Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Repreſenting Chriſt's Dignity by ſeveral Metaphors and Reſemblances.
SECT. I. Chriſt is reſembled to a Stone.—The 49th Chapter of Geneſis and the 24th verſe, and Iſa. 28. 16. are expounded.
THere are many Scripture MetaphorsChriſt is reſembled to a Stone. and Reſemblances repreſenting the Dignity of Chriſt. One Reſemblance is to a Stone, for Strength, ſtability and ſolidity. Two Scriptures I ſhall fix on, and by the Expoſition of them clear the Analogy. The firſt Scripture is Gen. 49. v. 24. Jacob giving the Bleſſing to his beloved Son Joſeph, ſaith—But his Bow abode in Sub … typo depicta eſt nobis imag… Chriſti, qui antequam emergerat Victor m…rtis & Author vitae poſitus …. Calvin.Strength, and the Arms of his Hands were made ſtrong by the Hands of the mighty God of Jacob, from thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Iſrael.—By this Shepherd and Stone, Jacob endowed with a Prophetick Spirit, look'd with the Eye of Faith upon Chriſt; for Joſeph was a Type of Chriſt, who is the Shepherd of Iſrael, the Foundation Stone, and the Corner Stone of his Church. Joſeph as a Shepherd fed his Father and Brethren, and was a helpful Inſtrument to ſave much People alive in the time of Famine. So Chriſt is the Shepherd and Preſerver of his People, to provide for them and ſupply them. Joſeph was as a Rock, or Stone for defence, as an hiding place in providing for his Father and Brethren in Egypt. So Chriſt is a Rock and Refuge, and Shelter unto his People: Without queſtion, that Prophecy, of a King that ſhall reign in Righteouſneſs, is to be applied to Chriſt, Iſa. 32. 1. Jerome one of the Learnedſt of all the Fathers applyeth this Prophecy to Chriſt, and the ſafety of God's People by Chriſt mentioned ver. 2. And a Man ſhall be a hiding place from the Wind, and a covert from the Tempeſt, as Rivers of Water in a dry place, as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land.*Quicu… que ſub ejus umbraculo fuerit, ſic tutus … rit in tribulationibus & anguſtiis & in mundi iſtius tempeſtate, … qui vent…m & turbinem fugiens, ſe tuto abſcondit loco. Hieron. in loc.
Another Scripture (which is more clear) I ſhall mention out of Iſa. 28. 16.—Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation, a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious Corner Stone, a ſure Foundation. Theſe are rare excellencies of a Stone, and this Stone is laid in Zion, (i. e.) the Church of God.—Let's review all theſe excellencies of a Stone, and it will evidently appear that they all meet in Chriſt in an eminent manner.
1. This Stone is laid for a Foundation.1. A Foundation Stone. A Foundation Stone muſt be ſtrong and firm, whereon the Superſtructure may depend, for if the Foundation fail, the Building either ſinks or falls down. Now Chriſt is the Foundation of our Faith. He hath founded and ſetled his Church, and if we rely and hold faſt on Chriſt, we cannot miſcarry. The Doctrine of the Goſpel is built on Chriſt. Other Foundation can no Man lay, than that that is laid which is Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3. 11. The Foundation which will hold, is neither Gold nor Silver, Hay nor Stubble, no Merits, no deviſed Will-Worſhip, theſe are rotten Foundations, and will fail. But the Foundation which will hold, is that of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the chief Corner Stone, Eph. 2. 20.
2. This Stone is a tryed Stone. Some2. A Tried Stone. Stones are tryed and they moulder and are unfit for a Building; but Chriſt is every way tried, by Buffeting, Scourgings, Crucifixion, and by the higheſt Malice that Men or Devils could put forth againſt him. Many try their Armour before they venture into Battel, whether it be Shot-proof. Now Chriſt is Bullet proof (as we ſay) and Armour of Proof, the whole Quiver of God's Arrows were ſhot againſt him, and yet he endured it, and came off Conqueror.
