favour of your offended God? That you may more speedily and certainly perish? for perish you must, if you die without being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Be ye then reconciled to God, that ye may live. To-day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Thirdly, The exhortation which the subject addresses to believers is, give all diligence to make your calling and election sure, that so you may be more and more qualified for the heavenly inheritance.

Brethren, live by faith in Him who is the Lord, your righteousness and strength. Rely upon his covenant faithfulness at all times, especially in the day of affliction, and in the hour of death. Honour him by your prompt and cheerful obedience to all his will, and bear the chastisements of his hand with patience and resignation. You have every encouragement to persevere in following your Lord fully. Now he dispenses to you his grace as you need it-hereafter he will put the crown upon your head.

Thus far you have advanced in your journey to the eternal world, where the reward of your labour of love and work of faith

awaits you. What is before you, God only knows; but whatever it is, he will help you in adversity, and sanctify prosperity to you. The space between you and the grave is not great. You are drawing nearer to the heavenly temple. The world is behind you; heaven is before you. From behind you hear the groans of misery and the cry of despair. Before you, from above, you will presently hear the voice saying, Come up hither. Obedient to the call, you will hasten to join kindred souls. They are waiting for you, ready to welcome your entrance into the Holy City. Ere long its spires will glitter in your view-ere long the melodies of its inhabitants will fill you with rapture-ere long you will mingle your hosannas with those of others ransomed by Christ. What if you have yet to cross many a mountain, traverse many a valley, encounter many an enemy, the Lord will help you. Nay, when you come to the Jordan of death, its waves will roll back. The Lord will help you to pass over it in safety; and on the other side you will join in the shout of victory, in the acclamations of Hallelujah. AMEN.

SERMON XII.

CHRIST THE ONLY FOUNDATION.

1 CORINTHIANS III. 11.

For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.

THE Church in Corinth was the seat of discord soon after its formation. Forgetting that One was their Master, even Christ, they split into parties, calling themselves by the name of Paul and Apollos. Against this ungodly conduct the apostle remonstrates with holy warmth, asking them, "Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but

"ministers by whom ye believed, even as "the Lord gave to every man?" He proceeds to inform them that, in converting the world, the ministers of Christ had different parts assigned them. "I have planted," says he, "Apollos watered; but God gave "the increase." The whole depended on the divine co-operation and blessing. They were, however, all one with respect to the end for which they laboured. They were joint-labourers employed by God. The people were God's field which they were to cultivate, and God's building or temple which they were to rear. He then assures them that, as a wise master builder, he had laid a good foundation for this temple, this building of God. Every one, therefore, coming after him, was bound to take heed how he builded thereupon; for he declares, Other foundation can no man lay, than "that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

These words not only contain a warning to ministers for the regulation of their conduct, but also unfold a solemn and important truth, for the benefit of all who hear them. this last view they will now be used as the

In

subject of discourse. For their explanation, we shall consider,

I. In what sense Christ is the foundation of the Christian temple, or the whole Church, and each believer in particular.

II. Endeavour to demonstrate, that no other foundation can be laid.

I. The idea of good men being a temple, was familiar to the ancient Heathen, as well as common in the Scriptures. Two things concur in the constitution of a temple, and both apply to all believers :

First. That the Divinity should either dwell in, or give some tokens of his especial presence there. Hence was the temple of Jerusalem called the house of God's habitation, and the tabernacle, the place of the habitation of God's glory, from whence he is said to shine forth when he gave the Jews a testimony of his gracious presence. Now the Holy Spirit being that in the New Testament which answers to the Schechinah in the Old, he dwelling in the bodies, and being present in the assemblies of the saints, doth make them a spiritual habitation of the Lord.