Let us commence our service this evening by singing together hymn number 586. The tune is Saint Godric 556.

Ye servants of the Lord, ye messengers of grace,

go forth with one accord,

proclaim a full release.

Jesus has made an end of sin,

and righteousness divine, brought in.

Hymn 586. Tune St. Godric, 556.

Let us read together from the Holy Word of God in three Psalms. Psalm 48, Psalm 87, and Psalm 122.

Psalm 48.

Great is the Lord,

and greatly to be praised

in the city of our God,

in the mountain of his holiness.

Beautiful for situation,

the joy of the whole earth

is Mount Zion,

on the sides of the north,

the city of the great King.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

For lo, the kings were assembled,

they passed by together,

They saw it, and so they marveled.

They were troubled and hasted away.

Fear took hold upon them there,

and pain as of a woman in travail.

They'll break us the ships of Tarshish

with an east wind.

As we have heard,

so have we seen

in the city of the Lord of hosts,

in the city of our God.

God will establish it forever.

Sela.

We have thought of thy loving kindness,

O God,

in the midst of thy temple.

According to thy name, O God,

so is thy praise

unto the ends of the earth.

Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

Let Mount Zion rejoice.

Let the daughters of Judah be glad

because of thy judgments.

walk about Zion,

and go round about her,

tell the towers thereof,

mark ye well her bulwarks,

consider her palaces,

that ye may tell it

to the generation following.

For this God is our God for ever and ever.

He will be our guide

even unto death.

now Psalm 87.

His foundation is in the holy mountains.

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion

more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are spoken of thee,

O city of God,

Selah.

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon,

to them that know me.

Behold, for Lystip and Tyre,

with Ethiopia,

this man was born there.

And of Zion it shall be said,

this and that man was born in her.

And the highest himself shall establish her.

The Lord shall count when he righteth up the people

that this man was born there,

Selah.

as well as the singers,

as the players on instruments,

shall be there.

All my springs are in thee.

And now, Psalm 122.

I was glad when they said unto me,

let us go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet shall stand within thy gates,

O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city

that is compact together.

Whither the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord,

unto the testimony of Israel,

to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

For there are set thrones of judgment,

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

They shall prosper that love thee.

Peace be within thy walls,

and prosperity within thy palaces.

For my brethren and companions' sake,

I will now say,

peace be within thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek thy good.

May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real prayer. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which is an art, an art to come, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we desire to bow before thy glorious majesty, that we desire to approach Thee in the name of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. For through Him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. And we desire to thank Thee for that access.

A door of hope is opened wide in Jesus' bleeding hands and side. O that tonight we may be favoured, as we gather round the Word, to behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. We pray that we may be favoured to have those divine drawings of our Heavenly Father, drawing us unto his best beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. For thy Word declares, None come, except the Father draw, all to know those sacred drawings and have a realisation granted to us by thy Spirit.

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Lord, may it be so this evening hour as we gather round thy Word. Grant us thy divine direction in the way that we should go. Grant the opening of thy holy word to our heart and to our understanding.

Blessed holy divine spirit, holy men of old spake as they were moved by the holy ghost. For all scripture is given by inspiration of God. and thou art that one that divinely inspired the writers of the holy scriptures. And we pray that thy word may be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path as we gather round thy word at this evening hour.

Lord, we do pray that we may be favoured then with the divine leading and heavenly power of the Holy Ghost. We pray that it may be with us, Lord, for God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. We thank thee that we do have a heavenly Father. We thank thee that there is one God and one mediator between God and man. the man Christ Jesus, who gave his life of ransom for all to be testified in due time.

Oh, we do pray, most gracious Lord, we read in thy word the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, and we pray that it may be so, that we may be enlightened, that there may be that spirit of power that there may be the unction of the Holy One, that we may behold wondrous things in thy word, and that we may be guided and directed by thy word. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. That, Lord, may we be led and guided and directed by thee.

We pray for the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, We pray that we may behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. We confess our sins and our wanderings and our backslidings, our unworthiness of the least of thy tender mercies, but we come to thee in that precious name. This is the name the Father loves to hear his children plead, and all such pleadings he approves when offered in his name. And our Lord Jesus himself said, whatsoever ye ask in my name, I will do it.

