the united offices of Priest and King, of Redeemer and Lawgiver, of Prince and Saviour; manifesting all the tenderness of a merciful High-Priest; while, vested with all the authority of an Omnipotent Sovereign, sitting and ruling, a Priest upon his throne ; making all the acts of his kingly government subservient to the purposes of his redeeming grace. Thus would it be known to spirits above, and to saints on earth, that counsels of peace were held between the Father and the Son before time began; and that, by the union of the Mediatorial offices in the Messiah, those counsels, those amazing plans of salvation, are fulfilled, and glory ascribed in the highest to God and to the Lamb. “ And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH; and he shall

grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord : Even he shall build the temple of the Lord ; and he

; shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon

his throne; and he shall be a Priest upon his throne ; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." What a rich variety of representation is here united, to fix, enlarge, and solemnize our meditations on him, whose death we are to commemorate! Every word impresses us with his transcendent excellence, and inestimable worth. When he humbled himself to appear in the nature of man, he seemed to be no more than a feeble stem from the root of Jesse. Yet this tender plant sprung up, and spread forth its branches, and became a sheltering to the weary, and still

a

flourishes with undecayed vigour; the leaves whereof are for the healing of the nations; and the fruit shall, I trust, on this occasion, be sweet to your taste.

It would lead me into a field of contemplation, by far too extensive, if I should attempt an illustration of all the delightful views, here given, of the Saviour; and, therefore, to avoid detaining you from the peculiar services of this Communion Sabbath, let me, at present, direct your attention to that cheering promise, in the words of the text; and may the God of ordinances grant, that while, in his strength, I attempt to unfold the meaning of this faithful saying, we may all experience its accomplishment, and be enabled, with humble gratitude, to say, that the temple of God is indeed with men on earth; that God himself dwells with them, and is in them, and is their God.

In various passages of the New Testament, believers in Jesus are declared to be the temples of God; temples of the Holy Ghost ; living temples, built up a spiritual house, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, through Christ. This is the view of the text, which, through divine