Counsel to the Afflicted, Question 2 · Section 19
SECT. 19.
19. If you purpoſe to ſet upon building your Houſes which have been conſumed by this fire, ſo manage this work as that it may proſper under your hands.
If you ask, How ſhould we ſo mannage this work of building, as to have it proſper under our hands? I anſwer
1. Seek unto God by Prayer to be with you, and ſucceed you in this great work, Pſal. 90.17. Eſtabliſh thou the works of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands eſtabliſh thou it. Uzziah built and proſpered, 2 Chron. 26.9. and how came he to proſper? ver. 5. He ſought God in the dayes of Zechariah, who had underſtanding in the viſions of God; and as long as he ſought the Lord, God made him to proſper. By this means Aſa proſpered in building Cities, and other places of ſtrength, 2 Chron. 14.7. Let us build theſe Cities, and make about them Walls and Towers, Gates and Bars, while the Land is yet before us; becauſe we have ſought the Lord our God, we have ſought him, and he hath given us reſt on every ſide; ſo they built and proſpered. Now in regard many perſons are wont to neglect ſeeking God in ſuch undertakings as theſe, it will not be amiſs, if I add two or three conſiderations, to ſhew thoſe that are purpoſed to ſet upon building, how much it is their concernment to give themſelves unto Prayer, whilſt they are carrying on this work.
1. It is the will of God, that in all our undertakings we ſhould ſeek unto him by Prayer, Phil. 4.6. In every thing by Prayer, and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requeſts be made known to God. Prov. 3.6. In all thy wayes acknowledge him; and the more difficult and weighty any undertaking is, the more need there is of Prayer.
2. Such a work as bulding cannot be carryed on but by the help of God; and how ſhould they expect Gods help that do not ſeek it? Pſal. 127.1. Except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the City, the watchman waketh but in vain. When the Lord had promiſed that their waſte and deſolate Cities ſhould be rebuilded, he tells them, he did expect to be ſought to, that he might do this for them, Ezek. 36.33,37.—The waſts ſhall be builded—Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquired of by the Houſe of Iſrael, to do it for them.
3. The Servants of God have been wont to carry on this work of building, as well as their other works by Prayer, Pſal. 51.18. Build thou the walls of Jeruſalem. When Nehemiah ſet upon building Jeruſalem, he went through very great difficulties in carrying on that work; yet by Prayer he overcome them all, and proſperouſly effected what he went about, Neh. 4.9. Nevertheleſs we made our Prayer unto God—Neh. 6.9,15. O God, ſtrengthen my hands—So the wall was finiſhed.
4. God hath oft-times viſibly appeared againſt thoſe perſons, and their undertakings, that have gone upon great works without ſeeking help and direction from God, by blaſting and confounding them in their undertakings, Mal. 1.4. Whereas Edom ſaith, We are impoveriſhed; but we will return and build deſolate places; thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, they ſhall build, but I will throw down. When the Inhabitants of Samaria ſaid in the pride and ſtoutneſs of their hearts, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewen Stones; the Sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into Cedars; and did not ſeek the Lord, Did they proſper? No, But God threatned to cut them off branch and ruſh, head and tail in one day, Iſa. 9.9,10,13,14.
