Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 1, Chapter 2 · Verse 6
Verse 6.
Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
THat which is the chief of the works of God, is therefore very reasonably the chief Subject of his word, as both most excellent in it self, and of most concernment for us to know.
And this is the saving of lost Mankind by his Son. therefore is his name as precious Ointment or perfume diffus'd through the whole Scriptures, all these holy leaves smell of it, not only those that were written after his coming, but those before. Search the Scriptures, sayes he himself, for they testify of of me. Namely, the Scriptures of the Old Testament which were only then written, and to evidence this, both himself, and his Apostles make so frequent use of their testimony, and we find so much of them inserted into the New, as being both one in substance, their lines meeting in the same Jesus Christ as their center.
The Apostle here, having express'd the happy Estate and Dignity of Christians under a double notion. 1. Of a Spiritual House or Temple. 2. Of a Spiritual Priesthood, he amplifies and confirmes both from the Writings of the Prophets. The former Verse 6, 7, 8. The latter Verse 9. These places that he cites, touching this building are most pertinent, for they have clearly in them, all that he spoke of it, both concerning the foundation, and the Edifice, as the first in these words of Esay 28.16. Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone, &c.
Let this commend the Scriptures much to our diligence, and affection, that their great Theme is our Redeemer, and Redemption wrought by him, that they contain the Doctrine of his excellencies, are the lively picture of his matchless beauty; were we more in them, we would daily see more of him in them and so of necessity love him more, but we must look within them, the Letter is but the case; the Spiritual sense is that we should desire to see: We usualy huddle them over, and see no further than their outside, and therefore, find so little sweetness in them, we read them, but we search them not, as he requires. Would we digg into those Golden Mines, we would find treasures of comfort that cannot be spent, but would furnish us in the hardest times.
The prophecy here cited, if we look upon it in its own place, we shall find it cast in, in the middle of a very sad denounciation of judgement against the Jewes. And this is usual with the Prophets, particularly with this Evangelicall Prophet Esay, to uphold the spirits of the godly, in the worst times, with this one great consolation, the promise of the Messiah; as weighing down all, both temporal distresses, and deliverances. Hence are those sudden ascents (so frequent in the Prophets) from their present subject to this great hope of Israel. And if this expectation of a Saviour was so pertinent a comfort in all estates, so many ages before the accomplishment of it, how wrongfully do we undervalue it being accomplish'd, that cannot live upon it, and answer all with it, sweeten all our griefs in this advantage, that there is a foundation stone laid in Sion, on which they that are builded shall be sure not to be ashamed.
In the words there are 4 things. 1. This foundation stone. 2. The laying of it. 3. The building on it. 4. The greatness and Excellency of the work.
1. For the foundation called here a Cheif corner stone, Though the Prophet's words are not precisely render'd, yet the substance, and sense is one: There, both the foundation and corner stone is express'd, the corner stone in the foundation being the main support of the building, and throughout the corner stones uniting and knitting the building together; and therefore this same word of a corner, is frequently taken in Scripture for Princes, or Heads of people: Iud. 20.2. 1 Sam. 14.38. because good governours, and government are that, which upholds, and unites the societies of people in states or kingdomes, as one building. And Jesus Christ is indeed the alone head, and King of his Church, that gives it lawes, and rules it in wisdom, and righteousness, the alone rock on which his Church is built, not Peter, if we will bel…eve S. Peter himself, as here he teaches us, much less his pretended Successors; he is the foundation, and corner stone that knitts together the walls of Jews and Gentiles, having made of both one, as S. Paul speaks, and unites the whole number of believers into one everlasting temple, and bears the weight of the whole fabrick.
Elected] or chosen out for the purpose, and altogether fit for it, Isaiah hath it, a stone of triall, or a tryed stone: As things amongst Men are best chosen, after trial, so Jesus Christ certainly known by the father, as most fit for that work, to which he chose him before he try'd him, as after upon tryal in his Life, and death, and resurrection he prov'd fully answerable to his fathers purpose, in all that was appointed him.
All the stre…gth of Angels combin'd had not suffic'd for that business, but the wise architect of this building, knew both what it would cost, and what a foundation was needful to bear so great, and so lasting a structure as he intended. Sin having defac'd, and demolish'd, the first building of Man in th' integrity of his creation, it was Gods design out of the very ruines of fallen Man to raise a more lasting edifice, than the former one, that should not be subject to decay, and therefore fitted a foundation, that might be everlasting: The sure founding is the main, therefore that it might stand for the true honour of his Majesty (which Nebuchadnezzar vainly boasted of his Babel) he chose his own son, made flesh; he was God that he might be a strong foundation, he was Man that he might be sutable to the nature of the stones whereof the building was to consist, that they might joyn and cement together.
