originals of springs and fountaines Whereas on the other side the more dry exhalations being contained within such compact parts of the circumambient earth as do not easily yield channels and passages for their transpiration even as it is in ovens well stopt do in length and continuance of time as it were bake together into that firme solidity which we see in stones being also by new ascending vapours continually increased more and more Now hence it is that generally there is found plenty of waters in all mines and quarries which being of near kind to the lapidescent quality by which stones are generated do supply the veins of those quarries with constant moisture thereby assisting them against that gritling friability which exposeth them to corruption when taken forth of their native places As to the point in hand craving a favourable permission at the hands of the learned to speak in an allusive way In like manner the Lord Jesus is not only a solid rock but a living rock a rock that hath a fountain of living water in it and (b) Exod. 17.6 Num. 20.11 flowing from it He is that spiritual living rock which (c) 1 Cor. 10.4 followed the Israëlites in the wildernesse so called by a metaphor taken from living creatures that have a loco-motive faculty In which place the Apostle is to be understood of the water which issued forth of the rock that in a constant stream flowing from it [d] Mede Vol. 1. p. 558. followed them in their several mansions as they passed through that howling wildernesse The first time that we read of water issuing out of a rock was at Rephidim their 11th mansion which satisfied their thirst and extinguished their present murmurs Now it 's evident that the water came gushing forth out of a rock in [e] Deut. 9.21 mount Horeb [d] Exod. 17.6 and yet that mountain is the place of their 12th station at which place also the Law was given and the powder of their golden [e] Deut. 9.21 Calf was cast into the brook of water that descended out of that Mounâ— But herein Bellonius in his Itinerary observations who carfully searched those parts doth help us in that he acquaints his Reader that in this wildernesse of Sinai there is a large tract of mountaines called by the same name extending themselves a great length and in one place arising into two craggy tops like Parnassus in Phocis one whereof is called Sinai particularly giving denomination to the wildernesse and the other Horeb by both which the range of hills are promiscuously and interchangeably calld He relates also that at this day there is a â—ill of water sliding down from that hill which whither it be the same that was opened by Moses at Gods appointment who can tell But we see by Scripture that the water which Moses fetcht out of the rocky mountain of Horeb for the people in Rephidim the 11th station is recorded to have drunk-in the golden powder of their image in the 12th station which stations possibly might be but little asunder But if Alush the 10th station should be Ptolomies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Jerom's Elusa in his Hilarion or if Rephidim should be Ptolomies * De bell Jud. l. 5. c. 14. ser Ruff. p. 903. Josephus his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Massah his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there will prove a very great journey for the Israëlites to march before they came from that side of the Sinai mountaines westward whence the water flowed to the great and ragged rock where the Law was given in their 12th station All which I have hitherto suggested a little to further the sense of that place of Paul before-cited which according to the insinuation of our Reverend translators adding them to followed seems to carry this sense That a stream of waters from the first smitten rock followed them in that dry sandy and barren desert to refresh the congregation of Israel But to let that inquiry passe at present we are sure that our blessed spiritual rock the Lord Jesus doth supply the living stones of his building with living water flowing from his blessed side Who though taken out of the Quarry of humane nature and placed at the bottome of the sacred building of his Church is inspired with a divine vitality and hath received this gift from the Father (a) Joh. 5.26 to have life in himself and to communicate of this life unto his members (b) Joh. 10.10 that they may have it more abundantly On this living rock as on the head of the corner is the Church of God founded and all the members do come to him as lively stones so called by Peter in the forecited place by reason of a new forme life or vertue infused into them and flowing from their union with Christ Therefore is it that we read in the Prophet Ezekiel that from under the (c) Ezek. 47.1 threshold of the Temple even from this foundation-stone there said that holy man of God did see in a vision waters issuing forth in great abundance which are to be interpreted of the Spirit which Christ after his departure out of this world (d) Joh. 7.39 would send down among his Disciples So that these Temple-stones being drawn out of the (e) Isa 51.1 pit of nature and hewn by a gracious hand out of the old rebellious rock of Adam are become (f) Ezek. 11.19 36 26. fleshy and living stones and are situated upon Christ the grand foundation of his Church Who though they have most happily lost that native vitality unto sin which cleaved to them in the quarry of corrupt nature yet now by their implantation into Christ receive a new and spiritual life The stones which Deucalion and Pyrrha cast over their heads after the great deluge are called by (g) Comment in Iliad 1. Romae 1550. Eustathius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quickened or enlivened stones The weaving instruments also feigned by Homer to be made of stone whereon the Nymphs did make purple webs within their cave are expounded by (h) De antr Nymph Romae 1630. Porphyry to be meant of bones and flesh which by these goddesses were framed into living bodies in that Den which mystically represented the Universe But yet allowing these fables or at least the truths shadowed by them the stones spoken of are animated only with humane or mortal life whereas the stones that we are treating of which are laid upon Christ and fixed in him the head of the Church do receive from him a life which is spiritual and eternal Seeing then the Lord Jesus only is the foundation-stone of the Churches welfare both in grace and glory which God hath laid in mount Zion at the bottome of this sacred building let us esteem it a vain thing to seek him in any place upon Earth but in his Temple the Church wherein he dwells and converses with his people by his Spirit
without hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (i) Justin Mart. Tryph. p. 235. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seeing it is not the work of man but the counsel of God the Father of the Universe who produced him that at length he might swell into a vast (k) Ver. 35. mountain filling the whole Earth This is that famous stone with the vision whereof Zechary comforted Zerubbabel and the people of Judah when returned out of Captivity that the stone laid before Joshua the High Priest should have (l) Zeph. 3.9 Cypr. ibid. p. 277. seven eyes engraven upon it by the Lord of Hosts who replenished his Son with the fulnesse of the God-head with abundance of all spiritual gifts and graces especially with a singular watchful care over the Church in all its Calamities and distresses Nay all the Saints of God following blessed Samuel may with joyful shoutings pitch this happy stone in the valley of vision and call it their (a) 1 Sam. 7.1 Cypr. p. 278. Eben-ezer For hitherto hath the Lord helped us seeing our Lord Jesus is the (b) Isa 28.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fundamentum fundatum the fixed established and sure foundation laid in Zion by God himself for his people to settle thereon all their hopes and expectation of glory 4. He is styled a perilous stone ¶ 4. a dangerous rock of offence to all them that shall stumble at it In himself indeed (c) 1 Pet. 2.7 he is precious to them that believe but per accidens to them that refuse and reject him he proves a stone of (d) Isa 8.14 Rom. 9.33 offence and passive scandal Nay all that burthen themselves with it shall find it to be an active and (e) Zech. 12.3 burdensome stone yea a sharp stone to cut them in pieces though all the people of the earth should be gathered together against it It will be found worse then any Tarpeian precipice upon which such shall fall headlong whosoever they be that presume to deal with the (f) Act. 1.18 rewards of iniquity and bursting in sunder in the midst shall present the gushing forth of their bowels to astonished spectators He that falls upon it saith our (g) Mat. 21.44 Lord himself shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grinde him to powder Here indeed upon earth the Lord Jesus is a foundation stone lying low and obscure during the exinanition of his state incarnate but hereafter in heaven he shall be brought forth as the (h) Zech. 4.7 headstone of his Temple with shoutings of Saints and acclamations of Angels crying Grace Grace unto it Here below the great and proud Dons of the World being offended at his depressed and mean condition do impingere stumble at and break themselves against that blessed stone all their designes and machinations against him being broken in pieces like a potter's vessel But if they shall persist in their rebellion and contumacy finally to the last At the great day of Judgment this stone shall fall upon them to their fatal and utter ruine when all power shall be committed to the Son who then shall break them to powder At that time Blessed shall all be who have not bin offended in him when those that have hardned themselves against this munition of rocks and have run their vessels against him shall suffer a most dreadful shipwrack Then those who have presumed to spit against this glorious heaven shall find their shameful spewing to return upon and to cover the face of all their glory Then those who have dared to shoot their keen arrowes dipt in the malignant poison of enmity towards him against this radiant Sun shall deeply bemoan more sharp darts fiercely retorted upon their own bosomes and piercing through their very hearts 5. He is termed a corner-stone in many places of holy Scripture ¶ 5. From which expression became he is called by the name of one corner-stone only seeing that under the building there are not only four corner-stones but many others laid in the several sides and middle of the supporting foundation all which do make up but one full and compleat substruction for the superior building to rest on we are not to inferre that Christ is not the whole and intire foundation of his Church needing others to hold Copartnership with him in this great work But therefore is the Lord Jesus called the corner-stone by way of eminency seeing it is such a stone as doth excell in strength and exceed in quantity all other stones that are laid togethâ—r with it in ordinary foundations The corner-stones are the main and chief supports of the building and therefore most usually are of the largest cize and cut out of the stoutâ—st vein in the Quarry Wherefore our Lord for his admirable strength in bearing the weight of the Churches sins and preserving the state of their graces and the hopes of their glory from ruine is denominated by the Corner-stone whereas indeed the expression is figurative the chiefest part being taken for the whole foundation But besides this I shall humbly crave leave to present a new conjecture in reference to the point in hand and earnestly beg a Candid acceptation thereof from ingenuous spirits which is this That seeing our blessed Saviour is indeed the onely and compleat foundation of his Church and yet being mentioned in Scripture under the name of a corner-stone in the Singular I have entertained some thoughts that although generally other buildings have many stones laid for their foundation yet this spiritual and mystical building of the Church may be conceived not to be unlike that admirable Temple of Latâ—na in Buto a City of Egypt near the Sebennitical mouth of the River Nile concerning which Herodotus attesting that he was an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and saw it himself relates that it was made and framed (a) Enterp seu Lib. 2. §. 155. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of one vast and entire stone In like manner we may conceive the foundation of this spiritual Temple to have bin made of one great vast foursquare stone supplying the whole extent of the bottome of the building Which by reason of the chiefest and choicest office of a foundation viz. to support all the angles or corners is termed by the Apostle Peter and others following the Septuagint in that renowned (b) Isai 28.16 place of Isaiah so often mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the cornering stone or such a stone which in its four Angles respects and supports all the four corners of the building and is therefore exprest by a collective term Although in our translation and according to the ordinary and common conception of the term of an Angular or corner-stone whereby the word is turned we usually apprehend of it as it were placed in one onely corner of the foundation of this spiritual building But at present with the favour of the Learned I shall crave leave to accept of the signification of