2. If you would carry on this work of building ſucceſsfully, go about it in faith; believing that God will be with you therein, and reſt upon him for his help and aſſiſtance, Neh. 2.20. The God of Heaven he will proſper us; therefore we his ſervants will ariſe and build. To believe and rely on the Lord is the way to proſper, 2 Chron. 20.20. Believe in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall you be eſtabliſhed; believe his Prophets, ſo ſhall ye proſper. By the power of faith, ſtrong Walls and Cities have been demoliſhed, Heb. 11.30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down—ver. 33. Who through faith ſubdued Kingdoms.—Now if faith be inſtrumental to demoliſh Walls and Cities, Why may it not alſo be of great force to build them up? If any ask, What encouragements can you give us for our faith, that we may truſt and rely on God for his preſence and aſſiſtance with us in this work of building? I anſwer,
1. Building of deſolate Cities is a good work, and well-pleaſing to God; and that which conduceth unto the glory of God, when it is managed with a right ſpirit, and in a right manner. The building of Jeruſalem after it had been waſted by fire and the Sword, is called a good work, Neh. 2.18. They ſaid, let us riſe up and build; ſo they ſtrengthened their hands for this good work: the building of Jeruſalem is called alſo the pleaſure of the Lord, it being that which pleaſed him to ſee thoſe waſt places builded again, Iſa. 44.28. That ſaith of Cyrus, he ſhall perform all my pleaſure, even ſaying to Jeruſalem, Thou ſhalt be built; and to the Temple, Thy foundations ſhall be laid. It did conduce alſo to Gods glory, Pſal. 102.16. When the Lord ſhall build up Zion, he ſhall appear in his glory. Jer. 33.7,9. I will cauſe the captivity of Judah, and the captivity of Iſrael to return, and will build them as at the firſt: And it ſhall be to me a Name of joy, a praiſe and an honour before all the Nations of the Earth. That building is a good work, and acceptable to God, when rightly managed, may be evidenced ſeveral wayes, beſides the forequoted Scriptures: As 1. It is oft ſpoken of a bleſſing, for God to give a man an houſe to dwell in, Exod. 1.21. And it came to paſs, becauſe the Midwives feared God, that he made them houſes. 1 Sam. 2.35. I will build him a ſure houſe—Iſa. 65.21. They ſhall build houſes, and inhabit them. 2. Cohabitation conduceth much both to our civil and ſpiritual good, Pſal. 133.1. Behold how good and how pleaſant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity. The ſcattering abroad of perſons, and ſeparating them each from other, is threatned as a judgment, Iſa. 24.1. Behold, the Lord maketh the Earth empty, and maketh it waſte,—and ſcattereth abroad the Inhabitants thereof. If cohabitation conduceth much to our good, and ſcatering abroad be an evil, and a judgment; then building of Cities in order to cohabitation is a good work. 3. By building of houſes we prepare Manſions and Recepticles for the bodies of Gods ſervants, which are the Members of Chriſt, and the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt; and that cannot but be a good work to provide Manſions for the bodies of Gods ſervants. The Lord Jeſus takes it kindly when we lodge any of his members but for a night or two, Matth. 25.34,35. Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was a ſtranger, and ye took me in. To provide ſetled habitations for the ſervants of God, is more than to take them in for a night or two. 4. Building of Houſes, and deſolate Cities, is a means of delivering thoſe that want habitations from great diſtreſs; as being wet with the dew of heaven, and conſumed with cold by night, and the heat by day, &c. and to provide a refuge for the diſtreſſed, is a good work, Neh. 2.17. Ye ſee the diſtreſs that we are in, how Jeruſalem lyeth waſt, and the Gates thereof are burnt with fire; Come and let us build up the Wall of Jeruſalem, that we be no more a reproach. Now if building be a good work, then you may confidently expect Gods preſence with you when you ſet upon it, if you manage it with a right ſpirit, Amos 5.14. Seek good, and not evil,—and ſo the Lord, the God of Hoſts, ſhall be with you, as ye have ſpoken: and if God will be with you in your work, this may greatly encourage you in the management of it, Hag. 2.4. Yet now be ſtrong, O Zerubbabel, ſaith the Lord; and be ſtrong, O Joſhua,—and be ſtrong all ye people of the Land, and work; for I am with you, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts.