We thank thee for our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee that he is the way, the truth, and the life. We thank thee that he is the Son of God that was manifest in the flesh, We thank Thee for the holy life He lived, for the holy law He fulfilled, for the bringing in of everlasting righteousness for His people. Oh, we bless Thee, O Lord, for that glorious, holy life of Jesus, the Son of God.

We thank Thee for the cross of Calvary, for the putting away of sin, for by one offering he hath perfected forever all them that are sanctified. Lord this is the foundation on which we build, this is all our hope, this is all our desire, that I may know him in the power of his resurrection, in the fellowship of his sufferings. We thank thee that he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. Lord, we thank thee for our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins and rose again for our justification. And as bodily ascended into heaven, We have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the son of God.

Lord, as we come together round thy word, we desire to come in a spirit of gratitude, of thanksgiving for the glorious person, the mediator, the son of God that was manifest in the flesh. Lord, we pray that thou wast come and shed abroad thy love in our hearts, that it may be with us, as we read in thy word, the love of Christ constraineth us. For God has sent forth that Spirit into our hearts, the Spirit of Christ. And we pray that we might have more of the Spirit of Christ, more of the mind of the Spirit, more understanding in thy word, a greater light, a greater understanding of the doctrine of truth experienced in our hearts.

We thank thee that in that glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, a poor sinner is passed from death unto life. And Lord, we thank thee that in that glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ, A sinner is brought into liberty and peace and salvation. Lord, we're unworthy of such blessings, but this is our only hope. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Lord, we pray that We may be given that gracious determination to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Remember each one present here in the sanctuary. Remember them with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people. Visit them with thy great salvation. Bring poor sinners from death unto life. We do humbly beseech thee Bring those in darkness into light and those in bondage into liberty, and those far off make them nigh. We do humbly beseech thee, thou alone are able to do these things. O Lord of hosts, O God of Israel, O thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth. We do humbly beseech thee, shine forth. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the son of man, whom thou madest strong for thyself, so will not we go back from thee.

Lord, we pray that thou wouldst work mightily, powerfully, effectually among us, to the great glory of thy name, to the good of precious souls. We pray, most gracious God, They will suffer little children to come unto thee. We have those little children that gather with us. We pray that the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, may be placed in their hearts. We pray that they will remember our young friends, each one of them. Have mercy upon them and be gracious unto them. grant that they may be brought to living, vital, saving faith in Jesus Christ and become true followers of thee and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

So bless our young friends, be with them in all the paths of providence, guide and direct them in all matters, help them to commit their way unto the Lord and trust also in thee, and thou wilt bring it to pass. Make the crooked things straight and the rough places plain, O Lord, we do beseech thee. We pray, most gracious God, that thou in thy great mercy would remember the prodigals that have wandered away. We earnestly petition thee to have mercy upon them, to bring them forth, and guide them in the right way. We do humbly beseech thee.

We read in thy word and he led them forth by the right way unto a city of habitation. We pray that we may see such things here. We do humbly beseech thee. We long to see those prodigals returning. May the power that brings salvation be exerted in the word We do humbly beseech thee.

Remember, Lord, parents and give wisdom and help and guidance and direction in all matters. Remember all in the midst of the journey of life and be gracious unto them. Deliver us from temptation, whether the enemy comes in as an angel of light, or whether he comes as a roaring lion, we pray to be delivered from his power and from his influence. Guide us, O thou great Jehovah.

We're pilgrims in a barren land. We are weak, but thou, almighty, hold us with thy powerful hand. Lord, we do pray that thou would remember all in affliction, and trouble and trial and perplexity. Put forth thy healing hand, be Jehovah Rophi. I am the Lord that healeth thee.

Remember those of us, O Lord, that are now in the evening time of life journey. We pray that thou wouldst favour us, that we may see the King in his beauty, And behold that land that is a very far off. Oh, to hear us, Lord, we humbly pray thee.

Lord Jesus, thou didst say in thy word, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also. The heavenly Jerusalem, the spirits of just men made perfect.

