May 9

"Nature, to make his beauties known, Must mingle colours not her own."

And—They join several of these images together: thus he is not only the way, but the leader in it; not only the physician, but the remedy itself: not only the master of the feast, but the provision too —not only the foundation, but the builder also

But how is he the builder? He is the only one—"Neither is there salvation in any other." Yet are not Christians required to build? Does not Jude say, "Build up yourselves in your most holy faith?" But this is to remind us that we are not only subjects but instruments in this work. He does not believe and repent—We are the believers and the penitents. But he makes us such: he works in us to will and to do; and though we are the boughs that bear "the fruits of righteousness," "in me," says the Lord, "is thy fruit found;" and therefore it is called "the fruit of the Spirit." Are not Christians required to build up others? Yes, says the Apostle, "edify one another;" and "seek to excel to the edifying of the Church." And of himself he says, "As a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon." But even ministers only build instrumentally. He employs them, and all their success is from him. Paul and Apollos are only ministers by whom we be- lieve, even as the Lord gives to every man. They often begin too insensible of this, and are like Melancthon, who supposed, in his fer- vour, he should convert all who heard him: but they must learn— and cannot learn too soon, that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. He builds this temple three ways.

First, He purchases all the materials. These consist of believers. Other temples are built of lifeless substances, but this of living stones: and he procures them, and with no less a price than his own blood: "He gave his life a ransom for many."

Secondly, He prepares them. The materials for building a com- mon temple are not found fit, but made so: and Solomon, probably in allusion to his own great undertaking, says, "prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house." The wood must be felled, and come under the ope- ration of the axe, the saw, and the plane. The stones must be dug out of the quarry, and hewn and polished: and we are commanded to "look to the rock whence we were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we were digged"—that is, to remember our condition by nature. But he does not leave us where he finds us or what he finds us. He renews us in the spirit of our minds, and forms us a people for himself, to show forth his praise.

Thirdly, He unites them. He assigns them their proper places; gives them one heart and one way; and by "faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus," they are bound more firmly together than any human ties could attach them—The union is for ever—And the Sa- viour addressing his Father, says, "They are one, even as we are one."

The parts of a temple are different, but they are all necessary. The door cannot say to the window, or the wall to the roof, I have no need of thee. Some parts are more near, and some more remote, some more conspicuous, and some more concealed; but they all sub- serve their appointment; they have all a relation to each other; and