now then in Pharaohs time and his arm is not shortned he is as well able to reach such a Nation now as then O where this kind of sin dwells the good Lord give that Nation sound Repentance for it before he comes to tear them in pieces A 2d thing about the Ark which we are to take notice of is this you read in Exod. 37. 2. That the Ark was overlaid with pure gold which sheweth us both the excellency and purity of the Worship of God for as gold is both excellent and pure so is the Worship of God it is both excellent and pure therefore when that holy Ghost speaks of the Worship of God he compares it to a Sea of Glass as clear as Crystal Revelations 4. 6. Meaning for the worth and purity of it A third thing about the Ark is this there was a Crown of gold round about above upon it Exod. 37. 1 2. This Crown upon the Ark denotes the Authority which God hath stamped upon his Worship Gods Worship hath his Authority set upon it for such is the Import or signification of the word Crown or the thing called Crown it signifies Rule and chief Authority which commands obedience and subjection to its Law Will and pleasure Use 2. The use we should make of this Mystery will teach us this Lesson First to their peril who ever they be that shall dare to alter any part or Tittle of this Worship of the Altar or shall mix it with any of their own whorish hellish Inventions or Romish fopperies Deut. 12. 32. What thing soever I command you that observe to do it thou shalt not add thereunto nor diminish from it Hence it is that Moses in the giving out of the Worship of God to the people was admonished that he should not vary from the pattern shewed him in the mount we are to take notice of the pattern laid down in the word of God and by that Rule to build Gods house and only according to that to steer our compasse in and about the Worship of God Isa 8. 20. To the Law and the Testimony if any man speak not according to this Rule it s because there is no light in him Besides the Crown upon the Altar shews us thus much that none are left to their wills as arbitrary in the performing of Worship to God so as to do it when we please as none are left in this case so to their own wills to do it how they pleased so likewise none are so left to their wills to do it or perform it when or at what time they please neglects in this case are dangerous not to attend the Worship of God either in publick or private where and when God requires is to sin against the Crown upon the Altar which is the Authority of God and to incur the displeasure of God and indeed to be guilty of any wilful rashness or neglect in this business is the ready way for a man to lay himself open to great punishments from the hand of the Lord Jer. 11. 3. Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this Covenant so Jer. 48. 10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully O therefore soul remember that the Altar-worship hath its Crown above upon it which signifyeth the Authors Authority or Law which requireth thy submission or subjecton to it so as to be careful thou provest not a wilful corrupter or neglector of the Worship of God Again in the Tabernacle was the Mercy-seat placed which had two Cherubims at the two ends of it whose faces looked towards the Mercy-seat Exod. 37 67 89. First By the Mercy-seat placed in the Tabernacle I understand to be meant the Lord Jesus Christ whose bloud and merits is the ground of Gods great manifestations of love and grace to the Elect saith the Apostle 2 Cor. Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ Reconciling the world to himself Mark God was in Christ that is in his humane nature appearing through it to men as he did through the Mercy-seat of old Rom. 5. 9 10. We are saved from wrath through Christ by being justified by his bloud for when we were enemies we were Reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life so that you see Christ the Mercy-seat is the ground of all the grace love mercy and Reconciliation which from the Father comes home to the Elect I mean a procuring ground not the efficient or first moving ground In a word this Mercy-seat shews us what Christ is in all respects to believers could we pick it out of this Mystery and it takes in all that Christ is or was anointed to be or to do for his Church and people it takes in Christs bloud Christs sufferrings Christs righteousness Christs satisfaction given to the Father Christs Life Christs Death Christs being in the Grave Christs Ascension Christs Priesthood Christs present work of Intercession now in Heaven Christs Offices as King Priest and Prophet to and for his people for their good and comfort forever all this and more do the Mercy-seat in Exod. 37. Comprehend and shadow forth to us for our instruction so that believers should look on all the dispensations of God towards them be they sweet or bitter always flowing forth to them from the Mercy-seat or place of Reconcilement the seat where God always sits when he hath to do with believers as the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 5. 19 God in Christ Reconcâ—ling the world to himself so Rom. 8. 32. He that spareth not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things It s all mercy love and grace which comes from God to his people because it comes forth from God through the Mercy-seat Christ though the providence may be mixed with never so much sharpness or bitterness yet it shall end in mercy for it comes in mercy Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose Again whereas it is said that the faces of the Cherubims still looked towards the Mercy-seat it shews us how the whole Trinity doth agree together and accord in the good of Gods Elect for I look on this Figure as an Emblem of the belssed union of the three persons of Father Son and holy Spirit my looking on this is by way of allusion the Mercy-seat to be meant of Christ the second Person the two Cherubims to be meant of the Father and holy Spirit proceeding both from Father and Son so that as the faces of the two Cherubims were placed with their eyes towards the Mercy-seat it shews us thus much that what good God the Father did will the Elect before time and what grace and mercy and love the holy Ghost did manifest make known and reveal to the Elect in time by spiritual application all this ariseth from Christs merits bloud and righteousness as the procuring cause of all to this agreeth the words of St. Peter Pet. 1. 1 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father mark there is the act of the first person through the sanctification of the spirit there
a Candlestick to maintain and hold up the light of his holy truth in the world is by pouring forth upon their hearts the grace of his Spirit that so they might be enabled to suffer for it The Saints suffering for truth doth wonderfully tend to the confirming of truth in the earth and to the making of it acceptable amongst men in this world insomuch that in the first three hundred years after Christ the Churches sufferings for the truth occasioned this proverb That the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church Hence it is that the suffering Saints are called Gods witnesses therefore St. Paul tells you that the truth got great ground by his sufferings Phil. 1. 14. Use 1. O then how should this teach the Lords people to bestir themselves in the way of their duty O remember ye are God Candlestick and appointed by God for this purpose to keep up truth in the world O then how should this encourage the Lords people to appear in the defence of that glorious light of truth which God hath put into your hands and not to suffer it to be trodden down with so much ease as it is now in the world I do not mean nor say that the Lords people should betake themselves to any weapon besides faith tears prayers and sound arguments together with a bold standing up in the visible practice of the wayes and truths of God against all that is contrary to this truth These be the weapons that I mean and this is the contending that I plead for and as to this way of contending for the Faith what cause hath God to complain of his people as once he did of Israel of old No man is valiant for the truth O what little contending is there amongst Saints for the faith that was once delivered to them O what silly heartless dove-like spirits are the Lords people surprized withal who can sit and hear the truths of the Gospel rended in pieces before their eyes and in their hearing and not a word spoken for it or in the defence of it but instead thereof they out of a slavish fear do but too much comply with the wicked in it O brethren the precious truths of Sion are more worth then so more worth then not to have one word spoken for them O remember the Church is to contend for the faith and know that God will deeply charge home the neglect of this duty one day close upon your souls O therefore as you would avoid that judgement spoken of in the third of the Revelations ver 16. I beseech you brethren to labour to give up your selves to a holy contending for the faith O earnestly contend for the faith there is great reason so to do for the name of God is upon the Faith the Blood of Christ was shed for this faith the blood of all the Martyrs in all ages in the world hath been shed for this faith O the faith that was once delivered to the Saints is worth the contending for O that God would stir up your hearts to an earnest contending for the faith O set a work a praying spirit and a believing spirit O set on work your parts your pens your purses every way as you are able if the way be warrantable do you contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. Thirdly This Candlestick was made of pure gold this was to teach the Saints what they should and ought to be namely pure gold that is very sincere to God ward void of a heart full of guile and hypocrisie therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5. 48. â—e ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Fourthly This Candlestick was made of beaten gold which was to shew or set forth the glory and the excellency of the Church for as gold exceeds for glory and excellency Iron Lead Tinne or Brass so do the Saints all other men and women in the world Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 16. 3. The Saints are the excellent of the Earth Though the blind world see no worth or excellency in the Saints in this life yet they shall know as Solomon once said that the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12. 26. First The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour for grace Secondly For their attendance for not gilded creatures but glorious Angels are the Saints servants Heb. 1. 14. Thirdly For the Saints food on which they live in respect of which all the dainties in the world or which the world lives upon are but husks and swines meat for the Saints live upon the Bloud and Flesh Word Spirit and promises of Christ John 6. 55. Fourthly The Saints are more excellent then others in point of inheritance for it s not an earthly Dunghil but an inheritance which is pure and undefiled which fadeth not away is the Saints birthright Pet. 1. 1 4. Fisthly The Saints are more excellent then others because they only can prevail upon the heart of God in prayer Prov. 15. 29. Sixthly It s so because its only amongst the Saints God delights to dwel 2 Cor. 6. 16. Psal 132 13 14. Use 1. O then what excellent Conversation should the Saints lead in this world what an engagement should this put upon the Saints to a strict holy walking that they should through grace be made of Gods pure golden Candlestick O therefore soul think with thy self when the Devil would at any time intice thee to sin against God or would draw away thy heart at any time from the Lord O say this to thy temptation O Satan I am one that belongs to Gods pure Candlesticks how should I dare to bespot my self with the least of impurities as Joseph answered his Mistress Gen. 39. 9. So do thou thy temptation How shall I do such a wickedness and sin against God Again As the Candlestick had three Bouls and Knops with their flowers upon it This was for Ornament to adorn the Candlestick that so it might the more appear in its glory and beauty to the beholder all which was to set forth the glory and beauty of the Church of God which by the righteousnesse of Christ and the Divine Graces of his Spirit is made more glorious then the gold of Ophir read Psal 45. 13 14. Isa 54. 11 12. Rev. 12. 1. The Churches glory is only discerned by an eye of believing a carnal understanding knows very little of this saith John 1. 3 1. The world knows us not certainly were not the glory of the Saints a hidden veiled up glory from the world its impossible but the Saints would be better intreated at the worlds hands then they are but however thou farest at the worlds hands let me advise thee to these two things First If the world shew thee and the rest of the Saints no favour yet pity them because they are held so much in a condition of darknesse as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of
Christ of doing that work which as a Priest he was sent into the world to do O where wilt thou go to have thy case bettered or who shall cure these wounds sicknesses sores leprosies and guilts which Sin and Satan hath created upon thee if thou come not to Jesus Christ O this is the good Samaritan that takes up the soul wounded by the spiritual thieves and bounds up his wounds and pours oyl into his griefs and healeth all his diseases Luke 10. 36. O therefore come to Christ make use of him as thy High Priest bring thy soul with all its corruptions sores and plagues and running griefs upon thee to him lay it down at his door tell him that thou hast brought a soul full of the plague and leprosie full of unbelief full of the sores of pride hardness of heart impenitency revenge hypocrisie lust worldly mindedness a soul full of the issues of vain thoughts and plead with Christ for a cure tell him that he is the High Priest appointed by the Father for this very end and purpose not to reject thee for thy misery but to pitty thee under it and to shew mercy to thee about it and to help thee out of it Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren in all things that he might be a merciful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people in that himself hath suffered being tenâ—ted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 5. 2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the war for that he himself also is compassed with infirmities Here it was David run in the like case when his sores and griefs of corruption run upon him He did not do as a great many troubled souls have done namely then to run from Christ Ps 38 3 4. 5 6 7 8. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thy anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin for mine iniquities are gone over my head as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me My wounds â—stinck and are corrupt because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundnesse in my flesh But did this drive David from Jesus Christ no surely but rather put a necessity upon him to make the more haste towards him in order to cure therefore in the 9. Verse and 15. Verse Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee for in thee Lord do I hope thou wilt hear O Lord my God Secondly As the Priest was to take notice of their personal uncleanness so also of the uncleannesse in their houses Lev 14 35 36. And he that oweth the house shall come and tell the Priest saying it seemeth to me that there is as it were the Plague in the house then the Priest shall command that they empty the house before the Priest goeth into it to see the Plague that all that is in the house be not made unclean and afterward the Priest shall go into see the house Now the end for which the Priest was to view the house you may see in the same Chapter it was that he might endeavour the cleansing of it if the plague were in it of the same use is Christ to his Gospel-house which is his Church if the plague enter into it the plague of discention and discord the plague or leprosie of formality or the plague of a luke-warm spirit or the plague of errour and unsound Doctrine its proper to Jesus Christ to take notice of this in his Churches and he doth so read Rev. 2. 1 2 3. 4 5. with Rev. 3. 16 17 18. Therefore in all such Cases it s the duty of the Churches of Christ to apply themselves to him for redress if Christians in the use of fasting and fervent prayer would more press upon Christ for help in this case I doubt not but we should have more purer and unstained Churches by far then we have amongst us Was there ever more need for Churches to make use of Christ upon this account then now had ever the Israelite more cause to go to the Priest and say it seemeth to me the plague is in the house then Christians have to go to Christ and say it seemeth to me the plague is in the house is not the plague of a formal cursed lukewarm spirit in the Churches of Christ are not the walls of it over-spread with the hollow greenish and reddish strakes to be seen there Levit 14. 37. Are they not over-spread with the plague of Contention and Discord was there ever more of this plague reigning over the Churches of Christ then at this day O how deeply have this plague rooted it self in the hearts of the Lords people that four years affliction will not yet fetch it out but God will fetch it out of their hearts or else he will fetch their bodies out of their warm houses besides what a fearful spirit and plague of Apostasie have their over-spread the minds of the Churches of Christ I will not say this hath leavened every one but sure I am too many of them Then what cause have the Church and house of Christ to make to Christ with all haste for cure and were it the will of God how could it be wished that Christ our High Priest were more visited upon this account by his people Fifthly If any man had sinned either ignorantly or wilfully the Priest upon his coming to him was to offer sacrifice for him and it was pardoned Levit. 5. 17 18. The same work is Christ to do for believers for he is their High Priest for this very purpose saith the Apostle speaking of Christ he is to make Reconciliation for the sins of the people Heb. 2. 17. It s as much the mark and office of Jesus Christ to do so for believers as ever it was the work of the legal High Priests to do it for the Israelites therefore soul when ever thou hast been over taken in a fault do not fly from Christ but away to him for he is thy High Priest in Heaven on purpose to make an atonement for that sin and Reconciliation to God for that sin only when thou hast been with Christ believe that for his sake it shall be pardoned and the father will be pacified and doubt not of it it will be so soul thou maist apply as really as the Jews that very word in Levit. 5. 18. And the Priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist not and it shall be forgiven him to this agreeth the words of the Apostle in 1 John 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocaâ—e with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our