Lord, we pray that thou wouldst graciously grant that while our days on earth are lengthened, may we give them, Lord, to thee, May we be enabled to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto thee, which is our reasonable service.

Remember all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion. Set them free. Set them at liberty. Those of thy servants that are serving a probationary period with a view to the pastorate, we pray that thou would graciously grant thy divine blessing to rest upon them so the matter may be made clear and it may be down to the great glory of thy holy and sacred name.

We pray most gracious Lord that thou in thy precious mercy was remember our nation, we truly live in solemn days, and iniquity abounds on every hand, and the spirit of Antichrist is so prevalent in our societies. Oh, that there was a rise, that there was make bare thine holy arm in the gospel, that there was bring our sons from far, and our daughters from the ends of the earth. Thou alone are able to do this. Let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children. We do humbly pray for thy great namesake.

Bring our sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth. And as thou hast promised in thy word, they shall come from the north and from the south and from the east and from the west. Lord, let thy work appear. Let thy power be known, let thy grace be made manifest, for thy great name's sake we do humbly beseech of thee.

We pray for any and any particular trouble, or trial, or perplexity, or sorrow, or sadness, or bereavement. We thank thee for the abundance of thy mercy, for the glories of Christ, for the wonders of redeeming love. We pray that thou wouldst now touch one's lips with the live coal from off the heavenly altar, as we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Let us now Sing together hymn number 993. The tune is Chorley Wood, 827.

O Zion afflicted with wave upon wave,

Whom no man can comfort, whom no man can save.

With darkness surrounded by terrors dismayed,

In toiling and rowing thy strength is decayed.

Hymn 993 Tune Chorley Wood 827

Greatly feeling to need the Lord's gracious help, direct your attention to Psalm 48, and we'll read the third verse for our text.

Psalm 48, verse three.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

We notice the psalm, great is the Lord, it commences, great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. That's the church of God. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the side of the north, the city of the great king. Zion, the city of the living God.

You know, this language has continued from the Old Testament into the New Testament. And of course, in the Old Testament, There was literally the city of Jerusalem and a mount in the city of Jerusalem was Mount Zion where the temple of the Lord is. It says here the city of the great king and we know how many times that the city of Zion, the city of Jerusalem was surrounded with enemies. was attacked by her foes.

It says here in verse four, for though the kings were assembled, they passed by together, they saw it. As the kings of the earth, they marveled, they were troubled and hasted away. It speaks of those kings that perhaps came with an idea and a purpose to actually attack the city of Jerusalem. But when they came to the city, When they saw the walls of the city, when they saw the bulwarks of the city, then they turned back. They realized that they were not able to do it. They saw it. So they marveled. They were troubled and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travail.

But you see, this wonderful language of science, continues into the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, that no longer the geographical Mount Zion in the city of Jerusalem, but the spiritual Mount Zion. You know, wherever there is a little house of prayer like this one, there is what is called in scripture a little hill of Zion. These are the hills of Zion. And it's not just the building. It's nice that we have a comfortable building. We're thankful for that. But we don't worship the building. We no longer, in the New Testament, have temple worship. It was called the temple because the special presence of the Lord was found there. But that's not so in a building in these days.

The hymn writer, he says, that when they bring the Lord with them, when they go, they take him home. He dwells in the hearts of his people. There are those promises in Ezekiel and in Jeremiah and in Isaiah concerning the coming of the New Testament church. And I will write my laws in their hearts. That's what the Lord has done. He said, I will put my spirit within them. You know that's what makes a child of God.

We just read together in Psalm 87 about the beautiful city of Zion and the foundation. And this and that man was born in her. This and that man was born in her. Born again like we were speaking of on Lord's Day morning. You must be born again. This and that man was born in her. The power of the higher shall overshadow her. Mount Zion, the church of the living God. And as we look at Mount Zion, here it says, beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth. Here's Mount Zion. What a prophecy concerning the days to come. Here in the Old Testament, when the little hells of Zion, scattered throughout all the nations of the earth. As it says here, the joy of the whole earth. And Zion has a King. And that is King Jesus.

