(3.) The issue will be glorious; for the Spirit of glory will not only sup- port us with his presence, but rest still upon us.
To other grounds of comfort, he addeth some in the words of my text, as,
1. First, that the church is God's house, and therefore he will have a care of it.
2. That he will do it in the fittest season. Such is the exigence of the church and people of God, that they require a sharp visitation ; and, there- fore, such is God's love, that he appoints out a certain time for them.
3. From the different conditions of the godly and ungodly in suffering ; both suffer, but differ much ; (1) in order, God begins icith his own house ; (2) in measure, xvliere shall the ungodly appear ? Their judgment shall be most ten-ible and certain. It is set down by way of interrogation and admiration ; what shall their end be ? And as Pharaoh's dreams were doubled for more certainty, so here is a double question to make the matter more out of question, [1] what shall their end be that obey not the gospel? [2] where shaU the ungodly and sinners appear ?
Here is no unnecessary waste of words and arguments, for the Spirit of God knows that all is little enough to fortify the soul against the evil day. Unless the soul be well balanced, it wiU soon be overturned when storms arise. Therefore, the apostle in these three verses sets down, 1, some
874 THE chtjkch's visitation.
foundations of comfort ; and, 2, an encouragement to build upon them, ' wherefore let them that suffer,' &c.
The points considerable in the 17th verse are these : —
1. That God's church is his house.
2. That this house of his will need purging ; it will gather soil.
3. When God sees the exigent of it, that it mv^t he so, he will be sure to visit and judge his own house.
4. That there is a certain time when he will do it, which those that are wise may easily gather. For God comes not upon his church on the sudden, as a stoiTu, or tempest, &c., but he gives them fair warning. There is a season when God begins judgment with his own house.
5. Lastly, Why God begins with his own church and people. Of these in order.
Obs. 1. That the Church of God is his own house. First, The Church of God is God's house. God hath two houses, the heavens, which are called his house, because he manifests his glory there, and the church here below, wherein he manifests his grace. Yea, the whole world, in a sort, is his house, because he manifests his power and wisdom in it ; but heaven and his church, in a more peculiar manner ; and that in these respects :
(1.) Because God by his grace hath residence in his church.
(2.) Because by the means of salvation, — the tvord, and sacraments there administered, — he doth, feed his church, as in a house.
(3.) A man rests and takes contentment in his house; so God takes his best contentment in his chm-ch and people ; they are the most beloved of all mankind.
(4.) As in a house we use to lay up our jewels and precious things ; so God lays up in his church whatsoever is precious, — his praises, his graces, yea, whatsoever is good and of high esteem, that he bestows upon his church and people.
For the further clearing of this, we must know that the chui*ch and chil- dren of God are said to be his house, either,
[1.] As di family is said to be a house ; or,
[2.] As ih.Q fabric or building is said to be the house.
God provides for his church as his oivn house. First, a man provides for his family, and he that neglects it, is worse than an infidel, 1 Tim. v. 8 ; so doth God provide for his church. The very dragons and ostriches, the worst of the creatures, all have some respect to their young ones ; much more wiU God provide for his own. And as a man protects his house fi'om all enemies, so will God protect his church and people, and be a wall of fire, and a defence round about them.
Now there is a mixture in the church, as in a house, of good and bad vessels ; but the godly are especially God's house. As for hypocrites and false professors, they are no more in the house, than the excrements are in the body ; they are in the body, but not of the body ; and therefore, as Ishmael, Gen. xxi. 10, they must be cast out at length.
The heart of true Christians is God's jmvate closet. And as in every house or building, there are some open places, and some private closets, &c., so is it hero. God hath his private chamber, and his retiring-place, which is the heart of every true Christian. He counts it not sufficient to dwell in his house at large, but he will dwell in the best part of it, the heart and the affections. Therefore * he knocks at the doors of our hearts for entrance,' Rev. iii. 20, and his best children are glad he will reside in them. They sot him up in the highest place of their souls, and set a crown upon him ;