"Strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord's house" (Jeremiah 51: 51).
On this account the faces of the Lord's people were covered with shame, for it was a terrible thing that men should intrude into the Holy Place reserved for the priests alone. Everywhere about us we see cause for sorrow. How many ungodly men are now being educated to enter into the ministry! How fearful it is that ordination would be placed on the unconverted and that among the more enlightened churches of our land there would be such laxity of discipline. If the thousands who will read this portion will all take this matter before the Lord Jesus this day, He will interfere and avert the evil which will come on His Church. To adulterate the Church is to pullute a well, to pour water on fire, to sow a fertile field with stones. May we all have grace to maintain in our own proper way the purity of the Church as being an assembly of believers and not an unsaved community of unconverted men. Our zeal must, however, begin at home. Let us examine ourselves as to our righ to eat at the Lord's table. Let us see to it that we have our wedding garment on, lest we ourselves be intruders in the Lord's sanctuaries. Many are called, but few are chosen; the way is narrow, and the gate is straight. Oh, for grace to come to Jesus with the faith of God's elect! Heart searching is the duty of all who are baptized or come to the Lord's table. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts" (Psalm 139: 23).