Saints Compared to Stones

    SAINTS COMPARED TO STONES

    "Ye also as lively Stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood," &c. 1Pe 2:5.

    THE Saints of God are compared to Stones, to the stones of a building, &c.

    PARALLELS.

    I. SOME Stones that men build with, are very rough and rocky as they are taken out of the quarry, and therefore need much hewing and squaring, before they are fit for the building: so naturally the hearts of sinners are rocky, and like rough Stones; and to this the Lord alludes, "I have hewed them by the prophets," Ho 6:5; ministers are God's tools, by which he does his work upon men's hearts.

    II. Stones are fit materials to build a house withal: so God sees believers are the only fit materials to build his spiritual house.

    III. Stones in a building are well knit and united together: so should the Saints in love, &c.

    IV. Stones are durable; so are the Saints.

    DISPARITY

    I. No builder builds his house with precious Stones: but believers are called precious Stones. This notes the richness and excellency of the spiritual buildings: "Now if any build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones," &c. 1Co 3:12.

    II. No earthly Stones have life in them; they are not living but dead Stones; but the Saints are living Stones, being quickened and made alive by Jesus Christ, that so there may be a fit resemblance or similitude between the Stones and the foundation, Eph 2:1. See foundation, p. 445, and Christ the corner-stone, p. 450, 451.