King. 3.1 Chap. 6.1 2 Chro. 5.1 13. Chap. 7.2 The first house namely that which we have been speaking of was a type of the Church militant and the place most holy a type of the Church triumphant I say of the Church triumphant as it is now So then The house standing of these two parts was a shadow of the Church both in Heaven and Earth And for that they are joyned together by one and the same foundation it was to shew that they above and we below are yet one and the self-same house of God. Hence they and we together are called The whole Family in Heaven and Earth Ephes. 3.14 15. And hence it is said again that we who believe on Earth are come to Mount Zion to the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an invincible company of Angels To the general Assembly and Church of the first born which are writen in Heaven and to the Spirits of just men made perfect and to God the Judge of all and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Heb. 12.22 23 24. The difference then betwixt us and them is not that we are really two but one body in Christ in divers places True we are below stairs and they above they in their holy-day and we in our working-day cloaths they in harbour but we in the storm they at rest and we in the Wilderness They singing as crowned with Joy we crying as crowned with thorns But I I say we are all of one house one family and are all the Children of one father This therefore we must not forget lest we debar our selves of much of that which otherwise while here we have a right unto Let us therefore I say remember that the Temple of God is but one though divided as one may say into Kitchin and Hall above stairs and below or holy and most holy place For it stands upon the same foundation and is called but one the Temple of God which is builded upon the Lord our Saviour I told you before that none of old could go into the most holy but by the holy place even by the Vail that made the Partition between Exod. 26.33 Levit. 16 2 12 15. Heb. 9.7 8. chap 10.19 Wherefore they are deceived that think to go into the holiest which is Heaven when they did who yet abandon and hate the holy place while they live Nay Sirs The way into the holiest is thorow the holy place the way into Heaven is thorow the Church on Earth for that Christ is there by his Word to be received by faith before he can by us in Person be received in the beatical Vision The Church on Earth is as the house of the Women spoken of in the Book of Esther where we must be dieted perfumed and made fit to go into the Bridegroom's Chamber or as Paul says made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light Esth. 2. Col. 1.12 LVI Of the Holiest or Inner Temple THE most holy place was as I said a Figure of Heaven it self consequently a type of that where the most special presence of God is and where his face is most clearly seen and the gladness of his countenance most enjoyed Heb. 9.23 24. Exod. 25.22 Numb 7.89 The most holy place was dark it had no Windows in it though there was such round the Chambers the more special presence of God too on Mount Sina was in the thick Darkness there 1 King. 8.12 2 Chro. 6.1 Exod. 1â— 9 chap. 20.21 1. This Holiest therefore being thus made was to shew that God as in Heaven to us on Earth is altogether invisible and not to be reached otherwise than by Faith. For I say in that this House had no Windows nothing therein could be seen by the highest light of this World. Things there were only seen by the light of the fire of the Altar which was a type of the shinings of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 2. chap. And hence it is said notwithstanding this darkness He dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto none but the High Priest Christ 1 Tim. 6.16 1 Pet. 3.21 22. 2. The Holiest therefore was thus built to shew how different our state in Heaven will be from this our state on Earth We walk here by one light by the light of a written word For that is now a light to our feet and Lanthorn to our Path. But that place where there will be no written Word nor Ordinances as here will yet to us shine more light and clear then if all the lights that are in the World were put together to light one Man For God is light and in him is no darkness at all 1 Joh. 1.5 And in his light and in the light of the Lamb immediately we shall live and walk and rejoyce all the days of Eternity 3. This also was ordained thus to shew that we while in the first Temple should live by faith as to what there was or as to what was done in the second Hence 't is said as to that we walk by faith not by sight 2 Cor. 5.6 7 8. The things that are there we are told of even of the Ark