As the Apostle Paul says, now unto the King eternal, immortal and invisible, the only true God be honour and glory everlasting. Amen. The King eternal, immortal, invisible, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He sitteth King forever. You know, we see here about the enemies that come against Zion, the Church of the Living God, and we read of it in Psalm 2, how the kings of the earth set themselves. How they set themselves against the Lord's anointed. The Lord's anointed is Jesus Christ. And they set themselves against the Lord's anointed. And they desire the overthrow of the city of Zion. And that's what they seek for. You see, why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord. It's against Jehovah and against his anointed. That's Jesus Christ. He's the Lord's anointed. That's what the name Messiah means, the anointed one. And the kings of the earth say, let us break their bands asunder. Let us cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in division. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure.

And then we have this beautiful word, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. In other words, whatever the heathen do, though they rage and though they fight against the God of heaven and the word of God and the truth of God, they cannot prevail. Yet, in spite of all that, yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. You see he speaks here so beautifully about Lord Jesus Christ, I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me thou art my son this day have I begotten thee. According to the apostle in the New Testament he says that this refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee. And then there's this wonderful word, ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Be wise now therefore O ye kings, be instructed you judges of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling, kiss the sun What a beautiful revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ here. Kiss the son, lest he be angry with thee, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

You see, God is known her palaces for a refuge. It's that lovely hymn, isn't it? A refuge for sinners. The gospel makes known, it is found in the merits of Jesus alone. The weary, the tempted, the burdened by sin were never exempted from entering their hymns. What a wonderful gospel, it's to the poor, the needy, the helpless, the hopeless. He that hath no money, that lovely word in Isaiah, how everyone that thirsteth come ye to the waters. He that hath no money, you see, coming unto Christ, looking unto Jesus, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

See he says here in verse eight, as we have heard so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever. See yet have I set my King. You know there's a foundation that has been laid in Zion, in Zion. a sure foundation and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In the building of the second temple at Jerusalem it's recorded in the prophecy of Zachariah in chapter 4 when Zerubbabel the governor of Jerusalem was about to lay the foundation stone of the Second Temple. And he gave a vision unto the Lord's servant Zechariah. And in verse 6 it says, Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, not by mine.

Who art thou, O great mountain? See, Zerubbabel was about to build that second temple, wasn't as magnificent or as large as the first, but nevertheless it was still a large building. And the dear man of God, he was troubled because they were surrounded with enemies, they were a weak and feeble people, And the Zachariah said, this is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. And that's true today, my beloved friends. Not by might. We can never build the house of God by our might, by our strength. Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit. said the Lord of Hosts. How we need to pray, my beloved friends, for the power of the Holy Ghost, for the divine unction of the Holy Ghost. Nothing can be done without that.

And so he says here, this great building that was to be built, who art thou, O great mountain? Before the rubble thou shalt become a plain. and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings crying grace, grace unto him. You see in verse nine he says, and the hands of Zerubbel have laid the foundation of this house, his hands shall also finish it. And thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts has sent me unto you. Thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts has sent me unto you. You see, it's the Lord's work. It's like we read in Isaiah, let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children. Thy work. It's the work of God's Spirit. It's the power of the Holy Ghost. For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and see the plummet in the hand of the rubbable with those seven.

You see, it speaks here of the foundation stone, then it speaks of the top stone, the top stone. I heard a man preach from that many years ago now at Pickhill Chapel about the stone that the builders have rejected has become the head of the corner and that he had been a stonemason. And he explained how that the foundation stone was a particularly hard stone and all the corners of the temple were fitted into it and rested upon it. So all the weight rested on that foundation stone.

Now of course that foundation stone is Jesus Christ. Behold I lay in Zion a stone, a precious cornerstone. It's our Lord Jesus Christ, he's the foundation. He's all our hope, he's all our desire. In his precious blood that cleanses from all sin.

You see, the gospel is for sinners. Jesus himself said, I come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Sinners can say, none but they, how precious is the Savior. The Pharisees said it in a way of criticism, derogatory. This man receive his sinners and eateth with them.