3. This Stone is a precious Stone: So3. A precious Stone. Chriſt is precious in himſelf. He is the Pearl of Price, and Plant of Renown, the chiefeſt of ten thouſands. Chriſt is precious in the eſtimation of the Father, he is the beloved Son, the brightneſs of the Father's Glory, the expreſs Image of his Heb. 1. 3.Perſon. And he is precious in the account of all true Believers; they know how to value him, they admire his Beauty, and are raviſhed with his Love. They have intereſt in the Blood of Chriſt, and this is more precious than Millions of Worlds. If the Soul be precious (as we all acknowledg) how much more muſt he be precious who redeems the Soul? and Chriſt alone is the Redeemer of the Soul.
4. This Stone is a Corner Stone. Other4. A Corner Stone. Stones are knit and cemented to the Corner Stone; ſo all true Believers are cemented in one Body and knit to Chriſt their Head: He is the Corner Stone, and the Head of the Corner. 'Tis true that the Builders rejected this Stone. The Jews reviled, perſecuted and crucified Chriſt; yet he is the Perſon of whom the Prophecy (Pſal. 118. 22.) was fulfilled. And ſo the Apoſtle expounds that Prophecy in his Sermon, Acts 4. 11. This is the Stone which was ſet at nought of you Builders, which is become the Head of the Corner.
5. This is a ſure Foundation Stone.5. A ſure Foundation. Stones may and are oftentimes laid for a Foundation, but they are not firm and ſtable, and no ways able to ſupport the Building; but Chriſt is a ſure, firm and ſtrong Foundation. To build on this Foundation, there's Strength and Security.
I might further add, 6. That (which6. A living Stone. is beyond humane Sence) Chriſt is a living Stone: And yet it is evident from the Word of God, 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5. To whom coming as unto a living Stone, diſallowed indeed of Men, but choſen of God, and precious.—Ye alſo as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual Houſe. Now Chriſt is a living Stone, and he communicates Life unto his Members, and by vertue of his Life, they live. The Dead were raiſed by the Voice of Chriſt, and thoſe that are dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, are quickned by Chriſt, Eph. 2. 1. Dry Bones take Fleſh and Sinews, and become an Army, when the Spirit breaths Life into them; ſo theEzek. 37. dead, ſleepy, drowſy, never ſo unlikely in the Eye of Man, may be quickned by the Life of. Chriſt. But this compariſon I need inlarge no farther.
SECT. II. Shewing that Chriſt is reſembled to a Fountain.
A Second Reſemblance of Chriſt is to a Fountain. There are choiſe Words ſpoken by the Church (as is conceived) reſigning all the praiſe of Beauty and Dignity unto Chriſt, who gave it to her. The Words are Cant. 4. 15. *Significat populum hunc habuiſſe foecunditatem & copiam donorum ſpiritualium. Clarius.A Fountain of Gardens, a Well of Living Waters, and Streams from Lebanon. Gardens that are of the greateſt Note, have Fountains to water them: Standing Pools are not valued, here's mention made of Streams and Living Waters, and theſe Streams come from Lebanon. The Head of the Streams of Jordan, riſeth from Lebanon, and makes the Land exceeding fruitful: So do the Rivers of Grace, and the Wells of Salvation, which flow from Jeſus Chriſt, make glad with her Streams and refreſh the City of God.
