A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 39
Christ the only Foundation.
Isa. 28.16.
Behold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone, a tryed Stone, a precious Corner-Stone, a sure Foundation, &c.
1 Cor. 3.11.
For other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
THis Term Foundation is Relative, it relates to a House; the Metaphor is taken from Architects. The Church of God is compared to a House or Building, and Jesus Christ to the Foundation thereof: the Greek foreign, from foreign, to put or place, metaphorically denotes the chief, head, or principal thing, without which, what depends upon it cannot subsist, no more than a Structure without a Foundation. Metaphora a Fundamentis aedificiorum sumpta, quae firma & immota esse opportet. Victorin. Shigel. in Nov. Test.
METAPHOR.
I. A Foundation, of a House or Building is the Contrivance of a wise and skilful Architect, or chief Master-Builder.
II. A Foundation as to the Form, Manner and Dimension of it, is agreed upon, and laid out by the chief Master-Builder.
III. A Foundation is the first part of a Building; 'tis laid before the Superstructure can be raised; 'tis the bottom of the whole Fabrick▪
IV. A Foundation of a stately Structure is laid deep, and much of it is out of sight, and hard to find the Bottom of it.
V. A Foundation of a House must be laid of suitable Matter, or that which is sure and safe to build a Superstructure upon; hence the Foundation is usually laid with Stone, if a stately House, because durable.
VI. A Foundation of a stately Structure or Building is laid with tried Stones, such Stones that the Builder knoweth the Nature and Temper of, and not only so, but to be sure he oft-times proves them himself with the Hammer, and sets his Servants to prove and try them likewise.
VII. A Foundation is a necessary part of a Building; there can be no House built without a Foundation. And it is very dangerous to build upon a false and rotten Foundation, witness the overthrow of the House built upon the Sand.Mat. 7.27.
VIII. When the Foundation-stone or Bottom of the Building is laid, there are many Stones added and joyned to it, and all the whole Structure is united and fitted to the Foundation.
IX. The Foundation is the strongest part of the House; it is that which bears up and supports the whole Fabrick.
X. There is Proportion between the Foundation and Superstructure; you may judg of the House for Matter and Form by the Foundation thereof.
XI. As the Foundation beareth the weight of the whole Fabrick and Structure; so also the whole Furniture, and all which doth adorn it, is born by it.
Parallel.
I. THe Lord Jesus, the Spiritual Foundation, is the glorious Contrivance of the eternal God, who is the wise, and chief Master-Builder of Heaven and Earth.Heb. 3.4.
II. The Father having chosen Christ, God-man, for this glorious Design, laid him for a Foundation, in his eternal Decree; and brought him forth and manifested him to the World, for all Men that would be saved to build upon, Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, &c.Isa. 28.16.
II. Jesus Christ is first proposed to Sinners by the Father, as the Pillar or Foundation of Grace and Salvation. If he had not been found out as a Foundation for the Saints and Church of God to be built upon, how could the House of God have been raised? hence Christ was by Decree and Promise very early laid;Gen. 3.15▪ The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head. The Lord Jesus Christ is laid as the Bottom of our Justification, the Bottom of our Pardon, Peace, and Salvation.
IV. Christ the Spiritual Foundation was laid in the deep and hidden Counsels of the glorious Trinity. Who is able to find out the Bottoms and see the depths of that eternal Purpose and Decree of God, being so mysteriously laid for a Foundation!
V. The Lord Jesus Christ is suitable and fit for a Foundation, he is called a Rock; to build upon a Rock, is safe;Mat. 16.18. 1 Co. 10▪ 4. Isa. 28.16. and he is called a Stone, I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone. The Father saw that the Lord Jesus would be every way fit and meet to erect that glorious Building, and heavenly Structure of the Church and our everlasting Salvation upon.
VI. Christ is a tried Stone, therefore called a sure Foundation. Isa. 28.16.God the Father will adventure to build his Church upon Christ, and venture him with his Covenant as Mediator and Surety of it, and all with him, he is a chosen and select Stone, pick'd out from amongst Men and Angels; and no… only so, but also a tryed 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 tryed to the utmost, and found by the Saints in all Ages a safe and sure Foundation, he never fail'd any that built their Hope and Salvation upon him.
