The Unfinished House

“We shall not keep what we have receivcdif we do not labour to increase it, as a house begim to be built goeth to decay, and droppeth dow7i more and more, if we do 7iot go o?t to finish it Have we not all seen what are commonly called house-carcases standing in desolation, a blot upon the street, and a dead loss to the builder? To-day the slates are falling, to-morrow the windows are broken, and anon timber after timber falls. Just such are they who having begun to build in the matter of religion, have failed to count the cost, and so come to a stand-still, and speedily arrive at a ruin. We believe — 7iot in the continuance of unprogressive grace, but in the perseverance and progress of saints even to the end. Blessed are they who have this persevering progress, for these are habitations builded of God. Others, who abide in their immovable self-content, are ruined by degrees, and prove themselves to be mere carcases, within which the living graces have never taken up their residence.

Remember this, O my soul, and pray the Lord to build thee up by his Spirit, and complete in thee the work of grace with power.