strongly necessitated by want and poverty and the wickedness of those that are able and deny subministration and supply to their wants they ought not to disturb their spirits with the overwhelming and soul-dividinging cares of this life Besides it is necessary for them as the case now stands that they should have a well-furnish'd Library and be well acquainted with the History of the Church all along since the world began especially since the time of Christ to our days Nay there is not one Art or Science in the whole Circle or Compass of Learning but some way or other may contribute to the capacitating of a Minister for his work in the explication and applying of Scripture They ought also to be well versed in controversie that they may be able to oppose gain-sayers and maintain the Truth To this purpose speaks a learned and faithful Dispenser of the Gospel in his days That they ought to have The skill of Arts D. Stoughton Preachers Dignity and Duty p. 87. c. of Tongues the ancient Hebrew the copious Greek the elegant Latine Tongues are necessary for Embassadors and these Tongues are very necessary for God's Embassadors All which must be assisted as the Orb in his motion with his Intelligence or rather informed as the Body with the Soul in all his operations with pithy Logick perswasive Rhetorick profound Philosophy that I may not name others every one of which apart would make a noble Profession in another and yet all together make but a small part of the Noble Profession of Theologie and rather not a part but a Porch of this Royal Building For I have not yet told you of the Scripture in which not a word not a jot not a tittle but hath its weight and must not be suffered to perish the depth of the Scripture left it be said by some scoffing Samaritan The VVell is deep and thou hast never a Bucket Lastly The infiniteness of Divinity there is no infinity in Philosophy but here there is positive controversal Ecclesiastical experimental for the chair for the Schools for the pulpit for the conscience c. All which are necessary for him that would be a worthy Divine 5. He must provide for his own Family or else he will lie under that heavie doom of the Apostle To be worse then an Infidel and deny the Faith which to do as a Man as a Christian as a Scholar as a Minister that is not in a sordid mean base and precarious way lest the Dignity of his Office be objected to contempt in the eyes of carnal vulgar people who generally receive the Truth with the more respect and obedience from such as having some moderate and comfortable estates and are not obliged to unworthy and pedantick shifts and cringings to every insulting Balak nor the ensnaring of their Consciences to satisfie corrupt lusts and humours by intrenching upon their glorious Commissions received from Christ This being certain that converting work is the main and principal work of the Ministry which will be greatly advanced when their persons are not obnoxious to scorn by their meanness which was found fully true in the person of our blessed Lord and his holy Apostles and Disciples 1 Tim. 3.2 Lastly Every Gospel Minister is commanded to maintain Hospitality themselves as well as to preach it Alas they may indeed teach it to others while their Lungs and Heart strings crack for want of supply but are not able generally themselves to go to the cost to practise it in our Nation through inability They are so far from being capable to perform this Duty that many have not for their present necessities much less for their conveniency and refreshment These things being premised and duly considered viz. The noble Provision which God made for his servants under the Law the Dispensation whereof was far inferiour to this under the Gospel Though some will say that the pomp of those Ordinances consisted much in external splendour and they say true but yet thence can by no means be inferred that God requires not the service of our Bodies and Estates under the Gospel for its evident the whole New Testament teaches the quite contrary Besides the necessary and costly provision of all acquired knowledge the enjoyned seclusion of themselves from worldly occupations their required sustentation of their Families and provision of a subsistence for them after their departure The honour and reputation of the Gospel The occurring and obviating the secret designs and machinations of our Popish adversaries who like the Spartans of old to the Athenians did but desire their Orator and then study by all means to ruine Protestant Religion among us and not finding any directer course to steer then this the pulling down of Universities in the which provision is made for able Workmen in the Lord's Vineyard and for such as manage the controversie against them as blessed be God hitherto successfully by Raynolds Whitaker Willet Abbot Davenant and many others and further to subvert the stated and fixed maintenance of the Ministers when come abroad whereby the Divel's ayms will be gratified the enemy overjoyed the Gospel ruined and Ark depart from our Israel But blessed be the Lord who hath fixed his memorial stone in Eben Ezer 1 Sam. 7.12 hitherto hath the Lord helped them and we hope the same mercy will yet continue to make them against those subtle insinuating enemies a fenced brazen VVall Jer. 15.20 21 They shall fight against them but they shall not prevail against them for I am with you to save you and to deliver you saith the Lord. And I will delâ—ver you out of the hand of the wicked and I will redeem you out of the hand of the Terrible Ps 85.9 c. Surely his salvation shall be nigâ— them that fear him that glory may dwell in our Laâ—d That mercy and truth may mee together righteousness and peace may kiss each other Truth shall spring out oâ— the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yeild her encrease Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps Though the Kâ—ngs of the earth set themselves and the Rulers take counsel togeâ—her against the Lord and against his anointed yet hath he set his King upon his holy hill of Zâ—on and will gâ—ve him the heathen for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession As for those that break his bands in sunder and cast away his cords from them He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision He shall speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure He shall break them with a rod of iron he shall dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel O then kiss the Sun lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little
I think they cannot manifest one place where it is by them put for the Altar whose Greek it 's known that the New Testament Pen men chiefly follow Nay in its native sense it signifies Incense onely and by a Metonomy the Censer wherein it was put But to admit a double Trope to ride upon one word is as harsh as rare Wherefore to reconcile this place to the Old Testament I take it to signifie a Censer For so the Epithete Golden challenges it from its native signification of Incense And I humbly conceive that possibly we may understand by it the Censer of Aaron wherewith he burned Incense when two hundred and fifty men with their Censers were appointed by God to try with him Numb 16.17 who it was that God had appointed to that Office After the two hundred and fifty men were consumed by Fire Ver. 25. Ver. 38. their Censers were hallowed and Plates made of them for the Altar for a sign to the Children of Israel Now though the Text in Numbers does not tell us that Aaron's Censer was particularly laid up yet if we interpret this place in the Hebrews of that Censer it is no way repugnant to any Scripture nor to the Analogy of Faith But helps exceedingly to inlighten and reconcile that place I am the more induced to incline to it because it is joyned with two other things viz. the Pot of Manna and Aaron's Rod both which were laid up there as a token of their Murmuring and Rebellion against the Lord being two miraculous Effects which God produced presently upon their murmuring to demonstrate the Omnipotent Presence of the Divine Majesty against whom and His instituted Ministers they had so grievously murmured So then after this grand murmure of Korah there being two Miracles produced the one the swallowing up of many in the Earth the other the burning of two hundred and fifty by fire from Heaven for the remembrance of it this Censer possibly was added as another Token together with the Pot of Manna and Aaron's Rod to be laid up in the Oracle before the Lord. There is nothing to be objected against this sense but that because the Altar of Incense is omitted ver 2. therefore it 's brought in ver 4. and to be understood to be within the second Vail quoad usum onely To this I answer That the Altar standing without the Vail Aaron might take this Golden Censer that lay within the Vail and with it taking Fire-Coals off the Altar and Incense in his hands come and perfume the most Holy Place I dare not be peremptory in this point although that a certain Golden Censer lay in the Oracle constantly within the Vail according to the express terms of the Apostle is the mind of Learned Mr. Weemse in his Exposition of the Ceremonial Laws pag. 48. However it be I submit my Conjecture to all sober and learned persons having I hope before evinced the true Position of the Altar of Incense to be without but near the Vail which we now proceed briefly to describe Exod. 30 1-10 The Altar of Incense which Moses made was for matter of Shittim-Wood and over-laid with pure Gold round about For form four-square For quantity or measure two Cubits high And as for length and breadth one Cubit in each It had a Crown of Gold round about four Horns two Rings and two Staves There be some hold that Solomon cased the ancient one of Moses with Cedar and so made a larger over it A pretty fancy quickly vented Whereas we shall find expresly that Solomon made one compleat 1 Chron. 18.28 1 King 8.4 6. 2 Chron. 5.5 7. For first we read that David prepared refined Gold by weight on purpose for the Altar of Incense Besides when the Scripture says that the Priests brought up the Ark and all the Holy Vessels of the Tabernacle It mentions onely the carrying of the Ark into the Temple though Negative Authority is not absolutely Cogent yet when as Solomon is written to have made another and this is not mentioned to have been brought into the Temple but rather laid up in some of the Chambers I think we may safely shut Moses his Altar out of this pregnant Belly of Solomons That Solomon made one is expresly mentioned in two distinct places and in a 3d place 1 King 7.48 2 Chron. 4.19 1 King 6.20 22. that the inward material was of Cedar and over-laid with Gold How large it was we read not if we may double the quantity of Moses his Altar it may be we may not transcend the limits of Truth but it is best of all to be silent with Scripture The Tables of Shew-Bread IN the next place succeed the Golden Tables of Shew-Bread as to which 1 Chron. 48.16 1 King 7.48 2 Chro. 4.8 we find Gold prepared for them by King David as also Silver for the Tables of Silver whose use of situation we ye◠read not In the Kings we read but of one Table But in the Chronicles we find expresly ten in number together with their Situation five on the right and five on the left side of the Sanctuary The Description of Moses his one Table may be seen at large in the Book of Exod. But the Dimensions of Solomon's we have not though possibly double to his Exod. 25 23-29 accordingly as the place wherein they were set was double to his in capacity Some think that Moses his Golden Table was one and the nine rest were according to that cize wherein we shall be utterly silent 2 Chron. 4.19 Dr. Lightfoot c. 14. §. 5. Lev. 24.7 Exod. 25.29 The use we read was to set the Shew-Bread upon them On each Table there were set twelve Cakes six in a Row one upon another They were square and not round as usually figured with a Golden Dish of Frankincense on the highest Cake with Spoons Covers and Bowls of Gold The Form of this Table exhibited in the Draught is according to Arias Montanus the difference therein being onely as to the length of the Cakes which lay overthwart exceeding the breadth of the Table as some conceive We have added a little Coronet onely to the Brim of the Table as we read Exod. 25.25 The Golden-Candlesticks ten in number the same with this in view The last things to be mentioned are the Candlesticks 1 King 7.49 Exod. 25.31 1 Chron. 28.15 2 Chron. 4.8 1 Chron. 8.15 Their matter was of pure Gold prepared by King David Their fashion probably like that of Moses Their number was expresly ten Their situation was five on the right side and five on the left side of the House that is of the Sanctuary even as in Moses Tabernacle the Lamps are said to shine without the Vail of the Testimony Lev. 24.3 In their height and the extension of their Branches Scripture is silent Besides these there is mention made of Silver Candlesticks designed by David but how large and where placed or