2. God is able to carry on thoſe that reſt upon him in this work, how great and how many diſſiculties, and oppoſitions, and diſcouragements ſoever they meet withal. This is evident from the building of Jeruſalem after it was burnt and laid waſt by the Chaldeans: Conſider to this purpoſe, 1. What a great work the building of Jeruſalem was, which had been waſted by Fire and Sword from a forreign power, and had lyen in its deſolation ſeventy years, Neh. 4.19. The work is great and large. 2. Conſider how weak and unfit the Jews were for this great work, after their ſtrength and treaſure was exhauſted by ſeventy years captivity. Some of them were ſo diſcouraged, that they thought they ſhould not be able to accompliſh ſo great a work, Neh. 4.10. Judah ſaid, The ſtrength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbiſh, ſo that we are not able to build the wall. 3. The times in which they ſet upon building of Jeruſalem, were very troublous times, Dan. 9.25. The ſtreet ſhall be built again, and the wall in troublous times. 4. The Enemies of the Jews oppoſed this work of building Jeruſalem with all their might: They ſcoffed at them, and derided their work, Neh. 4.2,3. What do theſe feeble Jews? Will they fortifie themſelves? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the ſtones out of the heap of the rubbiſh which are burnt? Even that which they build, if a Fox go up, he will even break down their ſtone wall. They caſt falſe ſlanders upon them, as though they builded out of a deſign to rebel, Neh. 2.19. What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel againſt the King? Neh. 6.6. Thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cauſe thou buildeſt the wall, that thou mayſt be their King: and when theſe means would not prevail, they attempted by force to make the work ceaſe, Neh. 4.7,8,11. They were very wroth, and conſpired all of them together, to come and to ſight againſt Jeruſalem: And our adverſaries ſaid, They ſhall not know, neither ſee, till we come in the midſt amongſt them, and ſlay them, and cauſe the work to ceaſe. And when none of theſe means would cauſe them to leave off building; they hired Counſellors to mediate with the Kings of Perſia, and wrote Letters to hinder the building of Jeruſalem, Ezra 4.4,5,23,24. And notwithſtanding all the attempts of their Adverſaries, both by fraud and violence; though there were ſome intermiſſions, yet the work was compleated: And how? by the help and aſſiſtance of God, as their Enemies themſelves could not but acknowledge, Neh. 6.15,16. So the wall was finiſhed—And it came to paſs, that when all our Enemies heard thereof—they were much caſt down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. Now that God which helped the Jews to build Jeruſalem under all their difficulties and oppoſitions that they met withal, is able alſo to help you, under what ever difficulties do or may beſet you in your work.
3. Conſider what promiſes God hath made to his ſervants to encourage them in this work of building, when he calls them to it. He hath promiſed to be with them in building, Ezek. 36.9,10. Behold I am for you, and I will turn unto you—And the Cities ſhall be inhabited, and the waſts ſhall be builded. Though their Cities and dwellings have been laid waſt a long time, he promiſeth to help them to build them up again, Iſa. 61.4. They ſhall build the old waſts, they ſhall raiſe up the former deſolations, and they ſhall repair their waſt Cities, the deſolations of many generations. He promiſeth that after their dwellings have been laid waſt, they ſhal be built in the ſame places, and in as good a manner as before, Jer. 30.18. Thus ſaith the Lord, Behold, I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places, and the City ſhall be builded on her old heap, and the Palace ſhall remain after the manner thereof. He hath promiſed that after they have laid the foundation, they ſhall go on to finiſh their work, Zech. 4.9. The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this Houſe, his hands ſhall alſo finiſh it. 1 Chron. 28.20. David ſaid unto Solomon his ſon, Be ſtrong, and of good courage, and do it; fear not, nor be diſmayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forſake thee, until thou haſt finiſhed all the work for the ſervice of the Houſe of the Lord. Though theſe two laſt Promiſes relate to the building of the Temple, yet they are applicable by Gods ſervants in ſuch works as they are called out to by the Lord. He hath promiſed, that when they have built them houſes, they ſhall dwell in them, and enjoy them a long ſeaſon, Iſa. 65.21,22,23. They ſhall build houſes and inhabit them,—they ſhall not build and another inhabit;—for as the dayes of a tree, are the dayes of my people; and mine Elect ſhall long enjoy the work of their hands; they ſhall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the ſeed of the bleſſed of the Lord, and their off-ſpring with them. The Lord hath promiſed, that after they have built them houſes, they ſhall dwell in them with ſafety and confidence, Ezek. 28.26. They ſhall dwell ſafely therein, and ſhall build Houſes, and plant Vineyards; yea, they ſhall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments on all thoſe that deſpiſe them round about them; and they ſhall know that I am the Lord their God. He hath promiſed to make their habitations proſperous, Job 8.5,6. If thou wouldeſt ſeek unto God betimes, and make thy ſupplication to the Almighty; if thou wert pure and upright, ſurely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteouſneſs proſperous. After Jeruſalem was burnt with fire, and laid waſte by the Caldeans, the Lord doth not only promiſe, that it ſhall be built again; but, that he would put the Jews into a ſetled and better eſtate than they were in before, Ezek. 36.10,11. The Cities ſhall be inhabited, and the waſtes ſhall be builded—and I will ſettle you after your old eſtates, and will do better unto you, than at your beginnings.
