Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 2 · Verse 4
Verse 4. To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious; Verse 5. Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
NOw he sets out the bounty of Christ to all that believe on him, and consequently, the excellent state and condition of such above all people in the world.
This stands in these things;Wherein Christs bounty doth appear 1. That he gives them leave to come to him: 2. That having so done, he makes them partakers of that blessed and spiritual life that is in himself, whereas they were dead before, and makes them which were an habitation for the Devil, a dwelling-house for the Lord wherein to take pleasure; and whereas before they were unholy and prophane, he being once come to them, will make them holy Priests, apt to offer such Sacrifices to God as he will accept of by Jesus Christ.
This he sets out in a borrowed speech, taken from the Temple of Jerusalem, which was the House of God, wherein he took pleasure, and in which he dwelt after a sort,A comparison between the Temple of Ierusalem, and that which Christ maketh of all that believe in him. by manifestation of his favors: As that was built of many fair stones in a magnifical maner, and in it were Priests that offered sacrifices to God, such as he required and accepted, such a Temple doth Christ Jesus make of all that believe in him, save that its every way more excellent: The foundation of that was but a dead stone, this a living stone, Christ Jesus; all the stones of that (though fair, yet but) dead stones, of this all living, answerable to the foundation; those joyned together with morter, these by the Spirit and Faith; that was an Earthly House, this a Spiritual House; there were Sacrifices of the blood of Bulls and Goats, but these be Spiritual Sacrifices; there the Temple was one thing, and the Priest another, here the Temple and the Priest are all one; there the Priest one, and the Sacrifice another, here both are one and the same.
Now this that he hath said concerning Christ Jesus, the foundation of his Church, and of the good estate of those that be built upon him, he confirms out of Isa. 28. 16. which accordingly he applies, as well for the comfort of the godly, as the terror of unbelievers.
For this foundation, consider what he is, and how esteemed: What he is,Christ why compared to a stone. A stone, so compared for his firmness, stability and continuance; his nature, a living stone, whereby he differs from all other foundations: How esteemed of men, namely, wicked ones disallowed, but of God elect and chosen to be Mediator, and to the godly precious.
To whom coming] The first priviledge,Obser. he gives us leave to come to him,To believe in Christ (which is to come to him) is a great priviledge. which is to believe in him, and is indeed a very great priviledge: He might scare us from him (as Adam was kept out of Paradise by the blade of a sword) but doth not, and this is the beginning of all good from Christ, till which we are never the better for him.
Hence observe, That if ever we would receive good by Christ, we must come to him.
But how can we come to him,Object. he is in Heaven, and we on Earth?
Not with our bodily feet,Sol. but with the feet of our minde and heart, when we seeing our misery, and finding our selves wholly lost, come to him to seek for Salvation, and relie on him, and are ruled by him: This is to come to him. Such as go on Pilgrimage from this place to that, and seek him bodily in the Sacrament, do but deceive themselves, being thus void of Faith; when they think themselves nearest him, they are as far off as ever.
To come to Christ and to believe in him are all one;Ioh. 6. 35. and then we come to him,Doctr. when we go out of our selves, as being utterly undone, and go to him as an All-sufficient Savior,Christians must come to Christ. and relie on him, and are willing to take up his yoke, and forsake all other Saviors and Lords▪ and this we must do, because
1. Of our own utter misery in our selves by sin,Reason 1. punishment, and inability to help our selves out, whereof if people were perswaded, it were as easie to perswade them to come to Christ, as to perswade a sick man to the Physician, one overloaden to be eased of his burthen, an hungry man to take meat.
2. In Christ there is sufficient to make us as truly happy,Reason 2. as we be utterly miserable in our selves,1 Cor. 1. 30. Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption: The sinner cannot complain of any thing, but there is help for it in Christ, do but ask the thing, and its to be had; Oh, I have deserved the wrath of God and Damnation, but I (saith Christ) have dyed for thee, and paid thy debt; But how shall I come into the favor of God and be saved? Oh, saith Christ, I have obeyed for thee, and purchased it; But I have no power to do any good? but I have enough (saith Christ) to make thee a Sanctified man.
3. Christ is willing to have us come to him,Reason 3. and therefore also doth earnestly call us:Isa 55. 1. If one know himself poor, and that such a rich man is both able and willing to help him, and is also invited of him to accept hereof, will he not thereupon go to him? so is Christ to us, and accordingly we must come to him.
1. For those that are come to Christ,Use 1. and do believe in him with their hearts, and are guided by him, they may be of good comfort, having done what God requires of them, they shall finde fruit and benefit thereby, more then they can express.
This serves to provoke on those that are coming and coming,Use 2. and yet draw back, set one foot forward, and pull the other back again, fain would believe, and yet cannot, but fear (Oh, its not for me) and cannot be perswaded that they be of the number of such whom Christ will save: Why, what would you have Christ say to you? He bids all without exception, that are weary and heavy laden with their sins, to come to him, that is, believe in him; its also the end of his coming into the world: You stand in great need of mercy, do ye not? O yes, above all the world, and cannot indure to think but that I should have part therein; and Christ hath need of some to shew his mercy on, and therefore calls thee: Therefore as in a Market, one having need of a Commodity, another (that hath it) of money, me thinks these two should quickly agree, the Buyer and the Seller, who both come for that end; so is it between Christ and the poor sinner, wherefore else doth Christ set forth his stall of so rich mercies, and call people to them? to send them away empty? no verily, Christ hath said the contrary, and so can assoon deny himself, as not save thee; therefore believe,Iohn 6. 29. which is the great Commandment of the Gospel.
Oh,Obj. but I am so unworthy.
If it be so,Sol. thou art the more fit for Christ, he came for such, he accepts such.Luke 18. 13.
Oh,Obj. if I could weep as much as some, or had been so long, or so much humbled, or could repent and serve God as I would.