spring out of the earth and righteousnesse look down from heaven Solomon then was the (d) Act. 7.47 Architect of that antient and famous Temple But behold a (e) Luk. 11.31 greater then Solomon is here the true Iedidiah or beloved of the Lord who coements the living stones of his Church together with his own blood It hath bin usual of old at the building of some famous Palace or Cathedral that the Royal Founder should lay the first stone with his own hands having his own name engraven on it It 's lost time to humor a Jewish fancy in determining the truth or falshood of a Rabbinical Relation that King Solomon did (f) Shâ—ringham in Joma p. 106. insculp the Tetragrammaton or the unspeakable name of Johovah upon the first stone laid in the foundation of the Temple But this I am sure of that the Father of mercies acquaints us in one place by an holy (g) Isa 28.16 Prophet that he himself layed in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a precious corner-stone a sure foundation which the Apostle Peter assures us was no other then Christ himself as I shall manifest hereafter Concerning whom under the name of an Angel the Lord is pleased to charge his people by Moses in these words Beware of him and obey his voice provoke him not For he will not pardon your transgressions (h) Exod. 23.21 for MY NAME is in him We read concerning David that he gave to Solomon his son the pattern of this house with an example of all the choise accoutrements In like manner our Lord and Saviour under the Type of Solomon being called the (i) 2 Sam. 7.13 14. Son of God elsewhere from his own holy mouth assures us that the work which he had to do (k) Joh. 5.36 13 3. he received of his Father So that as Nathan was sent of a message from God to acquaint David that his son Solomon should build a house for the name of his divine Majesty and that his sons Kingdome should be establisht for ever parallel to another place in the Psalmist assuring us that his throne should (l) Psal 89.29 endure as the dayes of heaven Even so doth the Prophet Zachary inform us in the name of the Father concerning that man whose name is the (m) Zach. 6.12 Branch that He should build the Temple of the Lord that is the spiritual Temple of his Church Wherefore our blessed Lord when compared with Moses is preferred before him as being the Son of God and is reputed faithful as a Son over his own house whose (n) Heb. 3.6 house are we if we hold fast our confidence c. to the end But before I conclude this present Section I shall endeavour to compare our blessed Saviour with Solomon as the Temple builder in several respects First As Solomon prepared many costly materials buying them of the Tyrians Sidonians Arabians and other Nations So did our Lord redeem or buy anew his living stones for the materials of his spiritual Temple out of every (a) Rev. 5.9 kindred Tongue and Nation Secondly As Solomon imployed many skilful and laborious Artists both of the Children of Israel as well as of Phoenicians and of the Aegyptians as 't is related by Eusebius So did Christ our blessed Lord imploy in antient times many Priests and holy Prophets of the Jewish Nation to gather in the people of those times to the knowledge of his truth Afterward upon his Ascention or Coronation day he instituted and gave forth likewise Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers (b) Eph. 4.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the edifying or building up of the Church which is his body unto the day of glory Thirdly Solomon did not only procure and hire these fit persons to carry on the work but he proceeded actually to the building and compleating that famous House at Jerusalem so doth our holy Saviour by the instrumentality of those his faithful Labourers imployed by him constantly manage this great design of finishing his sacred Temple For as the workmen of Solomon did hew down Cedars Fir-trees and Algum-Trees in Lebanon for the service of the Temple and caused them to be brought in flores by water to Joppa and thence to Jerusalem So doth our Lord imploy such as shall (c) Hos 6.5 hew his people and take off the ruggedness of their dispositions workmen of John the Baptists temper that need not be to ashamed when they (d) Mat. 3.10 come with the Axe of conviction and lay it to the root of the tree He uses in this excellent work some Boanerges's Sons of Thunder to hew down the chosen and marke trees of election out of Lebanon the proud mountainous and rocky Lebanon of nature out of the Mountains of self-conceit pride natural righteousnesse or liberty of will falsely so conceived to close with divine proffers of mercy without an immediate power from above of civility also and common morality In this manner doth learned Jerom seem to apply two places of the Psalmist where wicked men for their lofty pride are compared to the Cedars of Lebanon In (e) Psal 37.35 one place where we read a green bay tree the text of Jerom runs thus (f) Tom. 8. Edit Erasmi Lugd. 1530. pag. 36. Vidi impium superexaltatum elevatum sicut Cedros Libani I have seen the wicked exceedingly exalted and lifted up like the Cedars of Lebanon The other place is that where the (g) Psal 29.5 voice of the Lord is said to break the Cedars yea the Lord breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon Both which are hinted by him in his (h) Tom. 5. p. 277. Comment upon the 60 of Esay In so much that our blessed Lord seems most sweetly to say to his Church upon this account if leave may be granted to allusions (i) Cant. 4.8 Come with me from Lebanon my spouse with me from Lebanon for the (k) Cant. 1.17 beams of our house are of Cedar and our rafters of Firre Such as being cut down out of the proud and towring mountains of nature by the Axe of the Law were brought in flores of repentance to Joppa indulge the continuation of the Allegory it being a place famous for this that one of the first Gospel-miracles (l) Act. 9.36 c. which Peter did was performed there Nay the choise evidence of the vocation of the Gentiles into the fellowship of the Mystical Church was here exhibited unto (m) Act. 10.11 c. Peter in a trance where he received from God in a Vision a Sheet let down from heaven filled with all sorts of living Creatures some whereof were unclean according to the antient Law and institution of Moses Peter being thereby taught that the unclean Gentiles were now also to be taken up to heaven as that (n) V. 16. Sheet was in that divine Vision Furthermore as to these our workmens proceeding in their Temple-labours
Religion Even as brain sick Monks since the Primitive times have endeavoured to corrupt the Christians worship with their lying wonders and revelations so often recited in their wodden Legends Wherefore to let them passe not without Solemn praise to God who hath conferred upon us more clear light in the face of his dear Son let us proceed while we enjoy that light to do the work that is required of us and by the benefit of those blessed raies to look more narrowly into the spiritual foundation of the Gospel-Temple To which purpose considering that the foundation of an house is properly that materia substrata or underground matter on which the building resteth and whereby it is sustained and upheld and furthermore that Gods building or house in the World is his Church which being constituted in our first Parents at the beginning upon the Primitive foundation of righteousnesse and true holinesse according to the Covenant of works was assaulted by the storms of the Devil's malice and power and falling from that excellent foundation which Gods Majesty had laid in paradise with his own hands hath ever since groaned most bitterly under the sad pressures of sin and temptation complaining in the Language of Cain that their deserved (a) Gen. 4.13 punishment is greater then can be born by humane shoulders and therefore earnestly beggs the divine support of some new and more firme and unshaken foundation whereupon to rest for ever without danger of inward mouldering or external storms Now for as much as the Foundation of every building is two-fold The first external and natural being no other then the Earth it self (b) Heb. 3.4 made and framed by God The other internal and artificial consisting of stones brick or timber according to the nature of the super-imposed building So hath the Church likewise a two-fold foundation One whereof may bear some resemblance with the natural earth accordingly as our Lord is pleased to speak of his Church under the notion of a similitude differing from this in hand that the (c) Mat. 13.38 field is the world wherein his Church and people are placed The other may be termed Artificial granting indulgence to the prosecution of the present Metaphor The (d) Heb. 11.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 builder maker or framer whereof is God in a more speciall manner Then which foundation (e) 1 Cor. 3.9 11. no man can lay any other than what is laid even Jesus Christ He is that precious corner-stone (g) Eph. 2.20 â—â— by the Father in the heart of mount Zion (f) Isa 28.16 In whom all the building being fitly framed together groweth to a holy Temple in the Lord. (h) 1 Pet. 2.4 5. To whom comming as to a living stone the Saints are built up a spiritual house wherein to offer spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ So that neither the pretended and usurping-head of the Church at Rome nor the Canons constitutions or traditions of that Apostate body nor humane reason though never so much concocted digested refined by the wit art or industry of man can be owned for this foundation 'T is Christ alone who must be received and acknowledged for this fundamental-rock the Basis of Apostolical confession whereon to build the Church (i) Mat. 16.18 against which the gates of Hell shall never prevail Our blessed Lord and Saviour then is the whole and only foundation for the Church to rest upon excluding Peter and all his imagined successors together with all the Apostles from being Corrivals with Christ in this great work of sustaining the spiritual building Now although the Pontificians plead hard for a Secundary and Ministerial foundation yet can we by no means admit any such distinction which is so farre from being grounded on Scripture that it doth directly oppose the very expresse terms of the holy word declaring that there can be (a) 1 Cor. 3 11. no other foundation laid than our blessed Lord. Besides it is repugnant to found reason to introduce any Secondary and ministerial foundation that performs not the true and native duty and cannot undergo the weight and burden of a proper and genuine foundation For either Christ is the only whole and sufficient foundation of his Church or not If he be as the Scripture holds it forth more evident then the Sun at noon then what 's the meaning of that other foundation which certainly if it be not the primary and main foundation then it cannot truly and properly be called a foundation at all that doth not sustain the building but must be a part onely of the building For if it be a true foundation it must subsist of it self and not be laid upon another as its basis or bottome But if not besides the flat denial of Scripture by these builders (b) Act. 4 11. who have set at nought the head-stone of the Corner wo must needs befall the Church if their faith and hope of salvation should leane upon such (c) Lev. 14.45 Leprous stones which God hath commanded to be carried out of the City into an unclean place But this point is most excellently and nervously handled by the famous (d) Tom. 2. de Rom. Pontif. Contr. 4. qu. 2. p. 551. fol. Dr. Whitaker most amply in his Controversies about the Pope of Rome to the terror of the dark Conclave Happy is the Church of Christ in having so glorious a person as the Son of God to sustain and bear the weight and pressure of their sins and to be the choise foundation of their faith to rest upon in respect to eternal life who is so termed by a Metaphor taken from material buildings wherein the foundation doth uphold all the Rooms and Stories built upon it In like manner all the members and parts of the sacred and Mystical structure laying the whole stresse of their happinesse upon Jesus Christ are carried on till the top-stone of glory shall be brought forth Which things are mentioned in many places of divine record and prosecuted by an Allegory or continued Metaphor Christ himself is by diverse of the holy pen-men called the corner-stone of the building that is of the foundation of the building In which expression the main and principal part of the foundation is taken for the whole by a Synecdoche Seeing the chief and most serviceable part of the foundation is that strong and large hewn-stone which the Architect layes at the bottom-corner of each square of the building Further as a building is compared by Scripture and other writers sometimes to an humane body the foundation in such a sense may very aptly be expressed by the denomination of a head To which purpose we may observe that our Lord (e) Col. 1.18 the head of his Church is often styled by the name of that prime stone which is laid at the head of the Corner as may fully appear from these following places of Scripture Psal 118.22 Mat. 21.42 Mat.
