The King is held in the Gallery

BY REV. EBENEZER ERSKINE.

(Continued from page 150).

BUT I go on. II. The second thing proposed, which was to speak a little of the galleries wherein this royal King trysts and keeps company with His people. We read, Cant. i, 4, of the chambers of the King; and chap. ii. 4, of the King’s banqueting house or cellars of wine, into which the Spouse had been brought: the same is called here, the galleries of the King, viz., these ordinances in which the Lord Jesus reveals Himself to His people in the house of their pilgrimage. Here I will only, 1. Mention a few of these galleries. 2. Inquire why ordinances are compared to galleries?

First, I will only mention these few galleries.

1. There is the secret gallery of meditation, wherein David found God’s loving kindness to be better than life, and had his soul satisfied as with marrow and fatness. 2. There is the gallery of prayer, wherein Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Covenant, and, like a prince, prevailed for the blessing. 3. There is the gallery of reading of the Scriptures, wherein the Ethiopian eunuch got such a discovery of the promised Messiah, as made him go on his way rejoicing. 4. There is the gallery of Christian converse anent soul-matters, wherein the disciples going to Emmaus had such a meeting with Christ, as made their hearts burn within them. 5. There is the gallery of preaching or of hearing the Word preached, by the foolishness of which God saveth them that believe. Here it was that Lydia’s heart was opened. And, 6. The sacraments of the New Testament, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, are galleries wherein Zion’s King displays His glory before His people. The last of these is, by way of eminency, called the communion; not only because therein the people of God have communion one with another, but because therein they have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Secondly, as to the second thing here; Why are these ordinances compared to galleries?

I answer, 1. Galleries are magnificent apartments of royal and stately buildings. So there is a divine magnificence in the ordinances of the gospel, when countenanced with the presence of the great Master of assemblies. It is true, they appear mean and contemptible in the eyes of a profane world, who are strangers to the power of godliness; but the man who has his senses spiritually exercised to discern good and evil, sees a divine greatness and magnificence in them, suitable to the state and royalty of the Prince of the kings of the earth. And when the man is admitted to see the power and glory of God in them, he cannot but join issue with Jacob, saying, This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven, Gen. xxviii. 17.

1. Galleries are lightsome and pleasant apartments. Oh! how pleasant and lightsome are ordinances to a gracious soul. Let a child of God be where he will, he reckons it but a dry and thirsty land, where no water is, if he be not admitted to the galleries of ordinances, Psal. lxxiii, 1-2. See how the same holy man expresses his delight in ordinances, Psal. lxxxiv. 1. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! I am sure this will be the language of every soul that has been in the galleries with the King this day. 3. Galleries are places of walk and converse, as is plain from Ezek. xli. 15. When a king or great man designs to be familiar with his friend, he will take a turn with him in the galleries. So it is in gospel ordinances that Christ doth walk and converse with His people. Here it is that He gives them audience, allows them to be free and familiar with Him, draws by the vail, communicates the secrets of His Covenant and mysteries of His kingdom, which are hid from the wise and prudent of the world. 4. Galleries are places of public feasting and entertainment of friends. So it is in the mount of gospel ordinances, that the Lord has provided for His people, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees, well-refined. Here it is that Christ says to His people: Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly. O beloved! Thus I have given you some account of the galleries of the King.