those of our text. Many things doubtless are requisite for a due discharge of the ministry : but there is one that as far surpasses all others, as the sun exceeds a taper. It is this ; an acquaintance with this fundamental doctrine of Scripture, the doctrine of justification by faith alone. If a man be not instructed in it, how can he instruct others? and if he be not instructing them in this, what is he doing, but bringing down curses upon his own soul, and leading his people also to destruction ? Would to God, that those who look forward to the ministry as a source of worldly honour or emolument, would seriously reflect upon this tremendous passage, and consider, whether it be worth their while to involve themselves in such accumulated miser)' ! Would to God that those also who are in the ministry, would consider what they have under- taken to preach, and what is uniformly inculcated in the articles, the homilies, and the liturgy of our Church ! But whether men will consider for themselves or not, we must say, " a necessity is laid upon them, and woe be unto them if they preach not the Gospel f."]
2. To those who are ministered unto —
[If there be such a necessity laid on ministers to preach " the truth as it is in Jesus," there must be the same necessity for you to hear and embrace it. Inquire then, what is the Gospel that ye have received ? Is it this, or is it " another Gospel?" Are your views of the Gospel such as would fur- nish occasion for an ignorant person to raise objections against it as tending to licentiousness? Yet do you, at the same time, manifest by your life and conversation, that it is "a doctrine according to godliness ? " Inquire into these things ; for "they are your lifeg." If your views of Divine truth do not answer to this description, they are not such as the Apostle Paul had, nor will they lead you where he is. If, instead of looking for salvation by faith alone, you are mixing your own merits with those of Christ, you must inevitably perish : Christ shall profit you nothing. You may build hay, and wood, and stubble, upon the true foundation, and yet be saved at last : you will suffer loss indeed ; yet you will be saved, though it be as persons snatched out of the fireh. But if you build on any thing besides Christ, you have a foundation of sand, which will fail you in the hour of trial, to the destruction of your whole fabric, and the ruin of your own souls'. The mixtures of your righteousness with Christ's, like the feet of iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar's image, will never bear the super-incumbent weight: they cannot unite; they cannot adhere; if you
f 1 Cor. ix. 16. g Deut. xxxii. 47.
h 1 Cor. iii. 12, 15. f Matt. vii. 26, 27-
Hi GALATIANS, I. 10. [2051.
attempt to stand upon them, you will fall and be broken in pieces k. There is but "one faith1,'' but one foundation: " other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ111." Take heed therefore that you build upon itn; and let your superstructure be such as shall be approved in the day when it shall be tried by fire0.]
k Dan. ii. 33, 34. » Eph. iv. 5. m 1 Cor. iii. 11.
11 1 Cor. iii. 10. ° 1 Cor. iii. 13, 14.