Christ. And let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon." The building must be made with precious stones; not with hay and stubble. We are to build ourselves up on a holy faith, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." There is, indeed, a sort of reliance on Christ, which is nct faith, but presumption. To depend on him for salvation, while we continue in impenitence and disobedience, is to make void the law through faith: This is as contrary to the gospel, as to depend on our own,works, without regarding the Saviour at all. It is building a superstructure; not with precious stones, but with vile rubbish. What Christ has done for us, is the sole ground of our acceptance. In this respect we must rest of him only, and have no confidence in ourselves. But then it is only in a way of repentance and new obedi. ence, that we become qualified and prepared for eternal life. True faith, therefore, relies upon him in this way; and while it trusts in his righteousness, it loves his character, chooses his precepts and submits to his government. There must be a conformity to Christ, as well as a confidence in him. God has predestinated believers to be conformed to the image of his Son. He is a living stone, chosen of God, and precious; and they, as lively stones, are built on him a spiritual house, to offer sacrifices acceptable to God. To judge whether we are united to the Saviour, we must inquire, as well whether we are conformed to him, as whether we trust in him, "He who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit."

IV. As the spiritual house must rest on the foundation, so the several parts of it must be framed and inserted into each other. The Apostle says, "In Christ all the building fitly framed together, groweth into an holy temple"" Ye are builded together for an habita

tion of God."

As it is faith which fixes the saints on Christ the foundation, so it is love which binds them together

among themselves. "The whole body joined togeth er and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase to the edifying of itself in love."

If in a building, a stone gets loose, a joint breaks, or a stick or timber becomes apparently rotten, repairs must soon be made; for there is such a dependence of one part on another, that when one gives way, the whole is threatened with ruin. So it is in the house of God: When contention or division begins, howev er small it may seem at first, there is danger of general confusion. The breach, if neglected, naturally widens and enlarges. If, therefore, we would preserve the beauty, strength and dignity of the spiritual house, we must be watchful to repair breaches, as soon as they appear, and to remove those materials which are be come too corrupt to be repaired, lest they communicate their own corruption to sounder parts. A house, thus built on the firm foundation which the gospel describes, and fitly framed together in every part, will stand secure against those winds and tempests, which break and demolish some other structures, thrown up in haste, reared without a solid foundation, composed of heterogeneous materials, and framed without proportion of parts. "God has laid in Zion a precious

corner stone: and he that believeth, shall not be confounded.

V. The Apostle describes this spiritual house, as "growing unto an holy temple in the Lord, and becoming an habitation of God through the Spirit."

We must not content ourselves with having built on the true foundation, but must bring the structure to a more finished and beautiful condition.

The church may grow and make increase, both by the progress of its present members, in knowledge and holiness, and by the addition of new members, who become fellow workers in the spiritual building. We

should, therefore, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, and abounding in every good work; and we should be zealous to promote knowledge and righteousness among others, to convert sinners from the error of their ways, and to encourage those who would enter into the kingdom of God.

The church is to grow into an holy temple. As, in the best Christians, so in the purest churches on earth, there is much imperfection; but increasing holiness should be the aim of all. Private Christians should be diligent to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Saviour. Churches should maintain the worship and ordinances of Christ's house, and unite in the steady observance of them for the common edification; not forsake the assembling of themselves together, but exhort and animate one another, to love and good works. The spiritual house is built up, that Christians, as a holy priesthood, may offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Churches should become "an habitation of God through the Spirit." God's presence fills the universe, but he dwells in a peculiar manner, in the churches where the saints meet together for his worship and service. "The Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation; this is his rest forev er, here will he dwell." He dwells here, not only by his word and ordinances, but also by the influence of his Spirit, which he affords to assist his people in the duties of his worship, and to open their hearts for the reception of his word. The gospel is therefore called a ministration of the Spirit."

If we would have the Spirit, we must be builded together for an habitation of God-we must be united in a church state, so as to enjoy his word and ordinances --we must attend upon them in the appointed seasons --we must preserve peace and order among ourselves. Thus we shall grow into a temple for God-thus we

shall be builded together for an habitation of the Spirit.

Vain then is it to expect, that we shall enjoy the special presence of the Spirit, if, instead of being builded together, we are broken asunder and scattered abroad-if, instead of growing into an holy temple, we neglect the assembling of ourselves together-if, instead of attending on the word of God, we put it far from us-if, instead of walking in peace and love, and cooperating for the common edification, we oppose and contend with one another, and thus destroy the unity and symmetry of God's family; for thus we resist and vex the Holy Spirit.

God has promised his Spirit to them who seek it. The manner in which we are to seek it, he has prescribed. Our seeking will be successful, when it is guided by his prescription. He is a God of

peace and order-of grace and love. We are only then a fit habitation of God through the Spirit, when we preserve peace and order, condescension and charity among ourselves.

Let us, therefore, as parts of God's spiritual house, be united together by love, as well as joined to the foundation by faith. Let us consecrate ourselves, and all that we have, to God, considering that we are cal. led to be an holy priesthood to him. Let us constantly and devoutly attend the stated worship of his temple; avoid whatever would disturb the harmony, or mar the beauty of the spiritual building; endeavor to grow ourselves, and to promote the growth of others, in knowledge and righteousness; be buiided together for a divine habitation; and rejoice in all those means, which God has appointed for the perfecting of the saints, and for the edifying of the body of Christ.

SERMON XVI.

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed to the Apostles for the general benefit of Mankind.

EPHESIANS iii. 1-1.

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gen tiles; if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given to you ward, how that by revelation he made known to me the mystery, (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystėry of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit of God, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel; whereof I am made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me, by the effectual working of his power.

THE calling of the Gentiles into the church of God, which is a subject of the preceding chapter, is still continued in this. Concerning this wonderful event, Paul says "he had written before in few words,' or had written a little before, i. e. in the preceding part of this epistle, by attending to which they might perceive, how well he understood the mystery, which by revelation God had opened to him.

The mystery here intended is the calling of the Gentiles to a participation with the Jews in the privil