"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 3:11
We are very eager to put our hands to work. Like Uzzah, we must needs
prop up the ark when we see it stumbling; when faith totters, we must come
to bear a helping hand. But this is prejudicial to the work of God upon the
soul. If the whole is to be a spiritual building; if we are "living stones" built
upon a living Head, every stone in that spiritual temple must be laid by God
the Spirit. And if so, everything of nature, of creature, of self, must be
effectually laid low, that Christ may be all—that Christ, and Christ alone,
may be formed in our heart, the hope of glory. How many trials some of you
have passed through! how many sharp and cutting exercises! how many
harassing temptations! how many sinkings of heart! how many fiery darts
from hell! how many doubts and fears! how much hard bondage! how many
galling chains! how often has the very iron entered into your soul! Why?
That you may be prevented from adding one stone by your own hands to the
spiritual building. The Apostle tells us that "Other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid," even Jesus Christ. He then speaks of those who build
"wood, hay, and stubble," as well as of those who used "gold, silver, and
precious stones;" and that the "wood, hay, and stubble" must be burned
with fire. It is after the Lord has laid a foundation in the sinner's conscience,
brought him near to himself, made Jesus precious to his soul, raised up hope
and love in his heart, that he is so apt to take materials God never recognises,
"wood, hay, straw, stubble," and rear thereby a flimsy superstructure of his
own. But this gives way in the trying hour: it cannot stand one gust of
temptation. One spark of the wrath to come, one discovery of God's dread
majesty, will burn up this "wood, hay, and stubble" like straw in the oven.
The Lord's people, therefore, have to pass through troubles, trials, exercises,
and temptations, doubts and fears, and all that harassing path that they
usually walk in, that they may be prevented from erecting a superstructure
of nature upon the foundation of grace "wood, hay, and stubble" upon the
glorious mystery of an incarnate God.
Hosea 4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
In a short time there will (we have reason to fear) remain but two kinds of persons among us, either those who think not at all, or those whose imaginations are active indeed, but continually evil. Of these latter it may be said, "Their foolish heart was darkened." Of the principles, I do not say of the detail, of political science, a sound theology is the only sure and steady basis. Now we trace the operations by which a destruction so extended in its consequences has been effected. The master-spring of every principle which can permanently secure the stability of a people is the fear and knowledge of Almighty God. The first operation of a principle of atheism, and perhaps one of the most formidable in its consequences, is that which leads political men to conceive of Christianity as a mere auxiliary to the State. Religion was not instituted (in the Divine council I mean) for the purpose of society and government, but society and government for the purposes of religion. As a...
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