40. 35. with Levit. 1. 11. Exod. 30 6. For thorow it God appeared to the people and out of which God gave the knowledge of his will and minde as the above Scriptures shew This answereth to the usefulness of Jesus Christ to the Elect of God or it shews us very much of the prophetical Office of Christ for it is Christ onely that can give out the knowledge of his Fathers will and pleasure to the Church of God All the manifestations of the love grace mercy favour and councel of God comes home to the Church through the humane nature of this blessed Tabernacle Christ Jesus therefore saith Christ John 14 24. The word which you hear is not minâ— but the Fathers which sent me John 15. 15. I call you friends for all the things which I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you John 12. 49 50. For I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me gave me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak and I know that his commandment is life everlasting whaâ—soever I speak therefore what the Father said unto me so I speak Hence is Christ called the wonderful councellour Isa 9. because of his revealing office by all which it appears that Christ is the way through which the Father reveals or maketh manifest himself to his people now as he did to the Israelites of old through the Tabernacle Use 3. O therefore soul if thou wouldst have more fatherly grace let out upon thy soul if thou wouldst have more of the knowledge of God more of the love of his Spirit of Light and assurance if thou wouldest know more of his will so as to obey it and live to it O then wait upon God at the door of this Tabernacle Christ for in him it is that the Father will speak with thee and no where else Matth. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased O wait upon him in the meanest of grace break through all discouragements and opposition and temptations to wait upon the ordinances of the Gospel if ever thou intendest to acquaint thy self with the saving knowledge of Gods presence of grace and favour to thy soul O stir not from prayer reading hearing the word meditation Christian conference and communion with the Lords people for thou waitest upon Christ in all these things and in waiting upon Christ thou waitest upon the Tabernacle through which God will discover himself to the people therefore be not discouraged to wait here though thou meetest but with little profit hitherto yet the promise is in Isa 30. 31. He that waiteth upon the Lord he shall mount up as on eagles wings they shall run and not be weary walk and not be faint But to be a little more particular about several things in the Taberuacle as they were many in number yet not a thing there without its special use and signification as they related to Christ and there is not one of these things but had a wonderful deal of glory and excellency laid up in them and were but the ignorant more acquainted with it then they are they would not slight the Books of the old Testament as they do CHAP. 17. I now come to speak of the several things in the Tabernacle and first I begin with the Ark. FIrst there was in the Tabernacle a very glorious thing called an Ark Exod. 37. 1 2. The signification of which we finde to be the Worship of God accompanied with his presence therefore in 1 Sam. 4. 21. when the Ark was taken by the Philistines it s said that the gâ—ory of God was departed from Israel meaning the Worship of God wherein God was in an especial manner present with his people so Ps 132 8. For indeed the worship of God is the glory of any Nation and when that is gone their true glory is gone although it may be they do not see it Use 1. Then how may we pitty those Nations that are without the true worship of God alas they are without true glory they have not excellency or beauty upon them they have not the worship of God whatever they may account of themselvs yet God and his word accounts them to be a base ignoble nation or people a whole nation of them not worth one single person of that people which have the worship of God amongst them read Isaiah where God is a speaking of these persons that had his worship kept up amongst them and do but observe how God values them in comparison of others which had not this true worship amongst them speaking to Israel saith thus Isa 43. 3 4. For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethiopia and Seba for thee since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee I will give men for thee and people for thy life Now Israel had the true Worship of God amongst them but Ethiopia Seba and Egypt had not and that is the reason that God prefers Israel above and beyond the other nations but when the God of this world hath wholly blinded the eyes of the nations of the earth as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. As that the light of the glorious Gospel cannot shine in upon their hearts It s no wonder if the nations of the earth findes not the want of this mercy Secondly O then what a sad thing is it for a Nation that once had the Gospel amongst them shining in its lustre and brightnesse round about their Tents and Tabernacles to be guilty of driving and forcing the Gospel away and the pure Worship of God away from them what worthless creatures are such and what a worthless Nation is such a Nation think you in Gods sight who shall in the face of God cry down and vote down and thrust out from amongst them the Ark of his Worship and Gospel as a thing not worthy to live or abide amongst them Certainly if the Gadarens Luke 8. 37. Did render themselves a vile people in Gods sight in putting Christ from their Country though done with a mild intreaty how much more vile hath that Nation or people rendred themselves in the sight of God who have not patience with the Gadarens to intereat him civilly to depart from them but wicked Pharaoh-like doth violently force him and drive him out of their Coasts Certainly I know not a blacker Character can hang over a people or Nation then this Character which do more strongly witnesse the Ruine of such a people then this doth read these places Prov. 1. 25 26 27. 2 Chron. 36. 16 17. Thes 1 2 15 16. You likewise know what became of Pharaoh and his whole Army together with all the glory of his Kingdom suddenly after he had contracted this kind of guilt upon him and his Nation and certainly the Lord favours this kind of sin no more
