The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 61
Sermon LXI.
Cant. 1. 17.
The Beams of our houſe are Cedar: and our Rafters of Fir.
THe ſame Perſon ſpeaks ſtill, which ſpake in the former verſe, ſhe had there Commended her beloved: and Commended her Bed, ever ſince he came into it: ſhe now comes to Commend her, and her beloveds houſe, in the words of the Text, The Beams of our houſe are Cedar and our rafters of Fir. The Chaldee Paraph▪ thus gloſſeth: Solomon the Prophet ſaid, how beautiful is the houſe of Lords Sanctuary, builded by my hands, of Cedar wood. But the houſe of the Lords Sanctuary, which is to be builded in the days of the Meſſias is more beautiful, whoſe Beams are of thoſe Cedars, which are in the Paradiſe of pleaſure, and the Galleries thereof ſhall be of Fir, Pine, &c. There are ſome difficult terms in the Text, I muſt therefore halt a little, in the explication of the letter.
foreign The Beams of our houſes. The word is uſed two Kings, 6. 2. 5. 2 Chron. 3. 7. where it is tranſlated alſo a Beam, Gen. 19. 8. it is tranſlated a roof, it comes from foreign which in Pihel ſignifies to lay the Beams of an houſe: the Beams of an houſe are properly thoſe pieces of timber which bear the whole weight of the building. The Beams of our houſe are, foreign Cedar. The word properly ſo ſignifies. It is a word often uſed in Scripture to expreſs that kind of wood which is called Cedar, which with us is very rare, with them very frequent, and ordinary in building, we ſhall by and by further inquire the nature of it. The Common uſage of the word in Scripture to expreſs Cedars, makes me a little wonder at Montanus his tranſlation of it Larices, which ſignifies a certain tree, not known (ſaith Vitruvius,) but to thoſe that dwelt near the Adriatick ſea, a kind of wood very uſeful in buildings becauſe in regard of the great bitterneſs of the ſap, it was neither ſubjectIſiod. l. 17. Dioſcor. l. 1. c. 74. to worms, nor putrefaction, nor to be burnt with fire? but I know not whether it was known to the Jews or no: nor can ſee any reaſon to depart from our tranſlation.—It follows,
foreign Our Rafters of fire, ſome read our Galleries: of Cypreſs, ſome of Fir, ſome of Pine. The word tranſlated rafters, is uſed only in this ſenſe in this place, it is alſo uſed, Gen. 30. 38. v. 41. Exod. 2. 16. but in thoſe Texts it is tranſlated gutters, and wells. And Cant. 7. 5. where it is tranſlated Galleries. Pagnine, thinks it ſignifies the little Beams, or pieces of timber in buildings. Theſe Rafters, ſaith the Text, are foreign a word which is no where uſed in Scripture (ſaving only in this Text) which hath given Interpreters a liberty to abound in ſeveral ſenſes: Hierom, makes it Cypreſs, ſo the LXX—Vulg. Lat. Syr. Arab. Others Aſh, Others Fir. Aben Ezra Thinks it the ſame with foreign Fir; our tranſlators ſeem to follow that ſo, doth Montanus, and Pagnine. The Caldee Paraph, makes it to be the wood of the Brutine tree, of which tree Pliny ſpeaks, and tells us that it is like a Cypreſs tree. The boughs white, the ſmell ſweet. And a great enemy to Poyſon, having thus far enquired the literal meaning of the terms, let us enquire for the real ſenſe: we will firſt enquire
1. Qu. What is here meant by the houſe mentioned.
2. What the Beams, and Rafters of this houſe are.
3. What the excellencies of theſe ſorts of woods were.
Which maketh the Spouſe chuſe to compare her and her beloveds houſe, to an houſe builded of theſe forts of wood.
