out O what manner of love is this that we should be called the Sons of God CHAP. 19. I shall in the next place speak of the Candlestick which was placed in the Tabernacle IN this Tabernacle there was placed a Candlestick which was made of pure Gold and the fashion of it was thus It parted from a foot high in the stem into six branches three of the branches going one way and three of the branches going another way there were three bowls made like unto three almonds with their knobs and their flowers to every branch but in the stem of the Cnadlestick below their parting were four bowls with their knobs and their flowers Exod. 27. 17. Exod 37. 18 19 20. By the Candlestick in this place we are to understand to be meant the Church of God which Church is made up of true Believers which truly and sincerely profess and own Christ and his Worship being redeemed by his Blood from all the earth Rev. 7. 14. This is the signification of the Candlestick the truth of which you may read Rev. 1. 20. where the seven Churches are compared to seven golden Candlesticks which answereth to the Candlestick in the Tabernacle for that was made of pure beaten Gold Ex. 27. 17. Now the Church of God may be compared to a Candlestick several manner of wayes First As a Candlestick is made to mount or hold up the light that all in a time of darkness may see so doth the Church and people of God they hold up the light of truth and the bright shinings of the word and Gospel that all that are in the dark world who sit in the Region and shadow of death might behold the face of God in Jesus Christ shining through the Saints gifts graces and holy conversations in upon their souls Isaiah 2. 3. The Law shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem by which means Isa 9. 2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light and they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined Though this latter prophesie doth principally belong to Christ yet it is to be applied to his Church also for it s through them Christ shineth upon the dark world therefore saith our Saviour to his Dissciples Matth. 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world meaning they were the Candlestick prepared of God to hold up and hold out the light of truth to the dark blinde miserable world Use 1. This informs then what a deal of duty lieth upon the Church both Ministers as well as others First For Ministers what care should they take and what pains should they expose themselves unto in order to the keeping up and holding forth the light and word of the Gospel to the dark nations of the earth what care did Paul take to fulfil his ministry and to discharge his duty this way Acts 20. 24. He counted not his life dear unto himself so that he could fulfil his ministry with you which ministration he had received from the Lord Jesus and that he might be useful this way you may take notice of Pauls practice Acts 20. 20. I have kept back nothing which was profitable to you but have shewed you and taught you openly and throughout every house But O good God how few such house preaching lights doth the eart afford us in this our age but contrariwise instead of men that should make it their business with Paul and the rest of the Apostles to go from house to house to enlighten the dark famiâ—ies of the earth in the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ they rather bend their forces parts wits and purses to darken and put out the light of truth and the knowledge of God in all the families they meet withal where they go like unto those teachers of old spoken of in Ezek. 34. 18 19. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures and to have drunk of the deep waters but you must foul the residue with your feet and as for my flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet How far these or such as these are from being of the true Candlestick appointed to hold up and hold out the light of truth in the world let the reader judge But again this should teach all the Saints for they are a part of the Candlestick also to endeavour in their several places and callings to promote the glory of God in their generations to study godliness and which way they may be useful with their gifts and graces amongst their relations and neighbours and in their families in order to the bringing in of their souls to Jesus Christ therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5 16. Let pour light so shine before men that they seeing your good works might glorifie your Father which is in heaven To this agreeth the words of Paul Phil. 2 16. with ch 15. ver 15. He exhorts all true Christians that they would labour to hold forth the word of life and that they would labour to live unblameable in their lives and spotless in their conversations and that they would keep themselves without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation amongst whom they were to shine as lights so verse 16. The reason of the former exhortation is given you viz. because they are to hold forth the word of life even as a Candlestick they are to hold up or hold forth the light of truth Secondly A candlestick is appointed to hold fast as wel as to hold up the light that it fall not down because the fall of which many times puts out the light so is the Church of God prepared and fitted to succour and keep up the light of Gods holy truth in the earth that it might not be thrown down by the malice of the devil and wicked men who labour night and day to put it out in the world There be two wayes by which God fitteth the Church as a Candlestick to keep up the light of truth in the world The first is by pouring forth upon them the gifts of the Spirit by vertue of which they are enabled to discover detect and finde out all errour and whatsoever may be contrary to sound doctrine as in Rev. 2. 2. Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars Hence it is that the adversaries of truth are said not to be able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which St. Stephen spake Acts 6. 10. The reason you may perceive lay in this the Church of which Stephen was a member had a very great measure of the gifts of the Spirit which came upon them but a little before read Acts 2. 1 2 3 4. Secondly God fits his Church as
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