Precious] Inestimably precious, by all the conditions that can give worth to any, by rareness, and by inward excellency, and useful vertues. Rare he is out of doubt, there is not such a person in the world again. Therefore called by the same Prophet, wonderful, full of wonders, the power of God, and the frailty of Man dwelling together in his person the ancient of dayes, becoming an Infant: He that stretch'd forth the Heavens, bound up in swadling cloaths in that his Infancy; and in his full age, stretch'd forth on the crosse; altogether spotless, and Innocent, and yet suffering, not only the unjust cruelties of Men; but the just wrath of God his Father; the Lord of life, and yet dying. His excellency appears in the same things, In that he is the Lord of life, God blessed for ever, equal with the father; the sparkling brightness of this precious stone is no less, than this, that he is the brightness of the fathers glory; so bright, that Men could not have beheld him appearing in himself, therefore he vailed it with our flesh, and yet through that, it shined, and sparkled so, that the Apostle S. Iohn saves of himself, and those others that had eyes opened, and look'd right upon him, he dwelt amongst us, and he had a …ent like ours, and yet through that, wee saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten son of God, full of grace and truth. The Deity filling his humane nature with all manner of grace, in its highest perfection. And not only thus Excellent in himself; but of precious vertue, which he lets forth, and imparts to others, of such vertue, that a touch of him is the only cure of Spiritual diseases: Men tell of strange vertues of some stones, but it is certain, that this precious stone, hath not only vertue to heal the Sick, but even to raise the dead. Dead bodies he raised in the dayes of his abode on earth, and dead Souls he still doth raise by the power of his word. The Prophet Malachy calls him, the sun of righteousness, which hath in it the rareness, and excellency we speak; of he is singular, as there is but one Sun in the world, so but one Saviour, and his lustre such a stone, as outshines the Sun in its fullest brightness; and then for his usefull vertue, he addes, that he hath healing under his wings, this his worth is unspeakable, and remains infinitely beyond all these resemblances.
2 There is here the laying of this foundation, and its said to be laid in Sion, that is, it is laid in the Church of God, and first laid in Sion literaly, being then the seat of the Church and true Religion, he was laid there, in his manifestation in the flesh, and suffering, and dying, and rising again, and afterwards being preached through the world, became the foundation of his Church in all places where his name was receiv'd, and so was a stone growing great till it fill'd the whole earth, as Daniel hath it.
He saith, I lay, by which the Lord expresseth this his own proper work, as the Psalmist speaks of the same subject. Psa. 118. This is the Lords doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. So Isa. 9.7. Speaking of this promis'd Messiah, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
And this is not only said I lay because he had the first thought of this great work, the model of it was in his mind from eternity, and that the accomplishment of it was by his Almighty power in the morning of his Sons birth, and his Life, and death, and Resurrection, but to signify withal the freeness of his grace, in giving his Son, to be a foundation of happiness to Man, without the least motion from Man▪ or motive in Man, to draw him to't; and this seem's to be signified by the unexpected inserting of these prophetical promises of the Messiah, in the midst of complaints of people's wickedness, and theatning them with punishment, intimating that there is no connexion betwixt this work and any thing on Mans part, fit to procure it; although you doe thus provoke me to destroy you, yet of my self I have other thoughts, there's another purpose in my head. And Isi. 7. 'tis observable to this purpose, that, that clearest promise of the virgin's son, is given▪ not only unrequir'd, but being refus'd by that profane King.
This again, that the Lord himself is the layer of this corner stone, teaches us, the firmness of it, which is likewise expres'd in the Prophets words very emphatically by redoubling the same word, Musad, Musad; fundamentum, fundamentum.
