XVIII. CORNER STONE.

'Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold! I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.'

Isa. xxviii. 16.

THIS appellation is found in three instances where our Lord is evidently intended. Other equivalent expressions, however, are employed: such as the head of the corner,' 'a sure foundation.' We find the words corner stone, in the singular, and in the plural, once each, but then having reference entirely to other subjects, wholly foreign to our present purpose.*

Respecting this appellation, Dr. Clarke presents the following pertinent remarks:-'This is the same as the foundation stone; and it is called here the chief corner stone, because it is laid in the foundation, at the angle of the building, where its two sides form the ground-work of a side and end wall. And this might probably be designed to show that in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles were to be united: and this is probably the reason why it was called a stone of stumbling and rock of offence; for nothing stumbled, nothing offended the Jews so much as the calling of the Gentiles into the church of God, and admitting them to the same privileges which had been before peculiar to the Jews.'t

*Job xxxviii. 6. Psa. cxliv. 12.

† Com. on 1 Pet. ii. 6.

There would seem to be no essential difference between this title and that of 'Foundation.' True, the architect would tell us that the corner stone is but a small part, while the foundation comprises the whole base of the building. But then it should be remembered that the sacred writers were not governed by rules of rhetoric, nor by the principles of science. They had one great, broad, everlasting theme. This filled their whole minds, and often did they find all human language inadequate to the task of portraying the glories of God and the Redeemer. Witness the fervency of the prophet: 'Wo is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.'* We find the apostle also expressing his inability to give an idea of the glories which he saw. He 'heard,' he says, 'unspeakable words which it was not lawful for man to utter.' We find the sacred writers every where laying hold of every argument and metaphor that could be reached to support and illustrate the grand scheme of man's redemption. They distinguish this stone by the choicest appellations: 'chief,' 'precious,' 'living,' 'elect,' 'tried.' The prophets and apostles and early Christians are represented as engaged in this great building of which Jesus was the corner stone, The metaphor is even carried out till we find the whole human race included within its ample dimensions. It is pleasing to a benevolent mind to learn the various ways employed. by the inspired writers to prove the doctrine of the ultimate reign of purity and happiness. Sometimes * Isa. vi. 5. † 2 Cor. xii. 4.

it is stated in the plainest language, then we find it beautifully veiled in some striking metaphor. Sometimes it is proved from the whole character of God; then again from a single attribute; then from the universal spread of knowledge; then from the benevolent character of Christ. Indeed, heaven and earth. seem to have been ranged for illustrations of this great truth.

But this corner stone was rejected; yet it was a 'tried,' 'precious,' 'living stone.' There were several reasons for this rejection by the Jewish nation. It is not uncommon for the wisdom of this world to reject those whom God sends for a blessing. Hence the hard fate of reformers. Man is glad to receive blessings, but then they must come in a way that meets his low and sordid views. He prefers a system of religion invented by himself. Hence he 'forsakes the fountain of living waters, and hews out cisterns,' but alas ! they are like those who make them, 'broken cisterns that can hold no water.'

1. The ancient Hebrews undoubtedly had at first clear notions of the Messiah, but these were gradually depraved, so that when Jesus appeared in Judea, false conceptions were entertained, insomuch that the Jews. expected a temporal monarch and conqueror who should remove the Roman yoke and subject the whole world. Hence, they were displeased at the outward appearance, the humility and seeming weakness of the Saviour. Hence, they stumbled at that stumbling stone.' But 'have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now, if the fall of them be

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the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness ?'*

2. This corner stone was laid as the commencement of a new religion, which in its essential features differed from any that had been established. The whole Mosaic dispensation was a mere introduction. Jesus designed to overthrow this and idolatry, and every other scheme of religion that could be set up among men. It might reasonably be expected that the Jews would reject any one who should contradict their notions of religion. They saw the corner stone laid in Zion, and it was but too evident that the dispensation which they had been taught to reverence would soon pass away, and in its stead would appear another religion, more spiritual in its nature, and more strict in its requisitions of moral purity.

3. The truth was gradually unfolded to the Jewish nation that their various privileges were to cease; that now salvation was to be extended to the Gentiles. 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.'t Jesus was 'to break down the middle wall of partition,' 'making in himself of twain, one new man, so making peace, that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross.' The Gentiles were, 'therefore, no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner

*Rom. xi. 11, 12.

† Gal. iii. 28.

stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord.'* Nothing could be more abhorrent to the feelings of a Jew than an extension of spiritual favors to the Gentile world. He had been accustomed from early life to view all other nations as beyond the notice and favor of his God. In this new building of which the Messiah was the corner stone, he perceives that all are to be gathered in. We may, therefore, not be surprised at the rejection of such a Founder, and such a doctrine. It was but acting in accordance with his narrow views and selfish principles.

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given to a nation

And whosoever

'The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.' The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and bringing forth the fruits thereof. shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.'† Such were the declarations of Jesus to the unfaithful husbandmen, by whom he designed to represent the Jewish nation. They fell on this stone, and afterwards it fell on them in the entire overthrow of all their institutions, their temple, their religion and their country. So heavy were these judgments that they were indeed 'ground to powder.' This stone will remain firm in the building of Zion, for God himself has laid it. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with † Matt. xxi. 42-44.

Ephes. ii. 14—21.