all pains of body or decrepidness of limbs Isa 35. 5 6. Revel 21. 4. Revel 22. 3. Lastly And that which will crown all will be this they shall be under the constant shinings of Gods face of glorious love and mercy which will never admit of any withdrawings more Rev. 22. 4 5. Object But some may say doth not our Saviour say That my kingdom is not of this world 1 John 18. 36. and that the kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation Luke 17. 20. and that the kingdom of God is within you ver 21. How is it which you say the kingdom of Christ shall be on earth in this world To which I answer That there is a three-fold kingdom which is attributed to Jesus Christ 1. A kingdom of providence or his providential kingdom 2. And a kingdom of grace 3. A kingdom of glory here on earth As for his providential kingdom of that I shall say but little But there is his kingdom of grace in the heart This Kingdom cometh not with observation indeed and this is not of this world for nothing in the world can procure or effect it in the heart of any creature The strongest Caesar or wisest Philosopher or richest Nabal in the world should they put all their strength and parts and riches together can do nothing in this case without the mighty power of God This kingdom of grace is within in the heart indeed and it affords no signs or fore-running tokens of it in the least but as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is the spirits coming upon a soul at the time of its conversion you hear the sound of it but know not from whence it is so saith our Saviour John 3. 7 8. But thiâ—dly There is his glorious Kingdom or Kingdom of Glory and that is what is of this world and that which cometh with signs and tokens of observation that Christ is to have a Kingdom in this world a Kingdom of external glory hath been the business which we have proved already but for better satisfaction take this Scripture Revel 11. 15. And there were voices in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lords and of his Christs And that the coming of this kingdom is with observation that is it s attended with its fore-running signes and tokens there is nothing more clear read Mat. 24. from the 1. ver to the 30. You shall meet with little else but matter of observation touching the coming of this kingdome into the world ver 30. So that Christ saying My kingdom is not in this world and my kingdom cometh not with observation and my kingdom is within you doth not in the least fight against this truth if we consider the various administrations of the Kingdom I grant all this to be properly applied to the kingdom of his Grace but not to the Kingdom of his Glory which he shall have here as he is the Son of man Further Now the Jews Canaan was an inheritance which God gave the people freely Deut. 19. 1. So is it in this case to have a right to this Kingdom or Gospel Canaan of rest and peace it is the free gift of God without any desert on our part at all take the kingdom as it is of grace here in the heart or of glory in the Nations or of ultimate glory above to have a portion in it it s of free gift therefore saith Christ Luke 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdome Likewise Canaan it was an inheritance which was divided to the children of Israel proportionably to every one by lot Numb 26 54 55 56. So is it in this case of the Gospel Canaan every true Israelite shall have his portion of grace and glory in this kingdom none shall say then that his field shall yield no meat or that his flock be cut off the fold no no but rather with David to cry out Psalm 16. 5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot the lines are fallen in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Again The Jews were to march in an armed state to their Canaan of old so should all the Saints get on about them their spiritual armour as the Apostle speaks in Ephes 6. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Wherefore take on thr whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and when you have done all to stand stand therefore having your loins girt about with â—ruth and having on the brest plate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace above all things take on the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be abâ—e to quench the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying alwayes with supplâ—cation in the spirit watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Without this armour on about you never think to march safe to this good Land take it either for the kingdom of glory here on earth or the kingdom of glory above with the Father Your enemies are worse then those which stood in Israels way to their Canaan saith Paul Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but agaâ—nst principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spirital wickedness got into high places Likewise the Jews were to fight for the good Land they were not onely to put on their armour but they were to use it Deut. 7. 19 20 21 22 23 24 So must Christians not onely put on their spiritual armour but they must use it against the Devil sin and temptation Armour signifies but little if a man make no use of it therefore saith Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 12. Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called Lastly They were to fight under their captain Joshua So this sheweth Christians under whose banner they should fight and who they should engage with them in the quarrel their spiritual Joshua in whose strength alone they are more then conquerors Rom. 8. 37. Nay in all these things we are more then conquerors through him that loved us Saints your enemies are great and politick and truly they contend with you for things of a very great concernment it s for your souls things of more worth then the world and in your selves you are poor weak things but Christ is the power of God yea the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be sure if you intend to overcome and prevail get under the shadow of Christs wing set Christ before you make him the captain and he will fight your battle for you and make the necks of your stout enemies to lie under your feet CHAP. 37. Of their Cities of Refuge THese Cities were six in number
