body he leaves behind, but character he bears with him into the vast unknown. The passage suggests certain important thoughts concerning character.

I. THAT THERE IS AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THE FORMATION OF CHARACTER AND THE ERECTION OF A BUILDING. "If any

man build, &c." The process of character-forming is spoken of in the Bible sometimes under the figure of a journey, sometimes under the figure of a battle, sometimes under the figure of tillage. Here it is spoken of under the figure of a building. It is like a building in three respects.

First In the variety of its materials. Buildings are generally formed, not of one material, but of several. "Stone, wood, iron," &c. Moral character is built up by a great variety of things:-the impressions that are made on us; the emotions that rise in us; the thoughts that possess us; the volitions we pass; all, in fact, that in any way affects us, goes to construct this character.

Secondly: In the unity of its design. Every building, however varied its materials, is formed on some plan. One design shapes the whole. So with character. The master

purpose of the soul-and every man has a master-purpose― whatever it may be, gives unity to the whole.

:

Thirdly In the function it fulfils. generally residences of some kind or other.

Buildings are

The soul lives

in the character. It is its home. In some cases the home is the mere stye of the animal; in some, the shop of the barterer; in some, the prison of the guilty; in some, the temple of the saint.

II. THAT CHRIST IS THE ONLY FOUNDATION OF A TRUE CHARACTER. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." There are sometimes splendid edifices and poor foundations, and the reverse. All characters are based upon some one idea.

First: Some are based on the sensual idea :-Such as that on which the prodigal son started ;-Such as that on which

Dives built his all.

Millions now do the same. What shall

we eat, what shall we drink? is the grand inquiry.

Secondly: Some are based on the secular idea. On this Judas, the young lawyer, and Demas built; and on this thousands build now.

Thirdly: Some are based on the ambitious idea. Absalom, Haman, Herod, are examples of this. Such, too, are the Alexanders and Napoleons of general history.

Fourthly: Some are based on the Christian idea. What is that? Supreme sympathy with God; and this requires Christ for its existence. It cannot exist without Christ. Christ is its foundation, for He does the two things to generate the supreme sympathy in souls. (1) Demonstrates to man the propitiableness of God. (2) Reveals to man the moral loveliness of God. Thus He is the true foundation.

III. THAT TO CHRIST AS A FOUNDATION MEN BRING WORTHLESS AS WELL AS VALUABLE MATERIALS. "Some build edifices of gold, silver, precious stones," and some "wood, hay, stubble."

First There are edifices partially formed of "wood, hay, stubble." The mere creedal character is worthless. There are those whose Christianity is a mere matter of creed, a thing of idea, nothing more. Mere sentimental character is worthless. There are those whose Christianity is a mere matter of feeling, a thing of frames and feelings. Mere ritualistic character is worthless. There are those whose Christianity is a mere matter of form. All these characters are formed of" wood, hay, stubble ;" things of no solidity, no valuc, no duration.

Secondly: There are edifices entirely formed of valuable materials brought to Christ. They are formed of "gold, silver, precious stones." The heart is in vital sympathy with Christ, as the Atoner for sin, the Exemplar of holiness, the Saviour of the world. The profoundest thoughts, the strongest sympathies, the gold and silver of the soul, are connected with Christ.

IV. THAT THERE IS AN ERA TO DAWN WHEN ALL THE EDIFICES BUILT ON THIS FOUNDATION SHALL BE TRIED. "Every man's work shall be made manifest." The day. Heaven has appointed a day for testing character. Individually, it is the day that dawns at the end of our mortal life. Universally, it is the day that dawns at the end of this world's history. This will be a day of fire. The fire of absolute justice and truth will burn to the centre of all souls, consuming all that is worthless.

First: This day will be injurious to those who have built on this foundation with worthless materials. (1) They will suffer loss. There will be the loss of labor, the loss of opportunity, the loss of position. (2) Though they suffer loss they may be saved. "Saved, yet so as by fire." Though his favorite theories and cherished hopes shall burn like wood and hay, yet he himself may survive the flames.

