the neglect of the Lord's-day, argues a spirit of true religious feeling among the people of this land. Ask, whether the habit of leaving religious considerations out of the maxims of social intercourse, or the principles of public legislation, argues much for the influence of these considerations upon the heart. Ask, whether the thousands who turn aside from that sacred table, and the very small proportion of our congregations who appear to partake the feast of Christ's abundant love, afford an argument, that the warmth of Christian feeling does indeed animate those who profess the faith of Christ. when, as you surely must be, you are compelled to blush for those around you, ask of your own hearts separately, how much of this iniquity may be attributed to your own individual conduct; how much of guilt attaches to your own souls, for your participation in disobedience to the laws, and neglect of the ordinances of God.

And

May God give us grace, to take heed betimes to the warnings and the promises of his word! May he grant us the aid of his Spirit, that, in keeping his commandments, we may please him both in will and deed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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SERMON XIII.

BUILDING ON THE TRUE FOUNDATION.

1 COR. iii. 11–13.

Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

It was the remark of our blessed Saviour, that "he came not to send peace on earth, but rather divisions." Yet this was not the purpose of his coming, so much as the consequence of that coming, in the effect of his doctrines upon the perverse and rebellious hearts of men. It never could have been contemplated as a result of the gospel of peace, that by reason of his reception of the truth, a man's foes should be they of his

own house, had not the state of the human heart been lamentably opposed to the very nature of the truth. Viewing in this light the words of Christ, and tracing to these causes the apparent inconsistency of the results of the gospel with its real character, we need not be surprised to find that shortly after the establishment of the Corinthian church, schisms and divisions sprang up among the early converts; and the various gifts of the teachers of Christianity, instead of leading their followers to refer all to that one and the same Spirit that wrought in each of them, became rather the symbols of separation, and the sources of envying and strife.

Under the impressions, which must have been excited in the breast of the apostle Paul, by so great a defection from the principles which he had taught, this epistle was written, to vindicate the authority by which he had spoken, and to confirm the efficacy of those truths which he had declared. He strongly deprecates that carnal spirit which would divide the body of Christ, and pay a higher regard to the ministers of the word, than to him who had been crucified for them, and in whose name they had been baptized. He disclaims any other honour for himself and his fellow-labourers, than the honour, (no insignificant honour when viewed in its true light,) of being those that planted, or those that watered, while God alone gave the increase.

Happy would it be for us, if such a spirit were more prevalent amongst us at the present day; if we could bring ourselves, honestly and openly, like the apostle, to "preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord," and to "know nothing else among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

Having claimed for himself the attention of the Corinthians, as the person who laid among them the foundation of the Christian church, the apostle proceeds to enforce upon their minds, the necessity of remembering what that true foundation is, and what superstructure they ought to raise upon it; cautioning their teachers how they build up the church of Christ, in order to make it a temple, meet for the Divine Presence by his Holy Spirit. "I have laid the foundation, but another buildeth thereon: let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

It may be, that the words here recorded were addressed more especially to the teachers of the church of Corinth, warning them that in their instructions to their converts, they should not depart from that doctrine which had been delivered to them, but should go on to perfection; and endeavour so to enforce the principles of the gospel, that the fruits of the truth might be manifest, in the life and conduct of all

their followers. It appeared not to be sufficient, in the apostle's view of the religion of Christ, to make a profession of the Christian faith, without diligent exertion to exemplify its doctrines by holiness of life. The temple of the Lord must be built, not only on the appointed foundation, but with solid and valuable materials. Zion's sacred city must not only be firmly placed upon the holy hill, but her walls must be called salvation, and her gates praise: her foundations must be garnished with gold and precious stones, and all her borders with fair colours: her fabric must be such as to endure even the fire, when the time shall come that she shall be tried, as gold purified in the furnace.

It is by no means unusual with the apostles to compare the Christian church to a building, or individual Christians to the portions of a sacred edifice, raised for the honour and worship of God. "To whom coming," says St. Peter, "as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house." In the passage before us, however, it would seem more consistent with the scope of the apostle's language, to consider him as referring rather to the doctrines of the gospel; as endeavouring to caution the early Christians, both teachers and converts, that they should not adopt or teach any views inconsistent with the simplicity of the gospel, any