So Psal. 2.6. I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion, who then shall dethrone him? I have given him the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the ends of the earth for his possession, and who will hinder him to take possession on his right? if any offer to do so, what shall they be, but a number of earthen vessels, fighting against an Iron Scepter, and so certainly breaking themselves in pieces. Thus here, I lay this foundation stone, and if I lay it, who shall remove it? and what I build upon it, who shall be able to cast down? For it is the glory of this great Master-builder, that the whole Fabrick, that is of his building, be unruinable, and for that end hath he laid an unmovable foundation, and for that end are we taught and remembred of its firmness, that we may have this confidence concerning the Church of God, that is built upon it. To the Eye of Nature the Church seems to have no foundation, as Iob speaks of the earth, that it is hung upon nothing, and yet as the Earth remaineth firm being establish'd in its place by the word and power of God, the Church is most firmly founded upon the word made flesh, Jesus Christ, as its chief Corner stone, and as all the winds that blow cannot remove the earth out of its place, neither can all the attempts of Men, no nor of the gates of hell prevail against the Church, it may be beat with very boysterous stormes; but it cannot fall, because founded upon this Rock. Thus it is with the whole house, and thus with every stone in it, as here it followes he that believeth shall not be confounded
3. There is next the building on this foundation This is plainly to be built on Christ, to believe in him: But in this, the most deceive themselves, they hear of such priviledges, and happiness in Christ, and presently imagine, 'tis all theirs, without any more ado, as that Mad man of Athens, that wrote up all the ships came into the haven for his own: We consider not, what this is to believe in him, and what is the necessity of his believing, that we may be partakers of the salvation that he hath wrought. 'Tis not they that have heard of him, or that have some common knowledge of him, or are able to discourse of him, and speak of His Person, and nature aright: But they that believe in him. Much of our knowledge, is, as the poor Philosopher, (or as a Geometer that can measure Land exactly in all its dimensions, but possesseth not a foot.) who defineth riches exactly, and discourseth of their nature, but possesseth none; and truely 'tis but a lifeless unsavoury knowledge men have of Christ, by all books and study, till he Reveal himself, and perswade the heart to believe in him. Then indeed it sayes of all the reports it heard, when it sees him, and is made one with him, I heard much, yet the halfe was not told me. There is in lively faith, when it is infus'd into the soul, a clearer knowledge of Christ, and his excellency than before, and withall a recumbence, of the soul upon him as the foundation of its life, and comfort; a resolving to rest on him, and not to depart from him, upon any termes. Though I be beset on all hands, be accus'd by the law, and mine own conscience, and by Satan, and have nothing to answer for my self, yet here I will stay, for I am sure, in him there is salvation, and no where else. All other refuges, are but lies, as its in the words before these in the Prophet, poor base shifts, that will do no good, and God hath laid this Precious stone in Sion, for this very purpose, that weary souls may rest upon it, and why should not I make use of it according to his intention, he hath not forbid any how wretched soever to believe, but commands it, and himself works it where he will, even in the vilest sinners.
Think it not enough that you know this Stone is laid, but see whether you are built on it by faith: The multitude of imaginary believers ly round about it, but they are never the better nor the surer for that, no more than stones that ly loose in heaps near unto a foundation, but are not joyned to't, there is no benefit to us by Christ, without union with him. No comfort in his riches, without interest in them, and title to them, by that union, then is the soul right, when it can say, He is altogether lovely, and as the spouse there, He is mine, my welbeloved. And this union is the spring of all Spiritual consolations, and faith, by which we are thus united, is a divine work; he that laid this foundation in Sion with his own hand, works likewise with the same hand faith in the heart, by which it is knit to this corner stone, 'its not so easy a thing as we imagine to believe, Eph. 1.19. Many that think they believe are amongst the others quite contrary, that the Prophet there speaks, of hardened in sin, and carnally secure, which he calls to be in covenant with hell, and death, walking in sin, and yet promising themselves impunity.
