August 5

Behold I lay in Zion, a chief corner-stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him, shall not be confounded.—I PET. ii. 6.

DO I regard Christ Jesus as the chief corner-stone of the Church on earth—the only sure foundation of all my hopes for time and eternity? Do I look to him, as the refuge and support of all his people; their strong rock, to which to cling when the blasts of unbelief, or the storms of sorrow assail? Do I rest solely on him as the only and all-sufficient Saviour, looking to him, by faith, for all that I need for time and eternity?

The believer's faith in Jesus, is his sure guarantee for all that he needs. As the tree must die, or the rock fall, before a dissolution can be effected between them, so the believer must lose his hold on the spiritual life, or the rock must crumble, ere the union can be dissolved.—J. BATE.

We are poor, but Christ is rich; we are dead, but he is life; we are sin, but he is righteousness; we are guilty, but he is grace; we are miserable, but he is mercy; we are lost, but he is salvation. He ever lives; ever loves; ever pities; ever pleads. He loves to the uttermost, and saves all who come to him.—J. MASON

On thee, as on a sure foundation,

A sure tried corner-stone,

Lord, I will strive to raise

The tower of my salvation, and thy praise.

In thee, as in my glorious centre, shall

The lines of all my dearest longings fall.

—QUARLES.