3. If you would carry on the work of rebuilding your houſes ſucceſsfully, humble your ſelves for your lins, which cauſed God to lay them deſolate, and get them waſhed away in the Blood of Chriſt, and then you may expect ſucceſs, and a bleſſing upon what you take in hand, Ezek. 36.33,35,36. Thus ſaith the Lord God, In the day that I ſhall have cleanſed you from all your iniquities, I will alſo cauſe you to dwell in the Cities, and the waſts ſhall be builded. And they ſhall ſay, This land that was deſolate is become like the Garden of Eden, and the waſt, and deſolate, and ruined Cities are become fenced. The Lord promiſed alſo in the 32. verſe, that he would give them an heart to loath themſelves for their ſins; and after he had humbled and pardoned them, he promiſeth the re-building of their deſolate Cities. And as you muſt humble your ſelves for your ſins, ſo you muſt put away your ſins, and return unto God with your whole hearts, if you would carry on this work ſucceſsfully, Jer. 24.6,7. I will ſet mine eyes upon them for good—and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up—for they ſhall return unto me with their whole heart. Job 22.23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou ſhalt be built up.
4. Uſe no unrighteouſneſs, but deal truly and faithfully with all men, with whom you have to do in building your houſes. Whomſoever you employ in this work, pay them their full wages; for if you uſe any fraud or unrighteouſneſs, you will bring the curſe of God upon your perſons and habitations, Jer. 22.13. Wo unto him that buildeth his houſe in unrighteouſneſs, and his chambers by wrong; that uſeth his neighbours ſervice without wages, and giveth him not for his work, Hab. 2.11,12. The ſtone ſhall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber ſhall anſwer it, Wo to him that buildeth a Town by blood, and eſtabliſheth a City by iniquity. And as you muſt pay all whom you employ their full wages, ſo alſo at the ſet time for which you make your agreement, Deut. 24.14,15. Thou ſhalt not oppreſs an hired ſervant that is poor and needy, whether it be of thy brethren, or of thy ſtrangers that are within thy land within thy gates: at his day thou ſhalt give him his hire, neither ſhall the Sun go down upon it, for he is poor, and ſetteth his heart upon it, leſt he cry againſt thee unto the Lord, and it be ſin unto thee. Incroach not upon anothers right, but keep within your own bounds and limits, Deut. 19.14. Thou ſhalt not remove thy neighbours land-mark, which they of old time have ſet in thine inheritance—Deut. 27.17. Curſed be he that removeth his neighbours land-mark; and all the people ſhall ſay, Amen. Prov. 22.28. Remove not thy ancient land-mark which thy fathers have ſet. Eccleſ. 10.8.9. Whoſo breaketh an hedge, a Scrpent ſhall bite him; whoſo removeth ſtones, ſhall be hurt therewith. And take this counſel, not only in reference to your equals, that are able to contend with you, but alſo be careful that you incroach not upon the right of the Widows, and the Fatherleſs, that are not able to plead their own cauſe; for God will plead their cauſe with you, Prov. 23.10,11. Remove not the old land-mark, and enter not into the fields of the fatherleſs; for their redeemer is mighty, he ſhall plead their cauſe with thee. By managing your work in truth and righteouſneſs, you ſhall proſper in what you take in hand, Pſal. 45.4.—Ride proſperouſly, becauſe of truth, and meekneſs, and righteouſneſs.
