The branch of the Lord, the beauty of ZionThe branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion
The branch of the Lord, the beauty of Zion: or, The glory of the Church, in it's relation unto Christ· Opened in two sermons; one preached at Berwick, the other at Edinburgh. By John Owen, minister of the Gospel.The branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion: or, The glory of the Church, in it's relation unto Christ· Opened in two sermons; one preached at Berwick, the other at Edinburgh. By John Owen, minister of the Gospel.
John Owen 1616–1683Edinburgh: printed by Evan Tyler, 1650
[4], 43, [1] p. · 14k words · Wing O715 · ESTC R203084
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Learn to tender the Graces of Christ, as those which hold out his presence to us. Let us tender them in our own Hearts, and prize them in whomsoever they are. They are pledges o• the Indwelling of Christ. Certainly if men valued Christ, they would more value his Graces. Many pretend to Love him, to Honour him, yea with Peter to be ready to die with him, or for him: but what evil surmises have they of the Graces of Christ appearing in others: How do they call them, Hypocrisy, Humour, Folly, Pride, Singularity, with other terms of a later Invention. I cannot so easily believe, that any one can love the Lord Jesus, and hate the Appearances of him in others. Where is any thing of Christ, there is also Christ.
2. Learn to tender the Graces of Christ, as those which hold out his presence to us. Let us tender them in our own Hearts, and prize them in whomsoever they are. They are pledges o• the Indwelling of Christ. Certainly if men valued Christ, they would more value his Graces. Many pretend to Love him, to Honour him, yea with Peter to be ready to dy with him, or for him: but what evil surmizes have they of the Graces of Christ appearing in others: How do they cal them, Hypocrisie, Humor, Folly, Pride, Singularity, with other terms of a later Invention. I cannot so easily believe, that any one can love the Lord Jesus, and hate the Appearances of him in others. Where is any thing of Christ, there is also Christ.
5. Jesus Christ is the great Avenger of this House, and of all the Injuries or wrongs that are done unto it. All (saith he) that devour Israel shall offend, Jerem. 2. ⟨p. 41⟩3. He will not hold him guiltless that rises up against it▪ see
. He hath promised to make the Stones of this House heavy stones, they shall burden all that touch them, Zech 12. 3. He comes forth of the Myrtle trees in the bottom (his lowly people, in a low condition) with the Red horse following him,
. Sooner or later he will call to an account every Instrument of persecution in the world. Hence he is said to be a Lyon in the behalf of this House, that treads down all before him,
. Many poor Creatures have by their Opposition to his House▪ roused up this Lyon, and what hath been the Issue? what attempts have been to cause him to lie down again: all in vain: if he be once roused up, he will not couch down, until he eat and drink the blood of the slain. But suppose great Opposition be made unto him, will he not give over? not at all: As a Lyon that cometh upon his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be
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called forth against him, he will not be afraid at their voice, nor abase himself at their noise, Isa. 31. 4. In brief, sooner or later, temporally or eternally, he will avenge all the Injuries, and destroy all, the Enemies of his holy dwelling, 1. Thess. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
5. Jesus Christ is the great Avenger of this House, and of all the Injuries or wrongs that are done unto it. All (saith he) that devour Israel shall offend, Jerem. 2. ⟨p. 41⟩3. He will not hold him guiltlesse that rises up against it▪ see Isa. 59. 15, 16, 17; 18. he takes upon him the avenging of his House, as his own proper work. Shall He not avenge his Elect? he will do it speedily: See also Isa. 63. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. How dreadfull is hee in the execution of his revenging judgements against the Enemies thereof. So also is he described Revel. 19. 13, 14, 15. He hath promised to make the Stones of this House heavy stones, they shall burden all that touch them, Zech 12. 3. He comes forth of the Myrtle trees in the bottom (his lowly people, in a low condition) with the Red horse following him, Zech. 1. 8. upon this account he ••arfully b•oke the old Roman Pagan Empire, Revel. 6. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. and will as fearfully destroy the Antichristian Roman power, with all its adherents, Revel. 17. 18, 19. Sooner or later he will call to an account every Instrument of persecution in the world. Hence he is said to be a Lyon in the behalf of this House, that treads down all before him, Mic. 5. 8. Jacob sayes of him in Judah, He is a Lyon, as an old Lyon, who shall rouse him up? Gen. 49. 9. Suppose-any do rouse him up, how then? He will not ly down, untill he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain, Numb. 23. 24. Many poor Creatures have by their Opposition to his House▪ roused up this Lyon, and what hath been the Issue? what attempts have been to cause him to ly down aga•n: all in vain: if he be once roused up, he will not couch down, until he eat and drink the blood of the slain. But suppose great Opposition be made unto him, will he not give over? not at all: As a Lyon that cometh upon his prey, if a multitude of shepheards be ⟨p. 42⟩called forth against him, he will not be afraid at their voyce, nor abase himself at their noyse, Isa. 31. 4. In brief, sooner or later, temporally or eternally, he will avenge all the Injuries, and destroy all, the Enemies of his holy dwelling, 1. Thess. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
And these are some of the Relations wherein the Lord Christ stands unto this House of God, being made thereby unto it, Beauty and Glory, Comeliness and Excellency. The carrying on of this Building by the union of all the stones thereof •o the Foundation, and their cementing one to another, by Faith, Love, and Order, I shall not now treat of: Nor of the following points of the Text. The General uses of what hath bin said, are three, the Heads whereof I shall name.
