observance is highly valuable which tends to support in the mind a sense of the holiness of sacred places. Such reverence is not only the natural expression of a devout mind, but, like all exercise of holy principles, it has a reflex action on the character, by increasing that devout spirit which gave rise to it. Bishop Butler, from his gifted insight into human nature, saw and deeply felt this truth, and recommends that, at the sight of a church, we should habituate ourselves to some internal act of worship. And the author of the "Serious Call" wisely suggests, that we should select some spot for our devotions which we should esteem especially holy. This is an effort of natural piety to supply for itself that which God has given us in the holiness of churches. We have infinitely higher authority to urge us to an ob servance so important. That action of our blessed Saviour in the temple, from its having been twice repeated, and in many points so unlike all other actions of his life, doubtless contains in it some lesson of a very peculiar value to our spiritual well-being, and teaches us that we cannot too highly revere those places where God has, in an especial manner, fixed his presence. SOLEMNE MAJUS. IN THE FIRST VESPERS. Ant. The Lord your God is with you; now set your heart to seek the Lord; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord.-1 Chron. xxii. Ant. The house that is builded for the Lord must be of glory throughout all countries; I will therefore make preparation for it.-1 Chron. xxii. Ant. Great is our God above all gods; who is able to build him an house?-2 Chron. ii. Ant. Seeing the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain Him, who am I, then, that I should build Him an house?-2 Chron. ii. Ant. The Lord God of heaven hath charged me that I build him an house.—Ezra, i. Capitulum. Haggai, i. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house, and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. r. All that is in the heaven, and in the earth, is thine, O Lord; all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand.. Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? for of him are all things; to whom be glory for ever. O Lord our God, &c.-1 Chron. xxix.; Rom. xi. IN THE FIRST NOCTURN. Ant. The Lord their God shall save them in that day, as the flock of his people, for they shall be as the stones of a crown. -Zech. ix. Ant. The glory of Lebanon shall come to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.-Isa. lx. Ant. I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them; and my tabernacle shall be with them.-Ezek. xxxvii. Ant I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.— Ps. cxxii. (Here occur the three first Lectios from scripture, taken from 2 Chron. vii., with their responses.) IN THE SECOND NOCTURN. Ant. I have hallowed this house which thou hast built to put my name there for ever.Kings, ix. Ant. The tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory: I will sanctify the tabernacle and the altar, and I will dwell among the children of Israel.-Exodus, xxix. Ant. The heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.-Ezek. xxxvii. r. Holy is the tabernacle of the Most Highest.. -r. God is in the midst of her.-Ps, xlvi. A Sermon of the Abbot St. Bernard. LECTIO THE FOURTH. This day's festival ought to be the more devoutly observed by us, inasmuch as it is one which more particularly belongs to our own household. For other sacred solemnities we have in common with other churches; but this is so exclusively our own, that unless it is observed by us, it will be kept by none at all. It is our own, because it is concerning our own church; but still more our own, because it is concerning ourselves. You wonder, perhaps, and blush, at this expression, that it is concerning ourselves. But what sanctity, I would ask, can these stones possess, that we should solemnize and commemorate them? Sanctity, indeed, they have; but it is on account of your bodies. That your bodies are holy, who can doubt, as they are the temples of the Holy Spirit; so that each should know how to possess his vessel in sanctity. Our souls are holy on account of the Spirit of God dwelling in them: our bodies are holy on account of our souls which inhabit them; so also is this holy because of your bodies." 7. The king and all the people offered sacrifices, and dedicated the house of God; the priests waited, and the Levites also, to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever.v. Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it; *because his mercy, &c.—2 Chron. vii.; Ephes. v. LECTIO THE FIFTH. When this house is dedicated to God by the hands of his bishops, it is, doubtless, for ourselves. Those ceremonies which have visibly taken place in these walls beforehand, must needs be afterwards spiritually fulfilled in us. If you would know what I allude to, they are the following:-Aspersion, Inscription, Anointing, Illumination, Benediction. These things the priests have already performed in this visible habitation; these things Christ, the High Priest of good things to come, invisibly works daily in us. He sprinkles us with hyssop, that we may be clean, may be washed, may become white. He washes us in confession; he washes us with the shower of tears; he washes us with the sweat of repentance. But more than all these does he wash us with that precious water which hath flowed forth from the fountain of all mercy; that is to say, from his side. But not this only, for he inscribes us with the finger of God, with that finger with which he cast out devils; that is, without doubt, by the Holy Spirit. He inscribes his law, not in stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart, fulfilling that prophetical promise, that he will take away the heart of stone, and give us a heart of flesh, that is, not hard and obstinate, not Jewish, but pious, and gentle, and tractable, and devout. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him in thy law. 7. Moses sprinkled the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry, and all things are by the law purged with blood. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purged with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.. Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle, and all that was therein; and offered the sin-offering.-Heb. ix.; Lev. viii. LECTIO THE SIXTH. Blessed, I say, are they who are taught, and are mindful of thy commandments, but in order to do them; for otherwise, to him that knoweth what is good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. And the servant that knoweth his Lord's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. Therefore it is requisite that the anointing of spiritual grace should help our infirmity, softening with the grace of a devout spirit the crosses of religious observance and manifold kinds of repentance. For no one can follow Christ without bearing the cross; and no one can bear the cross without the anointing of the Spirit. This is the reason why many hate and fly from penance, seeing, indeed, the cross, but not the anointing. Ye who have learned by experience, behold, ye know full well that our cross is truly anointed: by the grace of the Spirit assisting us, pleasant and delectable is our penance; and, if I may so speak, very sweet indeed is this our bitterness. And now, when this anointing of heavenly grace hath taken place, Christ putteth not his candle under a bushel, but on a candlestick, for it is now time that our light should shine before men. And now, indeed, the benediction is that which we wait for in the end, when he shall open his hand and fill all things living with benediction. For the four things before mentioned constitute deserving, but in the benediction is the reward. In that benediction the grace of our sanctification shall have its full completion, when we shall pass into that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. That is the house which is constructed of living stones, of angels and of men. For the building of that temple, and its dedication also, shall be at one time completed. * r. When Moses brought the ark into the tabernacle, he put the table, and the candlestick over against the table, as the Lord commanded.- -v. Men light a candle, and put it in a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house; let your light so shine before men, as the Lord commanded.-Exod. xl.; Matt. v. IN THE THIRD NOCTURN. Ant. The glory of the Lord filled the house, and the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.-2 Chron. vii. Ant. Surely the Lord is in this place. How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.-Gen. xxviii. Ant. He that dwelleth in heaven hath his eye on that place, and defendeth it; and he beateth and destroyeth them that come to hurt it.-2 Macc. iii. v. Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle?——r. Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which is right.-Ps. xv. From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Cap. 21. LECTIO THE SEVENTH. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God. Et reliqua. Homily of the Bishop St. Basil. There is a worship of God most necessary, which cannot be performed without, but must take place within, the temple of God. Think not that I speak of particular churches, the temple of God is one. That of the Jews was his temple of old, but after their wickedness was committed, their habitation has been left desolate. Wherefore, saith the Lord, I have other sheep which are not of this fold. But when he speaks of those from among the Gentiles who are preordained unto salvation, he speaks of a temple which is his own, beside that of the Jews. It therefore within that temple, and not without, that we must worship; lest, by ceasing to worship there, or being attracted by those that are without, any one should cease to be in the temple of God. For many are present in the attitude of prayer, yet are not in the temple of God, on account of the wandering and distraction of their thoughts, arising out of vain and unprofitable cares. He who makes his belly his god, or glory, or silver, or anything else which he most of all esteems, he neither worships God, nor is in his holy temple, although he may outwardly appear worthy to be admitted to those visible assemblies. r. O magnify the Lord our God, and fall down before his footstool worship him upon his holy hill. For the Lord our God is holy.-.--v. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. For the Lord our God is holy.