SER. CVII. aims, and felf-ends are his burden; and to live to the honour and glory of a God in Chrift, is the chief end he defires always to fet before him. In a word,

6. If the foundation of the fpiritual temple be laid, then the Spirit of the foundation will be in you: for, “If any man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his; but, he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit :" and this Spirit within the man is fometimes a witneffing, and fealing, and comforting Spirit; and alfo a cleanfing, purifying, and fanctifying Spirit, leading forth the believer habitually to fpiritual thoughts and meditations; and to a fpiritual walk and conversation.-Now, these marks, I am fure, wil! ftand the trial of the word of God; and, therefore, fearch and try yourfelves thereby, whether the foundation of the fpiritual temple be laid or

not.

Ufe 3. The next ufe fhall be for exhortation. Omitting all that might be faid by way of terror, to all these in whom the foundation is not laid; being under the curfe from the day that they were conceived in fin, and brought forth in iniquity; yea, from the day that you fell in Adam; from that day you are curfed of God: omitting alfo, what might be faid by way of comfort to believers in whom the foundation is laid, they being actually bleffed from the moment of their union to the Son of God, from this day and for ever they are blessed: omitting thefe, I fhall clofe with a word of exhortation to thofe two forts, viz. unbelievers and believers. And,

ift, To all unbelievers, as the most part are, that are ftrangers to this laying of the foundation of the temple. My exhortation is, O be reftlefs till the foundation of the temple be laid, as you would not be laid under the heavy curfe of God to all eternity, and for ever deprived of his bleffing. And in order to the laying of this foundation of the temple, know, that the work is God's; for, "Not by power, nor by might, but by his Spirit," is the founda tion laid; and therefore, cry for the Spirit of God, to be poured out upon you, and under his influence, follow thefe four means, which I fhall direct you to.

1. Count

1. Count the cost of the whole building, before you begin to lay the foundation; " Which of you, intending to build a tower, fays Chrift, fitteth not down firit, and counteth the coft, whether he have fufficient to finish it? Lett, haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, faying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish it," Luke xiv. 28,-30. Some believe too soon, by a temporary faith, without ever counting the cost. This work must be done with deliberation; not that you need to deliberate whether it fhould be done or not; but there needs mature deliberation that it be right done. Many do rafhly take up a profeflion of religion, and fo comes of them; for, in an evil day, they make defection, give up with all religion, and overturn the foundations that feemed to be laid; and no wonder, for the true foundation was never rightly laid. The Lord determines all his own fo to count the coft, that they muft have Chrift, coft what it will; and refolve to cleave to him though it should coft them the lofs of their friends, and means, and lives to the bargain.

2. Look to this fame Spirit, to help you to dig deep, till you come to the rock. All that lay the foundation right are acquaint with digging deep. There are these four things you fhould dig deep into.

(1.) Dig deep to fee your natural condition: Oh! was you never afraid for yourfelf, man, as being under the curfe of God? Was you never afraid for the wrath of God, and the threatenings of the law? Was you never afraid for the converfion you was born with, and for the faith and hope you have had all your days, as you had been born a convert? That converfion will carry you to hell if you get no more; for, you were born an enemy to God, a flave of Satan, and an heir of hell. Oh! dig to fee your flate of fin and misery by nature, otherwife you will build upon a fandy foundation.

if

(z.) Alfo, dig deep to fee your heart-plagues and fare I am, you will find it to be deceitful above all things, and defperately wicked. If you faw yourself, you would never fay, I hope I have a good heart to God; as I have

D 3

heard

heard fome poor, ignorant, brutifh people fay. Dig deep into your heart-plagues, and heart wickedness, like Ezekiel's digging through the wall, to fee greater abominations than these, and ftill greater and greater. You that dig in any meafure into your hearts, you will find much wickednefs therein; but if you dig deeper, you will find more,

(3) Again, dig deep to fee your foul wants and neceflities: he will never build upon the foundation that doth not fee his need of Chrift, They lay the foundation beft that dig deepeft, Some are full and rich, and think they have enough, and ftand in need of nothing; but the poor foul that is fenfible of his emptinefs and poverty, deftitute of life, ftrength, liberty, and of all fpiritual good whatfoever, it is that foul that is most ready to hold by the foundation.

(4.) And then dig deep to fee your danger and hazard coming on: Can any of you promise yourself twentyfour hours health in the world? Can any of you promife yourself twenty-four hours quietnefs and peace, without trouble and vexation, in the world? Can any of you promife yourselves a tack of life for ten days to come, or freedom from death for two days? No, by no means; you are in conflant danger: and if you dig but a little here, you will fee that man in his beft eftate is altogether vanity dig deeper, and you will find more and more. of it; for, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

3. In order to the laying the foundation, take the help and advice of the moft fkilful builders. Minifters of the gospel are under-builders, and workers together with God; and you are to take their help and advice, Mal. ii. 7. "The priests lips fhould keep knowledge,

and they fhould feek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hofts." And because you fhould take their advice, both in public ordinances and in private conference; therefore you have need to pray, that they be wife, faithful builders, not daubing with untempered mortar, or laying a wrong foundation; for they mu answer for every wrong pin of the building, if it come through their default. Their help is much worth, who are called of God himself to be builders,

and

and who are built upon the foundation themselves; for fuch will be earnest to have others founded there. We need to be all more fkilful in the choice of materials for building, especially we that are minifters; for, the apostle speaks of fome that build wood, hay, and stubble upon the foundation, inftead of gold, filver, and precious ftones, 1 Cor. iii. 12, 13. But the fire will try every man's work, what fort it is. If the old houfe, the old foundation, be not caft down and overthrown, the fire of God will burn and deftroy it. Not only the old fundation of fin and luft muft be thrown down, according to that word, which fhould always found in our ears, Pfalm xxxvii. 27. "Depart from evil, and do good, and live for evermore :" but alfo the old foundation of Self and felf-righteoufnefs; thefe filthy rags will not make a good foundation: they are not proof against the flames of hell; fuch rags will easily burn: I fay, the fire will try every man's work, and burn up all rotten foundations. Therefore, plead of God, that we that are minifters, may be all wife builders, and put in cafe to give you good help in laying the foundation. And then,

4. Above all things, come to the foundation himfelf; this foundation is laid in Zion, that you may come to it; "Thus faith the Lord, Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a tried ftone, a fure foundation; he that believeth on him fhall never be confounded," Ifa. xxviii. 16. Though this foundation be not yet laid fubjectively and efficacioufly in you; yet, I can affure you, it is laid objectively and doctrinally for you, in this gofpel, that you may come to it by faith; for, "To you is the word of this falvation fent." I can declare to you, in. JEHOVAH's name, that this foundation is able to bear the weight of your foul, and all the burdens that ly upon you, tho' they be mountains of fin and guilt; for, "He is able to fave to the uttermoft." And, I can affure you, in the fame name, that, "There is no other foundation, no other name given under heaven, whereby you can be faved;" and that you have all access to this foundation: "Whofoever will, let him come." Let him be never fo black and ugly; yea, tho' he has been a drunkard, wheremonger, Sabbath-breaker, or even a fcorner and mocker of

D4.

God

God and godlinefs; yet Wisdom cries in the ftreets juft now, faying, "How long, ye fimple ones, will ye love fimplicity, and ye fcorners delight in fcorning? Turn ye at my reproof, and I will pour out my Spirit unto you." His complaint against you is, that you will not come to him, that you might have life. Though you were in compact with the devil, like Manaffeh, and had a legion of devils, like Mary Magdalene; and tho' there was never the like of you for a finner; yet come, come; there was never the like of him for a Saviour. Are you a wonderful finner? Here is a wonderful Saviour, and a wonderful foundation. I must tell you too, that as the difadvantage will be great, if you do not come to this foundation, for the curfe of God will purfue you for ever, because there remains no more facrifice for fin, no other foundation, but a fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which fhall devour the adverfary: fo the advantage will be great by your coming to this foundation; for you fhall be as happy as God's bleffing can make you: for, From this day will be bless you: from this day will he love you, from this day will he honour you; because, by coming to this foundation, you would put honour upon God, and his law. Oh! have you not difhonoured God hitherto? Have you not broken his law? Well, would you put honour upon all God's perfections, for all the difhonour ever you have done to him? And, would you put honour upon God's holy law, for all your breaches thereof? The way to do it, is by coming to, and building on this foundation, Chrift, who has magnified the law, and made it honourable. Would you have God to be pleafed with you, from this day and for ever? Then come, and lay your fouls upon the foundation of his perfect righteoufnefs, and obedience to the death; for, "The Lord is weli-pleafed for his righteousness fake." Now, is any faying, "Alas! I think, I would come, but "I cannot come, though you fhould ufe all the rhetoric "in the world." Well, God knows you cannot come; and fo far are you from being able of yourfelf to come, that if a good th ught would win heaven, you cannot, of yourself, bring it forth;" No man can come, except the Father