4. There is the firmness of this building, Namely, He that believeth on him shall not be Confounded] This firmness is answerable to the nature of the foundation. Not only the whole frame; but every stone of it, abideth sure. 'Tis a simple mistake, to judge the perswasion of perseverance to be self-presumption, they that have it are far from building it on themselves, but their foundation is that which makes them sure, because it doth not only remain firm it self, but indissolubly supports all that are once built on it. In the Prophet, whence this is cited, 'tis, shall not make hast, but the sense is one, they that are disappointed, and ashamed in their hopes run to and fro, and seek after some new recourse; This they shall not need to do, that come to Christ. The believing soul makes hast to Christ, but it never finds cause to hasten from him, and though the comfort it expects and longs for, be for a time deferr'd, yet it gives not over, knowing that in due time, it shall rejoyce; and shall not have cause to blush, and think shame of its confidence in him. David expresseth this distrust, by making haste. Psal. 31.22. and 116.11. I was too hasty, when I said so. Hopes frustrated, especially where they have been rais'd high, and continued long, do reproach Men with folly, and so shame them. And thus do all earthly hopes serve us, when we lean much upon them. We find these things usually, that have promis'd us most content, pay us with vexation, not only prove broken reeds, deceiving our trust, but hurtful, running their broken spinters into our hand, that lean'd on them. This sure Foundation is laid for us, that our souls may be establish'd on it, and be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed. Such times may come, as will shake all other supports, but this holds out against all, Psal. 46.2. Though the earth be removed yet will not we fear. Though the frame of the World were cracking about a Mans ears, he may hear it unaffrighted, that is built on this Foundation. Why then do we chuse to build upon the sand? Believe it, wheresoever we lay our confidence, and affection besides Christ, it shall once repent us, and ashame us, either hapily in time, while we may change them for him, and have recourse to him, or miserably, when 'tis too late: Remember that we must die, and must appear before the Judgment Sent of God, and that the things we dote on here, have neither Power to stay us here, nor have we power to take them along with us, nor if we could, would they at all profit us there; and therefore when we look back upon them all at parting, we shall wonder what fools we were, to make so poor a Choyce, and then in that great day wherein all faces shall gather blackness, and be fill'd with confusion, that have neglected to make Christ their stay when he was offer'd them: then it shall appear, how happy they are that have trusted in him, they shall not be confounded, but shall lift up their faces and be acquitted in him. In their present estate they may be founded, and exercis'd, but they shall not be confounded, nor ashamed; a double negation in the Original, by no means, they shall in all be more than Conquerours through him that hath loved them.
Behold] The last thing Obs. is in that first word importing this work to be great, and remarkable, and caullng the eyes to behold it.
The Lord is marvellous in the least of his works, but in this he hath manifested more of his wisdom, and power, and let out more of his love to Mankind, than in all the rest, but we are foolish, and childishly gaze about us upon trifles, and let this great work pass unregarded, scarce afford it half an Eye. Turn your wandring Eyes this way; Look upon this precious Stone, and behold him, not in mere speculation, but so behold him, as to lay hold on him: For we see he is therefore here set forth, that we may believe on him, and so not be confounded, that we may attain this blessed union, that cannot be dissolv'd, all other unions are dissoluble, A Man may be pluckt from his dwelling House and Lands, or they from him, though he have never so good title to them, may be removed from his dearest friends, the Husband from the Wife, if not by other accidents in their lifetime, yet sure by death, the great dissolver of all those unions, and of that straitest of the Soul with the Body; but it can do nothing against this union but perfects it, for I am perswaded (sayes St. Paul) that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor Principallities, nor Powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to s…perate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
There is a twofold mistake concerning faith, 1st. They that are altogether void of it, abusing and flattering themselves in a vain opinion that they have it; and on the other side, they that have it, misjudging their own Condition, and so prejudging themselves of much comfort, and sweetness that they might find in their believing.
The former is the worse, and yet the far commoner evil, and as one sayes of Wisdom, 'tis true of Faith, Many would seek after it, and attain it, if they did not falsly imagine that they have attained it already. There is nothing more contrary to the lively nature of Faith, than for the soul not to be at all busied with the thoughts of its own Spiritual condition, and yet this very character of unbelief passes with a great many for believing; they doubt not, that is indeed they consider not what they are, their minds are not all in these things, are not awak'd to seek diligently after Jesus, and not to rest till they find him, they're well enough without him, it suffices them they hear there is such a one, but they ask not themselves, is he mine, or no? But sure if that be all, not to doubt, the Bruites believe as well. It were better out of all question to be labouring under doubtings; if it be a more hopeful condition, to find a Man groaning and complaining, than speechless, and breathless, and not stirring at all.
There be in Spiritual doubtings two things, their is a sollicitous care of the Soul concerning its own estate, and diligent inquiry into't; and that is laudable, being a true work of the spirit of God, but the other thing in them, perplexity and distrust that arises from darkness and weakness in the soul; as where there is a great deal of smoak, and no clear flame, it argues much moysture in the matter, yet it witnesseth certainly that there is fire there; and therefore dubious questioning of a Man concerning himself, is a much better evidence, than that senseless deadness that most take for believing. Men that that know nothing in sciences have no doubts, he never truly believ'd that was not made first sensible and convinc'd of unbelief. This is the Spirits first errand in the World to convince it of sin, and the Sin is this, that they believe not. If the Faith that thou hast grew out of thy natural heart of it self, 'tis but a Weed be sure, the right plant of Faith is alwayes set by Gods own hand, and 'tis watered and preserv'd by him, because expos'd to many hazzards, he watches it Night and Day. Isa. 27.3. I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment, lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
Again how impudent is it in the most, to pretend believing, while they wallow in Profaness, if Faith unite the soul unto Christ, certainly it puts it into participation of his Spirit, for if any Man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his, sayes St. Paul. This faith in Christ bring us into Communion with God. Now God is light, says St. Iohn, and therefore inferrs, if we say we have fellowship with God, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. The lie appears in our practise, an unsuitableness in our carriage, as he said of him that sign'd his Verse wrong, fecit solaecismum manu.