My beloved friends, he still does. This man, this glorious holy God man, the man Christ Jesus, he still does. He receives sinners and he eateth with them. Oh, that the Lord would grant that we may have clear views of the glorious person, power, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal foundation of the church.

It says in what we read together in Psalm 87, his foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loved the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of the O city of God. He says, and of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her, and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there.

You see, my beloved friends, this man was born there. Have we been born? Have we been brought from death unto life? Have we experienced the new birth? You must be born again. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It's an utter impossibility. It's only as we're brought to faith in Jesus Christ. It's only as we're brought to lay hold of that hope that is set before us in the Gospel. which hope we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast, anchored within the veil that's within Christ, anchored in Christ.

You see in the Psalm 122, I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. Have you gone into the house of the Lord? Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." Do your feet stand within the gates of Jerusalem? You may say, whatever do you mean? Have you been born again of the Spirit? Have you been brought to living faith in Jesus Christ? Have you become a true follower of Him and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises? That's what it means to come into, into the city of Jerusalem. Our feet shall stand within thy gates. Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together whether the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. Enter his gates with praise and with the voice of thanksgiving. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David, then we have this exhortation, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee. And then the desire of the soul of the living in Jerusalem, peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say peace be within thee because of the house of the Lord Our God, I will seek thy good.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge. You know, a refuge. That's what Christ is to his people. David, he says elsewhere, thou art my rock and my fortress, my strong and my high tower. and unto thee shall I continually resort. That's what Christ is to his people. My rock, my fortress, my strong and my high tower. That's what the Lord Jesus is to his people.

God is known in our palaces for a refuge. It says, as we have heard, verse 8, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever. You know, in that eternal covenant, ordered in all things ensured, we see in that eternal covenant the electing love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the sanctifying love of the Holy Ghost. These three are one. The Father chose a people before the foundation of the world. He chose them in his Son, Jesus Christ. He gave them to him. Jesus said, all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.

They were given by the Father to the Son. And that is why the Son of God took our nature, was made of a woman made under the law that he might redeem them that are under the law. This is the glorious foundation that is laid in Zion. Being made under the law as a man, he then fulfilled that holy righteous law of God and brought in everlasting righteousness for all that the Father had given him. He makes them righteous. They are unrighteous. They are the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. They confess their unrighteousness. But when they're brought to faith in Jesus Christ, they find salvation. They find a righteousness which is not their own.

Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees You shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven. It's the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is so important, my beloved friends. He's called Jehovah Sidkenia, the Lord, our righteousness. And these are the palaces. God is known in her palaces. In those eternal councils of salvation, of redemption, of deliverance. In the person, power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, applied by power of the Spirit into the heart of a poor sinner, they're brought to living faith in Jesus Christ.

Let all fruitless searches go, which perplex and tease us, but desiring naught to know but a bleeding Jesus. Paul says that I may know him in the power of his resurrection. This is the glorious palaces You know what a wonderful Palace that is it says in verse 13 mark you well her bulwarks consider her palaces That you may tell it to the generation following now these palaces. They're spiritual These palaces, the law fulfilled and honoured and magnified in the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a palace that is. When you come by faith to Christ, when you're clothed in that glorious everlasting robe of his righteousness, what a palace that is.

Never shall I forget the time when the Lord drew near to me in a great trial and no words were spoken. I felt the Lord's blessing. I felt the Lord's favour. And it was the words of a hymn that so suited my case at that time. I'm blessed. I'm blessed, forever blessed. My rags are gone and I am dressed in garments white as snow, blessed, forever blessed. It's a wonderful, sacred sense. I looked for my sins and my sins could not be found covered in that glorious everlasting robe of the righteousness of Jesus.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge. Then we look at that glorious sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. And we look at the shedding of the Holy Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He poured out his soul unto death. He was numbered with the transgressors for he bared the sin of many. When we see our Lord Jesus Christ, you know, it is to personally know this, not just to know about it, but it's personally to know that it was for me.

