Note 37 — Introduction.

If Christ is so firm a foundation that not even the gates of hell can prevail against that which is built upon it, how very foolish, careless and imprudent are they who forsake this foundation, and build upon, and trust in, the vain things of this world! Certainly, everything under the sun, yea, all which our eyes behold, is vain and transitory. “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, . . . all is vanity,” Eccl. 1:2, understand: earthly things. But how much more vain are the sinful and evil things which God has forbidden, and concerning which he has warned us in his word, that we should have nothing to do with them! How great will be the fall of those who build upon these forbidden vanities! If we suffer damage, and complain, when a material house or building falls, because its foundation is not firm, how much greater loss will they sustain, and what greater reason will they have to lament, who will fall both in soul and body, without ever being able to rise again!