Cleansing the Temple

Hy not withdraw from the church which has become thus secularized and desecrated? To which we reply emphatically: Until the Holy Spirit withdraws we are not called upon to do so. And he is infinitely patient, abiding still in his house so long as there are two or three who gather in Christ’s name to constitute a templiim in templo, a sanctuary within a sanctuary, where he may find a home.

What the lungs are to the air the church is to the Holy Spirit; and each individual believer is like a cell in those lungs. If every cell is open and unobstructed the whole body is full of light; but if through a sudden cold, congestion sets in, so that the larger number of these cells are closed, then the entire burden of breathing is thrown upon the few which remain unobstructed. With redoubled activity these now inhale and exhale the air, till convalescence shall return. So we strongly believe that a few Spirit-filled disciples are sufficient to save a church; that the Holy Ghost, acting through these, can and

8s does bring back recovery and health to the entire body.

I saw no whip of small cords in the hands of that pilgrim-Christ who turned aside fr a moment to visit our sanctuary on that ever-remembered Lord’s Day morning. The time has not yet come for judging and punishing those who defile the temple of God. On the contrary, it seems as though I heard that gracious stranger say: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” The throne-room of the church where he has ordained to rule his flock; the choir-room where he would preside in the Holy Ghost as the inspirer of praise; the pew-rooms into which he would have freedom of entrance, even when coming in the lowliest garb; these he did not storm with violent anathemas, but gently solicited to open unto him. Woe to those who judge before the time! who depart from their brethren, and slam that door behind them before which Jesus is gently knocking; who spue the church out of their mouths while he, though rebuking it, still loves it and owns it and invites it to sup with him.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death,” writes the apostle. This is the method of the Lord’s present work — death overcome by life. “I cannot sweep the darkness out but I can shine it out,” said John Newton. We cannot scourge dead works out of the church, but we can live them out. If we accuse the church with having the pneumonia let us who are individual air-cells in that church, breathe deeply and wait patiently and pray believingly, and one after another of the obstructed cells will open to the Spirit till convalescence is re-established in every part.

With the deepest humility the writer here sets his seal of verifying experience. When the truth of the in-residence of the Spirit and of his presiding in the church of God became a living conviction, then began a constant magnifying of him in his offices. Several sermons were preached yearly setting forth the privileges and duties of Christians under his administration; special seasons of daily prayer were set apart, extending sometimes over several weeks, during which continual intercession was made for the power of the Holy Ghost. It was not so much prayer for particular blessings as an effort to get into fellowship with the Spirit and to be brought into unreserved surrender to his life and acting. The circle of those thus praying was thus constantly enlarged. Then gradually, the result appeared in the whole church; the incoming tide began to fill the bays and inlets, and as it did so the driftwood was dislodged and floated away. Ecclesiastical amusements dropped off, not so much by the denunciation of the pulpit, as by the displacement of the deepening life. The service of song was quietlysurrendered back to the congregation and, instead of the select choir, the church — who constitute the true Levites as well as the appointed priesthood of the New Dispensation — took up the sacrifice of praise anew and filled the house with their song. As noiselessly and irresistibly as the ascending sap displaces the dead leaves which have clung all winter long to the trees, so quietly did the incoming Spirit seem to crowd off the traditional usages which had hindered our liberty. Later came the abolition of pew-rentals and the disuse of church sales for raising money for missions and other charities. Meantime the pulpit acquired a liberty hitherto unknown; the outward hampering being removed, the inward help became more and more apparent, and the preacher felt himself constantly drawn out instead of being perpetually repressed as in the olden time. The prayer meeting soon passed beyond the necessity of being “sustained” and became the most helpful nourisher and sustainer of the church. The place is always filled, and instead of urging the people to come, or inviting them to participate, the attendance is joyfully voluntary, and the praying and testifying always so spontaneous and hearty that one can scarce rememember when it has been found needful to urge Christians to the exercise of these privileges.

