new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take awaythe stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh O how excellent is that heart which is dedicated to the use and service of God that Lamp which was set apart for the service of the Tabernacle was worth a hundred Lamps elsewhere because the use and service unto which it was dedicated was both holy and honourable O so is a heart set apart for the Lord it s both holy and honourable its worth a hundred of other hearts in Gods account Prov. 10. 20. The heart of a wicked man is little wâ—rth Let men be never so noble great learned or wise in the worlds eyes yet if their hearts are not Vessels or Lamps dedicated to God for the use of Altar worship you may assure your selves that God values them no more then you value so many heaps of Dung the best service which comes from such unsanctified Vessels or hearts is abominable to God Prov. 15. 8 9. It s a sanctified heart which God calls for in Worship Pâ—ov 23. 26. My Sonne saith God give me thy heart By Son here we are to understand a soul whose heart is renewed by the graces of the holy Ghost Iohn 1. 12. These are the Lamps which God loves should be always flaming and burning before the eyes of his glory as it s spoken of the Lamps in the Tabernacle burning and flaming with love and affection to God with zeal for him with the flame of fervent prayer before him therefore is it sad Prov. 15. 8. The prayers of the upright are his delight Use 1. O therefore how should this teach the Lords people to look to their hearts that nothing but the true Oil of the spirit of grace be found in it you know the exhortation in Jer. 4. 14. O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee for its the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 5. 8 Therefore when Temptation Sin or Lust offers it self to thy soul for entertainment O banish it upon this very account O say to sin my heart is become a dedicated Vessel or Lamp to God set apart for Altar-worship and work prepared for better matter then sin is O therefore sin and corruption depart and get you hence here is no entertainment for you or for such filthy matter as you are saith David Psal 45. 1. My heart is inditing a good matter O so say to thy temptations My heart is inditing a good matter or better matter then sin lust or the world doth amount unto it s about heaven and heavenly things that my heart is now upon it s about God and Christ and glory to come which my heart is taken withall O therefore Sin and Satan the World and Temptation depart depart here is no entertainment for you for ever I have found better food to live upon and better objects to look unto then you are therefore farwel for ever farwel for ever Secondly By the Lamps or Vessels in the Tabernacle which did hold the Oil which was to give out the light in the Tabernacle I understand by them the Ministers or gifted men in the Church who are principally imployed to hold out the light of Gods holy will to the Church for the benefit and comfort of it this you may see more plainly set out unto you in Zachaiahs prophesie Zach. 4. 2. 3. I looked and behold a Candlestick of pure gold with a boulâ— upon the top of it and his seven Lamps thereon and his seven Pipes to the seven Lamps which were upon the top thereof and olive-trees by it one on the right hand and the other on the left side of the boul Here you see the Prophet puts a clear difference between the Candlestick and the seven Lamps the Candlestick and the Lamps are not one and the same thing Now by the Candlestick as have been shewed already is meant the Church of God and by the seven Lamps on the Candlestick must be meant the Ministers and gifted men in the Church which are gifted by the spirit of God for the accomplishing of the Worship and Service of the Gospel-tabernacle both as to Doctrine and Discipline for as the two Olive-trees Zach 4. 11 12 Standing on each side of the Lamps did convey their Oil through the seven Pipes into the seven Lamps to continue their burning always in the Candlestick so do Jesus Christ by his spirit for Christ is called the tree of life nd the apple tree and the tree in the midst of the Paradise of God constantly conveying the sap and oil of light and truth into his Lamps the Ministers through the Pipes of the Scriptures or the writings of the Prophets and Apostles for the information of the Candlesticks his Churches therefore saith St. Paul to Timothy 1. Tim. 4. 13. with 15. Untill I come give a tendance to Reading Exhortation and Doctrine meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profitting may appear to all Now if you compare Zach. 4. 2. with Rev. 1. 20. It will the more appear that the seven Lamps do intend the Ministers of the Church and such as are gifted for Church work they are called there the seven Stars of the seven golden Candlesticks that as Stars are fixed in the Firmament for the help of mankind in the absence of the Sun against temporal darkness so are the Ministers set in the Firmament of the Church to help men in the absence of â—hrist the Son of Righteousness against spiritual darkness therefore saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 20. We are Embassadours in Christ stead that is we as the lesser Lights are left with you in stead of Christ the great Light who is the Son of Righteousnesse so Eph. 4. 10 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ untill we all come to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Lastly They are said to be seven Lamps this number seven was given them or the reason why the Lamps were seven in number it s with respect to the plentifulness of the gifts of the spirit which the Lord Jesus doth pour out into his Church through these Lamps for the word or number seven was a note of perfectness amongst the Hebrews which they called a perfect number so that by the seven Lamps we understand such a plentiful measure of the spirit and through supply of gifts as that there shall not be any wanwant of it in the Church upon any occasion whatsoever either to enlighten guide comfort and strengthen it unto its journeys end therefore you have it Isa 27. 2 3. A vineyard of
