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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 assem- blies, 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 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, direction, 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 workman freewill, 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 hammer, nor any tool of iron heard in it, all the while it was in building ;' 1 Kings vi. 7. so in this spiritual house, that iron tool of freewill 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, ' Goto, let us build a city, and a tower, whose top may reach to 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 scat- ters all their undertakings. This workman never placed stone in the house of Christ. Nay, it is like the foolish
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woman, that pulls down her house with both her hands : what free grace 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 rubbish, which (as they suppose) alone hinders them from being fitted to this building. They pare themselves with vows, promises, resolutions, and en- gagements, beautify themselves with duties and services, and then with 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 at- tempts? 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 sud- den they fail again to the ground, their hopes wither, and they suppose themselves in the world's rubbish 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. Wouldest thou be a stone in this fabric? Lay thyself before the Lord Jesus, say to him, that thou art in thyself altogether unfit for the great build- ing he 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, 1 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 ! Fear not, he will in nowise cast thee out.
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.
3dly. Jesus Christ is the great watchman, or keeper of this house. There are indeed other watchmen, and that of God's own appointment, for the use of this house : ' Son of man, I have set thee a watchman;' Ezek. ii. 11. 'I have set watchmen upon thy wall ;' Isa. Ixi. 6, 7. which in a special