1. Qu. What is here meant, by the houſe, mentioned in the Text, Our houſe?
Whoſo conſidereth that the Beloved here mentioned is the King of glory, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, who dwells not in houſes made with hands, will eaſily conclude, it is no fabrick of wood and ſtone, (Chriſt when he was upon the Earth had no ſuch-place where to hide his head, and now the Heaven of Heavens contain him) that is here meant. True it is, that the Lord of old, choſe a particular houſe in which he was pleaſed more eminently to manifeſt his gracious preſence, in alluſion to which, his myſtical Spiritual habitation may poſſibly be called his houſe. But this is not it which is here intended. The Chaldee Paraphraſt makes Solomon in this a Prophet for foretelling an houſe of God, to which Solomons in all its glory was not like. The new Teſtament mentions a double houſe of God. The firſt moreSee Heb. 3. 6. publick, viz. The Church, 1. Tim. 3. 15. The ſecond more private, The Souls and bodies of believers. The Apoſtle tells the Epheſians, that they were become an habitation of God through the Spirit: and the Apoſtle diſſuades from the Sin of Fornication, upon this argument, becauſe their bodies were the temples of the Holy Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 6. 19. By the houſe here I find Interpreters generally underſtanding the aggregate body of Chriſtians, which we call the Church: properly enough called the Lords houſe, becauſe as a man dwelleth in his houſe, ſo the Lord is ſaid to dwell in his Church, 2 Cor. 6. 16. God hath ſaid he will dwell amongſt his People, that he is in the midſt amongſt them, that he walks in the midſt of the golden Candleſticks, &c. So that by our houſe in the Text the Church is meant, in which Chriſt dwells, and the Saints dwell.
The 2d Queſtion is, What is here meant by the Beams and Rafters?
The Beams of a building you know, are thoſe Principal parts which ſuſtain, and uphold the building. We muſt therefore inquire what thoſe things or Perſons are which do as it were uphold, and bear up the Church: ſome underſtand by theſe termsV. Bernard. hom. Perſons, others underſtand things: thoſe who underſtand Perſons, underſtand by the Beams the ſeveral ſorts of Officers in the Church of God. Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Paſtors, Teachers. By the rafters they underſtand particular Chriſtians. So Gregory. Per tignacedrina praedicatores deſignamus, per laquearia V. Greg. Mag. ad loc. Cedrus—ſublimiores ſignificat Sanctos, Cypreſſus ſimpliciores.cupreſſina ipſos populos figuramus. This ſeems to be conform to that of the Apoſtle, Eph. 2. 20. you are built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets. But Proteſtant Writers obſerve, that the Apoſtle, there doth not make the Apoſtles, and Prophets the foundation, but Chriſt Preached by them, and their Doctrine. And thus they interpret, Chryſoſtom Oecumenius, Theophylact, & Tertullian, concluding that the Apoſtles and Prophets, could not be called the foundation upon any other account then with reſpect to their Miniſtry, and the Doctrine of the Goſpel, Preached by them. For other foundation can none lay, then what is already laid, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner ſtone. Non enim reſpexit rei nomen ſed rem nominis (ſaith Chamier;) others therefore by the Beams and rafters, of Chriſts houſe (mentioned in the Text) underſtand ratherSi ad Eccleſias haec referas quaſi tigna …arum ſunt Divina Praecepta. Lud. de Ponte. things then Perſons: yet here again they are divided: ſome underſtanding by the Beams and Rafters, The Word and Ordinances of God. Thus the Dutch Annotat. By the Beams is underſtood the Doctrine of the Prophets & Apoſtles. 2. Others underſtand the grace of the holy Spirit of God. There are other particular fancies. But I ſhall chuſe to follow thoſe who interpret the Rafters and Beams to be the Word and Ordinances of God: for theſe like the Beams of an houſe keep up the Church, and are as it were the Common Soul, that running through the whole Church keeps it together and indeed makes it one, and ſo much ſhall ſerve for the ſecond queſtion: the third follows.
