Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/315

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The tower being thus for observation and defence, to build it we must collect, first, the materials; and, having done so, must lay such a foundation as shall support the superstructure we intend to raise. The foundation, indeed, must be our first care; and our tower, being a spiritual fabric, must be raised on a spiritual foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ. Other foundation can no man lay. If we build on any other foundation than the rock Christ, our superstructure will not stand. He, therefore, who would be successful in his spiritual elevation, must rest on the Divine Saviour, for there is no other name under heaven whereby man can be saved. This name must be as the foundation stone. Jesus Christ must be the first stone we lay. He is our Creator, "By Him were all things made, and without Him nothing was made that is made." He is our Saviour. There is no God else beside Him—a just God and a Saviour. He is the Supreme Truth, upon which all other truths must rest; and the foundation stone, the supreme truth, that "He is over all, God, blessed for ever," must be laid deep in all our hearts, or we can never raise a superstructure which shall be for observation and defence. The tower must be erected with stones or truths drawn from God's most Holy Word. But we must prepare the ground for our foundation; we must remove everything that would obstruct our progress: that is, we must cast out all our evils; but this, too, requires the Saviour's aid, for without Him we can do nothing.

The work of internal purification is accomplished by an affectionate reception of the Lord's truth. As truth is received, it contends against evil and error, and