But the place which I ſhall chiefly inſiſt upon is Zech. 13. 1. In that Day there ſhall be a Fountain opened to the Houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, for Sin and for Ʋncleanneſs. The Expoſition of this Text will abundantly conduce to the proof of this Aſſertion, That Chriſt is a Fountain. It's ſaid, In that day, (i. e.) After they had mourned, and been affected with Godly Sorrow for Sin; This is evident from Zech. 12. 10, 11. They ſhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only Son, and ſhall be in bitterneſs for him, as one that is in bitterneſs for his Firſt-Born. And to expreſs the greatneſs of the Sorrow, it's ſaid, ver. 11. In that day there ſhall be a great mourning in Jeruſalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddo. Which mourning, for the greatneſs of it becomes a Proverb, and it was for the Death of that rare King Joſiah. Now obſerve, after that mourning, Chriſt is promiſed, and he is called a Fountain opened. There are Multitudes, for whom Chriſt would not pray nor waſh. To theſe he may be ſaid, to be a Spring Cant. 4. 12.ſhut up, a Fountain ſealed. But to the Houſe of David and the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, (i. e.) his own Children by Grace and Adoption, thoſe whom Chriſt loveth and waſheth, to them he is a Fountain opened, and he purgeth them from Sin, and from Uncleanneſs.—In a Fountain are conſiderable,
1. That there's a confluence of Waters. Fountain… are not drawn dry. Chriſt is a Fountain of Waters, his Blood can never be drawn dry. Chriſt compares himſelf to a Well of Water, Joh. 4. 14.ſpringing up to Eternal Life. In Chriſt is plenty of Grace, riches of Mercy, abundant effuſion of his Spirit. Now to repair to a Ciſtern and forſake a Fountain, O! what madneſs and Folly is it? Of this the Lord complain… ▪ Jer. 2. 13. For my People have committed two Evils: They have forſaken me, the Fountain of Living Waters, and he… ed them out Ciſterns, broken Ciſterns that …n hold no Water.
2. The Waters of a Fountain are living Waters. Waters in Ponds and Ditches are dead Waters, noiſom and muddy; Garbidge is thrown in them, and makes them unwholſom and infectious. But a Fountain will not keep any noiſom thing, but purgeth it away. Chriſt is this Fountain of living Waters, He is the gift of God, and his Promiſe is to give Living Waters. And as Living Waters run and communicate themſelves, from the Spring-Head to the Streams: So Chriſt the Spring-Head, communicates Waters to the Streams. He, as the Head, hath influence upon all his Members. More I would proſecute this Compariſon, but that I have prevented my ſelf, by handling this Argument upon Zech. 13. 1. publiſhed in print.
SECT. III. Chriſt is compared to a Tree.
THe Tree of Life in Paradiſe was a Type of Chriſt. Joſeph in his great Sufferings was a Type of Chriſt, and he is ſaid to be a fruitful Bough by a Well, Gen. 49. 22. Trees grow beſt by the Rivers ſide, and ſo become more fruitful. Of all Trees, theſe moſt properly reſemble Chriſt.
1. Chriſt is compared to an Apple-Tree, Cant. 2. 3. As the Apple-Tree among the Trees of the Wood, ſo is my Beloved among the Sons, I ſat down under his Shadow with great delight, and his Fruit was ſweet to my Taſt. From this Scripture many Learned Authors infer that the Church ſets forth the Excellency of Chriſt by the Similitude of an Apple-Tree.
1. We are to conſider the benefit of the1. Conſider the Shadow of an Apple-Tree. Libens ſub ejus umbra verſor, in illo ab aeſtu perſecutionis, afflictionis, vitiorum, & omnis denique infirmitatis aut moleſtiae refrigerium quaerens, ad eum confugiens, & me ut in tutiſſimum aſylum recipiens. Merc. in Cant. 2. 13. Shadow of an Apple-Tree. The Shadow keeps off Heat and Storms, ſo Chriſt is a Shadow for refreſhing and comforting againſt the heat of Perſecution. Chriſt is compared to the Shadow of a great Rock in Iſai. 32, 2. Iſai. 25. 4. Iſai. 4. 6.a weary Land, he is a Shadow from the Heat, likewiſe he is a Shadow for a Tabernacle in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from Storm and Rain: So that whatever Perſecutions andSicut Tent…rii tegmen defendebat olim Iſraelitas … S…le, Vento, & pluvia; ſic nunc hos Deus tutos praeſtabit. Gro…. Troubles may befal us, let us make ſure of our Intereſt in Chriſt, and we ſhall be ſafe.
