REFLECTIONS
BLESSED Lord of thy Temple! how can I read this Chapter, and follow the Prophet's steps whom thou art leading by the hand through the several apartments of thine house, without immediately connecting with the subject the very endearing characters and offices in which thou hast condescended to reveal thyself. Do I not behold thee, O thou unequalled pattern of excelling humbleness, as the gate and door to thy temple, thy fold? Didst thou not at thy Father's call come up before all worlds, as the whole source of thy people's salvation? And art thou not the one and only way of access, in grace here, and glory to all eternity? Can any enter, but by thee? And hast thou not promised that all that come to thee, thou wilt in no wise cast out? Oh! precious Jesus! stand, Lord, I beseech thee widely open, as those wide spreading doors the Prophet saw, that thy people may come like the troops of Teman, and fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows! Yea, precious Lord! as thy gracious invitations, and promises, and proclamations of mercy, are going forth to the East, and to the West, and to the North, and to the South; oh, dispose the souls of poor perishing sinners, to come to thy large, and wide spreading doors, and find access in and through thee, by one Spirit to the Father. Surely those blessed gates and ordinances to thee, like the gates of the New Jerusalem above, are never shut day nor night; for Jesus stands ready to receive all that come to God by him, and all that do come, thou hast graciously said, thou wilt in no wise cast out; Oh! Lord! make thy people willing in the day of thy power. Amen.