of ultimate glory comes to take place that all the Nations shall be gathered together before God and the Godly taken up into Heaven and the wicked at the same time sent away into eternal darkness Now if the wicked must go down into Hell at the same time that the Godly must be received up into Heaven where then will the Nations be for the Saints to Rule over with Iron Rods so in Luke 11. 2. You are bid to pray for a Kingdom saying when thou prayest say Thy Kingdom come Now this very Kingdom must be on Earth for is not the Kingdom of grace as the Kingdom of grace is commonly understood because the Kingdom of grace was then in being and had been in being all along in all ages of the world before But this Kingdom which Christ bids his Disciples to pray for was a Kingdom yet to come Thy Kingdom come Neither can it be the Kingdom of glory for that is not said to come to us but we are said to be carryed up to it 1 Thes 4. 17. Yea it s so far from being the Kingdom of ultimate glory that its a Kingdom which cometh down out of glory upon the Earth Rev. 20. 2 3. And I John saw the holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband and I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God This you see how Canaan of old and this Gospel Canaan which the Apostle calls a rest to the people of God do agree for matter of place Secondly They are made to agree for the conditions upon which the subjects were to enter each place faith was required as necessary to the entring of old Canaan Heb. 3. 18 19. The same is required as necessary to this Gospel Canaan Heb. 4. 1. Again a following of God fully was required as necessary to enter the old Canaan Numb 14. 21 22. 23 24. The same is required as necessary to the entring of this Kingdom Mat. 19. 28. Thirdly They do agree for priviledges only in the general Canaan of old was a very pleasant delightful good land which afforded aboundance of comfort wealth and safety a full reward for all their travels temptations and afflictions which they went under for the Lord so is it with this Kingdom or Canaan much more full of glory will this be found to have I shall briefly present you with some of the glory and excellency of it in some few particulars In the general it is set forth to you as a glorious thing or a great piece of glory Isa 60. 1. Arise for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee But to be a little more particular about this Kingdom and here we must take notice of these First Something done or is to be done by Christ at the setting up of this Kingdom Secondly Then the priviledges of it But as to the first there will be a general and total destruction fall upon all the enemies of the Lord which shall be found in a way of hostile opposition against the setting of this kingdom for if you observe you may see how excellently well Israels coming into Canaan doth agree to this particular with respect to what the Scripture saith shall be done upon the wicked at the setting up of this kingdom for it is to be observed that just before their entering into the good Land the greatest slaughter that ever was made of the enemies of the Lord was at that time as you may see Josh 10. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. This was but a type of what shall be the portion of the wicked at the Saints entrance into their great Canaan priviledges Read Isa 43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. So Isa 63. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Isa 66. 15 16. Joel 3. 2. with 14. Revelations 19. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Secondly when this is done and the great battle fought and the Lord Jesus hath strook through the loins of his enemies then will he take their kingdoms from them and give them unto the Saints in the whole world made up of both Jews and gentiles Dan. 2. 44. with Dan 7. 22. 27. Rev. 20 4. Matth. 19. 28. Rev. 2. 26 27. In which Kingdom it is clear that the Saints shall rule the Nations of the earth as the earth hath governed them for many years together in this world Psalm 45. 16 The Kingdom being delivered up into their hands then are they freed from the oppression and the oppressour which evil will never anoy the Saints more the Lord will so much restrain and moderate the rage of the wicked Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. Isa 35. 9. Isa 6. 18. Isa 54. 14. Secondly the Saints shall then in an eminent manner be a righteous holy people no hypocrite shall be there Isa 35. 8. Isa 60 21. Zach. 14. 20 21. Revelations 22. 15. Revelations 21. 17. Thirdly The Saints shall be then set wholly free from a timmerous and distracting fearful spirit in duty Zach. 12. 8. Isa 35. 4. Fourthly Their knowledge in all divine as well as in humane things will be wonderful to the administration of those which shall have to do with them yea so great shall the wisdom of the Saints be at that day that those persons who have been accounted the learned and wise of the times before shall be ashamed to acknowledge that ever they were such men Zach. 13. 4. 5. Isa 29. 24. Fifthly There shall so great a spirit of fear and dread drop from their countenances upon the wicked as that the very majesty of their presence will daunt them through the whole earth Cant. 6 10. Sixthly There shall be a mighty spirit of glory upon all the attempts and atchievements which the Saints shall bring forth at that day though now it be clothed with shame and disgrace in the eyes of the world yet then it shall seem otherwise Isaiah 54. 11 12. Isaiah 16. 14 15. Isaiah 66. 10 11 12. Seventhly This Canaan shall afford the Saints all manner of riches plenty and peace Isaiah 60. 78. with 12. 13. verses Zach. 14 14. Revel 21. 7. Revelations 22 2. Psalm 72. 6 7. Eighthly The very heavens and the earth shall receive their primitive excellency and first purities Ezek. 34. 27. Isa 65. 17. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Ninthly In this Canaan God will so bless the substance of it as that he will remove out of the way all these thorns and prickling briars which did any way render our comforts unpleasing to us or did any way imbitter them to our taste as the shortness of life God will take away that Isaiah 65. 20. with ver 22. As likewise God will remove all occasions of loss either as to goods or estate Isa 65. 21 22 23. Also
