morning of his Son's birth, and his life and death, and resurrection) but also to signify the freeness of his grace, in giving his Son to be a foundation of happiness to man, without the least motion from man, or motive in man, to draw him to it. And this seems to be signified by the unexpected inserting of these prophetical promises of the Messiah, in the midst of complaints of people's wickedness, and threatning them with punishment; to intimate that there is no connexion betwixt this work and any thing on man's part, fit to procure it. .6. Although you do thus provoke me to destroy you, yet of myself I have other thoughts, there is another purpose in my head." And it is observable to this purpose, that that clearest promise of the virgin's son is given, not only unrequired, but being refused by that profane kingAhaz.

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This again, that the Lord himself is the layer of this corner stone, teaches us the firmness of it, which is likewise expressed in the prophet's words, very emphatically, by redoubling the same word, Musad, Musad; fundamentum, fundamentum.

So, I have set my king upon my holy hill of Sion; who then shall dethrone him? I have given him the heathen for his inheritance, and the ends of the earth for his possession; and who will hinder him to take possession of his right? If any offer to do so, what shall they be, but a number of earthen vessels fighting against an iron sceptre; and so certainly breaking themselves in pieces. Thus here, I lay this foundation stone: and if I lay it, who shall remove it? and what I build upon it, who shall be able to cast down? For it is the glory of this great master-builder, that the whole fabric which is of his building cannot be ruined; and for that end hath he laid an unmoveable foundation; aud for that end are we taught and reminded of its firmness, that we may have this confidence concerning the church of God that is built upon it. To the eye of nature, the church seems to have no foundation; as 1 Isa. vii. 10, 13. m Psal. ii. 6.

Job speaks of the earth, that it is hung upon nothing", and yet as the earth remaineth firm, being established in its place by the word and power of God, the church is most firmly founded upon the word made flesh, Jesus Christ is its chief cornerstone. And as all the winds that blow cannot remove the earth out of its place; neither can all the attempts of men, no, nor of the gates of Hell, precail against the church. It may be beaten with very boisterous storms, but it cannot fall, because it is founded upon this rock. Thus it is with the whole house, and thus with every stone in it, as here it follows, He that believeth shall not be confounded.

3dly, There is next the building on this foundation. To be built on Christ is plainly to believe in him. But in this the most deceive themselves: they hear of great privileges and happiness in Christ, and presently imagine it is all theirs, without any more ado; as that mad man of Athens, who wrote up all the ships that came into the Haven for his own. We consider not what this is to believe in him, and what is the necessity of this believing, that we may be partakers of the salvation that he hath wrought. It is not they that have heard of him, or that have some common knowledge of him, or are able to discourse of him, and speak of his person and nature aright; but they that believe in him. Much of our knowledge is, as that of a geometrician that can measure land exactly in all its dimensions, but possesseth not a foot thereof; or of a poor philosopher, who defineth riches exactly, and discourseth of their nature, but possesseth none. And truly it is but a lifeless unsavoury knowledge men have of Christ, by all books and study, till he reveal himself, and persuade the heart to believe in him. Then indeed it says of all the reports it heard, when it sees him, and is made one with him; I heard much, yet the half was not told me. There is in lively faith, when it is infused into the soul, a clearer knowledge of

n Job xxvi. 7. • Matth. xvi. 18. P Matth. vii. 25.

Christ and his excellency than before; and with it a recumbency of the soul upon him, as the foundation of its life and comfort; a resolving to rest on him, and not to depart from him upon any terms. Though I be beset on all hands, be accused by the law and mine own conscience, and by Satan, and have nothing to answer for myself; yet here I will stay, for I am sure in him there is salvation, and no where else. All other refuges are but lies, as it is in the words before these in the prophet, poor base shifts that will do no good. God hath laid this precious stone in Sion, for this very purpose, that weary souls may rest upon it; and why should not I make use of it according to his intention? He hath not forbid any, how wretched soever, to believe, but commands it, and himself works it where he will, even in the vilest sinners.