3. Qu. Why the Spouſe, here compares the Word and Ordinances to Cedar and Fir, or Cypreſs, or Brutine.
There are four or five things which theſe trees, and ſorts of wood are more famous for, viz. 1. Duration. 2. Beauty. 3. ſtrength. 4. Talneſs. 5. Smell.
1. It is obſerved, of the Cedar, that it is a beautiful, goodly tree, I ſhall add the 4th. Talneſs; indeed its talneſs is a great part of its beauty: hence you read of the goodly Cedar, Ezech. Can…. 5. 15.17. 23. Pſal. 80. 10. and the tall Cedar, Iſa. 37. 24.
2. As theſe are tall trees, ſo they are ſtrong, and therefore ordinarily uſed in buildings, ſtrong and yet light. Hence when the Holy Ghoſt ſometimes would expreſs the great power of God, he expreſſeth it under this Notion, The voice of the Lord breaketh the Cedars in Lebanon, Pſal. 29. v. 5. Firs and Cedars are apt to bear great weights and yet without any great loading of the building.
3. It is obſerved of them that they are very durable. Naturaliſts, ſay, that they are not as other wood ſubject to worms, Pliny Nat. Hiſt. l. 16. cap. 40.nor (ſo ſoon) to rottenneſs and decay, as other wood is. Pliny ſaith that it is commonly thought they will never decay: and gives an inſtance of the Temple of Diana, whoſe Beams, Rafters and Spars were made of Cedar: The leaves and doors of Cypreſs. And after 400 years, they not only continued ſound, but (the doors eſpecially) ſhining and as it were poliſhed. They report of the Temple of Apollo, (whoſe Beams and main pieces were made of Numidian Cedars) that it continued entire and ſound 1188 years. How true theſe ſtories are I cannot aſſert, but certain it is, theſe ſorts of wood were very durable.
4. A 4th thing obſerved of the Cedar and Cypreſs trees, is their odoriferous ſmell.
According to this interpretation of the Text, the ſcope of it is to Commend unto us, the Word of God, and the Goſpel Ordinances. 1. For their Beauty. 2. Continuance. 3. Power and and Efficacy. 4. And laſtly, For their exceeding ſweetneſs. From the Text thus far opened, you may obſerve three Propoſitions.
1. Prop. That the Church of God is the houſe of God.
2. Prop. That the word, and Ordinances of God, are the Beams and Rafters of this houſe.
3. Prop. That there is a Beauty, ſweetneſs, power and efficacy, and an incorruptible nature in the Word of God, and Ordinances of the Goſpel: I begin with theſe in their order.
1. Prop. The Church of God is Jeſus Chriſt's and the believers houſe. Our houſe (ſaith the Text.) We will firſt enquire
1. What is meant by the Church. 2. How it appears, that the Church is the houſe of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 3. How it is the believers houſe. 4. What may be inferred from hence for our profit, in matter of knowledge and holineſs.
