g 1 Cor. 10.25 Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no Question for Conscience sake Every thing that is wholesome or nutritive food certainly may be used h 1 Tim. 4.4 Every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused If it be received with Thanksgiving It is evident that things offered to Idols and i Act. 15.29 things strangled are conjoyned in that place with blood where abstinence from it is commanded because of the Jews whose Communion with the believing Gentiles was interrupted by their liberty in those things As for things Offered to Idols the Apostle Paul counts it a meere indifferency k 1 Cor. 8.4 8. Rom. 14.3 20. unless in the case of scandall or offence to weak brethren Then indeed there is an Hypoheticall necessity imposed upon our abstinence for we must not by an unreasonable use of our liberty give occasion of offence unto others Then indeed we must not eat a 1 Cor. 10.28 For his sake that shewed it and for Conscience sake The Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof But this question is more fully spoken to by Chamier Panstrat Cathol Tom. 3. lib. 15. c. 10. p. 528. Hornbeck Sum. Controvers lib. 11. de graecis p. 841. c. and Grosted our Countryman de cessat legal p. 134. c. with others who determine it in the affirmative that it is lawfull to eat blood so it be without offence or scandall to weak Brethren But I shall leave this and proceed to parallel the effusion of Blood out of the Sacrifice with Christs shedding his Blood upon the Cross He hath b Rev. 1.5 washed us in his Blood for our sins The Blood came out of the heart of Christ our Gospell Sacrifice to cleanse us from our impurities The Speare opened a passage into his brest that we might enter in at the doore of his Wounds and be healed by him and united to him This is the c Zech. 13.1 Fountain opened to the house of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness Besides in every Sacrifice d Lev. 3.16 the fat was the Lords It is the best of the Creature and e Theophrast Charact. p. 249. perishes not so soon as the lean To signifie that we ought to give the choicest and most excellent of our services unto God The inwards also with the heart and reins were to be washt and then Offered to God by Fire we must cleanse our hearts and then dedicate them to God The Head also and the Taile or Rump were to be offered up to God the Head f Spelman Tithes p. 72. as principium the Taile as finis Actionis Both the principle and beginning of all our actions and services as well as the end must be consecrated to God The dung was to be cast away into an unclean place to shew that there is impurity in our choicest services and that we ought to fling it away when we approach and draw nigh to God All the filth and defilement of sin is to be removed as possible from all our approaches unto God But putting an end to Generals I shall descend to some particular Sacrifices which though they were various yet they did all in severall waies either allude to Christ or else to somewhat of our Gospell Services For as our judicious a Grosted de Cessat Legal p. 167. Grosted a great light considering the times wherein he lived doth observe Vt res una multis signis ita Christus multis Sacrificijs the same thing may be noted by many signs so Christ by many Sacrifices 1. Of the burnt Offering 1. The burnt Offering was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to ascend because being wholly burnt it did ascend up to Heaven in smoak and vapour By the Septuagint it is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a whole burnt Offering There was therefore a constant fire maintained upon Gods Altar to this purpose b Lev. 6.13 The Bullock Lamb or Kid which was thus Offered upon the account of the sinner did note our corruptibility even like the bodies of these Beasts obnoxious to the consuming wrath of God and the punishment justly due to us even to be tormented in the fire of his indignation And as the vapour ascended up to Heaven to cry for propitious mercy so it shewed the place from whence alone we can expect redemption and expiation for sin even from Heaven in the acceptation of Christs offering who was scorched in the fire of Gods wrath for sin Hereby likewise the meanes of obtaining pardon and grace are signified by the two properties of Fire Light and Heat The Light of Faith whereby the ancient Jewes did foresee Christ the promised Sacrifice and the Heat of ardent prayers breathed from the Altar of an inflamed heart whereby they did in the name of the foreseen and hoped for Sacrifice obtain the remission of sin Besides these were often reiterated for a constant memorial of the c He. 10.14 great Sacrifice once to be offered for the sins of many forasmuch as they were of themselves never able to purge the conscience from sin