Jerusalem is builded 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 Lord" (Psa.cxxii.

1-4).
I was led to reflect upon the various blessings connected with the establishment of public worship.

"How many immortal souls are now gathering together, to perform the all-important work of prayer and praise--to hear the Word of God--to feed upon the Bread of Life! They are leaving their respective dwellings, and will soon be united together in the house of prayer.

How beautifully does this represent the effect produced by the voice of 'the Good Shepherd,' calling his sheep from every part of the wilderness into his fold! As these fields, hills, and lanes are now covered with men, women, and children, in various directions, drawing near to each other, and to the object of their journey's end: even so, many 'shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God'" (Luke xiii.

29).
Who can rightly appreciate the value of such hours as these ?--hours spent in learning the ways of holy pleasantness and the paths of heavenly peace--hours devoted to the service of God and of souls; in warning the sinner to flee from the wrath to come; in teaching the ignorant how to live and die; in preaching the Gospel to the poor; in healing the broken- hearted; in declaring "deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind." "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.