The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 9 · Section 1 · Part 1
The Myſteries laid up in the Foundation of the Temple.
IN the firſt place I ſhall ſearch into the Foundations of the Temple, it being moſt proper to tread in the ſteps of the foregoing Hiſtory of its erection; and endeavour with all diligence to turn over thoſe ponderous and(e)1 King. 5.17. coſtly hewn ſtones, wherewith it was laid of old in the daies of Solomon, to ſee what myſtical treaſure …as hidden under them.
Vain and futilous are the feavouriſh dreams of the antient Rabbins, concerning the Foundation-ſtone of the Temple.(f)Sheringham in Jomae. p. 104. &c. Some aſſert that God placed this ſtone (uſually mentioning but one principal ſtone) in the Centre of the World, for a firme baſis and ſettled conſiſtency for the Earth to reſt upon. Others held this ſtone to be the firſt matter, out of which all the beautiful viſible beings of the World have bin hewn forth, and produced to light. Others relate that this was the very ſame ſtone laid by Jacob for a pillow under his head, in that night when he dreamed of an Angelical viſion at Bethel, and afterward anointed and conſecrated it unto God. Which when Solomon had found (no doubt by forged Revelation, or ſome tedious ſearch like another Rabbi Selomoh) he durſt not but lay it ſure, as the Principal Foundation ſtone of the Temple. Nay (they ſay further) he cauſed to be engraven upon it, the Tetragrammaton or the ineffable name of JEHOVAH. All which ſtories are but ſo many idle and abſurd conceits, yielding thus much of wonder, that any perſons ſhould be ſo beſotted as to think ever to find ſuch ſtupid and blind proſelytes, who would indure to be impoſed upon by ſuch fopperies, wherewith of old they did pollute the Jewiſh Religion: Even as brain ſick Monks ſince the Primitive times have endeavoured to corrupt the Chriſtians worſhip with their lying wonders and revelations, ſo often recited in their wodden Legends.
Wherefore to let them paſſe, not without Solemn praiſe to God, who hath conferred upon us more clear light in the face of his dear Son; let us proceed while we enjoy that light to do the work that is required of us, and by the benefit of thoſe bleſſed raies to look more narrowly into the ſpiritual foundation of the Goſpel-Temple.
To which purpoſe, conſidering, that the foundation of an houſe is properly that materia ſubstrata, or underground matter, on which the building reſteth, and whereby it is ſuſtained and upheld; and furthermore, that Gods building or houſe in the World is his Church, which being conſtituted in our firſt Parents at the beginning, upon the Primitive foundation of righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe, according to the Covenant of works, was aſſaulted by the ſtorms of the Devil's malice and power; and falling from that excellent foundation (which Gods Majeſty had laid in paradiſe with his own hands) hath ever ſince groaned moſt bitterly under the ſad preſſures of ſin and temptation, complaining in the Language of Cain, that their deſerved(a)Gen. 4.13. puniſhment is greater then can be born by humane ſhoulders, and therefore earneſtly beggs the divine ſupport of ſome new and more firme and unſhaken foundation, whereupon to reſt for ever, without danger of inward mouldering, or external ſtorms.
Now for as much, as the Foundation of every building is two-fold: The firſt external and natural, being no other then the Earth it ſelf,(b)Heb. 3.4. made and framed by God: The other, internal and artificial conſiſting of ſtones; brick or timber, according to the nature of the ſuper-impoſed building: So hath the Church likewiſe a two-fold foundation. One whereof may bear ſome reſemblance with the natural earth: accordingly as our Lord is pleaſed to ſpeak of his Church under the notion of a ſimilitude differing from this in hand, that the(c)Mat. 13.38. field is the world wherein his Church and people are placed.
The other may be termed Artificial: (granting indulgence to the proſecution of the preſent Metaphor) The(d)Heb. 11.10. foreign, builder, maker or framer whereof is God in a more ſpeciall manner. Then which foundation(e)1 Cor. 3.9, 11. no man can lay any other, than what is laid, even Jeſus Chriſt. He is that precious corner-ſtone(g)Eph. 2.20. … by the Father in the heart of mount Zion. (f)Iſa. 28.16.In whom all the building being fitly framed together, groweth to a holy Temple in the Lord.(h)1 Pet. 2.4, 5. To whom comming as to a living ſtone, the Saints are built up a ſpiritual houſe, wherein to offer ſpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt.
So that neither the pretended and uſurping-head of the Church at Rome, nor the Canons, conſtitutions, or traditions of that Apoſtate body, nor humane reaſon, though never ſo much concocted, digeſted, refined by the wit, art, or induſtry of man, can be owned for this foundation. 'Tis Chriſt alone, who muſt be received and acknowledged for this fundamental-rock, (the Baſis of Apoſtolical confeſſion) whereon to build the Church,(i)Mat. 16.18. againſt which the gates of Hell ſhall never prevail.
Our bleſſed Lord and Saviour then, is the whole and only foundation for the Church to reſt upon, excluding Peter and all his imagined ſucceſſors, together with all the Apoſtles from being Corrivals with Chriſt in this great work of ſuſtaining the ſpiritual building. Now although the Pontificians plead hard for a Secundary and Miniſterial foundation: yet can we by no means admit any ſuch diſtinction, which is ſo farre from being grounded on Scripture, that it doth directly oppoſe the very expreſſe terms of the holy word, declaring that there can be(a)1 Cor. 3, 11. no other foundation laid than our bleſſed Lord. Beſides it is repugnant to found reaſon, to introduce any Secondary and miniſterial foundation, that performs not the true and native duty, and cannot undergo the weight and burden of a proper and genuine foundation. For either Chriſt is the only, whole, and ſufficient foundation of his Church, or not. If he be, as the Scripture holds it forth, more evident then the Sun at noon: then what's the meaning of that other foundation? which certainly, if it be not the primary and main foundation, then it cannot truly and properly be called a foundation at all, that doth not ſuſtain the building: but muſt be a part onelyonly of the building. For if it be a true foundation, it muſt ſubſiſt of it ſelf, and not be laid upon another; as its baſis or bottome. But if not, beſides the flat denial of Scripture by theſe builders,(b)Act. 4, 11. who have ſet at nought the head-ſtone of the Corner, wo muſt needs befall the Church, if their faith and hope of ſalvation, ſhould leane upon ſuch(c)Lev. 14.45. Leprous ſtones, which God hath commanded to be carried out of the City, into an unclean place, But this point is moſt excellently and nervouſly handled by the famous(d)Tom. 2. de Rom. Pontif. Contr. 4. qu. 2. p. 551. fol. Dr. Whitaker, moſt amply, in his Controverſies about the Pope of Rome, to the terror of the dark Conclave.
