of difference between the two buildings. As long as all was quiet and calm, the buildings might have been pronounced exactly similar. Their general appearance, their plan, their material, their style of architecture were the same. But let the winds howl and the tempests rage, and the mountain torrents rush down with impetuous fury, and the difference between the two buildings becomes obvious at once. The foundation of the one is secure, the foundation of the other is altogether insecure.

This parable is strikingly descriptive of the situation of every professor of Christianity. Each man is engaged in building either for time or for eternity. Jesus teaches us that every thing depends on the foundation, and on the day of solemn retribution our everlasting destiny will turn upon one point, whether we are or are not on the sure foundation. The Word of God plainly assures us that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." "Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." In the view of a judgment-day then, this must be the great subject of inquiry, am I in Christ or am I not? If I am, then, come what may, all is right, but if I am out of Christ, then I am altogether unprepared to meet my God. If we reject Christ, the one sacrifice, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful look

ing for of judgment and fiery indignation, which will assuredly consume us as adversaries of God. Every other foundation on which a man can build but Christ alone, is a foundation of sand. It cannot bear the weight of the soul's interests for time and eternity. Christ only is a rock, and His work is altogether perfect. Resting on this rock and looking with calm composure into the depths of eternity, an apostle could say, "I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Our blessed Lord here declares that the man who has founded his house upon a rock, is the man who both heareth the sayings of Christ and doeth them. He has been careful as to the stability of the foundation, and he is careful also as to the security of the building which he erects upon it. He feels that it is absolutely necessary that he be laid upon the living foundation, Christ Jesus, and he feels that it is also necessary, that as a lively stone, he be built up a spiritual house, a holy temple unto the Lord. The resting on Christ and doing the will of Christ are inseparably connected. They are characteristics of the same man. He is united to Christ, and therefore he brings forth fruits unto God. Without Christ, or severed from Him, we can do nothing, nothing that is acceptable, nothing that is pleasing to God. We must first be founded on Christ, the living rock, and then,

by the blessing of the Spirit, we shall grow up in Him unto all things who is the head. But if any man is living in a habitual disregard of the will of Christ, he must assuredly be building his house upon the sand. Christ is not all his salvation, otherwise he would be all his desire.

It is not enough that we have been long hearing the sayings of Christ: Have we a solid, well-grounded hope for eternity? We must look well to our foundation. We have been actively engaged in building, but does our house rest upon the rock of ages? If we have neglected to lay the foundation then we have neglected every thing. We may have been hearing the sayings of Christ, but assuredly we have not been doing them. This is emphatically the will of God, that we believe on Him whom he hath sent. And, therefore, though we may observe many of the commandments of God in the letter, we cannot observe them in the spirit as long as we are strangers to Christ. The man, the only man who hears the sayings of Christ and habitually does them, is the man whose house is built upon the rock, and let the storm beat ever so furiously upon that house it shall nevertheless stand for ever.

Thus have we finished the consideration of our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, one of the most beauti

ful, most copious, and comprehensive statements of gospel truth which the Word of God contains. It was admirably suited to the interesting and peculiar circumstances in which it was spoken, when the shadows of the law were about to disappear before the bright shining radiance of the Sun of righteousness. The grand truth, however, which pervades the whole Sermon, from its commencement to its close, a truth. suited not to one but to every age of the Church, is that "Christ is the end," or consummation, or fulfilment "of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

It is interesting to observe the peculiar effect of this sermon upon the hearers of Christ. The Evangelist notes it thus :

Vv. 28. and 29. "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes."

It seems evident from these words, that though portions of the Sermon were afterwards repeated on separate occasions by Christ, yet the whole was delivered on the mount in the commencement of His ministry. He thus publicly introduced the kingdom of God, or the gospel dispensation, connecting it in: the closest manner with the Jewish economy, which was familiar to the people. Many of the Jews had

been waiting like Simeon and Anna for the consolation of Israel. The voice of ancient prophecy had been silent for nearly four hundred years. And when the Redeemer came proclaiming the holiness and spirituality of the law of God, denouncing the perversions of the Scribes and Pharisees, and urging upon His hearers to enter into the privileges of the kingdom of grace, and to seek the full enjoyment of the kingdom of glory hereafter, the people listened with mute astonishment. "Never man spake like this man" was the silent expression of their hearts. In the hands of the Scribes the law had been perverted to suit the tastes and wicked inclinations of men. But Jesus "spoke as one having authority, and not as the Scribes." Calm, dignified, uncompromising, he faithfully proclaimed the truth of God, regardless of the smiles and the frowns of men. It was a novel sight in Judea to behold such a teacher as this, one whose whole instructions, and manner, and deportment, bespoke a higher origin than that of earth. The people wondered. It does not appear that the teaching of Christ on this occasion was followed by any other immediate effect than that of astonishment. Whether any of His hearers believed we are not informed. Their responsibility, however, after listening to such a discourse from the mouth of the Holy One of God, was fearfully increased. We also have been privileged to hear Him who hath