this world hath blinded their minds least the light of the glorious Gospel should shine in upon them Secondly Labour to comfort thy self from this good consideration under all the ignomy and reproach which the world will or can cast upon thee that the time is coming which will not stay long wherein the Lord will make thine with the rest of his peoples glory to shine forth with more brightnesse and Majesty then the Sun in its full strength that although thou with the rest of the Saints hast lain for a while amongst the pots yet the time will not be long But thy wings shall be as a Dâ—ve covered over with silver and all thy feathers of yellow gold Psal 68. 13. Again in this Candlestick we may observe these things First The parting of the Candlestick which was in this maner it parted a foot high or thereabouts in the stem Secondly Out of which parting came six Branches which shews us thus much the great Candlestick out of which the little Candlesticks branched forth signifies the Jewish national Church this holds as intire from the foot of the Candlestick to the parting above in the stem out of which stem came the six Branches and the Branches signifie the Gentile Churches which succeeded or sprung forth from the Jewish Church Isa 60. 3. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising Pray observe the thing well there were not six little Candlesticks branched besides and apart from the great Candlestick but six little Candlesticks branched themselves forth of the great Candlestick but still maintained union with the great Candlestick which shews us these two things First That both Jews and Gentiles are but one people to God consider the Jews as they were befre they were broken off by unbelief and all interested in one Christ alike all that did believe either Jew or Gentile shall all sit down in one Kingdom of God together Rom. 10. 12. For there is no difference but the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him Secondly It shews us thus much that the difference between Jew and Church was not essential but circumstantial not so much in the state as in the Ordinances Pray observe the Candlesticks all hold union in the stem although they differed above in the Branches It s true the Lord held the Jews and Gentiles under differing administrations but not under a divers state they and we differed in our Ordinances but not in essence or substance as to a Church state so much as this clearly offers it self to me from the union between the stem and the Branches in the Candlestick if it will be granted that the Candlestick in the Tabernacle be a figure of the Church of God as then it was together with these other Gentile Churches which should succeed that now considering the Scriputres elsewhere do so apply the word Candlestick I know not but this should pass for a fair notion Rev. 1. 20. Where it s said that the Mystery of the seven golden Candlesticks are the seven Churches You see the Candlestick in the Tabernacle for Essence and Substance was one and the same though they differed above in the Branches so then if this be a figure of the Church of God under both Old and New Testament then both the Jews then and we Gentles now must stand upon one and the self-same stock or root or else how doth this hold good in the similitude for after the same manner reasons the Apostle about the Jewish and Gentile Churches Rom. 11. 24. For if thou wert cut out of the Olive tree which is wild by nature and wert grafted contrary to nature into the good Olive tree how much more shall these which be the natural Branches be grafted into their own Olive tree Methinks then how clearly do this warrant the practice of the Congregational Churches in giving to their Infants Membership in their Church and consequently Baptism I know there are many of our dear Christian friends in England of a differing opinion to me in this matter but how ever read my notion without offence and then give thy thoughts about it Now mark there is nothing more clear to me from the union that the Branches hold to and with the Candlestick but that the Jews and we Gentiles were taken into a Church state alike so saith St. Paul Rom. 11. 16. with ver 24. For if the first fruit be holy the lump is also holy if the root be holy so are the branches and if thou wert cut out of the Olive-tree which is wild by nature and wert grafted contrary to nature into the good Olive-tree how much more shall these which be the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree From hence I shall take leave to ask a question or two First What may we understand by the root and the branches laid down here by St. Paul Secondly What may we understand by this holiness with which the branches were made holy ver 16. and what these branches were First of all by the root and branches must be meant either Christ together with all those sound Believers which are ingrafted into him by true Faith or else by the root and branches must be meant a Church state and all those visible branches which stand there by membership Now if we should understand it in the first sence then this will follow that those that are truly ingrafted into Christ by faith may be wholly broken off and so we must run our selves upon Arminianisme do what we can But if we must not take it in the former sence then we must take it in the latter sence viz. by the root and branches a Church state and those which are taken in the visible membership of it for such may be broken off or may fall away consider them meerly as Church Members and no truth or part of the truth of election impared Now what were the branches of the root which root was the Jewish Church state were they not the parents and the children â—en 17. Well then if these were the branches of the old root viz. the believing parents and their children and that the Gentiles are ingrafted into or upon the same root and are partakers of the fatness of the old olive tree meaning the priviledges of the Church And if the candlestick of the Jews holds union with the Candlestick of the Gentiles under the Gospel in the same stem how then can our Church state under the Gospel be like the Jews under the Old Testament if onely we should stand as Members in a Church state without our little ones but again mark what the Apostle saith Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy if the root be holy so are the branches so that the second question will be this what may we understand by holiness here or in what sence shall we take it either it must be a holiness consisting of