we approach near the Foot-stool of his holinesse in solemn Worship even in the very entrance of this blessed work The great God having declared that he will be sanctified by all them that (d) Lev. 10.3 draw nigh to him and by all the people he will be glorified The extraordinary height of this stately and pompous building the Porch of the Temple arising even to an 120 Cubits as we have heard before in the former description so famous for its pleasant and capacious Prospect before remembred shews forth to us the excellent sublimity of divine contemplation Wherein the Souls of heavenly Worshippers being intensly conversant look down upon the Earth as beneath a Saint and contemn (e) Mat. 4.8 all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory of them The Heart of a Saint is most humble and lowly who though exalted into divine communion yet is the most noble heroick high-minded person in the whole world being such a one as whose heart cannot be filled with the vast Empire of the whole Globe or the Dominion of all the conceited and imagined worlds in the Universe (f) Col. 3.1 He whose affections are set upon things above is like unto the Church that treadeth (g) Rev. 12.1 the Moon under her feet Upon the Top of this stately Tower which the side walls of the Porch sustained called by the Evangelist Matthew (h) Mat. 4.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Pinacle or wing of the Temple the blessed body of our Lord possibly was (i) D. Lightf Temp. p. 58. arrived when he triumphed over the Devil there tempting him to presumption He was now it seems raised by the power of Satan permitted to him by God above the place of the Solemnities of sacred Worship which may yield us this glance by the way That it is a diabolical Tentation a hellish delusion when any poor Souls are elevated and lifted up in their hearts above the instituted Ordinances wherein God hath appointed that we should worship him under the Gospel Besides it exhibits to our consideration the extream danger of spirituall Pride when we are even exalted to heaven by the means of Grace Our dear Lord in his transaction with and conquest over Satan yielded us an Example that as he himself did not so neither might we dare to presume upon the protection of or communion with Angels unlesse we walk in all the (k) Psal 91.11 waies of God who hath promised therein to keep us and because he hath set his love upon us (l) Ver. 14. he will deliver us and set us on high because we have known his name The Mysteries of the Sanctuary or Holy Place NOw let us enter the Gates of the Sanctuary (a) Ps 118.19 the Gates of Righteousnesse Let us enter (b) Ps 100.4 his Gates with thanksgiving and praise let the (c) Ps 24.7 everlasting Doores fly open that we may see the King of Glory in this his sacred Palace that we may (d) Ps 27.4 behold the beauty of the Lord and enquire in his Temple Angelicall words though pillar'd with the firmest Reason adorned with the choisest Gold of Rhetorick and (e) Cant. 4.10 paved with melting Affections are not Chariots majesticall enough to carry within them those Royall conceptions which become those Mysteries that sate in state within these holy Chambers Incomparably glorious was that place of old wherein the unapproachable Majesty of Heaven was pleased to vouchsafe his presence of favour and grace among dust and ashes to take up a habitation among Worms and to receive Homage and Adoration from Creatures in comparison with him lesse then (f) Isa 40.17 nothing and vanity Yet so pleased it the infinite and incomprehensible God so far to condiscend to the workmanship of his own hands as to keep house in the midst of his people whom he was pleased to choose for himself out of all Nations and within this sacred building to command several Golden Utensils to be made and placed there for his use as if he did indeed dwell amongst them Here were the ten Tables of Shew-bread set before him continually There the Lamps of the ten Golden Candlesticks burned with pure Oyl Olive continually feeding their radiant flames Above stood the golden Altar of Incense sending forth its fragrant odours while the King was held in his (g) Cant. 7.5 Galleries to whom while sitting at his Table the (h) Cant. 1.12 Spikenard sendeth forth its rich Perfume Whoever drawes nigh but to the contemplation of these rare and profound Mysteries therein couched let him pull off the (i) Exo. 3.5 shooes of his worldly Conversation and corrupt Affections For the place whereon he stands is holy Ground which is the earnest and ardent prayer of the unworthiest of his Servants before he enters upon so solemn and sacred a work as this before us In former Lines it hath been declared That the Temple in generall signified the Gospel-Church I hope also it shall appear in succeeding passages That the Oracle or most holy place did signify and shadow forth Heaven or the place and state of Saints in Glory It rests then that the Body of the Temple called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a more eminent and yet usual manner (k) 1 Kin. 6.7 The TEMPLE but more properly and strictly styled the Sanctuary should decipher and exhibit the Type of the Church Militant upon Earth and conversing with God in his divine Ordinances His Majesty of old had acquainted his people of Israël that he would set (l) Lev. 26.11 12. his Tabernacle among them and walk in the midst of them which was most graciously performed from the daies of Moses to the Reign of Solomon At which time he declares himself evidently that it was his holy will to â—well in a fixed Temple at Jerusalem promising that he would (m) 1 Kin. 8.29 place his name there Now that the glorious Fabrick of the Temple did mystically shadow forth the spirituall House of the Evangelicall Church the Apostle Paul will come in as a clear witnesse in that solemn appeal to the Hearts and Consciences of his Corinthians (n) 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Yea further he makes every particular Saint to be a little Sanctuary for the Holy Spirit to dwell in as may appear by that expostulation What know ye not that your Body is the (a) 1 Cor. 6.19 Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you Likewise that the Church of God in general is the (b) 2 Cor. 6.16 Temple of the Living God alledging by way of Testimony that place in Leviticus before cited In another place the same pen-man declares that the Building being fitly framed together and fixe upon Christ the choise Foundation doth grow into a Holy (c) Eph. 2.21 Temple in the Lord. Other where he exhibits the infallible
the Jewish Paedagogy so came it to passe also in the approaching Evening of the World Nay in the times presently succeeding James told them that (l) Jam. 5.9 the Judge was then at the door and generally throughout the Epistles Gospel-daies are called the (m) Heb. 1.2 last daies The (n) 1 Cor. 10.11 Dr. Whitaker de Sacramentis pag. 109. Edit Francof 1654. ends of the World being come upon us Some there be who conceived that the Passeover did typify and praefigure the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper wherein the soul of a Believer feeds upon Christ the Lamb of God But doubtlesse in the main the Scripture doth therein point at Christ The Sacraments of both Testaments do hold forth the Lord Jesus the former look forward upon him as being not yet come the latter look backward upon him as being already come For hereby we (o) 1 Cor. 11.26 shew forth the Lord's death till he come that is in his last and most glorious Advent to deliver his people and to judge the World of the ungodly The next Annual festivity was the Feast of first-fruits or Feast of weeks being celebrated fifty daies after the Israelites coming out of Egypt and therefore is called in the New-Testament (p) Act. 20 16. Pentecost At the first Pentecost in the wildernesse was the Law given by Moses In the last Jewish Pentecost was the (q) Act. 2.1 Holy Ghost given to the Apostles at Jerusalem and then the first-fruits of the Gospel were offered up to God through Jesus Christ by that miraculous conversion of (g) Act. 2.41 3000 souls by the Sermon of Peter Which was the earnest of the great Harvest to follow in the whole world The Feasts of the seventh moneth were these 1. The blowing of (h) Lev. 23.24 Trumpets on the first day of the seventh moneth and might hint at the preaching of the Gospel most clearly in the latter end of the world as some apprehend The Fast of Expiation on the tenth day of the seventh moneth was a most clear presignification of our blessed Lord's (b) Crames expiating for sin (a) Ribera p. 339. Some apprehend that this and other Fasts among the Jews might denote the solemn fastings for sin under the Gospel the denial of our selves taking up the Cross of Christ and the constant study of the mortification of (c) Gal. 5.24 the flesh and all the lusts thereof The Feast of Tabernacles as it reflected backward on the Jews (a) Lev. 23.42 dwelling in Booths in the Wildernesse so it looked forward likewise on the state and condition of Christians while travelling thorough the wilderness of this World that we are but strangers in this Earth (d) 1 Chron. 