Happy is the Church of Chriſt in having ſo glorious a perſon as the Son of God, to ſuſtain and bear the weight and preſſure of their ſins, and to be the choiſe foundation of their faith to reſt upon, in reſpect to eternal life: who is ſo termed by a Metaphor taken from material buildings, wherein the foundation doth uphold all the Rooms and Stories built upon it. In like manner, all the members and parts of the ſacred and Myſtical ſtructure, laying the whole ſtreſſe of their happineſſe upon Jeſus Chriſt are carried on, till the top-ſtone of glory ſhall be brought forth. Which things are mentioned in many places of divine record, and proſecuted by an Allegory or continued Metaphor.
Chriſt himſelf is by diverſe of the holy pen-men called the corner-ſtone of the building, that is, of the foundation of the building: In which expreſſion the main and principal part of the foundation is taken for the whole by a Synecdoche: Seeing the chief and moſt ſerviceable part of the foundation is that ſtrong and large hewn-ſtone, which the Architect layes at the bottom-corner of each ſquare of the building. Further, as a building is compared by Scripture and other writers, ſometimes to an humane body: the foundation in ſuch a ſenſe may very aptly be expreſſed by the denomination of a head. To which purpoſe we may obſerve that our Lord(e)Col. 1.18. the head of his Church, is often ſtyled by the name of that prime ſtone, which is laid at the head of the Corner: as may fully appear from theſe following places of Scripture, Pſal. 118.22. Mat. 21.42. Mat. 12.10. Luk. 20.17. Act. 4.11. & 1 Pet. 2.7.
This excellent foundation-ſtone (thus laid in Zion, the holy mountain by the hands of God himſelf) hath alſo many rare and choiſe Epithets annexed to it, in the ſacred writings. Whereof it will not be (I hope) amiſſe, to diſcourſe awhile, referring to thoſe various places, wherein they are diſperſed.
1. He is called an elect or choſen-ſtone: diſallowed indeed of men, but(f)1 Pet. 2.4. 1. …choſen of God, ſaies holy Peter: who good ſoul would bluſh, had he bin alive in after-daies, no leſs, then the picture of Paul, (as I remember) at Rome: In which the ingenious Painter being taxed for making his face too ruddy, replied in his defence, that it was for ſhame of ſome things done in the Roman Church. Bleſſed Peter diſowns himſelf, and looks upon Chriſt only, as this choſen ſtone carved by God himſelf, out of the Quarry of mankind, and receiving a(a)Heb. 10.5. body prepared by the Father, for the ſervice of this ſpiritual building. He is ſtyled therefore(b)Iſa. 42.1. the Elect of God, in whom his ſoul delighted, being inſtituted for this very work by the eternal purpoſe and deſignation of his heavenly Father. Who(c)Gal. 4.4. in the fulneſſe of time appeared in humane fleſh, that is, at the period and compleatment of thoſe daies, which God had pitcht upon from all eternity; and had revealed and foretold(d)Luke 1.70. by the mouth of his holy Prophets ever ſince the World began. After which gracious manifeſtation of the Son of God in fleſh, he was hewn and poliſhed by his ſufferings and torturing-death upon the Croſſe, that he might be fit for the uſe of the wiſe Maſter-builder, as a foundation ſtone to ſupport the new and glorious building of his Goſpel-Temple.
2. ¶.2. He is called a precious ſtone, by a Metaphor taken from gemms and ſtones of great value. Ten thouſand times more precious then that natural diamond-rock, on which(e)Tintaegel in Cornwall. an antient Caſtle of our Nation once ſtood, now groaning under its deplorable ruines. Whereas this rock of ages ſhall never behold corruption. More precious indeed! as being of a ſupernatural eſſence, and cut out(f)Dan. 2.45. of the mountain of eternity, without hands in reſpect to his Divine nature: which is free from the leaſt ſhadow of a flaw, or any tincture of blemiſh ſhining moſt oriently with all the ſparklings of divine perfections. Precious is this ſtone upon the account of its admirable qualities, and moſt efficacious virtues. Infinitely beyond the force and power of the famous Haematites, for ſtopping the bloody flux of our ſouls. Which would have bled to death through the gaſhes received in Paradiſe, had not(g)Luke 6.19. virtue iſſued from Chriſt for its reſtraint. Beyond the fiery Carbuncle, in reſiſting the flames of his Fathers wrath, that are ready to ſuck up the vital ſpirits of wretched ſinners, who dare preſume to draw nigh to this(h)Heb. 12.29. conſuming fire, without Chriſt, or converſe with ſuch(i)Iſa. 33.14. everlaſting burnings. Beyond the attractive vertue of the Magnetical ſtone, in the(k)Joh. 12.32. drawing of ſouls after him, and alluring them into union and communion with himſelf. Nay more precious then the impenetrable Adamant, whereof ſome Antients report ſuch a quality to be inherent in it, that thoſe who carry it about them, ſhall prove Valiant in fight, and unconquerable in their enterprizes: Seeing we are made more then Conquerours(l)Rom. 8.37. through him that loved us, by whoſe meanes it is, that we[m]1 Cor. 15.57. receive the victory, when fighting under the banner of this heavenly Achilles. Who being himſelf anointed with a more precious unction ((n)Nat. Mythol. p. 817. then his of Ambroſia) from above, is in every part invulnerable except his heel, which for a while is bruiſed in his poor members militant upon the Earth, till all his enemies be ſubdued under his feet in the behalf of his dear Church.
Beſides, he is a moſt precious ſtone by reaſon of his incomparable rarity: there being but one of this nature found in the whole World. Who would not turn a ſpiritual Merchant, and, ſelling all that he hath, endeavour to(o)Mat. 13.46. purchaſe this ineſtimable treaſure? This is that ſtone (ſaies holy Peter) on which onelyonly our ſalvation reſteth(p)Act. 4.12.. There being no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we muſt be ſaved, than that new name engraven on this(q)Rev. 2.17. white-ſtone,(r)Jer. 23.6. the Lord our righteouſneſſe. The Lord Chriſt is the onelyonly Sun, which by his bright and fulgent raies diſpels the darkneſſe of the Chambers of death and of the bottomleſſe pit. He is the onelyonly Phoenix, out of whoſe perfumed aſhes doth ariſe the curiouſly plumed progeny of the Church, whoſe wings are(s)Pſal. 68.13. covered with ſilver, and her feathers with yellow gold. This is the only Stone, the Rock of Ages,[t]1 Pet. 2.7. ſo precious to them that believe, on which alone our feet can be ſteddily fixed,(a)Pſal. 40.2. that our goings may be eſtabliſhed.
