is the import of what our Saviour said to Peter ; " Thou art Peter, and on this rock will I build my Church:" he did not mean, that he would build it on the person of Peter, but on the testimony of Peter just before delivered, namely, that " Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living Godd." Of the Church Christ is also " the chief corner-stone," which, whilst it supports the building, connects the parts of it together, and gives it stability through the whole remaining superstructure.
The building raised on this foundation consists of " living stones e," all selected by sovereign grace, and with unerring wisdom " fitly framed together," so as mutually to confirm and strengthen one another, and collectively to constitute an edifice for the Lord. Various degrees of labour are bestowed on these, according to the situation they are to occupy. Some, which are designed for a more conspicuous place in that build- ing, have many strokes : others, which have a less honourable place assigned them, are sooner and more easily brought to the measure of perfection which is necessary for them.
But, in all, this work is carried on silently, and in a way unnoticed by the world around them. As in the temple of Solomon, " every stone was made ready before it was brought thither, so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it was in building f;" so it is in this spiritual building : every stone is fitted in secret : the work is carried on in each, without attracting the notice and observation of men: but all will at last be found so precisely fitted for their respective stations, as to demonstrate the infinite skill and unerring wisdom of the Divine Architect.]
The end for which this structure is raised, is, the inhabitation of the Deity —
[For this end fresh converts are " added to the Church daily, even such as shall be saved." For this end the work is carried on and perfected in the heart of every individual be- liever. For this end all the means of grace, like the scaffold- ing, are continued, till the whole shall have received its final completion. For this end the Holy Spirit is imparted to all, so that all are compacted together, standing firm on the one foundation, and united to each other by indissoluble bonds. And at last the Deity shall take possession of it, as he did in the days of Solomon, when by the bright cloud he filled the house, so that the priest could no longer stand to minister before him8.
In all this honour every saint partakes. Every one, even in his individual capacity, is a temple of the Lordh, and has the
d Matt. xvi. 16—18. e 1 Pet. ii. 4, 5. f 1 Kings vi. 7.
s 1 Kings viii. 10, 11. b 1 Cor. vi. 19.