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First. The faith and hope of the Christian may be rudely assailed in the present life. Events without, of almost daily occurrence, awaken his fears, and alarm his confidence. The descending rain, the stormy wind, the inundations of the valley by the swelling flood, are so many significant emblems of the manifold afflictions and tribulations of life. And there are trials within likewise, that frequently overwhelm him. Storms are raised by unbelief, by strong temptations, by evil desires, which sometimes threaten the total overthrow of every shelter which the covenant of redemption has provided. The salvation of the soul is to be acquired by much conflict and strife: "the god of this world" will not lose his subjects without a struggle. And then, the dying hour-the parting moment-the day of judgment-the final scrutiny-" who is sufficient for these things?" None but the practical believer, and faithful disciple of Christ, who has "fought a good fight, and kept the faith." O come to this refuge, and to this hiding-place, ye dying men-here alone is safety. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow the hidingplace."* But, on the other hand, all is peace, blessedness, and protection.

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Secondly.

"Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are;
While on his breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out sweetly there."

We therefore observe, however assailed,

the Christian is secure.

Like a plain and solid building,

his external may neither dazzle by its brilliance, nor

Isaiah xxviii. 17.

excite attention by its loftiness; nevertheless, it is well founded, and will stand through the storm which would subvert from its foundation many a more splendid edifice. Like sapping rains, temptations may beset him on every side; trials like a mighty wind, may burst upon him from above; and, when subsided, they may have left some traces of their violence behind, yet behold he still remains unmoveable and firm. "It falls not because it is founded upon a rock." The work of grace shall be carried on to the day of final triumph. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."* This, therefore, is the reason of their security, the united ability and purpose of God to preserve and bless them,-the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the seal of the Holy Spirit "unto the day of redemption." Let the tempest rise to fury,—the hurricane collect its mighty elements of destruction,—the stars fall from heaven, and the sun withdraw his light, yet shall this foundation remain unshaken and unmoved. And he who "doeth these sayings," shall stand as firm as the Rock of Ages,-a monument of praise to the everlasting kindness and mercy of the God of love.

But I must close this exercise. Permit me, however, first, to enquire, how you have heard the word. Has it been with prayer, humility, and faith? And what are the effects of your attendance on " the ministry of reconciliation?" Has it sent you to your closets, with deep contrition, and self-abasement? Has it improved your conduct in your families, in the world, in society, and in solitude?

John. x. 27-30.

These are serious questions; do not dismiss them without a serious answer. "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen."

LECTURE XLIV.

MATTHEW vii. 26, 27.

"AND EVERY ONE THAT HEARETH THESE SAYINGS OF MINE, AND DOETH THEM NOT, SHALL BE LIKENED UNTO A FOOLISH MAN, WHICH BUILT HIS HOUSE UPON THE SAND: AND THE RAIN DESCENDED, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW, AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE; AND IT FELL, AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT."

THE inflexible fidelity and firmness of the Saviour are discoverable in every part of this sermon on the mount; but in no instance more evidently than in the words before us. He had been delivering truths any thing but palatable to the moral taste of the Scribes and Pharisees, and which must-have deeply wounded their pride, and mortified their ambition: and how does He close his address? Not, my brethren, by assuring the audience that He is " persuaded better things of them, and things that accompany salvation;" and that although He had thus spoken, yet it was not intended for them, or that it was a matter of indifference whether they believed his words or not. No; He did not betray the cause of truth, or fill his hearers with self-complacency, by sacrificing to their vanity. brings the matter home to their own breast, and fearlessly

He

tells them, that they are the men! He that doeth these sayings of mine, is wise; but he that disobeys them is foolish, and will inevitably perish.

"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life." Wherever the gospel is faithfully preached, it cannot fail to be either the best of blessings, or the deadliest of curses, as it is received or rejected. If it be not the power of God unto salvation, it will be the means of aggravating the bitterness of perdition. With such a sentiment as this on our tongue, let us learn "to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard," and to quicken our attention to the solemn subject now under consideration, which forms a counter-part to the preceding. "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."

That I might "commend myself to every man's conscience in the sight of God," I shall make two enquiries:

I. WHO AMONG THE HEARERS OF THE GOSPEL ARE LIKE UNTO SUCH A MAN? AND,

II. WHAT IS THE FEARFUL CALAMITY WHICH WILL INEVITABLY OVERTAKE HIM?

I. WHO AMONG THE HEARERS OF THE GOSPEL ARE INTENDED BY THIS REPRESENTATION?

The question may be easily determined. Every individual, 'in every age and nation, who hears or reads these divine truths which the Son of God has now uttered, but does not embrace and practice them, is included here.

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