The Stone that the Builders refused, &c.

THe estate of mankinde, as they are in Societie, either or Church or Kingdome, is, in diuers termes set forth to vs in Scripture: Sometimes of a Flocke: sometimes of Husbandry: otherwhile, of a Building. Yee are his flocke, diuers times in the Psalmes.1. Cor. 3. 9. You are Gods Husbandry, You are Gods building, both in one verse▪ Now, the Style of this Text, runnes in termes of this last, of Building, or Architecture. For heere are Builders, and heere is Stone, and a Coine or Corner, and a Top or Turret ouer it.

Of this Spirituall Building, we all are Stones: and (which is strange) we all are Builders too: To be built, and to build, both Stones; in regard of them whom God hath set ouer vs; who are to frame vs, and we so to suffer them. Builders, in regard of our selues first: then, such as are committed to vs, by bond, either of duty, or charity; Euery one, beeing (as St. Chrysostome saith well) de subditâ sibi plebe, quasi domum Deo struere; of those vnder his charge, to make God an house. As Stones; it is said to vs, by S. Peter, 2. Pet. 1. 5 Super aedificamini, Bee yee built vp, or framed. As Builders; it is said to vs, first, by St. Iude, lud. 20 Build your selues in your most Holy faith. Then, by St. Paul, Edifie yee, or build ye one an other. Be built; 1. The. 5. 11 by obedience & conformity: Build your selues, by encrease in vertue and good workes: Build one an other, by good example, and wholesome exhortation. The short is. This is to bee our study, all: if wee be, but our selues, euery one in himselfe, and of himselfe, to build God an Oratory; If we haue an Houshold, of them, to build him a Chappell. If a larger circuit, then a Church. If a Country or Kingdome, then a Basilica, or Metropolitan Church: which is properly, the Princes Building.

This in the Text (the builders heere were in hand with) was a Basilica: for it was the frame of the Iewes Gouernment: but, is applied, to all States in generall. For Iury was the Scene or Stage, whereon the errors or vertues of all Gouernments, were represented, to all posterity.

Foure words there be in the Text. 1. Aedificantes, Builders. 2. Lapis, Stone. 3. Angulus, a Corner, and 4. Caput, the Head. From the first word Aedificantes; this wee haue: That States would not bee, as Tents: set vp, and taken downe, and remouable. They would bee buildings; to stand steddie and fixed. Nothing so opposite vnto a State, as not to stand.

2. From the second, Lapis: that, this building would be, not of clay and wood, or (as wee call them) Paper walles: but, Stone-worke, as strong, as defensible, as little subiect to concussion, or cumbustion, as might be.

3. From the two parts specified; first, Anguli: This Stone-worke, is not a wall, forthright, to part in sunder, or to keepe out: but, it consists of diuerse sides: those sides meete in one Angle: where if they meet, and knit well: all the better will the building be.

4. Caput. And they will knit the better, if they haue a good Head. For, where they meet, no place so much in danger of weather going in, and making the sides flie off, if it want a Couering. A head it would haue, to couer it: It is a speciall defence, and besides, it is a Soueraigne beauty, to the whole building.

And that Head, would not be of plaister, to crumble away: or of wood, to warp or rot, with the weather: or of lead, to bow or bend, and to cracke: but of Stone, and the principallest Stone, that could be. The chiefe part it is, the head: the chief care, & consultation would be, what Stone meet for that place: for indeed, it is all, in all.

That: is the consultation here. Here is Christ, The first sense, Christ. what say you to him? He is a Stone. 2. a building Stone. 3. a Corner Stone. 4. a Headstone. A stone. So the Prophets terme Him. Dan. 2. 34. Zachar. 3. 9. Esay 28. 16. And so the Apostles, Peter, Acts. 4. 11. Paul, 1. Cor. 10. 4. 1. In his birth: Daniels stone, cut forth without hands. 2.Dan. 2. 34 In his passion: Zacharies stone, Zach. 3. 9 grauen, and cut full of eyes all ouer. 3. In his Resurrection: Esays stone, layde in Sion, Esay 28. 16 Qui crediderit non confundetur, Hee that beleeueth in him then, shall not bee confounded, saith Saint Peter, 1. Pet. 2. 6. Hic est lapis. He is the Stone of our faith, saith St. Peter, Acts 4. 11 Lapis erat Christus. And Petra erat Christus, saith St. Paul. 1. Cor. 10. 4 Hee is the Stone of our Sacraments, the water of our Baptisme and of ou • Spirituall drinke: both issue from him. A Ston: first, for his nature, of the earth as Stones are, out of Abrahams Quarry (saith Esay) to shew his Humanity. And, out of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the very lowest parts of the earth (saith the Apostle;Esay 51. 1) to shew his Humility.Ephe. 4. 9. Indeede nothing so subiect to contempt, to be troden on, to be spurned aside, as it. And such was his condition, Vermis, non homo, Psal. 22. 6 and, Lapis, non homo. A Worme, or a stone, and no man.

