3. The architects or builders are of two sorts.
(1.) Principal: "The Spirit;" — we are "framed for an habitation of God by the Spirit;" he is the principal workman in this fabric, — without him is not one stone laid therein.
(2.) Secondary and instrumental: " The apostles and prophets." And this they were two ways.
[1.] Personally, in their several generations; — this was their Avork, thek labour, to lay the foundation and cany on the building of this house.
[2.] Doctrinally; so they labour in it to this very day; — their doc-
288 THE BRANCH OF THE LORD
trine in the Scripture liokls out the only foundation, and the only way of building thereon.
4. The manner of the building : it is " fitly framed together," ffuvap,'ji.oXo'/ov,u,svri, closely jointed and knit in together, sweetly closed together with Christ, " the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, in- creaseth with the increase of God," Col. ii. 19.
5. What kind of a house it is. It receiveth here a twofold title, " An holy temple," and " An habitation," or tabernacle; because of its allusion to both those holy places of the worship of God, fulfilling the types of them both. Hence it is most evident that this church of Christ is a house, and being appropriated unto God, God's house. To make this the more evident, I shall do these two things: — (1.) Show you what are the chief properties of this house. (2.) De- clare what is the relation wherein Jesus Christ stands to this house, having called it all alongj the church of Christ.
(1.) For the properties, or chief qualities of this house, they are three: — [1.] It is a living house; [2.] It is strong; [3.] It is glo- rious.
[1.] It is a living house: "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house," 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5. Christ, the foundation, is a living stone, and they that are built upon liim are living stones. Hence they are said to gTow toge- ther into a house. Growth is a sio-n of life, growing from an inward principle. Such as the growth of any thing is, such is its life. The growth of this house is spiritual, so therefore also is its life ; — it lives with a spiiitual life, a life whose fulness is in its foundation. He hath " life in himself," John v. 26, and they from him: " I am cru- cified with Christ, nevertheless I live," Gal. ii. 20; yea, it is himself in them, — " yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." It is true, those stones are dead in the rock as well as others ; " by nature children of wrath as well as they," Eph. ii. 3 ; being " dead in trespasses and sins," verse 1. He who hews them out gives them life; — he quickens them when dead in trespasses and sins. There is not one rotten, dead stone in all this building. However some such may, by the advan- tage of their outward appearance, crowd in, yet they are not of the house itself.
[2.] It is a strong house: "The gates of hell cannot prevail against it," Matt. xvi. 18. Though the rain descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow upon this house, yet it will not fall, because it is founded on a rock, Matt. vii. 25. We wore all once a house built upon Adam ; and when the wind came, and beat upon us, we fell ; and the fall of that house was very great. He in his best estate was found to be but sand ; now we are built upon a rock that will
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abide all trials: — the waves may make a noise, and dash, themselves against him, but it will be to then- own ruin.
But you will say. May not weak and inconsistent materials be built upon a rock, which yet may have never the more strength for their foundation ?
It is not so here, for the whole building is framed together in the foundation, Eph. ii. 22 ; not only on it, but also in it, and so not to be prevailed against, unless the rock itself be overthrown. And it is a living rock that this house is built on, — a rock continually commu- nicating strength unto every stone in the building, that it may be enabled to abide in him. I should proceed too far, should I go to declare the mighty defence and fortification of this house; — what hath been spoken from the foundation is enough to demonstrate it to be a strong house.
[3.] It is a glorious house, and that in a threefold respect.
\st. It is glorious in respect of inward glory, brought unto it of God in the face of Jesus Christ, being beautiful through the comeli- ness that he puts upon it. Hence Christ speaking of it says, " How fair art thou, 0 love, for delights ! " Cant. vii. 6 ; and, " Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee," chap. iv. 7. And how, I pray, comes that about? Why, Christ washeth it in his own blood, that it might be wholly " a glorious church," Eph. v. 26, 27. And farther, he being "The branch of the Lord and fruit of the earth," is made beauty and glory, excellency and comeliness, thereunto, Isa. iv. 2.