And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God Revel 21.13 14. Luke 13.29 9. These Oxen bear this molten Sea upon their back to shew that they should be the foundation Workmen of the Gospel and that it ought not to be removed as was the molten Sea of old from that Basis to another 10. It is also said concerning these Oxen that thus did bear this molten Sea that all their hinder parts were inwards that is covered by that Sea that was set upon their backs Their hinder-parts or as the Apostle has it our uncomely parts 1 Cor. 12.23 24. 11. And indeed it becomes a Gospel-Minister to have his uncomely parts covered with that grace which by the Gospel he preacheth unto others As Paul exhorts Timothy to take heed unto himself and to his doctrine 1 Tim. 4.6 12. But alas there are too too many who can they but have their heads covered with a few Gospel-notions care not though their hinder parts are seen of all the World. But such are false Ministers the Prophet calls them the Taile The Prophet that speaketh lies either by word or with his feet he is the tail Isa. 9.15 Prov. 6.12 13. 13. But what a shame is it to hide his head under this molten Sea while his hinder parts hang out Such an one is none of Christ's Oxen for they with honour to their Master shew their heads before all the World for that their hinder parts are inward covered 14. Look to thy hinder parts Minister least while thy mouth doth preach the Gospel thy nakedness and shame be seen of those which hear thee For they that do not observe to learn this Lesson themselves will not teach others to believe the Word nor to live a Holy Life They will learn of them to shew their shame instead of learning to be Holy. XXXVIII Of the Lavers of the Temple BEsides this molten Sea there was ten Lavers in the Temple Five of which were put on the right side and five also on the left 2 Chro. 4.6 1. Of their fashion and their furniture you may see 1 King. 7. These Lavers as the molten Sea were Vessels which contained Water but they were not of the same use with it True they were both to wash in The Sea to wash the Worshipers but the Lavers to wash the Sacrifice He made the ten Lavers to wash in them such things as they offered for burnt offering but the Sea was for the Priest to wash in 2 Chro. 4.6 2. The burnt-offering was a type of the body of Christ which he once offered for our sins and the fire on which the Sacrifice was burned a type of the curse of the Law which seized on Christ when he gave himself a ransom for us For therefore that under the Law was called the burnt-offering because of the burning upon the Altar Levit. 6.8 But what then must we understand by these Lavers and by this Sacrifice being washed in them in order to its being burned upon the Altar I answer verily I think that the ten Lavers were a figure of the ten Commandments In the purity and perfection of Christ's obedience to which he became capable of being made a burnt-offering acceptable to God for the sins of the People Christ was made under the Law and all his acts of obedience to God for us was legal and his living thus a perfect legal life was his washing his offering in these ten Lavers in order to his presenting it upon the Altar for our sins The Lavers went upon Wheels to signifie walking feet and Christ walked in the Law and so became a clean offering to God for us The Wheels were of the very same as was the Lavers To shew that Christ's obedience to the Law was of the same as to length and breadth with its commands and demands to their utmost tittle and extent The inwards and legs of the burnt-offering was to be washed in these Lavers Levit. 1.9 13. 2 Chro. 4.6 To shew that Christ should be pure and clean in heart and life We know that obedience whether Christ's or ours is called a walking in the way typified by the Lavers walking upon their Wheels But I mean not by Christ his washing of his offering that he had any filthiness cleaving to his nature or obedience Yet this I say that so far as our guilt laid upon him could impede so far he wiped it off by washing in these Lavers For his offering was to be without blemish and without spot to God. Hence 't is said he sanctified himself in order to his suffering And being made perfect he became the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him Joh. 17.19 Heb. 5.6 7 8 9 10. For albeit he came holy into the World yet that holiness was but preparatory to that by which he sanctified himself in order to his suffering for sin That then which was his immediate preparation for his suffering was his obedience to the Law