Metaphor. | Parallel.
Jewels are rare and excellent Things, made by the hands of curious Workmen; they are made of precious Stones, set in Gold and Silver. | The Saints are to God most choice and excellent Ones:1 The King's Daughter is all glorious within. These Jewels are made up of a Complication of all the precious Graces of the Holy Spirit.
II. Some Jewels are long in making; they are not made near so soon as some others are. They carry on their Work gradually, every Day's Work adds to their Beauty and Richness; yet having begun, they resolve to go forward, and never cease till they have finished them, and made them up, quite fit for the Cabinet. | II. So some of the Saints are not so soon made up and fitted for Heaven, as others are; God carries on the Work of Grace gradually. All Persons, as soon as ever they are converted, are not made fit for Heaven, but they must go from one degree of Grace to another. Yet God hath promised to perfect the Work he hath begun; he will never cease, until he hath made up the Jewels he hath begun to make. He that hath begun a good Work in you, 2will perform it to the Day of Christ.
⟨p. 197⟩III. Jewels are a most rare and excellent Ornament, nothing richer; and are therefore worn only by rich and noble Persons, in which they take great delight. | III. So Believers are the Glory of Christ: Whether any do enquire of Titus,3 he is my Partner and Fellow-helper concerning you; or our Brethren be enquired of, they are the Messengers of the Churches, and the Glory of Christ. Which agrees with that in Isa. 62.3. Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord, 4and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God; and hence called Hephzibah, The Lord delighteth in thee. No Prince esteems more of his Crown, Jewels, and Royal Diadem, than God doth of his People. The High-Priest under the Law was to have the Names of the Children of Israel engraven on the Breast-plate. See Exod. 28. And thou shalt make the Breastplate of Judgment, the Work of cunning Workmen, &c. And thou shalt emboss in it Embossments of Stones, four Rows: The first, a Row of Sardius, 5a Topaz, and a Smaragd; the second Row, a Chalcedony, a Sapphire, and Sardonyx; and the third Row, an Hyacinth, a Chrysoprase, and an Amethyst; and the fourth Row, a Chrysolite, a Beryl, and a Jasper.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
JEwels are rare and excellent Things, made by the hands of curious Workmen; they are made of precious Stones, set in Gold and Silver. | THe Saints are to God most choice and excellent Ones:1 The King's Daughter is all glorious within. These Jewels are made up of a Complication of all the precious Graces of the Holy Spirit.
II. Some Jewels are long in making; they are not made near so soon as some others are. They carry on their Work gradually, every Day's Work adds to their Beauty and Richness; yet having begun, they resolve to go forward, and never cease till they have finished them, and made them up, quite fit for the Cabinet. | II. So some of the Saints are not so soon made up and fitted for Heaven, as others are; God carries on the Work of Grace gradually. All Persons, as soon as ever they are converted, are not made fit for Heaven, but they must go from one degree of Grace to another. Yet God hath promised to perfect the Work he hath begun; he will never cease, until he hath made up the Jewels he hath begun to make. He that hath begun a good Work in you, 2will perform it to the Day of Christ.
⟨p. 197⟩III. Jewels are a most rare and excellent Ornament, nothing richer; and are therefore worn only by rich and noble Persons, in which they take great delight. | III. So Believers are the Glory of Christ: Whether any do enquire of Titus,3 he is my Partner and Fellow-helper concerning you; or our Brethren be enquired of, they are the Messengers of the Churches, and the Glory of Christ. Which agrees with that in Isa. 62.3. Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord, 4and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God; and hence called Hephzibah, The Lord delighteth in thee. No Prince esteems more of his Crown, Jewels, and Royal Diadem, than God doth of his People. The High-Priest under the Law was to have the Names of the Children of Israel engraven on the Breast-plate. See Exod. 28. And thou shalt make the Breastplate of Judgment, the Work of cunning Workmen, &c. And thou shalt emboss in it Embossments of Stones, four Rows: The first, a Row of Sardius, 5
- 1Psal. 45.
- 2Phil. 1.6.
- 32 Cor. 8.23.
- 4Isa. 62.3.
- 5Exod 28.6, 7, 8 9.