2. The Fruit of an Apple-Tree is pleaſant2. The Fruit of an Apple-Tree is pleaſant to the Taſt. Pſ. 34. 8. to the Taſt, it's a wholeſome and delightſome Fruit: The Palate reliſheth it well. Much more is Chriſt delightful to the Spiritual Palate of a True Believer. The Pſalmiſt calls upon us *Mon…t… verb… g… ſtandi, nos in hac vstâ illam bonit at em De… exp…riri tantùm ex parte, non enim dicit Implemini ſed Guſtate. G… ſtus quidem nobis praebetur in hac vita, non plena fruitio. Mollerus in Loc.to Taſt and ſee that the Lord is good. Bleſſed is the Man that truſteth in him: To taſte Chriſt in an Ordinance, how delightſome is this to a True Believer!
3. The Apple affordeth more variety of3. The Apple-Tree affords▪ variety of Frui…. Fruit than any other Tree. No Fruit-Tree hath ſo many kinds of Fruits as an Apple-Tree hath, it is difficult for any to reckon up the ſeveral kinds of Apples of different Taſt: So Chriſt excelleth in variety of Graces which he beſtoweth on his Church▪
2. Chriſt is compared to a Vine; John 2. Chriſt is compar'd to a Vine.15. 1. I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman. Of all Trees none more fruitful than a Vine: No Tree hath a more ſucculent Root full of Sap and Juice, communicating it to the Branches. We read of the Fruit of Canaan, which the Spies brought by way of Tryal or earneſt of more to be received: One cluſter of Grapes cut down at the Brook Eſhcol was a BurthenNumb. 13. 23. ſufficient for two Men to carry: Between Chriſt and the Vine there are theſe Reſemblances.
1. A Vine is the Root, Foundation, and1. A Vine is the Root, Foundation and Support of all the Branches. ſupport of all the Branches, inſomuch that as ſoon as a Branch is cut off, it receives no more nouriſhment: ſo Chriſt is the Foundation and Support of his Church: The Church cannot thrive unleſs it receive influence from Jeſus Chriſt. Chriſt is the Foundation of all Foundations, and if any Foundation be laid beſides Chriſt, it will fall and be utterly ruined.
2. A Vine is exceeding nouriſhing.2. A Vine is nouriſhing. Wine makes the Heart glad, and refreſheth the Spirits, and comforts the Weary and Afflicted: So Chriſt abundantly refreſheth and comforts his Children. His Conſolations are abundantly ſufficient for them.
3. The Vine communicates Juice and3. The Vine communicates Juice and Nouriſhment unto the Branches. Joh. 1. 16. nouriſhment unto the Branches; ſo Chriſt communicates his vertues to his People. In Chriſt there is a fulneſs, Col. 1. 19. and there is a Derivation from the Root to the Branches: Of his fulneſs we receive Grace for Grace.
A 3d. Tree whereto Chriſt is compared3. Chriſt is compar'd to a Medicinal Tree. is a Medicinal healing Tree, a none-ſuch and unparallel'd for its excellent virtues, Rev. 22. 2. It's the Tree of Life which bears twelve manner of Fruits, and yielded her Fruit every Month, and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations. Such a Tree as this was Propheſyed of, Ezek. 47. 12. and the Fruit thereof ſhall be Meat, and the Leaf thereof for Medicine. Now who is the Healer of Soul and Body but Jeſus Chriſt? The Word of God is our Souls Phyſick, but Jeſus Chriſt is the Phyſician, who preſcribes the Phyſick: And Chriſts Spirit accompanying his Word, makes it effectual. The twelve manner of Fruits mentioned in the forecited place, Rev. 22. 2. ſhews variety of comforts, and plenty. And as Leaves laid on Wounds, conduce to the healing of them: So in all the Ordinances of God (when Gods Spirit ſanctifieth them) there's a healing vertue; not as if they healed by their own Power, but by the Power of Chriſt working effectually upon them.
I might add further compariſons, but I conceive there's no neceſſity to make farther Inlargements in ſo clear a point.