his washing in these Lavers He then first yielded compleat obedience to the Law on our behalf and then as so qualified offered his washed Sacrifice for our sins without spot to God. Thus therefore he was our burnt-offering washed in the ten Lavers that he might according to Law be accepted of the Lord. And he set five of the Lavers on the right side of the house and five of them on the left Thus was the ten divided as the Tables of the Law one shewing our duty towards God the other our duty towards our Neighbour in both which the burnt-offering was washed that it might be clean in both respects They might also be thus placed the better to put the People in mind of the necessity of the Sanction of Christ according to the Law in order to his offering of Himself an Offering to God for us XXXIX Of the Tables in the Temple HE made also ten Tables and placed them in the Temple five on the right hand and five on the left 2 Chro. 4.8 Some if not all of these Tables so far as I can see was they on which the burnt-offering was to be cut in pieces in order to its burning These Tables were made of Stone of hewen Stone on which this work was done Ezek. 40.40 41 42 43 44. Now since the burnt-offering was a figure of the Body of Christ the Tables on which this Sacrifice was slain must needs I think be a type of the heart the stony heart of the Jews For had they not had hearts hard as an Adamant they could not have done that thing Upon these Tables therefore vvas the death of Christ contrived and this horrid murder acted even upon these Tables of Stone In that they are called Tables of hewen Stone It may be to shew that all this cruelty was acted under smooth pretences for hewen stones are smooth The Tables were finely wrought with Tools even
as the hearts of the Jews were with hypocrisie But alas they were stone still that is hard and cruel else they could not have been an Anvil for Satan to forge such horrid Barbarism upon The Tables were in number the same with the Lavers and were set by them to shew what are the fruits of being devoted to the Law as the Jews were in opposition to Christ and his holy Gospel there flows nothing but hardness and a stony heart from thence This was shewed in its first writing it was writ on Tables of stone figures of the heart of Man and on the same Tables or hearts was the death of Jesus Christ compassed One would think that the meekness gentleness or good deeds of Jesus Christ might have procured in them some relentings when they were about to take away his life but alas their hearts were Tables of Stone What feeling or compassion can a Stone be sensible of Here were stony hearts stony thoughts stonâ— counsels stony contrivances a stony Law and stony hands and what could be expected hence but barbarous cruelty indeed If I ask you said Christ you will not answer me neither will you let me see Luk. 22.68 In that these stony Tables were placed about the Temple it supposeth that they were Temple-men Priests Scribes Rulers Lawyers c. that were to be the Chief on whose hearts this murder was to be designed and by them inacted to their own Damnation without Repentance XL. Of the Instruments wherewith this Sacrifice was slain and of the four Tables they were laid on in the Temple THE Instruments that were laid upon the Tables in the Temple were not Instruments of Musick but those with which the burnt-offering was slain And the four Tables were of hewen Stone for the burnt-offering whereon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt-offering and the Sacrifice Ezek. 40.42 43. 1. Here we are to take notice that the Tables are the same and some of them of which we spake before 2. That the Instruments with which they slew the Sacrifice was laid upon these Tables The Instruments with which they slew the Sacrifices what were they but a bloody Ax bloody Knives bloody Hooks and bloody Hands For these we need no proof matter of fact declares it But what were those Instruments a type of Answer Doubtless they were a type of our sins They were the bloody Ax the Knife and bloody Hands that shed his precious blood They were the meritorious ones without which he could not have died When I say ours I mean the sins of the World. Though then the hearts of the Jews were the immediate Contrivers yet they were our sins that were the bloody Tools or Instruments which slew the Son of God. He was wounded for our transgressions he died for our sins Isa. 53. 