"Johnny," said the little boy's father again, "hear what the young woman says."

Children, when Johnny and his father came home that afternoon from their walk, his father asked him one question. "Johnny," he said, "do you think it is of any use to read the Bible? Do you think reading the Bible does people any good?"

And now what do you think Johnny said? I will tell you. He held down his head, and said nothing. But his face got very red, and he looked very much ashamed.

Children, from that very day Johnny was never heard again to say, "It is of no use reading the Bible."

Beloved children, remember my parting words. The way to get through the world with the least possible crying, is to read the Bible, believe the Bible, pray over the Bible, live by the Bible.

He that goes through life in this way will have the least "crying" in this world. And best of all, he will have NO CRYING AT ALL IN THE WORLD TO COME.

Che True Church."

66

MATT. XVI. 18.

Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

We live in a world in which all things are passing away. Kingdoms, empires, cities, ancient institutions, families, all are liable to change and corruption. One universal law seems to prevail everywhere. created things there is a tendency to decay.

In all

There is something saddening and depressing in this. What profit hath a man in the labour of his hands? Is there nothing that shall stand? Is there nothing that shall last? Is there nothing that shall endure? Is there nothing of which we can say-This shall continue for evermore? You have the answer to these questions in the words of our text. Our Lord Jesus

*The following Sermon was preached at Weston-super-mere, in August 1858, on the occasion of the Aggregate Clerical Meeting, held there under the presidency of Archdeacon Law.

Christ speaks of

not pass away.

something which shall continue, and There is one created thing which is an exception to the universal rule to which I have referred. There is one thing which shall never perish and pass away. That thing is the building founded upon the rock-the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. He declares, in the words you have heard to night: "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

There are five things in these words which demand your attention :—

I.-You have a Building: "My church."

II.-A Builder: Christ says, "I will build My church."

III.-A Foundation: "Upon this rock I will build My church."

IV.-Perils Implied: "The gates of hell."

V.-Security Asserted: "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

May God bless the words that shall be spoken. May we all search our own hearts to-night, and know whether or not we belong to this one church. May we all go home to reflect and to pray!

I.-You have, firstly, a Building mentioned in the text. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of "My church." Now what is this church? Few inquiries can be made of more importance than this. For want of due attention to this subject, the errors that have crept into

the church, and into the world, are neither few nor small.

It is not

The church of our text is no material building. It is no temple made with hands, of wood, or brick, or stone, or marble. It is a company of men and women. It is no particular visible church on earth. It is not the Eastern Church or the Western Church. the Church of England, or the Church of Scotland ;much less is it the Church of Rome. The Church of our text is one that makes far less show in the eyes of man, but is of far more importance in the eyes of God.

The church of our text is made up of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It comprehends all who have repented of sin, and fled to Christ by faith, and been made new creatures in Him. It comprises all God's elect, all who have received God's grace, all who have been washed in Christ's blood, all who have been clothed in Christ's righteousness, all who have been born again and sanctified by Christ's Spirit. All such, of every nation, and people, and tongue, compose the church of our text. This is the body of Christ. This is the flock of Christ. This is the Lamb's wife. This is "the holy Catholic Church" of the Apostle's Creed. This is the "blessed company of all faithful people," spoken of in the communion service of our Prayer-book. This is the church on the rock.

This is the bride.

The members of this church do not all worship God in the same way, or use the same form of government. Our own 34th Article declares, "It is not necessary that ceremonics should be in all places one

and alike." But they all worship with one heart. They are all led by one Spirit. They are all really and truly holy. They can all say "Alleluia," and they can all reply "Amen."

This is that church, to which all visible churches on earth are servants and handmaidens. Whether they are Episcopalian, Independent, or Presbyterian, they all serve the interests of the one true church. They are the scaffolding, behind which the great building is carried

on.

They are the husk, under which the living kernel grows. They have their various degrees of usefulness. The best and worthiest of them is that which trains up most members for Christ's true church. But no visible

church has any right to say, "We are the only True Church. We are the men, and wisdom shall die with us." No visible church should ever dare to say, "We shall stand for ever. The gates of hell shall not prevail against me."

This is that church to which belong the Lord's precious promises of preservation, continuance, protection, and final glory. "Whatsoever," says Hooker, we read in Scripture, concerning the endless love and saving mercy, which God showeth towards His churches, the only proper subject thereof is this church, which we properly term the mystical body of Christ." Small and despised as the true church may be in this world, it is precious and honourable in the sight of God. The temple of Solomon in all its glory was mean and contemptible, in comparison with that church which is built upon a rock.

Men and brethren, see that you hold sound doc