VII. Christ the Foundation must be laid, or down will the Building go; Salvation is to be had no other way; if Men do not build and rely only upon him, their Foundation will deceive them, they will fall into Hell. Let their Structure seem never so famous; they refusing this sure Rock, build upon the Sands, and their House will fall, Mat. 7.27. 1 Cor. 3.11. Joh. 8.22.for another Foundation can no Man lay. If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall dye in your Sins.
VIII. Upon Christ the Foundation are all Believers, as well hewed and squared Stones, laid to build up the spiritual House, to whom coming as to a living Stone, disallowed indeed of Men, 1 Pet. 2.4, 5, 6, 7.but chosen of God and precious, ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual House, &c. All the whole Superstructure being fitly framed, is united and joyned to Christ the Foundation by Faith and Obedience.Eph. 2.20, 21, 22.
IX. The Lord Jesus Christ is the whole Strength and only Support of the Church; all Saints rely and depend on him for Grace, Righteousness, Justification,1 Co. 1.30 Pardon of Sin, Safety,Isa 45 24. Eph. 6 10. Joh. 15.7. Direction and eternal Life. In the Lord shall one say▪ I have Strength; be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might; without me ye can do nothing.
X. There is a Suitableness and Proportion between Christ and the Church; as the Foundation is Holy, Divine and Spiritual, excellent in Nature and Form; so is the House or Temple of God.
XI. The Lord Jesus Christ doth not only bear the weight of the whole Church, but also all that appertain to it, all the Pillars, Braces, under-props and supports, viz. the Prophets, Apostles, Ministers, &c. that are called Pillars in the House of God. He bears up the Covenant, the Covenant stands firm in him; I have, saith God, made a Covenant with my Chosen: He is the Mediator and Surety of it;Psal. 89.3. all the Precepts of God are built upon him. He is the Foundation of every Ordinance, Appointment and Institution of the Gospel. What ever any Man preaches or practises for Doctrine or Discipline, that hath not its Rise, Ground, and footing from Christ the Foundation, it ought to be cast away and utterly rejected and abominated as altogether unfit for Gods Building. All the Promises are built upon him. To Abraham and his Seed, were the Promises made, not to Seeds, as if many, but to thy Seed, G…l. 3.16.which is Christ, all the Promises are in him yea, and in him Amen, &c.
Union and Reconciliation with God are founded on Christ, 'tis he who hath made Peace by the Blood of the Cross.Eph. 2, 13, 14, 15, 16. Rom. 5.10 When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, Justification, Sanctification, Righteousness and Redemption, Vocation, all are built upon him, they all have their Rise and Foundation from Christ. Moreover, Pardon of Sin, and Peace of Conscience, are from him; Woman, thy Sins are forgiven thee, go in Peace! My Peace I give unto you.2 Cor. 1.20 2 Cor. 5.18, 19. All Duties of Religion are built upon Christ, it is he that hath commanded every thing that is to be done by us, whether it respects the first or second Table; all is to be done in Christ's Name by his Authority, and in his Strength, and by the help of his Spirit, and to his Praise and Glory, Faith, Love, Hope, yea every Grace; and all Gifts of the Holy Ghost which adorn the Soul and House of God are from Christ, they are purchased by him, and do flow from him to us by the Spirit. Again, the Ministry is from him,Rom. 5.10, 11. he is the great Subject of Gospel-Ministration, We preach Christ crucified, &c. The Efficacy of all is from him, he gives the Encrease. Lastly, Eternal Life is built upon him;Col. 1.20, 21. This is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son; He that hath the Son, hath Life, and he that hath not the Son, hath not Life. 1 Joh. 5.11, 12.
METAPHOR.
I. OTher Foundations are laid with many Stones joyned and cemented together.
II. Other Foundations are laid of sensless breathless Stone or Brick; things that are natural, things that are terrestrial congealed into a massy lump, or artificially made and prepared.
III. Other Foundations many times decay, and by that means the whole Building is in danger, and tumbles down.
IV. Other Foundations are laid by some Man; for as Man builds the House, so he it is that first lays the Foundation thereof.