1 Cor. 15. Gal. 1. Oh these Instruments of us Churls by which this poor Man was taken from off the Earth Isa. 32.7 Prov. 30.14 The Whip the Buffetings the Crown of Thorns the Nails the Cross the Spear with the Vinegar and Gall were all nothing in comparison of our sins For the transgressions of my people was he stricken Isa. 53. Nor were the flouts taunts mocks scorns derisions c. with vvhich they follovved him from the Garden to the Cross such cruel Instruments as these They vvere our sins then our cursed sins by vvith and for the sake of vvhich the Lord Jesus became a bloody Sacrifice But why must the Instruments be laid upon the Tables 1. Take the Tables for the hearts of the murderers and the Instruments for their sins and vvhat place more fit for such Instruments to be laid upon 'T is God's command that these things should be laid to heart and he complains of those that do not do it Isa. 42.25 chap. 57.11 2. Nor are Men ever like to come to good until these Instruments vvith which the Son of God vvas slain indeed be laid to heart And they vvere eminently laid to heart even by them soon after the effect of vvhich vvas the conversion of thousands of them Acts 2.36 37. 3. Wherefore vvhen it says these Instruments must be laid upon the stony Tables he insinuates that God vvould take a time to charge the murder of his Son home upon the Consciences of them that did that murder either to their conversion or condemnation And is it not reason that they vvho did this horrid villany should have their doings laid before their faces upon the Tables of their heart That they may look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn Zech. 12.10 Revel 1.7 4. But these Instruments vvere laid but upon some of the Tables and not upon all the Ten to shevv that not all but some of those so horrid should find mercy of the Lord. 5. But vve must not confine these Tables only to the hearts of the bloody Jevvs they vvere our sins for the vvhich he died Wherefore these Instruments should be laid upon our Tables too and the Lord lay them there for good that we also may see our horrid doings and come bending to him for forgiveness 6. These Instruments thus lying on the Tables in the Temple became a continual Motive to God's People to Repentance for so oft as they saw these bloody and cruel Instruments they were put in mind how their sins should be the cause of the death of Christ. 7. It would be well also if these Instruments were at all times laid upon our Tables for our more humbling for our sins in every thing we do especially upon the Lord's Table when we come to eat and drink before him I am sure the Lord Jesus doth more than intimate that he expects that we should do so where he saith When ye eat that Bread and drink that Cup Do this in remembrance of me In remembrance that I died for your sins and consequently that they were the meritorious cause of the sheding of my blood To conclude Let all Men remember that these cruel Instruments are laid upon the Table of their hearts whether they see them there or no. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond upon the Tables of their heart Jer. 17.1 A Pen of Iron will make Letters upon a Table made of Stone and the Point of a Diamond will make Letters upon Glass Wherefore in this saying God informs us that if we shall forbear to read these Lines to our Conversion God will one day read them against us unto our Condemnation XLI Of the Candlesticks of the Temple AND he made ten Candlesticks of gold according to the form and he set them in the Temple five on the right hand and five on the left 2 Chro. 4.7 1. These Candlesticks were made of Gold to shew the worth and value of them 2. They were made after the form or exâ—ct according to rule like those that were made in the Tabernacle or according to the Pattern which David gave
Solomon's Temple Spiritualiz'd OR GOSPEL-LIGHT Fetcht out of the TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM To let us more easily into The GLORY of New-Testament-Truths By John Bunyan Ezek. 43.10 11. Thou Son of Man shew the House to the House of Israel shew them the Form of the House and the Fashion thereof and the Goings out thereof and the Comings in thereof and all the Forms thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and aâ—l the Forms thereof and all the Laws thereof LONDON Printed for and Sold by George Larkin at the Two Swans without Bishopgate 1688. TO THE Christian READER Courteous Christian Reader I Have as thou by this Little Book mayst see adventured at this time to do my endeavour to shew thee something of the Gospel-Glory of Solomon's Temple That is of what it with its Utensils was a Type of and as such how instructing it was to our Fathers