I flit away to another county, and find in so doing different reminiscences. Yorkshire hills fling their shadows around me; and, as I look upward on their familiar outlines, I distinguish among them conspicuously the conical crest of Roseberry Topping. I wander over the ruins of an old-fashioned country seat, and am amazed at its extent. What lofty garden-walls of brick were here—what lengthy terraces —what vast domestic buildings! This was the abode, two centuries ago, of an ancient and illustrious family; but, from the day its Chief affixed his name to his Sovereign's death-warrant, the fortunes of the house began to decline. Long since are they extinct; and in their wide domains now, there is naught but desolation. Vainly do men seek to establish themselves upon earth; and it is but a mockery for them to call their lands after their own names! I am in Cumberland, beside Derwent Water; and I stand on the little bridge, that spans the Greta. Before me is an interesting house, the former dwelling of Robert Southey. How picturesque is the situation, with its majestic background of the everlasting hills! Yonder is Latrig, lifting into light its groves of larch; and further withdrawn is the giant Skiddaw, showing his bald head clear and cloudless. As I draw nearer, I see that the house is situated at the end of a lengthy but narrow lawn. The dwelling is airy and spacious; and I remember that within its walls, for nearly half-a-century, a Master-mind incessantly thought and toiled. We repair to the houses of genius, as to intellectual shrines; yet seem they mournful places, when are missed from them Must we the beings that shed about them renown. say of the triumphs of mind, "Vanitas vanitatum"? What is human learning to a soul that is passed beyond the stars; or what the world's applause to the disintegrated dust that sleeps so peacefully now in Crosthwaite churchyard? There are not many who may choose for themselves a dwelling-place. It is well that so it should be; for where the right exists, it is too often exercised purely for the securing of secular advantages. Air, water, scenery, society create strong inducements; but the nearness of the House of Prayer, the presence of a faithful Ministry, and the company of godly people are too often left out of recollection. It is the old story, that of Abraham's days, repeated. "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan." Abraham straightway parted from his company; and the separation was a foreshadowing of the evils which must ever follow a worldly choice. God's Ministers, as well as others, may take to themselves the lesson. They may be certain that they lose a blessing, if they go not in the way of a curse, when they fix their dwelling, being swayed by carnal motives. Is not "non-residence" at times thus induced; yet where should the shepherd be found, but in the midst of his sheep? Master Hugh Latimer, in his sermon at Grimsthorpe, on Luke, ii. 8-12, sets this forth, and admirably applies the mercies received at the Annunciation: so. "These shepherds, I say, they watch the whole night; they attend upon their vocation; they do according to their calling; they keep their sheep: they run not hither and thither, spending the time in vain, and neglecting their office and calling. No, they did not Here, by these shepherds, all men may learn to attend upon their offices and callings. I would wish that clergymen-the curates, parsons, and vicars, the bishops, and all other spiritual persons-would learn this lesson by these poor shepherds; which is this, to abide by their flocks and by their sheep, to tarry amongst them, to be careful over them; not to run hither and thither after their own pleasure, but to tarry by their own benefices, and feed their sheep with the food of God's Word; and to keep hospitality, and so to feed them, both soul and body." In the accomplishment of habitation with his people, self-sacrifice may be required of the Minister, and self-denial may be a matter of daily occurrence. But, if the duty be plain, let him not shrink from dwelling even in the midst of a people of unclean lips; nor, in his impatience, give utterance to a “Wo is me!" should he sojourn in Mesech, or dwell in the tents of Kedar. The recompense shall be great. The Church of Christ will flourish; and the Church's husband will dwell with His faithful and fruitful Leah. The spiritual children shall be many. There shall be "Gad," to show that " a troop cometh;' " "Asher," to signify "a blessing;" "Issachar," for "an hire;" and "Zebulun," to make known the Lord's "dwelling" with His church and servant. 120. "Sermons and Remains of Bishop Latimer," vol. ii. pp. 119, Parker Society's Edition. But will God in very deed abide with men on the earth? Truly so, for He hath promised to His people, that He will dwell in them and walk in them. He hath undertaken to consecrate to Himself their souls and bodies, and to make of these the only temples on earth which He will now inhabit. Each person in the Godhead will do this: God, the Father, 2 Cor. vi. 16; 1 John iv. 12, 15; God, the Son, Eph. iii. 17; and God, the Holy Ghost, John, xiv. 17; Romans, viii. 9-11; 1 Cor. iii. 16; 2 Tim. i. 14. So explicit are the Scriptures in demonstrating that the Tri-une Jehovah will make in Man His dwellingplace. Blessed are they, who know in happy experience that they are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in them! Sweet is their daily employment as door-keepers of this House, to open wide its gates, that the King of Glory may come in, and to jealously close them against aught that defileth, or that worketh abomination, or maketh a lie. I have spoken of a "temple," and I remember that the mortal body is described by the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. v. 1) as a "tabernacle." An old writer suggests that this was an obvious simile to one, whose occupation was a tent-maker; but another sacred writer (2 Peter, i. 13, 14) uses the like comparison, and it may be also found, not unfrequently, among the Classical Authors. The body is rightly called earthly" " from its materials, and a "tabernacle" because of its temporary existence. May I here introduce a few descriptive words, which have pleased me not a little*: : "The House I live in,' is a curious building, one of the most curious in the world. Not that it is the largest, or the oldest, or the most beautiful, or the most costly; or that it has the greatest number of rooms, or is supplied with the most fashionable furniture. But it is nevertheless one of the most wonderful buildings in the world, on account of the skill and wisdom of the great Master Workman who planned it. You cannot view it closely in any part, without being struck with the wisdom which is there evinced; nor without feeling the mind elevated and improved by the contemplation of that goodness, which has provided everything so admirably contrived for the purposes intended to be fulfilled. . . . . . The House I live in, is my body-the present habitation of mine immortal spirit. And when I leave it, it will immediately fall into decay." These dwellings of our souls are but "houses of clay:" and we hold them, moreover, by a tenure of the briefest duration. "We are all tenants at will," writes Bishop Hall, “and, for aught we know, may be turned out of these clay cottages at an hour's * "The House I live in ; or, Popular Illustrations of the Structure and Functions of the Human Body." By T. C. Girtin, Surgeon. London: Longman and Co. † Edmund Waller, the poet, when describing the Christian's ripening for immortality, has a like use of the word Cottage" : 66 : "Clouds of affection from our younger eyes Stronger by weakness wiser men become, As they draw near to their eternal home; Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view, That stand upon the threshold of the new. |