1. Qu. What is meant by the Church.
This hath in this latter age of the World been found an hard matter to agree amongſt Perſons of different Notions. That the term Church, is a name of multitude, and that a Church, muſt be an aggregate body, is generally agreed; that it is a body of People called by God out of the World, is alſo as freely conſented to. But whether only called by a general call, outwardly accepted by them ſo far at leaſt, that they do own the Doctrine of the Goſpel, or by a more ſpecial and effectual calling, not only out of the Pagan World, but alſo out of the unbelieving World: Theſe things have been matters of great diſpute amongſt us: yet all acknowledge the diſtribution of the Church into that which is Triumphant and that which is militant. The Triumphant part of the Church, is that part of it, who (God having in the time of their life called them out of the Paganiſh and unbelieving World and they afterward finiſhed their courſe) are called alſo by God out of this ſenſible, ſinful, elementary World to the enjoyment of himſelf in glory. Theſe are thrice called. 1. Out of the Pagan World, to the acknowledgment of the Doctrine of the Goſpel. 2. Out of the unbelieving World, to partake of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and his Grace by true and lively Faith. 3. Out of the ſenſible ſinful World, to the Inheritance of glory. The other part of the Church, is that which is uſually called Militant, and is the whole number of thoſe whom God hath called out of the Paganiſh World, to the acknowledgment of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Doctrine of the Goſpel. This is again diſtinguiſhed into that which is Inviſible, and that which is Viſible. The Inviſible part is that whole number of men and women in the World, which the Lord by his Goſpel hath called out of darkneſs into marvelous light, out of a ſtate of Nature, into a ſtate of Grace. The Matter of this Church are men and women; the Form their Union in and with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The Viſible Church is that about which the great quarrels have been: Some agreeing it to be the whole number of People over the face of the whole Earth, called out from a ſtate of Paganiſm, to the embracing of the Doctrine of the Goſpel. The Matter of it are men and women profeſſing to Chriſt Jeſus; the Form is their Union in the ſame Profeſſion, acknowledgment of the ſame Truth, and Waies, and Means of Worſhip. Now, as the Sea is but one, though as it paſſeth by ſeveral Coaſts it receives ſeveral denominations, as the Iriſh Sea, the Engliſh Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltick Sea, &c. ſo as this great body is divided into ſeveral Countries, it receives ſeveral denominations, as The Church of England, Scotland, France, &c. And as again in a particular Nation (ſuppoſe England) it is impoſſible that the whole body of Profeſſors ſhould meet in one place; and therefore there are ſeveral places of Publick Worſhip, and ſeveral Precincts of People who meet together in ſeveral places to worſhip God, (yetUpon which account you read in Scripture of Churches, and the word in the Text is plural, our houſes. all agreeing in the ſame Doctrine of Faith, and order of ſerving God) ſo there are in the World thouſands of ſuch Bodies which are called particular Churches, and are under the inſpection of ſeveral Officers; all which yet together make but one Church of God. For their Notion who think that the Church of God muſt needs be ſuch an even number as can meet together in the ſame numerical acts of Worſhip, in one place▪ we conceive it ſtands upon no ſuch bottom, that it deſerves any pains in the confutation of it; it may be a good Notion of a particular Church, but not an excluſive of the Application of the term to more. Now this Viſible Church of God, is that which is Chriſt's Houſe. The Inviſible Church is ſo, and the Viſible Church is ſo. He walketh in the midſt of the golden Candleſticks.
2. That this is Chriſt's Houſe, appears,
1. From the letter of Scripture, 1 Tim. 3. 15. That thou mayeſs know how thou oughteſt to behave thy ſelf in the Houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God. Timothy's charge was not the Inviſible Church, but the Viſible Church; this is called the Houſe of God, Heb. 3. 6. Chriſt is ſaid to be faithful as a Son over his own houſe, whoſe houſe, ſaith he, we are, &c. I ſhall not here diſpute the Queſtion, whether the hypocritical part of the Viſible Church be aequivocal or univocal Members; ſure I am, take thoſe together with the ſincere Profeſſors, and they make up but one Church, which is his Houſe.
