Book II. c H R I s T THE c 0 R N E R- s T 0 N E. 435 METAPHOR. the two Sides of the Houfe are fe– parated the one from the other. Ill. The Corner-Stone is for Di– recl:ion in a B"ilding, an Under– workman is to take Rule from hence. All other Stones mull: be laid level and even with that, not further out nor in. So that being fitly placed, they know how to proceed from thence. PARALLEL. ments all Believers together in one Body, Eph. ii. 14, ' 5· he makes them one, in mucual Love and Affection ; makes them all Partakers of the fame Grace, and Privileges and Salvation. Ill. Jefus Chrift is a Believer's Direction, he is our Rule by which we muft proceed in all fpi– ritual Things; that which is not done by Chrift's Command or Example, or by plain Rule and Di– rection from him,' mu ft be all undone and pulled down again ; all mull: run parallel "ith the Line of Chrifl:'s Doftrine or Example: L earn of me, Matt. xi. z8. And in another Place, faith he, have done to you, John xiii. I 5· Steps, I Pet. ii. Z I . I have given you an Example {hat ye jhould do as I Having left us an Example that we jhould follow his IV. The Corner-Stone preferves the Houfe; hence a Builder lays thong and firm Stones in the Cor– ner; for Experience lhews, that moO: of the dangerous Rubs and Hurts a Houfe i; expofed ro, ufu– ally fall upon the Corner of it, and that keeps offH urt andWrong, that otherwife the reO: of the Build– ing would fultain. IV. Chrifl: preferves the Church of God; he receives all the Rubs of Enemies in his own Per– fon, which had they met with us, would foon have broken us to pieces, and defaced our Souls. It is be who by his Strength keeps thofe great Dangers from us that we continually are expofed to from Satan, Sin, and wicked Men, and the Wrath of God. A ll our Strength and H elp is in him : What a great Mercy is it, that God the great Builder hath chofen fuch a fure Stone for the Corner ? 'fhou jhalt preferve me from 'froub!e, 0 Lord ; from the Hands of the Wicked preftrve me, from the violent Ma;z, who bath purpofed to overthrow my Goings, Pfal. xxxii. 7· and cxl. 4· V. As the Corner-Scones are the V. Chrifl: is the Beauty of all God's Building; ·ftron gefl: for bearing and prefervas he bears up and preferves, lo he beautifies like– ·ing, fo the fairefl:Stones for Beauty wife the Church, and all Believers. There would and Ornament. If the Cornerbe no Comelincfs in the Houfe of God, all would Stones be graceful, rich, and cube but as a deformed Heap, were it not for this riouny wrought, the whole BuildCorner-Stone. What is the Glory and Beauty of ing i' the more comely. Much the Saints to Jefus Chrifl:? He is fairer than the Art and CoO: is befl:owed on the Children of Men, Pfal. xlv. z. Ezek. xvi. I4· We Corner-Stones, they are better and have no Comelinefs but what he puts upon us. God more rich ufually than any others. hath fparcd no CoO: to place fuch a rare and choice Stone in the Corner. Chrifl: is the' Stone curi– ouny wrought, if I may fo fay, richly adorned with the Divine Nature, full of Grace and 'fruth, John i. If. MET APH OR. I. 0 THER Corner-Stones ofall material Buildings are ina– ·nimate,fenfelefs, and lifelefsThings. I!. Corner-Stones of a material H oufe, are falhioned and laid by Men. Ill. Other Stones may drop, or be drove out of the Building, or be b e greatly marred, defaced and fpoiled. IV. Corner-Stones in a material H oufe, as they lhengthen the Build– ing; fo they alfo receive Strength from the Building, and are fame Security to the Corner. D IS PAR IT Y. I. JESUS Chrifl: is a living Stone, he hath Life in himfelf, and communicates Life unto the whole Building; and from hence, Believers are called Lively Stones, 1 Pet. ii. 5· II. Chrifl: is both fan1ioned, polilhed and laid in the fpiritual Building by God himfelf; Behold, I lay in Zion a chief Cormr-Stone, I Pet. ii. 6. Ill. Chrifl: is a Stone that cannot b!! loafed nor disjointed, nor drove out of God's Houfe, by all the Skill of Men or Devils; nor can be marred, fpoiled, or any ways hurt. IV. Chrift the fpiritual Corner-Stone, receives no Strength from any Stone or Part of the Build– ing; what need bath he of H elp from any of his Saints?' What can weak Believers add of Sup– port to him? V. Chri(t
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