thy pleasures And for all his Kingdom-glory here below in all the plenty and fatness of it yet upon the account of these tastes which he had had of the far exceeding fatness and richness and sweetness he found in the Pomgranate truths of the house of God he doth protest in the Psal 84. 10. That one day in the Courts of the Lord were better then a thousand and that he had rather be a Door-keeper in the house of God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness There was likewise a glorious girdle made for the Priest which was wrought with Purple Blue and Scarlet fine twined Linen this the Priest was to wear about his loins Exod. 39. 5. with Exod. 29. 5. This girdle of the High Priest doth hold forth these things to our consideration the girding up of the loins doth import these things to us 1. It denotes the resolution of the will to action Jer. 1. 17. Thou therefore gird up thy loins and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee be not dismayed at their faces least I confound thee before them 2. Sometimes it denotes the strength which God gives to his servants by which means they are enabled to perform that work he imploys them about Psal 18. 39. For thou girdest me with strength unto the battel thou subduest under me those that rose up against me 3. Sometimes it s put down in Scripture to denote the sincerity and faithfulness of the mind in the work a man sets about Eph. 6. 14. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth Now all these considerations about the girding of the loins do all agree unto and meet together in the Golden girdle of our Gospel High Priest But first let me shew you that Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest is set forth to you as the Anti type of the legal High Priest with respect to the garments which the High Priest was to wear and amongst which this of the Golden girdle is not omitted in Dan. 10. 5. 6. Then I lifted up mine eyes and looked and behold a certain man clothed in linen whose loins were girded about with a Golden girdle his body also was like the Beryl and his face as the appearance of lightning his eyes as lamps of fire and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished Brass and the voice of his words like unto the voice of a multude So Rev 1. 13. And in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks one like unto the Son of man clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a Golden girdle Now both Daniel and John had their Revelation from Jesus Christ and they both speak of him as the person who with his own hands gave it out to them And that it was he appears by the garb and dress in which they set him forth to you he was clothed in linen saith Daniel and clothed with a garment down to the foot saith Iohn which was as the High Priest did use to wear of which Christ was the Anti-type Now it can be none but Christ can be intended here by these two Prophets and that it was Christ it farther appears by Iohn who gives him the Title of the Son of man which Title was proper to Jesus Christ Besides both Daniel and Iohn tells you that the same person w ch gave out the prophesie to them which was clothed in linen and a garment down to the foot he was girt about the loins with a golden girdle Thus you see that Christ is set forth to you as a High Priest with respect to the garments which the High Priest did wear of which the girdle as you see was a part 2. I am to shew you that all the former considerations about the girding about of the Priests loins did all meet together in the Golden girdle of our Gospel High Priest First of all it denotes the resolution which was in Christ to the work of mans Salvation and Redemption Oh nothing could hinder the Lord Jesus from undertaking the thing although sin Satan the Curse of the Law the wrath of God Grave Death and Hell stood in the way yet he goes through all and makes his way thorow the highest difficulties that he might accomplish the thing he adventures soul and body glory happiness and all that was near and dear to him in order to the effecting it Luke 12. 50. I have a Baptism to be baptized with and oh how am I straitned untill it be accomplished which Baptism was not the Baptism with Water for in that sense he was baptized before Math. 3. 16. But it was the Baptism of his sufferings which he had so much a desire to finish and a resolution to go through Secondly He hath as great a resolution to bring forth sanctifying grace in the Saints by his Spirit as he had to bring forth justifying grace by his Death Zack 3. 4. And he answered and said unto those that stood before him take away the filthy garments from him and unto him he said behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass away from thee and I will cloth thee with change of garments This was spoken by Christ concerning his Church ver 1 2. But mark the resolution of Christ to the procuring of sanctifying garments which is that inward grace and holiness he fills them with which he sees his people stands in need of saith Christ I will do it It must and shall be so I am resolved as I have procured justifying grace for them so they shall be made holy I will give them sanctifying grace nothing shall cross my will in this matter Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. Then will I sprinkle you with clean water and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you a new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Mark the resolution of Christ to the sanctifying of his people he will do it take notice of the many Repetitions of his will there are in this place Thirdly So for the saying of his Church out of danger when begirt about with trouble Christ is resolved upon the business though sometimes the Devil and wicked men may think to make their Market upon the Saints that the gates of Hell shall never prevail against his Church and people saith Christ Psal 12. 5. For the oppression of the poor and for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith Christ and I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Mark how much the will and resolution of Christ lieth in this work of saving and delivering his Church out of the hands of men and Devils Use 5. O then how should this comfort and encourage
the divine graces of the Spirit or else it must be a holiness arising from a Church state and in this sence were the Jews called a holy nation and a peculiar people which arose from their being set apart by God to holy uses and purposes to God himself or if you will take it in St. Pauls terms 1 Cor. 7. 14. A holiness in opposition to uncleanness which uncleanness is elsewhere proved to consist of not being of a professed Church state to God read Isa 52. 1. with Acts 10. 14. For it could not be a holiness with which the whole body of Israel were made holy that consists of the divine qualifications of the Spirit of grace I think but few are of that opinion that the whole body of Israel were in such a sence holy then it must be a holiness arising from a Church State as if he had said If the first fruit be holy that is if Abraham with his Isaac and Ishmael together with the rest of his family who were first with all their succeeding little ones taken into a Church state and so became the first fruits of such a work to God The lump is holy that is then the whole body of that people is holy with reference to a Church state they need not call it in question But if they keep close to God certainly God accounts the issue of Abraham for many generations after as much in a holy state as to a Church state and as much a Church to himself both they and their little ones as ever he accounted it in the first fruits of it meaning in Abrahams time The lump saith Paul is also hâ—ly Then he comes to conclude that if the first fruits were holy which were the parent and the childe And if the lump be holy that is if God to this day have accounted the whole body of the Jews ever since in the same Church state which admitted of the parent and the childe then are the branches holy viz. The Gentile Churches which were ingrafted in upon the same stock then the childe as well as the parent being set on upon this stock as formerly are likewise hily still so that from what hath been spoken doth to me clearly warrant the congregational people the giving of their Children membership amongst them and consequently baptism Let not any mistake me I did not this to revive any part of the old contention or to beget any new quarrel between us and those Christians which dissent from us in this thing but as I conceived things lay so in my way that I must have leapt quite over a clear truth if I had left it and so passed by Object But some may say upon the same account will a national Church be proved to be lawful even the same way that the membership of Infants will come in I answer first I know no absolute necessity lying upon the thing so as that we must not dispute for or practice the one but the other must come in you see in the practice of the Congregational Churches both here and in New England that the connexion is not forcible but that we may give our Children Membership and Baptism amongst us and yet be far enough from building our Churches upon a National bottom But secondly And that which will lead me to the other consideration in the Candlestick which is this The candlestick you know had one stem out of which came six branches The stem of the Candlestick signifies the Jewish Church and the little Candlesticks which came out of that signifies the Gentile Churches under the Gospel the stem of the Candlestick was but one individual shewing that the Church of the Jews was to be national But the branches above in the Candlestick were several in number signifying that the Churches under the Gospel day should be no more national but congregational To this agreeth the two Prophesies of Zechariah and John who writing both about one and the self-same thing viz. about the two Witnesses Zach. 3. 3. with Rev. 11. 3 4. Onely Zachariah sayes That at that time when he writ about the two Witnesses belonging to the Jewish Church he saw but one Candlestick Zach. 3. 2 Because then the Church was national but when John writ of the Witnesses in the Gentile or Gospel Church he saw two Candlesticks or several Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. Because now the Churches of Christ were no more to be national but congregational or many Churches in one nation There is one thing more to be spoken to about the Candlestick and I have done with it You may observe in reading Exod. 37. 18 19 20 21. This plain difference about the Candlesticks which is that the main Candlestick had four bowls with his knobs and his flowers belonging to it but the lesser Candlesticks which branched themselves forth of the great Candlestick had but three Bowls with their knobs and their flowers Now you must observe as hath been already said that the bowls knobs and flowers added to the Candlestick it was to set sorth the glory of it then where the most of the bowls knobs and flowers were there was the greatest glory but now the most of these things were about the great Candlestick which shews us thus much that although the Jewish Church did at first fall short of the Gentile Churches in glory and brightness yet the time shall come that the glory of the Jewish Church shall far excel all the Gentile Churches in the world Isa 54. 11 12. O 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 agats thy gates of carbuncles and all â—hy borders of pleasant stones This is a Prophephesie which relates to the latter day glory of the Church of the Jews when they shall be brought into Jesus Christ CHAP. 21. I now come to speak of the seven Lamps which with the Candlestick were placed in the Tabernacle THere were likewise seven lamps made of pure gold Ex. 37. 23. which Lamps were to be lighted and always to be kept burning before the Lord Exodus 40. 25. In which there are these things to be considered or it may put us in minde of these things First The vessel it self Secondly the oyl in the Vessel or Lamp Thirdly The light it gave out to the beholders First By the Lamp or Vessel it self it may put us in mind of this great mercy which by Grace Believers hath received at Gods hands and that is a sanctified heart into which God pours forth the holy oyl of his Spirit in the several graces of it by which means the heart is changed purged renewed and made fit for God Now in this sence every Believers heart may be said to be a Lamp therefore saith the Lord in the Prophesie of Jer. 31. 33. I will put my Law in their hearts and write it in their inward parts so Ezek. 36. 26. A