Fire was used in the consumption of these typical Sacrifices and what might that signifie Sometimes in Scripture it signifies d Grost ibid. p. 123. Virtutem Divinitatis nestrorum vitiorum rubiginem consumentis The force and power of the Divinity destroying the rust of our sins and vices as it is exprest in Deuteronomy saith our Grosted a Deut. 4.24 The Lord thy God is a consuming fire Sometimes it signifies Gods indignation as the Prophet Jeremy expresses it against unjust oppressors b Jer. 21.12 Lest my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it Sometimes it signifies the words of God proceeding from the mouth of the Prophets c Jer. 5.14 Behold I will make my words in thy mouth fire and this people wood and it shab devour them The words of the Law have the force of fire burning d Cramer Schol. proph 5 ta par p. 17. the hearts of men and stirring up in them the sense of the just wrath and fury of God against sin Now as the fire consumed the Sacrifices it noted the justly demerited wrath of God to consume us for our sins and was a type of the anger of God that fell upon Christ our Surety on the behalf of sinners * Cloppenb Schol. Sacri p. 62. c. It was anciently the token of the acceptation of their Sacrifices when fire came down from Heaven to consume them as in the Sacrifice of e Gen. 15.17 Abraham f Lev. 9.24 Aaron g Judg. 6.21 Gideon h 2 Chr. 7.1 Solomon i 1 King 18 38. Elijah It was unlawfull to use any other fire then celestial for when once God had answered by fire from Heaven the Priests office was to conserve it perpetually
of the precise Synod †Lang. de annis Christi l. 1. c. 10. Selden de anno Civili Judaeorum cap. 13. 27 hours and ½ for to give the Moon a visible Phasis according to which day of its first appearance the Jewish New Moons were vulgarly celebrated If I should perform this at present it would swell this Treatise too much for which it is not of any great moment to insist and therefore we shall proceed briefly to describe the pompous Solemnity of this Dedication In the first place we read that King Solomon for this rare Festival assembled the Elders the Heads of the Tribes 2 Chro. 5.2 1 Kin. 8.65 and the chief of the Fathers of Israel and a mighty Congregation of all the Nation from the entring in of Hamath to the River of Egypt 2 Chro. 7.7 After this Solomon hallowed the middle of the Court because the Brazen Altar would have proved insufficient to contain the multitudes of the intended Offerings The Elders of Israel being assembled waited upon the King at Mount Zion where the Ark of God's Covenant was yet resident which the Priests took up upon their shoulders 1 Kin. 8.3 4. The Levites mean while according to their several designed Ranks carryed the Tabernacle of Boards and Curtains wherein the Ark stood with all the Holy Vessels of Moses 2 Chro. 5.2 Thus in a pompous Holy Procession they walked leisurely from the City of David the Ark being brought up to the sacred Mountain the King and all the Congregation sacrificed before it Sheep and Oxen without number Ver. 6. Ver. 7. Then the Priests conveyed the Ark of the Covenant into the Oracle or most Holy Place and set it under the Wings of the Golden Cherubims which being done and the Priests returned out of that mysterious place one hundred and twenty of them with silver Trumpets for Moses his were of silver sounded in the Court and near to them the Singers Asaph 1 Chron. 6.33 Ver. 12. Hëman the Grand-son of Samuel the Prophet and Jeduthun with their Sons and Brethren being arrayed in White Linnen and accommodated with Cymbals Psalteries and Harps stood at the East End of the Altar lift up their Voices and sung this Verse For He is good For His Mercy endureth for ever While this admirable Consort of Vocal Pneumatical and Organical Musick 2 Chron. 5.13 made a joyful sound throughout the Temple its Courts and the Neighbouring City Behold a Cloud of Glory filled the House of God with such bright and shining Beams that the Priests could not stand to minister by reason of its Radiant Majesty Immediatly upon this King Solomon standing upon his Brazen Scaffold before the Altar and looking towards the Cloud of Glory thus bespake the Divine Majesty 2 Chron. 6.1 2. Ver. 3 4 c. The Lord hath said that He would dwell in the thick Darkness But I have built an House of Habitation for thee and a place for thy dwelling for ever Then the King turns his face to all the people as they stood makes a short but elegant and pithy Oration and gives them His Royal Blessing After this He turns His face West again to the Temple and the Altar directing His Eyes stedfastly towards that Divine Glory and falling down devoutly upon His Knees 2 Chron. 6.12 c. 2 Chron. 