And these are some of the Relations wherein the Lord Christ stands unto this House of God, being made thereby unto it, Beauty and Glory, Comelinesse and Excellency. The carrying on of this Building by the union of all the stones thereof •o the Foundation, and their cementing one to another, by Faith, Love, and Order, I shall not now treat of: Nor of the following points of the Text. The Generall uses of what hath bin said, are three, the Heads whereof I shall name.
1. See the Eminent Privilege of them which are indeed stones of this House, which is living, strong, and glorious, which is so nearly related to the Lord Christ: There is more of Duty, dignity, and safety in this thing, then can easily be expressed. To do service unto Christ, as his, to have the Honour of being his, and to be safe guarded as his are great privileges: let them who have any sense of these things, further draw out these particulars, from what hath been spoken.
1. See the Eminent Priviledge of them which are indeed stones of this House, which is living, strong, and glorious, which is so neerly related to the Lord Christ: There is more of Duty, dignity, and safety in this thing, then can easily be expressed. To do service unto Christ, as his, to have the Honor of being his, and to be safe guarded as his are great priviledges: let them who have any sense of these things, further draw out these particulars, from what hath been spoken.
2. Learn hence the vanity of resting upon outward Church privileges, if we are not withal, interested in this spiritual estate where men are living stones indeed, they lie in beauty and order in the Assemblies: where they are otherwise, where Assemblies are made up of dead rubbish, and yet cry, the House of the Lord, the House of the Lord, the Lord Jesus abhors those Assemblies, He stands not in these Relations unto them.
2. Learn hence the vanity of resting upon outward Church priviledges, if we are not withall, interested in this spiritual estate where men are living stones indeed, they ly in beauty and order in the Assemblies: where they are otherwise, where Assemblyes are made up of dead rubbish, and yet cry, the House of the Lord, the House of the Lord, the Lord Jesus abhorres those Assemblies, He stands not in these Relations unto them.
3. See hence the Ruin of Persecution, that hath appeared in the world in various forms. It hath put on all manner of colours and pretences, and prevailed with all sorts of persons at one time or other to close with it: what hath been the Issue? what is like to be? The House indeed hath been battered sometimes, but they who have come against it, have been broken all to pieces. Shall the Residue of men, who under new pretences, or old ones new painted, drive on the same design, shall they prosper? Thou, O Lord Jesus, in thine anger, wilt cut them off. The Lord open the Eyes o• the sons of men, that they may not hope any more to separate between Christ, and his Saints, between whom there are so many everlasting Relations.
3. See hence the Ruine of Persecution, that hath appeared in the world in various forms. It hath put on all manner of colours and pretences, and prevailed with all sorts of persons at one time or other to close with it: what hath been the Issue? what is like to be? The House indeed hath been battered sometimes, but they who have come against it, have been broken all to pieces. Shall the Residue of men, who under new pretences, or old ones new painted, drive on the same designe, shall they prosper? Thou, O Lord Jesus, in thine anger, wilt cut them off. The Lord open the Eyes o• the sons of men, that they may not hope any more to separate between Christ, and his Saints, between whom there are so many everlasting Relations.
