Book II. c HR Is T THE ONLY F 0 u N D AT I 0 N. 431 M E T A P H 0 R. P A R A L L E L. VIII. When the FoundationVIII. Upon Chrift the Foundation are all BeStone or Bottom of the Building is lievers, as well hewed and fquared Stones, laid to laid, there are many Stones added build up the fpiritual Houfe, to whom coming as and joined to ir, and all the whole to a lzvrng Stone, difa/lowed indeed of Men, but Structure is united and fitted to the chojen of God and prcetous, ye alfo as ltvely Stone,; Foundation. are butlt up aJPzrttualHouje, &c. 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5, 6, 7• A)l the whole Superftructure being fitly framed, is united and joined to Chrift the Foundation by Faith and Obedience, Eph. ii. 2 r, 22. IX. The Foundation is the IX. The Lord J efus Chrift is the whole fironaefl: Part of the Houfe; ir-is Strength and only Support of the Church; all that ~hich bears up ant! fupports Saints rely and depend on him for Grace, Ri<>hte– the whole Fabrick. oufnefs, ] ufl:ification, Pardon of Sin, Safety~ Direction and eternal Life, I Cor. i. 30. In the Lord jhall one fay, I have Strength, !fa. xlv. 24. Be jlrong in the Lord, and in the J?ower of his Jvlight, Eph. vi. 10. Without me ye can do nothing, John xv. 7· X. There is Proportion between X. There is a Suitablenefs and Proportion be– theFoundation anc!Superftructure;; tween C!uifl: and the Church; as the Foundation you may judge of the Houfe for is holy, divine and fpiritual, excellent in Nature Matter and Form by the Foundaand Form; fo is the Houfe or Temple of God. tion thereof. XI. As theFoundarion beareth the Weight of the whole Fabrick and Structure; fo alfo the whole Furniture, and all which doth adorn it, is borne by it. XI. The Lord Jefus Chrift cloth not only bear the Weight of the whole Church, but alfo all that appertain to it, all the Pillars, Braces, Un– der-Props, and Supports, viz. the Prophets, Apof. ties, Minifters, &c. that are called Pillars in the Houle of God. He bears up the Covenant, the Covenant ftands firm in him; I have, faith God, made a Cove»ant with my Chojen, Pfal. lxxxix. 3· He is · the Mediator and Surety of it; all the Precepts of God are built upon him. He is the Foundation of every Ordinance, Appointment and Inlli– tution of the Gofpel. Whatever any Man preaches or practifes for Doctrine or Dif– cipline, that harh not its Rife, Ground, and Footing from Chril1 the Foundation, it ought to be calt away and utterly rejeCted and abominated as altogether unfit for God's Building. All the Promifes are built upon him. ToAbraham and his Seed, were the Promifes made, 11ot to Seeds, as if many, but to thy Seed, Gal. iii. J6. which i• Chrifl:, all the Promijes are in him yea, and in him Amen, &c. Union and Reconciliation with God are founded on Chrifl:, it is he who hath made Peace by the Blood of the Crofs, Eph. ii. 13, 14, rs, 16. When we were Enemies ·we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son, Rom. v. IO. ] uftification, Sanctifi– cation, Righteoufnefs and Redemption, Vocation, all are built upon him, they all have their Rife and Foundation from Chrifl:. Moreover, Pardon of Sin, and Peace of Con. fcience, are from him; Woman, thy Sins are forgiven thee, go in Peace I My Peace I give unto you. All Duties of Religion are built upon Chrift, it is he that hath com– manded every Thing that is to be done by us, whether it refpects the firft or fecond Table; all is to be done in Chrifl:'s Name by his Authority, and in his Strength, and by the Help of his Spirit, and to his Praife and Glory, Faith, Love, Hope, yea every Grace; and all Gifts of the Holy Ghoft which adorn the Soul and Houfe of God are from Chrifl:, they are purchafed by him, and do flow from him to us by the Spirit, Rom. v. r o, n. Again, the Miniftry is from him, he is the great SubjeCt of Gofpel– Miniftration. We preach Chrijf crucified, &c. The Efficacy of all is from him, he gives the Increafe. Lallly, Eternal Life is built upon him; '.This is ,the Record that God bath given to us eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son; He that bath the Son hatb Life, and he that bath not the Son, bath not Life, I John v. 11, I2. M E T A P H 0 R. D I S P A R I T Y. I. Q THER Foundations are laid I. THIS Foundation is but one whole entire with many Stones joined Stone, which adds to the Strength and andcemented together. Firm.nefs of it, Behold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, not Stones;-nothing befides Chrill, ~othing of our own, mull be built upon as a Foundation for Salvation, !fa, xxviii. I6. z I.I. Chrift
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