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taken root and flourished in some other climate。Fire； sword； prisons；
fines； penalties； have never been able to destroy its vitality。 Its
persecutors have died and gone to their own place； but the Word of God
has lived； and grown； and multiplied。 Weak as this true Church may
appear to the eye of man； it is an anvil which has broken many a hammer
in times past； and perhaps will break many more before the end。 〃He
that lays hands on it； is touching the apple of his eye。〃 （Zech。 ii。
8。）
The promise of our text is true of the whole body of the true Church。
Christ will never be without witness in the world。 He has had a people
in the worst of times。 He had seven thousand in Israel even in the days
of Ahab。 There are some now； I believe； in dark places of the Roman and
Greek Churches； who； in spite of much weakness； are serving Christ。 The
devil may rage horribly。 The Church in some countries may be brought
exceedingly low。 But the gates of hell shall never entirely 〃prevail。〃
The promise of our text is true of every individual member of the
Church。 Some of God's people have been so much cast down and
disquieted； that they have despaired of their safety。 Some have fallen
sadly； as David and Peter did。 Some have departed from the faith for a
time； like Cranmer and Jewell。 Many have been tried by cruel doubts and
fears。 But all have got safe home at last； the youngest as well as the
oldest； the weakest as well as the strongest。And so it will be to the
end。 Can you prevent tomorrow's sun from rising？ Can you prevent the
tide in the Bristol Channel from ebbing and flowing？ Can you prevent
the planets moving in their respective orbits？ Then； and then alone；
can you prevent the salvation of any believer； however feeblethe
final safety of any living stone in that Church which is built upon the
rock； however small or insignificant that stone may appear。
The true Church is Christ's body。 Not one bone in that mystical body
shall ever be broken。The true Church is Christ's bride。 Those whom
God has joined in everlasting covenant； shall never be put
asunder。The true Church is Christ's flock。 When the lion came and
took a lamb out of David's flock； David arose and delivered the lamb
from his mouth。 Christ will do the same。 He is David's greater son。 Not
a single sick lamb in Christ's flock shall perish。 He will say to His
Father in the last day； 〃Of them which Thou gavest Me I have lost
none。〃 （John xviii。 9。）The true Church is the wheat of the earth。 It
may be sifted； winnowed； buffeted； tossed to and fro。 But not one grain
shall！ be lost。 The tares and chaff shall be burned。 The wheat shall be
gathered into the barn。The true Church is Christ's army。 The Captain
of our salvation loses none of His soldiers。 His plans are never
defeated。 His supplies never fail。 His muster…roll is the same at the
end as it was at the beginning。 Of the men that marched gallantly out
of England many years ago in the Crimean war； how many ever came back！
Regiments that went forth； strong and cheerful； with bands playing and
banners flying； laid their bones in a foreign land and never returned
to their native country。 But it is not so with Christ's army。 Not one
of His soldiers shall be missing at last。 He Himself declares； 〃They
shall never perish。〃 （John x。 28。）
The devil may cast some of the members of the true Church into prison。
He may kill； and burn； and torture； and hang。 But after he has killed
the body； there is nothing more that he can do。 He cannot hurt the
soul。 When the French troops took Rome years ago； they found on the
walls of a prison cell； under the Inquisition； the words of a prisoner。
Who he was； we know not。 But his words are worthy of remembrance。
〃Though dead； he yet speaketh。〃 He had written on the walls； very
likely after an unjust trial and a still more unjust exmunication；
the following striking words：〃Blessed Jesus； they cannot cast me out
of Thy true Church。〃 That record is true！ Not all the power of Satan
can cast out of Christ's true Church one single believer。
I trust that no reader of this paper will ever allow fear to prevent
his beginning to serve Christ。 He to whom you mit your soul has all
power in heaven and earth； and He will keep you。 He will never let you
be cast away。 Relatives may oppose。 Neighbours may mock。 The world may
slander； and ridicule； and jest； and sneer。 Fear not！ Fear not！ The
powers of hell shall never prevail against your soul。 Greater is He
that is for you； than all they that are against you。
Fear not for the Church of Christ when ministers die； and saints are
taken away。 Christ can ever maintain His own cause。 He will raise up
better servants and brighter stars。 The stars are all in His right
hand。 Leave off all anxious thought about the future。 Cease to be cast
down by the measures of statesmen； or the plots of wolves in sheep's
clothing。 Christ will ever provide for His own Church。 Christ will take
care that 〃The gates of hell shall not prevail against it。〃 All is
going on well； though our eyes may not see it。 The kingdoms of this
world shall yet bee the kingdoms of our God； and of His Christ。
I will now conclude this paper with a few words of practical
application。
（1） My first word of application shall be a question。 What shall that
question be？ What shall I ask？ I will return to the point with which I
began。 I will go back to the first sentence with which I opened my
paper。 I ask you； whether you are a member of the one true Church of
Christ？ Are you in the highest； the best sense； a 〃churchman〃 in the
sight of God？ You know now what I mean。 I look far beyond the Church of
England。 I am not speaking of church or chapel。 I speak of 〃the Church
built upon the rock。〃 I ask you； with all solemnityAre you a member
of that Church？ Are you joined to the great Foundation？ Are you on the
rock？ Have you received the Holy Ghost？ Does the Spirit witness w