5. Before you enter upon building, ſit down and conſider your coſt and charge; conſider alſo your own ability, whether you have ſufficient to defray the charge of Building, leſt you be neceſſitated to leave your work imperfect, or to run your ſelves into debt, and bring great and unneceſſary incumbrances upon your ſelves, Luke 14.28,29,30. Which of you intending to build a tower, ſitteth not down firſt, and counteth the coſt; whether he have ſufficient to finiſh it: leſt haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finiſh it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, ſaying, This man began to build, and was not able to finiſh. Eſpecially be careful that you do not exceed your ability to build your houſes in a more ſtately and magnificent manner than becometh your rank and quality. The calamities of the preſent times, and the many objects of charity, call for frugality and moderation in this kinde. Overmuch curioſity and expenſiveneſs in Building is taxed as a ſin, Jer. 22.14. We may (and many do) tranſgreſs by too much coſt, and curioſity in adorning our Bodies, 1 Tim. 2.9. 1 Pet. 3.3. If not lawful to beſtow too much coft in adorning our Bodies, then ſurely we muſt uſe moderation in adorning our Houſes; for our Bodies are of more worth and value than our Houſes.
6. Follow your work with a willing minde, and with diligence, if you would have it go on ſucceſsfully. A willing minde will carry on difficult work with great eaſe, Nehem. 4.6. So built we the wall, and all the wall was joyned together unto the half thereof, for the people had a minde to work: Diligence and induſtry will effect great things, but ſlothfulneſs and negligence will ſpoil and bring to nought good undertakings, Eccleſ. 10.18. By much ſlothfulneſs the building decayeth, and through idleneſs of the hands the houſe droppeth through. Yet here is need of caution that you do not immerſe your hearts and ſpirits too much in your worldly buſineſs, ſo as to forget or unfit your ſelves for the coming of Chriſt either by death or judgment. Many men are ſo immoderate in their uſe and management of worldly things, that they fall into a ſpirit of ſlumber and ſecurity; ſo that the day of death and of judgment will come upon them as a ſnare, when they neither think of, or are prepared to meet the Lord, Luke 17.28,29,30. As it was in the dayes of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they ſold, they planted, they builded; but the ſame day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimſtone from heaven, and deſtroyed them all: even thus ſhall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. It is not building or planting, any more than eating or drinking, but the inordinate affections of men, and their worldly ſpirits; their ſecurity and ſenſuality in the management of their worldly buſineſs, that is here condemned by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
7. Aim at Gods glory in this work, and not your own, and ſo manage the whole buſineſs, that nothing of reproach or diſhonour may redound to the name of God, but that God in all things may be glorified. That general rule, 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether ye eat or drink, or whatſoever ye do, do all to the glory of God, ſhould take place in this, as well as any other of your works. You ſhould not look only, or chiefly, at your own conveniences in Building, but at the glory of God: ſo the Jews did in building Jeruſalem, Ezra 4.3.—We our ſelves together will build unto the Lord God of Iſrael. If you be tempted from a vain-glorious painciple to be overcoſtly and curious in building your Houſes: conſider, 1. God would not have us do any action whatever, for the procuring of vainglory, Phil. 2.3. Let nothing be done through ſtrife, or vain-glory: Yea, God would have us ſo far from doing any action for vain-glory, that he would not have us ſo much as deſirous of it, Gal. 5.26. Let us not be deſirous of vain-glory. 2. With what mean Habitations were our fore-fathers contented? Jacob who was a great man, a Prince in the eſtimation of the Angel that wraſtled with him, Gen. 32.28. contented himſelf to dwell in a tent, which was both a mean and a moveable habitation, Gen. 25.27. Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents; ſo did his Father Abraham, Heb. 11.9. By faith he ſojourned in the land of promiſe, as in a ſtrange Countrey dwelling in Tabernacles with Iſaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the ſame promiſe: Yet Abraham was a great man, he was the heir of the world, Rom. 4.13. and the father of all the faithful, ver. 11, 16. 3. If that which is expended by many perſons in ſuperfluous and needleſs adorning of their houſes were given to the poor, how much good might they do? would it not be much to their comfort at the day of judgment, wherein they muſt give an account for all their talents, how they have uſed them, and what improvement they have made of them?
