UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.
By Francis Gould
AND the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Luke xvi, 18. Men are generally wiser in things concerning this life than they are in things relative to eternal life; or "the children of this world in their generation are wiser than the children of light." If a person wishes to build a house he is particular to seek out or prepare a solid foundation to build upon; knowing that if he builds upon a sandy foundation it will soon be demolished by the floods and tempests that so often sweep over the land. The question often arises in my mind why men are not more wise in "laying up in store a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." Certainly if we cherish a false hope, if we take the traditions of men for our guide, if we enter not in by the door into the sheep-fold, but seek to climb up some other way, we are denominated thieves and robbers. It is all-important that we build upon the rock; for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. iii, 11. Says one, There are so many different doctrines and sentiments advanced at the present day for truth, that I hardly know what truth is or what to believe; but this is a poor excuse. God has spread out before us ample means by which we may know and understand the truth. Says the psalmist, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Again, hear the words of the apostle. Now therefore we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Eph. ii, 19, 20. The principles of Jesus Christ as taught by himself and his holy apostles, constitute the rock for the church to build upon. Christ was all and in all to the church in ancient days. The children of Israel were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them; and that rock was Christ.) 1 Cor. x, 2–4. He was with the three worthies in the fiery furnace, to strengthen and comfort them in their tribulation, and is a rock to both houses of Israel. Notwithstanding they as a nation have rejected him, yet God is gathering out of them a holy nation and a peculiar people. See Isa. xxvi, 2; Zeph. ii, 1; Rev. v, 9. Again, And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matt. xxi, 44. Here Christ is brought to view as performing two different offices. First, he calls on men everywhere to repent, to come to him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and accept salvation through the merits of his blood. Second, he puts on the garments of vengeance, "and is revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." This will be strikingly fulfilled in the destruction of the metallic image. Dan. ii, 34, 35. The nations of the earth will be dashed to pieces, and become as chaff in that day; but unto the remnant church which have been gathered out, will be brought to pass the saying of Zechariah the prophet, And he shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Chap. vi, 7. Again, the text says, Upon this rock I will build my church. It is a matter of the utmost importance how we build thereon. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1 Cor. iii, 12, 13. I understand that order is the first law of heaven; hence church order is indispensable. Let us look at the order that was established in the primitive church: Men were chosen to preach the gospel that were full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Notwithstanding they were ignorant, and fishermen, they were to go out without scrip or purse. To their names were attached no high-sounding titles, such as Rev. D. D. They were not confined to any particular place to preach. Sometimes it was in the ship, by the sea side, in the open field, in the highways and hedges, and in the synagogues. Compare with this the popular preaching of the present day. Churches must have an educated ministry. Ministers must have both scrip and purse, or they cannot preach. They must have a meeting-house with a high steeple, and overspread with carpets. They must be called Rev., thus calling themselves by God's name, ("for holy and reverend is his name,") and breaking the third commandment by taking the name of the Lord in vain. Are there any at the present day who walk in the primitive paths? I have thought much of late of those who are proclaiming the present truth, who have gone forth into the highways and hedges, leaving their homes and their families, sacrificing their all, subjecting themselves to different climates, while crossing over the bleak hills of New England, or traversing the broad prairies of West, and sometimes no other quarter for the night than the green earth, and no other covering than the broad, blue expanse above. Such was the lowly condition of the blessed Pattern. Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Luke ix, 58. But my cry still is, "Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people O Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them." Again: "And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Those gifts are being developed in the judgment church; but the ire of the dragon is stirred, and he will soon make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But there is safety in standing on the Rock of eternal truth.