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in them by Christ, and walks in them. He is their Father, and they are his children. Christ is their bond of union and communion-his merits the ground on which both depend. Remove him, if possible, from believers, and alienation will once more be introduced into their minds. They will become enemies of God, by evil works. Through him, in the body of his flesh, by death, they are reconciled to God. He becomes their Father, and calls them children. Satan is dethroned in their hearts: God, by his Spirit reigns there, bringing every thought and power to the obedience of Christ. Instead of a darkened understanding, there now is spiritual illumination; instead of an obstinate will, a cheerful subjection to the divine law in every particular; instead of disordered affections, the whole soul purified and filled with divine love. As lively stones, they are built up a spiritual house, for the special abode of God, Jesus Christ being the chief

corner-stone.

In time past they were NOT a people, but now are the people of God. As a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so God rejoices over them. He never leaves

them, nor forsakes them. They are honourable in his eyes, and he loves them. They are one with Christ, as he is one with the Father: and as the Father is well pleased with the Son, who is heir of all things; so he is well pleased with those who are joint heirs. He comforts them in their tribulation, and supports them in the prospect of death, with the hope of the Gospel, which is Christ in them, the hope of glory. As through him they obtain the divine favour in this life, so through him they must enter into the heavens. Thither he has passed as their forerunner, and from thence they look for him again, a second time, that he may receive them to himself.

2. Through Christ believers, as a temple, are dedicated and appropriated to the divine service.

They are separated by their baptism from the world which lieth in sin: from the love of sin in their hearts, by their regeneration and from the practice of sin in their lives, by their uniform and genuine good works. They are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. They are called to be holy in all

manner of conversation, as God is holy. Redemption imposes on them the obligation of presenting themselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is their reasonable service. They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, to show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light. To glorify God in soul and body is the great object of their desires, the mark they aim at in all their actions. By the Spirit of God dwelling in them, they are fitted for a spiritual life. They look not at the things which are seen, which are temporal, but at the things which are not seen, which are eternal. They lay

up their treasures not on earth, but in heaven. They live not unto themselves, but unto the Lord, whose they are. To him they have yielded themselves, as their master, and for his service they exert themselves. To do otherwise would be as inconsistent as to convert a temple of God into a haunt of riot and debauchery.

As Christ, by his grace, qualified them for God's indwelling, so he also qualifies them for his service. They are not their own, for they

are bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ; therefore they must glorify God. The foundation of their dedication to God, as well as of God's dwelling in them, is Christ. He is thus the foundation of all that constitutes them believers. He is the object of saving faith; the giver of evangelical repentance; the efficient cause of holy obedience. From him love flows, and on him hope rests. His blood is a fountain which cleanses from all sin; his death has procured pardon for guilt, and comfort for wretchedness.

In a word, remove Christ, and you annihilate believers, according to the idea which the scriptures afford of them. They no longer exist. You may have serious persons, persons externally moral; you may have decent citizens, and obliging neighbours; you may have theists, persons believing in the existence of a God, and a future state, but you look in vain for scriptural believers. These are temples of God whose foundation is Christ. Do they believe in God? they believe in Jesus Christ, who is one with him," and the Saviour of sinners. Are they moral, performing their duty? It is through Christ

strengthening them.

Their obedience is

Christian. They serve Christ in all that they do, in word or deed. Do they expect to be happy after death? It is through Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Do they love God? It is as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is, in short, the foundation of the doctrines which they be lieve, of the obedience which they manifest, and of the hope which they cherish. I pass

on now,

II. To the second general head of discourse, which is to endeavour to demonstrate that no other foundation of this temple than Jesus Christ can be laid.

This is the uniform language of Scripture. Therein we are taught that there is but one Saviour, one method of acceptance with God, one baptism, one faith, one hope of our calling, even as there is but one God. It is expressly and positively declared that there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby we can be saved. To this truth reason suggests no opposing arguments, no insurmountable difficulties. Keep in view the nature of the figure. Believers are a temple of God, and

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