29.15 as all our Fathers were Our dayes flee away like a shadow we have here no abiding City The Lord himself alone is (e) Jerom. Tom. 6. in Zach. p. 347. cum solice Psalm 90.1 the dwelling place of Saints in all generations as holy Moses speaks of himself and the children of Israel while wandring in the howling Desart of Sinai Wherefore Abraham and all the Blessed Patriarchs dwelt in Tents (f) Heb. 11.14 15 16. plainly declaring that they sought a Country which is Heavenly To which God of his infinite mercy bring us through the propitiatory blood of the (g) Heb. 13.20 Great Shepheard of the sheep the Lord Jesus whom he raised from the dead On the seventh day of this great Feast of Tabernacles there was offered the smallest number of Sacrifices to note the declining of that antient legal and Ceremonial Worship (h) Sheringham in Codicem Joma p. 39. and that a more perfect sacrifice was ready to be introduced in their room Besides the presignification of some Gospel-Excellencies by these Feasts It is noted by a learned Man that there was a reason for their celebration among the Jews referring to the impetration of some particular blessings upon the Earth according to the several seasons of the Year wherein they were solemnized There was an offering of the quantity of a Homer given up at the Passover to beg a blessing on the Harvest The first-fruits they offered up at Pentecost to obtain a blessing on the fruits of their trees at the Feast of Tabernacles they (a) 1 Sam. 7.6 powred out water to beg the blessing of Rain upon the Earth it being then the seed-time in the land of Judea These Waters were drawn out of the Fountain of Shiloah Whence it is that the Evangelical Prophet complains of the Jews that they refused the (b) Isa 8.6 waters of Shiloah that go softly not trusting in Gods gracious promise that he made to King Ahaz of the true Shiloah He that was to be sent to them the Messiah Isa 7.14 which was given as a firm word for him to rest upon against the Kings of Israel and Syria For it was plain that the Race of David should continue till the coming of that Immanuel who was to be born of a Virgin and therefore the enemies should not prevail to extinguish the Royal Race of Judah Hence is it that our blessed Lord alluding to this Libation or powring out of Waters at the Feast of the Tabernacles cryes out in the last and great day of the Feast John 7.37 that they should come to him as the true Fountain of Shiloah that gives forth living waters which thing he spake concerning the Spirit For he that believeth on him as the Scripture saith that is he whose Faith is grounded on Scripture-promises for we are not to understand that Text of any citation there being no such place extant out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living-waters i. e. There shall be within him a Heavenly spring of Grace that shall flow into the Ocean of Glory The Heathen had an apish imitation of this great Festivity Plut. Thes gr p. 19. Edit 1. Steph. 80. Plut. Romul p. 66. gr Aedit H. Steph. as Plutarch remembers in the life of Theseus that the Athenians had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in memory of the deliverance of their City by Theseus and to implore a blessing on the fruits of the earth and moreover concerning the Romans at set times dwelling under Fig-trees as the same Author hath recorded in the life of Romulus and in the fourth of his Symposiacks mentioning this Feast foolishly compares it with the Heathenish Feast of Bacchus qu. 5. Here before I conclude give me leave to treat a while upon the Conjecture of some persons who conceive the 3 solemn Festivals celebrated among the Christians to have been pre-exemplified in those 3 Eminent Feasts of the Jews The birth of our Saviour answering to the Feast of Tabernacles For so a very Learned man of our Nation and others viz. Beroaldus Mede Vol. 1. p. 618. Scaliger and Calvisius conceive and seem to prove it by good arguments that our Saviour was born in September the time answering to
by the infallible dictates of the Spirit of Grace who hath acquainted us that the antient Sacrifices did foreshew the grand and unspeakably glorious Offering of Christ For they all ceased at the Ascension of Christ which is the Argument of their being but Shadows that were to cease at the appearance of the Substance So doth the blessed Apostle Argue clearly in his Epistle to the Hebrews and out of him b Orig. p. 125. Homil. 3. in Levitic Origen and generally all both Antient and Modern that I have as yet had the Happinesse to peruse upon this Subject unlesse such as have drunk deep of the poysonous dregs of Socinianism All those carnal Ordinances for so the Apostle termes them were to continue only c Heb. 9.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till the season of Reformation when their obscure conceptions should be cleared their crooked apprehensions rectified in the taking away of all those worldly and beggerly Elements in comparison with the Sacrifice of Christ who was the beginning of the new Heavens and the new Earth by the Substitution of a Gospel frame of spiritual Worship in the room of all those antient Ceremonies So that what was spoken by the Prophet Esay in the Name of God respecting the hypocrisie of the Jews in their worship may be now spoken positively of the very Worship it self since the Offering up of Christ to the Father a Isa 1.13 Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomination to him the new Moons and Sabboths that is of the seventh day seventh year c. the calling of Assemblies he cannot away with it is iniquity even the solemn meeting Their New Moons and appointed Feasts his soul hateth they are a trouble to him he is weary to bear them This is the time even after the apparition of Christ in the flesh wherein God will cause to b Hos 2.11 cease all the Feast-dayes of Judaes her New Moons her Sabboths and all her Solemn Feasts When the c Dan. 9.26 Messiah shall be cut off not for himself the City shall be destroyed and the Sanctuary and he shall confirm the Covenant with many and shall d Vers 27. cause Sacrifice and Oblation to cease After the dissolution of the ancient Sanctuary when e Vers 25. Messiah the Prince shall build the walls of the New spiritual Jerusalem Then from the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same the Name of God shall be great even among the Gentiles and in f Mal. 1.11 every place Incense shall be offered unto his Name and a pure Offering c. Then shall the people of God in the seven Asian Churches be made Kings and Priests by Christ unto God and his Father g Rev. 1.6 5.10 To whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever Now praier is not the more acceptable because within the Precincts and limits of a holy Temple But 't is the will of God that men pray h a 1 Tim. 2.8 every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting God hath promised to gather i Isa 66.18 all Nations and Tongues to come and see his glory and they shall bring the Jews as an k Vers 20. Offering to the Lord even to to his holy mountain at Jerusalem l Isa 19.19 An Altar shall be erected to the Name of the Lord in the Land of Aegypt and the Lord of Hosts shall blesse saying m Vers 25. Blessed be Aegypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands and Israel mine Inheritance The Burnt-Offerings of a Isa 56.7 strangers shall be then accepted upon Gods Altar For his House shall be called a House of Prayer for all people The Gentiles shall come into the light of the Church and Kings to the brightness of her rising b Isa 60.3 6 7. The Dromedaries of Midian and Ephah all they from Shebah shall come and bringing Gold and Incense shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. All the Flocks of Kedar and the Rams of Nebajoh shall come up with acceptance on Gods Altar c Zeph. 3.10 His Suppliants shall draw nigh to him from beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia which place d Fulgent 2. lib. ad monimum p. 85. Bas 80. 1587. Fulgentius particularly expounds of spiritual Sacrifices e Zech. 14.16 17 21. All Nations and all the Families of the earth must go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Hosts and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles Every pot shall be holy and all that come to Sacrifice shall seeth therein Then shall the f Mal. 3.4 1. Offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the daies of old after the Messenger of the Covenant should be come into the Temple of his body when the Aaronical Priesthood g Hebr. 7.12 should be dissolved and a change made of the Law Jerusalem the holy City shall never be more a singular place to h Joh. 4.12 worship in Nor Jewish Feasts the Seasons for they shall i Gal. 4.9 10 c. be disannul'd Neither shall Sacrifice properly and strictly so called be ever any k Heb. 10 2 more offered to God as gratefull and acceptable For we c Heb. 13.10 have now an Altar to eat off which they have no right to who serve the Tabernacle The Priests of old offered up the souls of irrational creatures But now the case is altered saies m Pie Mirand Tom. 1. p. 54. Mirandula For Michael our Prince and Priest doth offer our rational souls to God His Majesty will not be so served now as in former times he expects we should now serve and worship him n Joh 4.23 in Spirit and Truth a Col. 2 17. In Spirit without Ceremonies and external typifying Ordinances In Truth without Shadows The Jews presented God carnal Sacrifices with spiritual significations annexed to them and couched under them We must give unto God spiritual services apart from the b Act. 15.10 unsupportable yoke of numerous Ceremonies c Rain against Hart. p 491 493. They are not to be endured in Gods worship They savour of a Jewish carnal childish spirit It 's commonly observable that those of a Popish strain and temper that are highly rigid and severely tenacious of multitudes of Ceremonies in Gods service either deduced from some among the Jews or others among the Heathens and blended together with some new inventions of their own innovation are usually remiss in holy and close walking with God and are the greatest persecutors of the Saints as we see at this day in the Popedome Paul d Gal. 1.13 14. when most zealous of the traditions of his Fathers then persecuted he the Church out of measure and wasted it It 's a manifest sign of mans departure from uprightness e Eccl. 7.29 when he seeks out many inventions This being then evident that after the coming of
