which it is composed. These materials are living stones-ransomed sinners-hewn from the quarry of a common depravity, and made ready for the several places assigned to them in the building. Naturally they were altogether unfit for forming part of the spiritual edifice. They were dead stones-without God in the world, alienated from the life of God. They did not like to retain Him in their knowledge. He was not in all their thoughts. Their habitual character and conduct only showed too plainly that they were utterly unqualified for intercourse with God or for promoting His glory. But a blessed change was at length produced on them. These dead stones were made alive, and became suitable materials in the erection of the temple of the Lord. And this change was effected by Christ. He selected them from among their fellow-sinners, and then formed them a people for Himself. By uniting them to Himself, they were washed, justified, and sanctified, and so fitted for answering the great end of a temple, in doing honour to the Divinity that dwells in it. Instruments may, indeed, have been employed by Him in this work, but these can effect nought save through

the agency of His Spirit. The workmen in the temple of Solomon might say of the carved work, "This and that were the work of my hands; they were formed by my skill and are a monument of my power." But, in the Church of God, there is not a single stone laid in the whole building which was not hewn from the rock and fitted for its place by the hand of Jesus; and the chisel has as much right to boast against him who worketh therewith, as any instrument which the Lord may use, has to arrogate to himself any part of His honour.

As the builder of the temple, Jesus puts together the materials He has selected and prepared. His Church is not a mass of disjointed materials, or polished stones, but a spiritual house. Its members are not only honoured and happy as individuals, but are formed into a holy, honourable, and blessed fellowship. They are all living stones built into one temple, fully polished by the same masterhand, and cemented together by the same divine principles. They are branches of the same vine, members of one body. In consequence of their union with Christ they have an unseen but mutual connexion with each

other. Hence in speaking of the Church, the apostle says that "the whole building is fitly framed together in Christ," and that believers are "builded together in Christ for an habitation of God."

Such is the mode in which the Lord Jesus doth build up the spiritual temple. Amidst all the strifes and contentions of this tumultuous world, this great work has been silently, but surely, and steadily, progressing. Daily, has the Lord been adding to the Church such as shall be saved; and, resting on the sure word of prophecy, we can securely anticipate the triumphant completion of the work. In vain is all opposition, when it is the omnipotent Redeemer who is carrying it on. As, in the ages that are gone, this spiritual edifice has been gradually increasing in height and glory, so shall it continue to rise, developing to succeeding generations its fair proportions, and still increasing in loveliness and beauty, till, at length, the top-stone is brought forth with shoutings of " Grace, grace unto it!"

"Hark, the Church proclaims her honour,

And her strength is only this:

God hath laid His choice upon her

And the work she doth is His.

"He His Church hath firmly founded,
He will guard what He began;
We, by sin and foes surrounded,
Build her bulwarks as we can.

"Frail and fleeting are our powers,

Short our days, our foresight dim,
And we own the choice not ours,
We were chosen first by Him.
"Onward then! for nought despairing,
Calm we follow at His word,
Thus through joy and sorrow bearing
Faithful witness to our Lord.

"Though we here must strive with weakness,
Though in tears we often bend,
What His might began in weakness,

Shall achieve a glorious end."

-S. PREISWERK

Ps. lxxxix. 47.

"Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain ?"

I COR. vii. 29.

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away."

EPH. V. 15, 16.

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." 2 COR. vi. 2.

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"

PROV. xxvii. 1.

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

ECCLES. ix. 10.

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest."

JOHN ix. 4.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work."

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