A90263:73
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.
Edinburgh: printed by Evan Tyler, 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
On this Account, the men of the world, think it no great matter to demolish the spiritual Church of Christ to the Ground: they encourage one another to the work, never thinking of the Foundation that lies hidden, against which they dash themselves all to pieces. I say then, Christ as the Foundation of this House, is hidden to the men of the World, they see it not, they believe it not: there is nothing more remote from their Apprehension, then that Christ should be at the bottom of them and their ways, whom they so much despise.
On this Account, the men of the world, think it no great matter to demolish the spirituall Church of Christ to the Ground: they encourage one another to the work, never thinking of the Foundation that lyes hidden, against which they dash themselves all to pieces. I say then, Christ as the Foundation of this House, is hidden to the men of the World, they see it not, they believe it not: there is nothing more remote from their Apprehension, then that Christ should be at the bottom of them and their ways, whom they so much despise.
3. The Foundation is that which bears up the whole weight of the Building. What part of the House soever, is not directly poised upon it, hath no strength at all: take a goodly stone, hew it, square it, make it every way fit for your Fabric, so that it may seem to be the best of all your Materials; yet if you do not lay it upon the Foundation, answerable to that, which may give it a solid Basis, and bear up the weight and poise thereof, it will be useless, cumbersome, and quickly fall to the Ground.
3. The Foundation is that which beares up the whole weight of the Building. What part of the House soever, is not directly poysed upon it, hath no strength at all: take a goodly stone, hew it, square it, make it every way fit for your Fabrick, so that it may seem to be the best of all your Materials; yet if you do not lay it upon the Foundation, answerable to that, which may give it a solid Basis, and bear up the weight and poyse thereof, it will be uselesse, combersome, and quickly fall to the Ground.