11 / 802
P
R
T
H
E
E
F
A
C E.
Tie
a
great
promilk concern
Mg
the
perfon
of
Chrifl,
as
he
woos
to
be
given
onto the church,
(
for.
he
was
a
child born,
a
ton
given
unto
us,
Ifa.
ix.
a.)
that
God
would
lay him
in Zion for
a
foundation,
a
Bone, a
trycd
Bone,
a
precious corner Bone,
a fore
foundation,
whereon he that believeth,
(hall
not
make
hafte,
Ifa.
xxviii. i
p.
let
was
it
alfo
foretold
concerning
him,
that
this
precious
foundation
fhould
be
for
a Bone
of
Bumbling, and for
a
rock
of
offence,
to both
the
houfes
of
Ifraelo for
a
gin, and for
a
fnare
unto
the
inhabitants
of
jerufalern.
So
as
that
many among
them
fhould Bumble and fall, and be broken, and
be
!hared,
and
be
taken,
Ifa.
viii. t
4.
15.
According unto
this
promife
and
prediílion,
it
h
th
f
o
t
in
all
ages
of
the
church,
as the
apo
/tle
Peter declares concerning
the r
of them
Wherefore
(faith
he)
alto itwas contained
in
the
fcripture, Behold
I lay
in Zion
a
chief comer
clone,
cieli
and precious, and
he that believethon him, lhall
not
be
confounded.
Unto
you therefore
which
believe,
he
is
precious
s
but unto
them
that
are
difobedient, the
Bone
which
the
builders difallowed,
the
fame
is
made
the
head
of
the
corner, and
a Bone
of
Bumbling, and
a rock
of
offence, even
unto them that Bumble at
the
word, being difobedient, whereunto alto they
were
appointed,
t Epi/ì. Chap.ii.
6,
8.
Unto them
that
believe unto
the
/lying of
the faul,
he is, he
always
bath
beenprecious ;
the
fen,
the
rock,
the
life,
the bread
of
their
fords, every
thing
that
is good,
2
feful,
amiable,
defzrable
here or
unto eternity.
In,
from, and
by
him, is
all
their
fpiritual
and
eternal
life,
light, power,
growth,
confolati-
im
and
joy
here,
with
everlafting
falvation
hereafter. By him
alone
do
they
defere,
expea and
obtain deliverance
from
that
woful
apoflacy
from
God,
which
is
accompanied
withal,
which containeth in
it
virtually and
meritori-
oufly,
whatever
is evil,
noxious
and
deftrullive
unto
our
nature, and which
without
relief will
ii
fue
in eternal
mifery. By
him are
they brought into
the
neareft cognation, alliance
and
friend¡hip
with
God,
the
firmeft
union
unto
him,
and the
moll
holy
communionwitb him,
that
our
finite natures
are
capable
of,
and
fo
condoned
unto
the
eternal
enjoyment
of
him.
For in him
(hall all
the
feed
of Ifrael
be
juftified,
and
Beall
glory,
Ifa.
i
5.
For
Ifrael
all