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"ways before him:-rejoicing in the habitable "part of the earth, and my delights were with the "fons of men,' " Prov. viii. 30, 31.

As foon as angels knew of the ancient decree, by God's beginning to erect the stage on which the wonders of redemption, in the building of mercy, were to be displayed, they celebrated the folemnity, under view, with peculiar demonftrations of gladness. "Where waft thou (faid the Lord to

Job) when the morning ftars fang together, and "all the fons of God fhouted for joy?" Job Xxxviii. 7.

When the laying of this foundation was brought to maturer light, by the incarnation of the Son of God, thefe angelic fongfters repeated their celebration of this folemnity with new anthems of praife.

"And fuddenly (fays the evangelift) there was "with the angel," who announced the birth of Christ to the fhepherds at Bethlehem, "a multi"tude of the heavenly hoft, praising God, and "faying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace, good will towards men," Luke ii. 13, 14. Nay, fo much is the foundation of the church of God an occafion of joy, that the acceffion of every finner to it, at converfion, is celebrated with new and feraphic fongs of triumph." Joy (fays our "Lord himself) fhall be in heaven over one finner "that repenteth :"-and again, there is joy, in "the prefence of the angels of God, over" every fuch believing penitent, Luke xv. 7, 19.

(5.) Obferve, that there are certain things wherein the foundation of the ranfomed church excels all the material imagry by which it is pointed out.

In the fame bed from whence foundation ftones are dug, others, of equal fize, fuitableness and value, might be raised; but Jefus Chrift was the only perfon in heaven or on earth, who could bear

the

the weight of this facred fuperftructure. Before he appeared, none could be found who was equal to the mighty undertaking; and after he appeared, none could ever pretend to rival it with him. Accordingly, the apoftle affures us, that "other foun“dation can no man lay, than that is laid, which " is Jefus Chrift,” 1 Cor. iii. I.

Again, while literal foundation ftones are brought out, and wrought up by the hand of the artift, without whofe interpofition they behoved to have lien in the bowels of the earth; the miniftry of creatures was not fought or employed in raifing up Jefus Chrift, the myftical foundation; for, this "ftone was cut out of the mountain without "hands," Dan. ii. 45.

Farther, the ftones whereof other foundations confift, are inanimate matter. As they have no life in themselves, they can communicate none to the constituent parts of the buildings which stand upon them. But our Lord, in the quality of a foundation, both hath life in himself, and can communicate life to all the members of his church." "To whom coming (fays the apostle, speaking of "Chrift) as unto a living stone ;-ye alfo, as live. **ly ftones, are built up a fpiritual house," Pet. ii.. 4, 5.

Moreover, the fame ftone, in a literal fenfe, if it be the foundation, can occupy no other place, at the same time, and in the fame building; whereas, the wonderful perfon we now fpeak of,-the ftone cut out of the mountain without hands, is, at once, the corner, as well as foundation of this fpiritual houfe. Accordingly, he is called "the head ftone **of the corner," by David, Pfal. cxviii. 22.-" q "precious corner-ftone," by Ifaiah, xxviii. 16. and "the chief corner-ftone," by the apostle, Eph.

ji. 20.

This view greatly raifes the virtue and value of Jefus Chrift, with respect to his church. As the corner the precious corner the head of the corner -the chief corner stone, he fo binds the feveral members of his church together, that they can no more be disjoined, than the walls, on either fide of the angle, in which the corner is laid. "Ho"ly Father, (fays he) keep, through thine own "name, thofe whom thou haft given me, that they

may be one, as we are," John xvii. L. And, fince the Father heareth him always, this prayer affures us, that the union, amongst the members of Christ, can no more be diffolved,than the union tween the Father and the Son.

Nor does he only bind,-but, as the corner, alfo beautifies the ecclefiaftic fabric, in the following and fuch like viewe:

(1.) Any outward beauty for which the faved ones are remarkable, arifeth from his moft honourable righteoufnefs, imputed to them, and improven by them. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

(fays the prophet) my foul fhall be joyful in my "God, for he hath clothed me with the garments "of falvation, he hath covered me with the robe "of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh him"felf with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth " herself with her jewels," If. lxi. 10.

(2.) Auy inward beauty by which they are.. diftinguished from others, is effected by his holy Spirit given unto them. "The Spirit of truth, "(faid our Lord to his difciples) whom the world ** cannot receive, because it feeth him not, neither. ** knoweth him; ye know, for he dwelleth with

you, and fhall be in you," John xiv. 17. And, (3) Any fcriptural conformity, in their lives, to the law of God which hath place, flows from the womb of the promife, which is yea and amen

in

in him. "I will put my fpirit within you, (fays) "the Promifer) and caufe you to walk in my "ftatutes, and ye fhall keep my judgments and "do them," Ezek. xxxvi. 27.

By the first of thefe, God-Redeemer himself accounts them beautiful, faying, "Thou art all "fair my love, there is no fpot in thee," Song iv. 7. By the fecond, pardoned finners have a humble confcioufnefs of a gracious difference between what they are, and what they were :-"God, who is rich "in mercy, (fay they) for his great love where"with he loved us, even when we were dead in "fins, hath quickened us together with Chrift," Eph. ii. 4, 5. And by the third, the truth of religion in them, appears to the conviction and edification of others :-"Let your light (fays our "Lord to his followers) fo fhine before men, that "they may fee your good works, and glorify your "Father which is in heaven," Matth. v. 16.

III. We come now to the improvement of the fubject. And,

If the church of Chrift be built upon himself; the office and work of gospel ministers will naturally

appear.

As to their office, according to my text, they are under-builders: They derive their warrand from the Father, who laid the foundation; and from the Son, who builds the temple. Thus, in the discharge of that truft, the Father and the Son are reprefented as their joint conftituents.

"We are

"ambaffadors for Chrift, (fays the apoftle) as "though God did bejeech you by us: we pray you "in Chrift's fead be ye reconciled to God," 2 Cor. v. 20. And faithful ministers are, therefore, reprefented as "labourers together with God," I Cor. iii. 9.

With refpect to the work of gospel minifters, it is evidently confined to this facred building; and may be reduced to the following views.

1. It is their bufinefs to point out the foundation, as laid, Jefus Chrift, in his perfon, God Man; in his doctrines, which are all wholfome, found, and according to godlinefs;-in his life, which was holy, harmlefs, and undefiled;-in his death, which was propitiatory, and meritorious;-in his office, as Mediator between God and man, the Father's fervant, and the finner's furety;-in his purchase, as comprehending all special and faving bleffings, and as rendering even the common bleffings of life covenant bleffings to his people ;-in his interceffion, as fecuring the difpenfation of grace and glory, and every good thing to his church;-in his law, as the rule of life;-in his fpirit, as the efficient caufe of holiness and new obedience; in his righteousness, as the finners only plea, for the acceptance of their perfons and fervices, with God;--and in his exclufive authority and ability to fave.

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2. It is the bufinefs of gofpel-minifters, to aim at bringing finners to Chrift as the foundation of his church. To fhew them their guilt, mifery, and danger, without Chrift; the impoffibility of recovering themfelves; the fuitablenefs, freeness, and fulness of the gospel falvation; the nature, alfo, and extent of the gofpel offer;-together with fuch motives as may most probably have influence upon them.

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3. It is the business of gospel ministers, to aim at the advancement of this building, by using the means of promoting the work of grace in true converts; to reprefent the exceeding broadness of the divine law, and their obligations to it; to fhew how far they are from having atta ned, or being perfect;to point out the connection between de

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