Now, this whole promise is once again strengthened, without loss of life or beauty, and comprised in the words of the text. That which before he termed " sacrifice and burnt-offerings," here he calleth
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"prayer;" and those who before were "the sons of the stranger," are here " all peojile," — some, many of all sorts, the whole world, all men, without distinction, the partition wall being broken down.
The thing here spoken of is God's house, described, — First, By its appropriation unto him ; it is his peculiar, — " My house/' Secondly, By its extent of receipt in respect of others ; it is " for all people." Thirdly, By the employment of its inhabitants; that is, prayer, — it " shall be called an house of prayer."
" House" here may be taken two Avays.
1. Properly, as it was in the type for the material temple at Je- rusalem ; whereunto these words are applied by our Saviour, Matt. xxL But that is no farther concerned herein, but as the spiritual holiness of the antitype could not be represented without a ceremonial holiness of the type.
2. Spiritually, for the church of Christ to be gathered to him out of all nations; the house wherein "juge sacrificium," a continual spiritual sacrifice, is to be offered to him : this is peculiarly intended.
So, then, observe, — I. Christ's church of saints, of believers, is God's ho lose. II. The church of Christ under the gospel is to he gathered out of all nations. III. There are established ordinances and appointed worship for the church of Christ binder the gospel. It is the first that I shall speak unto.
Christ's church of saints, of believers, is God's house.
That his church is of saints and believers will appear in the issue.
By the church of Christ I understand, primarily, the whole mul- titude of them who antecedently are chosen of his Father, and given unto hun; consequently, are redeemed, called, and justified in his blood ; — the church which he loved, and gave himself for, " that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the \vord; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish," Eph. v. 26, 27. And, secondarily, also every holy assembly of mount Zion, whereunto the Lord Christ is made beauty and glory,— every particular church of his saints, inas- much as they partake of the nature of the whole, being purchased by his blood. Acts xx. 28.
That this church belongs unto God, I shall only leave evidencetl under the claim whereby he here appropriates it to himself; he calls it his: " 3fy house."
That it is his house, I shall farther demonstrate. Three things are required to the making of a house:— first, A foundation ; secondly, Materials for a superstruction ; thii-dly, An orderly framing of both into a useful building ;— and all these concur to the church of Christ.
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First. It Lath a foundation. " I have laid the foundation," saith Paul, 1 Cor. iii. 10 ; and, " Other foundation can no man lay, save that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ," verse 11. That which Paul laid ministerially, God himself laid primarily and efficiently. " Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious comer-stone, a sure foundation," Isa. xxviii. 16. Now, this foundation is no other but the rock upon which the church is built, Matt. xvi. 18, which makes it impregnable to the gates of hell, communicating strength and permanency continually to eveiy part of the building.
Secondly. A foundation only will not make a house, — there must also be materials for a superstruction. Those you have, 1 Pet. ii. 5. " Ye are," saith he, " lively stones." All God's elect are stones, in due time to be hewed and fitted for this building.
Thirdly. Materials themselves will not serve: they must be fitly framed, and wisely disposed, or tliey will be a heap, not a house. This, then, is not wanting. Ye " are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself bemg the chief corner- stone ; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord : in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit," Eph. ii. 20-22. There is much spiritual and heavenly architecture in these three verses. I shall only touch on some particulars.
1. The foundation of this house, this temple, is laid; and that is Jesus Christ: " Other foundation can no man lay." He is here called " The chief corner-stone," and, " The foundation of the apostles and prophets." It is not, which they were, but which they laid. It is " genitivus efficientis," not " materia," that expression holds out, — the persons working, not the thing wrought.
2. The materials of this building, — elect, believers; said in the former verse to be " fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the house- hold of God." They alone are built on Christ, and thereby have union with him: not one dead, rotten stone in all this building, as shall be declared.