The next point is their example of obedience, whereby we are taught that we must work in Gods house, that is in Gods 1Church, whose house we are, if we hold fast, the confidence and and rejoicing of the hope unto the end, Heb. 3. whereby he showeth that the mystical members of Christ, are his Church, as also he saith 2 Cor. 6. Ye are the temple of the living God, yet all this is but one house, and as the Saints of God are but one spouse of Christ in general, so are they but one house also, the building 2whereof although it depend upon the ministry chiefly whom ⟨p. 94⟩are by an excellency termed builders, yet all must work and build his house, and this duty belongeth to all, as Saint Jude speaketh Edify your selves in your most holy faith, praying in the 3holy Ghost: for as in the material building of the Tabernacle or Temple they did not bring gold, silver or brass, blew silk purple, scarlet and fine linen, but those which were less able, brought Goats hair, and Rams-skins dyed red, and Badgers skins with Shittim wood▪ so in the spiritual building, all must build but not all in like manner; the ministers they must be the chief, they must build with silver and with gold, and precious stones▪ and the inferiors they must build with goats hair and rams skins, and so all must be workmen in the building 4As many as are of Christ they must be Christians, not Cretans not idle slow bellies, even in paradise. Adam must work and dress the garden, Therefore how more must we, and ought we to labour in this estate of earthly corruption, Paul must plant and Apollos must water, and not they only as the chief, but every man in his several estate must labour, every mans faith must work by love, The noble example of these principal persons who did themselves, work in this building, may put us in mind 5that we should not post off this building unto others, but put to our own hands and be builders our selves of the Lords house, Cyrus as Xenophon reporteth of him was so greatly delighted with the works of husbandry, that amidst his royalty his goodly apparel his golden chains, his rings and his precious stones, he would neither eat nor drink, until he had been planting, or 6some other painful action procured sweat.
The next point is their example of obedience, whereby wee are taught that we must worke in Gods house, that is in Gods 1Church, whose house we are, if we hold fast, the confidence and and rejoycing of the hope unto the end, Heb. 3. whereby he sheweth that the mysticall members of Christ, are his Church, as also he saith 2 Cor. 6. Ye are the temple of the living God, yet all this is but one house, and as the Saints of God are but one spouse of Christ in generall, so are they but one house also, the building 2wherof although it depend upon the ministery cheifly whom ⟨p. 94⟩are by an excellency termed builders, yet all must worke and build his house, and this duty belongeth to all, as Saint Jude speaketh Edifie your selves in your most holy faith, praying in the 3holy Ghost: for as in the materiall building of the Tabernacle or Temple they did not bring gold, silver or brasse, blew silke purple, scarlet and fine linnen, but those which were lesse able, brought Goats hair, and Rams-skinns dyed red, and Badgers skinns with Shittim wood▪ so in the spirituall building, all must build but not all in like manner; the ministers they must be the cheife, they must build with silver and with gold, and precious stones▪ and the inferious they must build with goats haire and ramms skins, and so all must be workemen in the building 4As many as are of Christ they must be Christians, not Cretians not idle slow bellies, even in paradice. Adam must worke and dresse the garden, Therefore how more must we, and ought we to labour in this estate of earthly corruption, Paul must plant and Apollos must water, and not they onely as the cheife, but every man in his severall estate must labour, every mans faith must worke by love, The noble example of these principall persons who did themselves, worke in this building, may put us in mind 5that we should not post off this building unto others, but put to our owne hands and be builders our selves of the Lords house, Cyrus as Xenephon reporteth of him was so greatly delighted with the workes of husbandry, that amidst his royallity his goodly aparell his golden chaines, his rings and his precious stones, he would neither eat nor drinke, untill he had been planting, or
- 1Heb 3. 6. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5.
- 21 Cor. 3. 8 9.
- 3Epi. Jude ver. 20. Exo. 35. 4. 6, 7, 9.Epi. Iude ver. 20. Exo. 35. 4. 6, 7, 9.
- 4Titus 1. 12. Gen. 2. 15. 1 Cor 3. 6 Gal. 5 6.
- 5Zenophon in Cyrop.
- 61 Cor. 3. 9. 1 Cor. 3. 6.
