The branch of the Lord, the beauty of ZionThe branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion

1. Is Christ the Builder of this House? Can he alone •it us for this Building? Can he alone, and that by his Almighty Power put li•e 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 our selves, do not they work effectually in this Temple? As it was in Solomons Temple, there was neither Axe, nor Hammer, nor any Tool of Iron heard în it, all the while it was in building. 1. Kings 6. 7. So in this spi•••ual 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 wil• 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 ⟨p. 29⟩will of man, or the will of God that draws men unto Christ? And is it 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, Go to, let us build a City and a Tower whose top may reach to Heaven? Gen 11 4 amongst those who would build a Babel, a Tower of their own to get to Heaven by. The Lord comes down and scatters all their under-takings. This Workman never placed Stone in the House of Christ. Nay, it is like the foolish woman, that pu•s down her house with both her hands. what Free grace sets up, that Freewill strives to demolish.

1. Is Christ the Builder of this House? Can hee alone •it us for this Building? Can he alone, and that by his Almighty Power put li•e into dead stones, that they may grow up to bee a holy and living Habitation unto him? what then becomes of that famous workman Freewill, and a power of believing in our selves, do not they work effectually in this Temple? As it was in Salomons Temple, there was neither Axe, nor Hammer, nor any Tool of Iron heard în it, all the while it was in building.