g 1 Cor. 10.25 Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no Question for Conscience sake Every thing that is wholesome or nutritive food certainly may be used h 1 Tim. 4.4 Every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused If it be received with Thanksgiving It is evident that things offered to Idols and i Act. 15.29 things strangled are conjoyned in that place with blood where abstinence from it is commanded because of the Jews whose Communion with the believing Gentiles was interrupted by their liberty in those things As for things Offered to Idols the Apostle Paul counts it a meere indifferency k 1 Cor. 8.4 8. Rom. 14.3 20. unless in the case of scandall or offence to weak brethren Then indeed there is an Hypoheticall necessity imposed upon our abstinence for we must not by an unreasonable use of our liberty give occasion of offence unto others Then indeed we must not eat a 1 Cor. 10.28 For his sake that shewed it and for Conscience sake The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof But this question is more fully spoken to by Chamier Panstrat Cathol Tom. 3. lib. 15. c. 10. p. 528. Hornbeck Sum. Controvers lib. 11. de graecis p. 841. c. and Grosted our Countryman de cessat legal p. 134. c. with others who determine it in the affirmative that it is lawfull to eat blood so it be without offence or scandall to weak Brethren But I shall leave this and proceed to parallel the effusion of Blood out of the Sacrifice with Christs shedding his Blood upon the Cross He hath b Rev. 1.5 washed us in his Blood for our sins The Blood came out of the heart of Christ our Gospell Sacrifice to cleanse us from our impurities The Speare opened a passage into his brest that we might enter in at the doore of his Wounds and be healed by him and united to him This is the c Zech. 13.1 Fountain opened to the house of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness Besides in every Sacrifice d Lev. 3.16 the fat was the Lords It is the best of the Creature and e Theophrast Charact. p. 249. perishes not so soon as the lean To signifie that we ought to give the choicest and most excellent of our services unto God The inwards also with the heart and reins were to be washt and then Offered to God by Fire we must cleanse our hearts and then dedicate them to God The Head also and the Taile or Rump were to be offered up to God the Head f Spelman Tithes p. 72. as principium the Taile as finis Actionis Both the principle and beginning of all our actions and services as well as the end must be consecrated to God The dung was to be cast away into an unclean place to shew that there is impurity in our choicest services and that we ought to fling it away when we approach and draw nigh to God All the filth and defilement of sin is to be removed as possible from all our approaches unto God But putting an end to Generals I shall descend to some particular Sacrifices which though they were various yet they did all in severall waies either allude to Christ or else to somewhat of our Gospell Services For as our judicious a Grosted de Cessat Legal p. 167. Grosted a great light considering the times wherein he lived doth observe Vt res una multis signis ita Christus multis Sacrificijs the same thing may be noted by many signs so Christ by many Sacrifices 1. Of the burnt Offering 1. The burnt Offering was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ascend because being wholly burnt it did ascend up to Heaven in smoak and vapour By the Septuagint it is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a whole burnt Offering There was therefore a constant fire maintained upon Gods Altar to this purpose b Lev. 6.13 The Bullock Lamb or Kid which was thus Offered upon the account of the sinner did note our corruptibility even like the bodies of these Beasts obnoxious to the consuming wrath of God and the punishment justly due to us even to be tormented in the fire of his indignation And as the vapour ascended up to Heaven to cry for propitious mercy so it shewed the place from whence alone we can expect redemption and expiation for sin even from Heaven in the acceptation of Christs offering who was scorched in the fire of Gods wrath for sin Hereby likewise the meanes of obtaining pardon and grace are signified by the two properties of Fire Light and Heat The Light of Faith whereby the ancient Jewes did foresee Christ the promised Sacrifice and the Heat of ardent prayers breathed from the Altar of an inflamed heart whereby they did in the name of the foreseen and hoped for Sacrifice obtain the remission of sin Besides these were often reiterated for a constant memorial of the c He. 10.14 great Sacrifice once to be offered for the sins of many forasmuch as they were of themselves never able to purge the conscience from sin Fire was used in the consumption of these typical Sacrifices and what might that signifie Sometimes in Scripture it signifies d Grost ibid. p. 123. Virtutem Divinitatis nestrorum vitiorum rubiginem consumentis The force and power of the Divinity destroying the rust of our sins and vices as it is exprest in Deuteronomy saith our Grosted a Deut. 4.24 The Lord thy God is a consuming fire Sometimes it signifies Gods indignation as the Prophet Jeremy expresses it against unjust oppressors b Jer. 21.12 Lest my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it Sometimes it signifies the words of God proceeding from the mouth of the Prophets c Jer. 5.14 Behold I will make my words in thy mouth fire and this people wood and it shab devour them The words of the Law have the force of fire burning d Cramer Schol. proph 5 ta par p. 17. the hearts of men and stirring up in them the sense of the just wrath and fury of God against sin Now as the fire consumed the Sacrifices it noted the justly demerited wrath of God to consume us for our sins and was a type of the anger of God that fell upon Christ our Surety on the behalf of sinners * Cloppenb Schol. Sacri p. 62. c. It was anciently the token of the acceptation of their Sacrifices when fire came down from Heaven to consume them as in the Sacrifice of e Gen. 15.17 Abraham f Lev. 9.24 Aaron g Judg. 6.21 Gideon h 2 Chr. 7.1 Solomon i 1 King 18 38. Elijah It was unlawfull to use any other fire then celestial for when once God had answered by fire from Heaven the Priests office was to conserve it perpetually
being attested by grave and sober Authors that lived not far from the times wherein it was acted One having declared briefly the sum of the story Chrys ser 2. contr Jud p. 334. vol. 6. edit Savil. goes on thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And now says he if you come to Jerusalem you will see the foundations naked and bare and if you ask the reason you shall hear none but this story and of this matter we are all witnesses A.C. vulg 363. for these things hapned in our own age not very long since But Julian that great and subtile enemy of the Christians presently upon this went on his expedition against the Persians and there felt the direful weight of Gods judgements upon him for those and other his enormous crimes acted against the Truth Happy were it for the Jews could they but discern the strong and marvellous actings of Providence against them when designing the re edification of the Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 337. ibid. saith the former Author in his third Oration against them For once twice and thrice under Hadrian Constantine and Julian they attempted it but were beaten off the two former times by the Roman Souldiers the last time by fire flashing from the foundations They have formerly talked of a third Temple under the Messiah Their discourses are accomplished at this day but in a spiritual way which they poor souls cannot yet discern while the vail of Moses is upon their hearts 'T is the Temple of the Church wherein Christ delights to walk Let us who upon their casting away were reconciled to God Pray for their resurrection from the dead that so the blindeness which is hapned unto Israel Rom. 11.15 Vers 25 until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in may be visited with the Day-spring from on high that even to them the Deliverer may come out of Zion Vers 26. Hos 3.4 5. to turn away ungodliness from Jacob that they who have continued many days without a King and without a Prince and without Sacrifice c. may seek the Lord their God and David their King and fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days Rev. 21.1 That so both Jew and Gentile having one Shepherd and one fold may worship him in the New Jerusalem that cometh down from above 3 Pet. 3.13 wherein dwelleth righteousness when the New Heavens and the New Earth shall be manifest where there is no Temple to be seen Rev. 21 22. For the Lord Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Aristot Rhet. l. 1. c. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS The Index An Alphabetical Index of the chief Matters handled in the foregoing Treatise A. AAron's Rod. 61 What it noted 264 c. Accursed are dedicated things 108 Adamant a precious Stone in the Breast-plate 302 Adarconim what Coine 2 4 Aethiophians of Africa mistaken for those of Arabia 154 241 Agate a precious Stone in the Breast-plate 303 Alkermâ—s of what made 294 Almond Rod what 265 Almug-Trees 52 Altar its name whence 282 Altar of Brasse 70 What it noted 281 Altar of incense 62. 64 What it noted 273 Altar to the unknown God 247 America discovered of old 224 Amethyst a precious Stone in the Breast-plate 304 Ammoniack-Gumme 270 Angels noted by Cherubins 259 Their Communion with Saints 230 Annual Festivals 112 Apollo whence derived by Plutarch 251 Arabia famous for frankincense 271 Araunah's threshing flowre The place of the Temple 2. 15. 184 What it cost 3 Arke of the Covenant 59 Mysteries thereof 254 Removals from place to place 252 What wood it was made of 253 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Josephus whence derived and what measure 109 Asuppim Gates where 52. 102 B. BAlsame 317 Bases of the 10 Lavers 79 Bath what quantity 109 c. Bdellium what 261 Beasts 4 in the Revelations 5. are Angels 258 259 Bells on the Robe of the Ephod 88 What they signified 293 Beryll a precious Stone in the Breast-plate 305 Birth of Christ in September 323 Bishops and Elders the same 289 Blew in the Ephod what 294 Blindness what Spiritually 286 Blood of the eating thereof 236 Bonnets of the Priests 88. 313 Book of the Law 259 Bowls of the Candlestick 277 Branch in Scripture for Christ 264 Branches of the Golden Candlestick 277 Brazen Pillars 68 Scaffold 71 Sea 73. 74 What it denoted 283 Bread on the Golden Tables 275 Breast-plate of Judgement 89 Imitated by Heathens 310 What it denoted 299 The Stones in it 307 Breeches of the Priests 88 What they noted 289. 294 Bullocks offered 114 Burial in Churches when came up 246 Burying places of old without the Walls of Cities 245 Burning of Sacrifices what it noted 114 Burnt-offerings 114 Spiritualized 336 338 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whence 295 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whence 284 C. CAkes 1â— on the Golden-Table 276 Cakes Oyled for the meat offerings 123 Calamus Aromaticus an ingredient of the Oyntment 317 Candlesticks of Gold 66 Their fashion 278 What they noted 277. 279 Carbuncle a precious Stone in the Breast-late 301 Cassia-lignea in the Oyntment 317 Causey to the King's House 52 Cedar its excellency 218 Of what Use 173 Lepers purified with it 121 Censer of Gold 61. 63. 269 Ceremonies of Old were Types of Gospel-things 176 Chambers annext to the Temple 30 In the Courts 57 what they note 242 Chemosh the God of Ammon whence 152 Cherubins two upon and two near the mercy-seat 60 What they noted 257 Of what shape 256 On the inside walls of the Temple 58 What they signified 229 Chief-Priests 91 Christ mediates like a Prince 314 1 Chron. 6.10 opened 146 Cinnamon an ingredient of the Oyntment 317 Cities of the Priests and Levites 128 Their Fashion 130 Cloven tongues sitting on the Apostles 187 Coats for the Priests 88 What they signified 290 Colour varied by light 310 Compasse of the outward Court 45 Corner-Stone Christ 195. 201 Covers of Gold for the Incense-Cup 274 For the Shew-bread 274 Courses 24 of Priests 92 Of Singers c. 98 Courts of the Temple 35 c. What they signified 238 Crassus his going into the Temple boded his ruine 248 Crook-backt perverse 287 Crown of Gold on the High-Priests head 90. 313 What it signified 314 Of the King of Amalek what it weighed 5 Cubical form of the Oracle what 232 Cubit of what Length 16 Cymbals Instruments of musick in the Temple 96 D. DAvids gifts and preparations for the Temple 3 Daylie service 111 Spirituaâ—ized 320 Dedicated gifts to the Temple 3 Dedication-Solemnity 136 Destruction of the Temple 364 Diamond a precious Stone in the Breast-plate 302 Dishes of Gold for the Shew-bread 274 Doors of the Oracle what it noted 233 Of the Sanctuary 22 What it signified 315 Dove what it noted 325 Drams Hebrew Coines how much 2 Drink-offerings 126 What they noted 341 Dwarf what spiritually 287 Dyal of Ahaz 160 E. EArth's roundnesse hinted in