3. He is termed a*Iſa. 28.16. tried ſtone. Jeſus of Nazareth, ¶. 3.(as the bleſſed Apoſtle Peter affirmes) a man†Act. 2.22. approved of God by miracles, ſigns, and wonders. Who when tried by the divine Majeſty in the fire of his wrath to melt away the droſſe of imputed ſin, did nec diſſilire nec diſſolvere, neither fly in pieces for want of radical Oyl, nor melt under that terrible calcination for want of tenacity and conſiſtence. Though all the ſins of the elect were put into the cruſiple of his humane nature; yet he came out of the furnace inviolable, and was therefore Crowned with the diademe of a glorious triumph. Although he were ſo(b)Iſa. 53.5. ſorely wounded for our tranſgreſſions, and bruiſed for our iniquities by the hammer of the Law, and pierced by the ſword; which was uſed by the right hand of him(c)Zech. 13.7. who was his fellow, yet this Royal ſtone did neither ſhrink out of his fixed place in the Corner, nor ſink under the weight of divine anger.
The Prince of this World made towards him with the infernal three-tined fork of(d)Mat. 4, 3, 6, 9. tentations, to try the ſtrength of this Corner-ſtone; but(e)Joh. 14.30. found nothing degenerous in him, or in the leaſt wiſe malleable by all his Art and fury. That great Goliath of Hell came marching up againſt him in his coat of maile, his helmet of braſſe, and a weavers beam in his hand: But was ſo diſma…ly ſmitten in the forehead of his bold deſignes, by the mighty force of this†Cypr. p. 277. ſtone taken out of the(f)Pſal. 110.7. brook of Kidron, that he fell down on his face to the Earth, which afterwards proved like a ſharp and fatal,(g)Exod. 4.24. Circumciſing ſtone in cutting off the head of that uncircumciſed Philistine, who had defied the armies of the Living God.
The gates of hell and all the powers of darkneſſe were preſently in an uproare; and (Junctis umbonibus) with their united forces, aſſailed him in a moſt cowardly manner even then, while he was exerciſed under the frowns of heaven: but he prevailed moſt victoriouſly, and carried them all Captive; (being chained to his Chariot wheels) to the Capitol of glory. Even as Sampſon of old laid the gates of Gaza (h)Judg. 16.3.on the Hill before Hebron: So did our unconquerable Champion triumph openly over all Principalities and Powers, laying their gates upon the top of mount Olivet, the hill before Heaven, in the day of his glorious Aſcenſion unto the Father, having fixed his immortal, and never to be unhinged Trophies in the Jawes, nay in the very Bowels of the kingdome of darkneſſe. In ſo much that what was ſaid of old concerning the ſtone that was brought from Scone Abby near St. Johnſton's in Scotland by our warlike King Edw. I. and placed under the Coronation-Chaire, in Edward the Confeſſors Chappel at Westminster, may be more abundantly verified in this Prince of life, being alluded to with ſome ſmall variation.
Ni fallat fatum, Chriſtus quòcun que locatum
Inveniet lapidem, regnare tenetur ibidem.
If heavens decrees ſhall firmely ſtand,
The ſtone that's laid by Gods right hand;
(i)Bethel. Gen. 28.18.With fragrant Oyl ſhall be annointed,
And for a holy houſe appointed.
This King of glory being ſolemnly inaugurated into his Royal Office, by his perfumed unction upon mount Zion, muſt Reign in every place and territory throughout the World; according to the Prophetick pen of Daniel interpreting the viſion of the(k)Dan. 2.35. myſtical ſtone, which ſhall at length grew into a great mountain, and fil'd the face of the whole Earth.(l)In Lyſandr. We read in Plutarch of a ſtone reported to have fallen from heaven, and therefore worſhipt by the inhabitants of Cherroneſus: Nay by a more infallible pen it is related concerning(a)Act. 19.35. the Epheſians, that they adored (a foreign) an image which they credited to have bin dropt down from Jupiter. In which and the like impoſitions (of the old Serpent) upon poor deluded mortals, there may lye hid ſome A piſh imitations of that divine truth of Chriſts coming down from heaven; and repreſented in the ſacred Scriptures, by the Metaphorical expreſſions of a ſtone, which we are now handling.
The Heathens and their foreign, ((b)De Err. relig. p. 284. cum Hyg. 80. mentioned by Firmicus) whether made of ſtone, and uttering from thoſe Statues, or out of rocky Caves, their foreign, their ambiguous and doubtful tortuous Oracles, fearing leſt they ſhould miſtake in the iſſues and events of their predictions, and ſo loſe the honour of aſſumed deities, ſhall be daſhed one upon another againſt the walls of divine fury. The (c)Zeph. 2.11.Lord ſhall be terrible to them, and famiſh all the Gods of the Earth: providentially guiding the hand of a poor Graecian, ignorant of the truths of God, to write a Treatiſe [(d)Plutarch. p. 149. Tom. 2. Francof. 1620. foreign,] endeavouring to give an account of the defect of Oracles in his daies. Wherein he ſhews that ſome infernal ſpirit from the Iland Paxae, now Ericuſa between Corcyra, and Leucas, in the Ionian Sea, declared their ſilence to proceed from the death of Chriſt; which is ſhadowed in the dark words of Heatheniſh canting Language, foreign, The great Pan is dead, reflecting upon Chriſt moſt truly, as the great Biſhop and Shepheard of ſouls. Who when ariſen from the grave lead, Captivity Captive, and ſtopt the mouths of deluding ſpirits in a great meaſure, inverting the tripus of the Delphian cell upon the mouth of that rank and putrid den of the old Dragon.
But as to our bleſſed(e)Gen. 49.24. Shepheard, this ſtone of Iſrael, his Oracles are infallible: the rock on which he ſits is impenetrable, as to the impreſſion of any external violence: In all ages hitherto it hath ſtood inviolable; ſo ſhall it ſtand unmoveable againſt the force of the choiſeſt Engines of the wit…leſt and refinedſt Archimedes of Hell, and triumph moſt gloriouſly againſt all oppoſition like(f)Pſal. 125.1. mount Zion which cannot be removed abiding for ever. For the (g)Pſal. 16.8.Lord was on his right hand, therefore this Holy one never ſaw Corruption. Hence is it that the Saints of the moſt High, who are built upon this ſure and tried foundation, ſhall find themſelves fixed upon ſuch a Rock, that no ages can violate, no ſoaking ſhowres can cauſe to moulder; no floods can daſh upon, with the leaſt ſenſible impreſſion: although themſelves by this their alliſion, ſhall be broken into a thouſand flaſhes: no windes can ſhatter or ſo much as ſhake it, having ſtood impregnable againſt all the impetuous forces; that heaven (in juſt and righteous indignation againſt imputed ſin) or earth in a fooliſh rage, or Hell in a malicious fury, hath ever yet muſtered or brought into the field againſt it. In ſo much that the holy Apoſtle (in oppoſition to the quaking fits of mount Horeb and the frightful leapings of Sinai, the†Bellon. Obſervat. twin-tops of that trembling mountain in the wilderneſſe of Paran in the day of Gods thundring out his fiery law from a midſt the thick darkneſſe) might ſafely inferre that we have(h)Heb. 12.28. received a kingdome which cannot be ſhaken, which cannot be moved.