sins in his own bloud and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world Sixthly The Priest was to interpose between Gods wrath and the people in a time of sin and by his intercession to endeavour to pacifie God again read Numb 16 46 47 48. This is proper to Christ also and it did but Type out Jesus Christ in the great work of reconciling God to the creature together with his present interceding work whereby he standeth to this hour between the Father and the Church this saith St. Paul of our Saviour to Timothy 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is but one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Therefore when ever sin and satan presents the with an angry God for sin labour to affect thy heart with the thoughts of it repent and be humbled about but be not out of hope look up to thy High Priest and there thou maist see him interposing between Gods anger and thy soul in order to pacification CHAP. 35. About the standing Sacrifice of the Lamb. THere was likewise an Ordinance of God instituted amongst the Jews which was this a standing sacrifice of two Lambs which were to be offered to the Lord Morning and Evening the one in the Morning and the other at Evening every day throughout the year Exod. 29. 38 39. This was to be done whether the people could be there at the sacrifice yea or no which teacheth these two things First The continual ground which God still hath in his eye for the continuing his reconciling love to the Church and that is the death of his Son which is called the Lamb of God John 1 29. Christ is called a Lamb as he was a sacrifice to God for him This sacrifice which did at first fully give the Father satisfaction for sin is always in the eye of God Christ presents himself to the Father under that consideration always Therefore is it said the mercy-seat was sprinkled wiâ—h the bloud of the sacrifice Levit. 16. 14 15. That when ever the Father had any thing to do with the mercy-seat there should he always see the bloud of the Lamb Christ which speaketh better things then that of Abel Heb 12. 24. Secondly It teacheth us this much family-duty is to be kept up and maintained as an ordinance of God by all professing Souls This standing sacrifice had a double respect First As it respected our Lord Jesus so it Typed out the constant voice of the bloud of Christ in the ears of God for everlasting Reconciliation with the Elect that as they were always sinning so here are two Lambs always sacrificing before God for them But secondly as it respected the people so it was as the performance of family-duty by them for they were as it were but one family and they had one head to it which was Moses but at morning and at evening this practice of the sacrificing of the Lambs must be kept up and performed throughout the year O so much is it a duty for families to offer God the Evening and Morning sacrifice at this day as it was then O methinks to consider how little God is honoured in this respect by the families of the earth it is a matter most lamentable Certainly mens not performing family-duty is a shutting out of God from being King in that family for God is known amongst the families of the Earth by prayer for God upon himself as having a special part of his Prerogative denied him in that family which denies him family prayer therefore is God styled a God of prayer and the God hearing prayer and one unto whom all flesh shall come and indeed the contrary is threatned with a dreadful stroke I mean the omission of the duty read Ier. 10. 25 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen and the families which call not upon thy name Men little know what secret mischiefs they heap upon themselves and their families who live in the open neglect of this duty saith God in Deut. 32. 23. I will heap up mischiefs upon their heads I will spend mine arrows upon them And who so likely to be the persons upon whom God will heap mischief as prayerless persons if you compare this of Deut. 32. 23. with Ier. 10. 22. Into what flames have God turned some mens houses in one night over their heads turning them and theirs into ashes before the morning which judgment might have been prevented had they performed this duty the night before O think upon this you prayerless souls for fear least God rush out upon you and tear you in pieces and there be found none to deliver you out of his hands CHAP. 36. Of the good land of Canaan which the people were to enter into after their forty years travels in the Wilderness THis land was by St. Paul called their rest Heb. 3. 11. This land was the end of all their sore travels and weary journyings and great temptations a land of delights a land full of fatness abounding with all manner of ease and plenty a land flowing with milk and honey where there was not any want of any good thing Deut. 8. 7 8 9. This doth St. Paul in Heb. 3 11. express as a type of that Gospel Kingdom of rest and peace which all the true Israelites shall certainly rest and Centre in at last as the Psalmist speaketh Psal 58. 11. So that men shall say Verily there is a reward for the righteous so my Brethren there is a Canaan more glorious then Israels was for believers to enter into of which Canaan of old was the type and as all things typical under the Law did fall short in glory of the substance of that thing which it typed forth so also will it be in this case The Canaan in the Anti-type will infinitely excel for glory and brightness the Canaan in the type These two Canaans typed out one another for these things or in these respects First For place Secondly For condition upon which the Subjects were to enter each place Thirdly For the priviledges of it First For the place it self where this Canaan shall be into which all the faithful shall enter which St. Paul calls the people of Gods rest or a rest for the people of God and that is in this world upon this earth for so was Canaan of old it was in this world upon this earth I do not say that there is no other Canaan of glory for the Saints to enter but do believe there is and my hope is towards it but I say that rest spoken by St. Paul in Heb. 3. 11. which he makes to agree to Canaan of old as the Anti-type of it must be a rest in this world upon this earth and not any where else And this will appear if we consider the conditions upon which each Canaan is promised or tendred that of old and this by the Apostle in Heb. 3. And that was upon a faithful following of the Lord believingly in