To be near unto God - pagina 578

and calmly,

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

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

by

dismissal

restful,

calm and solemn tone.

"And utterance of the words: 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

The preceding

him who has founded his throne stands in the faith knows that he

in it. He who lives in a two-

fold 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 another. From the higher order, grace, peace and life, power and might have come down into this visible world

now

cleave

;

they have attached themselves, and Christian lands to all sorts of

in

674

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