I think it's Joseph Hart in one of his hymns, he says, good doctrine floating in the brain could do me no real good, and it can't. It's when we experience, it's when we see Jesus suffering and bleeding and dying in our room, place and state, It's when we feel in our souls he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed. Then we enter into these palaces.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge. What a refuge then is the glorious everlasting righteousness of What a refuge is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin. What a refuge when we hear the voice of the angel unto the disciples. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. He is not here, he is risen, a risen Saviour. a saviour that has swallowed up death in victory, a saviour that has destroyed death and him that had the power of death, that is the devil.

You see, God is known in the palaces. Death is swallowed up in victory. Life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel. You know when the Lord brought me into gospel liberty. I think it was around about the year 1980 and so wonderful were those blessings at that time and it was a word in the first epistle of Peter that particularly brought me into that state of gospel liberty and I'll look it up just so I don't misquote it. In the first chapter of the first epistle of Peter. Blessed be the God and Father. This is 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively, that's a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

That was on a Monday morning, as I drove around that morning in my truck, and those words, they kept coming, and the sweetness and the savour and the power, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had forgotten us again, unto a lively, a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You know, it was on the same day in the afternoon, still under that sacred sense of the Lord's blessing. I was delivering to a farm behind Forestvale Chapel at Crowborough. It's quite a long drive down to that farm. And there was a little wood, a chestnut copse on the way down. And as I drove down that drive, Oh, the presence and power of the Lord's love and mercy in my heart overflowed. So I stopped by that little wood and I went and I knelt down in that wood and it was nothing visionary, but it was as if there was a light shone all around me as I knelt in that little wood. And I had such a revelation of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Oh, my beloved friends, I felt such a love to my Heavenly Father, who had chosen me before the foundation of the world, and He gave me to His Son, Jesus Christ. What a love I felt to my Heavenly Father for His electing love and mercy to me, a poor, wretched sinner.

And then I felt such a love to the Lord Jesus Christ, who came down upon this earth and was made of a woman and made under the law. And he lived as a man here upon earth, and he fulfilled and honored and magnified that holy law. He then offered that holy sacrifice of the cross of Calvary. And you know, friends, it was for me. That was what I felt, it was for me. What a love I felt to the Lord Jesus Christ. that He loved me and gave Himself for me.

And then I felt such a love to the Holy Spirit, He that proceeded forth from the Father and the Son. He came into my sinful, wicked heart. He quickened my soul into life. He dwelled in my heart. He brought me as a poor, wretched, ruined sinner to the feet of Jesus Christ. And then he revealed Christ to me. He gave me faith and repentance and godly sorrow. I felt such a love to the Holy Ghost for his divine power, for his presence.

You see, God is known in her palaces for a refuge. And this is the refuge. And this eternal covenant ordered in all things and sure. It's a wonderful, precious thing, my beloved friends. It says in verse eight, as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, God will establish it forever, sealer. We have thought of thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. His loving kindness. Oh, how free. The loving kindness according to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth.

And he has made a new and a living way into the holy place. The Lord Jesus, he rose from the dead, but is ascended into heaven. Those pearly gates have lifted their everlasting heads and the King of glory has entered in. Such an high priest have we who is passed into the heavens. This is another one of these palaces. He sitteth at the right hand of the Father. He hears the prayers and the cries of his children here upon earth. He sends answers of peace. He does. all in this glorious Saviour, in this precious Redeemer, and He's promised to come again.

My peace I leave with you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. You see this wonderful peace. The peace of God that passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. He will never leave his people. He said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. It's forever. It's forever.

Now, we have an exhortation here. You know, when I was exercised about the ministry quite some time before I was sent into the ministry, and these words in the latter part of the Psalm, verse 12, walk about Zion, and go round about her, tell the towers thereof, mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following." That word was made so precious to me concerning the ministry, tell it to the generation following.

For this God is our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even unto death. May the Lord have His blessing.

Let's just now sing together hymn 372. The tune is Austria 625.

Glorious things of thee are spoken,

Zion, city of our God.

He whose word cannot be broken,

form thee for his own abode.

On the rock of ages founded,

what can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's wall surrounded, thou mayst smile. all thy foes.

Hymn 372. Tune Austria 625.

Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each both now and for evermore. Amen.