7.1 and spreading out His Hands toward Heaven He powrs out a large and Heavenly Prayer before the Majesty of God riding upon the Chariot of the Cherubims At the conclusion thereof miraculous Fire descends from Heaven consuming the Burnt-Offering and the Sacrifices while the Glory of the-Lord filled the House with such Orient Splendour that the Priests could by no means enter Now when all the Children of Israel saw the Fire from Heaven and the Glory of GOD upon the House they bowed themselves with their Faces to the Ground upon the Payement worshipped and praised the Lord with one Voyce saying For He is good for His Mercy endureth for ever Then the King offered His stately Sacrifice to the Lord of two and twenty thousand Oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand Sheep Thus the King and all the People dedicated the House of the Lord throughout seven days After which followed the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles together with an eighth being the solemn Assembly the 22 day of the moneth The 23 followed which was the Sabbath and that being concluded on the Evening of the 23 day Solomon sent away the people to their Tents 2 Chron. 7.10 Lev. 23.40 42. which were made during this Feast according to the Law of Willows and Palms glad and merry in heart for the goodness which the Lord had shewed to David to Solomon His Son and to His People Israel After which night having slept sweetly on the first day of the Week every one takes up his Journey to his own Habitation according to their various distances from the Holy Temple CHAP. VIII The Temples Duration THis famous Building being thus famously hansell'd and house-warm'd with so many fat Burnt-Offerings we will account its continuance not from the Foundations first laying when it was yet an imperfect Embryo but from the 23 day of the moneth Ethanim in the Julian Year 3710. or of the World 3001. which day according to our Author being co-incident with the 14th day of the Julian Moneth Lev. 25.9 November and being the second Sabbath of the Year of Jubilee now begun For the first was one of the days of Tabernacles shall be the first standing day of the Temple and keeping house upon its own Revenues apart from these grand and solemn Festivals being united for the more August and noble Celebration of its Dedication From which day till the Year of the same Julian Period 4126. Aug. 27. being the Sabbath also it stood four hundred and fifteen years Vsser p. 131. two hundred and eighty five days according to the Julian Account which I shall briefly exhibit in this Laterculus or Scheme wherein the Names Reign number of the Kings may be observed at one view under which it stood Not but that it received many sore shakings by many Heathen Kings by the Idolatrous Neighbours of the Kingdom of Israel or the ten Tribes who many a time laid their Sacrilegious hands upon these Divine Materials Nay which is most to be lamented it was wounded in the house of its Friends that should have been even some of the Kings of Judah For all which I refer you to the sacred Annals of the Kings and Chronicles as to the larger view of those Transactions which I have linked in a more compendious Chain before the close of this Chapter Onely before I give in this ensuing Type remember that the Dedication being solemnized in the 11th of King Solomons Reign and that He holding the Scepter 40 years we must set down 29 for Him after this great Dedication  Years  1 Solomon 29
on some wall of that Chamber which he built possibly in the Temple A.M. 3277 Hezekiah the 13th King Glorious were the Atchievments of this holy King who no sooner stept into the royall Throne but he presently made a solemn visitation of the Temple in the first year of his reign and in the first Moneth of the sacred year 2 Chr. 29.3 He opens the doors of that late-polluted House shut up by his ungodly Predecessour and repaires them in a magnificent manner overlaying the doors and pillars with Gold 2 Kin. 18.16 Then having gathered the Priests and Levites into the East-street he makes an eloquent Oration to them filled with divine and perswasive Rhetorick and rouzes them up to the purification of the Temple from the idolatrous pollutions of Ahaz Which when they had finished in the space of sixteen daies they prepared and sanctified all the Vessels for divine use Whereupon they offered sacrifices of Atonement and Reconciliation for the sins of Ahaz in prophaning the Temple-Worship 2 Chr. 29.21 The Number of the burnt-Offerings brought by the Congregation were seventy Bullocks one hundred Rams and two hundred Lambs and the consecrating Offerings were six hundred Oxen and three thousand Sheep 2 Chr. 30.2 Numb 9.11 After which they solemnized the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second Month according to the Law of Moses in case of Impurity The Sacrifices of Peace-offerings which were then presented to God were