Quoad Dominium.But ſecondly; Look which way you will upon the Church, it is Chriſt's Houſe, he hath the dominion of it, and he uſeth it as his Houſe; he hath bought it, Act. 20. 28. he hath redeemed it with his own precious blood: It is given him: It is his Houſe by right of donation. The Members of it are given him by his Father. The Stones of it are his; the Saints are the lively Stones, built up into this Spiritual Houſe, 1 Pet. 2. 5. and they are built upon the foundation of his Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief Corner Stone; they are ſanctified in and through Jeſus Chriſt; his blood is as the Mortar and Cement, by that they are united to God, and made one each with other: The Builder is his Spirit, Eph. 2. 22. Conſider an Houſe as to the uſe of it; and upon that account they are alſo his Houſe. Is an Houſe the place where a man abideth andQuoad Ʋſum. dwelleth? ſo is the Church to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; that's the place where he dwelleth: He dwelt of old in Mount Zion, Iſa. 8. 18. there he abideth. Is the Houſe a man's reſting place? ſo is Zion to God, 2 Chron. 6. 41. Pſal. 132. 8, 13, 14. The Lord hath choſen Zion, he hath deſired it for his habitation. This is my reſt for ever, here will I dwell, for I have deſired it. Is the Houſe a man's feeding place, where he dineth, and ſuppeth, and feedeth? ſo is the Church, Cant. 2. 16. He feedeth amongſt the Lillies. When the Spouſe deſired to be informed where Chriſt fed, her anſwer was, Go thy way forth by the footſteps of the Flock, Cant. 1. 7. Is that a man's Houſe where he keeps his Wife, his Children, his Servants? ſuch is the Church, there Chriſt keeps his Children, his Servants, his Spouſe. Is a man's Houſe the place where he ſpends what he hath? ſuch is the Church, there it is that Chriſt gives out grace and glory, yea and every good thing. Laſtly; Is a man's Houſe the place where he is protected and defended? ſuch is the Church to Chriſt, there he expe…s protection for his great Name, his Ordinances, &c. But this is enough to have ſhewed you the propriety of the Metaphor. But,
3. The Church is not only Chriſt's Houſe, but it is the Believer's Houſe too; not the Believer's Houſe as to dominion and title, but as to uſe. No man but Jeſus Chriſt alone hath a dominion and Lordſhip over the Church of God; even the Apoſtles themſelves were but Miniſters to it. But yet I ſay, The Church is the Believer's Houſe; it is the place where he dwells: He chuſeth rather to be a Door-keeper in the Houſe of the Lord, than to dwell in the Tents of wickedneſs, Pſal. 84. 10. Hear David expreſſing himſelf, Pſal. 27. 4. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the Houſe of the Lord all the daies of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his Temple. A man cannot be a Believer, but he muſt forthwith be a Member of the Church Inviſible. None is a true Believer, but he immediately, by his Profeſſion of that Faith, makes himſelf a Member of the Catholick Viſible Church; and he will deſire to unite himſelf to the particular Aſſemblies, which are parts of that Catholick Body. No ſooner were the three thouſand converted, at St. Peter's Sermon, Act. 2. 41. But they added to the Church, and there they dwell, v. 42. They continue ſtedfaſtly in the Apoſtles Doctrine and Fellowſhip, and in breaking of bread and prayers. No ſooner was Paul converted, Act. 9. 26. but he aſſayeth to joyn himſelf unto the Diſciples. And v. 28. he was with them going out and coming in at Hieruſalem. But this is enough to have ſpoken to the Explication of the Point. I come to the Application, which ſhall be in four words. This Notion ſpeaks the Churches 1. Dignity, 2. Duty, 3. Security, 4. Probability of Reformation.
Uſe 1.In the firſt place; This Notion ſpeaks the Church's Dignity. It is the Habitation of the King of Kings. When Jacob in his Journey to Padan-Aram, had had that notable Viſion, he breaketh out in the morning into this expreſſion, v. 17. How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the Houſe of God; this is the Gate of Heaven. I am not ſpeaking of the Church in a local notion, but of the true Church. The number of true Believers, or the number of Viſible Profeſſors, let the World vilifie them as much as they pleaſe, they are a Noble Society. Thoſe who have clean hands, and pure hearts, who have not lift up their Souls unto vanity, nor ſworn deceitfully, they ſhall receive bleſſing from the Lord, and righteouſneſs from the God of their Salvation. This is the generation of them that ſeek thy face, O Jacob, Pſal. 24. 4, 5, 6. Believers may have their infirmities, and a Profeſſing▪ People may have their great failings, (the Lord be merciful to the Profeſſors of England for theirs) but yet take them (notwithſtanding all) and they are the beſt People in the World; they are the Lord's Habitation, he hath pitched his Tents among them, and manifeſts his preſence with them.
