432 c HR Is T THE ONLY F 0 u N D AT I 0 N. Book II. MET AP HO R. !I. OtherFoundations are laid of fenfelefs, breathlefs Ston~ or Brick; Things that are natural, Things that are terreftrial, congealed into a malfy Lump, or artificially made and prepared. D IS PAR IT Y. II. Chri!l: is a living, lively, and active Spirit, hence ~~lled a living Stone, difallowed indeed ofMen, I Pet. 11. 4• 5· he created the Stones and DuO: of the Earth; as God, he hath his Bein" of himfdf and from everla!l:ing. not made nor c~eated. Ill. Other Foundations many Ill. Chrift being a livin" Stone, in whom is Times decay, and by that Means Spirit and Life, doth not, c;nnot decay; and by the whole Building is in danger, thts Means the Church of God, and every parn– and tumbles down. cular Soul that is built upon him, O:ands fure; he transforms the Butlding into his own Nature, and fo keeps and preferves it from Rottennefs and all manner of Decays whatfoever. Liv– ing Things do not rot nor putrify, as other Things do. And as the Body by Joints and Ban~s from the Head bath Nourifhment miniftered and knit togethtr,groweth m1d increaf– eth in Strength and Beauty, Col. ii. I9· fo is it with the glorious Body, the Church and Soul of a true Believer, that is joined to Chrift this bldfed Head and living Founda– tion; Becaufe I live, ye jha/1/ive a!fo, John xiv. 1 9· IV. Other Foundations are laid IV. Chrift is laid as a Foundation for us, and by fome Man ; for as Man builds in our Souls, by the Father; it is God's A<'l: and the Houfe, fo he it is that firft lays not our own; Behold, I lay in Zion, &c. Who the Foundation thereof. can lay Chrift for a Foundation but God? Ho was firft laid by God in his Decree, and then he laid him by the Prophets -and Apoftles. And laftly, by the Spirit alfo, is he laid in the Hearts of Believers. Chrift is infinite. How can a finite Hand or Power move an infinite Being or Thing? God firft removes or razes by his Spirit all other Foun– dations; he takes Man's Hopes off Heaven, by his own Works, legal Convi<'l:ion, Tears, Humiliations, Vows, Covenants, Refolutions, &c. and in the place and room of all, lays Chrift crucified, as rhe Ground of Hope and Happinefs.-Hence is all Boa!l:ing excluded, and Salvation wholly of Grace, Rom. iii. 2. See Mr. 'Iilling– hu.ft, Chrift the only Foundation. V. Other Foundations are laid of Stones of little Value and Worth comparatively; the Foun– dation of a Houfe is not laid with precious Stones, asJafper, Sapphire, Beryl, Jacinth, Amethy.ft, Diamond, &c. V. Chri!l: the fpiritual Foundation is a pre– cious Stone, to whom eoming as to a living Stone, difallowed indeed of Men, but chofen of God and precious, Chri!t is not a common Stone, but a choice rich Stone, a Stone of ine!l:imable Value, and Price ; Behold, I laJ in Zion for a Founda– tion, a Stone, cleft and precious, lfa. xxviii. 16. r Pet. ii. 6. This fets forth the Excellency of a Fomidation, and not only fo, but it adds a Lu!l:re and Glory to the Houfe which i• built upon it. The Foundation of New Jerufalem is faid to be laid with all manner of precious Stones; and then you read of the Excellency of the Super!l:rutlure, the Building of the Wall was of Jafper, and the City was of pure Go':/, Rev. x~t. I 8. 0 how glorious muft that City needs be, that hath fuch a Foundauon as C!m!l: ts! and not only fo, but how durable alfo are fame precious Stones : The Diamond is the harde!l: Stone, it cuts Glafs, there is nothing, as Naturali!l:s fay, can break it; Jefus C brill: makes Impreffion on the hard Hearts of Men by his Graces ; 0 then how fafe muft it of neceffity be for us to build upon this Foundation! VI. A Foundation is often reVI. Chri!l: is the only Foundation: As he ·is moved fault beinu- found with ir, every way fit and meet to.be laid in the Bottom and an~ther laid ~ the room of of the Building, fo he is without Fault ; And no it ; a Man may remove a Faunother Foundation can be laid, than tb.~t which is dation whi:h he hath laid at his laid, which is Chri.ft Jefus, I Cor. m. I r. But pleafure, or may lay more Founthough we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any dations than one.. other Gojpel to you than what we have preached tmlo you, let him be accurfed, Gal. i. 8. VII. Other Foundations may be lhaken, an Earthquake may re– move them out oftheir Place. VII. Chrift is a Foundation that can never be lhaken, the greate!l: Revolutions, Mutations, Changings, Turnings and Over-turnings that can come, cannot ov.rrurn this Foundauon, nor remove
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