What God doth,Sol. he doth freely, and when thou canst do nothing but feel thy misery,Acts 16. 27. then believe Christ will save thee: What was the Jaylor when he did believe? believing will break thy heart, and bring Repentence; O that we should so much, so often, and so earnestly be perswaded to believe, and yet do not. If a King shall call a poor Subject,Simile. and reach him a handful of gold, will he draw back, and say, I am unworthy that he should call me, or I should come to him; What am I? I never deserved any such thing, &c. If it be great, great gifts become a great God; and seeing he will do it, hinder not thy self, thou shalt be the more bound to love and praise him here and for ever; yet is it no easie matter to believe: If a man had this Church lying upon his back, it were not so easie a mater to rise and stand upright; so, when any have the wrath of the infinite God lying upon their Souls, what can they do? howsoever, do your endeavor, strive against unbelief, discern between temptations that come from the Devil, and the promises of God; those (how many soever) reject as lyes, but these apply diligently, stand even upon one word of Gods mouth, and let that comfort thee more then ten thousand temptations to dismay thee.
3. This Rebuketh the most part of men,Use 3. that will not come at Christ, though he call them, and offer them wonderful fair; He bids them come, confess their sins, seek to him for Salvation, and be ruled by him, and he will take all their burthen on him and save them: But how few give ear to this gracious voyce and offer? how many go on, and are not at all moved, though Christ be preached daily? though they need him, he be sufficient for them, and willing to do them good? and why? few can be perswaded of their danger: Civil persons, Ignorant ones, and a number of Worldlings are so glued to these things, that they savor and minde no other life, nor offer of any such thing; A number of prophane people will not part with their sins, though to obtain such a benefit; And there be such a number of other Comes, that calls and carry them away, that though Christ call, Come, few follow him; The Devil saith, Come, and they flock after him; The World saith, Come, and they flock after it; The flesh saith, Come, and they follow it thick and threefold, even striving who shall follow it fastest: But if they had wit to see whether these Comes tend, they would not be so forward; The Devil calls, Come, as the Fowler calleth the Bird into his Net; The World calls, Come, and serves her followers as Dalilah did Sampson, and Jael, Sisera; The flesh calls, Come, but all that follow it shall dye;Rev. 8. 6. The Harlot also hath a Come,Prov. 7. 18. but her Chambers go to Death and Hell, and he that goeth in into her, is led as an Ox to the slaughter; the like might be instanced of others: So that Christ by his Ministers might cry, Come, but few hear and follow: O what woful unthankfulness is this! Did Christ come down from Heaven to us, and will not we come to him one whit? Hath he taken so long a journey, and come to offer himself, and do we refuse? O horrible ingratitude! Yea, what mischief is this to our selves? Is it not to seek our own destruction? If a King should send a gracious Pardon to a company of Traytors that had deserved Death, and they should go on and set light by it, would he not send an Host of armed Soldiers to destroy them? So may the Lord justly deal with us. You are told you are undone without Christ, that he can and will save you, if you come to him; if you will not, you cannot but perish, and whom then will you blame? O whose heart should not leap at such an offer, and coming in, yield himself, and say, O its the first bargain I'le make, the best that ever I shall make! How many thousands would be glad to hear such things as these, that do not, nor are vouchsafed the favor? Do you think ever to have a better offer? to make any better of your sins, then to renounce them, and embrace Christ? O consider of this, and renounce all other Comes which you have already followed, and at last, ere it be too late, embrace this most blessed offer: O fall down and humble thy self!
O but will he ever pardon and receive me,Obj. who have been thus and thus?
Its no matter what thou hast been,Sol. not number nor greatness of sins can let,Isa. 1. 18. if thy heart could be truly humbled, theres the greatest doubt: He as the true Samaritan will pour wine and oyl in thy wounds; He is the true pool of Bethesda, now the water is stirred, step in, and though thou hast been Thirty and eight years, yea Forty eight and more sick of deadly sin, thou shalt be cured; Christ is a perfect Physitian, what disease is there, that he cannot cure? The Urinals that stand so abundantly in Physitians and Apothecaries houses may condemn the world, seeing there be so few seek to the spiritual Physitian; labor to see thy misery, understand and apply the Law, to make the soul sick, as some make themselves sea-sick: When thou art touch't deeply with thy misery, come to Christ, he will do thee good; If being burthened with thy sins, thou goest to the Devil for councel, he will tell thee thy …ins be unpardonable, no mercy, better rid thy self out of the way as Judas: If thou go to the world, they will bid thee be merry, and put away these melancholly dumps and thoughts, Ride abroad, go to Cards, Dice, haunt Ale-houses, &c. and go to no more of these Preachers and Sermons, they put folks out of their wits, thats the good they do: People that were honest folks, and lived at quiet, since they have used to go after them, are grown full of fancies: But if you come to Christ, he will take pity on you, ease, comfort, and save you: O be perswaded, will you perish rather then humble your selves? will you cast away your souls for love of your lusts? We will hereafter, for we know that else there is no Salvation: O thats the Devils word, Hereafter, he knows delays to be dangerous. Accept it whilst it is offered, lest thou never come to it again; If thou despise it, thou shalt hear a fearful, Go ye cursed; If thou wilt embrace it, thou shalt hear a comfortable, Come ye blessed. The Lord perswade your hearts, and cause many to come this day, if it be his blessed will.
As unto a living stone,] The next priviledge of a Christian by Christ, is, that being come to him, he conveyeth of that spiritual Life and Grace that is in himself into every of them; which is here set down under the similitude of a building, of which there be two parts: 1. The Foundation: 2. The rest of the House raised and built thereupon, which be so coupled, as they make but one building.
