Jesus, the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."

The church of God is built on those doctrines, which respect Christ. This is not a civil community incorporated for worldly purposes; but a religious society united for spiritual ends. Not a temporal interest, but an everlasting salvation is the real object of its institution. And as this salvation is purchased by, and offered through Jesus Christ, so the very idea of a Christian church supposes a belief of those doctrines which mark the way of salvation, and a reliance on those promises which ensure a title to it.

It is not every error in doctrine, that will destroy the being of a church. But the doctrine of Christ crucified for the salvation of sinners is certainly a fundamental doctrine, and without a belief of this a Christian church cannot exist. The gospel is a discovery of salvation as purchased by, and attainable through a divinely appointed Redeemer. If we reject this discovery, we reject the very marrow-the essence of the gospel; and with no propriety can we call ourselves Christians. Accordingly we find, that they, who in the apostles' times, joined themselves to the church, were required to profess their belief, that Jesus was the Christ, and that God raised him from the dead. They who denied that Jesus was come in the flesh, were called antichrists; but all, who in every place called on the name of Jesus Christ, were considered as belonging to his church. And when Christians appeared to be well united in this grand and leading point, the apostles advised them to great condescension and tenderness in differences of smaller importance.

We have no right to exclude any Christian, or society of Christians, from our charity and communion, for supposed errors, as long as those errors appear not to respect the foundation on which the church stands. If we reject another for an error, which we suppose not to be essential, we reject him, whom yet, we believe,

God has received, and thus exalt ourselves above God, And if we make those things fundamental in religion, which the gospel has not made so, we then attempt to lay other foundations, besides that which God has laid, presumptuously intruding into his place. "Let no man, therefore, judge, or set at nought his brother, for we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

The Apostle here teaches us in the plainest manner, that the church of God, both before and since the coming of Christ, is one and the same in its foundation and structure, though different in some less important circumstances. He says, "Ye are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets," These both form one continued foundation, whose parts are all united in the same corner stone, Jesus Christ. Accordingly the apostles, in their descriptions of the Christian church, refer expressly to the covenant made with Abraham, and to the predictions and promises contained in the books of the prophets.

Hence we see the great mistake of those, who, to evade the force of all arguments from the Old Testament, for applying the seal of the covenant to the infant seed of believers, allege that the Christian church is on a foundation entirely different from that of the ancient church; for the Apostle expressly instructs us, that the Christian church is no other than the ancient church continued, and that the foundation has always been the same. I proceed to observe,

III. The Apostle here teaches us, that this spiritual house must be united with, and framed into the foundation. Thus it may stand secure. "Christ is the chief corner stone, in which all the building is framed."

A house, in order to its stability, must be joined to, and rest upon its foundation; so we must be united to, and built upon the Saviour. That only is true faith in Christ, which regards him as the foundation of our present hope, and final acceptance. "Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus

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 not 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 on him only, and have no confidence in ourselves. But then it is only in a way of repentance and new obedience, 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 habitation 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 together 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 pro. portion 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 wor ship and service. "The Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation; this is his rest forever, 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