But there be imaginary Believers, that are a little more refin'd, that live after a blameless, yea, and a Religious manner, for there outward; and yet are but appearances of Christians, have not the living work of Faith within, and all these exercises are dead works in their hands. Amongst these some may have such motions within themselves, as may deceive themselves, as well as their outward deportment deceives other; some transient touches of desire to Christ, upon the unfolding of his excellencies in the Preaching of the word, and upon some conviction of their own necessity, and conceive some joy upon thoughts of apprehending him, and yet all this proves but an evanishing fancy, an embracing of a shaddow. And because Men that are thus deluded meet not with Christ indeed, do not really find his sweetness, therefore within a while, they return to the pleasure of sin, and their latter end proves worse than their beginning; their hearts could not possibly be stedfast, because there was nothing to fix them on, in all that work wherein Christ himself was wanting.
But the truly believing Soul, that is brought unto Jesus Christ, and fastened upon him by Gods own hand, abides stay'd on him, and departs not. And in these the very belief of the things that are spoken concerning Christ in the Gospel, the perswasion of Divine truth, is of a higher nature than the common consent that they call Historical, another knowledge and evidence of the mysteries of the Kingdom than natural Men can have; this is indeed the ground of all, the very thing that causes a Man rest upon Christ, when he hath a perswasion wrought in his heart by the Spirit of God, that Christ is an able Redeemer, a sufficient Saviour, able to save all that come to him. Then upon this, the heart resolves upon that course, seeing I am perswaded of this, that whoso believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life, as here it is, shall not be confounded, I am to deliberate no longer, this is the the thing I must doe, to lay my soul upon him, upon one that is an Almighty Redeemer. And it does so. Now these first actings of Faith have in themselves an evidence, that distinguishes them from all that's counterfeit, a light of their own, by which the soul wherein they are, may discern them, and say this is the right work of Faith, especially, when God shines upon the Soul, and clears it in the discovery of his own work within it.
And further, they may find the influence of Faith upon the affections, purifying them; as our Apostle sayes of it, Act. 15.9. Faith knits the heart to a holy Head, a pure Lord, the spring of purity, and therefore cannot chuse, but make it pure, it is a beam from heaven that raises the mind to a Heavenly temper. Although there remaines of sin in a believing soul, yet 'tis a hated wearysome guest there, 'tis not there, as its delight, but as its greatest grief, and malady, that it is still lamenting and complaining of, and had rather be rid of, than gain a World. Thus 'tis purified from affecting sin.
So then where these are, a Spiritual apprehension of the Promises, and a cleaving of the Soul unto Christ, and such a delight in him, as makes sin vile, and distastful, that the heart is set against it, and as the Needle touch'd with the Loadstone, is still turn'd towards Christ, and lookes at him in all estates. The Soul that is thus dispos'd, hath certainly Interest in him, and therefore ought not to affect an humour of doubting, but to conclude that how unworthy soever in it self, yet being in him, it shall not be ashamed, not only it shall never have cause to think shame of him, but all its just cause of shame in it self, shall be taken away, it shall be cover'd with his Righteousness, and appear so before the Father. Who must not think, if my sins were to be set in order, and appear against me, how would my face be fill'd with shame? Though there were no more, if some thoughts that I am guilty of were laid to my charge, I were utterly sham'd and undone. Oh! Nothing in my self but matter of shame, but yet in Christ more matter of glorying, who endured shame, that we might not be ashamed. We cannot distrust our selves enough, nor trust enough in him. Let it be right Faith, and there is no excess in believing. Though I have sinn'd against him, and abus'd his goodness, yet I will not leave him, for whether should I go, he and none but he, hath the words of Eternal life: yea, though he being so often offended, should threaten to leave me to the shame of my own follies, yet I will stay by him, and wait for a better answer, and I know I shall obtain it, this is assur'd me for my comfort, that whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed.