V6R.20. Epheflans, Chap.2. Corner- ft.me.,one matter expreffedby divers termes. Now then here are two things to be marked. 1. The building of the Ephefians. z. The thingon which theyare built. The thing is laid downe, n. By a circumftance; a. In exprefte words: as if he fhould fay; thus you come to be from what time the eff&uall preachingofthe Gofpell did bring you to faith, did lay you and build you onChrift, the onely foundation , which the Apoftles and Prophets preaching and writing doth lay, vi7 Chril; for Chrift alone is the Corner - honeor foundation, there can bee no o- ther layd , Chrift only being he who doth beare up all the building, which isa propertyofevery foundation. First, then the figurative fpeech, that the beleeving are Paid to bee Doff. r: built, it doth give us to confider of that property of faith which doth i an ngsorre make us to leant on ChriIt, as the building leaneth on the foundation;' lying on it is called therefore leaning or relying our felves on God , a flaying thrift. on God, Ifay. 5.1o: atrulingtnGod, Illy. 26.3. Pràv.3.5. Trail in the Lord with all thine heart, and leant not unte thy owne wifdome: Commit thy way to the Lord: Roll thyPelfandallthy affayres uponhim:this is it which doth bring us to bee ofGods houfhold ; therefore calleda houf"hold offaith; Whofe howl you are, ifyet hold fall your confidence, Heb. 3.6. Our faith muffnot be a fwimming conceit, but an aftu- ranee, making us flay on our God. Secondly obferve, that the Church is built on Chtift; On this rock Doig;i; will! buildmy Church ; which dot ?1 let us fee the {table condition of onchri;abuth every beleeving foule: the firmeneffeof the houle is according to the onchrilt. y ; g Matb.tó. tg. furenefte of the foundation: and therefore fuch thingsas are rearedon lands, they ftand not, but the houle built upon the rock, that is im- moveable,and therefore ourSaviour hence teacheth how impregna- blehis Church is, becaufe it is built on himfclfe: Hell fball not prevaile againfl it: They that trufl in the Lord [hallbe as mount Zion which cannot bee moved, but remaineth for ever, Pfalm. 125. r. This is it wee find in our felves for the waves would difperfe us afunder, and formes would overwhelms us , but that this foundation doth break them, and beare us up. Perfecution , Herefies, flagitious ex- amples, Crones, Terrours within , Evills without, all thefe would overcomeus. !fay. 54.17. v1U the weapons that are made againfl thee, fball notpro/her. To let usfee, that our landing is fare: Lookeas Paulfaid, 2. Cor.4. p r: 8, 9. Weareafftitled onevery fide, yet are wee not in difireffe; in poverty, Standing of but not overcome: perfeeuted, but not forfaken: call down, but wee peri fh uheittians is not : and as Davidfaith, Pfal. 73. z6. When heart andfie' fayleth, yet God is thefirengeh ofmine heart, and my portionfor ever : So is it with us, we find it by experience , we may be fhaken, but wee have too good a ground-worke to fall : fhaking houfes fand furef, they fay. Secondly, it cloth teachus, that there is no lability in the wicked, /j 2. they arewithout a foundation ; the wickedis ai the duff,chaffe,Rabble: Wicked men And therefore all the greatthings of the world are extinél as if they i an"a. had
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=