services, so far from increasing our reward, will diminish it. The person who has " added grace to grace with holy zeal and diligence, will have an entrance ministered unto him abim- dantly into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour'^." On the other hand, they whose spirit is less agreeable to the mind of God, will be saved only " as brands plucked out of the burning." Wherein the precise difference will consist, we do not know. It is sufficient that we are informed it does exist, and will certainly be manifest at the last day. Some *' will suffer loss," and others " receive a full x'eward." Surely this consideration may well make us careful to regulate our minds by the sacred oracles, and to " walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing."]
Address —
1. Let us look well to our foundation —
[It is obvious that, if they who build on the right founda- tion may be " scarcely saved," they who are not fixed on that, cannot be saved at all. Let us remember then that Christ is the only foundation of our hopes, and that we must depend solely on the merit of his blood and righteousness ^ Every other hope must be renounced: and we must say with the Church of old, " In the Lord alone have I righteousness and strength."]
2. Let us look well to our superstructure —
[The caution in the text clearly proves, that persons, upright in the main, are yet liable to err, and to be heaping up rubbish for the fire while they fancy that they are doing God serviced Let us therefore take heed to our ways, and " take heed to our spirit." Let us not only endeavour to live and act for God, but to do every thing from such motives, and in such a manner, as shall be approved by him in the day of judgment.]
•1 2 Pet. i. 5 — 11. e ver, 11. with Isai. xxviii. 16.
^ It is often said, 'These persons are pious ; and therefore God will not let them be deceived.' The text gives a complete answer to this.