of the Testimony and Mercy-Seat and the Cherubims of glory and the presence of Christ and of God we are I say told of them by the Word and believe and are taken therewith and hope to go to them hereafter but otherwise we see them not Therefore we are said to look not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen for the things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal 2 Cor. 4.18 4. The People of old were not to look into the Holiest lest they died Numb 17.13 save only their High Priest he might go into it To shew that we while here must have a care of vain speculations for there is nothing to be seen by us while here in Heaven otherwise then by faith in God's eternal Testament True we may now come to the Holiest even as nigh as the first Temple will admit us to come but it must be by blood and faith not by vain imagination sence or carnal reason 5. This Holiest of all was four square every way both as to height length and breadth To be thus is a note of perfection as I have shewed elsewhere wherefore it was on purpose thus built to shew us that all fulness of blessedness is there both as to the nature degree and duration So when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13.8 9 10. Heb. 10.19 20 21 22. LVII Of the Vail of the Temple THE Vail of the Temple was a Hanging made of blue and purple and crimson and fine linnen and there were Cherubins wrought thereon Exod. 26.31 32. 1. This Vail was one partition 'twixt the
the uprightness of their hearts the other of the good savour of their lives The upright shall dwell in thy presence and to him that ordereth his conversation aright I will shew the salvation of God Psal. 140.13 Psal. 50. ult 9. Thus sweet in Earth sweet in Heaven And he that yields the fruit of the Gospel here shall find it for himself and his Eternal Comfort at the Gates of Glory 10. All these were over-laid with gold as you may say and so they were at the Door of the first House True but observe here we have an addition Here is gold upon gold Gold laid on them and then gold spread upon that He over-laid them with gold and then spread gold upon them The Lord gives grace and glory Psal. 84.11 Gold and gold Gold spread upon gold Grace is gold in the leaf and glory is gold in plates Grace is thin gold glory is gold that is thick Here is gold layed on and gold spread upon that And that both upon the Palm-trees and the Cherubims Gold upon the Palm trees that 's on the Saints Gold upon the Cherubims that 's upon the Angels For I doubt not but that the Angels themselves shall receive Additional Glory for the Service which they have served Christ and his Church on Earth 11. The Angels are GOD's Harvest-men and doubtless he will give them good Wages even Glory upon their Glory then Matt. 13.38 39. Chap. 24.31 Joh. 4.36 12. You know Harvest men use to be pay'd well for gathering in the Corn and I doubt not but so shall these when the great Ingathering is over But what an enterance into Life is here Here is gold upon gold at the Door at our first step into the Kingdom LIX Of the Golden Nails of the Inner-Temple I Shall not concern my self with all the Nails of the Temple as of those made of Iron c. 1 Chron. 22.3 but only with the Golden ones of which you read 2 Chron. 3.4 where he saith And the weight of the nails was fifty Shekels of Gold These Nails as I conceive were all fastned to the place most Holy and of form most apt to that of which they were a Figure 1. Some of them represented Christ Jesus our Lord as fixed in his Mediatory Office in the Heavens wherefore in one place when the Holy Ghost speaks of Christ as he sprang from Judah to be a Mediator saith Out of him came the Corner the Corner-stone out of him the Nails Zech. 10.4 Now since he is here compared to a Nail a golden Nail it is to shew that as a Nail by driving is fixed in his place so Christ by God's Oath is made an everlasting Priest Heb. 7.25 Therefore as he saith again The Nail the Aaronical Priesthood that was fastned in a sure place should be removed be cut down and fall So he who has the Key of David which is Christ Revel 3.7 shall by God as a Nail be fastned in a sure place and abide therefore he says again And he shall be for a glorious Throne or Mercy-seat to his Fathers House And moreover That they shall hang on him as on a Nail all the Glory of his Fathers House the Off-spring and the Issue all Vessels of small quantity from the Vessels of Cups even to the Vessels of Flagons According to that which is written And they sang a new Song to the Lamb that was slain saying Thou art worthy c. Isai. 22.20 22 23 24 25. Rev. 5.9 12. And therefore it is again that Christ under the similitude of a Nail is accounted by Saints indeed their great Pledge or Hope as he is in Heaven of their certain coming thither Hence they said of old God has given us a Nail in his holy place A Nail says the Line a Pin a constant and sure abode says the Margin Ezra 9.8 Now this Nail in his holy place as was shewed before is Christ Christ as possest of Heaven and as abiding and ever living therein for us Hence he is called as there our Head our Life and our Salvation and also we are said there to be set down together in him Ephes. 