The vanity of men, attempting to mix their power and wisdom in the heaping up tabernacles for Christ, might be hence discovered ; but I forbear.
2>dhj. Jesus Christ is the gi'eat watchman, or keeper of this house. There are, indeed, other watchmen, and that of God's own appoint- ment, for the use of this house: "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman," Ezek. iii. 17; "I have set watchmen upon thy walls," Isa. Ixii. 6, 7 ; which in a special manner are the pastors of the churches, " They Avatch," Heb. xiii. 17, as the priests and Levites heretofore kept the watch of the Lord. It cannot be denied but that many who have taken upon them to be these watchmen have watched only for their oAvn advantage, have been very dogs, — yea, dumb dogs, the verj'- worst of dogs, Isa. Ivi. 10, — yea, they have been, and oftentimes ai'e, under various pretences, great " smiters and wounders of the spouse of Christ," Cant. v. 7. But yet, were they never so good and true to their trusts, they Avere never able all to watch and keep this house, had it not another watchman : " Except the Lord keep the city, these watchmen watch in vain," Ps. cxxvii. 1. He that keepeth Israel, who doth neither slumber nor sleep, must keep this house, or it will be destroyed. Christ, then, is that holy one, and that watcher, that came down from heaven, and commanded to cut down the tree and the branches, Dan. iv. 13, 14, — Nebuchadnezzar and his great power, — for meddling with this house. Now, Christ watcheth his house for two ends.
{\st) To see what it wants. 2 Chron. xvi. 9, " The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in its behalf" He looks doAvn from heaven to behold them that fear him, Ps. xiv. He is that stone upon which are " seven eyes," Zecli. iii. 9, — a sufficiency, in perfection of Avisdom, inspection, and govern- ment, for the good of his house. And those seven eyes of his "run to and fro through the whole earth" for this very purpose, Zech. iv. 10. He takes notice of the state and condition of his people, to eye them in their distresses, and to give them timely and suitable deliverance. They may call every spring of their refreshment, Beer- lahai-roi [The well of Him that liveth and seeth mo].
{;ldhj) To see that the son of violence draw not nigh unto it; and
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if he do, to require it at his hands; to make him eat his o^\^l flesh, and drink his o\vn blood, that he may learn to devour no more. Observe, then, —
Observation 1. Whence it is that this house, which seems so often to be nigh to destruction, is yet preserved from ruin. Ofttimes it is brought into a condition that all that look on say. Now it is gone for ever. But still it recovers, and gets up again. The Lord Christ looks on all the while : he knows how far things may proceed for trial. When it comes to that pass that, if pressures and troubles should continue, the house will be overborne indeed, then he puts in, rebukes the winds and waves, and makes all things still again. Like a father who looks upon his child in a difficult and dangerous busi- ness,— knows that he can relieve him when he pleases, but would will- ingly see him try his strength and cunning, — lets him alone until perhaps the child thinks himself quite lost, and wonders his father doth not help him ; but when the condition comes to be such that, without help, he will be lost indeed, instantly the father puts in his hand and saves him. So deals the Lord Jesus with his house, — lets it oftentimes strive and wrestle with great oppositions, to draw out and exercise all the graces thereof; but yet all this while he looketh on, and when danger is nigh indeed, he is not far off.
Observation 2. Let all the enemies of the church know, that there is one who hath an eye over them in all their counsels and undertak- ings. Whilst they are digging deep, he looks on and laughs them to scom. How perplexed was the king of Spia when he found that the prophet was acquainted with all his designs, and made them kno\^ai to the king of Israel! It cannot but be a matter of per- plexity to the enemies of this house, when they shall find that the great Friend and Protector thereof is continually 2:)resent in all their advisoes. Let them not wonder at their birthless undertakings; the eye of Christ is still upon them.
Observation 3. Let the saints see \he\r privilege ; — whoever theyare, in what condition soever, the eye of Christ is upon them. He watches over them for good, and knows their souls in adversity. When no eye sees them, he looks on them ; they cannot be cast out of his care, nor hid from his sight. Tliere are many poor souls who go heavily all the day long, — that mourn in their spirits unknown, unregarded, unpitied; — the eye of Christ is on them for good continually; they cannot be thrown out of his watchful care.