he had worked.

"For other foundation

can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

This then is the foundation, on which every Christian minister should seek to establish his work. This is the main corner stone, from which all his doctrine should spring, and on which all his congregation should be taught to depend. This is that solid base of heavenly strength, without which all art of man is vain, all wisdom of design, all excellence of workmanship, is vanity, and vexation of spirit. And whilst And whilst many in their thoughts prefer the outward church in which we are assembled, I would now draw your special attention to the spiritual building, which is to be framed together within it; to the disposition of soul which it should be your main object here to cultivate and to that scheme of doctrine and of duty, which it is my main business here to teach. God only knows how long, either he who preaches, or ye who hear, may be spared to meet together in this his house of prayer.

This

But in that "Church of the first born, which are written in heaven," (Heb. 12. 23.) we hope all to dwell for endless ages. And of that Church there is no other foundation, for any soul of man to build on, save "that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." then I would establish as a principle for your direction. This I propose now to explain as the perpetual rule of my own ministration. He, even Christ crucified, He must be the topic of our perpetual discourse, his word the subject of our continual meditation. His grace must be the object of our prayers; his love, of our thanksgiving; his coming, of our hope. Whatever be the point immediately in hand, always should it in the end return to him. Whatever the structure to be raised, whether of zeal in your hearts, or of exertion in your conduct, on Him should it be built, as on the only true lasting foundation, on his word, on his grace, on the atonement of his blood.

First, then, if it be of man we rea

son, of his sinfulness, his corruption, his mortality; even here shall our foundation be laid in Jesus Christ. For in his word is our fall most plainly set down, and by the necessity of his sacrifice is the enormity of our guilt most plainly proved. Many arguments we may have to offer, all tending to convince you of your lost estate by nature. Your own conscience, the iniquity that abounds, the misery that is permitted to exist, the sickness which visits many, and the death which awaits all; these severally furnish proofs, striking and appropriate, of the fall of man, and of his corruption by sin. But none is there so forcible, none so extensive, none so undeniable, as this fact, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the express image of the Father, took upon him our human form, and therein suffered death on the cross! For how deep must be that sinfulness, which no less a sacrifice than one precious could atone for! how great that condemnation, which no less merits than those of Christ could blot out!

Or again, if it is of God we speak, of his nature, his attributes, his dealings with mankind; here must our foundation still be Christ Jesus. For "no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten. Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him." (John 1. 18.) He it was, who, both in the Old and in the New Testament, revealed to man all that is to be believed of the Almighty Father, of the blessed Son, or of the Holy Spirit of God. He it was, whose gracious presence taught man more plainly than words can express, how great is God, how powerful, how good. He, who instructed us to receive with heartfelt reverence, even what our understandings come short of apprehending, in the revelation of the great God of heaven and of earth.

Again, if at any time in this holy place the subject of human duty engages our attention; if we consider what line of conduct men ought to pursue, as most tending to their own happiness, either on earth or in heaven; the same found

C

ation must be laid, the same reference be made to the will, and to the grace, of Jesus Christ our Lord. For whatever human reason might discover, of virtue, or of vice; certain it is, that in the Gospel only can we find any sufficient rule of excellence. There only can we learn how to become pure in heart, lowly, meek, kind, and charitable. There only are we taught sufficient motives, either towards doing what we ought to do, or avoiding what we ought to avoid. It is because Jesus Christ has purchased us; it is because He would have us to become a peculiar people zealous of good works; it is because He hath sent us, for a Comforter, the holy Spirit, to strengthen and direct us; it is because He hath brought life and immortality to light, dying for our sins, and rising again for our justification; these are the grounds, on which we bid you strive with all your might, to be holy as He is holy, and "perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5. 48.) If then we exhort you to renounce the world, think