Secondly: This day will be advantageous to those who have built on this foundation with right materials. "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward."

SUBJECT:

Man, a Stranger on Earth.

"I am a stranger in the earth."-Psalm cxix. 19.

Analysis of Homily the Six Hundred and Forty-fourth.

CHOUGH he who first uttered these words was in a land

T

very distant, an age very remote, and circumstances very unlike ours, there is such a similarity in human experiences, such a oneness of the human heart, that each one of us may find this language intensely true as describing himself. There are many things that impress us with the fact, and induce in us the conviction that we are strangers here:- The continual discoveries of science. In the different regions that she treads, science is constantly revealing to us facts of which we have been completely ignorant, or showing

us fresh applications of facts that have scarcely been dreamed of before. The earth is a vast museum, and every fresh teaching of the sciences reminds us that we have explored such a fraction of its untold wonders, have become familiar with so little of its contents, in fact have merely touched so few of the objects of study that are piled about us, or spread around us, that each of us is compelled to say, “I am a stranger in the earth." This we also learn from our personal bodily ailments. Few are long free from such suggestive intimations of mortality as are afforded by pain, and disease, and weakness of body. This body of ours is as the tent of the pilgrim; and in our various physical infirmities, it is as though the winds were blowing, and the storms beating upon that frail tent, loosening its cords, tearing its canvas, shaking its supports, and foreboding a fast-approaching and complete destruction. Our social intercourse, too, teaches us the truth of the text. How limited it is. There are millions of human beings we have never seen, and thousands whom we see of whom we know nothing. We are as "strangers" in a vast crowd, among the population of the earth. How changeful,

too. We are constantly missing some and meeting others. And with the saddest voice of all, our text is confirmed by the bereavements of affection. The empty chair in the home, the hollow chamber in the heart, lead many a widow, and fatherless, and forsaken one to feel they are "strangers here. The fact is

I. A REASON FOR HUMILITY WITH REGARD TO THE GREAT PROBLEMS OF LIFE. Such awful questions as-Why am I here? Whither am I going? Whence all this sin? Wherefore all this wretchedness ?-press with overwhelming force on us in our thoughtful hours. Let us, in grappling with them, in struggling for their solution, cherish the spirit of the text. Many things here are so startlingly strange to us because we are such strangers. If there is much mystery in them, there is more ignorance in us. So, let us reverently submit to Him who alone of all Beings is no stranger. Hear with

humble faith the oracles of Him to whom the ages are but as a moment, the universe a point. No man can be arrogant, dogmatic, or proud in spirit, who confesses-" I am a stranger," &c.

II. A REASON FOR DILIGENCE WITH REGARD TO THE DUTIES OF LIFE. Not with the leisure of the peasant whose home is on the Alps, but with the alacrity of the stranger there: nor even with the ordinary industry of the inhabitant of a city, but with the carnest diligence of the stranger there, must we conduct our life here. The wise man felt that we were strangers here, all hurrying on to a place whence we should no more return; and therefore he said-"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," &c. The duties with regard to our own souls, our families, our neighbourhood, that are incumbent upon us, should be speedily disharged. If we were going to stay here for ever, the sloth of the self-indulgent, the neglect of the callous, or at least the procrastination of the sentimental, might find some excuse. But the true Christian is only he who lives with the eagerness of the pilgrim's life.

III. A REASON FOR MODERATION IN OUR INTEREST IN LIFE. Whilst there is a deep sense in which we cannot set too high a value on our life here, it is also true that there is great and insidious danger of our centering too much of our affection on the properties, the pursuits, the connexions, the homes of this world. As the stranger, even amid fairest landscapes and most congenial scenes, remembers his home and for it reserves his strongest interest and to it consecrates his deepest love, the Christian also will ever feel,

"Here in the body pent,

Absent from thee I roam,

And nightly pitch my roving tent

A day's march nearer Home."

The spirit of our text is a sure deliverance from excessive