A Stone will endure much sorrow, nothing more. And, who did euer suffer like Him? or in his suffering, who more patient, or still, or stonelike, then He?

But the chiefe vertue of a Stone is: that it is firme and sure; And so is He. Ye may trust Him, yee may build on Him. Hee will not fayle you. What yee lay on Him, Psalm. 40. 3 is sure. Dauid may haue sure footing,Exo. 17. 12 and rest his feet. Moses, his hands. •• cob, Gen. 28. 11 his head, on this Stone. This, is it hee hat •• his denomination from. Hee that trusts in him▪ nothing,Mat. 16. 18 not the gates of hell, shall preuaile against him. Trustines, with non confundetur, the chiefe vertue of a Stone: of Christ: and of those, that are Headstones by, and vnder him.

But, there are Stone, that lye scattered, that will neither head well, nor bed well, (as they say) not meet, to build withall: meet, for nothing but to hurle, and to doe hurt with. But Christ is a Stone, to doe good with, to build with, Lapis ad aedificationem. And, He loueth not to scatter, or be by himselfe,Prou. 8. 31. His delight is, to be with the Sonnes of men: and to grow with them, into one frame of building.

A Cornerstone. Of al the places in the building, that one speciall place, liketh Him: where the sides meet, there He is. To ioyne together, to make two one, Ephes. 2. 14. He loueth it aboue all, stretching Himselfe, to both walles, that both may rest on Him.

And lastly, Lapis primarius, a Headstone. For, there he should be; there, is his right place, and it will neuer be well with the Building, till He be in that place; till Christ be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Caput, in omni procuratione, The highest and chiefest end of all. This he is, and in the end, This he will be: if not by Men, yet by God.

But now, we haue to doe with Men: and we are to put it to voices, their voices, with whom he liued, what they thinke of Christ, for Caput Anguli. It is returned, Quem reprobauerunt: He is refused. Luke 19. 14. Will yee heare it, from themselues? Nolumus hunc regnare, Wee will not haue him King; not in that place; no Head, in any wise.

But à quibus, Who were these? These were foolish people, Iere. 5. 4. that knew not the vertue or value of a Stone: no heed to be taken what they cry. We will get vs, Iere. 5. 5. with Ieremie, to men of skill; that know, what Stone is for euery place, professed builders, by their trade: But these also, were no better conceited of Him, then the other: for, doe any of the Rulers make any account of him? Ioh. 7. 48. As who say, None of them neither, The very Builders refuse him too.

Wel, we wil make the best of it: It may be, not for the Head: But, there be more places then that: if not allow him there, yet hee may be in some else. Improbauerunt, it may be, but not reprobauerunt: disalowed, but not cast aside quite. We aske then, how farre? Will ye put him vp the second time, and (to see the Quousque, in kinde) will ye put vp Barabbas with him? No • hunc. Iohn 18. 40. sed Barabbam. So it went: That was their verdict. Now, by this time it is reprobauerunt, (as flat as may be) a refuse indeed, and that with a foule indignitie.

But these, were but the vulgar, againe. What say the Builders to this? He, or them, that tooke himselfe for a very Vitruui • s, such a workman, as he said, all the rest vnderstood nothing at all, the Master-builder Caiphas, Ioh. 11. 49. 50. he was flat, Expedit, It was expedient he should die; be cast aside into the heap of rubbish, be put out of the building, cleane. That, is his doome.

Now, lay these two together. To be refused, is not so much; it may be, it is of such, as are ignorant. But, to be refused of Builders, and those the chiefe, is much; for, they are presumed to be skilfull. Againe, to be disliked for the chiefe place, not so much; if not for that, he may bee for another: But, to be vtterly reprobate, (that is,) not refused, for the Head, nor refused for the Corner, but refused simply for any roome at all: not in the tappe, nay not in the bottome; not in the Corner, nay not in any ranke of 〈◊〉 Building: that, is as much as may be. And this, was Christs lot.

Yet this was all but in words, nothing was done to him; But there is, a reprobation, in deed, • nd that is yet far worse. And to that, they pro • eeded, euen to actuall matters, to reall reproba • ion. Before they cast him aside, (this poore Stone,) they hackt and they hewed it, and mangled it pitiously, they shewed their mali •• euen in that,Zach. 3. 9. too. Celauerunt Sculptur am ei • s▪ saith the Prophet, their tooles walked on him, they graued him, and cut him with a witnesse, and made him full of eyes, on euery side. Wh •• skilled that? What disgrace, or what sorrow is done, to a Stone, the Stone feeles it not. The cry, of Non hunc, or the edge of the grauing toole, affect it nothing. True: But he was Lapis viu • s, a liuing Stone, (as Peter calleth him, 1. Pet. 2. 5.) a Stone that had life; life and sense, and 〈◊〉 all: Felt his grauing, the edge and point both▪ felt his despising, the scorne, and malice both▪ (of the twaine; this the more,) but both he 〈◊〉 ▪ When they made furrowes on his backe, Psal. 129. 3. with th • scourges:Matth. 27. 29. when they platted the Crowne 〈◊〉 Thornes, and made it • it close to his head; 〈…〉 digged his hands, Psal. 22. 16. and feet, he felt all. 〈◊〉 endured it patiently, tanquam lapis: but he 〈◊〉 it sensibly, tanquam viuus. Had quicke sense, 〈◊〉 his paine in grauing: had liuely apprehensio • of his contempt in refusing.

And these very two words, (in the Text • Lapidem, and Reprobauerunt, set out vnto 〈◊〉 both parts of his Passion fully; As if, hee 〈◊〉 beene Stone, so layd they on him: As if hee had beene a Reprobate, so powred they all disgrace vpon him. And, euen as a Stone he was in his Passion. For, as the Stones giue against the weather: so, was there not to bee seene vpon him, a bloody sweat? Luke 22. 44. Did he not giue (as it were) of himselfe, against the tempest came? And when it came, was it not so strange, (euen that, which this liuing Stone suffered;) as the dead Stones, that had no life, as if they had had life, and compassion of his case rent in sunder with it?Matth. 27. 51. Lapidem then, is true.

And, for reprobauerunt, that is, as true. For how could they haue entreated a reprobate, worse then they entreated Him? In his thirst, Iohn 19. 29. In his prayer, In the very pangs of death, what words of scorne and spitefull opprobrie?Matth. 27. 47, 49. what deeds of malice and wretched indignitie? Of himselfe, it is said, (and by way of exaggeration,) Hee humbled himselfe to death, Phil. 2. 8. the death of the Crosse: of them, it may be no lesse, Reprobauerunt ad mortem, mortem Crucis, they reiected Him to death, the death of Reprobates, the death, whereunto a Curse is annexed, the death of the Crosse. And, neuer gaue Him ouer, till they brought him,Matth. 27. 60. Lapis ad lapidem, into a graue of Stone, and rolled a Stone vpon him, and there left him. And thus much, for Lapis quem reprobauerunt.

It is the Feast of the Passeouer; We now, passe ouer, to His other estate; His Exaltation, ad Caput Anguli. Were it not strange, the stone should be rolled away, and this Stone should be digged vp againe, and set vp in the Antes, the place most conspicuous, (that is) made a Cornerstone: and that, in the very top, the highest part of all, (that is) made a head-stone? Were not this, a strange Passeouer, from death, to life; from lowest reprobation, to highest approbation; from basest reproach, to greatest glory?

But, seeing builders (we see) may be deceiued, and that in Capite, (as we finde here) and that, though Caiphas be one of them; and a stone may haue wrong; would it not be well, we called to scrutinie againe? Is there any builder yet left, before whom, we may bring the matter? Yes,Hebr. 3. 4. there is. Euery house is built of some 〈◊〉 (saith the Apostle) but hee that is the Builder of all, is GOD. Hee that set vp, this great vaulted worke, of Heauen ouer our heads: that layed the Corner-stone of the earth;Iob 38. 6. Hee is a builder. Psal. 104. 3. But he that layeth his Chamber-beames in the waters; Et appendit terram super nihilum, Iob 26. 7. hangs this great Masse no man knowes vpon what: He that beginneth at the top, and builds downwards, Heauen first, and then Earth: (as hee did) hee passeth all ours, hee is a skilfull builder indeed. Is hee of the same minde? Offer Christ to His probation. He will reprobare reprobantes, cōdemne them, that so refused Him: And all wil turne,1. Pet. 2. 4. quite contrary: Saint Peter saith it. Hee was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 reprobate with men, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , chosen of God: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nothing worth, with them, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 pretious, with him: Meete to bee in the building; Nay no building, meet to be, without him. And in the building, if any part more obiect to the sight, then other: there. And in that, if any place, higher then an other: there. In aedificio, Angulo aedificij, Capite Anguli. In the building, the Corner of the building, the head of the Corner: (that is) in the highest place, of the chiefest part of all. This, hee thought him, and as hee thought him, so he made him: and made him so this day, the day of His Resurrection. Whom they cast downe, God lift vp, from the graue: whom they vilified, he glorified, glorified and made him Caput Anguli, The head of the Corner.

