The text concludes, _They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain_, _saith the Lord_.—This was renewed in the New Testament, _Nothing shall by any means hurt you_. And, in fact, nothing can eventually hurt the Church; sin cannot, as it is atoned for—the guilt of it is gone—the love of it is removed as the love of Jesus comes into the mind; and the power and dominion of it is removed by almighty Grace, _the stronger than the strong man armed_—the Law cannot, because it is well satisfied with the Obedience of the adorable Surety—Satan cannot; frighten he may, but cannot touch them to their injury, for his very temptations make us hate him the more—Our own inbred corruptions cannot hurt us; they are more trying to us, the more we loath them and abhor ourselves, as vile in God’s sight—the World cannot, as it is overcome for us, and the Faith God has given will overcome it in us. Pharisees, Hypocrites, and Impostors, with their damnable errors cannot, though they may cause us much trouble. Yet this will furnish us with much matter for Prayer and fear: these things will drive us nearer to God—nor can poverty, pain, reproach, or sorrow do it, for these shew us this is not our rest, it is polluted; and all these work together for good, as sure as we are the called, according to his Plan. These can neither hurt nor destroy one bud of hope, or faith, or desire, or affection, either to God or his truth. Nor can they destroy the soul, God loves it too well, and Jesus has paid too great a price to permit it to be lost. Besides, it is the temple of the holy and eternal Spirit; who then can destroy it?
The Church is called _God’s holy Mountain_—typified by _Mount Sion_, firmly settled in the eternal love, and everlasting purposes of Grace. Conspicuous and useful in the world, and which, as a great Mountain, shall fill the whole earth in the latter day. They are called a holy people; the Lord Jesus Christ is their holiness before God, _Ye are compleat in him_, _who of God is made unto us Sanctification_. Secondly, All their holiness is received from him, as the High Priest of their profession; anointed, and taught by him, as a Prophet; they obey his commands, as a King; this constitutes them holy, as their faith embraced the atonement and righteousness of Christ; the holy Spirit’s gracious inhabitation leads them to love and delight in God, his ways, his truth, his people, and his ordinances; having grace given to walk in wisdom to them that are without: this is real holiness, nothing short of this is scriptural holiness, and this is the Work of God; this proves our union to the Saviour, and this is our meetness for glory, and _such honor have all the Saints_.