To conclude, As this imperial ſtone hath undergone the full weight of Gods juſt and deſerved wrath in reſpect to ſinners, whoſe burden our dear Lord was pleaſed to ſuſtain on their behalf; having alſo couragiouſly and triumphantly repulſed all the furious rage of ſpiritual wickedneſſes in high places: ſo hath it likewiſe proved to have bin a tried ſtone in reſpect to the Saints of the moſt High, who upon conſtant and experienced trial have found it to their great comfort and inexpreſſible joy, to have bin a moſt ſolid foundation for their grieved and burdened ſouls to reſt upon, in their ſaddeſt diſtreſſes and perplexities.
This experience of it had good Jacob in that ſad night, ſaying it for a(a)Gen. 28.11. pillow (the ſofteſt that ever he had, being lined with choiſe promiſes) for his troubled and muſing head, when he was haſtning on in a journey towards Padan-Aram, from the menacing browes of his angry brother. Then was it, that this holy man received the promiſe of the Meſſiah, that ſhould come from his loines, when God told him in a dream, that(b)Ver. 14. in his ſeed ſhould all the families of the Earth be bleſſed. When awakened in the morning he ſet up that ſtone(c)Ver. 18. for a Pillar and powred oyle upon it. (d)Auſtin de Civ. Dei l. 16. c. 38.Ne que enim adoravit cum lapidem, vel ei ſacrificavit: ſed quoniam Chriſti nomen à Chriſmate est, idest, ab unctione; profectò figuratum eſt hinc aliquid, quod ad magnum pertineat Sacramentum. For (ſaith Auſtin) he neither worſhipt that ſtone, nor ſacrificed to it: but becauſe the name of Chriſt is from unction; verily there is ſomething figured by it, which pertaineth to a great Mystery. Another likewiſe of the Ancients ſpeaks to the ſame purpoſe,(e)Cyprian. l. 2. Contr. Judaeos. p. 277. Edit. Baſ. 1530. Lapidem conſecravit & unxit, Sacramento unctionis Chriſtum ſignificans. He (viz. Jacob) conſecrated and anointed that ſtone, hinting at Chriſt by the Myſtery of unction. To mention no more, evident is the teſtimony of one more antient then either of the former, who when ſpeaking concerning the preſent work of Jacob at Bethel, hath theſe words in his dialogue with a Jew(f)Justin Mart. dial. cum Tryph. p. 244. Edit. Commelin. 1593.. foreign. We have in like manner manifeſted, that Chriſt was figuratively ſet forth by a ſtone in many Scriptures. The holy Patriarch ſleeping ſweetly on this bleſſed ſtone, ſaw him at the top of the ladder in a viſion, who ſupported him beneath; which was no other then the(g)Id. ibid. lin. 40. 41. Joh. 1.51. Son of God: teaching us that the ſecret ſupport which a Saint enjoyes, is ſometimes illuſtrated with radiant viſions of aſſurance from heaven. If we repoſe our ſouls in their ſaddeſt agonies upon this anointed ſtone, we ſhall enjoy ſweet ſilver-ſlumbers, gilded with Angelical viſions of divine love, reaching down the ladder of aſſurance from heaven, by which we may aſcend into the boſome of God: when we are terrified with the frownes of a threatning and perſecuting World; while we are travelling towards Bethel, the houſe of God, the manſion of glory.
This was the ſtone: which bleſſed Joſeph, when ſold by his unkind brethren, found to be his help;(h)Gen. 49.24. Rivet Exerc. 185. p. 696. Fol. even the ſtone of Iſrael (accordingly as his dying father did dictate in that ſolemn bleſſing) whereby his head was elevated aloft beyond the reſt of his kindred, and raiſed up to the ſecond place of ſtate and dignity in the kingdome of Egyyt.
Moſes, another Eminent ſervant of God; ſate upon this ſtone on the top of the Hill, when his hands were held up to heaven in prayer; while Joſhuah was fighting with Amalek in the valley:(i)Cyprian ibid p. 278. & ſacramento lapidis & ſtabilitate ſeſſionis Amalech ſuperatus est ab Jeſu, id est, Diabolus à Christo victus est. When under the myſtery of that ſtone (ſaith a holy Martyr) and the ſtability of Moſes ſeſſion, Amalek was overcome by Joſhuah, that is, the Devil was vanquiſht by Chriſt. So(k)Tom. 3. p. 46. Jerom to Fabiola, ſpeaking of Rephidim the 11th manſion of the Iſralites, hath theſe words, ſedet Moſes ſuper lapidem dictum à Zacharia, qui ſeptem habebat oculos: that Moſes ſate upon the ſtone ſpoken of by the Prophet Zechariah, which had ſeven eyes. In the clift of this(l)Exod. 33.22. Dr. Reynolds on Pſal. 100. p. 166. quar. rock was Moſes placed by God himſelf, when the Lord paſſed by him, and proclaimed his glorious name,(m)Exod. 3.4, 6. THE LORD, THE LORD GOD, merciful and gracious, long-ſuffering and abundant in goodneſſe and truth, &c. This was the(n)Deut. 27.2, 3. Cypr. p. 277. ſtone, on which Moſes commanded all the words of the Law to be written, when they were paſſed over Jordan into the land of promiſe.
Joſhua likewiſe the Captain of the Lords Armies, when he had given the poſſeſſion of the Land of Canaan, to the tribes of Iſrael; convenes them before the Lord at Shechem a little before his death, and ſets up this Myſtical(a)Joſh. 24.26. ſtone under an Oake near the holy Sanctuary, and having adjured them ſolemnly to the fear and ſervice of the Great God, he ſaid unto all the people, Behold,(b)Cyprian ibid Jul. Firmic. Mat. de Err. prof. rel…g. p. 27. Lug. Bat. 1652. this ſtone ſhall be a witneſſe to us. For it hath heard all the words of the Lord, which he ſpake unto us.
When the Ark was brought back out of the Land of the Philistines, it reſted upon this(c)1 Sam. 6.15, 18. Cypr. p. 278. ſtone in the fields of Bethſhemeſh: which is alone able to ſuſtain the ſymbole of Gods preſence among his people, and give forth the infallible dictates of his will concerning divine-worſhip, and the management of holy Ordinances.
This was the rock of ages, in a Cavern whereof(d)1 King. 19.9, 13. Elijah the Prophet once ſtood, being in the ſame mount of God, viz. Horeb, wherein the Lord had before manifeſted himſelf unto Moſes, and now paſſes before Elijah in the ſtill and gentle voice of mercy. And why do we find ſuch gracious revelations of his Majeſty to the holy Prophets in mount Horeb, a place ſo dreadfully ſhaken by the thundring diſpenſations of the Law: a place that yielded the two Tables of ſtone, wherein the Commandements of God were engraven with his own finger? But to ſhew, that as the poſitive Law of God was graven in pieces of ſtone taken out of that rock which ſignified Chriſt: So we might be comforted under the infirmity of our fleſh ſince the fall, ſeeing Chriſt alone can retain and conſerve the true impreſſions of the divine will upon his heart, and fulfill that law (which we had broken) by his perfect and intire obedience. With which, God being fully and compleatly ſatisfied, is pleaſed in that very place to declare himſelf a merciful God to poor ſinners, in a covenant of grace promulgated both to Moſes and Elijah, in that very mountain with the gentle, ſweet and melting voice of Goſpel love. They being the very ſame perſons which afterward appeared with our Lord in the mount of Transfiguration, in the daies of his fleſh.
The pen-man of a famous Pſalme; ſo often cited by the ſpirit of God in the new Teſtament, as yielding a very divine Oracle concerning Chriſt, whom though the builders had refuſed, yet he eſteemed as the(e)Pſal. 118.22. head-ſtone of the corner, having had great and ſweet experience of the ſtrength and power of God connexed with mercy in the preſerving of his ſoul from ſinking in the horrible pit, and in the miry clay, by ſetting his feet upon that ſolid(f)Pſal. 40.2. rock of ſalvation.
Noble Daniel being under a prophetick Ecſtaſis, when his ſoul was taken up by a very ſublime rapture, rejoyces in the viſion of this living and growing ſtone, which was cut out of the(g)Dan. 2.45. mountain without hands: out of the mountain of eternity according to his divine nature; or the mountain of the Jewiſh kingdome (as(h)Matthiae Theatr. hist. part. 4. p. 6. others take it) according to his humane nature without hands, foreign (i)Juſtin. Mart. Tryph. p. 235.foreign. Seeing it is not the work of man, but the counſel of God; the Father of the Univerſe, who produced him: that at length he might ſwell into a vaſt(k)Ver. 35. mountain, filling the whole Earth.
This is that famous ſtone, with the viſion whereof Zechary comforted Zerubbabel, and the people of Judah when returned out of Captivity, that the ſtone laid before Joſhua the High Prieſt, ſhould have(l)Zeph. 3.9. Cypr. ibid. p. 277. ſeven eyes engraven upon it by the Lord of Hoſts, who repleniſhed his Son with the fulneſſe of the God-head, with abundance of all ſpiritual gifts and graces; eſpecially with a ſingular watchful care over the Church in all its Calamities and diſtreſſes. Nay, all the Saints of God following bleſſed Samuel, may with joyful ſhoutings pitch this happy ſtone, in the valley of viſion, and call it their(a)1 Sam. 7.1. Cypr. p. 278. Eben-ezer: For hitherto hath the Lord helped us: ſeeing our Lord Jeſus is the(b)Iſa. 28.16. foreign fundamentum fundatum, the fixed, eſtabliſhed and ſure foundation laid in Zion by God himſelf, for his people to ſettle thereon all their hopes and expectation of glory.
4. He is ſtyled a perilous ſtone, ¶. 4.a dangerous rock of offence to all them that ſhall ſtumble at it. In himſelf indeed(c)1 Pet. 2.7. he is precious to them that believe: but (per accidens) to them that refuſe and reject him, he proves a ſtone of(d)Iſa. 8.14. Rom. 9.33. offence and paſſive ſcandal. Nay all that burthen themſelves with it, ſhall find it to be an active and(e)Zech. 12.3. burdenſome ſtone, yea a ſharp ſtone to cut them in pieces; though all the people of the earth ſhould be gathered together againſt it. It will be found worſe then any Tarpeian precipice, upon which ſuch ſhall fall headlong (whoſoever they be, that preſume to deal with the(f)Act. 1.18. rewards of iniquity) and burſting in ſunder in the midſt, ſhall preſent the guſhing forth of their bowels to aſtoniſhed ſpectators: He that falls upon it (ſaith our(g)Mat. 21.44. Lord himſelf) ſhall be broken, but on whomſoever it ſhall fall, it will grinde him to powder. Here indeed, upon earth, the Lord Jeſus is a foundation ſtone, lying low and obſcure, during the exinanition of his ſtate incarnate: but hereafter in heaven, he ſhall be brought forth, as the(h)Zech. 4.7. headſtone of his Temple, with ſhoutings of Saints and acclamations of Angels, crying Grace Grace unto it. Here below, the great and proud Dons of the World being offended at his depreſſed and mean condition do impingere, ſtumble at and break themſelves againſt that bleſſed ſtone; all their deſignes and machinations againſt him being broken in pieces like a potter's veſſel: But if they ſhall perſiſt in their rebellion and contumacy, finally to the laſt; At the great day of Judgment, this ſtone ſhall fall upon them to their fatal and utter ruine, when all power ſhall be committed to the Son, who then ſhall break them to powder. At that time, Bleſſed ſhall all be, who have not bin offended in him: when thoſe that have hardned themſelves againſt this munition of rocks, and have run their veſſels againſt him; ſhall ſuffer a moſt dreadful ſhipwrack. Then thoſe, who have preſumed to ſpit againſt this glorious heaven, ſhall find their ſhameful ſpewing to return upon, and to cover the face of all their glory: Then thoſe, who have dared to ſhoot their keen arrowes (dipt in the malignant poiſon of enmity towards him) againſt this radiant Sun, ſhall deeply bemoan more ſharp darts fiercely retorted upon their own boſomes, and piercing through their very hearts.
