For example, in the matter now under our consideration, could a carnal mind--an unbeliever--a mere child of nature understand why Israel's twelve tribes were commanded to worship at one altar, to gather in one place, to cluster around one centre? Not in the smallest degree. The grand moral reason of such a lovely institution lies far away beyond his ken. But to the spiritual mind, all is as plain as it is beautiful. Jehovah would gather His beloved people around Himself, from time to time, that they might rejoice together before Him, and that He might have His own peculiar joy in them. Was not this something most precious? Assuredly it was, to all who really loved the Lord. No doubt, if the heart were cold and careless toward God, it would matter little about the place of worship,--all places would be alike; but we may set it down as a fixed principle that every loyal, loving heart, from Dan to Beersheba, would rejoice to flock to the place where Jehovah had recorded His name, and where He had appointed to meet His people. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem [God's centre for Israel]. 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 name of the Lord. For _there_"--and no where else--"are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. _For my brethren and companions' sakes_, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good." (Ps. cxxii.) Here we have the lovely breathings of a heart that loved the habitation of the God of Israel--His blessed centre--the gathering-place of Israel's twelve tribes--that hallowed spot which was associated, in the mind of every true Israelite, with all that was bright and joyous in connection with the worship of Jehovah and the communion of His people. We shall have occasion to refer to this most delightful theme again when we come to study the sixteenth chapter of our book, and shall draw this section to a close by quoting for the reader the last paragraph of the chapter before us.