-Ps. xcix.; John, iv. LECTIO THE EIGHTH. In his temple the angels attend, and God is present, who looks into the minds of those that enter. The prayers of each person are thoroughly open and known to God. He sees who in true affection and with knowledge seeks heavenly things; who perfunctorily and with his lips only pronounces the words, while his heart is all the while far from God. If he prays at all, it is bodily health, and earthly riches, and human glory, which, above all things, he eagerly desires. But none of these things are thus to be sought, as holy scripture teaches us, but in his temple doth every man speak of his honour. Every creature, whether it be silent or speaking, whether heavenly or earthly, giveth honour to its Creator. But miserable men, after they have left their houses, flock to church, as if to obtain some advantage thereby; yet they give not their attention to the word of God, they are not sensible to the condition of their own nature. Their minds are preoccupied with sin, yet they are not afflicted. They remember their offences, yet do not mourn. They fear not the judgment, but, smiling to each other, and shaking hands, they convert the house of prayer into a place of conversation. r. They that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love his name, I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. For my house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer.——v. Make not my Father's house an house of merchandize; *for my house, &c.— Isa. lvi.; John, ii. LECTIO THE NINTH. Take care lest, when thou departest hence, thou shalt be condemned together with those who vomit forth impious and reproachful words against the name of God, when thou oughtest to receive a blessing for the due celebration of divine things. Thou hast a psalm, thou hast a prophecy, evangelical precept, and the teaching of apostles. Let thy tongue give utterance to the words, and thy understanding search into the meaning of those things which are uttered, that thou mayest sing with the spirit, and mayest sing with the understanding also. For God hath no need of honour from thee, but willeth that thou shouldest be worthy to attain honour of him. Wherefore, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Sow his praise, that thou mayest reap crowns, and honour, and glory, in the kingdom of heaven. These things are mentioned by us, because there are some who will never cease to talk in the temple of God, and come there little to their profit. Would, alas! it were not merely without their profit, and not to their detriment! * r. Thou, O Lord of all things, who hast need of nothing, wast pleased that the temple of thine habitation should be among us. Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep this house ever undefiled.v. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy. Therefore now, O holy Lord of all holiness, &c.-2 Mace. xiv.; 1 Cor. iii. AT THE LAUDS. Ant. The house of God is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.-1 Tim. iii. Ant. Christ's house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.-Heb. iii. Ant. To whom, coming as unto a living stone, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house.-1 Pet. ii. (The Canticum here occurs. Job, xiii. ) Ant. All the buildings fitly framed together in Christ groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.— Ephes. ii. Ant. Ye are God's building; I laid the foundation. Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon; for the foundation is Jesus Christ.-1 Cor. iíi. Capitulum. 1 Cor. vi. Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. O, Word of God above, Who fillest all in all, The Hymn. Hallow this house with thy sure love, There dwells in this deep fount And from beneath this holy mount Here Christ of his own blood And feeds his own with angel's food, Himself the chalice gives, On which the spirit lives. For guilty souls that pine Sure mercies here abound, And healing grace, with oil and wine, God from his throne afar Comes in this house to dwell; And prayer, beyond the evening star, No wintry storm nor shower Shall harm this holy home, Nor, worse than they, the evil power v.Holiness, O Lord, becometh thine house.--r. For ever.-Psa. xciii. VOL. XII.-July, 1837. F The Prayer on the day of Dedication. O God, who invisibly fillest all things, yet visibly shewest the signs of thy power for the salvation of mankind, enlighten this temple by the indwelling of thy power; and grant to all who come to this place to pray, that under whatever tribulation they may cry to thee, they may obtain the benefits of thy consolation. The Prayer on the Anniversary of the Dedication. O God, who year by year renewest unto us this day of the consecration of this thy holy temple, and dost again present us safe in thy sacred mysteries, hear, we pray thee, the prayers of thy people, and grant that whosoever entereth this church to seek thy blessing may rejoice in the attainment of all his desires. AT THE SECOND VESPERS. Ant. One of the seven angels carried me away in the spirit, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.-Rev. xxi. Ant. The building of the wall of it was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.-Rev. xxi. Ant. I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.-Rev. xxi. Ant. The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.-Rev. xxi. Ant. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. xxi. Capitulum. Isaiah, xxxiii. Look unto Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. The Hymn. This is the abode where God doth dwell, This is the gate of heaven, The shrine of the Invisible, The Priest, the Victim given, Our God himself content to die, O holy seat, O holy fane, Where dwells the Omnipotent, Here where the unearthly Guest descends And sacred love her wing extends Of holiest influence, He 'mid his children loves to be Let no unhallowed thought be here To thee, ne'er ending, ne'er begun, Father, and Son, and Spirit-One, Anointing for thy dwelling place v. Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou city of God.-- 7. For the habitation of all who rejoice is in thee. (The parts omitted for the sake of brevity are, the Capitula, with their Responsories at the Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours.) |