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, 391 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. 815 On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxi. 19, where Jesus dried up the fig-tree;…