For the Foundation which is Christ Jesus,Observ. he is compared to a stone, because as thats used for a foundation in an house of moment,Christ the Foundation that bears up his Church. as being sure, lasting, firm and perpetual: So is Christ Jesus the Foundation that bears up his Church, and by which it is saved, a sure, firm and perpetual Foundation,Acts 4. 12. without whom there is no hope of Salvation, he being the way, Iohn 14. 6.the truth, and the life: He that brings another Gospel, let him be accursed; Gal. 1. 9.If he come like an Angel, spit on his face, defie him to Hell: Adam and all since have been saved by him, and all that are or ever shall be; what he did, no other could do, and that he did which was needful for our Salvation.
1. This condemns all that build not upon this Foundation,Use 1. but on another, either in whole or in part; as 1. The Jews, that look for a Savior in the Ayr, that will come they know not when: 2. The Turks, that build on a deceitful cursed Mahomet, that will never come till he be hailed before the Judgement-Seat of Christ for his Blasphemies. 3. The Papists, who though they acknowledge Christ in word to be the Redeemer and Savior of the World, yet they so pull from him, and adde to him, as they leave him but a bare Name and Title; for then is Christ the Foundation and so acknowledged, when we acknowledge Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, Redemption, Satisfaction, Life and Glory to be in him, and in him alone: Contrarily, they attribute part of these to their own Merits, Masses, Pardons, Satisfactions, and so they rake together a deal of Rubbish to joyn with the Foundation, which will not be, for he is an whole Foundation or none; of them, some few whose eyes God opens in their end (as finding no certainty nor sure rest in any thing of their own) do renounce themselves and all in them, and onelyonly lean upon Christ Jesus for Salvation, and so become happy indeed: They also hold that Peter is the head of the Church and Foundation thereof, who would not wonder at their wickedness, when as Peter himself saith it here of Christ, and attributes nothing to himself.
But is it not confirmed by that of our Savior, Object.Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church?Mat. 16. 18.
The Question propounded by our Savior,Sol. was moved to all the rest as well as Peter, and answered of all, though by the mouth of Peter; Christs meaning is, That on himself whom he had confessed, he would build his Church; Would he build it on Peter? then either on his Person or on his Faith: not on his Person; and how weak was his Faith, which was so sore shaken by the speech of a Maid? that could be no meat foundation to build on. 4. Those fools among our selves, who though they acknowledge no other foundation, yet build not upon him, but on their civil life, their bare hearing of the Word (which yet they do, because its commanded by Law, and stands most with their safety, and as the Papists, but for their purse, so they would not come to Church, but for shame or punishment) their doing as others do, &c. foolish Builders that build on the sand; their house (as every other that is not built on Christ by true Faith) how fair soever in their own eyes, will fall on their heads; if any storm of trouble arise for the Gospel, they will quckly yield, and change as oft as Religion changeth; and if no such change be, yet at death they shall drop into Hell for want of a foundation, as the five foolish Virgins were shut out of Heaven, for that they had no oyl for their Lamps, no stock of Faith to feed or back their outward Profession.
They that content themselves with any thing, with any gift, before they have got a true justifying Faith, will fall away, will perish, may prove Persecutors or any thing: They that so hear the Word, as they never give over till it hath humbled them, and brought them to Christ, and they have found sure foundation on him, and footing, and grace to be changed; these build upon the rock: Therefore content not your selves with hearing the Word, nay hearing it with joy, and reforming many things, nay that you have been troubled for your sins (as some have wept for their sins at a Sermon, but let it go over, and wear away, ere they came at Christ) so bearing your selves in hand that ye are converted persons, for afterward by your falling away, or at your death, it will prove nothing so, and all for want of a foundation: There be even now thousands in hell, that have heard as many Sermons as ever you heard, or ever shall.
2. That Christ is a foundation,Use 2. and the onelyonly foundation of his Church, is no small comfort to all that believe on him: They may quiet themselves amidst the multitude of contrary Opinions in the world, or temptations of Satan to make them waver; they may answer, If Christ be not sufficient to save me, I am content to be damned; I'le never seek other foundation, you may well enough. Again, being built on Christ, there be many enemies will lay Battery against you to beat you off; but be of good comfort, they may shake you indeed, but to overcome you, or pull you off the foundation, its not possible,Mat. 16. 18. All the gates of Hell shall not prevail against you, all their power shall not quail you. As in a City the strength is placed at the gates, as the Port-cullis, and the Canon to keep from entrance, so if Hell should plant all its force against a Christian, yea the poorest Christian, it shall never be able to prevail against him, he is so surely joyned to the foundation, by the Spirit of God that lies so fast; Will Christ suffer his Building to be defaced, or one member, or the least joynt to be pulled out of his body? Christ that prayed that his Disciples might be kept,Iohn 17 15. prayed also for all that should believe.
Living] Christ is a living foundation,Doctr. not onelyonly because he hath life in himself (as he is the Living Bread, Christ is a living foundation.the Truth, and the Life) but because he giveth life to others, even all that believe in him. Hence percieve.Ioh. 5. 16. &. 5. 21. & 11. 25. & 17. 2.
1. That Christ differs from all other foundations, he gives life to his,Use 1. but whoso trusteth on any other, shall dye eternally.
2. An encouragement for all to come to Christ;Use 2. He is not such a one as can do them no pleasure, but as he can and will save them, so he will also put life into them; that whereas before they were as dead as a stock, to any thing concerning the glory of God, or their own good; no Wit, Will, Memory, Affection, no Hand, Foot, Tongue, but all were stiff and stark lame to any good, yea dead; being joyned to him, he will make them alive,2 Cor. 5. 17. give them Wit, Will, and a Heart to that which is good,Eph 2. 1. so a Hand, Foot and Tongue, yea so change them, that they shall be nothing the same, but new Creatures. Hence it is, that some that were as very wretches as could be to their lusts, that loved a Sermon, Sabbath, or good Exercise, as a Bear doth the stake, have yet by the preaching of the Word been brought to Christ; the case is so altered with them, that now they loath what they loved, love what they loathed. It is not a strange thing, to see a man that loved money as his life, and had no savor in any good, to set as light by it as his shoes, and to love the word that wrought this dislike in him? So for a man that loved a pair of Cards, and Tables, and to ramble abroad on the Lords Day, and who could not abide to take a book in his hand, or to be in any Religious persons company, now to abandon the one, and to be earnestly affected with the other? yet this Christ worketh in those that be joyned to him: O come to this Christ Jesus, humble thy self, believe in him, and give over thy self to him, and though thou beest as bad as the worst, he will so alter thee, as thou mayest prove a worthy Christian.
