Christ All and in All, Sermon 17
1 PET. 2. 6.
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner XVIII. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth. Lon. Decem. 19. 1652.ſtone, elect and precious.
THe Apoſtle at the ſecond verſe of this Chapter, doth earneſtly intreat the ſcattered Jewes, to whom he writes this Epiſtle, that they would as new borne babes receive the ſincere milk of the Doctrine of the Goſpel. He preſſeth this by many Arguments; As
1. God had appointed this to be the ſoules nouriſhment. The milk of the mothers breaſt was not more nouriſhing to the new-borne Ver. 2.infant, then the Doctrine of the Goſpel is to the ſouls of regenerated Chriſtians.
2. God had ſanctified theſe to be the meanes of their ſpiritual growth. As the childe grows by ſucking the milk of the breaſt, ſo do Chriſtians grow by drinking in the Doctrine of Ibid.the Goſpel.
3. The Doctrine of the Goſpel containes in it the ſweetneſſe of the love of God and of Jeſus Chriſt towards them that beleeve, he that hath taſted of this ſweetneſſe cannot but thirſt after Ver. 3.it.
4. By receiving into their hearts this doctrine, they ſhould have the cloſer communion with Jeſus Chriſt. To whom coming as to a living ſtone, ye as lively ſtones are built up, &c. This he confirmes by an argument taken out of the Old Teſtament, which is here cited and improved to illuſtrate the thing in hand. This is in the Text, wherefore it is contained in the Scripture; Behold I lay in Sion, &c.
Two things are conſiderable in the Text.
1. The denomination or litle given to Chriſt. A chief corner ſtone.
2. The Explication of this Title by the properties of it. Theſe are two.
1. He is an Elect or choſen ſtone.
2. He is a precious ſtone.
I ſhall firſt begin with the denomination, A chief corner ſtone. The ſum is this.
The Church of God is here compared to a ſpiritual edifice, or building; Every true beleever is compared to a myſtical ſtone in this building; And Chriſt is here reſembled to the Corner ſtone. The Note from that firſt particular will be this, viz.
Doct. That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the chief Corner ſtone of the ſpiritual ſtructure of Gods Church Both Prophets, and Apoſtles, and Chriſt himſelf, give ample Teſtimony to this truth.
1. The Prophets which were before Chriſt do bear witneſſe to this. See Eſay …8 16. From this Teſtimony my Text is borrowed. Behold I lay in Sion f…r a …undation a ſtone, a tryed ſtone, a preciou… corner ſtone, a ſ…e foundation. And the Prophet David long before him, Pſalme 118. 22. ſpeaking of Chriſt hath theſe words, The Stone which the builders refuſed, i… … b… Headstone of the Corner.
2. The Apoſtles which ſucceeded Chriſt, they concur with the Prophets. See that famous Teſtimony which is given before the greateſt of Chriſts adverſaries, by Peter and John two of his Apoſtles. Though Peter was the onelyonly ſpoke…man, yet doth John alſo agree with him, Acts 4. 10, 11. Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Iſrael, that by the Name of Jeſus of Nazareth, doth this man ſtand here before you whole. This is the Stone which was ſet at nought by you builders, which is become the Head of the Corner. Hear alſo the Teſtimony of Paul, which is both full and clear to this purpoſe, Eph. 2. 20. Ye are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief Corner ſtone.
3. We may adde to theſe the Teſtimony of Chriſt himſelf, hear it from his own mouth, as it is recorded by three of the Evangeliſts, Mat. 21. 42. Mark 12. 10. Luke 20. 17. Jeſus ſaid unto them, did you never read in the Scriptures, the Stone which the builders refuſed is become the Head of the Corner? In the mouth of all theſe witneſſes is this truth fully eſtabliſhed. Two things I ſha…l here open.
