St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
Building Probably.

Rev. X. b. Thurston, of SaybroOk,
Conn, preached very acceptably ut the
North church on Sunday. In the morn
ing he spoke from the passage of
Scripture found in |. Corinthians iii :
Ills. which treats of the true foun-
dation on which man should build.
We give below a brief abstract of the
speakers remarks:
Men always give honor to one who
accomplishes great enterprise and
this is Il principle of the kingdom OF
heaven. We cannot all inscribe our
names on temples of earthly renOwn,
but we are all able to build Il spiritual
temple and like the Apostle, every
one for himself will hope for an ever
lasting reward. The passage refers to
Christians and their works, and in it
three essential ideas are affirmed :
First, Christ as the only foundation for
true and saving work ; the work of
the soul for eternal life. The
supreme end of every man should be
the salvation of his own soul it is
his supreme duty to his God. Man can
lay no other foundation than that al
ready laid-Jesus Christ. Christianity
i'll this respect is the most exclusive
and cxacting of all religions it will
not permit any discretion as to whether
Christ should be the foundation of la
Dor. We are to raise the walls of our
heavenly home built upon him; if not,
then in the day of trial the very foun-
dation itself will he consumed.
Second They who build upon this
foundation will he saved. How can
those who are not Christians put these
words away from them? Can man seek
and save ruined man Who but Gre
atOr can create; who but II law-giveI
can redeem Let Christ be the son OF
God and our brother, entering into our
nature, that we may he at one with
him. Then these words shall he seen as
the pledge of eternal truth. How can
il sinner forget such words He who
builds his hope on Christ shall be saw
ed ut the last day.
| Third-It is of great importance how
Il man builds on this foundation. A man
may enter heaven rs one who escapes
from burning house, or he may enter
it rs one who has left palace of mar
BILE that cannot perish. 1t is the simple
principle that mans reward shall bt
according to his works. There are
those who build of gold and silver and
precious stones, with pure affections
and right applications of divine truth
not only does their foundation stand
but their work abides. There are thos,
styled imperfect Christians, who builC
of the wood, hay and stubble of theil
own passions, for which they eXchang,
the gold and silver: they do not per
ish. but they lose the reward of Il lit,
which might abide in the day of trou
BILE.
The cry of some people is: ''If | cal
only enter heaven,iust get through
the gates ~ 1t is true religion in tn,
heart to desire more and not to he con
tent with little. He who has not evi
denced this desire gives sad evidence
that he is not Il Christian at all. He
wants one of the essential elements q
true regeneration. This adj
vancing piety is the great good of on
age. 1t is the hardest of all things (,
: he corrupted and broken. 1t is tina
. character which is needed for the pur
pose and honor of the church, and 70
the influence of the church upon tn
world. . God applies this law alike t.
all, whatever may he our condition il
the world as to knowledge and power
We must not think that because W
have great secular advantages we ar
great in the kingdom of God. In ev
cry state, we may be serving man am
God, building up for ourselves tina
. which will endure the fire of the grca
dew