two thousand Bullocks and seventeen thousand Sheep 2 Chr. 30.26 there being such joy at that time in Jerusalem as the like thereof had not been known since the daies of Solomon When this was finished all the People who had been present in the Temple went out and brake the Images in pieces cap. 31.1 cut down the Groves and tumbled down the high Places and Altars in all Judah and Israël and particularly destroyed the Brazen Serpent of Moses 2 Kin. 18.4 calling it Nehushtan a poor piece of Brass because the Israëlites had burnt Incense to it in an idolatrous manner Moreover he set in order the Courses of the Priests and gave forth a portion of his own Estate to maintain the constant and solemn Sacrifices of God's worship and commanded the People to bring in their First-fruits and Tithes to encourage the Priests in the Law of the Lord 2 Chr. 31.4 5 preparing Chambers in the House of God wherein to lay them up Thus did he work that which was right and good and truth before the Lord his God Ver. 20. The Lord was with him whithersoever he went Being encouraged by this his great prosperity he shoke off the yoke of the King of Assyria and smote the Philistins even to Gaza and the border thereof 2 Kin. 18.7 But after the establishment of the worship of God and his Kingdom Giving a true and an eminent pattern to all Princes to begin first with Temple-work and the Reformation of the Worship of God if ever they intend to set warm in their Thrones and settle the Scepter in their hands Which Method being usually mistaken by great pretenders to Reformation they generally lay the Basis of their own ruine in the Quagmire and Queachy ground of rotten policy Behold yet even after all this 2 Chr. 32.1 2 Kin. 18.13 15.16 he was invaded by Sennacherib the great King of Assyria in the fourteenth year of his Reign To pacify whose rage he sent him all the Treasures of Silver and the gold of the Pillars and Doores of the Temple But that haughty King being nothing satisfied whetted but his appetite for more Glory and Riches 2 Chr. 32.17 and sent railing Letters against the God of Zion Hereupon this holy King of Judah spread the Letters before the Lord in his Temple and 2 Kin. 19.14 15. which was better and more acceptable he spread his Hands and his Heart before the Lord in a most ardent and heavenly prayer Whence we may perceive that intended Mercyes are fetcht from Heaven in the Chariot of prayer and a holy Prophet is made the mouth of God to declare his gracious answer Ver. 20. honouring his Ministers with the divine messages of his Will Which was seconded that very Night by a direful stroke of vengeance on the Assyrian Camp cutting off all the mighty men of valour Ver. 35. 2 Chr. 32.31 with the Leaders and Captains of his Army to the number of 185000 men The King himself returning with shame was slain by the Children that came out of his own Bowels in the House of his god After this Hezekiah being sick and recovered with the attendance of a miraculous signe of the Sun's retrocession on the Dyall of Ahaz he rendred not again according to his mercies but being left by God to try him and to know all that was in his heart 2 Chr. 32.31 he shewed his stately Treasures to the Embassadours of Merodach-Baladan King of Babylon called by Ptolomy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that excellent Canon of his esteemed by Calvisius more precious then Gold for the concatenation of the sacred and civil Histories of those times But this good King humbled himself for the pride of his heart Ver. 16. shewing his godly sincerity in heart-reformation lying low before God for his being lifted up before the Legates of an earthly Prince After which reigning in peace and great prosperity the usual Concomitant of Integrity in God's worship he died in peace Ver. 33. and was buried in the chiefest of the Sepulchres of the Sons of David Manasseh the 14th King A.M. 3306 The ungodly Son of a holy Father puts on the orient Diadem and succeeds in the royall Seat of Judah 2 Kin. 23.1 builds up the high-places destroyed by Hezekiah rears up Altars for Baal and makes a Grove like Ahab King of Israël and worships all the Host of Heaven for whom he built Altars in both the Courts of the Lord's House 2 Ch. 33.6 7 2 Kin. 23.4 He caused his Children to pass through the fire in the Valley of Hinnâ—m and erected a carved Image of the Idol Baal which he had made in the Temple of God in a most prophane and presumptuous manner not hearkning to the menacing Messages sent by God At last the Majesty of Heaven bing deeply incensed sent against him the Captaines of the King of Assyria who tooke him among the thorns bound him with Fetters and carried him captive to Babylon In which affliction having greatly humbled himself before the Lord and deprecated the fierceness of his wrath by earnest supplication he was brought again to Jerusalem and to his Kingdome Where to demonstrate the sincerity of his Repentance he took away the strange Gods and that damnable Idol of Baal out of the House of the Lord and all the Altars which he had built in the holy Mountain and in Jerusalem and cast them out of the City Furthermore he proceeds to the reparation