(i) Luk. 2.27 Simeon and (k) Ver. 38. Anna with Mary the Mother of our Lord according to the flesh where do they meet with Christ but in this holy place The two former having bin long expectants and waiters for the consolation of Israel at last found Him whom their souls loved when presented before the Lord in his Temple The Virgin Mary likewise having sorrowfully sought him in other places for three daies together at last met with him in the (l) Ver. 46. Temple doing his Father's businesse He that was the (m) Hag. 2.7 desire of all Nations through whom alone both Jews and Gentiles can expect restauration to the favour of God would then more fully performe the promises of the new Covenant of grace to his people when he should (n) Mal. 3.1 come into his Temple The Dove-like spouse finds her safest and sweetest repose in the (o) Cant. 2.14 Clefts of this rock in the secret places of the staires of the Temple-Tower Nay the Sparrows and Swallows of the Gentiles who formerly were (a) Eph. 2.12 without Christ and without God in the World have now found an house yea and nests for themselves where they may lay their (b) Psal 84.3 young even thine Altars O Lord of Hosts our God and our King The kingdome of heaven from a graine of mustard-seed is shott up into a (c) Luk. 13.19 great tree so that those birds which formerly lived according to the course of this World according to the (d) Eph. 2.2 Prince of the power of the aire do now lodge and sing in its branches But to retreat to the former Metaphor This is the noble stone of the corner unto which the Church and all its particular members are fastned by the cement of Faith and Love The union whereof is undiscernable by common and carnal eyes not unlike the stones of the Typical Temple which Josephus reports to have bin so admirably laid and fastned with such rare artifice that the junctures could not be perceived as if the whole building had bin made one intire stone and that not unlike to the Helio-Selenus a precious stone mentioned by (e) Art Mirab. l. 4. c. 45. p. 694. Gregory of Tholouze that shews the Synod or Conjunction of the two great luminaries the Sun and the Moon Christ the Sun of righteousnesse and the Church the Moon of the Gospel-heavens Whosoever then erres in respect of this (f) 1 Cor. 3.10.11 c. foundation stone must of necessity erre likewise most grossely in the whole super-structure We may observe then that the builders of this World who own an other Head laying aside this Corner-stone do consequently erre in the deep and profound doctrine of election seeing we are (g) Eph. 1.5 predestinated unto the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ The foundation of God remaineth sure having this seal (h) 2 Tim. 2.19 THE LORD KNOWETH who are his even that such who name the name of Christ should depart from iniquity Those will erre also in the doctrine of Baptism seeing we are to be (i) Act. 19.5 baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus They will erre further in the doctrine of holy and spiritual-good works which flow only from the principle of a new nature united unto Christ by Faith For (k) Joh. 15.5 without him we can do nothing They erre likewise in the doctrine of the Resurrection For this is the belief that we are to hold firmely and inviolably that if [l] Rom. 6.8 c. we be dead with Christ we shall also live with him who will [m] Joh. 6.40 54. raise us up at the last day Finally such will erre in the excellent doctrine of eternal salvation For it is [n] Act. 15.11 through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we shall be saved The Mysteries of the body of the Covered Building called The Temple in a strict sense HAving finished the inquiry about the Foundation in some measure in the foregoing discourse It is high time now to work upon the Body of the Temple it self or the covered building which was extant above ground endeavouring with all sobriety and submission to search out the mysteries contained within those famous walls Concerning which I shall crave leave to speak a few words in general and afterward descend to treat of the three particular parts included in it The immensity of the Divine Essence and the most radiant excellency of Gods glorious Majesty which no creature can behold in its full purity and live cannot be contained and immured within (a) Act. 17.24 Temples made with hands Wherefore it is observable that holy John relates that he saw (b) Rev. 21.22 no Temple in the new and heavenly Jerusalem that is above For the LORD GOD Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it Yet it was his own good and holy pleasure that (c) Act. 7.47 Solomon should build him an House wherein as to his manifestative presence he was resolved to dwell more especially among the Children of Israel his chosen people In these Gospel-dayes under which we live through divine goodnesse when the worship of God is farre more spiritual though his Majesty hath not appointed a peculiar City wherein to place his name yet is it not unlawful even in these times but very commendable and useful to erect material Temples wherein the solemnities of Gospel-Ordinances may be celebrated and the congregations of his faithful people may more commodiously meet together Without which persons you read the words of (d) Comment in Act. 17. part 2. p. 31. Streso being there assembled they have no more holinesse in them than a Court or Palace neither is the (e) Joh. 4.21 c. Prayer or the Congregation lesse holy though convented together in a field than in such a building if necessity should so require Of old indeed (f) Mat. 23.17 the gold was sanctified by the Temple and the (g) Ver. 19. gift by the Altar But now ' its the (h) 1 Pet. 1.7 gold of Faith and (i) Heb. 13.15 the Sacrifice of Praise which must sanctifie the Temple If so be there is any metaphorical or (k) Mede's holinesse of Churches p. 46. relative holinesse which may safely and without danger be ascribed to it Especially at such a time when the cloud of Gods gracious and evangelical presence shall fill the Tabernacle where his Saints and people are assembled in his name and fear But as to the antient Temple there is no scruple or doubt to be made of a degree of sanctity formerly attending it different from that of ours wherein we meet for the management of divine services Though for certain we ought to conceive so candidly and charitably of all men that bear the honourable name of Christians that there can scarce be a person found so stupid and senselesse as to think that there was any real inherent holinesse in those beautiful
forth Forasmuch as we read often in Scripture of Men noted by Plants and Trees as judicious (b) Comm. in Esa 53. fol. p. 808. Rivet and others have observed The Parable of Jotham in the Ninth of Judges and the (c) 2 Kin. 14.9 Message of Jehoash King of Israel to Amaziah King of Judah with many other places in the Canticles and the Prophets do evidence it Wherefore learned (d) Jerom. Tom. 5. p. 277. edit Erasm Lugd. 1530. Jerom compares Cyprian and Hilary and other Holy men in the Church to Cedars and Firr-Trees in his Comment on that place of the Prophet Esay where there is a famous Prophecy that in the latter daies the Glory of (e) Isa 60.13 Lebanon should come to the Church the Firr-Tree and others to beautify the place of his Sanctuary The Beams whereof were to be laid with (f) Can. 1.17 Cedar and its Rafters with Fir. Nay further it 's a very common resemblance which both ancient and modern Interpreters glance upon That as the twelve Wells of water at Elim hinted at the twelve Apostles So the seventy (g) Exod. 15.27 Palm-Trees at the seventy Disciples But seeing the several Trees forementioned as to their Sanctuary-Use were imployed for inward Ornaments of the House and annexed to the stones of the Temple which signified the living stones of Saints in the language of holy Peter I shall crave leave to apply them rather to the inward Graces and Vertues of the Saints wherewith they are adorned in the sight of God and Man then to the persons themselvs In which respect the extraordinary greatnesse of their body and admirable strength might possibly reflect upon the (h) Dr. Edw. Reynolds on Hos 14. Ser. 5. p. 38. stability and firmnesse of the Church The constant Verdancy of their ever-green Leavs might denote the duration of the Church in spiritual prosperity notwithstanding all its storms and yielding heavenly refuge and shadow to such as lye under her branches For the Righteous shall be like a Tree whose leaf shall never (i) Ps 1.3 wither Their great procerity and tallnesse especially in the Cedar and Firr might be a resemblance of the growth of the Church and its approximation to heaven Their resinous or unctuo us qualities resisting Putrefaction might hint forth the constancy of the Church and perseverance in Grace against all her inward corruptions and defilements Their fragrancy the excellent savour of holinesse and of the evangelical good works of Saints who shall (k) Psal 92.12 grow like the Cedar and their (l) Hos 14.7 smell shall be like unto Lebanon Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God The Palm-Trees wherewith the Sanctuary was every where adorned as being carved between the Cherubims on the Doors and Wals of the House and curiously wrought upon the Veil were an excellent Emblem of the flourishing and conquering condition of the Church notwithstanding