Think it not enough that you know this stone is laid, but see whether you are built on it by faith. The multitude of imaginary believers lie round about it, but they are never the better nor the surer for that, no more than stones that lie loose in heaps near unto a foundation, but are not joined to it. There is no benefit to us by Christ, without union with him; no comfort in his riches, without interest in them, and title to them, by that union. Then is the soul right, when it can say, He is altogether lovely, and as the spouse there, He is mine, my well-beloved. And this union is the spring of all spiritual consolations; and faith, by which we are thus united, is a divine work. He that laid this foundation in Sion with his own hand, works likewise, with the same hand, faith in the heart, by which it is knit to this corner-stone. It is not so easy as we imagine to believe'. Many that think they believe, are on the contrary like those of whom the prophet there speaks, hardened in sin, and carnally secure, whom he represents as in covenant with hell and death, walking in sin, and yet promising themselves impunity.

4thly, There is the firmness of this building, namely, He that believeth on him shall not be confounded.) This firmness is answerable to the nature of the foundation. Not only the whole frame, but every stone of it abideth sure. It is a simple mistake, to judge the persuasion of perseverance to be self-presumption: they that have it are far from building it on themselves, but their foundation is that which makes them sure; because it doth not only remain firm itself, but indissolubly supports all that are once built on it. In the prophet whence this is cited, it is, Shall not make haste, but the sense is one: they that are disappointed and ashamed in their hopes, run to and fro, and seek after some new resource; this they shall not need to do that come to Christ. The believing soul makes haste to Christ, but it never finds cause to hasten from him; and though the comfort it expects and longs for be for a time deferred, yet it gives not over, knowing that in due time it shall rejoice, and shall not have cause to blush and think shame of its confidence in him. David expresseth this distrust, by making haste, I was too hasty when I said so. trated hopes, especially where they have been raised high, and continued long, do reproach men with folly, and so shame them. And thus do all earthly hopes serve us, when we lean much upon them. We find these things usually that have promised us most content, pay us with vexation, and they not only prove broken reeds, deceiving our trust, but hurtful, running their broken splinters into our hand that leaned on them. This sure foundation is laid for us, that our souls may be established on it, and be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed. Such times may come as will shake all other supports, but this holds out against all", Though the earth be removed, yet will not we fear. Though the frame of the world were cracking about a man's ears, he may hear it unaffrighted that is built on this foundation: why then do we chuse to build SPsal. xxxi. 22. and cxvi. 11. t Psal. cxxv. 1. u Psal. xlvi. 2.

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upon the sand? Believe it, wheresoever we lay our confidence and affection besides Christ, it shall sooner or later repent us and shame us; either happily in time, while we may yet change them for him, and have recourse to him; or miserably, when it is too late. Remember that we must die, and must appear before the judgment-seat of God, and that the things we doat on here have neither power to stay us here, nor have we power to take them along with us, nor if we could, would they at all profit us there; and therefore when we look back upon them all at parting, we shall wonder what fools we were to make so poor a choice: and in that great day wherein all faces shall gather blackness, and be filled with confusion, that have neglected to make Christ their stay when he was offered them, then it shall appear how happy they are that have trusted in him; they shall not be confounded, but shall lift up their faces, and be acquitted in him. In their present estate they may be exercised, but then they shall not be confounded, nor ashamed; there is a double negation in the original, by no means, they shall be more than conquerors through him that hath loved them".

5thly, The last thing observable is the greatness and excellency of the work, intimated in that first word, behold, which imports this work to be very remarkable, and calls the eyes to fix upon it.

The Lord is marvellous in the least of his works, but in this he hath manifested more of his wisdom, and power, and let out more of his love to mankind, than in all the rest, yet we are foolish, and childishly gaze about us upon trifles, and let this great work pass unregarded, we scarce afford it half an eye. Turn your wandering eyes this way, look upon this precious stone, and behold him, not in mere speculation, but so behold him, as to lay hold on him: for we see he is therefore here set forth, that we may believe on him, and so not be confounded, that we may attain this blessed union,