c HR Is T THE ONLY F 0 u N D AT I 0 N. Book !I. metaphorically denotes the chief, head, or principa1 Thing, without which, what de– pends upon it cannot fubfill:, no more than a SrruEture without a Foundation. Me:a– phora a Fundamentis ,edificiorum fumpta, ·qu,r firma & immota eJfe oportet. ViCI:orin. Shigel. in Nov. Tell:. MET A PH 0 R. I . A Foundation, of a Houfe or Building is the Contrivance of a wife and fkilful Architect, or chief Ma!ler-Builder. 11. A Foundation as to the Form, Manner and Dimenfion of it, is agreed upon, and laid out by the chief Mafrer-Builder. PARALLEL. I. THE Lord Jefus, the fpiritual Foundation, is the glorious Contrivance of the eternal God, who is the wife, and chief Mall:er-Builder of Heaven and Earth, Heb. iii. 4· !I. The Father having chofen Chrill:, God– man, for this glorious DeGgn, laid him for a Foundation, in his eternal Decree; and broucrht him forth and manifell:ed him to the World, for all Men that would be faved to build upon, Be– hold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, &c. Ifa. xxviii. I 6. Ill. A Foundation. is the firll: lll. J efus Chrill: is firll: propofed to Sinners by Dart of a Butldtng; It IS latd bethe Father, as the Ptllar and Foundation of Grace fore the Superll:ruEture can be raifand Salvation. If he had not been found out as ed; it is the Bottom of the whole a Foundation for the Saints and Church of Fabrick. God to be built upon, how could the Houfe of God have been raifed ? hence Chrill: was by De– cree and Promife very early laid. '!'he Seed of the Woman jha/1 break the Serpent's Head, Gen. iii. I5· The Lord Jefus Chrifr is laid as the Bottom of our Jufrification, the Bot– tom of our Pardon, Peace, and Salvation. IV. A Foundation of a frately IV. Chrill: the fpiritual Foundation was laid in StruCture is laid deep, and much the deep and hidden Counfels of the glorious Tri– of. it is out of Sight, and hard to nity. Who is able to find out the Bottoms and fee find the Bottom of it. the Depths of that eternal.Purpofe and Decree of V. A Foundation of a Houfe mufr be laid of fuitable Matter, or that which is fme and fafe to build a Superfrtucture upon; hence the Foundation is ufually laid with Stone, if a frately Houfe, becaufe durable. - VI. A Foundation of a ftarely Strut'lure or Building is laid with tried Stones, fuch Stones that the Builder knoweth the Nature and Temper of, and not only fo, bm to be fure,he oft-times proves them himfelf with the Hammer, and fets his Servants to prove and try them likewife. God, being fo myfreriouOy laid for a Foundation. V. The Lord Jefus Chrill: is fuitable and fit for a Foundation, he is called .a Rock; to build upon a Rock, is fafe, Matt. xvi. I8. 1Cor. x. 4· and he is called a Stone, I lay in Zion for a Founda– tion, a Stone, Ifa. xxviii. I 6. The Father faw that the Lord J efus would be every way fit and meet to ereEt that glorious Building, and heavenly Structure of the Church and our everla!ting Salvation upon. VI. Chrill: is a tried Stone, therefore called a Jure Foundation, Ifa. xxviii. I 6. God the farher will adventure to build his Chmch upon Chrifr, and venture him with his Covenant as Mediator– and Surety of it, and all with him, he is a chofen and feleEt Stone, picked out from amongll: Men a.nd Angels; and not only fo, but alfo a tried Stone, he hath been in the furnace of his Father's Wrath, and under God's Hammer, and under great Temptation from Men and Satan; he was tried to the utmo!l:, and found by the Saints in all Ages a fafe and fure Foundation, he never failed any that built their Hope and Salvation upon him. VII. A Foundation is a necefVII. Chrill: the Foundation mull: be laid, or fary Part of a Building; there can down will the ?uilding go; Salvation is to be had be no Houfe built without a Founno other way; tf Men do not bmld and rely only dation. And it is very dangerous upon him, their Foundation will deceive them, to build upon a falfe and rotten they will fall mto Hell. Let thetr Structure feem Foundation, witnefs the Overthrow never fo famous; they refufing thts fmeRock,butld of the Houfe built upon the Sand, upon the Sands, and their Houfe willfall,for another Matt. vii. 27. Foundation cmt no Ma1tlay, Matt. v11. 27. I Cor. iii. I 1. If ye believe not that I am be, yeJhall dt~ in your Sins, John viii. 24. ym. Upon
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