How of the Corner? Anguli. The Corner, is the place, where two walles meet: and there bee many two's, in this Building. The two walles of Nations, Iewes and Gentiles: The two, of Conditions, bond and Free: The two, of Sexe, Male and Female: the great two (which this day we celebrate,) of the Quicke and the Dead: aboue all, the greatest two of all, Heauen and Earth.

The two first meet in Him: There was a partition, but Hee downe with it: Et fecit vtraq •• vnum. Ephes. 2. 14. So that, there is neither 〈◊〉 nor Greeke, Gal. 3. 28. neither bond nor Free, neither Male •• Female, but all one in Christ Iesus: Yea, the Quick • and the Dead, both liue to Him. And all these, so many Combinations, as in the Center, meet in Him: and Hee in the middest of all, drawes all, and knits all, in one holy Faith; one blessed hope of his Comming; one mutuall vnfained loue, towards each other. Ex te Angulus, well said Zacharie. Zach. 10. 4

And as Vnitie,Caput. is in the Angle; so Order, is vnder the Head, As al, one, in Him; so He is Head of all. Head of the lewes, Iesus, in their tongue: Head of the Gentiles, Christ in their tongue: Head of the Church: Col. 1. 18. Head of all Principality and Col. 2. 10. Power. Therefore this day, Christ that died, rose againe, that He might be Lord, both of Quicke and Dead, Rom. 14. 9 And of the great Angle of all,Mat. 28. 18 consisting of Heauen and Earth; for all Power was giuen him in heauen and earth, and Hee made Head of both.

Now then: will ye lay these together? there can come to a stone, no greater dignity, then, there to bee (in the Head.) To any stone; but it is much increased, by that Circumstance, that it is not onely, Lapis, (barely:) but, Lapis quem reprobauerunt, that now is there in the Head: Not any stone, but a stone so refused (as we heard) for such a stone, there to bee; from that Terminus à quo, to come to this Terminus ad quem, from so base an estate, there to bee; that is a great encrease to it. And thirdly, by such a person, a Builder so matchlesse, there to bee: that is yet a degree higher: and this triplicity exalteth much his Exaltation. That by God, and not Gods suffering, but his doing: and that, factum mirabile, his wonderfull doing, it came to pas • e. As indeed, wonderfull it is to see, that which all the world now • eeth: Christ, that for the present, was so strangely deiected: since, to bee so exceedingly glorified: So many knees to bow to Him,Phil. 2. 9. 10 11. so many tongues to confesse Him, His Name to be aboue all Names, heauen and earth to bee full of the Maiesty of his glory.

Now, from these two words, Caput, Anguli: that which we learne morally, is: to make much of the two Vertues, commended to vs, in these two words: Virtus Anguli, and Anguli sub Capite.

First, the vertue of two walles vnited in one Angle, that is, Vnity. For Christ will not bee Caput Maceriae, of a Partie wall, but of an Angle ioyned. Hee is not of their spirit, that so they may be Head, care not, though it be of neuer so broken a wall.

Secondly, not euery Vnitie, but Vnitas ordinata, that hath, or is vnder a Head. For it is not, Cuiusuis Anguli, but Anguli cui Caput: not of euery Angle, but of an Angle, the vnity whereof, is neither in the tayle, nor in the sides, but in the head: That is, commendeth to vs, as Vnitie against Diuision, so Order against Confusion. They that can bee content to corner well, but would bee Acephali, Head-lesse, haue no head, please him not: no more doe they, that would ioine, but would bee Polycephali, haue a Consistory of heads, many heads: as many as the Beast of Babylon. For sure it is, and Angle can haue no more heads but one. To loue an Angle well, but an Angle that hath a head, and but one head. To loue a head well, but a head, not of a single wall, but of an Angle. Bothe these, & both to be regarded.Zach. 11. 7. 10. 14 They bee Zacharies two staues, bands, & beauty, which vphold all gouernment; breake one, and the other will not long be, vnbroken. The head without Vnity: Vnity without the head: either without other will not long hold.

Both then: but especially vnitie, for that commeth in heere, no • necessarily, as doth the head: but extraordinarily. And therefore extraordinary regard, to be had of it. For I was thinking, why hee should heere in this second part, say that Hee was made head of the Corner: Why should it not suffice, to haue said, factus est Caput, and no more? Or if more, factus est Caput Aedificij? to haue said, Hee was made the head: at least wise, made the Head of the whole Building. Why must Anguli be added? What needed any mention of the Corner? no occasion was giuen, no mention was made of it, in his Refusing: The word head, would haue serued • ully, to haue set His Exaltation • oorth. Some matter then there was, that this word must come in. And sure, no other, but to shew, Christ • speciall delight and loue of that place. At his rising,Ioh. 20. 19 this day, Stetit in medio: and heere he is come to his place againe: for Stetit in medio, and Caput Anguli, come both to one. Therefore, that like loue, like speciall regard, bee had by vs, of that place, and of the vertue of that place, (vnitie:) that it be sought and preserued carefully, that the sides flie not off, the well knitting whereof, is the very strength, of the whole Building.

By Bede, it is rendered, as a reason, why the Iewish builders refused our Sauiour Christ, fo • the head place, Quia in vno pariete, stare amabant. They could endure no Corner; they must stand alone, vpon their owne single wall; be of themselues, not ioyne with Gentile, or Samaritane. And Christ they endured not, because they thought, i • hee had beene head, hee would haue inclined that way.Ioh. 10. 16 Alias oues oportet me adducere. Alias, they could not abide. But sure, a purpose there must be alias oues adducendi, of bringing in others: of ioyning a corner, or else we doe not facere secundùm exemplar, Heb. 5. 8 build not according to Christs patterne; our fashion of Fabrique, is not like his. They that thinke, to make Christ head of a Single wall, are deceiued: it will not be: They that say, So the head, all is well, it skils not for the Corner, erre too. Hee is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Corner-stone first, and then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a headstone after. And they that had rather, be a Front in a wall, then in a meaner place sub Lapide Angulari: And they, that stand vpon their owne partition, and will not endure to heare of any ioyning, care not what become of Angulus, if it were stroken out:Phil. 2. 5. the same minde, is not i • them, in neither of them, which was in Christ Iesus. His minde we see. He looks to the Angle, as to the head; and to the head, as to the Angle. And they build best,Luc. 7 35. that build likest him, Wisedome is iustified of all her Children.

And last; the due • y of the whole Second part, and so, this dayes du • ty, is this. When the headstone is brought foorth, and reared, (as to day it was,) we are to prosecute it,Verse 25. 26. with Hosanna, and Benedictus qui venit, (as it straightway followeth in the Psalme) with acclamation of, Grace, Grace vnto it. Zach. 4. 7. For so, (saith the Prophet) Lapis primarius, would be layd, with reioycing. Reioycing: as in His regard, that hath obteined his due: so, euen in the buildings, that hath got such a head; such, and so gracious a head, as could endure, thus to be refused by them: and yet, admit, yea euen those that so refused him, (if the fault be not in themselues) to be Stones in his building, for all that: and to be members of the Body, whereof He is the head.

Then secondly, as God, hath: so we to make him, head. Actually, wee cannot, he is made to our hands: but, in account wee may: Giuing him, the highest place in all our respects; Magnifying his Name, and his Word, aboue all things: his Word, Psal. 138. 2. making it our chiefe ground: his Name, and the Glory of it; making it, our chiefe end. That other considerations cary vs not away, as these builders here it did, of Venient Romani, Ioh. 11. 48. or, I wot not what; but that euer, (as the Heathen Lawyer said) it be, Potior ratio, quae facit pro Religione, the best • eason, that maketh best for Religion, and for the good of the Body of this head (that is,) the peace of His Church. And this, for, Lapis erat Christus.

But,The second sense▪ Dauid. Lapis erat Dauid, is likewise true. Therefore, that we doe King Dauid no wrong, let vs shew, how it fits him too: but briefly, because, this, is not His day. Dauid was a Stone. The Iewes say, it was his nic-name, or name of disgrace; that, in scorne they called him so. For that, all his credit (forsooth) came, by casting a Stone, and hitting Goliah, by chance, right in the forehead: and so, they thwited him with that name. They gaue it him, in scorne: but he bare it, in earnest. For sure, much sorrow he endured: had, that propertie of a Stone. And nothing could remoue him, or make him shrinke, from his Trust in God, or from his Allegiance to Saul his liege lord: that qualitie also.

And, refused he was: not as Christ, we must not looke for that, neither in him, nor in any. God forbid, that any, euer should be so refused, as hee. As Christ: none, but Christ. No: but yet, in his degree refused he was, though. A hard time he had, and many hard termes, and hard vsages he endured, for many yeeres together; pursued, and followed, and should haue bene no head, nay, should haue had no head, if He had bene gotten.

Refused, and by whom? Euen by Saul, all his life time:2. Sam. 2. 8. and when Saul was dead, Abner refused him, and set vp another against him. And when he was out of his Country,1. Sam. 29▪ 4. in Gath, refused there too,1. Sam. 17. 28. by the Princes of Achis. And euen at home, by his own brethren, & fathers house. Yea Samuel himselfe,1. Sam. 16. 6. had giuen it away, (the Head-place) from him, to Eliab, and so refused him; but, for God. And these, went then, for the chiefe builders in Israel, at that time. So, the builders refused him.

