Now it is here promised that Christ would build His Church
CHURCH
1. THE RoyAL CHARTER
PON THE occasion of Peter's great confession (Matt. xvt. | 16) made of Christ, which is the Church's homage and allegiance, Jesus signed and published this royal, this divine charter, by which the body politic is incorporated. Such is the communion between Christ and His Church, the Bridegroom and the spouse. God had a church in the world from the beginning, and it was built upon the rock of the promised seed (Gen. iii. 15). But now that that promised seed was come it was necessary that the Church should have a new charter, a Christian one, and standing in relation to a Christ who had already come.
Now here we have that charter. A thousand pities it is that this Word, which is the great support of the kingdom of Christ, should be wrested and pressed into the service of Antichrist.
This charter establishes the being of the Church: "I say also unto thee.'"' It is Christ who makes the grant. He is the Church's head and ruler, to whom all judgment is committed and from whom all power is derived. The grant is put into Peter's hand: "I say it to thee."" The Old Testament promises relating to the Church were given immediately to particular persons, eminent for faith and holiness, as to Abraham and David. This did not give them any supremacy, much less to any of their successors. So the New Testament charter is here delivered to Peter as an agent, but to the use and behalf of the Church in all ages, according to the purposes therein specified and contained.
2. THE PERMANENT FOUNDATION Now it is here promised that Christ would build His Church upon a rock. This body politic is incorporated by the style and title of Christ's Church. It is a number of the children of men called out of the world, and set apart from it, and dedicated to Christ. It is not thy Church, but mine. Peter