the most heedless, to sport themselves by the way, wholly unapprehensive of what is before them. Some of the more considerate, full of themselves, think their own reason sufficient to lay a foundation, on which to build for an hereafter. Much the greater part spend their time and thoughts about the objects of sense. All their care and concern are taken up in providing for the body, to the utter neglect of the soul. In compassion to his perishing creatures, a merciful God calls, calls with a voice from heaven, to rouse them from this lethargy, from these fatal slumbers, now in season to attend to the provision which he has made, the foundation which he has laid for their recovery and salvation. To each of us he says, in the text, Behold the rock that will afford you a firm support amidst all those convulsions which will whelm in ruin every structure not raised upon this foundation.

The mere moralist is here shown a surer basis for hope than his own fancied goodness. Works in themselves really good are necessary to complete and adorn the superstructure; but when laid at the bottom as the foundation, you build upon the yielding sand. This was the mistake of the Jewish builders of old, when they refused the stone appointed by God to be the head of the corner. How great was their mistake! How fatal their consequent ruin!

Let scorning infidels remember, that, if they continue to set at nought this only foundation stone, the day will come when all the schemes of their own

devising will be found but a refuge of lies; and what they now slight, as a stone of stumbling and rock of offence, will return upon them with a weight which will grind them to powder.

Behold, ye men of the world, all whose endeavours are exerted in building up an earthly felicity; what will become of your labours, when that vapour, your life, shall vanish? Of what profit will the gain of the whole world be, when your souls shall be lost? Ye are now called to turn your eyes to a foundation for better and greater expectations, for riches more durable, honours more exalted, pleasures more sublime, than can result from any worldly

success.

Let the crowd of inconsiderate, thoughtless beings, who seem to have no settled plan either for this world or the next, who are sauntering away their existence, who stand all the day idle,-let them attend to what is now set before them, a foundation upon which their labour shall not be in vain, upon which they may build, successfully build for immortality.

Behold, ye awakened, inquiring sinners, who are pricked in your hearts, who see your guilt and your danger, and are ready to sink under the apprehension of the gathering tempest; behold, with admiration and joy, this rock upon which ye may cast yourselves, venture your souls, and be safe for eternity. To encourage you in placing your dependence upon this foundation, the text assures you that it is

laid by God himself. Were it a mere human device, it might not be worthy of your notice. The schemes of happiness, devised by human wisdom and philosophy, are at best slight and superficial. All human foundations are sandy and fallacious; but may you not rely upon that which is laid in the consummate wisdom and infinite power of God? When his creature man apostatized, he looked and saw that there was none to help; then his own arm brought salvation--he laid help upon one who is mighty. He so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son, to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus Christ coming into the world, assuming our nature as the second man, the second head of the human family; fulfilling all righteousness on our behalf, and then, dying as our substitute the death incurred by the first man, is the foundation, the only foundation for our recovery and salvation. Upon this foundation, all believers, from the beginning to the end of the world, build their hopes -upon this stands the whole church, and not one of Adam's posterity ever was or can be saved upon any other foundation.

66

When God was about to bring forth this foundation stone, he called for the attention of the children of men. Behold, I lay for a foundation in Zion ;"-Zion, a word metaphorically denoting the church of God. As Christ is the rock on which the church is founded, it is plain, that if we would find and build upon this foundation, we must be

long to his church, we must become lively stones in this temple. If we belong not to this structure, if we be not parts of this sacred building, we cannot rest upon its foundation. Christ will profit us nothing. Ought not this to be seriously considered by those among us who seem to regard it as a matter of indifference, whether they be members of the church of Christ or not. Many indeed, by an outward profession, pass at present for members, who will hereafter be found as a mere appendage or scaffolding of the spiritual edifice, and when the building is finished, be removed as rubbish, useless incumbrances. But when judgment shall thus begin at the house of God; when mere nominal professors shall be cast off; what must become of those who have no connexion with this sacred temple, who neither are, nor appear to be of the church of Christ? Of what avail can the foundation be to those who build not upon it?

As an encouragement to one and all here to found their hopes, the excellent properties of this foundation are particularized-"a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation." What a variety of words are here accumulated, to express the solidity, strength, durableness, and perfection of this foundation! A stone, of all materials the most solid and durable; not to be impaired or worn away by all-consuming time. Where now are the noble structures of antiquity, the grand imperial cities, the famous temples and lofty towers, so

celebrated in history? They have long since been heaps of rubbish; their very foundations, scattered fragments; while the rock of ages is always the same, immutable and immoveable through the ages both of time and eternity. The temple of God, that spiritual building, his church, founded upon this rock, has survived amidst all the vicissitudes of past time. It still stands firm and glorious as ever, and has reared its towering spires above the stars. It hath bidden defiance to all the storms and tempests which have beaten against it. No inundations have overflown it. No convulsions have shaken its foundation. The latter remains precisely the same now that it was when Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and the other patriarchs built their faith and their hope upon it. Still the spacious fabrick is rising, and new stones are daily added; while the foundation is sufficiently strong to bear all the past and all future additions to the end of time, and then to support the whole through all eternity.

A tried stone, says the prophet. In various respects Christ has been tried by God and his creatures, by his friends, and by his enemies. From the beginning he was intimately known, approved, and chosen by God, for the purpose of this foundation. In the days of his flesh, from his first appearance on earth, from his birth in a stable, to his exit on the cross, his whole life was a constant series of the severest trials, manifesting his perfect submission to God, and his unconquerable love to men,