3. This serves to uncase a number of Hypocrites,Use 3. that think themselves stones of this Building, and hope to be saved by Christ, and to be Believers, and yet have no Spiritual life in them: If you can shew me that Spiritual life that you have got from Christ, to dye to sin and live to righteousness, then you say something; but there be no dead stones in this Building, but living, answerable to the foundation: Therefore they that remain dead in their sins and old lusts, or any of them, Christ and they are assuredly as yet two, and not one: Shew your Christianity by renouncing all ill, and by your love to good, Prayer, good duties in your Families, and places where you live, and in all good Works.
Disallowed indeed of men,] Here's shewed how this foundation is esteemed, both of Men and God: He first speaks of men, and that by way of prevention.The prevention of an Objection. No marvel you speak of Christ to be such a Foundation, might they have said, we are sure, when he came into the world, a number cared not for him, would none of him, and those none of the fools or simple ones, but Wise, Politick, Learned Clerks: True, saith he; but what then? yet I have that which will weigh it down, namely, that he is chosen of God, and precious to him, and them that shall believe on him.
Disallowed he was indeed of men;Christ disallowed of whom, and why. They called him the Carpenters Son, a Samaritan, Wine-bibber, deceiver; They would have no other King but Caesar, never left him while they put him to death, with them Barabbas was meeter to live then he: What was the cause? or how should they disallow him, when it was so plain that he was the Christ, foretold by the Prophets, who came at the same time, in the same place, and after the same maner, whose Life, Preaching and Works did well declare him so to be, what might be the cause hereof? They looked for one that should come as an earthly Prince, to deliver them out of the hands of the Romans; but his Kingdom was not of this World:Acts 6, 14. They looked also for one that should have upheld their Customs, Law, and Traditions, but the date of them was out. (See by the way what it is to have an old conceit setled in ones brain, O how hardly is it removed!) Again, How came they to this height of disallowing him? at the first of ignorance and blindeness, but after of malice; so men grow (when they desire not to amend and see the Truth) from one degree of wickedness to another: The Jews disallowed him, and do to this day, though the hand of God be heavily upon them,Mat. 27. 25. according to their own Imprecation, His blood be on us, and our children; whose case is most fearful: So is the case of all others that disallow him, whereof there be multitudes among us. Why, nay, all we allow him? O most of Pharisees disallow him and will perish.
Yes,Obj. most among Jews and Turks, but all we shall be saved, unless it be here and there an adulterer, or horrible drunkard, &c.
Consider that of four sorts of grounds (Professors) three are naught:Sol. O most among us disallow Christ,Mat. 13. 3, &c. while they will not come to him, embrace him as their Savior, and renouncing all evil, take up his yoke as their Lord; most amongst us allow a kinde of Christ, but not a true Christ: They allow a Christ that will save them, though they never be humbled, though they live still in their sins; but Christ is no such, Christ will save no such: O let all such look to it, that will not come to Christ as he hath appointed; you think the Jews, Judas and the Soldiers have a fearful account to make, so they have; and how shall they appear before Christ at the day of Judgement? but even thousands in our Parishes are in no better case, that break his bonds, and despise the offer of his blood; Such are all Apostates that have profest the name of Christ, and fall away, all fearful ones, that deny him out of fear, and all that will not embrace him being offered.
Disallowed] Was not this no ill sign of Christ that he was disallowed?Doctr. O no:Such things are often disallowed of men, which are allowed of God. Even that may be disallowed of men, which yet is allowed, and highly accounted of of God; nay, the more Spiritual any thing, any course, any person is, the more and the sooner will the world disallow him and it.
For, they be carnal, therefore savor the things of the flesh, not of the Spirit; they be in darkness, therefore care not for the light; The more Spiritual any thing is, the higher is it out of their reach: Those courses and persons that be carnal, the world allow well of; four hundred false Prophets maintained at Jezabels Table,Heb. 11. 37. good Micaiah and Elias abused;Iohn 6. 35. of those that wandred up and down in sheep-skins and goat-skins, the world was not worthy, yet did not the world think them worthy to be among them,Acts 4, &c. but thrust them among the wilde Beasts:See Luke 6. 22, 23. Others also were racked as the vilest Malefactors, yea, our Savior himself was so accounted,Isa. 8. 18. so the Apostles, men wonder at them as at a thief.Use 1. Hence learn
1. That we are not to esteem the worse either of our selves or others because of the worlds mislike; many be so weak, that if they see the most, and especially any great ones, or any learned cry down a man or an action,Iohn 7. 7, 48. &c. they are carried away, and open their mouthes wide against them; but if that might have gone currant, Christ himself had been naught: we must not go upon any such rule, but examine whether they be allowed of God, or not; if they be, then are we not to regard what the world saith; The world wil prefer Barabbas to Christ, call evil good,Simile. and good evil: There's no more heed to be given thereto, then to be judged of a blinde man concerning colours. As they that have sore eyes cannot abide the clear light and Sun-shine,Luke 15. 16. so cannot the wicked abide that which is pure and Spiritual, yea, the things that they highly allow, are abominable in the sight of God.