book of the Revelations full of odours which some have conceived to be the faithful hearts of Saints sending forth the fragrant odours and sweet-sented breathings of their Souls in prayer toward heaven But above all that singular place is to be remembred to this purpose where the Apostle Peter acquaints his dispersed Brethren (g) 1 Pet. 1.7 that the trial of their Faith is much more precious then Gold being such as is (h) Rev. 3.18 tried in the fire and is to be bought of Christ alone whereby though poor in this World we may be made (i) Jam. 2.5 rich in Faith Of all Metals Gold is the most excellent most beautiful and refers its original as the Chymists have written to the influence of the Sun the chiefest of the Planets it 's the most durable and solid it is the most malleable of all by reason of its vigorous tenacity which two things were of old observed by (k) In Tract 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 347. Gr. Par. 1552. Philo Judaeus speaking of the golden candlestick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 · One thing is that it doth not admit rust another that being drawn or beaten into very thin Membranes as leaf-gold it remains unbroken Besides all this it is esteemed by eminent chymical Physitians to be a great restorative to the vital parts if duely prepared and fitted What should I speak of (a) Vitruv. lib. 9. cap. 2. its gravity by which Archimedes found out the Imposture of the Syracusian Gold-smith in the make of Hiero's Crown It s great estimation in all Ages insomuch that (b) A. Gell. noct Attic. lib. 5. cap. 6. Mural Naval and Triumphal Coronets were made of it Or lastly Its conveniency for commerce by reason of its deserved value and estimation as being generally rated in its proportion to Silver as 1 to 12 besides its duration and continuance beyond all other Metals It were an endlesse thing and here improper to insist long upon the nature and excellency of Gold a Metal so much known and thirsted after our Inquiry must be rather that of Persius In Sancto quid facit aurum Sat. 2. v. 69. Rivet in Exod. p. 116. Certainly the immediate end of it was for the beautifying of the House of God Not that his divine Majesty needed or cared for any such Ornaments considered barely in themselvs or that the worshippers by any such dedications were the more acceptable to God but good reason that the hearts of those who draw nigh to him should be manifest in consecrating the most precious of all their enioyments and substance unto him whose name and presence he was pleased to place among and afford to his People at that house in Jerusalem If therefore Wood be useful the Cedar Firr and Olive must be brought the choisest If Metals Silver and Gold the most durable and of greatest esteem If of Stones the most precious of Liquors and Gums the most aromatical and fragrant and so in the rest Besides the Ornament of Gold which was laid upon the Cedar boards we read likewise that the House was garnished and set out with (d) 2 Ch. 3.6 precious stones but what kinds the Scripture is silent therefore we can onely mention them The last things which beautified the House were engraved Cherubims the form and figure is not perfectly known but probably of the same kind with those in the Oracle whereof I shall speak more largely in the third Section Now then to recapitulate and recollect what hath been said and to apply all briefly to the Mystical signification intended by them Some hold that by all those curious materials the Saints themselves were signified who differ one from another in gifts and graces But seeing as hath been before spoken to the Marble stones of the Temple are by the holy Scriptures alluded to when the Saints and People of God are called living stones making up the glorious spiritual Temple of the Gospel it seems more apposite to apyly these inward Ornaments of the Sanctuary to the inward vertues graces and divine qualifications of the Saints If leave may be permitted to Allusions I shall onely compare some divine Qualifications of the People of God with the chiefest and most material excellencies of the fore-described Ornaments The Cedar Firr and Olive Trees being alwaies green may note the never-dying nature of Grace where once it is planted it never decaies The exceeding high stature of the Firr and Cedar may shadow forth their continual growth till they come unto the perfect Man (e) Eph. 4.13 unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ As the Olive-tree is exceeding fat and fertile yielding Berries of great use for man both in food and Physick together with the Oyl (f) Jud. 9.9 wherewith both God and Man is honoured God in the frequent use of it in Sacrifices of Meat-Offerings and in the Lamps of the Sanctuary Man in his Unction to Offices both sacred and civill (g) Ps 104.15 making his face to shine it being called the Oyl of joy exhilarating the spirits suppling of wounds refreshing the feet after weary travels Hereby insinuating the fertility and fruitfulnesse of Saints the joy of Spirits in their service of and communion with God nothing so much refreshing their hearts as the fellowship which they hold with his Divine Majesty and one with another in holy Ordinances Furthermore the fragrancy of the Cedar notes the savory smell of the holy Life of Saints As the Gold was likewise another principal Ornament It may signify the preciousnesse the purity the (a) Zech. 13.9 tryed and experienced excellency of all their graces as having been often in the furnace of affliction and the fire of tentation and persecution and have come forth in their Faith Love Patience and other graces more pure then Gold most glittering and glorious the great end being to purge (b) Isa 1.25 away their drosse and take away all their tinn that they may be (c) 1 Pet. 1.7 found unto praise honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ The precious stones likewise did most admirably set forth the oriency of their graces together with their durableness seeing stones of all things are least subject to impressions Precious stones shine in the dark so do Saints graces in dark times they are beauties to the places where they live and inhabit The fiery Carbuncle darts forth a resemblance of zeal the blew Saphire of heavenly mindedness the impenetrable Diamond their constancy and courage the clear Crystal their unspotted innocency the Red Ruby their hot persecutions and the like Whereof more may be spoken when we arrive to the stones in the High Priest's Breast-plate but of the particular application of them to distinct graces I desire to be interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a laxe sense Too much curiosity and nicenesse being things I design most to avoid having constantly thought that these
Saints are remembred to be (ſ) Rev. 7.9 before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white Robes and Palms in their hands in that new and Heavenly Jerusalem where there is an (t) Heb. 12.22 23. innumerable Company of Angels and the Spirits of just men made perfect The Vaile The Vaile comes now to be considered in this its due and proper place In that it did distinguish and separate the Oracle from the Sanctuary It signified the portion or number of the Saints Militant serving God in the Sanctuary-worship without the Vaile in the Ordinances of the Gospel not being yet received into Heaven who while they are at (u) 2 Cor. 5.6 7. home in the body are absent from the Lord walking by Faith and not by sight or open vision of the glory in Heaven Into which we are to passe by a (x) Heb. 10.20 new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vaile that is to say his flesh So that as there was no passing of old in to the Holy of Holyes but through the Vaile So there is no passage for us into Heaven but by Jesus Christ who is ascended with his assumed flesh into that Holy of Holyes making way for all his members shewing that till we follow the Captain of our salvation through sufferings and the death of our flesh we are kept off from communion with the Saints in glory As the Oracle is the Heaven of glory the habitation of Saints and Angels So The Vaile is to shadow forth the inferior Heavens So Porphyr de antr Nymph p. 116. which as Vaile or (y) Heb. 1.12 Dickins Delph ex Varrone p. 119. Vesture shalt thou fold them up There be who taking the Sanctuary to signifie the Jewish worship and the Oracle to note the Heaven of Gospel-Ordinances and further considering the Veile as hindring our passage into and our beholding of the Oracle apply this Veile as a (z) Rivet in Exod. cap. 27. p. 1129. type of the distinction betwixt Jews and Gentiles which separation as a (a) Eph. 2.14 partition wall the death of Christ hath taken away Though others more probably apply it to the outward wall of the Temple that kept off the Gentiles from coming into that Court where the Jews did worship Whereof more anon in its proper order The contexture of the Vaile we read to be (b) Exod. 20.31 of blew and purple scarlet and fine twined linnen of cunning work and imbroidered with Cherubims The manner of the work was this that one of the 4 suppose the fine twined threds of linnen made the warp or stamen the other 3 made the woof or subiegmen and were by curious Art