5. He is termed a corner-ſtone in many places of holy Scripture.¶. 5. From which expreſſion, became he is called by the name of one corner-ſtone, only, (ſeeing that under the building there are not only four corner-ſtones; but many others laid in the ſeveral ſides and middle of the ſupporting foundation: all which do make up but one full and compleat ſubſtruction for the ſuperior building to reſt on) we are not to inferre that Chriſt is not the whole and intire foundation of his Church, needing others to hold Copartnerſhip with him in this great work: But therefore is the Lord Jeſus called the corner-ſtone by way of eminency: ſeeing it is ſuch a ſtone as doth excell in ſtrength, and exceed in quantity, all other ſtones that are laid togeth…r with it in ordinary foundations. The corner-ſtones are the main and chief ſupports of the building, and therefore moſt uſually are of the largeſt cize, and cut out of the ſtout…ſt vein in the Quarry. Wherefore our Lord for his admirable ſtrength in bearing the weight of the Churches ſins, and preſerving the ſtate of their graces, and the hopes of their glory from ruine, is denominated by the Corner-ſtone: whereas indeed the expreſſion is figurative, the chiefeſt part being taken for the whole foundation. But beſides this, I ſhall humbly crave leave to preſent a new conjecture in reference to the point in hand, and earneſtly beg a Candid acceptation thereof from ingenuous ſpirits, which is this; That ſeeing our bleſſed Saviour is indeed the onelyonly and compleat foundation of his Church, and yet being mentioned in Scripture under the name, of a corner-ſtone in the Singular: I have entertained ſome thoughts, that although generally other buildings have many ſtones laid for their foundation; yet this ſpiritual and myſtical building of the Church may be conceived not to be unlike that admirable Temple of Lat…na in Buto a City of Egypt, near the Sebennitical mouth of the River Nile: concerning which Herodotus (atteſting that he was an foreign, and ſaw it himſelf) relates, that it was made and framed(a)Enterp. ſeu Lib. 2. §. 155. foreign, of one vaſt and entire ſtone. In like manner we may conceive the foundation of this ſpiritual Temple to have bin made of one, great, vaſt, fourſquare ſtone, ſupplying the whole extent of the bottome of the building. Which by reaſon of the chiefeſt and choiceſt office of a foundation, (viz. to ſupport all the angles or corners) is termed by the Apoſtle Peter and others, (following the Septuagint in that renowned(b)Iſai. 28.16. place of Iſaiah, ſo often mentioned) foreign, the cornering ſtone: or ſuch a ſtone, which in its four Angles reſpects and ſupports all the four corners of the building, and is therefore expreſt by a collective term: Although, in our tranſlation and according to the ordinary and common conception of the term of an Angular or corner-ſtone, whereby the word is turned; we uſually apprehend of it, as it were placed in one onelyonly corner of the foundation of this ſpiritual building. But at preſent (with the favour of the Learned) I ſhall crave leave to accept of the ſignification of Peter's words in ſuch a ſenſe, as may hint to us a large intire ſtone, that lyes flat at the botome, and extends to all the four corners; bearing and underpropping the whole building both in the middle and all the four Angles thereof: which noble and ſtately ſtone being indued with admirable ſtrength, by reaſon of the greatneſſe and immenſity of its body, to undergo the burden impoſed upon it; we cannot apply and reſemble it in a ſpiritual ſenſe to any thing better than to the infinite ſtrength of the merits of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord (on whoſe almighty ſhoulders there is laid help ſufficient, for our faith to lean on) to ſupport and preſerve us from ſinking under the direful weight of our ſins into the crude, raw, indigeſted and boggy ground of our polluted righteouſneſſe, when oppreſſed by the impetuous ſtorms of temptation, and when mourning under the ponderous preſſure of Gods wrath, righteouſly impoſed upon the backs of ſinners. Hence is it, that they who believe ſhall not need to make haſte away from it, as men do from boggy grounds; as the noble Prophet expreſſeth it in the forecited place: ſeeing it's firme ground, wherein the Angular ſtone of our help and ſalvation is laid. The[c]Iſa. 9.6. government reſteth on the ſhoulders of an omnipotent Atlas, ſupporting Heaven and Earth, from falling under the leaden talents of divine wrath and juſtice. So that the foundation of our ſpiritual houſe is not laid in the ſandy deſert of our impotent and lubricous natures, or in the ſoft and ſhaking bogs of our filthy works; but the help and ſtreſſe of our happineſſe is ſettled upon One, who is mighty to ſave. For (behold) a hand of grace and mercy deſcending from heaven, and fixing a moſt ſure foundation: on which our ſouls may find a ſafe and ſecure repoſe from all their fluctuations and diſquietments.
Now for as much as the Apoſtles of Chriſt are termed alſo[d]Eph. 2.20. Rev. 21.14. foundations of the Church: Nay, ſeeing that even the Church it ſelf is ſaid to be[e]1 Tim. 3.15. foreign, the pillar and ground of truth: we are to underſtand the former[f]Noyes Temple, meaſ. p. 31. of a doctrinal foundation: the Apoſtles having bin ſuch, as did edifie and build up the Church upon the head-ſtone of the corner: So Paul ſpeaks of himſelf, who like a wiſe maſter-builder, had laid his Corinthians upon Chriſt; as the(a)1 Cor. 3.10. foundation of their faith. By the latter concerning the Church, we are to underſtand the promulgation and conſervation of that truth (once delivered unto it by our Lord himſelf and his holy Apoſtles) inviolable and indelible to the day of Chriſt, throughout all generations. But of this, poſſibly, I may ſpeak more fully in another place of this Treatiſe.
Wherefore to conclude this preſent paragraph about the corner-ſtone: let us alſo remember, that as this ſtone hath reſpect unto both ſides of the building: ſo it may fairely repreſent that ſacred function and office of our Lord in knitting and uniting both Jews and Gentiles in one Temple of his myſtical body. Ideo etiam (b)De ceſſat. legal. p. 153.(ſaith our famous Grostest ſometime Biſhop of Lincolne) utriuſ que teſtamenta ſacrificia peregit Christus, ut in ſe angulari lapide continuaret duos parietes aedificii culturae Domini. Therefore did Christ alſo performe the ſacrifices of both teſtaments, that he might joyn together the two walls of Gods worſhip in himſelf being the corner-ſtone. That ſo he might become the foundation(c)Jud. 3. foreign, of the ſalvation, common both to Jews and Gentiles. For through him(d)Eph. 2.18. foreign, (ſaith holy Paul) we both, that is, of the ſtock of the Jews, and of the gentile race have an acceſſe by one Spirit unto the Father. Others there be, who interpret this cementing or uniting of the corner-ſtone to be underſtood in reſpect to Saints and Angels: Seeing the Father is related by the ſame Apoſtle,(e)Eph. 1.10. foreign: to gather together unto a head all things both in the heavens (that is, Angels and Saints triumphant) and alſo ſuch as are upon the Earth (that is, Saints militant) in Christ, the head ſtone of the corner.
