which Peter now made, was owned of God, and pricked the hearts of many hearers, and there was added to the Church that day about three thousand souls. Glory be to God in the highest for the descent of the Holy Spirit, filling his servants with joy and gladness, giving them to know and feel that they had waited in the right place, and in the proper way for the fulfillment of the promise, that they should be endued with power from on high. In conclusion I would remark,

1. That the institutions and ceremonies of the law had reference to this day of Gospel glory and power, revealed now with such clearness, fullness, and comfort to the hearts of the believers, who were waiting for the coming of the Comforter who should abide with them for ever.

2. That the gift and influences of the Holy Spirit forms the distinctive peculiarity of the Christian or Gospel dispensation, which was never fully ushered in until the descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

3. That it is the common privilege of all Christians under the Gospel dispensation, to have the same holy and heavenly influence in their hearts which comforted the Christian believers on the day of Pentecost; for although John the Baptist was the greatest born of woman in his day, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven, or under the Spirit's dispensation, is greater than he, because they are anointed with the Holy Spirit as he never was. He, however, as a servant, served God as he was directed, and, no doubt, obtained eternal life, while it is to be feared, that even in the nineteenth century, there are many who have been baptized in the name of the adorable Trinity, who are not as near the Christian dispensation as he was; resting in outward forms, glorying that they are not enthusiasts, and saying, no one can know his sins forgiven. The Lord open their hearts to understand the Scriptures, and his power to save.

4. It is by the operations of the Spirit, that the Christian knows that he is a child of God, and an heir of heaven; "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God;" "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." In a word, those who fully enter into the state referred to by John in the text are assured of the Divine favor, and filled with comfort, joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost. There is a holy fire kindled within them, producing love to God and man, and filling the soul with unutterable bliss. Often, while tears of joy overflow the eyes, the tongue can only give utterance to the joys of a heart filled with the love of God, in rapturous shouts of glory, halleluiah, praise ye the Lord! With this assurance, the Christian may live, and in it he may die. He may feel, when nature is dissolving, as did the venerable Bishop M'Kendree, when he said, “All is well." Or, with St. Paul, he may exclaim, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them, also, that love his appearing." Glory be to God for the hope and prospect of the heavenly world inspired in the heart by the baptism of the Holy Ghost! we all may be filled with the power and love of God by the same holy baptism, and finally meet in heaven, where all the saints of God shall dwell for ever in his immediate presence. In behalf of all whom I address, I beseech the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

God grant that

being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now, unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the the Church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

SERMON XVIII.

BY REV. JOHN H. POWER.

THE SPIRITUAL BUILDING.

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now, if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's works shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire," 1 Cor. iii, 11-15.

THE wisdom that inspired the holy Scriptures has seen fit to borrow illustrations of divine things from almost every department of nature and art. Hence, the Savior is compared to the sun: "The Sun of righteousness shall arise;" the Church to the moon: She shall look forth as the morning, fair as the moon;" ministers to stars: "Who holdeth the stars (or ministers) in his right hand." Again: the Gospel doctrines are compared to seed: "Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" "The seed is the word." Once more: the Church is called a flock: "My sheep hear my voice." In the text before us, the figure is taken

from architecture-the Church is spoken of as a house, or temple, which suggests the following points for our consideration:

I. THE FOUNDATION.

II. THE BUILDERS.

III. THE MATERIALS OF WHICH THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED.

IV. THE FIERY TRIAL, AND FINAL RESULT.

I. The necessity of a foundation, of some sort, for every building, is so obvious, that it requires no argument to make it plainer; and the importance of a good foundation increases with the value of the building to be reared thereon, and the purposes to which it is to be applied. Inattention to this has been the occasion of the loss of much time, skill, means, and even human life, while the dilapidated and abandoned tenements, and the bowing and broken walls of once costly edifices, furnish but too many gloomy illustrations of this fact. And the importance of the principle increases beyond all comparison, when applied to our spiritual interests.

The following are indispensable in a good foundation; namely, strength and durability; and the absence of either will render any material, however valuable in other respects, utterly unfit for such a use.

Christ, as the only true foundation of the Church, possesses those qualifications in infinite perfection; for, to him belongs "all power in heaven and in earth." He is emphatically" the Almighty;" and, being the omnipotent Jehovah in his divine nature, he is able to sustain the Church-the whole Church-in all her trials and conflicts, however severe. And his durability is equal to his almighty strength: "He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;" "The same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." But, to be a little more particular. Christ, as the foundation, includes not only the fact of his absolute

divinity, incarnate in human nature, but all the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel-the propitiatory sacrifice of himself, that through the redemption, by his death, "God can be just, and the justifier of every one that believeth in Jesus;" and, through his triumphant resurrection, glorious ascension to the throne of mediation, and his prevailing intercession before the Father, he has become our "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.' Christ, as the author and embodiment of these cardinal doctrines of the cross, at once appears in a character that invites the hopes and confidence of all who feel the burden of sin, and the need of a Savior.

In this light, Christ is the foundation of the Church for purity of doctrine, comfort in affliction, support in trials, strength for duties, protection from foes, triumph over her enemies, deliverance from this evil world, and glory and honor in heaven. But, in particular, Christ is the foundation of the penitent sinner's hope, trust, and confidence, for pardoning mercy, regenerating and saving grace; as, also, the foundation of the Christian's hope for sanctifying, sustaining, and glorifying grace, mercy, and power.

With this brief view of the character and cardinal doctrines of Christ, the only foundation of this spiritual temple, we proceed to notice,

II. The character of the builders.

If we contemplate this member of the text literally, we may observe, first, that men, in any department of society whatever, should be qualified for, and acquainted with, the business in which they engage. The want of such qualification will prevent their success, disparage their reputation and the business they thus abuse, if it does not result in evil to others. But, secondly, they should be men of honest and untiring application. Knowing that their calling is lawful and right, they should make no other calcucation than to prosecute it to final success. Without appli