framed into figured work of Cherubims as it is common in our daies in all sorts of weaving to expresse many sorts of Beasts Birds Men or Flowers most lively in their Works Ribera following Josephus (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 454. lin 29. Edit Par. 1552. Turneb gr Philo Judaeus our Country man Bede and others of the antients expound them in their discourse about the (d) Lib. 1. c. 21. Edit 8o. Antwerp 1598. Temple p. 63. in these words The blew because it resembles Heaven in its colour signifies that the Life of the Faithful should be Heavenly not Earthly such as is the Life of unbelievers and full of the desires of the highest good which Faith manifests The Scarlet because it imitates fire signifies the ardor of Charity and ought to be twice dyed than not onely God may be loved but also our Brethren The Purple which is stained with blood of the Tyrian Shell-fish notes the imitation of Christs sufferings and patience in Labours and carrying the Crosse as Bede saith C. 15. The fined twined linnen as the same Author hath it in the same place because it grows out of the Earth with a green stalk and is prepared by the great labour of Artists in such manner that losing its natural colour it is reduced to whiteness doth fitly insinuate the Chastisement of our flesh which is to be exercised by works of Repentance and to be thereby tamed that it may become white and clean Cherubims are woven in the Velle that we may study to imitate the life of Angels as was said before and that we should constantly make use of a great deal of knowledge as Bede speaketh in the good works which we performe For Cherubims signifie multitude of knowledge alwayes looking towards the divine Oracles and governing our walkings by beholding of them lest perhaps we should err from the path of vertue Others there are who taking the Veile to signifie the body of Christ apply the purple to the blood of the Virgin the elegant weaving to the working of the holy Spirit which did frame that excellent variety of his blessed members But these and the like though some saith the judicious Rivet in the forecited place do wonderfully please themselves thereat are idle fancies and little to the purpose For they that would in these things be wise above what is written are plain fools However I thought good to mention them to excite sober spirits to a more full inquisition if any Mystery should be concluded under them Possibly the glorious Embroidery of this curious Veile might signifie the diverse heavenly graces wherewith our Lord was beautified without measure The Cherubims that were woven in it might possibly note the service and ready attendance of these blessed Spirits who divers times (e) Joh. 1.51 Mat. 4.11 Mar. 1.13 Luk. 22.43 Ministred to him in the daies of his flesh At the time of his blessed Passion this (f) Mat. 27.51 Mar. 15.38 Luk. 23.35 Veile was rent in twain from the top to the bottome a sight no doubt exceeding strange and terrible to the Priests that entred into the Sanctuary seeing it was no lesse then a miraculous prodigy attending his death So that as the Veile was rent it signified the rending his blessed body upon the Crosse his flesh being signifyed by it that so his holy and spotlesse soul after the giving up of his Spirit to the Father might enter into Paradise As this Veil did hide the entrance into the Sanctuary So it signified that all things were then covered with shadows and that the Jewish Nation was separated from other people according to the usual and common apprehension It s being rent by the power of heaven at his death did signify that Jesus our true High-Priest was then entring into heaven as to his Soul and was about to enter with both Soul Body as he did a little after from Mount Olivet For as the Jewish High-Priest did enter once a year with the blood of slain Beasts into this most holy place So Christ by the vertue of his own blood and the merit of his passion did enter once for all into the sacred heavens causing all the ancient shadows to cease (g) Cloppenb p. 137. and to be rent
not presently feed upon it by Faith and digest it in a holy life it will be of no value nor efficacy o our souls But so much of Manna The Rod of Aaron As in Moses time there was laid up in the Oracle Aaron's rod which blossomed It is likewise probable that it might be laid up also in the Oracle of Solomon though it be not praecisely mentioned The story of Aaron's Rod is at large recited in the 17th of Numbers which may be consulted at leisure Aaron being the High Priest and chief of the Tribe of Levi as all the Princes of the Tribes had their Rods or staffes Numb 21.18 So he had a Rod for an Ensign of Government He was a Signal Type of Christ as the Apostle to the Hebrews doth clearly manifest Some think that all the three Offices of Christ respecting the Church were signified by these three choise things in the Oracle The Ark with its Crown round about it and as being the Throne of God noted his Kingly Office The Manna his Prophetical or Pastoral Office And the Rod of Aaron his Priestly And therefore it is that he is so often styled in Scripture the Branch as Isaiah 4.2 11 1 10. 