6. In the ſixth and laſt place, he is termed(f)1 Pet. 2.4. a living ſtone. ¶. 6.To which purpoſe we may obſerve; that ſuch ſtones which ſtill remain in their native place within the Quarry, not yet dugg up, or removed out of their natural ſituation, are by the antients, whether Poets, Orators, or Philoſophers, called living ſtones. At preſent one ſhall ſuffice for all, (it being a thing commonly noted) in the poems of the(g)Virgil. Aen. lib. 1. v. 167. Mantuan muſe, which deſcribing the ſeats of the Nymphs, in a rock upon the African ſhore, ſings thus;
Intus aqua dulces vivo que ſedilia ſaxo,
Nympharum domus, &c.
Where waters ſweet, with gentle murmurs ſlide
The Nymphs on ſeats of living-ſtones abide.
Whereas on the other ſide, ſtones hewn out of the Quarry and tranſlated into ſtately Fabricks, do moulder away by the forcible impreſſions of ſtormy weather, and impetuous windes; and may be ſtyled dead ſtones, though it be an unuſual and harſh expreſſion: when thoſe that remain in their native ſeats decay not, but are rather increaſed and augmented, and in ſome ſort ſaid to grow. The common determination is, that theſe ſubterraneous bodies are inlarged in their quantity, by the petrification of adjacent matter.(h)Cont. Cardan. Exerc. 108.9.4. Scaliger holds that they are increaſed by certain exhalations, that ſweat out of the ſtones themſelves, like as gummes out of trees; which by the aſtringent and indurating quality of cold, do admit of concretion in their exterior parts, and ſo augment their quantities. The acute(i)Principo Philoſoph. p. 231. Amſteled. 1644. quarto. Renatus Deſ…cartes differs from the former, teaching, that there are many ſharp ſpirits, volatile ſalts, Oily exhalations and vapors of a Mercurial nature, that aſcend out of the bowels of the Earth towards its ſurface: which according to various and different mixtures cleave together, (when the more lubricous, fluid, and aëreal parts are evaporated and flown away) producing ſuch various ſorts of ſtones, both common and precious in the upper parts of the Earth. The laſt that I ſhall mention is the opinion of our Country-man(a)De orig. font. p. 233. Lond. 1605. 8…. Lydiat, who conceives upon many probable grounds that there are great ſubterraneous fires, actually burning in the bowels of the Earth; from which there aſcend great quantities of ſpirits, and manifold vapours differing in moyſture, or drineſs according to the inflamed matter beneath. The moyſter parts of ſuch exhalations are reſolved into water, near the ſurface of the earth, by reaſon of the cold aire condenſing theſe vapors into drops; (as is ordinarily ſeen in the art of deſtillation) which are the originals of ſprings and fountaines. Whereas, on the other ſide, the more dry exhalations being contained within ſuch compact parts of the circumambient earth, as do not eaſily yield channels and paſſages for their tranſpiration; (even as it is in ovens well ſtopt) do in length and continuance of time, as it were bake together into that firme ſolidity, which we ſee in ſtones: being alſo by new aſcending vapours continually increaſed more and more. Now hence it is, that generally there is found plenty of waters in all mines and quarries, which being of near kind to the lapideſcent quality (by which ſtones are generated) do ſupply the veins of thoſe quarries with conſtant moiſture, thereby aſſiſting them againſt that gritling friability, which expoſeth them to corruption, when taken forth of their native places.
As to the point in hand (craving a favourable permiſſion at the hands of the learned to ſpeak in an alluſive way); In like manner, the Lord Jeſus is not only a ſolid rock, but a living rock, a rock that hath a fountain of living water in it, and(b)Exod. 17.6. Num. 20.11. flowing from it. He is that ſpiritual, living rock, which(c)1 Cor. 10.4. followed the Iſraëlites in the wilderneſſe: ſo called by a metaphor taken from living creatures, that have a loco-motive faculty: In which place the Apoſtle is to be underſtood of the water which iſſued forth of the rock, that in a conſtant ſtream flowing from it[d]Mede. Vol. 1. p. 558. followed them in their ſeveral manſions, as they paſſed through that howling wilderneſſe. The firſt time that we read of water iſſuing out of a rock, was at Rephidim their 11th manſion, which ſatisfied their thirſt and extinguiſhed their preſent murmurs. Now it's evident that the water came guſhing forth out of a rock in[e]Deut. 9.21. mount Horeb, [d]Exod. 17.6.and yet that mountain is the place of their 12th ſtation; at which place alſo the Law was given, and the powder of their golden[e]Deut. 9.21. Calf was caſt into the brook of water that deſcended out of that Moun…. But herein Bellonius in his Itinerary obſervations (who carfully ſearched thoſe parts) doth help us, in that he acquaints his Reader, that in this wilderneſſe of Sinai, there is a large tract of mountaines called by the ſame name; extending themſelves a great length, and in one place ariſing into two craggy tops (like Parnaſſus in Phocis): one whereof is called Sinai particularly, giving denomination to the wilderneſſe; and the other, Horeb: by both which the range of hills are promiſcuouſly and interchangeably calld. He relates alſo that at this day, there is a …ill of water ſliding down from that hill: which whither it be the ſame that was opened by Moſes at Gods appointment, who can tell? But we ſee by Scripture, that the water which Moſes fetcht out of the rocky mountain of Horeb, for the people in Rephidim the 11th ſtation; is recorded to have drunk-in the golden powder of their image in the 12th ſtation, which ſtations poſſibly might be but little aſunder. But if Aluſh, the 10th ſtation ſhould be Ptolomies, foreign, and Jerom's Eluſa, in his Hilarion; or if Rephidim ſhould be Ptolomies, &*De bell. Jud. l. 5. c. 14. ſer. Ruff. p. 903. Joſephus his foreign, or Maſſah his foreign, there will prove a very great journey for the Iſraëlites to march, before they came from that ſide of the Sinai mountaines weſtward whence the water flowed, to the great and ragged rock where the Law was given in their 12th ſtation. All which I have hitherto ſuggeſted, a little to further the ſenſe of that place of Paul before-cited, which according to the inſinuation of our Reverend tranſlators (adding [them] to followed] ſeems to carry this ſenſe, That a ſtream of waters from the firſt ſmitten rock, followed them in that dry, ſandy, and barren deſert to refreſh the congregation of Iſrael.
