570 THE HOLINESS OF PLACES OF WORSHIP. seasons, it was only to thenation of Israel, who werea peculiar people, chosen to himself from among the rest of the nations.'* This hedid first when there was a tabutpacle built for him in the wilderness : For though that was a moveable house or building, yet it was always at the door of the tabernacle, that the brazen altar was to stand, where alone sacrifices were to be offered; Lev. xvii. 4, 8, 9. and incense was to beburnt no where at stated seasons but ónlÿ in the tabernacle on the altar of gold ; Exod. xxx. 1 -10. When the Israelites were come toCanaan, Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim, was the first appointed place for the settlement of the ark of God, and the tabernacle, and there only Were sacrifices to be offered. Josh. xviii. 1. " And the whole congregation assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the taber- nacle there." Now, that this was done by divine appointment, see Jer. vii. 12. " Go ye now to my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first." And this practice, of wor- shipping God in Shiloh, was repeated by the ancient saints at stated seasons. So Elkanah and Hannahworshipped God there yearly 1 Sam. i. 3. In some ages after this, the tabernacle, with the brazen altar was set up in a high place in Gibeon, upon what occasion, or at what time, is not known : The ark which hadbeen carried long before into the camp of Israel, and taken captive by the Philistines, was returned and brought to mount Zion at Jerusa- lem. When David carried the ark to Zion, which was called his city, because he had taken it from the Jebusites and fixed his ownpalace there, yet he left the tabernacle of Moses with the brazen altar at Gibeon, and priests were appointed to sacrifice there. See 1 Chron. xv. 1 -3. and xvi. 1, 37, &c. And though sacrifices were offered in Zion, on that occasion, yet, doubtless, David did this by divine appointment; for he was of- ten directed by divine inspiration, and was accepted of God in these services. God himself says, he would dwell in Zion, for he had desired it; Psal. cxxxii. 13, Lt. At the ark in Zion was the most sensible and glorious residence of God on the mercy-seat; this was the most illustrious part Of all thebuilding of Moses, and conveyed by God's own order to the city of David. Thither all the tribes went up to worship in David's time : Psal. cxxii. 4. and cxxxii. 13. And, upon this account, Zion was mentioned, as the sacred and appointed place of worship, so often in the Psalms of David : And these Psalms beingused in Jewish worship, the same name and language was * Though I cannot find any express order for setting up the tabernable in Gibeon, yet possibly there was such an order; because God showed his accept- ance of Solomon when he offered a thousand sacrifices there, by appearing to him, and promising him wisdomfor his royal office. Compare 2 Chron. ì. 3. with I Kings iii. 4, 5. Though other high placeu were forbidden, that might be appointed. .:
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