V. Other Foundations are laid of Stones of little Value and Worth comparatively; the Foundation of a House is not laid with precious Stones, as Jasper, Saphyr, Beril, Jacinth, Amythist, Diamond, &c.
VI. A Foundation is often removed, fault being found with it, and another laid in the room of it; a Man may remove a Foundation which he hath laid at his pleasure, or may lay more Foundations than one.
VII. Other Foundations may be shaken, an Earthquake may remove them out of their place.
VIII. Other Foundation cannot preserve the House that is built upon it, that may be totally demolished and destroyed, and yet the Foundation may remain.
Disparity.
I. THis Foundation is but one whole entire Stone, which adds to the Strength and Firmness of it, Behold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, Isa. 28.16.not Stones; nothing besides Christ, nothing of our own, must be built upon as a Foundation for Salvation.
II. Christ is a living, lively, and active Spirit, hence called a living Stone, disallowed indeed of Men;1 Pet. 2.4, 5. he created the Stones and Dust of the Earth; as God, he hath his Being of himself and from everlasting, not made nor created.
III. Christ being a living Stone, in whom is Spirit and Life, doth not, cannot decay; and by this means the Church of God, and every particular. Soul that is built upon him, stands sure; he transforms the Building into his own nature, and so keeps and preserves it from Rottenness and all manner of Decays whatsoever. Living things do not rot nor putrifie, as other things do. And as the Body by Joynts and Bands from the Head hath Nourishment ministred and knit together, groweth and encreaseth in Strength and Beauty;Col. 2.19. so is it with the glorious Body, the Church and Soul of a true Believer, that is joyned to Christ this blessed Head and living Foundation; Because I live, ye shall live also.Joh. 14.19.
IV. Christ is laid as a Foundation for us, and in our Souls, by the Father; 'tis God's Act and not our own; Behold, I lay in Zion, &c. Who can lay Christ for a Foundation but God? He was first laid by God in his Decree, and then he laid him by the Prophets and Apostles. And lastly, by the Spirit also, is he laid in the Hearts of Believers. Christ is infinite. How can a finite Hand or Power move an infinite Being or Thing? God first removes or razes by his Spirit all other Foundations; he takes of Man's hopes off Heaven, by his own Works, Legal Conviction, Tears, Humiliations, Vows, Covenants, Resolutions, &c. and in the place and room of all, lays Christ crucified, as the ground of Hope and Happiness.—Hence is all Boasting excluded, and Salvation wholly of Grace. See Mr. Tillinghust, Christ the only Foundation.Rom. 3.2
V. Christ the Spiritual Foundation is a precious Stone, to whom coming as to a living Stone, disallowed indeed of Men, 1 Pet. 2.6.but chosen of God and precious; Christ is not a common Stone, but a choice rich Stone, a Stone of inestimable Value, and Price; Behold, Isa 28.16.I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone, elect and precious. This sets forth the Excellency of a Foundation, and not only so, but it adds a Lustre and Glory to the House which is built upon it. The Foundation of New Jerusalem is said to be laid with all manner of precious Stones; and then you read of the Excellency of the Superstructure, the Building of the Wall was Jasper, Rev. 21.18and the City was of pure Gold: O how glorious must that City needs be, that hath such a Foundation as Christ is! and not only so, but how durable also are some precious Stone: The Diamond is the hardest Stone, it cuts Glass, there is nothing, as Naturalists say, can break it; Jesus Christ makes Impression on the hard hearts of Men by his Graces; O then how safe must it of necessity be for us to build upon this Foundation!
VI. Christ is the only Foundation: as he is every way fit and meet to be laid in the bottom of the Building, so he is without Fault;1 Cor. 3.11▪ And no other Foundation can be laid, than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. But though we, or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached unto you, let him be accursed: Gal. 1.8.
VII. Christ is a Foundation that can never be shaken, the greatest Revolutions, Mutations, Changings, Turnings and Over-turnings that can come, cannot over-turn this Foundation, nor remove it out of its place. Foundations of Kingdoms,Heb. 12.28. Nations, Commonwealths and Constitutions of Antichristian Churches, may, and shall be shaken; but Christ the Foundation of the true Church shall abide for ever.