in the opening of it in the Ordinances how have you been made to cry out with Peter Matth. 17. 4. Master it is good to be here what blessed heart-affecting discoveries doth there come out of the Tabernacle sometimes therefore doth David so much prize the Tabernacle or House and Church of God Psal 84. 1 2 4. Oh how amiable are thy Tabernables O Lord of hosts my soul longeth yea fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God blessed are all they that dwell in thy house for they will be still praising thee Why should those that live in the Tabernacle or house of God so much praise God Answer amongst many reasons so to do this is not a small one because of the exceeding glory God discovers to them in the Church Oh what glorious gifts are there what glorious Ordinances what glorious Ministers are there what a glorious Gospel what glorious discoveries are there made of this Gospel in the Church what a glorious Spirit is there in the Tabernacle of the Church Oh what glorious graces do there live in the hearts of the Materials of this Tabernacle besides the glorious name of God lives there and all this covered over with Rams skins dyed red and coverings made of Goats hair But however let Believers comfort themselves God will have a time to remove the covering made of Rams skins and Goats hair and then the world shall see and know the worth anâ— glory of the Tabernacle or Church There are many precious promises in the word of God about the removing of the Rams skin covering from the Church of God take a few for all one is in Psal 45. That where the Church of God because of her deformity on the out side hath been the scorn of the Earth yet the time shall come when God shall remove her Rams skin and Goats hair covering that the rich men of the Earth shall entreat the Churches favour as ver 12. of that 45. Psalm And the Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour Isa 60. 15. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternal excellency a joy of many Generations So Verse 14. The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and they shall call thee the City of the Lord the Zion of the holy one of Israel Verse 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee the Fir-tree the Pine-tree and the Box together to beautifie the place of my Sanctuary for I will make the place of my feet glorious So Verse 12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted So Verse 3. For the Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising So Isa 54. 11 12. Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy Stones with fair colours and lay thy Foundation with Saphires I will make thy windows of Aggates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant Stones So Verse 13. 14. All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Children in righteousness shalt thou be established thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear and from terrour for it shall not come near thee But the Question wiâ—l be when shall these Prophesies be made good I Answer When Israel shall come to his good land then it shall be then shall God take away the Tabernacle covering made of Rams skins and Goats hair which was upon the Tabernacle all the while of its being in the wilderness and then will God shew the glory of the Tabernacle his Church to all the world Isa 60. 3. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising Is a Metaphor taken from the rising Sun as that when the Sun riseth upon the earth all the earth is filled with the beams of its glorious light so shall the world with the glory of the Tabernacle You know this covering upon the Tabernacle lasted but during their abode in the wilderness for when they came into the land of promise and rest the covering was taken away in a great measure and the glory of it suffered more to appear then formerly as you may perceive when Solomon turned the Tabernacle into a most Magnificent Temple Now this land of rest or the end of the wilderness journey I find to be two ways held out in Scripture either for the ultimate glory above or for that Kingdom of glory which Christ calls his Kingdom as he is the Son of man which he so often promiseth his people as the reward of their sufferings for him for our Saviour makes a clear difference between the Kingdom of ultimate glory above and the Kingdom of glory which Christ hath promised to give his people for their Faith Love and Constancy to him in suffering-times pray read well and consider that passage of our Saviour Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my Throne even as I have overcome and am set down with my Father on his Throne Mark that there is the Fathers Throne of glory and there is the Sons Throne of glory mine saith Christ and my Fathers now one of these Thrones or Kingdoms of glory hath Christ made the proper reward of the Saints sufferings and that is what he calls his Kingdom a Kingdom distinct from the Fathers Rev. 3. 21. I will grant him to sit with me upon my Throne which is promised the Saints so often in the word of truth Math. 19. 28. Rev. 2. 26 27. Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 21. 2 3. Now all these Scriptures relate to the Kingdom of Christ this none will deny Secondly That this Kingdom is held out to the Saints and promised them as the reward of their sufferings it must also be granted Thirdly That this Kingdom thus promised to the Saints as the reward of their sufferings cannot be applyed to the ultimate glory will appear if we look into each Scripture neither can men read these Scriptures so without being guilty of putting meer Nonsense upon the face of Scipture Pray let us look into these places Math. 19. 28. And Jesus said unto them Verily Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon 12. thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Now this very promise is again handed out by our Saviour after his Ascension to John the Divine in the Isle of Patmos Rev. 3. 2. To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me on my throne Look into Rev. 20 4.
