wilderness, Paul says, "They drank of that rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ," 1 Cor. x. 4. If, therefore, the real foundation of the church is called a stone, a tried stone, and the sure foundation is declared to be a person; then how can it be the love of God? which, as I observed before, is a quality, a property, and an attribute peculiar to the nature and essence of God. Ridiculous is the very supposition. Again. Paul shall tell us fully what the true and real foundation of the church is; and, being a wise master-builder, employed in the building of mercy, no man was more capable of giving us an account that may be depended upon than himself: "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon: but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon; for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ," 1 Cor. iii. 10, 11. Here we have the real truth at once. Therefore, if Jesus Christ is the only foundation of the church, the love of God cannot be her foundation; and a person of very moderate understanding indeed can tell that the love of God is not Christ, nor Christ the love of God. But some say, the love of God is the cause of the foundation. But we are not speaking of the cause, but of the thing itself,

even of Christ crucified, the ation of the church of God.

only sure foundTo make no dis

tinction or difference between the cause and the effect of that cause, is a reflection upon the meanest understanding. We therefore reject the everlasting love of God when put in the place of Christ, because then it becomes a gross error; for it is a false foundation, introduced to supersede the true, and consequently becomes a snare and a doctrinal lie.

Those members must be placed in a very unfavourable light indeed who join a church, that in its confession is destitute of the only real foundation which God has laid in Zion; for only observe the shocking inconsistency that such a tenet naturally embraces, which at once discovers it to be an error of no small consequence; for, like the mortality of the body of Christ,' it leaves no foundation at all' for the church to build upon! The true and only foundation of the church of Christ is her own Saviour and Redeemer; therefore, if the love of God is the foundation of the church, it must accomplish all that the scriptures at tribute to the Saviour: Is it then possible to produce a parallel of absurdities naturally arising from such an erroneous doctrine? I think not.

We abound in our day with false doctrines and bold assertions of carnal ministers. Ob

serve the following.-A minister being asked what he meant by 'the mortality of the body of Christ,' or how it was to be understood, replied (to a friend of mine) that it was to be taken in the grossest sense that can be conceived !!! That gentleman, I think, must at all events be a very gross teacher, who made the assertion, which leaves us in very little doubt what spirit he is of.

Another minister has gone so far as to say that, God communicates his very nature and essence to his people!' And thus he deifies human nature, though God is the self-existent, incommunicable Jehovah! But in this Satan has so outdone himself, that such a man ought to sink beneath the notice of every one possessing the least reverence of God. What shocking results and what dreadful consequences arise, when men are left to speak so contrary to the oracles of God! If British Protestant ministers continue to publish from the press, and assert from their pulpits, such errors and glaring absurdities as have been issued for some time past, and such as are now disseminating, British churches will fall under the scorn, derision, and contempt, of all the world professing Christianity; and, what is worse, must incur the heavy displeasure of God.

F

With these remarks I close my subject; committing them to the blessing of that God, who knows how to use them (as far as they may accord with his heavenly will) for his people's good and his own glory.

I have now only to apologize for the length of this epistle: but I thought a few occasional digressions, and a little comment on some particular passages of scripture, might be agreeable; and therefore presumed to enlarge rather more than was absolutely necessary to confute the error of the mortality of the body of Christ.

I am aware there may be much of tautology and proxility, as well as other imperfections, in these pages; for which my only apology is, that I am a man of slender talent; a very poor scholar; and, being in business, have but little time to spare; so that I have been obliged to write this letter at different times; therefore you must not be surprised if the subject is not so judiciously arranged, or neatly handled, as might be wished. Nevertheless, I cheerfully commit the fruit of my labours to your candid -perusal with all their imperfections, knowing that I am not writing to a critic, but to a friend, who will read what I have said with prayer to God for his blessing, so far as I have been enabled to speak consistently with his mind and will in his word.

And, if on perusal you and the rest of the friends in Lincolnshire (for I wish them to see it) are satisfied that I have fully proved, by the word of God, that the doctrine of the mortality of Christ's body' is a gross and dangerous error, I shall think my time well spent in performing so good a work; and that object attained will more than counterbalance all the imperfections in the means by which it has been accomplished.

God grant that his blessing, so far as I have been enabled to vindicate the Saviour's person from degradation, and to speak to the glory and honour of his truth, may attend this epistle to the profit of souls, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

For the present farewell; and, with the best of wishes for Mrs. Isaac's and your own real happiness and prosperity, as well as for all others that love us in the faith and hope of the gospel,

I remain, my dear kind Friend,

Very truly your willing Servant,

For Christ's and the truth's sake,

C. GOULDING.

NORTHAMPTON SQUARE,

August 1826.