and also is to us their Children The which that I might do the more distinctly I have handled Particulars one by one to the number of threescore and ten namely all that of them I could call to mind because as I believe there was not one of them but had its signification and so something profitable for us to know For though we are not now to worship God in those Methods or by such Ordinances as once the Old Church did Yet to know their Methods and to understand the Nature and Signification of their Ordinances when compared with the Gospel may even now when themselves as to what they once enjoyned on others are dead may minister Light to us And hence the New-Testament Ministers as the Apostles made much use of Old Testament-Language and Ceremonial Institutions as to their signification to help the Faith of the Godly in their preaching of the Gospel of Christ. I may say that God did in a manner tie up the Church of the Jews to Types Figures and Similitudes I mean to be butted and bounded by them in all external parts of Worship Yea not only the Levitical Law and Temple but as it seems to me the whole Land of Canaan the Place of their Lot to dwell in was to them as Ceremonial or a Figure Their Land was a Type of Heaven their passage over Jordan into it a similitude of our going to Heaven by death The Fruit of their Land was said to be uncircumcised as being at their first entrance thither unclean in which their Land was also a Figure of another thing even as Heaven was a Type of Sin and Grace Again The very Land it self was said to keep Sabbath and so to rest a holy rest even then when she lay desolate and not possessed of those to whom she was given for them to dwell in Yea many of the Features of the then Church of God were set forth as in Figures and Shadows so by Places and things in that Land. 1. In general she is said to be beautiful as Tirzah Song 6.4 and to be comely as Jerusalem 2. In particular Her Neck is compared to the Tower of David builded for an Armory Song 4.4 Her Eyes to the Fishpools of Heshbon by the Gate of Bethrabbim chap. 7.4 Her Nose is compared to the Tower of Lebanon which looketh towards Damascus chap. 4.1 Yea the Hair of her Head is compared to a flock of Goats which come up from Mount Gilead And the Smell of her Garments to the smell of Lebanon vers 11. Nor was this Land altogether void of Shadows even of her Lord and Saviour Hence He saies of Himself I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lilie of the Valleys Song 2.1 Also She his Beloved saith of him His Countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars chap. 5.15 What shall I say The two Cities Sion and Jerusalem were such as sometimes set forth the two Churches Gal. 4. the True and the False and their Seed Isaac and Ishmael I might also here shew you that even the Gifts and Graces of the True Church were set forth by the Spices Nuts Grapes and Pomgranates that the Land of Canaan brought forth Yea that Hell it self was set forth by the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom and Tophet places in this Country Indeed the whole in a manner was a Typical and a Figurative Thing But I have in the ensuing Discourse confined my self to the Temple that immediate place of God's Worship of whose Utensils in particular as I have said I have spoken though to each with what brevity I could For that none of them are without a Spiritual and so a Profitable Signification to us And here we may behold much of the Richness of the Wisdom and Grace of God namely That he even in the very place of Worship of old should Ordain Visible Forms and Representations for the Worshippers to learn to Worship him by Yea the Temple it self was as to this to them a good Instruction But in my thus saying I give no encouragement to any now to fetch out of their own fancies Figures or Similitudes to worship God by What God provided to be an help to the weakness of his People of Old was one thing and what they invented without his Commandment was another For though they had his Blessing when they Worshipped him with such Types Shadows and Figures which he had injoyned on them for that purpose yet he sorely punished and plagued them when they would add to these Inventions of their own Yea he in the very act of instituting their way of Worshipping him forbad their giving in any thing way to their own Humours or Fancies and bound them strictly to the Orders of Heaven Look saith God to Moses their first great Legislator That thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the Mount Exod. 25.40 Heb. 8.5 Nor doth our Apostle but take the same measures when he saith If any man thinketh himself a Prophet or Spiritual Let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord 1 Cor. 14.37 When Solomon also was to build this Temple for the Worship of God though he was wiser than all men yet God neither trusted to his Wisdom nor Memory nor to any immediate Dictates from Heaven to him as to how he would have him build it No he was to receive the whole Platform thereof in writing by the Inspiration of God. Nor would God give this Platform of the Temple and of its Utensils immediately to this Wise Man lest perhaps by others his Wisdom should be idolized or that some should object that the whole Fashion thereof proceeded of his Fancie only he made pretentions of Divine Revelation as a cover for his doings Therefore I say not to him but to his Father David was the whole Pattern of it given from Heaven and so by David to Solomon his Son in writing Then David saies the Text gave to Solomon his Son the Pattern of the Porch and of the Houses thereof and of the Treasuries thereof and of
we have golden Palm-trees as tokens of our victory and golden Flowers to smell on all the way to Heaven XXXI Of the Wall of the Temple THE Wall of the Temple was cieled with Firr which he over-laid with fine gold and set thereon Palm-trees and Chains 2 Chro. 3.5 6 7. The Walls were as the Body of the House unto which Christ alluded when he said Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up Joh. 2.19 21. Hence to be and worship in the Temple was a type of being in Christ and worshiping God by him For Christ as was said is the great Temple of God in the which all the Elect meet and in whom they do service to and for his Father Hence again the true Worshipers are said to be in him to speak in him to walk in him to obey in him 2 Cor. 2.14 chap. 12.19 Col. 2.6 For as of old all true Worship was to be found at the Temple To now it is only found with Christ and with them that are in him The promise of old was made to them that worshiped within these Walls I will give saith he to them in my house and within my walls to them that worship there in truth a place and a name better then that of Sons and of Daughters Isa. 5.6 5. But now in New Testament times all the promises in HIM are yea and in HIM Amen to the glory of God by us 2 Cor. â— 20 This is yet further hinted to us in that 't is said these Walls are cieled with Firr Which as was shewed before was a figure of the humanity of Jesus Christ. A Wall is for defence and so is the humanity of Jesus Christ. 'T is was and will be our defence for ever For it was that which underwent and overcame the curse of the Law and that in which our everlasting righteousness is found Had he not in that interposed we had perished for ever Hence we are said to be reconciled to God in the body of his flesh thorow death Col. 1.19 20. Rom. 5.8 9 10. Now this Wall was overlaid with fine gold Gold here is a figure of the righteousness of Christ by which we are justified in the fight of God. Therefore you read that his Church as justified is said to stand at his right hand in Cloth of Gold. Vpon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir And again her clothing is of wrought gold Psal. 45.9 13. This the Wall was overlaid with this the body of Christ was filled with Men while in the Temple were clothed with Gold even with the gold of the Temple and Men in Christ are clothed with righteousness the righteousness of Christ. Wherefore this Consideration doth yet more illustrate the matter In that the Palm-trees were SET on this Wall it may be to shew that the Elect are fixed in Jesus and so shall abide for ever Chains were also carved on these walls yea and they were golden Chains there were Chains on the Pillars and now also we finde Chains upon the Walls Philip. 1.12 13. 1. Chains were used to hold one Captive and such Paul did wear at Rome but he calls them his Bands in Christ. 2. Chains sometimes signifie great afflictions which God lays on us for our sins Psal. 107.9 10 11. Lam. 1.14 chap. 3.7 3. Chains also may be more mystically understood as of those Obligations which the love of God lays upon us to do and suffer for him Acts 20.22 4. Chains do sometimes signifie beauty and comely Ornaments Thy Neck saith Christ to his Spouse is comely with Chains of Gold And again I put Bracelets upon thy hands and a Chain about thy Neck Song 1.10 Ezek. 16.8 9 10 11. Prov. 1.9 5. Chains also do sometimes denote Greatness and Honour such as Daniel had when the King made him the Third Ruler in the Kingdom Dan. 5.7 16 29. Now all these are Temple-chains and are put upon us for good some to prevent our ruine some to dispose our minds the better and some to dignifie and to make us noble Temple-chains are brave Chains None but Temple-worshipers must wear Temple-chains XXXII Of the garnishing of the Temple with precious Stones AND he garnished the House with precious Stones for beauty 2 Chron. 3.6 7. 1. This is an other Ornament to the Temple of the Lord wherefore as he saith it was garnished with them he saith It was garnished with them for beauty The Line saith garnished the Margent saith covered 2. Wherefore I think they were fixed as Stars or as the Stars in the Firmament so they were set in the cieling of the House as in the Heaven of the holy Temple 3. And thus fixed they do the more aptly tell us of what they were a figure namely of the Ministerial Gifts and Officers in the Church For Ministers as to their Gifts and Office are called STARS of God and are said to be in the hand of Christ Revel 1.20 4. Wherefore as the Stars glitter and twinkle in the Firmament of Heaven So do true Ministers in the Firmament of his Church 1 Chro. 29.2 Joh. 5.35 Dan. 12.3 5. So that 't is said again these Gifts come down from above as signifying they distill their dew from above And hence again the Ministers are said to be set OVER us in the Lord as placed in the Firmament of his Heaven to give a light upon his Earth There is Gold and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel Prov. 20 15. Verily 't is enough to make a Man in this house look always upward since the cieling above head doth thus glitter with precious Stones Precious Stones all manner of precious Stones Stones of all colours For there are divers gifts differences of administrations and diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. Thus had the cieling of this house a Pearl here and there a Diamond here a Jasper and there a Saphire here a Sardius and there a Jacinth here a Sardonix and there an Amathist For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge to one the gift of healing to another faith to this man to work miracles to that a spirit of prophesie to another the discerning of spirits to another divers kinds of tongues 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10 11. He also over-laid the House Beams Posts Walls Doors c. and all with Gold. O what a beautiful House the Temple was how full of glory was it And yet all was but a shadow a shadow of things to come and which was to be answered in the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth by better things than these XXXIII Of the Windows of the Temple AND for the House he made Windows of narrow Lights 1 King. 6.4 There was Windows for this House Windows for the Chambers and Windows round about Ezek. 4.16 22 23
Jos. 3.15 16 17. Joh. 11.25 Rom. 8.37 38 39. 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. 3. Before the Ark the Walls of Jericho fell down and at the presence of Christ shall all high Tovvers and strong Holds and hiding Places for sinners be razed and dissolved at his coming Isa. 6.20 Chap. 30.25 Chap. 2.1 2 13 14 15 16. 2 Pet. 3.10 Revel 20.11 12 13. 4. Before the Ark Dagon fell that Idol of the Philistines and before Christ Jesus Devils fell those gods of all those Idols And he must reign till all his Enemies be put under his feet And until they be made his foot stool 1 Sam. 5.1 2 3 4. Mark 5.12 1 Cor. 15.25 Heb. 10.13 5. The Philistines vvere also plagued for medling vvith the Ark vvhile they abode uncircumcised and the vvicked will one day be most severely plagued for their medling vvith Christ vvith their uncircumcised hearts 1 Sam. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Psal. 50 16 Matt. 24.51 Chap. 25.11 12. Luke 13.25 26 27 28. 6. God's blessing vvas upon those that entertained the Ark as they should and much more is and vvill his blessing be upon those that so imbrace and entertain his Christ and profess his name sincerely 2 Sam. 6.11 Acts 3.26 Gal. 3.13 14. Matt. 19.27 28 29. Luke 22.28 29. 7. When Vzza put forth his hand to stay the Ark vvhen the Oxen shock it as despairing of GOD's protecting of it vvithout a humane help he died before the Lord even so will all those do without repentance who use unlawful means to promote Christ's Religion and to support it in the World 1 Chro. 13.9 10. Matt. 26.52 Revel 13.10 8. The Ark though thus dignified was of it self but low but a Cubit and a half high Also Christ though he vvas the glory of Heaven and of God yet made himself of no reputation and was found in the likeness of a man Exod. 25.11 12. Phil. 2.6 7 8 9 10. 