There you have the same promise applyed to his proper subjects which were suffering Saints and I saw thrones and they that sate upon them and Judgement was given unto them and I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Iesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads nor in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Now the Question will be whether this Text do neither relate to the Kingdom of ultimate glory taking its rise from the general Judgment day mentioned Math. 2. 5. 31 32. Or whether it relates to the setting up of Christs Kingdom here on Earth which is mentioned Dan. 2. 44. And in the days of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Now certainly it cannot relate to that Kingdom which takes its rise from the general Judgment day because we find the general Judgment day pointed at by the Holy Ghost to be a thousand years after this Kingdom begins Rev. 20. Where you read after a thousand years time spent in the management and ordering of the Son of mans Kingdom then the general Judgment day takes its place as appears from Verse 11. 12 13 14 15. Secondly Because this Kingdom is to have an end before the other begins Rev. 20. 7 8 9. Thirdly The great glory resolves this into it self 1 Cor. 15. 24. Then cometh the end meaning the end of the Son of mans Kingdom which answereth to that in Rev 20. 7 8 9 When he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power Fourthly Because this glorious Kingdom of the Son of man promised to the Saints as the reward of their faithfulness in holding out and suffering for him is so far from being any part of the ultimate glory above I mean so as to be enjoyed above that its what is expresly said to come down from that which is above Rev. 21. 2 3. And I John saw the holy City the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband and I heard a great voice saying the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Another Text of Scripture which speaks of the Son of mans Kingdom of glory here on Earth is in Rev. 2. 26 27 And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron as the vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I have received of my Father Now Reader pray read well and consider these words then give thy thoughts whether any thing in them can be applied to the ultimate glory not but that I believe the Saints shall enter there at last but whether there be not a glorious Kingdom on this side that for the Saints to enjoy as the reward of their sufferings which hath its foundation in the Scriptures Now observe in the abovesaid words of John it s said in ths Kingdom the Saints shall have power over the Nations so as to rule some and to break others in pieces with rods of Iron Now if this must relate to the glory of the Saints after the last and great general Judgment day behold as I said before what Nonsense we put upon the Scriptures for according to the Description given of the great and general Judgment day the wicked must immediately after sentence given depart into hell and the godly shall be taken up into heaven where each party shall be to eternity and shall never see the face of each other more Math. 25. 33. with 41. Well then according to that of Math. 25. The wicked and the godly shall be so totally separated as that they shall never see the face of one another more then where be the Nations and who are they that the Saints must rule over with Iron rods and break to pieces Besides over whom shall the Saints rule in Heaven for there only God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 28. Again Iron rods notes severity and bitterness now what of this do you promise your selves in Heaven Heaven knows nothing of that in the least and to say any shall rule with Iron rods there is to say that which the word doth not say Therefore be content Christian to travel to the end of thy appointed wilderness-journey when the time cometh that thou must enter into this good land and much promised Kingdom then expect thy Spiritual Solomon to turn thy Tabernacle state of deformity into a famous Temple of glory CHAP. 28. I come now to speak of the High Priest under the Law which was a Type of Jesus Christ also IN the handling of which I shall observe this method First Speak something as to the place out of which the High Priest was to be chosen Secondly I shall speak of the Qualifications which he was to be endued withall Thirdly I shall speak of the Consecrated Garments which he was to administer in Fourthly I shall speak of the manner of the Priests Consecration Fifthly Of the Work he was to do for the people when chosen for them First As to the place out of which the High Priest was to be chosen by being chosen I do not mean that there was such a Custom or Rule amongst the Jews before the Corruption crept into the Jewish Church for the people to chuse their High Priests but I intend the thing as it respects the first setting apart of a High Priest for the people Now the place from whence the High Priest was to be taken it was from amongst the Children of Israel not from a strange people or Country Exod. 28. 1. And take thou unto thee Aaron thy Brother and his Sons with him from amongst the Children of Israel that he may Minister unto me in the Priests Office This Particular affords us these two Uses Use 1. It serves to remove out of the way two great Objections which may abide upon the hearts of some tender Souls who may be unwilling to adventure their case in Christs hands First Because of their unacquaintance with him he is too much a stranger to them therefore some make no use of him for their High Priest Secondly Others call in Question his faithfulness therefore others make no use of him that which they have to commit to the High Priests care is of an infinite value it s the price of a Soul which if it should miscarry through want of faithfulness in the Priest they lose their all and