It is by no means affirmed that the old leaven has been completely purged out, so that nothing of the secular and unspiritual remains in the temple of the Spirit where we worship. No! If that Divine Visitant were to appear once more in yonder pew, and with those eyes which are like a flame of fire were to search our sanctuary, it pains me to think what he might discover, which has hitherto escaped our search. We are only speaking now of a comparative cleansing, deeply sensible of much, both known and unknown, which yet remains to be accomplished.

But of the result thus far may we speak without glorying. Most apt is Dr. Bonar’s story of the auctioneer, who was commending in glowing words a picture by one of the old masters, himself meanwhile standing behind the painting which he was selling, and allowing it to hide him from view. All that we are trying to do in this chapter is to magnify the work of an” old master,” the Galilean Carpenter, who only asked liberty to work among us that he might build “his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb. 3: 6). Let his work appear unto his servants, and let “the workers together with him” be hidden from view.

I observed neither saw, hammer, nor plane in his hand when he came into yonder pew on that morning; and though from that day he began to reconstruct the temple,” there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it was building.” All went on noiselessly, so that now we wonder at the progress of the work.

One freshly anointed was moved to undertake a mission to the Jews, among whom up to this time no systematic effort had been made; the result — hundreds of Hebrews reached by the gospel, not a few converts won to Christ, and a Jewish missionary raised up for his people.

Another brother was drawn out on behalf of the Chinese; the result — a Chinese mission school of two hundred; twenty-five now members of the church, and one of their number, a veritable apostle, now returned to his native land, to make known the gospel to his countrymen.

A newly quickened disciple was drawn to the work of outdoor preaching; the result — a band of young men and women raised up who have gone to wharves, car-stables, and public squares, with increasing devotion to this service, which has now gone on weekly for more than five years.

Others were moved to enter into rescue work among ruined women; the result — a home opened and now a far-reaching effort extending out and bringing Christians of all names into co-operation.

An industrial home was instituted for intemperate and unemployed men; the result — a shelter in which thousands have found refuge, and converts have been won to Christ by hundreds.

A training school for evangelists was opened, designed to equip men and women of humble attainments for Christian work at home and abroad; the result — a score of foreign missionaries sent out since the work began, four years ago; and many more put forth into destitute fields at home, while a hundred and fifty are now under instruction.

Meantime evangelistic efforts have reached out on every side, some “tens” of our brethren being entirely occupied in this work and as many more working in the foreign field. By spontaneous free-will giving the offerings to foreign missions have steadily increased, rising to ten thousand, to twelve thousand, and one year to twenty thousand dollars, as the annual contribution to this work. And this increase in giving was not the result of begging or dunning. Much prayer was made and the strongest evangelical motive urged in behalf of it. Meantime there has been a freshness and heartiness in our worship hitherto unknown. The Spirit has had liberty to break forth in song in unexpected ways now and then, as when a joyous young disciple going down to be baptized sang the strains of “My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine,” as he*- feet touched the water, all the congregation uniting with overpowering effect. What could that little quartette box have done like this?

So, likewise, there has been an open window into the sermon through which the Holy Ghost has come in with unexpected suggestions, fitted for the occasion. In a word, the law of liberty seems to have largely supplemented machinery and organization. And yet, be it noted, that even this record would not be committed to print save for one reason, viz., that it is recognized to be not a “work” but “his workmanship.” Not one of these enterprises was planned beforehand, so that they could be credited to some superior organizer. They “grew up, he knoweth not how,” who now tells the story. They are described after much hesitation, and with prolonged weighing of each statement, with the hope that they may bring home the suggestion to some who have not entertained it, that the Holy Ghost, the present Christ, has been given to be the administrator of the church; and that in these days of endless organizatio7is a?id multiplied secular machinery, he will surprise us by showing what he will do if we will give him unhitidered liberty of action in his own house.