2. That they which disallow that,Use 2. and those whom God alloweth, are in a miserable condition, they cross God, and he will cross them: The time shall come, when they shall finde by woful experience, that he disalloweth them, when they shall be glad, and desire to be in the number of those whom they have most despised, but to no purpose.
Ye also as lively stones are built up,] Now of the rest of the building that is reared upon this Foundation; Every Believer is a stone of this building, a lively stone, and all together make up a spiritual House for the Lord to delight in, as many stones go to the making up of a material House.
Now in that Christ is compared to the Foundation,Doctr. and believers to stones built on him,There's a near Vnion between Christ and Believers. it sheweth the near conjunction that is between Christ and them; as stones are joyned to the Foundation by morter, so are believers to Christ by the Spirit: Accordingly he is compared to a head,Eph. 1. 22, 23. and the Church to the body; he to the Vine, and the Church to the Branches:1 Cor. 6. 15. Such an Union is between Christ and Believers, as is between the husband and the wife,Iohn 15. 2. no more twain,Eph. 5. 30. but one bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh: Before a man have Faith, he is as a dead stick or stone, by Faith he is united to Christ; which is signified by these and the like speeches,Iohn 6. 51. eating Christs flesh, and drinking his blood, which is to believe in him, shewing that as the meat we eat is turned into our substance,1 Iohn 1. 3. and nearly joyned to us, so are we to Christ by believing in him: and this is a real and true Union, but a Spiritual one, not that we are thereby united to Christs soul, but to his body also, and by his humanity to his Deity, and by both to God the Father, and the holy Ghost, which is an admirable prerogative: If any say, How can this be, Christ being in Heaven and we on Earth? It is so by the Spirit on Gods part, and Faith on ours; Those joyn things far distant in place most nearly together. If any say, I cannot see nor comprehend how this should be;Eph. 5. 32. If we cannot, no marvel, for its a great mystery which we are to believe and adore in our hearts. The benefits hereof are unspeakable (as the honor most glorious) for by vertue hereof, we that were as dead as blocks and stones, draw spiritual life and Grace to become new Creatures, to dye to sin, and to lead a righteous life; as the members receive sence and motion from the head, and the Vine-branches sap from the root: Hereby also we have title to Christ and all his good things; He also bears our troubles with us, and hereby our souls shall be as filled with Grace here, so taken up to glory with him at death, and the body remains united to Christ even in the grave; by vertue whereof it shall be raised up a spiritual and glorious body to be glorified for ever: And this is yet so much the more absolute and blessed a Union, because its indissolveable; No violence of Satan, nor any other Enemy can break off the same:Rom. 8. 38. He hath not therefore fastened us as stones into this building to be ever pulled out any more;1 Iohn 2. 19. If they had been of us (saith the Appostle) they should have continued with us: What God hath joyned together, who can separate?
1. This is for instruction to all that are believers,Use 1. and so members of this body, stones of this building, that they walk in their conversation answerable to such high Dignity, to such an Union: The Members must be like the Head, the stones answerable to the Foundation, as the Fruit to the true Vine: Take heed they disgrace not themselves and their stock by bringing forth sowre fruit, even of the wilde Olive, of their own sinful and corrupt nature, but mortifie the same more and more.
But how cometh it to pass that they which are graft into Christ should bear any sowre Fruit?Object.
Even because there are some suckers of our own crabbish and sinful nature shut out,Sol. and have through heedlesness and want of care grown apace, and which we must pluck off by any means.
2. Comfort to all believers;Use 2. O admirable priviledge to be joyned into one with Christ, and with God! What grace or good thing can he stand in need of, that is joyned to such a plentiful and living head? He cannot but mortifie the strongest Corruptions, overcome the greatest Temptations, perform the most difficult Duties; Such thou mayest draw from thy head, but make no obstructions by sin: Keep open the passages, and by the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and other like means, fetch Grace from Christ Jesus: He also will strengthen thee, and even in the fiery Fornace be present with thee, and after take thee up to glory; neither shall all the power of Hell ever seperate thee from him: for though Hypocrites that hang on onelyonly by the untemperated morter of outward Profession shall fall off, thou that art saudered into Christ by the Spirit of God shalt never be pluckt off.
3. To discard all those that profess themselves believers,Use 3. and stones of this building, and yet have no life in them; let such know, they have no part in Christ, nor fellowship with him.
4. This should perswade all men to labor to have part in this blessed Union;Use 4. Till this be, they are quite dead, and have no more Spiritual Life then a stone hath: If thou beest not united to Christ, thou canst never have Life of grace here, nor glory hereafter; And if not a Member of Christ, thou art a Limb of the Devil; If not a Branch of this Vine, thou art a dry withered stick for the fire of Hell; If not a stone of this Building, thou art refuse and rubbish to be thrown into Hell.
Q. How to become stones of this building.But how should we become stones of this building?
A. By suffering the ax of the Word of God to cut off our knobs, to hew and square us, that thereby we may be humbled, and mortifie all our sins and lusts; for if there be but one sin in us unrepented of, we are not fit to lie in this building: And though all stones be not alike, some bigger, some less, some more costly, some less; yet happy we, if we be any true stone of this building; let us now suffer our selves to be fashioned for it,Simile. it must be now in this Life, or never. As there was no hammer heard about the Temple, but all was hewen in Libanus, so must we be hewen in this Life, that we may rest in the Spiritual Temple for ever: Having a house to build, will we lay in a stone rough, as it comes from the Quarry, or a piece of Timber as it comes from the Wood?See 5. H. on Mat. 3. 10 pag. 6. much less will the Lord suffer any to be joyned into his Spiritual building, till they be squared and hewen by his Word: Therefore lets be tenderly affected one towards another, and build up one another, and do all the good we can one to another, not living to our selves, or having hand in Contentions, Rents, Divisions, which do so abound among Christians, and that for toyes.