8. It is of much concernment to you whileſt you are about this work of Building, or when you are about any other work of moment, to give good heed to the Word of God; for thereby you will be helped much to carry on your undertakings ſucceſſively. When you faint and are diſcouraged, Gods Word will put ſtrength into you; when you are under doubts, that will reſolve you: when you turn aſide to the right hand, or to the left, Gods Word will reſtore your ſouls, and lead you in paths of righteouſneſs; it is of great uſe in theſe and divers other reſnects, to help you to carry on your civil employments ſucceſsfully, Deut. 29.9. Keep the words of this covenant and do them, that ye may proſper in all that ye do. That is a remarkable paſſage which you have, Ezra 6.14. The elders of the Jews builded, and they proſpered through the propheſying of Haggai the Prophet, and Zechariah the Son of Iddo, and they builded and finiſhed it, according to the Commandment of the God of Iſrael. The preaching of the word by theſe two ſervants of God, was a means of carrying on this work of building Jeruſalem ſucceſsfully. When God ſent forth Joſhua about a great work, he gave him a ſpecial charge to take heed to his word, and to read and meditate therein night and day, which would be a ſure way to be ſucceſsful, Joſhua 1.8. This book of the Law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayeſt obſerve to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou ſhalt make thy way proſperous, and then thou ſhalt have good ſucceſs. When Solomon was building the Temple, it is ſaid, 1 Kings 6.11,14. The word of the Lord came to Solomon—ſo Solomon built the houſe and finiſhed it. So he built the houſe and finiſhed it, that is, he was ſtrengthened and encouraged by the word of the Lord that came to him, to go on with, and finiſh the building.
9. While you are buſily employed in building your own houſes, do not forget or neglect the building up of Gods Houſe, Hag. 1.4. Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houſes, and this houſe lie waſte? Solomon ſetting his heart to the building of duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page Gods Houſe, proſperouſly effected what ever came into his heart for the building of his own houſe, 2 Chron. 7.11. Thus Solomon finiſhed the houſe of the Lord, and the Kings houſe, and all that came into Solomons heart to make in the houſe of the Lord, and in his own houſe he proſperouſly effected. When I ſtir you up to build Gods houſe, whilſt you are building your own, I do not only, or chiefly mean places for publick Worſhip (though that alſo be a very good and laudable undertaking; the Centurian who erected a Synagogue, was highly reſpected and extolled by the Jews for this pious work, Luke 7.4,5. When they came to Jeſus, they beſought him inſtantly, ſaying, That he was worthy for whom he ſhould do this, for he loveth our Nation, and hath built us a Synagogue:) but that which I chieſly intend is, that you build up your ſelves an habitation of God through the Spirit. Every true believer is ſtyled Gods houſe, Heb. 3.6. But Chriſt as a Son over his own houſe; whoſe houſe are we, if we hold faſt the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end. All true Believers are Gods Temple, 2 Cor. 6.16. Ye are the Temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them. They are Gods habitation, Eph. 2.22. In whom you are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Now after the foundation of this ſpiritual building is laid by the ſouls being drawn to Chriſt, there muſt be conſtant and conſciencious endeavour to be built up in grace and holineſs, 2 Pet. 3.18. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. 2 Pet. 1.5. Beſides this giving all diligence, add to your faith, vertue; and to vertue, knowledge, &c. If you ask what ſhall we do that we may be built up a ſpiritual houſe unto the Lord? I anſwer,
1. You muſt lay a good and a right foundation. The foundation of this ſpiritual building is Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3.11. Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jeſus Chriſt: ſee alſo, Iſa. 28.16. Eph. 2.20. The fundamental graces which are wrought in the ſoul that is built upon Chriſt, are faith and repentance, Heb. 6.1. Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Chriſt, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God. When God had given you repentance for your ſins, and faith in the Lord Jeſus, then the foundation of this ſpiritual building is laid in your ſouls.