1. In what reſpects Chriſt is compared to the Corner ſtone.
2. How he excels all other corner ſtones.
1. For the firſt. Chriſt is called the Corner ſtone in foure reſpects.
1. In regard of ſuſtentation. The corner ſtone doth uphold the whole building: if the corner of the houſe fall, the whole ſtructure comes to the ground. The Holy Ghoſt ſpeaking of the ſlaughter of Jobs children, ſaith, There came a winde from the Wilderneſſe, and ſmote the foure corners of the houſe, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, Job 1. 19. Some ſtones may drop out of the middle of the building, and yet the building may ſtand, but if the corners or foundation ſhrink, the whole fabrick is diſſolved. Jeſus Chriſt is the ſuſteiner and upholder of his Church. Therefore he is called the foundation ſtone, as well as the corner ſtone, Eſay 28. 16. He is the great pillar that beares up his Elect. The Churches peace, the Churches grace, the Churches comfort, the Churches ſalvation are all upheld and maintained by him. Solom…n reared up two pillars of braſs in the Porch of the Temple, the one he called Jachin, that is, he ſhall eſtabliſh; the other Boaz, that is, ſtrength, 1 Kin. 7. 21. Theſe two Pillars amongſt other things did typifie the invincible ſtability and ſtrength of the Church, whereof the Temple was a ſign and figure. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is to his Church, both Jachin and Boaz; he is both the eſtabliſhment, and the ſtrength of his Elect; he is that golden pillar that beares up all. The Poets have a fictitious conceit of Atlas a great Aſtronomer, that he beares up the heaven upon his ſhoulders; That's but a fable, the great body of the heaven is a burden inſupportable to any creature. Jeſus Chriſt is really the great Atlas, that bears the whole burden of the Church with all its concernments upon his ſhoulders. Eliakim was in this a type of Chriſt, the Prophet ſaith of him, Eſay 22. 21, 22, 13, 24. that he ſhall be faſtned as a naile in a ſure place, and he ſhall be for a glorious throne to his Fathers houſe; And they ſhall hang upon him all the glory of his Fathers houſe, the off-ſpring and the iſſue, all veſſels of ſmall quantity, from veſſels of cups to all veſſels of flagons. This Eliakim was a figure of Chriſt, for Rev. 3. 7. that which is here promiſed to him, is attributed to Chriſt; Theſe things ſaith he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man ſhutteth, and he that ſhutteth and no man openeth. He is that golden naile, upon whom all the concernments of the Church both ſmall and great do depend. From veſſels of cups to veſſels of flagons, all hang upon him. The Prophet Eſay foretelling his birth, doth attribute this to him, Chap. 9. 6. When he ſaith, that the Government ſhall be upon his ſhoulder. God hath devolved the whole care and weight of his Church upon him, and upon him muſt we roll it.
2. In regard of Ʋnion. The corner ſtone is that Medium by which the walls of the houſe are united into one building. Pull out the corner ſtones, and the two ſides of the houſe are ſeparated one from the other. Jeſus Chriſt is he and he alone that doth unite the ſeveral ſtones of the ſpiritual building one to another. This may be conſidered two ways.
(1.) In reference to the uniting of the Jews and Gentiles. Before Chriſt, the Jew and Gentile were divided and ſeparated one from another. This ſeparation did commence and begin after the return of the Iſraelites out of Egypt into Canaan, which place was aſſigned unto them by lot, as we reade in the book of Joſhuah. Then were the Jews in a more conſpicuous manner formed into one Polity or Common-wealth, and from that time the ſeparation began. That which made this ſeparation was the Ceremonial worſhip which God eſtabliſhed in that Church or Nation, according to which they and their poſterity were to worſhip God. This ſeparation continued from that time, untill the death and reſurrection of Chriſt. During all this long tract of time, there was a manifeſt ſeparation between the Jew and the Gentile, But now Chriſt hath as a corner ſtone made a firme union between theſe two, ſo that the Jew and Gentile are brought together under the ſame worſhip. This is done by the abolition of the Ceremonial Law. Chriſt hath taken down this wall of ſeparation, and ſo made both one Church. The Apoſtle treats largely of this, in Eph. 2. 13, 14, 15, 16. He is our peace who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall of partition between us, &c. The Jew and the Gentile are now made one houſe by the death of Chriſt.
(2) In reference to the ſpiritual union of beleeleevers one with another. We reade often in Scripture of ſpiritual fellowſhip and communion between beleevers. The Apoſtle, Phil. 2. 1. ſpeaks of the fellowſhip of the Spirit, and Phil. 1. 5. He makes mention of their fellowſhip in the Goſpel. So 1 John 1. 7. ſaith the Apoſtle, If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowſhip one with another. This ſpiritual communion or fellowſhip doth conſiſt,
Firſt, In mutual affection one to another. One Saint loves another, though they have never ſeen the faces one of another.
Secondly, In participation of the ſame graces and priviledges. They are all like one another: They partake of the ſame gifts, of the ſame Graces; the ſame Reconciliation, the ſame Adoption, the ſame Sanctification; the ſame Salvation that belongs to one, belongs to them al. This is that which the Apoſtle mentions, Eph. 4. 4 5, 6. From hence it is that the Scripture calls the ſalvation of the Elect, Common-ſalvation, Jude 3. becauſe it's common to all the Elect. The ſame graces which are wrought in one Saint, are wrought in another, though perhaps different in degree.
Thirdly, In the performing of mutual offices one to another. They pray one for another, they give thanks for the good of one another, they grieve for one anothers evils, they beare one anothers burthens, they rejoyce in one anothers comforts, they ſupply one anothers wants, both outward and inward as far as they are able. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of theſe mutual offices, which beleevers by vertue of that fellowſhip which is between them owe one to another, in that, 1 Cor. 12. 26 Now it is in and through Chriſt, that union and communion of Saints one with another is made. Our communion with Chriſt is the foundation of our mutual communion which we have one with another, John 17. 23. I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. 'Tis this uniting corner ſtone that brings every particular ſtone of the building into one. For our mutual union one with another, is in him who is the head of the union. The Apoſtle ſpeaks fully to th…s, in Eph. 1. 10. That he might gather together in him all things, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth. The Greek word is very ſignificant, foreign, to gather to a head. All the Saints of God that are, were, or ſhall be, both thoſe that are gloriouſly triumphing in heaven, and thoſe that are yet militant on earth, are gathered together to a head in Jeſus Chriſt. Memberſhip with him is the foundation of mutual memberſhip which we have one with another. This is the ſecond.