But, after all this, all this notwithstanding, this Stone became the head, (that is) Dauid got the Crowne, and was King at last. For, (head) is the Kings Name. So doeth Samuel call the King. 1. Sam. 15. 17. So doeth Esay cap. 7. 4. So doeth Hose. 1. 11. But especially, so Daniel in expresse termes,Chap. 2. 38. Tu es Caput aureum, speaking to the King, Thou art the head of gold.

Head, and of the Corner: that is (as some interpret it) of Iuda, and Israel; But that is thought somewhat hard. For those two, were not two Kingdomes, nor euer so reckoned, till Roboams time. And, what if Dauid, had not happened to haue bene first King of one Tribe, and after, of all; should hee haue lost this name then? Should he not haue bene 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ? Shal no King be Caput Anguli, if he haue but one entire kingdome? Shall not Salomon as well as Dauid? No question but he shall.

The better part therefore thinke good, to giue it that sense, which neuer failes in any State: and which sundry times yee shall finde pointed at by Dauid himselfe, as in theVers. 9. 10 12. 115. before, and in theVer. 19 135. after. Yea euen heere in Ver. 2. 3 this Psalme at the beginning, Dom •• s Israel, and Domus Aaron, the house of Israel, and the house of Aaron; that is, the two estates, Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall, which make the maine Angle, in euery Gouernment. God himselfe hath seuered them, and made these, two: but to meete in one; not one to maligne and consume the other. And, the happie combining of these two, is the strength of the Head, and the strength of the whole Building. If it beare but vpon one of them, it will certainely decay. It did so in Sauls time: He little regarded the Arke, and lesse the Priests. Dauid saw Sauls error, and in his Psalme (where hee singeth▪ Psalm. 75. 3 Ne perdas, to a Commonwealth) promiseth to haue equall care of both pillars, and to vphold them both.

The first Booke of Chronicles, is sufficient to prooue, and perswade any, hee dealt in both, as chiefe ouer both. Not by right of Priest • hood, for none hee had. And that of his Prophesie, is as cold. Others also did the like, Asa, Iosaphat, Ezekias, Iosias, that were no Prophets, nor euer so accounted.

In the Law, (it is Philo's note) both Tables meete in the fifth Commandement, (which is, the Crowne Commandement,) as it were in an Angle; which Commandement, is placed (saith he) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as it were in the middle or confines of both tables, that of Religion; and this other of Iustice Ciuill: That, with the right arme, the Prince may support that, and with the left, this, and so vphold both;Mat. 21. 42 And in the Gospell, Christ applyeth this very verse, to himselfe, as heire of the Vineyard. Heire hee was not, but as King, not as Priest; Hee could not; for of that Tribe hee was not borne but was called to it, Heb. 7. 13. 14. as was Aaron.

Since then, here we finde both, and that Dauid was both, it is no error (I trust) to call a King, Caput Anguli; no more is it, to call him Lapidem primarium, or angularem, choose yee whether. The Persian (by the light of nature) called the King Ahashuerosh (that is) Soueraigne head. The Graecian (by the same light) called the King, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , that is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the base or Corner-stone of his People.

Shall I adde this? This word (Stone) which is heere affirmed, of Dauid, in this verse: is, in the new Testament fiue seuerall times, turned by the Syrian Translator, Cepha: thrice in the three Matt. 21. 42 Mar. 12. 10 Luke 20. 17 Gospels: once in theActs. 4. 11 Acts: and once in1. Pet. 2. 7 Saint Peter. So that hee did not thinke it strange, to • all King Dauid Cephas. So Cepha, as wel said of Dauid, as of Peter. And2. Sam. 5. 2 1. Chro. 11 Zach. 4. 10 Tu pasces, as well said • o Dauid, as Pasce to Peter. And Zorobabel hath • n his hand, the Line, as well a Iosua the high • riest, towards the building of the Temple. The • hing, the duety it selfe, and the bounds of it, let vs • ay foorth and agree of, as we can: but sure, the Name, is not to bee stood on; it cannot bee de • ied Him.

ANd now to our selues:The third sense. His Maiesty to whom, as This is the day which the Lord hath made, touching Christ, and his Resurrection; so is it, likewise, the day, that he hath made the second time, by making •• n it, his Maiestie head of this Kingdome, the ve • y Name whereof, hath affinitie, and carieth an • llusion to the terme, Anguli, in the sound of it.

