To be near unto God - pagina 582

i. e. without any perceptible death In most cases nothing more is heard. In the face of all this the church usage has stood firm, and the congregation of God gathers in the sanctuary with the holy salutation and returns homeward with the address of blessing from the Lord. For this closing benediction the congregation even stands, or kneels, and reverently

and calmly,

struggle.

bows the head, and

in quiet seriousness listens to the words of blessing, presently closed with the Amen. This is most encouraging, and the minister of the Word will do well to heighten this last act

of dismissal by restful, calm and solemn tone. The preceding utterance of the words: "And

now, receive the blessing of the Lord," is an introduction which tunes the heart and mind and consecrates and exalts. For what else utters itself in this salutation and final benediction than the glorious perception that the church of the living God stands in living contact with an higher order of things from what this world offers, and with him who has founded his throne in it. He who stands in the faith knows that he lives in a twofold world. In the common world together with unbelievers, and in the higher world with the saints around God's throne, with the good angels, with his Savior and King, and in Christ with his Father and his God. These two worlds are dove-tailed into one

From the higher order, grace, peace and power and might have come down into this visible world they have attached themselves, and another.

life,

;

now

cleave

in

Christian 674

lands

to

all

sorts

of

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