But to let that inquiry paſſe at preſent: we are ſure that our bleſſed ſpiritual rock, the Lord Jeſus doth ſupply the living ſtones of his building, with living water flowing from his bleſſed ſide. Who, though taken out of the Quarry of humane nature, and placed at the bottome of the ſacred building of his Church; is inſpired with a divine vitality, and hath received this gift from the Father(a)Joh. 5.26. to have life in himſelf, and to communicate of this life unto his members,(b)Joh. 10.10. that they may have it more abundantly.
On this living rock, as on the head of the corner, is the Church of God founded, and all the members do come to him as lively ſtones, ſo called by Peter in the forecited place; by reaſon of a new forme, life, or vertue infuſed into them, and flowing from their union with Chriſt. Therefore is it, that we read in the Prophet Ezekiel, that from under the(c)Ezek. 47.1. threſhold of the Temple, even from this foundation-ſtone there ſaid, that holy man of God did ſee in a viſion, waters iſſuing forth in great abundance: which are to be interpreted of the Spirit, which Chriſt, after his departure out of this world,(d)Joh. 7.39. would ſend down among his Diſciples. So that theſe Temple-ſtones being drawn out of the(e)Iſa. 51.1. pit of nature, and hewn by a gracious hand out of the old rebellious rock of Adam, are become(f)Ezek. 11.19, & 36, 26. fleſhy and living ſtones, and are ſituated upon Chriſt, the grand foundation of his Church. Who though they have moſt happily loſt that native vitality unto ſin, which cleaved to them in the quarry of corrupt nature; yet now by their implantation into Chriſt, receive a new and ſpiritual life. The ſtones, which Deucalion and Pyrrha caſt over their heads, after the great deluge, are called by(g)Comment in Iliad. 1. Romae 1550. Euſtathius foreign, quickened or enlivened ſtones. The weaving inſtruments alſo feigned by Homer, to be made of ſtone, whereon the Nymphs did make purple webs within their cave, are expounded by(h)De antr. Nymph. Romae 1630. Porphyry to be meant of bones and fleſh, which by theſe goddeſſes were framed into living bodies, in that Den which myſtically repreſented the Univerſe. But yet allowing theſe fables, or at leaſt the truths ſhadowed by them, the ſtones ſpoken of are animated only with humane or mortal life: whereas the ſtones that we are treating of, which are laid upon Chriſt, and fixed in him the head of the Church, do receive from him a life which is ſpiritual and eternal.
Seeing then, the Lord Jeſus only is the foundation-ſtone of the Churches welfare, both in grace and glory: which God hath laid in mount Zion, at the bottome of this ſacred building: let us eſteem it a vain thing to ſeek him in any place upon Earth, but in his Temple, the Church; wherein he dwells and converſes with his people by his Spirit.(i)Luk. 2.27. Simeon and(k)Ver. 38. Anna with Mary the Mother of our Lord, according to the fleſh; where do they meet with Chriſt but in this holy place? The two former having bin long expectants, and waiters for the conſolation of Iſrael, at laſt found Him whom their ſouls loved, when preſented before the Lord in his Temple. The Virgin Mary likewiſe having ſorrowfully ſought him in other places, for three daies together, at laſt met with him in the(l)Ver. 46. Temple, doing his Father's buſineſſe. He that was the(m)Hag. 2.7. deſire of all Nations, through whom alone both Jews and Gentiles, can expect reſtauration to the favour of God, would then more fully performe the promiſes of the new Covenant of grace to his people, when he ſhould(n)Mal. 3.1. come into his Temple. The Dove-like ſpouſe, finds her ſafeſt and ſweeteſt repoſe in the(o)Cant. 2.14. Clefts of this rock, in the ſecret places of the ſtaires of the Temple-Tower. Nay, the Sparrows and Swallows of the Gentiles, who formerly were(a)Eph. 2.12. without Chriſt and without God in the World, have now found an houſe, yea, and neſts for themſelves, where they may lay their(b)Pſal. 84.3. young; even thine Altars O Lord of Hoſts, our God and our King. The kingdome of heaven from a graine of muſtard-ſeed, is ſhott up into a(c)Luk. 13.19. great tree: ſo that thoſe birds, which formerly lived according to the courſe of this World, according to the(d)Eph. 2.2. Prince of the power of the aire, do now lodge and ſing in its branches.
But to retreat to the former Metaphor: This is the noble ſtone of the corner, unto which the Church and all its particular members are faſtned by the cement of Faith and Love. The union whereof is undiſcernable by common and carnal eyes, not unlike the ſtones of the Typical Temple, which Joſephus reports to have bin ſo admirably laid, and faſtned with ſuch rare artifice, that the junctures could not be perceived: as if the whole building had bin made one intire ſtone, and that not unlike to the Helio-Selenus, a precious ſtone mentioned by(e)Art. Mirab. l. 4. c. 45. p. 694. Gregory of Tholouze, that ſhews the Synod or Conjunction of the two great luminaries, the Sun and the Moon: Chriſt the Sun of righteouſneſſe, and the Church the Moon of the Goſpel-heavens.
Whoſoever then erres in reſpect of this(f)1 Cor. 3.10.11. &c. foundation ſtone, muſt of neceſſity erre likewiſe moſt groſſely in the whole ſuper-ſtructure. We may obſerve then, that the builders of this World, who own an other Head, laying aſide this Corner-ſtone, do conſequently erre in the deep and profound doctrine of election, ſeeing we are(g)Eph. 1.5. predeſtinated unto the adoption of Children by Jeſus Chriſt. The foundation of God remaineth ſure, having this ſeal,(h)2 Tim. 2.19. THE LORD KNOWETH who are his, even that ſuch who name the name of Chriſt, ſhould depart from iniquity. Thoſe will erre alſo in the doctrine of Baptiſm, ſeeing we are to be(i)Act. 19.5. baptized in the name of the Lord Jeſus. They will erre further in the doctrine of holy and ſpiritual-good works, which flow only from the principle of a new nature, united unto Chriſt by Faith. For(k)Joh. 15.5. without him we can do nothing. They erre likewiſe in the doctrine of the Reſurrection. For this is the belief that we are to hold firmely and inviolably, that if[l]Rom. 6.8. &c. we be dead with Chriſt, we ſhall alſo live with him: who will[m]Joh. 6.40, 54. raiſe us up at the laſt day. Finally, ſuch will erre in the excellent doctrine of eternal ſalvation. For it is[n]Act. 15.11. through the grace of the Lord Jeſus, that we ſhall be ſaved.