Are built up a spiritual house,] Hag. 2. 10.So foretold by Haggai; Not a materiel one, as was the Temple of Jerusalem, but a far more excellent, as much as the body is better then the shadow, which the Apostle speaks, to take off the mindes of these Jews from the material Temple on which they too much doted, and on the promises made thereto (not considering that it was appointed but for a time, and that it was but a type of this Spiritual house, infinitely more excellent) and to labor to become stones of this Spiritual house, which did so far excel the other.
All the Church of God and Believers,Obser. make together a Spiritual house;The whole Church makes but one Spiritual House. as a house, though it hath but one foundation, yet hath many stones to make up the building.
This sheweth the communion that the Saints have one with another,Use. members of the same Body, stones of the same Building; with this Union that we have with Christ, we have also communion one with another, as Fellow-members, Stones, Branches. Besides,
As all the Saints together are here said to be built up a Spiritual house, Observ.so els where the like is affirmed of every particular Believer;Every particular Believer is also a Spiritual House. that whereas before he was but a Cage of uncleanness, and a Den for the Devil, and an Habitation for foul Spirits, now he is made the House of God, of a poor mortal man,Isa. 57. 15. an Habitation for God; as a King maketh a Cottage a Court,Iohn 14. 23. so doth the Lord make a Bethel an House of God,1 Cor. 3. 16. & 6. 19. of him that was before Beth-aven, an house of Iniquity; which is an admirable advancement.2 Cor. 6. 16.
1. This teacheth every one that is such,Use 1. to take heed he pollute not himself with any sin, thereby grieving and wearying so happy a guest. The Prophets were profitable to those with whom they sojourned; The Widow of Sarepta had her oyl and meal increased,1 King. 17. 16. and her life saved;2 King 4. 7. & 4. 17. The wife of one of the Children of the Prophets had her two Children kept out of the Creditors hands; The Shunamite obtained a son; but much more profitable is Christ, he brings Peace, Joy and Life: A pitiful thing that sundry Christians are so hasty, so furious, so full of pride, worldly, negligent in religious duties, and the like; How can Christ tarry in such an house? can he abide in an heart full of these?
2. To deck and trim up the house of our Souls with all graces of the Spirit of God;Use 2. therefore take pains, and think no cost too much in Hearing, Reading, Praying, to trim up this House for the Lord, that he may take the more pleasure therein. Solomon bestowed great cost on the Temple, and was seven years in building thereof, and shall we take no pains on this Spiritual Temple?Hag. 1. 4. The Lord complained of his people that would dwell in fieled houses, and let the House of God lie waste; much more may he of us, who minde many earthly things, and minde nothing so much the dressing up of our hearts by Prayer, Meditation, Watchfulness, and the like, as a Bride prepared for the Lord Jesus: When we dress up our houses to entertain strangers, it were good to have such meditations,Psal. 24. 7. saying to our selves, Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting door, and the King of glory shall come in, and thus entertain him most respectively here, till he shall vouchsafe to entertain us at our death into that habitation, that is not made with hands, 2 Cor. 5. 1.but eternal in the Heavens, and when thou art at the best, think that thy heart is too strait, nothing good enough to entertain such a blessed guest.
An holy Priesthood] Another branch of the benefit that believers have, being received of Christ, and united to him, namely, That whereas they were unholy, now he makes them holy; whereas they might not come near God, neither their persons nor works, now they are advanced to this dignity, to be a Priesthood, and every of them an holy Priest to draw near unto God, and offer him Sacrifices; whereas before they did nor could do nothing but was abominable in Gods sight, now they are enabled to offer such Sacrifices and Services as God accepts, and takes pleasure in, and are not these great priviledges? and all this comes by the means of Jesus Christ, whom while they were without, they missed all these priviledges, but having him, enjoy them all.
Holy] They that are united to Christ are made holy,Doctr. that were nothing less before,Such as are united to Christ are made holy. and draw sap of Grace and Sanctification from him, through whom also they become new Creatures; which is a wonderful priviledge, that such filthy and unclean ones as we are by nature,Rom. 8. 1. should be made holy;2 Cor. 5. 17. for holiness is the greatest gift that can be, a little of it is better then all the world: God is holy, his Angels holy, therefore he gives us his Word, his Sacraments, Afflictions, and the like means to bring us to holiness.
1. They that have any measure of holiness,Use 1. must acknowledge that they have received it from Christ.
2. Let every one try whether he be united to Christ or not by this mark;Use 2. he is an holy head, and all that are joyned to him partake of holiness.
Priesthood] Believers together make a Priesthood,Doctr. and every Believer is a Priest to offer Sacrifice to God.Believers are Priests to God
What,Object. are not Priests and Sacrifices at an end yet? I thought they had been onelyonly in the Old Testament, and now abolished.
True,Sol. some Sacrifices are at an end: There were under the Law Priests ordained to offer Sacrifices daily to God, for their own and the peoples sins, all which pointed at Christ the true Priest, and that blessed Sacrifice of his Body:Heb. 7. 27. & 10. 2, 10, 11, 12, 18. & 12. 25, 26. All these Sacrifices did but tend and direct to that All▪ sufficient Sacrifice of his Death. Now when he had offered himself on the Cross, and dyed for our sins, he put an end to all Sacrifices propitiatory,Iohn 19. 30. as who finished all himself, saying, It is finished; so then, there is now no more need of Sacrifices for sin, Christ once offered being All-sufficient. Which
1. Condemns the Sacrifices of the Jews,Use 1. and all bloody Sacrifices, which are to the Devils and not to God.
2. Condemns the Blasphemous Sacrifice of the Mass,Use 2. where (as the Papists say) Christ is by the Priest offered daily on the Altar a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead: This is to overthrow Christs Cross.
