itself; and therefore Christ, who thus built his house, is more honorable than Moses.

It is supposed in the assumption that Moses was not a builder. But how can that be? For what was wanting to render him a builder? The reply is easy: By the house of God in this place the apostle doth not intend the house of this or that particular age, under this or that form or administration of worship; but the house of God in all ages and places, from the foundation to the end of the world, a building erected with supremie power, and for the builder's own use.

§5. On the contrary, Christ built the church in the properest and highest sense. For the building of the house of God three things are required, the pattern, the materials, its appropriation and dedication to God; as in the typical houses, the tabernacle of Moses, and the temple of Solomon. All these particulars were perfectly effected by Jesus Christ the Son of God. "On this rock," saith he, "I will build my church," Matt. xvi, 18.

1. He was in the eternal counsels of the Father, about providing and framing this habitation for himself. And this glorious delineation or pattern he had in his mind in all ages, and this he brought with him into the world, when he came to put the last hand to it. This answered the (n) idea represented to Moses on the mount. He under every dispensation, expressed this conception of his mind when he gave out laws, orders, ordinances, and institutions of worship, the whole pattern of the house as it were, in divers manners, and at sundry seasons, to be erected.

2. The second thing required in the building of this house is the providing of materials, and the framing and compacting of them into a house for God. Now this was a great work indeed, considering the condition of all those persons of whom this house was to be consti

tuted; they were dead in trespasses and sins; but the house was to be a "living house," 1 Pet. ii, 5. They were all enemies to God, strangers from him, and under his curse; but this house was to be made up of the friends of God, and such as he may delight to dwell in. Dead stones must be made of the children of Abraham. This then was a great and glorious work, and which none could perform but he that was unspeakably more honorable than Moses, or all the sons of men. He doth not gather men by force or violence, or drive them together to the profession of truth with the sword. No: the living stones, being brought together by their own offering themselves willingly to the Lord, are by him, as the tabernacle was of old, fitly framed together into an holy habitation for God. In Christ, the Lord and builder of this house, there is resident a spirit of life, which by him is communicated to every stone of the house, and which gives it life, union to himself, and also order and beauty in reference to the whole; that is, being all alike united to Christ and actuated in their places and order by one spirit, they become one house for God.

3. That the house so built and compacted might be an habitation fit for God, it was necessary that an atonement should be made for it by sacrifice, and that it be purified and sanctified with the blood thereof. Thus, Christ made atonement for it by the sacrifice of himself, and sprinkled it wholly with his own blood, as the scriptures abundantly testify. The tabernacle, being erected and sprinkled with blood, was also, with all its utensils, anointed with the holy oil, Exod. xl, 9—11. · This unction was a type of the Holy Ghost, who is the oil of gladness wherewith Christ himself, and all his living members, were to be anointed. To the completing of this house for a settled habitation to the Lord,

the glorious entrance of his presence into it was required. And this also is accomplished by him according to his promise, that he will be with us, among us, and dwell in us by his Spirit to the end of the world. Hence,

$6. (III.) Obs. 1. Every one who is employed in the service of God's house, and is faithful in the discharge of it, is worthy of honor; so was Moses. And this becometh both the greatness and goodness of God; and he hath established it by an everlasting law, "Them that honor me," saith he, "I will honor; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed," 1 Sam. ii, 30. The honoring of God in the service of his house, shall be honored, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. They are honorable; for

(1.) Their work is so: reputation, glory, and honor, attend honorable works. This work is God's. The church is God's husbandry, God's building, 1 Cor. iii, 9. They have a great work in hand, and have a glorious associate, even God himself. God so works by them, as that he also works with them, and they are (Guveрyo Oε8) "laborers together with God;" they work also in the name and on the behalf of God, 2 Cor. v, 20. Whatever glory and honor that can possibly redound to any from the nature of the work wherein they are employed, it all belongs to them. Hence the apostle commands that we should "esteem such very highly for their works' sake," 1 Thes. v, 13. Their work makes them worthy of estimation, yea, of "double honor," 1 Tim. v, 17.

(2.) Honor is reflected upon them from their relation to Christ, who goes before them in their work. To be associated with Christ in his work, to share in office under him, will appear at length to have been honorable. The queen of Sheba counted them happy and

blessed, who were servants to Solomon, and stood be

fore him, 2 Chron. ix, 7. And what are they who stand before him who is infinitely wiser and greater than Solomon! The Lord help poor ministers to believe their relation to Christ, and his engagement with them in their work, that they may be supported against those innumerable discouragements they meet with.

(3.) The special nature of their work and employment is another spring of honor to them: it lies about things holy, spiritual, mysterious, and more excellent than all the things of this world; it is their work to discover, and to bring forth to light unsearchable riches, Ephes. iii, 8; to reveal and to declare the whole counsel of God, Acts xx, 27; to prepare and make ready the bride for the Lamb, to gather in God's revenue of glory.

(4.) The effects of their work also communicate honor to them. The ministry of the word is that alone whereby God will ordinarily treat with men for salvation; this he makes use of for their conviction, conversion, sanctification, and salvation; and in these effects of the Christian ministry will the glory of God be principally concerned for ever: in them will his goodness, righteousness, grace, mercy, patience, and all the other excellencies of his nature shine forth in glory. How honorable then that ministry, the grand design of which is to produce these everlasting effects?

(5.) Their special honor will one day appear in their special reward, Dan. xii, 13. Instructors, teachers, they that make men wise, that give them understanding, "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;" and the justifiers of many. those that make them righteous ministerially, by revealing to them the knowledge and righteousness of Christ, whereby they are justified, Isa. liii, 11; "as the stars for ever and ever." It they

have not more glory than others, yet they shall have a distinct glory of their own. For when the prince of shepherds shall be manifested, he will give these his shepherds an unfading "crown of glory," 1 Pet. v, 4; alluding to, but infinitely transcending, such a peculiar crown, as great triumphant conquerors were wont to be crowned with.

§7. Only it must be observed, that there is nothing of all this spoken, merely with respect to being employed in this house of God, but only to faithfulness in the employment. Some are so far from being worthy of honor, that they deserve nothing but reproach, contempt, and shame. For as God saith in this matter, "Him that honoreth me, I will honor;" so he adds, "he that despiseth me shall be lightly esteemed." Such persons are rejected of God, as to any acceptance in their office, Hos. vi, 4; and as unsavory salt, are to be cast on the dunghill, Matt. v, 13. These servants, when the Lord comes, he will tear in pieces and give them their portion with hypocrites, Matt. xxiv, 50, 51. Persons, therefore, who undertake to be builders in the house of God, and who have received no skill or ability from the Master builder, or are negligent in their work, or corrupt it, or daub with untempered mortar, or are any way unfaithful; whatever double or treble advantage they may obtain of men in this world, they shall have nothing but shame and confusion of face from God in that which is to come. Let those then who are indeed faithful in this work, be satisfied with the work itself. It will prove in the end to have been a good revenue, a blessed inheritance: add but that reward which the Lord Christ brings with him, to the reward of honor that is in the work itself, and it will be abundantly satisfactory. We dishonor our Master, and manifest that we understand not the nature of our