And, neither were your Maiestie, without your part of refusing, in a kinde: but did partici • ate, somewhat of it, with Dauid, though in a • esse degree. Good and firme and sure, though your Right were as any Stone; yet allegations were studied, to subiect it to question, yea, to re • using. For, did no body euer see, a proiect drawen, wherein some other stone was marked out, to haue beene caput Anguli? Yes, it is 〈◊〉 knowen, T • les were raised, and set on foot, 〈◊〉 Bookes written, to that end.

And, they tooke them selues for no mean • workemen, that were the deuisers of them: tha • both at home and abroad, contriued it anoth •• way: and plotted, to haue put You by, and 〈◊〉 haue had some other Head-stone, of their owne hewing out, in your roome.

Yea, to make your case, yet more like 〈◊〉 Christs case: euen the High Priest, he that clai • meth Caiphas place, He and his crue, had the •• hands in it. We may no lesse truly, say to them, then St. Peter did to Caiphas; Quem vos, Wh •• yee would haue cast aside, if yee might haue 〈◊〉 your willes. And to that end, had your fir •• Breues ready drawen, and sent abroad; and others, in a readinesse, to second them.

Yet for all their Breues, and Buls; this 〈◊〉 is the Head, for all that. Factus, made he is, and▪ made by God: For à Domino, Gods doing it wa •• euidently, that after so much plotting, so many yeeres together; at the very time, God bow •• the harts, of so many thousands, as it had be •• the heart of one man, to agree in one: as th •• all that foresaw it, thought it had not bee •• 〈◊〉 ; and all that saw it confessed it admirable; and all men said, Psal. 64. 9. This hath God done: for they saw euidently, It was his worke.

The head, You were then made: and head, not of One Angle, as You were before (for Caput Anguli, I hold a King to be, though he haue but one Kingdome) but Caput Trianguli, Head now of three, euen of a whole Triangle. So their titles were dashed, their plots disappointed, and all their deuises,Esa. 29. 16. as the Potters clay. Yours it was of right, and God hath brought You to it: So it is; and our eyes doe see it, and our hearts ioy in it, and our tongues blesse God for it; and here we are, this day, with all praise and thankes to acknowledge it, that so it is. It is a part of this Dayes duetie, that so we should acknowledge it, and giue him thankes for it, that brought it to passe.

And, may I not further, put you in minde, of another making yet? And it is not impertinent neither: to this day, especially. For, after the first making or placing: looke, how many after attempts are made, to vnmake or displace the Head-stone againe; so many times, as it is heaued at, to that ende; and those attempts defeated: so many new placings, so many new makings, are wee to reckon of 〈◊〉 was made Head, not onely when Soul, and •• ner sought to put Him downe, and were put downe themselues; which was, before he came to the Crowne: but, euen after he had it, & had worne it long, when Absalon and Sheba refused Him (being their head,) & cried,2. Sam. 20. 1. No part in Dauid, and so, sought to set him besids the Throne▪

And builders there wanted not in that designe, Absalon had15. 31. Achitophel, and9. 30. Amasa▪ two as principall Master-builders, as then were any. When God brought Dauid backe to his Seat againe, and deliuered Him from them, that sought to remooue Him from it: He did as good, as place Him in it, anew. Dauid himselfe saith so, before (at the 13. Verse.) Hee 〈◊〉 shrewdly lifted at, and ready to turne ouer: but God stayed him, and set him right, in his Seate again • . And in very deed, the Verse next before (the 21.) where he saith, God had heard him, and was become his deliuerer, make the writers to thinke▪ this Psalme was endited rather for this Second▪ then for His first placing.

Now, a like Second making, we may well remember: and we cannot doe it better, then vpon this day. This day (as we shall see) hath an interest in it. That, since Your setting in the Seat of this Kingdome, Some there were, builders one would haue taken them to be, if hee had seene them, with their tooles in their hands, as if they had bene to haue layed some foundation; where their meaning was, to vndermine; and to cast downe foundations and all: yea to haue made a right Stone of you, and blowne you vp among the Stones, you, and yours, without any more adoe.

And, Master builders they had amongst them, (so they wil needs be accounted) that encouraged their hearts, and strengthened their hands, to the worke. And that, they might do, there was no Seale to hinder it: But disclose it, that they might not, for feare of breaking a Seale: there was a Seale for that. And thus did they aedificare ad gehennam: edifie their followers to Helward, to set them forward andActs. 1. 25. send them to their owne place. That Day, which God •• ndid that wretched designe, and brought their mischiefe vpon their owne heads, That Day, did GOD make you Caput trianguli, the second time. That Day, that He brought you backe (if not from death it selfe, yet) frō deaths doore, • rom the very gates of destruction, That Day, was a very Easter day to You, though it were in Nouember. Heb. 11. 19. And 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 after a sort, a very Resurrection: as very a resurrection, as Isaacks was, which the Apostle there speaketh of: That Day, the destroying Angel, (I am sure) past ouer You, and so, it was truely the Feast of the Passeouer. Fit therefore to be remembred this day, Hic est Dies, This is the day of the Passeouer, This is Easter day, the day of the Resurrection.

