July 8

dwelt in the bush—a tried God, a covenant God, a God who there said, “I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob”—this can sweeten every comfort, soften every sorrow, take the sting out of death. This can accomplish every hope. This satisfy every desire. “Think upon me, O my God, for good.”

JULY 8.—“I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly.”

This “solemn assembly” was the convocation of the people for worship, especially in the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks, and the feast of tabernacles. In these, thrice a year, all the males were to appear before God in the place which he should choose. This was Jerusalem. It was therefore named “the city of their solemnities.” Here, at such seasons, they were always to “rejoice before the Lord.” The services indeed were all of the festive kind; and “joy becomes a feast”—

“But we have no such lengths to go, Nor wander far abroad; Where'er the saints assemble now There is a house for God.”

Yes, we have our solemn assemblies as well as they; and surely we have not less reason than they had to be joyful, and to say, “Let us serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing.” Yea, if we are habitually strangers to pleasure in religious services; if we cannot call the Sabbath a delight; if we are not glad when they say to us, Let us go into the house of the Lord; if we do not rejoice at his word as one that findeth great spoil; if spiritual duties are not in some good degree spiritual privileges, there is surely enough to awaken apprehension of our state before God.

We never apply the term “solemn” to any common, or merely secular assembly; but only to one that has something in it sacred, and capable of inspiring awe. And what can be more venerable, grand, and impressive, than the assembling together of a number of immortal beings, in the presence of the Lord of angels, to engage not in any of the affairs of this world, but in those which concern the soul and eternity, and the consequences of which will affect us for ever! Well, therefore, may we exclaim with Jacob; “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Let us impress ourselves with the thought when we are repairing to the sanctuary. Nothing will tend more to preserve us from a roving eye, and a wandering heart; and nothing will conduce more to our profiting by the means of grace, than our engaging with a serious and thoughtful frame of mind. David therefore said, “In thy fear will I worship toward thy Holy Temple.” It is the more necessary because of the frequent return of these solemnities: if familiarity does not always breed contempt, it must always tend to reduce veneration.

But what caused these pious Jews to be “sorrowful?” See how they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Their metro-

polis was destroyed, their palaces were demolished, strangers possessed their fields and vineyards: but though their calamities were great and numberless, nothing distressed them in comparison with the destruction of the temple, and the loss of their sacred institutions. They were "sorrowful because of the solemn assembly." This was now broken up and dispersed. Ah! said their aching hearts, "thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long." "Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers worshipped, is burned with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid waste."

Blessed be God, we cannot be thus sorrowful for the solemn assembly. Our temples are standing, our Sabbaths are continued, our eyes see our teachers, our ears hear the joyful sound; we sit under our own vine and fig-tree, and none makes us afraid. Yet we ought, and if we are spiritually minded, we shall on many accounts be sorrowful for the solemn assembly. Sorrowful when deprived of opportunities of being found in it. This may be the case owing to the calls of urgent business, or accident, or sickness, or relative affliction. When indeed we are thus providentially detained, the Lord will not leave us comfortless: yet when we remember these things, we shall pour out our souls in us; for we had gone with the multitude, we went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day. Sorrowful that it is so little attended. Many so undervalue the privilege as to suffer the most trifling expense or impediment to keep them from the courts of the Lord. Sorrowful that it is so little improved. How many attend frequently and regularly who receive the grace of God in vain, and are no wiser and better for all their advantages. Sorrowful that it is so impoverished and declining—That there is less spirituality and fervour; that we do not see the children instead of the fathers; that while the old are removed so few in early life are coming forward to fill their places; that so few are led to inquire what must I do to be saved; that so few increase with all the increase of God. Sorrowful that it is dishonoured and degraded—By apostacies, backslidings, inconsistencies, and falls in the members of it; so that the enemies of the Lord blaspheme, and the way of truth is evil spoken of, and the Redeemer wounded in the house of his friends. Hence it is here added, "to whom the reproach of it is a burden." All this "is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation."

Yet if we feel the distress, it is a token for good. It is godly sorrow. And blessed are they that thus sorrow—For, says God, "I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly." This means, with regard to these Israelites, that they should be united again from their dispersion, and led back to enjoy their former privileges, and again see his power and glory in the sanctuary. With regard to other sorrowers the Lord will gather them in two ways; gather them for safety, and gather them for glory. Moses said to Pharaoh, upon his announcing the plague of hail, "Send now, and gather thy cattle, and all that is in the field;" that is, house them from the storm. Thus the hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and affords them a safe and comfort-