2. You muſt be daily carrying and caſting away the rubbiſh that hinders the progreſs of this ſpiritual building. After faith and repentance are wrought in truth, there remain ſeveral relicks of the old man, which we muſt be daily purging away: we muſt make it our work to deſtroy our ſins, if we would be built up in grace, 2 Cor. 7.1. Having therefore theſe promiſes (that is, ye are the Temples of the living God, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, of which he had ſpoken in the former Chapter, ver. 16.) dearly beloved, let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of God. We cannot go on to perfect holineſs, unleſs we do in good earneſt ſet upon cleanſing our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fleſh and ſpirit.
3. You muſt be daily looking to Chriſt, and going to him, to carry on, and finiſh that work of grace which he hath begun in your ſouls, Heb. 12.2. Looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our Faith—1 Per. 2. To whom coming as unto a living ſtone—ye alſo as lively ſtones, are built up a ſpiritual houſe. Do not only go to Chriſt, but reſt upon him for the perfecting and finiſhing of what he hath begun in your ſouls; and to that end ponder upon ſuch Scriptures as theſe, Pſal. 138.8, The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me—Phil. 1.6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jeſus Chriſt. The Lord Jeſus taketh a great deal of pleaſure, not only in beginning, but in finiſhing the work of grace in our ſouls, John 4.34. Jeſus ſaith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that ſent me, and to finiſh his work.
4. After you have received Jeſus Chriſt, you muſt not only believe in him, but walk in him; and by ſo doing you ſhall come both to be rooted, and to be built up in him, Col. 2.6,7. As ye have received Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, ſo walk ye in him; rooted and built up in him: By walking in, and with Chriſt, you ſhall keep his preſence with your fouls; for he hath ſaid, If we abide in him, he will abide in us. John 15.4. Abide in me, and I in you: and 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you while ye be with him. Now by keeping Chriſts preſence with your ſouls, they will be built up in grace, Cant. 1.12. While the King ſitteth at his table, my ſpikenard ſendeth forth the ſmell thereof. When the owner dwells in the houſe, it is kept in good repair; if he leave it, and it ſtand empty, all things go to decay: As Martha ſaid unto Chriſt, John 11.21. Lord, if thou hadſt been here, my brother had not died. The like may a deſerted ſoul that findeth it ſelf fallen to decay upon Gods with-drawing of himſelf, ſay unto God, Lord, if thou hadſt been here, theſe ruines and deſolations had not come upon my ſoul.
5. Prayer performed in a ſpiritual manner, is a great means of building up our ſouls in the grace of God, Jude 20. But ye beloved, building up your ſelves in your moſt holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghoſt. Though praying in a ſlightly, dead-hearted, cuſtomary, formal manner, availeth little; yet praying in the Holy Ghoſt, (that is, by the help and aſſiſtance of the Holy Ghoſt, and ſtirring up, and exerciſing the graces of the Holy Ghoſt in prayer, as faith, fervency, reverence, humility, &c.) is an effectual means to build up the ſoul in the grace of God.
6. Converſe much with the word of God, read it frequently, treaſure it up in your hearts, make it your meditation night and day; that is the way to be built up a ſpiritual houſe unto the Lord, 1 Pet. 2.2,5. As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Meditation on the word built up David wonderfully in knowledge, Pſal. 119.99. I have more under ſtanding then all my teachers, for thy teſtimonies are my meditation. The Apoſtle Paul recommends meditation on Gods word to Timothy, as an excellent means to promote his growth in grace, 1 Tim. 4.15. Meditate upon theſe things, give thy ſelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all: So alſo when he took his leave of the Elders of the Church of Epheſus, he commends them to the word of the Lord, as the means whereby they might be built up in that grace which they had already received, Acts 20.32. And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them that are ſanctified.
I might have added in the tenth place; After God hath proſpered you in this work of building, and you have finiſhed your houſes, dedicate them to God. It was a cuſtom among the Jews after they had built a new houſe, to dedicate it unto the Lord; as you may ſee, Deut. 20.5. but of this I ſhall have occaſion to ſpeak afterward, Queſt. 3. Sect. 7. p. 313. where I ſhall ſhew, how we ſhould dedicate our Houſes to God; and therefore I ſhall adde no more upon this Queſtion, but proceed to the third.