But, to returne to the first making of all. By the true course of the yeere, this Moneth being the very Moneth, this day being the very day, of that, of the first laying this Head-stone: Wee are, (as before in Christo Domino, so againe here) in Christo Domini, to prosecute it with Dauids cry of Hosanna, and Benedictus: and with Zacharies acclamation, of Grace, Grace vnto it, euen to this Head-stone. Grace, in His eyes that so made you: And againe, Grace, in their eyes and hearts to whom hee so made you: But aboue all, the Grace of all Graces, that you may make him euer your 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , your stone of 1. Sam. 7. 12. chiefe trust, and your 20. 19. marke of highest regard in al • your Counsels and purposes, that so made you: And, seeke to reduce the disiecta latera, the sides and walles flyen off, of this great Building (for which the world it selfe was built) His Church; and reduce them to one Angle: the greatest seruice, that can bee done him, on earth.

And so: he that, this day made You the Head: so make You, and so keepe You long, and many dayes. Hee that refused, them that refused You, (refused them, with reprobation,) still may he so doe, toties quoties, to their continual co • fusion; That, the Head ouer the Triangle; and the Triangle vnder the Head, may many yeeres stand fast, and flourish; in all peace, plenty and prosperity, health, honour, and happinesse. And, after all: Hee that hath crowned You heere, with two Crownes, already; crowned You also with the third, of Glory, and Immortali • ie, in his Heauenly Kingdome▪

I haue now done. Onely I would moue one thi • g, and it shall agree well, with that hath bene said of the Corner-stone: and it shall serue to further our duety of thankes, and be a good closing vp of the whole. Many waies, was Christ our blessed Sauiour a Corner-stone: among others, especially in this, saith St. Hieron. Quando agnum, cum pane coniunxit, • iniens vnum, inchoans alterum, vtrumque perficiens in semetipso. One chiefe Corner point of his, was: when hee ioyned, the Lambe of the Passeouer, and the Bread of the Eucharist: ending the one, and beginning the other, recapitulating both Lambe and bread into himself: making that Sacrament (by the very institution of it) to bee, as it were, the very Corner-stone of both the Testaments.

No act then, more fit for this Feast, (the Feast of the Passeouer,) then, that act, which is it selfe the passage ouer, from the old Testament to the new. No way better, to expresse our thankes, for this Corner-stone, then by the holy Eucharist, which it selfe is, the Cornerstone, of the Law, and the Gospell.

And, there is in it a perfect representation of the substance, of this verse and Text, set before our eies: wherein, two poore Elements of no great value in themselues, but, that they might well bee refused: are exalted by God, to the estate of a Diuine Mysterie, euen of the highest Mysterie in the Church of Christ.

And, a kinde of resurrection there is in them, and therefore fit for the day of the Resurrection, (as euer in Christs Church, Easter day, hath pleaded a speciall propertie in them) Sowen, as it were,1. Cor. 15. 43. in weakenes and dishonor: and (after they be consecrated,) rysing againe, in honor & power.

And that, a great honour and power: not only to represent, but to exhibite that it representeth; nor to set before vs, or remember vs of; but euen to serue vs for a Corner-stone: first, vniting vs to Christ the Head, whereby wee grow into one frame of Building, into one body mysticall, with Him. And againe, vniting vs also, as liuing stones, or liuely members, omnes in idipsum, one to another, & altogether in one, by mutuall loue and charitie.Ioh. 6. 56 Qui comedit de hoc Pane, & bibit de hoc Calice, manet in me, & ego in illo. Hee that eateth of this Bread, and drinketh of this Cup, abideth in me, and I in him. There is our Corner with Him.1. Cor. 10. 17. And againe, Vnum corpus omnes sumus, qui de vno Pane participamus. All we, that partake one Bread, or Cup, growe all, into one Body mysticall. There is our Corner, either with other. By the same meanes, expressing our thankes for it, and by the same, possessing our selues of it; sealing vp both waies our duty to GOD, for making CHRIST the LORD, our greatest and chiefest: and for making his Anointed this day, vnder him, either in their seuerall degrees, our 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 our chiefe, or head Corner-stone. For which, together with all other his benefits, but specially, as the time calleth to vs, for these two, [Christs rysing] and [Our Soueraignes raysing to his Royall place,] render we, as we are bound, to GOD the FATHER, &c.