But though there be an end of all legal Sacrifices and Propitiatory, yet there are Evangelical and Gratulatory; and though those Priests that offered blood and beasts be at an end, yet are there Priests still remaining in the Church of God, which the Apostle mentioneth, lest the Jews should think the former times better then these; thereupon objecting,The prevention of an Objection. Have we no Sacrifices now to offer to God? he answereth, We have, though not of the same kinde: We have no Propitiatory Sacrifices (the date of them being out, and which yet were not taken away by men, but by him who ordained them but till this time, who yet is not inconstant in changing them,Christians now are not without Sacrifices which they must offer up to God. as having done away sin through the Sacrifice of his Son, of whom the others were onelyonly the types and shadows) but Sacrifices of thanksgiving we have, and that for the mercy of God in Christ, and all other blessings flowing from thence: This is no small honor and priviledge. It was an honor under the Law to be Priests, few were admitted to the Office; they represented Christ, they went near and offered Sacrifice, the people standing afar off; so is it now to be a Spiritual Priest, to have the honor to come near to God with comfort and boldness.
1. They therefore speak they know not what,Use 1. that use this as a name of disgrace, and call Ministers in derision, Priests; and what is he but a Priest? but its an honor, and a great one, though Mass-Priests by their filthy lives have brought the same in disgrace; yet is not this proper to Ministers onelyonly (which we speak not as though we were ashamed of it,Re. 1. 6 but that every one may have their due) its also common to all Believers, and they that will none of this, shake off the name of a Christian, but they that are wise will take their part in it. This is signified by the name Christian of Christ, which signifieth anointed; of that anointing by the Spirit without measure, he was made and fitted our King, Priest and Prophet, and not so onelyonly, but to make us so; so that every one that believeth in him, he gives him the honor to be so: As we partake of the benefit of his Priesthood, and its parts, Satisfaction and Intercession, so of him we also are made Priests.
2. As we are to rejoyce in this priviledge,Use 2. so we must use it, and improve it carefully in offering Sacrifices; What else becomes a Priest? he were not worthy the name, that did not delight to offer Sacrifices to God.The Christians Sacrifices. Now the Sacrifices of the New Testament for Christians to offer, are these, 1. The offering up of our Bodies and Souls,Rom. 12. 1. and all that is in us to serve God, having neither Wit, Will, Memory, nor any thing else, but for the Lords use: Its meet we should offer this Sacrifice, for its his by right of Creation, Redemption, and continual Preservation; we owe neither it, nor any part of it, to any other, all to him, and when we give it to him, we provide best for it: Its not onelyonly never the further from our selves, but that is the happiness of it, we should give it, and thank him he will take it of us; and this is the first Sacrifice to be offered: Till this be, no other will be accepted of,2 Cor. 8. 5. Prayer, Praise, or whatsoever; first the person must please God, then the work, as in Abel: And thus every man may try his Cristianity; Do you give up your bodies and souls for his Service, and would not with your good wills that any the least part should be withdrawn from him, no not one thought if you could help it? thou art a good Christian, this is a good Sacrifice, continue it still; But how few do thus? how few which give not their Hearts and Bodies to Profits and Pleasures, to Sin, the World, and the Devil? How many Sacrifice to these all day long? Christians in name, not in deed: They that give themselves wholly to sin are monsters, as they that give themselves partly to God, and partly to their lusts, are like Ananias and Sapphira: Oh, but though we do not thus, yet we offer other Sacrifices:Isa. 1. 13. Fie upon thee and them, they are abominable in Gods sight, as is the Sacrifice of the wicked: O give them no more as weapons of sin, to serve the Flesh, the World, and the Devil (that were too too base) but employ them for Gods service, not some part, but the whole, all too little, and wish it were better for his sake. 2. The Sacrifice of a contrite and broken heart, that is, an heart grieved and crush'd for sin past,Psal. 51. 17. comforted in Christ, afraid to offend, careful to please God, touch'd and grieved at the smallest offence:1 Cor. 11. 31. They that offer this,Prov. 28. 14. scape Gods Judgement; fearing alway, they are happy; fearing small sins, they escape great ones; being troubled at the least, they rise, and fall not into security: Such as offer this, and would it were softer, grieving and complaining of their hardness of heart, let such know, that there may be hardness as they complain, but not such hardness as they conceive, as who could not feel the same: But there are few broken hearts in any measure, most are not troubled for their sins past, nor afraid to offend, nor careful nor humbled after they have offended, being neither melted by mercies, nor moved by the Word and Afflictions: O the fearful state of an hard heart; all have not alike tender heart, but assuredly he is no Christian that hath it not in some measure. 3. Prayer and Praise for Christ Jesus,Psal. 141. 2. and all benefits by him past,Heb. 13. 15. present and to come, for Soul and Body: O what a favor is it, that we worms on earth may come to the glorious Lord of Heaven and Earth? but where are our morning and evening Sacrifices? What, a Priest without a Sacrifice?Psal. 14 2. They that pray not at all,Iob 27. 9. its a sign they are prophane persons, as they that pray onelyonly in misery are hypocrites: Hath God honored us to make us Priests by Jesus Christ, and do we neglect the Office, not appearing with our Sacrifice?Heb. 16. 13. 4. Alms, mercy to all in hunger, thirst,Phil. 4. 22. sickness, prison, especially to the houshold of Faith: This we ought to do; whensoever God prepares an Altar of the necessity of a poor Saint or Church,Mat. 25. 40. that then we Priests lay on our Sacrifice: God requires it, its an honor, he counts it as done unto himself; therefore he promises that he will requite it, and that not as we, a peny for a penyworth, but as Kings that use to reward a house largely, where they have found kindeness;2 Cor. 9. 6. therefore its compared to sowing: God and his poor Saints are the best ground can be sown in: O that we had Faith enough in this Point! If we did believe that we should have peny for peny, it would make us forwarder then we be, but he will do more: The world savoreth not this at all, and Believers fall too short in this Sacrifice; but the more we offer it, and the better, the better Christians are we.Why called Spiritual Sacrifice.
