resist alike the violence of the enemy, and the rage of the fire; it shall daily increase in resemblance to that glorious dwelling, where God reigns invisible to mortal eyes, but where his children shall hereafter behold his glory. It is, therefore, a matter of the deepest interest to ourselves, when we have ascertained the true foundation, to profit by the apostle's caution, "Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." Ministers and people are equally interested in this caution. Each of us is alike building for eternity; each of us, in forming our individual character, is a " fellow-labourer with God;" each of us is his building; and unless we work together with him, we shall not find our labour approved at the last. The apostle speaks distinctly of a trial that shall be made, in order to the full examination of every man's work. "The fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." Whether this be the fire of temptation or of affliction; whether this be the fire of God's judgment and final scrutiny, it will be sufficient to show the value and the durability of our hopes; it will try the motives of our most specious actions; it will discover the unworthiness, by which our practice of godliness may have been debased; it will sweep away every thing of pride, of bigotry, of philosophy, or of speculation, and leave nothing but the gold of the sanctuary, the solid, the pure, and the indestructible. Then will the graces of the Christian spirit be seen in their full lustre; then will the contrite heart, the humble mind, the zealous aspirations after godliness, the earnest supplications for grace and pardon, be acknowledged by him whose Spirit suggested and perfected them; and thus will the Christian character be exhibited, in its meetness for heaven, in its likeness to the Divine image. But if they who have embraced the faith of Christ, fail in the performance of their Christian duties; if they suffer themselves to neglect the graces of the Christian character, and refuse the moral influence of the faith which they profess; if, from mistaken ideas of the truth, they have failed to acquire that character which will prepare them for the full enjoyment of heavenly blessedness; upon themselves will be the loss, which it is declared they will suffer. They will not receive their full reward; they may, indeed, escape the fire; but it will be like persons who have, with difficulty, saved themselves from its destructive power. upon It must be allowed, that some obscurity rests this passage; yet it cannot for one moment be supposed, that they who are said to build at all upon the foundation of Christ, are insincere in their profession. The persons here spoken of, are, at least, not deliberate and wilful sinners, though they may not attain to a high degree of spiritual improvement; they are, indeed, endeavouring to serve God, though mistaken, in a great measure, as to the manner of his service. Let not, however, the hope of being "saved as by fire," encourage any one to remain in a state of sin and ignorance. Such a one cannot build at all upon the true foundation; he cannot have any title to the promise even of that difficulty of salvation, of which the apostle speaks. But if, as we may gather from other passages, the state of heaven be a state of intellectual and moral happiness, fitted for the capacities of intellectual and responsible creatures, it follows, of necessity, that according to the different capacities of those who are admitted to heaven, will be the different degrees of happiness enjoyed. The pleasures, even of sense, afford not equal gratification to all. Why then may not the pleasures of the soul be more vividly enjoyed, and more fully realized, when the soul has been disciplined for that enjoyment; when she has been taught to rest her brightest hopes upon that eternity, where her happiness shall be complete? Has she learnt to sing the Lord's song, even in a strange land?" With what fervour of holy joy will she unite in the melody of heaven! Has she pierced by faith the clouds that surround the throne of the Highest? With what delight will she approach the nearer view of his glory! Has she sought the society the courts of the With what With what eager of the just, and longed for Lord's house, even on earth? ness will she enter into that holy company, and join the church triumphant in the regions of the blessed! Even amid the hopes of heaven, we may find encouragement to holy exertion. Let us not rest satisfied with the bare attainment of some portion of heavenly bliss. Let us not serve God sparingly, as though we did not heartily engage in his service; but let us fix firmly the foundations of our hopes, our faith, and our principles, upon that rock, which can alone afford us security. Let us examine well, that we adopt not a false and unstable foundation ; for if there be some who, having built upon the true rock, shall yet scarcely be saved, where shall they appear who have neglected or despised it? "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." From him alone is our strength; in his atonement we have our only hope; in his aid, and by his Spirit, we have righteousness and peace. Yet, after all, we must watch well our actions, and guard carefully against ignorance and error, lest we build up only the wood, hay, and stubble, which are reserved for the burning, instead of the fine gold and the precious stones, which are alone acceptable to God. We must remember that our works will be tried by fire; our motives will be judged; our thoughts will be revealed; our hearts will be examined ; and according to the scrutiny of eternal wisdom |