the sorest pressures of her enemies Her constant Motto in all Ages having been that of the Palm Depressa resurgo The Church is expresly (m) Cant. 7.8 See Ainsw in loc compared to this Tree in the Song of Solomon in whose branches the Lord Jesus takes great delight Possibly the Psalmist might reflect upon the Palm-Trees in the Sanctuary when he brings forth that excellent promise that the righteous shall flourish like the (a) Ps 92.12 Palm especially since he mentions their being planted in the house of God and bringing forth fruit in their old Age where they shall prove fat and flourishing That this Tree was used as the Embleme of Recovery o◠of trouble in ancient times seems probable by that speech of Job who foreseeing by a divine ray his future rising out of the dust of Affliction prophecyes of himself that he should multiply his daies (b) Job 29.18 as the Sand saith our Translation but as the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is by the Seventy translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the vulgar Latine Palma and by sundry learned Lexicographers is turned by the Palm which the following words seem much to favour seeing the Metaphor of a Tree is so clearly insisted upon in the succeeding verse when he tells us that his Root was spread by the waters and the dew lay all night upon his branch So that the restauration of Job to his former splendid condition after he had been long prest under the weight of sorrow and calamity seems to be fitly resembled by the Palm-Tree's rising up to its former erect posture after depression As it was with Job so it falls out with many a Saint nay the whole Church of Christ in general though for a while it may lye under heavy pressures yet at length it shall spread most gloriously and triumph with greater lustre Wherefore when Christ the King of his Church was riding in solemn procession towards Jerusalem the people cut down (c) Joh. 12.13 Mat. 21.8 branches of Palm-Trees and cast them in the high-way where he was to ride whence might be raised a most happy presage from the constant and received Hieroglyphick of the Palm-Tree that though his Kingdome was but small and obscure opposed depressed and injured at first yet at length it should recover most gloriously and fill the whole Earth with its fruitful branches We read that the Children of Israel when celebrating the feast of Tabernacles were commanded to make their Booths (d) Lev. 23.40 of boughs of Palm-Trees as well as others For as the feast was to commemorate their dwelling in Booths in the Wildernesse after their delivery out of Aegypt So the branches of these Trees might as in a Mirrour give them the reflection of a great Mercy after deep misery and bondage in the Land of Ham. But to conclude Neither was the Palm a token of Victory among the Heathens onely but also in sacred Scripture where we may read of the holy Martyrs triumphing in heaven with branches of (e) Rev. 7.9 Palms in their holy and victorious hands In the last place for the Olive Tree we read that the door-posts of the Sanctuary were made thereof whereby might be shadowed forth that heavenly peace which Saints enjoy when they are admitted through the doors of Ordinances into communion with God O! then their Souls shall be abundantly satisfied with the (f) Ps 36.8 fatnesse of his House Ordinances do most exceedingly raise and ennoble the Spirit of God's people when those golden Pipes do convey the Oyl of Grace and Life from above into their thirsting breasts When they are inwardly (g) 1 Joh. 2.27 anointed with that heavenly Oyl Olive of the Spirit of Grace which should teach them all things The Disciples had a promise on the Mount of Olives where the door of heaven was opened for the reception of our Lord into Glory that they should receive power after the (h) Act. 1.8 Holy Ghost was come
upon them in his divine Unction to be witnesses to Christ even to the uttermost parts of the Earth To proceed in discoursing further on the Ornaments of the Sanctuary As all the Cedar boards were laid most exactly eeven and plain doubtlesse with greatest care imaginable so likewise the Saints that hold spiritual fellowship in the body mystical are full of harmony and union (i) Eph. 4.3 5. c. endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace And as the Boards were fastned with nailes and riverts of Gold this might exhibite the fixedness of Saints (k) Ps 61.4 abiding in the House of God for ever and trusting in the covert of his Wings their (a) Ezr. 9.6 Eccl. 12.11 Isa 22.23 25. Zech. 10.4 Nailes being fastned in a sure place by the Master of Assemblies even in that place where God himself hath promised to (b) 2 Cor. 6.16 walk in the midst of his people and to blesse them All those things hitherto recited with several after-mentioned were appointed for the Beauty and Ornament of the Sanctuary within where indeed was its chiefest lustre and glory So is it with the Church She is all glorious (c) Ps 45.13 within Yea and every Saint as his joyes so his graces are hidden from the Eyes of the World That 's the comfort of the Children of God that like Christ our Head They have meat to eat of which the World knoweth not of places in the Holy Sanctuary to take therein most refreshful turns which are invisible to the world But for the further beautifying of this holy place we read that there were Open-flowers carved upon the Cedar in a very pleasant and stately manner which are supposed to have been formed in (d) Lightf 2 d. Temple p. 81. this wise Throughout both the sides of the Sanctuary there were long wreaths of bunches of Flowers and Cornucopiaes carved in the fragrant Wood running all along in a Line paralel to the Horizon and the first row of these flowered Carvings began probably at the bottom of the Wall near the golden Floor and over them Cherubims and Palm-Trees all along to the end on both sides Then another row of bunching flowers and then Cherubims and Palm-Trees again up to the top by the roof in as many ranks as the bignesse of the Figures would permit and suit with the heigth of the Sanctuary Our Inquiry may be for a little time what sort of Flowers these were To which the Glosse of the Chaldee Paraphrase proffers some satisfaction constantly reading the Texts where they are mentioned by these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bundles or wreaths of Lillies We have frequent mention of carved and molten works made like unto Lillyes in the Temple-stories as in the Lip or Border of each of the 10 Lavers In the turning down of the brim of the Brazen Sea and in the fair Ornaments which were added to the heads of the two famous Pillars standing within the Porch before the Sanctuary In respect to the present Sculptures in hand As our Text calls them Open-flowers so they might resemble the hope of the heavenly Glory which flowres in the hearts of Saints walking here below in the Ordinances of the Sanctuary For as the hope of the harvest lies in the blade so the hope of fruit and seed lies in the flowers of a Plant. In that they were made to resemble the flowers of Lillyes it suits aptly with the frequent allusions made in Scripture unto Lillies respecting the Church The Spouse is compared by Solomon to a (e) Cant. 2.2 Lilly among Thorns and the Bridegroom himself is brought in as feeding among his (f) Cant. 2.16 6.3 Lillies It is observable that our Lord compares Solomon in all his (g) Mat. 6.29 glorious raiment unto the Lillies which because of the variety of his gorgeous Attire might possibly be most resembled and set forth by that admirable and curiously coloured Flower which we call the Tulip at this day being brought to us originally from Persia whose chief City was called Shushan and a Province within that Empire termed Susiana from the plenty of those curious Flowers growing there naturally But as it passed through Asia and the Turks of Constantinople whence we received it more immediately it gained thence the present name of Tulip from the Turkish attire about their heads Now if this were the Flower as 't is probable whose Effigies was carved in the Sanctuary although the variety of its colours for which it is worthily esteemed the Queen of Flowers could not be manifested but by Enamelling the Gold which was laid upon the Cedar a thing probably wherewith the Ancients were unacquainted yet in consideration of its rare variety we may resemble to it the excellent and curious mixture of Graces and Vertues shining in the hearts and lives of Saints But if it were no other then the ordinary tall white Lilly or perhaps that curious neat and fragrant small flower of the Lilly Convally which grows amongst us then as whitenesse is many times used for the Embleme of purity innocency and chastity so might these flowers denote the purity of the Saints Holinesse the unspotted innocency of their lives towards men the integrity of their hearts toward God the untemerated chastity of their conjugal Love toward Christ and as (a) Eccl. 9.8 white Garments were used of old in times of Joy and festival Solemnities so might these shadow forth the unspeakable Joy of the Spirit shed abroad in their hearts upon the account of those gracious endowments wherewith they are qualified But now although the Church of Christ be thus undefiled pure and beautiful in the sight of God like the Lilly yet shall not her beauty be as that fading flower in the morning pleasant and lovely to see to in the evening dry and withered but as the Flowers in the Temple-carvings were alwaies open so shall her Graces and Ornaments be alwaies flourishing till their Roots shall be transplanted into the Eden above at the right hand of God where the Rivers of pleasure shall alwaies preserve them from a flaccid declining when their Graces flourishing here in the Garden of the Vally shall be curiously tied into a Crown or Garland which is (b) 1 Pet. 5.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (c) 1 Pet. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immarcescible and incorruptible reserved for them in the Heavens Besides because the Lilly is but a tender plant and of small Roots lest the duration of the Church should not seem to be clearly set forth by it therefore are her Roots promised to be strong and abiding like the Cedars of Lebanon So that as the other similitude did set forth the beauty and pleasantness this doth denote the perpetuity and continuance of the Church of Christ as hath been (d) Dr. Edw. Reynolds on Hos Ser. 5. p. 38.4 to observed by a most learned holy and reverend Worthy of our Church