On the Foresight and Security of the practical Christian. 7TH. CHAP. OF ST. MATTHEW, 24TH. 25TH. 26TH. AND 27TH. VERSES. "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 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." SUCH is the powerful conclusion of the most touching and instructive discourse that can be found even in the pages of inspi ration. ration. Our Saviour had unfolded to his hearers that pure and perfect system of moral conduct, which the spiritual renovation of the Gospel must necessarily produce. If the peculiar doctrines of Christianity were touched but lightly in the Sermon which he had delivered, they were deducible from the strict principles which it contained, demanded by the total change of heart which was declared essential to salvation. He was indeed more anxious to trace religion to its practical results, than to offer an accurate delineation of its dogmas. His aim was to lead mankind to the contemplation of their guilt and impotence, as contrasted with the sublime virtues, heavenly dispositions, and elevated views of the Gospel. To lay open all the imperfection of human motives, all the weakness of human resolution, all the misery of ungoverned tempers, and all the evil of licentious passion, is to bring us in the depth of self-abasement to the cross before which motives are perfected, resolution strengthened, strengthened, temper subdued, and passion purified. But, if to hear the words of eternal life, even when uttered by the lips of our Saviour, were sufficient to regulate the conduct, and purify the heart; he would not have deemed it necessary to discriminate, as he has done in the words before us, between the different characters to whom he had delivered his important message. He was aware that, with all the advantages of evangelical truth, with such advantages as no other assembly of professing Christians can hope to enjoy, numbers would still hold fast their delusions, substitute admiration of his instructions for conviction of their importance, and be led to amuse their fancies rather than investigate their characters. Against this unhappy tendency in many who hear, and profess to believe, the Gospel, the conclusion of his discourse is levelled. And they who, in sincere obedience to his commands, and in humble imitation of his example, exercise the important duty of warning the careless, and en couraging couraging the diligent, must like him apply the subjects of which they treat to the conscience of their respective hearers. Thus will they reprove the arrogant while they animate the fearful; and show to the one on what a tottering foundation his hopes are placed, while they convince the other that his firm support is upon the Rock of ages. The first characteristic of the true Christian, mentioned by our Saviour, he has in common with the mere pretender to Christianity. He "heareth his sayings." But how different are the motives which lead him to the house of God, and in what a different manner does he hear! He does not "follow the multitude" into the courts of the Lord, but he goes thither for his own comfort and edification. He has found within himself wants to be supplied, corruption to be subdued, infirmity to be supported. Where shall he find what he needs, save in the presence of that gracious Saviour, who " is made unto him wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption?" He attends the |