VIII. Christ the Spiritual Foundation is able to uphold and preserve the H…use or Soul that is built upon him; I know whom I have believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him. 2 Tim. 1.12.Ʋpon this Rock I will build my Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it: Mat. 16.18.
Inferences.
I. THis informs us of the great Wisdom and Condescension of God, in contriving such a blessed Foundation for the Church and all true Believers to build upon; it was the purpose of God to found his Temple upon a sure Basis, even the Rock Christ Jesus.
II. It also sets forth the happy and glorious State of the House of God; what can add greater Glory to it, than to have a Foundation so precious, lasting, and permanent!
III. It shews the Honour and Excellency of Gospel-Ministration; Ministers do not only propound Christ, but in a subordinate sence, in the Ministry of the Word may be said to lay Christ as a Foundation; Hence Paul saith, I have laid the Foundation, &c. for we are Labourers together with God: 1 Cor. 3.9, 10.
IV. It reproves those that lay aside and reject this Foundation, and build upon others; as,
1. The Papists, that build upon Peter, and on their own Merits; and what their Merits are, England and other Nations can soon resolve.
2. The Quakers, who build upon the Light of Natural Conscience; they refuse the Person of Christ, and the valuable Price of his Blood, and introduce in his room an inward Quality, viz. that Beam of Light that shines in Men from Jesus Christ,Joh. 1.9. considered as Creator.
3. Such as build but in part on Christ, come justly under the verge of this use of Reprehension, because they do not lay all the stress and hope of their Salvation upon this Foundation.
V. It serves also to put Men and Women upon Trial, to see whether the Lord Christ be their only Foundation or not.
1. Do you really remove your selves off all other Foundations?
2. Do you not build on, nor confide in Pharisaical Righteousness, even a Righteousness of your own.Mat. 5 20.
3. Do you not build upon Federal Holiness, and upon Birth-Privileges; think not to say within your selves, Mat. 3.9.We have Abraham to our Father.
4. Do you not build upon Legal Conviction, or outward Reformation.
5. Do you not build upon a bare believing the History of the Gospel, upon the Faith of Credence.
6. Do you not build upon a Confession of Sin?
7. Do you not build upon outward Priviledges, upon visible Church-Membership, and External Ordinances;Mat. 25.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. remember the Foolish Virgins.
8. Do you not build barely on the Mercy of God, not well considering he is just as well as gracious,Exod. 34.6, 7. and will not acquit the guilty, notwithstanding your Repentance and moral Righteousness, without the Atonement made by the Blood of Christ.
9. Do you not build upon present Purposes and Resolutions to change your ways and course of Life hereafter: is not this that which supports and stays your Minds?
10. Do you not build upon Learning, Parts, and that Knowledg you have in Divine Things above others.See Mr. Tillingh.
11. Do you not build upon Men, Ministers, the Church; taking all upon Trust that such and such Doctors and able Divines say.
VI. This may caution all Preachers of the Gospel, to take heed how, and what they build. Upon this Foundation if they build Wood, Hay, or Stubble they will suffer Loss. Let them be very careful they preach nothing for Doctrine but what Christ hath given in Commission, and receive none, lay none into the Building but living Stones, such as are well hew'd and squar'd, and fitted by the Spirit and Word for the Spiritual Building: for God's Temple must be built with Gold, Silver, and precious Stones.
VII. Let all such that are not built upon this sure Foundation, be exhorted with all speed to get an Interest in this Rock: for otherwise your Building will be on the Sand, and you will fall into the lowest Hell at last.
VIII. It demonstrates the happy State of those that are built upon this sure Foundation, the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone, in whom all the Building, Col 2.9. Eph. 2.21, 22.&c. And let all those that speak the Truth grow up in Love unto him in all things, who is the Head Labour, to be well fixed, cemented and united to this Foundation, that you may be established in the Faith.
IX. And lastly, This may comfort the Godly in the worst of Times; for as it is a Foundation of God's laying, and of so excellent a nature in its self, you may be sure 'tis not in the Power of Men nor Devils to raze or destroy it; be sure you shall be saved, whoever you are, that build in a right manner on the Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ.