(Sdly.) Unto jmrchase he must also add conquest. An unju.?t usurper had taken possession of this house, and kept it m bondage; — Satan had seized on it, and brought it, through the wrath of God, under his power. He, then, must be conquered, that the Lord Christ may have complete possession of his own house. " For this purpose," then, " was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil," 1 John iii. 8. And how doth he do it? He overpowers him and destroys him, in that " through deatli he de- stroyed him that had the power of death; that is, the devil," Heb. ii. 14. And he spoiled him, having overcome him. He bound the strong man, and tlicn spoiled his goods. Matt. xii. 29. All that darkness, imbelief, sin, and hardness, that he had stufted this house withal, Christ spoils and scatters them all away. And to make his conquest complete, he triumphs over his enemy, and, like a mighty conqueror, makes an open show of him, to his everhusting shame, Col. ii. 15, " Ha\'ing spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross;" and by this means streng-thens his title to his inheritance.
I might also fai-lher in.sist on the donation of his Father, and the
THE JJEAUTY OF ZION. 299
actual possession he takes of it by his Spirit ; but these are sufficient to prove this house to be Christ's. I sliall take some observations hence.
Observation 1. ^Is this the house of Christ ? is he the owner of it? — Let men take heed how they spoil it for themselves. The psahnist makes this a great argument in his pleading against opposers, that they came into the Lord's " inheritance," Ps. Ixxix. 1. The title of Christ's purchase was not then so clearly known as that of his inheritance; and therefore they of old pleaded chiefly by that title. Now he hath proclaimed to all, his other titles also, — the whole right he has to this house, — to his saints. Who, then, shall meddle with it, and go free ? Amongst men, every one with all his might will defend his own possession ; and shall we think that the Lord Christ will suffer his to be spoiled at an easy rate ? Shall not men pay dear for their encroachment ? How hath he in our days frustrated all attempts for the persecution of his ! " Touch not," saith he, " mine anointed." Men may upon various pretences claim this privilege to such a land, nation, or faction; it will in the end appear to be their.s, and only theirs, who are living stones of this house. Dogs may scramble for their bread, but shall not enjoy it. It is Christ in this house that will make every stone of it a burdensome stone. He hath done it that men may leai'n [jun "inoij.ayjiv. Do not think it will excuse thee to say thou wast mistaken.
Observation 2. Is Christ the owner of this house ? — Let the order and disposal of it be left to himself. Men are apt to be tampering with his house and household. They will be so kind and careful as to lay out their wisdom and piTidence about it ; — Thus and thus shall it be; these are parts and members of it. Christ is exceeding jealous of his honour in this particular. He cannot bear it, that men pre- tending to his glory should think him so wanting in love or wisdom towards his own, as not exactly to dispose of all things that concern the regimen thereof. Men would not be so dealt withal in their own houses as they deal with Christ in his. We have all wisdom enough (as we suppose) to order our own houses ; — only the wisdom and love of the Father leaves his to the discretion of others. These thoughts are not from above.
Observation 3. Hath Christ taken his own house to himself upon so many titles ? — Let not men put those buildings on him for his which are not so, which he holds not by these titles. Go to a man that dwells in a stately palace of his own, show him a hog-sty, tell him, " This is your house; here you dwell; this is yours:" — can you put a gi'eater indignity on him ? " No," says the man; " that is not
' The second of the two sermons undei- the present text, and latterly printed as one, began at this point, according to a statement in an old edition. — Ed.
300 THE BRANCH OF THE LORD
mine; I dwell in yonder sumj^tuous palace." And shall we deal thus with the Lord Jesus ? He hath bought and adorned his ovna. house : — a glorious house it is. If now men shall hold out to him a sty of swine, a den of unclean beasts, a ruinous heap, whereof the far greatest part are dead stones, and tell him, this is his church, his house, — will it not exceedingly provoke him ? will he bear such a reproach? Nay, he will reject such tenders to their I'uin.
2dli/. Jesus Christ is the builder of this house : " This man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house," Heb. iii. 3. — " I," saith he, " will build my church," Matt. xvi. 18. This is not a fabric for any workman but Christ. It is true, there are others em- ployed under him; and some so excellent that they may be said to be "wise master-builders," 1 Cor. iii. 10; but yet all the efficacy of their labour in this building is not from themselves, but merely from liim by whom they are employed. Excei:)t the Lord build this house, they labour in vain that go about to build it.