Chapter 55—Behavior in the House of God
To the humble, believing soul, the house of God on earth is the
gate of heaven. The song of praise, the prayer, the words spoken by
Christ’s representatives, are God’s appointed agencies to prepare a
people for the church above, for that loftier worship into which there
can enter nothing that defileth.
From the sacredness which was attached to the earthly sanctuary,
Christians may learn how they should regard the place where the Lord
meets with His people. There has been a great change, not for the
better, but for the worse, in the habits and customs of the people in
reference to religious worship. The precious, the sacred, things which
connect us with God are fast losing their hold upon our minds and
hearts, and are being brought down to the level of common things. The
reverence which the people had anciently for the sanctuary where they
met with God in sacred service has largely passed away. Nevertheless,
God Himself gave the order of His service, exalting it high above
everything of a temporal nature.
The house is the sanctuary for the family, and the closet or the
grove the most retired place for individual worship; but the church is
the sanctuary for the congregation. There should be rules in regard
to the time, the place, and the manner of worshiping. Nothing that is
sacred, nothing that pertains to the worship of God, should be treated
with carelessness or indifference. In order that men may do their best
work in showing forth the praises of God, their associations must be
such as will keep the sacred distinct from the common, in their minds.
Those who have broad ideas, noble thoughts and aspirations, are those
who have associations that strengthen all thoughts of divine things.
Happy are those who have a sanctuary, be it high or low, in the city
or among the rugged mountain caves, in the lowly cabin or in the
wilderness. If it is the best they can secure for the Master, He will
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hallow the place with His presence, and it will be holy unto the Lord
of hosts.
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