3. In regard of Direction. The corner ſtone is that which gives the builders direction, how to lay and place all the other ſtones. If the ſeveral ſtones of the wall be not laid level to the corner ſtone, the whole building is ſpoiled. He that would build right, muſt have his eye to the corner ſtone. Jeſus Chriſt is a beleevers Direction and Rule in all ſpiritual things, that which is not done by Chriſts Command, or example or by ſome direction from him, is not wel done. Learne of me (ſaith our Saviour) for I am lowly, and meek-hearted▪ and ye ſhall finde reſt to your ſouls, Mat. 11. 29. Jeſus Chriſt is the beleevers pattern. His Word and his example we muſt have an eye continually upon, if we would not miſcarry. He that ſaith he abideth in Chriſt, he ought ſo to walk as he walked. 1 John 2. 6. Lay all things level to Chriſt, and then act vigorouſly. I have given you an example, that ye ſhould do as I have done to you, John 13. 15. Nothing will either be laſting or comfortable, which doth not runne parallel with the line of Chriſt.
4. In regard of Beauty. Skilful builders place the ſtrongeſt ſtones in the corner, becauſe of bearing; and the faireſt ſtones, becauſe of beauty. If the corner ſtones be graceful, the whole building is the more comely, Pſal. 144. 12. More Art is beſtowed on the corner ſtone, then on any other part of the building. Ieſus Chriſt is the beauty of the ſpiritual building. If this one ſtone were taken away, the whole building would be an uncomely heap. One Chriſt hath more b…auty in him then ten thouſand Sain…s. Pſalm. 45. 2. Thou art fairer then the children of men. The faireſt Saint is but an Ethiopian, if compared with Chriſt. He is in reſpect of his beauty compared to the Lily and Roſe, which are the moſt beautiful of all flowers, Cant. 2. 1. The blinde world looked upon him as deformed, Eſay 53. 2. There is no forme nor comelineſſe in him, but thoſe that know him, admire his beauty. Look upon him in his Divine Nature, and ſo he is more beautiful then the Sunne. Look upon him as man; and ſo he is exceeding beautiful. No doubt but his body, for the outward feature of it was very comely. 'Tis a Rule which Divines have. That which God doth immediately, he doth moſt exactly. And for his ſoule, that had more grace in it then is in all the ſons of men laid together. His ſoul was unſoyl'd by ſinne, and it was richly furniſhed with all grace. God ſhewed more of his Art and skill in Ieſus Chriſt, then upon all the ſtones of the building beſides. The beautiful Angels are black, if compared with Chriſt. This is the firſt particular.
2. For the ſecond. Chriſt differs from all other corner ſtones in five reſpects.
1. He is a living stone. The corner ſtones of all material buildings are inanimate. But Chriſt hath life in him, 1 Pet. 1. 4. He hath life in himſelf, and he communicates life unto the whole building. From him all the ſtones of the ſpiritual houſe are called lively ſtones, ver. 5. Ye alſo as lively ſtones are built up a ſpiritual houſe.
2. He is a ſtone of Gods immediate laying. God himſelf did both poliſh and place this ſtone. Other corner ſtones are faſhioned and laid by men, but this is faſhioned by God himſelfe. This is in the Text, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner ſtone. He is therefore called by the Prophet, Dan. 2. 34. A stone cut out of the mountaine without hands; that is, without the hands of men. There was no humane help for the poliſhing of this ſtone, God himſelf is the chiefe and onelyonly Architect.
3. He is a Corner ſtone that can never drop out of the building. Other corner ſtones will in time looſen and fall: the corner ſtones of that Temple did at laſt fall, but this corner ſtone can neither fall, nor be weakned. Chriſt ſticks as faſt now, as he did the firſt day he was placed.
4. He receives no ſtrength from the other ſtones. All material corner ſtones, as they ſtrengthen the building, ſo they receive ſtrength from the building. The other ſtones are ſome defence to the corner ſtone: but Chriſt receives no ſtrengthening from any ſtone of the building. What need hath Chriſt of ſupport? If he had, what can weak Saints do to ſupport him? The Saints help to ſtrengthen one another, they contribute no ſtrengthening at all to him.
5. Chriſt is a Corner stone that reaches from the bottome to the top. In other buildings there are many corner ſtones, becauſe no one is large enough to ſerve for all: But Chriſt is ſo large that there is no need of any other. The building is a carrying on every day, and will be, till all the number of the Elect be brought in: but let it riſe never ſo high there will not need one corner ſtone more. If there were but one corner ſt…n… in other buildings, the whole ſtructure would be ſpoiled. This ſpiritual ſtructure would he ſpoiled, if there ſhould be one corner ſtone more. One Chriſt ſupplies the need of the whole Church.