of going further. But here there arises another question. Yesterday2969 I insisted2970 at some
length on the truth which is in the Apostles; how then do we find any “pretence” in the Lord
Himself? Therefore, Brethren, I must tell you, and teach you according to my poor abilities,
which the Lord giveth me for your benefit, and must convey to you what ye may hold as a
rule2971 in the interpretation of all Scripture. Everything that is said or done is to be under-
stood either in its literal signification, or else it signifies something figuratively; or at least
contains both of these at once, both its own literal interpretation,2972 and a figurative signi-
fication also. Thus I have set forth three things, examples of them must now be given; and
from whence, but from the Holy Scriptures? It is said in its literal acceptation, that the Lord
suffered, that He rose again, and ascended into heaven; that we shall rise again at the end
of the world, that we shall reign with Him for ever, if we do not despise Him. Take all this
as spoken literally, and look not out for figures; as it is expressed, so it really is. And so also
with divers actions. The Apostle went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, the Apostle actually did
this, it actually took place, it was an action peculiar to himself. It is a fact which he tells you;
a simple fact according to its literal meaning. “The stone which the builders refused, is become
the Head of the corner,”2973 is spoken in a figure. If we take “the stone” literally, what “stone
did the builders refuse, which became the Head of the corner”? If we take “the stone” literally,
of what corner is this “stone” become the Head? If we admit that it was figuratively expressed,
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and take it figuratively, the Corner-stone is Christ: the head of the corner, is the Head of
the Church. Why is the Church the Corner? Because she has called the Jews from one side,
and the Gentiles from another, and these two walls as it were coming from different quarters,
and meeting together in one, she has bound together by the grace of her peace. For, “He is
our peace, who hath made both one.”2974
5. Ye have heard instances of a literal expression, and a literal action, and of a figurative
expression; ye are waiting for an instance of a figurative action. There are many such, but
meanwhile, as is suggested by this mention of the corner-stone, when Jacob anointed the
stone which he had placed at his head as he slept, and in his sleep saw a mysterious2975
dream, ladders rising from the earth to heaven, and Angels ascending and descending, and
the Lord standing upon the ladder,2976 he understood what it was designed to figure, and
2969 Probably in that Sermon which is marked as next before this in Posidonius’ Catalogue, ch. 9, namely,
“From the Epistle to the Galatians, where Paul reproved Peter.” Ben ed. note.
2970 Commendavimus.
2971 Regulariter.
2972 Cognitionem.
2973 Matt. xxi. 42; Ps. cxviii. 22.
2974 Eph. ii. 14.
2975 Magnum.
2976 Gen. xxviii. 11, etc.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxi. 19, where Jesus dried up the fig-tree;…