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My brethren, it becomes of the utmost importance to inquire, Have we a place in this spiritual building? Are we daily striving, as St. Jude exhorts us, to "pray in the Holy Ghost," and to "build up ourselves on our most holy faith"?

I. That we may know what our state is, what our hope towards God, let us, first, ask ourselves, Am I resting on the sure foundation? St. Paul tells us what it is: "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

II. Again: let us ask ourselves, Do we bear always in mind that we are called to be "a holy temple in the Lord," "an habitation of God through the Spirit"?

1. A temple gives us the idea of dedication. Do we look upon ourselves as those who are set apart unto holiness, and ought not to be conformed unto this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God?

2. A temple also gives us the idea of God's immediate presence (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19). This is a thought full of awe, and full of comfort. God is present in the hearts of them that believe, not as He appeared of old in the Temple at Jerusalem, shining above the mercy seat in a cloud of glory such as man's eye could see (John 14:23). And how should we regard our mortal body, if we believed it to be the temple of the Spirit of God?

3. A temple gives us the idea of continual service.

4. That the work of grace ought to be advancing in us. For what says St. Paul? "Growing unto an holy temple in the Lord."

(E. Blencowe, M. A.)

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KJV: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

WEB: being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;