9. The Ark* had a Crown of Gold round about upon it To shevv hovv Christ is crovvned by his Saints by faith and shall be crovvned by them in glory for all the good he hath done for them as also hovv all Crovvns shall one day stoop to him and be set upon his Head. This is shevved in the type Zech. 6.11 14. and in the Antitype Revel 4 10. Chap. 19.12 10. The Ark vvas over-laid with gold within and without To shevv that Christ vvas perfect in inward grace and outward life in spirit and in righteousness Joh. 1.12 13 14. 1 Pet. 2.22 11. The Ark vvas placed under the Mercy Seat to shevv that Jesus Christ as Redeemer brings and bears as it vvere upon his Shoulders the Mercy of God to us even in the body of his flesh thorough death Exod. 25.21 Ephes. 4.23 Chap. 5.1 2. 12. When the Ark vvas removed far from the People the godly vvent mourning after it And vvhen Christ is hid or taken from us then we mourn in those days 2 Sam. 7.2 Mark 2.19 20. Luke 5.34 35. Joh. 16.20 21 22. 13. All Israel had the Ark again after their Mourning-time vvas over And Christ after his People have sorrovved for him a-vvhile vvill see them again and their hearts shall rejoyce Joh. 16.1 2 3 20 21 22. By all these things and many more that might be mentioned it is most evident that the Ark of the Testimony was a type of Jesus Christ and take notice a little of that vvhich follovvs namely that the Ark at last arived to the place most holy Heb. 9.3 4. That is after its Wanderings for the Ark vvas made first to vvander like a Non-inhabitant from place to place now hither and then thither novv in the hands of Enemies and then abused by friends yea it vvas caused to rove from place to place as that of vvhich the World vvas vveary I need instance to you for proof hereof none other place than the 5th 6th and 7th Chapters of the first Book of Samuel And ansvverable to this vvas our dear Lord Jesus posted backvvards and forvvards hither and thither by the force of the rage of his Enemies 1. He was hunted into Egypt so soon as he was born Matt. 2. 2. Then he was driven to live in Galiâ—â—e the space of many years 3. Also when he shewed himself to Israel They drove him sometimes into the Wilderness sometimes into the Desert sometimes into the Sea and sometimes into the Mountains and still in every of these places he was either haunted or hunted by new Enemies And last of all the Pharisees plot for his life Judas sells him the Priests buy him Peter denies him his Enemies mock scourge buffet and much abuse him In fine they get him condemned and crucified and buried but at last God commanded and took him to his place even within the Vail and sets him to bear up the Mercy-Seat where he is to this very day being our Ark to save us as Noah's did him as Moses did him Yea better as none but Christ doth save his ovvn LXII Of the placing of the Ark in the Holiest or Inner Temple 1. THE Ark as we have said and as the Text declares when carried to its rest was placed in the inner Temple or in the most Holy Place even under the Wings of the Cherubims And the Priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord unto his place to the Oracle of the house unto the most holy place even under the Wings of the Cherubims Exod. 26.33 Chap. 39.35 1 King. 8 3. 2 Chro. 5.7 2. Before this as was said afore the Ark was carried from place to place and caused to dwell in a Tent under Curtains as all our fathers did To shew that Christ as we was made for a time to wander in the World in order to his being possest of glory 2 Sam. 7.1 2 6. Heb. 11.9 Jo. 1.10 Chap. 16.28 Chap. 3.13 3. But now when the Ark was brought into the Holiest 't is said to be brought into its place This World then vvas not Christ his place he vvas not from beneath he came from his father's house wherefore while here he was not at his place nor could until he ascended up where he was before Joh. 8.23 Chap. 16.28 Chap. 6.62 Chap. 3.13 4. Christ's proper place therefore is the Holiest His proper place as God as Priest as Prophet as King and as the Advocate of his People Here with us he has no more to do in Person as Mediator If he were on Earth he should not be a Priest c. His place and work is novv above with his Father and before the Angels Acts 5.31 1 Pet. 3.22 Heb. 4.14 Chap. 8.4 Chap. 9.24 1 Joh. 2.1 2. Revel 1.1 2. 5. 'T is said the Ark was brought to the Oracle of the House Solomon vvas not content to say it was brought into the Holiest but he saith his place was the Oracle the holy Oracle that is the place of hearing For he when he ascended had somewhat