his own blood will not comply with their Canons they violently run upon them with ruine and destruction both to them and theirs without the least dram of mercy shewed them Should a Subject deal thus with his Prince who would advocate such a ones case at the Bar but how much Christ thinks himself bound to these men for this piece of service both to himself and his people let the world judge Again whereas 't is said that the Crown was set upon the Mitre it is to shew Believers how sweet the Kingly Office Power and Authority of Christ is sweetned to them by the Priestly Office of Christ It s the Priestly Mitre makes the Kingly Crown so sweet and lovely to men The grace which flows from Christ as Priest makes the Law which flows from Christ as King so delightful and precious What strange prejudicated opinions have men of the Law of the Crown of Christ when they look on it apart from the Mitre of Christs Priest-hood how formidable and cruel doth the Law look to them how do men shun it and avoid it as death it self it s an unreasonable Law it requires impossibilities such things as can never be obtained or performed by me it affords me no assistance no strength let me do what I can it damns me at last This the soul instead of subjecting to it fights with it as his worst of enemies so saith Paul Rom. 8 7. The carnal minded man is not subject to the Law of God neither indeâ—d can be But when the soul is brought in to close with Jesus Christ as his High Priest and hath tasted of the grace of the Priesthood and is made to see the Mitre under the Crown which it did not see before and understands that all the terrour of the Crowns Law is suckt in by the Mitres grace O then the soul comes to have other thoughts of the Law of God then ever it had before O saith the soul how miserably was my understanding darkened that I should so wickedly conclude of it as an unreasonable Law and a cruel Law a Law which required brick to be made without straw O but now I see it was my mistake and great ignorance O it requires no more then it will help in the doing it s a Law which hath the spirit of life in it Rom. 8. 2. That will quicken to its own performances a Law flowing from the Crown but it s a Crown upon the Mitre which is so far from killing of me that it giveth me spiritual life and frees me from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8. 2. Therefore saith Paul Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner man so saith David Psalm 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better then ten thousands of gold or silver So Psalm 19. 10. More to be desired is thy law then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey comb O every part of the work and worship of Christ is sweet now when the soul sees its the Law of a reconciler the work of an advocate the worship of a blessed High Priest which he is imployed in and about O it s the Law of one who hath shed his dearest blood for me to satisfie Justice it s the work of a High Priest which presents me in himself without spot to God and hath clothed me with the Robe of his Righteousness and made me an heir of Glory a childe of God a citizen of the new Jerusalem O this makes the work of Christs Kingdom delightful work to the soul now CHAP. 32. I now come to speak of the fourth general which is the manner of the Consecrating of the Priest which is as followeth THe High Priest being thus attired then was Moses to take a young Bullock and two Rams without blemish and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes tempered with oyl and offer this with the two Bullocks and tvvo Rams unto God for the Priest Exodus 29. 1 2. with 19. 20. Then was Moses to take a vessel of oyl and pour it on the Priests head and anoint him ver 7. In which consecration we may note two things 1. Something which related to the Type it self 2. What related to the Ante-type Jesus Christ First What of this consecration related to the Type or High Priest himself and what was this the materials made use of about his Consecration did highly testifie that he himself was but a poor weak frail man and that although he were called to so great an Office as to interpose between God and the people to make reconciliation for them yet he vvas no farther efficacious then as he vvas the Type of him that onely could take avvay sin vvhich vvas Jesus Christ held forth in him Thus much both himself and the people likevvise might inform themselves in the manner of his conseeration for there vvere tvvo Rams and a young Bullock must be slain and offered to God in sacrifice for him before be could stand in Gods presence to administer for the people Some sacrifices of pacification and attonement must be offered to God for the Priest himself as well as for the people vvhich taught both the Priest and People that there vvas no reconciliation vvith God to be had by the High Priests means any further then both Priest and people had an eye of Faith upon Jesus Christ held out by him so reasons the Apostle in Heb. 7. 26 27. For such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher theâ— the heavens who needeth not daily as those High Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the people So that you see the legal Priest stood in need of a sacrifice for himself and he was to offer a sacrifice for himself as well as for the people there salvation and reconciliation could not be wrought out by the Priest but by another which was only Christ 2. As the thing related to Jesus Christ it shews us thus much that whatever our Lord Jesus Christ hath done doth do or yet shall do in heaven as our great High Priest it takes its rise from the Death and Passion of himself You see the High Priest under the Law could not be a High Priest without he were consecrated so in the death of something which must be slain as a sacrifice to God So did Christ lay down his life as a sacrifice to God here upon the Cross before he could act as our great High Priest in Heaven before ever he could perform the work of Intercession within the Tabernacle he must first offer himself up a slain sacrifice to God for pacification without the camp Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Quest But why was Moses to take a young Bullock to make a sacrifice for the Priests consecration Answ Because any thing when its
