DEDICATION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.

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is good, for his mercy endureth for ever," the house of God was filled with a cloud. Nor could the priests stand and minister by reason of the cloud. glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

TYPE OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

For the

much as a distinct architectural feature of the whole range of buildings, being themselves connected with other buildings, which contained chambers for the priests, and other purposes connected with the temple.

The distinction therefore should be borne in mind between the "House of the Lord," as signifying these two sacred chambers, and the House of the Lord as signifying the entire range of buildings belonging to the temple with its walls and defences. The temple in this latter sense was a complete citadel, capable of being

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§ 6. Speech of Solomon to the People.

Then Solomon said: "The Lord promised that He would dwell in a cloud. But I have built a house to His name, that He might dwell there for ever." And the king turned his face, and blessed all the multitude of Israel (for all the multitude stood attentive) and he said:

SPEECH OF SOLOMON TO THE PEOPLE.

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath accomplished in deed that which he spoke to David my father, saying:

From the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel, for a house to be built in it to My Name: neither chose I any other man, to be the ruler of My people Israel.

held by a garrison, and in point of fact, a maintained in it on garrison duty.

But I chose Jerusalem, that My Name might be there and I chose David to set him over My people Israel. And whereas David my father had a mind to build a house to the Name of the Lord the God of Israel.

The Lord said to him: Forasmuch as it was thy will to build a house to My Name, thou hast done well indeed in having such a will:

body of armed Levites were continually

The following catalogue will serve to give an idea of the extent of Solomon's work:

:

1. The clearing the site and preparing it to receive the entire range of buildings, constructing the walls round the mountain, and fitting them with gates, and roads leading through them to the various parts of the mountain.

2. The tower on the north, afterwards called the Turris Antonia.

3. The Cloisters or covered walks round the dif ferent courts, for shelter for the people.

4. The Tabernæ, or row of buildings where victims were kept upon sale for those who desired to make offerings.

5. The various dwellings for the Priests, Levites, porters, watchmen, &c., who were on duty in various offices connected with the service of the Temple.

6. The treasuries and storehouses, where the offerings in money were kept; also the lambs for the daily sacrifices, wood for the altar, incense, sacred vestments, vessels, oil, flour, &c.

7. The courts of justice, for deciding the various cases directed in the law to be brought before the priests.

8. Court of the women, or outer court.

9. Court of Israel, where the men alone, ordinarily speaking, were allowed to assemble.

10. The portico, where the Levites who sang at the sacrifices stood.

11. The general court of sacrifice, where stood the altar, the laver and the molten sea, or brazen reservoir, and the rings where the victims were slaughtered.

12. The House of the Lord, consisting of (1) the Antichamber, containing the Altar of Incense, the loaves of proposition, and the golden candlesticks; (2) The Holy of Holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant, placed under the two cherubim carved in olive wood.

EXPLANATION OF THE TYPE OF THE BRAZEN LAVER.-The brazen laver, or molten sea, contained the water with which the flesh of the victims was washed and purified, in order to their being offered to God upon the altar. The water of baptism cleanses the Christian in order to his offering himself to God, as St. Paul says: "I beseech you, brethren, that you present your bodies a pleasing sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Rom. xii., 1.)

'

SOLOMON'S PRAYER OF DEDICATION.

But thou shalt not build the house, but thy son, who shall come out of thy loins, he shall build a house to My Name.

The Lord therefore hath accomplished His word which He spoke and I am risen up in the place of David my father, and sit upon the

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throne of Israel, as the Lord promised:_and have built a house to the Name of the Lord God of Israel.

And I have put in it the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with the children of Israel.

§ 7. Solomon's Prayer of Dedication.

Solomon then went and stood before the altar of the Lord, in presence of all the multitude of Israel, and stretched forth his hands. For he had made a brazen scaffold, which was five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the temple, and he stood upon it: then kneeling down in the presence of all the multitude of Israel, and lifting up his hands towards heaven, he said:

SOLOMON'S PRAYER OF DEDICATION.

O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in heaven nor in earth: who keepest covenant and mercy with Thy servants, that walk before Thee with all their hearts:

Who hast performed to Thy servant David my father all that Thou hast promised him : and hast accomplished in fact, what thou hast spoken with Thy mouth, as also the present time proveth.

Now then, O Lord God of Israel, fulfil to Thy servant David my father, whatsoever Thou hast promised him, saying: There shall not fail thee a man in My sight, to sit upon the throne of Israel: yet so that thy children take heed to their ways, and walk in My law, as thou hast walked before Me.

And now, Lord God of Israel, let Thy word be established which Thou hast spoken to Thy servant David.

If Thy people Israel be overcome by their enemies, (for they will sin against Thee) and being converted shall do penance, and call upon Thy Name, and pray to Thee in this place.

Then hear Thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them back into the land, which Thou gavest to them, and their fathers.

Then if any of Thy people Israel, knowing his own scourge and infirmity shall pray, and shall spread forth his hands in this house,

Hear Thou from heaven, from Thy High

dwelling-place, and forgive, and render to every one according to his ways, which Thou knowest him to have in his heart: (for Thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men :)

That they may fear Thee, and walk in Thy ways all the days that they live upon the face of the land, which thou hast given to our fathers.

If the stranger also, who is not of Thy people Israel, come from a far country, for the sake of Thy great Name, and Thy strong hand, and Thy stretched out arm, and adore in this place:

Hear Thou from heaven, Thy firm dwellingplace, and do all that which that stranger shall call upon Thee for: that all the people of the earth may know Thy Name, and may fear Thee, as Thy people Israel, and may know, that Thy Name is invoked upon this house, which I have built.

For Thou art my God: let Thy eyes, I beseech Thee, be open, and let Thy ears be attentive to the prayer, that is made in this place.

Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into Thy resting-place, Thou and the ark of Thy strength: let Thy priests, O Lord God, put on salvation, and Thy saints rejoice in good things.

O Lord God, turn not away the face of Thy anointed: remember the mercies of David Thy

servant.