Uſe 2.Secondly; As it ſpeaks the Dignity of the Church; ſo it ſpeaks the Duty of thoſe who are the Members of the Church, Pſal. 93. 5. Holineſs becomes thine Houſe, O Lord. The Wiſe man commands us to keep our feet when we go into the Houſe of God, Eccleſ. 5. And God bid Moſes put off the ſhoes from off his feet, upon this account, becauſe he was upon holy ground, (he was near the burning Buſh) where God made himſelf a temporary Habitation. Thoſe that take upon them the Profeſſion of Religion, ſtand concerned to be holy; and thoſe that are entred into the Profeſſion of it ſtand concerned to be holy; they are in the Houſe of God, and God is an holy God. There is in this Notion a double Argument for this, from 1. God's Holineſs, 2. God's Jealouſie.
1. God is an holy God: Hence thoſe who are unholy, are not like to pleaſe him, nor he likely to continue long with them. Look as it is with a Neat man, who hath a large Houſe, the filth and naſtineſs of this or that Room, will not make him leave his whole Houſe, but it may make him leave this or that part of it, and ſeldom or never be ſeen in this or that Room; the dirty filthy Room ſhall not be his Lodging-chamber, nor the place where he will reſt or feed: So it is betwixt God and the Church. The prophaneneſs or looſeneſs of a particular Church, or particular Perſon in the Church, ſhall not make God forſake his whole Church; but it may cauſe God to leave this or that Church, or this or that Member of the Church.
2. God's Jealouſie engageth Members of his Church to be holy: Hence it is that he is more ſevere to a Profeſſing People living contrary to their Profeſſion, than to any others. Judgment begins at the Houſe of God. Hence that in Jer. 7. 9, 10. Will you ſteal, murther1 Pet. 4. 17. and commit Adultery, and ſwear falſly, and burn Incenſe to Baal, and walk after other Gods whom you know not, and come andJer. 7. 9, 10. ſtand before me in this Houſe which is called by my Name?—Is this Houſe which is called by my Name become a Den of Robbers, &c. And that, Amos 3. 2. You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth; therefor I will puniſh you for all your iniquities. O therefore, you that profeſs to God, be holy, for he is an holy God, and a jealous God, and you are his Houſe.
3. I may add a third Argument, it is that of the Apoſtle, Heb. 3. 6.—Whoſe Houſe we are, if we hold faſt the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm to the end. The unholy man diſclaims God, and God diſclaims him; he hath but the name of a ſtone in the Lord's Houſe, if he be not a lively ſtone.
Uſe 3.Thirdly; This Notion of the Church's being the Houſe of God, ſpeaks protection and ſecurity to it. Every man ſtands obliged to defend his Houſe. God ſtands obliged by his Nature, and by his Word, to protect and defend his Church: Hence thoſe many Promiſes for its protection, Pſal. 46. 5. God is in the midſt of her, therefore ſhe ſhall not fall, Pſal. 125. 2. As the Mountains are round about Hieruſalem, ſo the Lord is round about his People. The Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it, Matth. 16. 18. with many others of the like nature, particular Churches may be deſtroyed and rooted out. But God will have a dwelling place upon the Earth, let Satan and his Inſtruments do what they can.
Uſe 4.Fourthly, It ſpeaks to us hopes of Reformation. No man will ſuffer his Houſe to fall down, but will repair it, if there be any breaches, and if he be able, he will make it his buſineſs to adorn and beautifie it, and make it fit for him to dwell in it. God will not let his Houſe run to ruine, but will ſeaſonably repair it, and make it a dwelling-place fit for his Holineſs.
Uſe 5.Laſtly; Is the Church Chriſt's Houſe, and the Saints Houſe? what cauſe have we to bleſs God who hath caſt our Lot within the Pales of the Church? And how do we all ſtand concerned not to forſake her Aſſemblies. But I ſhall not inlarge further upon this firſt Propoſition.