Now this house receives a twofold building: — {1st.) Sjnritucd, of all the stones thereof into one mystical house. Of this I chiefly treat. {idly?) Ecclesiastical, of some particular stones into several taber- nacles,— which are useful partitions in the great mystical house, — called assemblies and dwelling-places of mount Zion. Both these it hath from Christ alone.
(Isi.) For the first; — if all the most skilful workmen in the world should go to the pit of nature, by their own strength to hew out stones for this building, they will never, with all their skill and dili- gence, lay one stone upon it. There is life required to those stones, which none can give but Clu"ist. The Father hath given into his hand alone to give life eternal to whom he will, J ohu xvii. 2. He alone can turn stones into children of Abraham. To him is com- mitted all dispensation of quickening jDower. He brings us from the dust of death, and no man hath quickened his own sovil. With spiritual power, all spiritual life is vested in Christ. If dead stones live, it must be by hearing the voice of the Son of God. Christ's building of his mystical house is his giving life unto dead stones; or rather, being life unto them. Of those who will attempt to build themselves, and draw a principle of spiritual life from the broken cisterns of nature, I shall speak afterward.
{2dly.) For the second, or the communion of living stones one with another, and all with Christ, in the order and worship appointed by the gospel, so becoming assemblies and dwelling-places of mount Zion ; — this also is of him. This is for his outward solemn worship ; and he would never allow that the will of any creature should be the measure of his honour. He sets up the candlesticks, and holds the
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stars in his hand. Look to the institution of this building, — it is from Christ ; — look for directions about this building, — it is wholly from him. From him, his word, his Spirit, is the institution, du-ection, and perfection of it. From hence, now, take some observations.
Observation 1. Is Christ the builder' of this house? can he alone fit us for this building? can he alone, and that by his almighty power, put life into dead stones, that they may grow up to be a holy and living habitation unto him? — -What, then, becomes of that famous Avorkman, free-will, and a power of believing in ourselves? do not they work effectually in this temple? As it was in Solomon's temple, " there was neither axe, nor hammei", nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building," 1 Kings vi. 7; so in this spiritual house, that iron tool of free-will is not once heard; it comes not nigh the work, — Christ doth all alone. He gives life to whom he pleases. Shall a dead will be thought to have a quickening, life-giving power in it ? Shall a spirit of life be spun out of the bowels of nature ? Is it the will of man, or the will of God, that draws men unto Christ ? and is it his Spirit, or flesh, that unites us to him? Where, then, is this workman employed, that makes all this noise in the world? Even there, where men cry, " Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven," Gen. xi. 4, — amongst those who would build a Babel, a tower of their own to get to heaven by. The Lord comes down and scatters all their undertakings. This workman never placed stone in the house of Christ. Nay, it is like the foolish woman, that pulls down her house with both her hands. What free gi'ace sets up, that free will strives to demolish.
Observation 2. See hence a great mistake of many poor creatures, who would fain be stones in this house. What course take they? They hew and square themselves, — strive to cut off this and that rub- bish, which (as they suppose) alone hinders them from being fitted to this building ; they pare themselves with vows, promises, resolutions, and engagements, — beautify themselves with duties and services ; and then, mth many perplexing fears, present themselves to the building, never knowing whether they are admitted or no. All this while the great Master-builder stands by, scarcely dealt withal. What, now, is the issue of such attempts? What they build one day, falls down in another. When they have oftentimes in their own thoughts brought the building to such a pass as that they are ready to think it will be well with them, now surely they shall have a share and interest in this living and glorious house ; all on a sudden they fall again to the ground, their hopes wither, and they suppose themselves in the world's rub- bish again. There is no end of this alternation. Would, now, this poor soul see where its great defect lies? It hath not applied itself aright to the only Builder. Wouldst thou be a stone in this fabric?
802 THE BRANCH OF THE LORD
Lay tliyself before the Lord Jesus; say to liim that thou art in thy- self altogether unfit for the gi'eat buikUng ho hath in hand; — that thou hast often attempted to put thyself upon it, but all in vain : — " Now, Lord Jesus, do thou take me into thine own hand. If thou castest me away, I cannot complain, — I must justify thee in all thy ways ; but thou callest things that are not as though they were, — thou turnest dead stones into children of Abraham: oh, turn my dead into a living stone ! " Feai' not ; he will in no wise east thee out.