1. ult Col. 3.3 Ephes. 2.5 6. 2. Some of these Nailes were types of the holy words of God which for ever are setled in Heaven Types I say of their Yea and Amen Hence Solomon in another place compares the Words of the wise God To goads and nailes fastned by the Masters of the Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd Eccles. 12.11 They are called Goads because as such prick the Oxen on in their drawing so God's Words prick Christians on in their Holy Duties They are called Nailes to shew that as Nails when fastned well in a sure place are not easily removed So God's Words by his will stand firm for ever The Masters of the Assemblies are firstly the Apostles The one Shepherd is Jesus Christ. Hence the Gospel of Christ is said to be everlasting to abide for ever and to be more stedfast than Heaven and Earth Isa. 40.6 7 8. 1 Pet. 1.24 25. Heb. 13 20. Revel 14.6 Matt. 24.35 The Lord Jesus then and his Holy Words are the Golden Nailes of the Temple and the fixing of these Nails in the Temple was to shew that Christ is the same to day yesterday and for ever and that his words abide and remain the same for ever and ever He then that hath Christ has a Nail in the Holiest he that hath a promise of Salvation hath also a Nail in Heaven a Golden Nail in Heaven LX. Of the Floor and Walls of the inner Temple 1. THE Floor of the Oracle was overlaid with Cedar and so also was the Walls of this House He built twenty Cubits on the sides of the House both the Floor and the Walls with boards of Cedar He even built for it within for the Oracle for the most holy place 1 King. 16. 2. In that he doth tell us with what it was cieled and doth also thus repeat saying for the Oracle for it within even for the most holy place it is because he would have it noted that this only is the place that thus was done 3. Twenty Cubits that was the length and breadth and height of the House So that by his thus saying he teacheth that thus it was builded round about 4. The Cedar is if I mistake not the highest of the Trees Ezek. 31.3 4 5 6 7 8. Now in that it is said the House the Oracle was cieled round about therewith It may be to shew that in Heaven and no where else is the height of all perfections Perfection is in the Church on Earth but not such as is in Heaven 1. There is a natural perfection and so a Peny is as natural Silver as is a Shilling 2. There is a comparative perfection and so one thing may be perfect and imperfect at the same time as a half Crown is more than a Shilling yet less than a Crown 3. There is
also that which we call the utmost perfection and that is it which cannot be added to or taken from him and so God only is perfect Now heavenly glory is that which goes beyond all perfection on the Earth as the Cedar goes beyond all Trees for height Hence God when he speaks of his own excellency sets it forth by its height The high God the most high and the high and lofty one and the highest Psal. 97.9 Psal. 138.6 Gen. 14.19 20 21. Dan. 3.21 Chap. 5.18 Psal. 18.13 Psal. 85.7 Luk. 1.32 Chap. 6.35 Isa. 57.15 Psal 9.2 Psal. 56 2. Psal. 92 1. Isa. 14.14 These terms also are ascribed to this House for that it was the place where utmost perfection dwelt I take therefore the Cedar in this place to be a note of perfection even the Cedar with which this House was cieled For since it is the Wisdom of God to speak to us oft-times by Trees Gold Silver Stones Beasts Fowls Fishes Spiders Ants Frogs Flies Lice Dust c. and here by Wood how should we by them understand his Voice if we count there is no meaning in them And the Cedar of the house within was carved with knops and flowers all was Cedar There was no stone seen 1 King. 9.18 Knops and Flowers were they with which the Golden Candlestick was adorned as you read Exod. 25.33 35. Chap. 37.19 21. The Candlestick was a type of the Church and the Knops and Flowers a type of her Ornaments But what Must Heaven be hanged round about with the Ornaments of Saints with the fruits of their graces Well it is certain that something more than ordinary must be done with them since they are admitted to follow them into the holy place Revel 14.13 And since 't is