To offer up Spiritual Sacrifice] He calls them Spiritual, 1. In comparison of the carnal and bloody Sacrifices of the Law. 2. Because they must be done with the Soul, Heart and Spirit. 3. Because they must be done by the help of Gods Spirit.
Our services then to God must be done in a Spiritual maner,Obs. else they please not God;Our services to God must be done in a Spiritual maner. They that give God their bodies, and keep their hearts to sin, perform a carnal and wicked, no Spiritual service and sacrifice: So we must pray and praise in a Spiritual maner, with our souls and best affections,Iohn 4. 24. not with labor of the tongue or knee: True, he will have the Body, but especially he will have the Spirit, which condemns the cold idle wordy Prayers of men, wherein there is no Spirit: So our alms and liberality must be done, not out of ostentation, for company, no nor for a natural kinde of pity, but for love to God,Mat. 10. 41. because he requires it, and to them, because they are the Lords.
Acceptable to God,] It being a great favor to do any thing that may please God,The prevention of an Objection. they might object, as any weak Christian would; Alas, I would go and offer these Sacrifices, but doth the Lord regard what I do? will he once look to such a one, or such service as mine? Yea, saith the Apostle, we may offer up Spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to God: Gods Servants shall not then need doubt, but being once Believers, their services done Spiritually are accepted of the most High God of Heaven, yea, of the meanest true Believer; for he that vouchsafed to bring thee to Christ, to unite thee to him, to make thee a lively stone, a Spiritual house, an holy Priest to offer Sacrifice, he will also accept of the same: Let this encourage us much to these duties, what a spur is this? True it is, if one knew he should not be accepted; or if he did doubt whether he should or not; this would take off all edge; but when we are sure, thats a great encouragement: For who would not be glad to do any thing, wherewith God would be pleased? Art thou afraid that he doth not accept thy Sacrifice, as who hast prayed oft and long, and art not heard? Judge not according to that;Dan. 9. 23. Thy Prayer sent up in truth, was accepted at first, though not granted by and by, as not being then time; The Lord stays till a fitter time.
Acceptable,] Not that God hath any need of them, but it pleaseth him for our encouragement so to tell us; for if we serve him never so diligently, he is never the better, but our selves are the better, and our Neighbors by our good example;Iob 22. 2, 3. and 35. 6. So contrarily if we do never so ill, he is not the worse,Psal. 16. 2. as being most perfectly holy and good at first, and so is and will be.
To God,] Here may seem a secret Antithesis between these words, To God; and these, To Men: For indeed
Spiritual Sacrifices are nothing to Carnal men,Obser. but such only as stand in outward Pomp,Spiritual sacrifices are not regarded of carnal men. Shew, and Ceremony; But its the Spiritual service that pleaseth God: He cares more for a broken heart, and for the Sacrifice of praise Spiritually performed, then for Thousands of Bulls, or all the outside that so much pleaseth the eye: He cares not for the Papists going on Pilgrimage, numbers of Prayers, Fasting days, Pompous service, and curious musick, which doth more delight the ear, then tend any way to edification; And because we reject these, they cry out upon us, as having no Religion: And are there not some among us, with whom its a foul matter to neglect any outward Ceremony, who yet do altogether neglect Spiritual services?
By Jesus Christ.] Doctr.Our Sacrifices are acceptable to God, nor for own-worthiness,Through Christ our Sacrifices are acceptable to God. or the worth of the service, but for the sake, and by the means of Christ Jesus: He onelyonly makes them acceptable to God, 1. In taking away our sins by his Death. 2. Covering us with his Obedience.Reasons 3. Inabling us by his Spirit (who can do no good of our selves) to perform these services. 4. Covering the wants thereof in his perfect Obedience, and making Intercession for us; and in this worthiness must we offer up our selves, Prayers, Thanks, and Alms.
1. This condemneth them that do these Duties,Use 1. and yet are in their sins unpardoned, not having Christs Righteousness made theirs, and which do them not by the Spirit of God, but by their own might; Their services are abominable.
2. Those that come in the worthiness of any Saint,Use 2. as the Papists which pray for this or that Saints sake, do grievously sin: Oh, but say they, he is indeed the Mediator of Redemption, others may with him be Mediators of Intercession: He is belike beholden to them that will leave him somewhat; but there is no other Intercessor, but the Redeemer,1 Iohn 2. 2. he thats the one, is the other also: Oh, but they conclude all their Prayers, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. A good mends, when they have robb'd him, by joyning others with him, to conclude with his Name; So those that come in their own worthiness, not asking for Christs: But we ought not to think of God but in Jesus Christ coming between. Note further, that
Our works,Doctr. even the best can never attain to that perfection to be worthy of themselves,Our works, though not without their imperfections, are accepted through Christ. as being still full of imperfection, but by Jesus Christ to all that perform them in Faith, and to their uttermost they are accepted as perfect.
1. This serves as to humble us while we live under the daily sence of the imperfections of our services; So, to warn us to shrowd them and our selves under Christs perfection.Use 1.
2. To comfort them that in Faith strive,Use 2. and yet cannot perform them to their mindes; They must not be dismaid, but believe that for Christs sake they shall be accepted: This is necessary to be known and believed, because many a good soul, when they have pray'd or done any service in the best maner they can, are yet discouraged: Why? nothing pleaseth God but that which is perfect, and I know (will such a one say) how imperfect my poor service is, I cannot in any sort pray as I would, I cannot continue a short Prayer without wandrings, &c. Well, what thou dost, do in truth, and with all thy might; and Christs perfect obedience shall make it up; Though thy service be short, yet it is large enough to cover all; wer't not for this, we might be dismaid at our best duties: But this is not for the wicked and unbelievers, they think they will do as well as they can, and there's an end, Christ shall do the rest: But what right hast thou to Christ? and what canst thou do? as good as nothing.