our Wilderness-condition this was made the condition between God and the people for Canaan of old so reasons the Apostle Heb. 3. 11. So I swear in my wrath they should not enter into my rest so ver 18. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them which believed not so that the condition between God and the people made Canaan of old their reward for sticking close to God in a way of dependency during the time of all their Trials Temptations and Afflictions in the Wilderness so likewise doth the Apostle make the same qualifications a condition between God and his people touching this latter Canaan and applies the matter so Heb. 4. 1. Let us fear lest a promise being left us any of us should come short through unbelief Now by coming short of a Gospel Canaan through a spirit of unbelief the Apostle must mean I say by Canaan either the ultimate glory or else a Canaan or Kingdom of glory here below that it cannot be the ultimate glory for if we will maintain Election before time then none of those that were ever Elected to that Canaan can ever fall short of it more if Election be the fruit of the eternal purpose of God according to the counsel of his own will so saith the spirit of our being Predestinated or Elected Ephes 1. 11. In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to his own will Now if this will of God admits of no change as the Scripture speaketh Malachi 3. 6. Rom. 11. 29. And that it is his will that all those he elected or chose to glory shall inherit John 6. 39. Then certainly its not of the ultimate glory which the Apostle intends in Heb. 4. 1. but of a rest much of this side that rest which the Apostle makes to agree with Canaan of old with respect to the conditions of it upon which they were to be enjoyed But if you understand by the rest that Christ will have a glorious Kingdom or Canaan in this world which he hath onely appointed for such as have or shall follow him with faithfulness in this life wheresoever he goeth as that none of all the Saints shall taste of it but suffering faithful ones then according to this notion the exhortation in Hebrewes 4. 1. will hold with election and predestination or else it will not for we say that the Scriptures which speaks of absolute election and predestination to a thing which election and predestination is an absolute fruit of Gods unchangeable councel and will and yet to say that the same thing is conditional as that if the conditions be not performed the thing may not be is to me so great a mystery which cannot be unridled But if we place it nere as it must be to reconcile the point that the ultimate Canaan of glory is a fruit of Gods absolute will which cannot be altered Therefore saith our Saviour those which are appointed unto it shall never perish Iohn 10. 28 And that there is a Canaan which the Saints that are faithful to Christ shall enjoy in this life as for the promise of which though the Elect cannot any one of them fall short of the promise of the ultimate glory yet they may of this This Doctrine will hold good in both ends without thwarting other foundation truths and that this Kingdom of Canaan promised the suffering faithful Saints must be as I have said here below I shall give you some Scriptures to prove it But first you are to note that our Saviour gives you to understand that there are two Kingdoms or Canaans which he makes to be distinct the one from the other one he calls his own that is its his by purchase and promise as he is a Mediator and undertook to bring about Salvation to the Elect as you may read in Isa 53. 11 12. with Psal 2. 6. with ver 8. I say our Saviour makes this Kingdom to be distinct from the fathers read that place in Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me upon my Throne even as I also have overcome and am set down with my Father in his Throne so that you see here is the Son of mans Throne and the Fathers Throne so Mat. 19. 28. And he said Verily I say unto you that ye that have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory Mark that when the Son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory there is the Son of mans Kingdom of glory or Canaan of glory as well as the Fathers So in Rev. 20. There is by the Holy Ghost two Canaans or Kingdoms of glory spoken of in a distinct manner one from the other in ver 4. And I saw Thrones and they that sate upon them and judgment was given to them which answers to that in Matth. 19. 28. Which Canaan or Kingdom you see is given as the to reward the Saints for their sufferings for Christ therefore in the same verse it s said to be the portion of those which were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast or his Image neither had received his mark upon their fore heads or in the hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Now look you into the 11. ver of the same Chap. And you shall see the Fathers Canaan or Kingdom very distinct from the former which was Christs but by him given to the suffering Saints And I saw a great white throne and him that sate thereon from whose face the Earth and the Heavens fled away Secondly That this promised Canaan or Kingdom which is in Heb. 3. 11. is called a rest must be here on Earth and in this world which will appear if you examine the Scriptures which speak of it To instance in that of Mat. 19. 28. It s said there that in that Canaan Kingdom they shall sit upon twelve Thrones Judging the twelve tribes of Israel now how can this be applyed to the ultimate glory if the Saints must sit upon Thrones to Judge then it follows there must be some to be judged but if this be meant of Heaven pray who shall the Saints Judge there or who will there be in Heaven for them to Judge so Rev. 2 26 27. He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end I will give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron and as the Vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to pieces Now pray observe how can this be applyed to the ultimate glory what Iron Rods of severity will there be in Heaven beside the Saints shall rule over the Nations what Nations will there be in Heaven for the Saints to rule over you read in Mat. 25 31 32. with 41. That when the Canaan