said they shall have a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory bestowed on them for them in the Heavens 2 Cor. 4.16 17. All was Cedar there was no stone seen Take stone in the type for that which was really so and in the antitype for that which is so mystically and then it may import to us that in Heaven the antitype of this holiest there shall never be any thing of hardness of heart in them that possess it for ever All imperfection ariseth from the badness of the heart but there will be no bad hearts in glory No shortness in knowledge no crosness of disposition no workings of lusts or corruptions will be there no not thoroughout the whole Heavens Here alas they are seen and that in the best of Saints because here our light is mixt with darkness but there will be no night there nor any stone seen And the Floor of the House was over-laid with gold 1 King. 6.30 This is like that of which we read of the new Jerusalem that is to come from God out of Heaven says the Text The street of the City was pure Gold and like that of which you read in Exodus They saw under the feet of the God of Israel as it were a paved work of a Saphire stone and as it were the body of Heaven in its clearness Revel 21.21 Exod. 24.10 All the Visions were rich but this the richest that the Floor of the House should be covered or overlaid with Gold. The Floor and Street are walking Places and how rich will our steps be then Alas here we sometimes step into the Mire and then again stumble upon blocks and stones Here we sometimes fall into holes and have our heel oft catcht in a snare but there will be none of these Gold gold all will be gold and golden perfections when we come into the holy place Job at best took but his steps in butter but we then shall take all our steps in the Gold of the Sanctuary LXI Of the Ark of the Covenant which was placed in the inner Temple IN the Word I read of three Arks to wit Noah's Ark That in which Moses was hid and the ARK of the Covenant of God Gen. 6.14 Exod. 2.3 5. But it is the Ark of the Covenant of which I shall now speak The Ark was made of Shittim Wood two Cubits and an half was the length thereof and a Cubit and an half the breadth thereof and a Cubit and an half the height thereof It was over-laid with pure gold within and without and a Crown of gold was made for it round about Exod. 25.10 11. 1. This Ark was called the Ark of the Covenant as the first that you read of was called Noah's because as he in THAT was kept from being drowned So the Tables of the Covenant was kept in this from breaking 2. This Ark in this was a type of Christ. For that in him only and not in the hand of Moses these Tables were kept whole Moses brake them the Ark keeps them 3. Not only that wrote on two Tables of Stone but that also called the Ceremonial was put into the Ark to be kept The two Tables were put into the midst of the Ark to answer to this Thy Law is within my heart to do it But the Ceremonial was put into the SIDE of the Ark to shew that out of the side of Christ must come that which must answer that For out thence came blood and water Blood to answer the blood of the Ceremonies and water to answer the Purifyings and Rinsings of that Law. The Ceremonies therefore were lodged in the side of the Ark to shew that they should be answered out of the side of Jesus Christ Exod. 25.16 17. Deut. 10.5 Chap. 31.26 Psal. 40.8 Joh. 19.34 Heb. 10.7 4. The Ark had the Name of God put upon it yea it was called the strength of God and his glory though made of Wood. And Christ is God both in Name and Nature though made flesh yea more made to be sin for us 2 Sam. 6.2 2 Chro. 6.14 Chap. 13.6 Joh. 1.14 Rom. 9.5 2 Cor. 5 21. 5. The Ark vvas carried upon Mens shoulders this vvay and that to shevv how Christ should be carried and preached by his Apostles and Ministers into all parts of the World Exod. 25.14 1 Chro. 15.15 Matt. 28.19 20. Luk. 24.46 47. 6. The Ark had those Testimonies of God's presence accompanying it as had no other Ceremony of the Lavv and Christ had those Signs and Tokens of his Presence vvith him as never had Man either in Law or Gospel This is so apparent it needs no proof And now for a few Comparisons more 1. 'T was at that that God answered the People when they were wont to come to enquire of him And in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son 1. Chro. 13.3 1 Sam. 14.18 Heb. 1.1 2 Joh. 16.23 24. 2. At the presence of the Ark the Waters of Jordan stood still till Israel the ransomed of the Lord passed over from the Wilderness to Canaan And it is by the power and presence of Christ that we pass over Death Jordan's antitype from the Wilderness of this World to Heaven