53 2. Jer. 23.5 33 15. Ezek. 17.22 23. Zech. 3.8 6 12. Rev. 5.5 22 16. The Hebrew word in some of those places is in the Septuagint version rendred by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which makes me to reflect upon that place in Luke where the (a) Luke 1.78 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred by us the Day spring from on high Now considering that the old Greek Version was much eyed by the new Testament Writers we may translate it The Branch from on high hath visited us and overshadowed us with his healing Boughs and therein possibly might be an allusion to Aarons Rod or Branch laid up in the Oracle signifying Heaven which that it did denote Christ is the opinion of Justin Martyr (b) Dialog Cum Triphare Jud. pag. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Rod of Aaron bringing forth Buds did declare him High Priest Isaias did prophesie of Christs birth by the Rod out of the root of Jesse To speak then a while to this Rod of Aaron being the note of the Ministerial function as residing in him and his successours and that none should take to themselves that honour but such as are called of God as was Aaron (c) Heb. 5.4 Here give me leave to enlarge a little upon this flourishing subject of Aarons Rod. A Rod in Scripture denotes Government and so this Rod signifies Christs royal Dominion in his Church He will send the (d) Psalm 110.2 Rod of his strength out of Zion He is to rule over his people with a (e) Psalm 45.6 Scepter of Righteousnesse Sometimes it hints at judgement Hear the (f) Mic. 6.9 Rod and who hath appointed it 1. The Rod of affliction Shall I come to you saith Paul to his Corinthians with a (g) 1 Cor. 4.21 Rod i.e. with some Church-censure Sometimes it notes Teaching and Doctrine He shall smite the earth with the (h) Isa 11.4 Rod of his mouth i. e. with doctrinal reproof Feed thy people with thy (i) Mic. 7.14 Rod of Instruction The Metaphor being taken from Shepherds who carry wirh them a Rod a crook the one to drive their sheep into green pastures and the other to catch them (a) Psalm 23.4 Thy Rod and thy staffe comforted me Thereby they kept off the Wolves the wild Beasts from the Folds Mercury of old was the Caduceator Virgifer of the gods being painted with a Rod twined with Serpents to note its Rhetorick and perswasive Eloquence in speaking he being interpres divum Christ is the revealer of the Father's will he lay in his bosom and hath declared him Joh. 1. 18. Sometimes it signifies ease because this is the end of a Staffe or Rod to lean upon as Jacob (c) Heb. 11.21 leant upon his Staffe to shew that the Evangelical Ministry whereof Christ is the head is a safe resting place for the Church This Rod of Aaron was made of an Almond-Tree of which its observed by (d) Plin. l. 16. c. 25. Pliny that it flowres the first of all Trees even in Jan. in the more Southern Countries and brings forth ripe fruit there in March To shew how quickly those that are designed for the Ministry should blossom toward Heaven young (e) 1 King 18.12 Obadiahs (f) Jer. 1.5 Jeremiahs (g) Luk. 1.15 John Baptists (h) 2 Tim. 3.15 Timothies even in their youth savouring the things of God This doth likewise reflect upon the effect of their Ministry how soon God will bring to passe what they precict in his name when they receive their Visions from him in the holy Mount Therefore Jeremy who was a Priest of Anathoth saw the Vision of an (i) Jer. 1.11 Almond-Tree to confirm his heart in the work of the Ministry The vulgar Latine reads that place by virga vigilans a watchful Rod hinâ—ing how God would hasten the judgement he threatned unless the people repented and further to shew what diligence and vigilancy Ministers ought to use in their Embassies they must be (k) Isay 11. Watchmen and Seeâ—s of the night We read that the Egyptians resembled God by the hieroglyphical sculpture (l) Plutarch de Iside Ostride moral part 1. gr p. 632. ed 1. H. Stepâ— 573. of a Rod or Scepter with an Eye in it noting his omniâ—cient care and wisdom in the Government of the World Every Gospel-Minister should have for his hieroglyphick an Almond Rod with an Eye annexed to it not to rule and teach onely but a so providently to foresee the evill coming and to warn the people of approaching judgements Besides it was a fruitful Rod. The Rod of Aaron had (m) Numb 17.8 Buds Blossoms and ripe Nuts all at once As to the words in the letter there is a little haesitation among the (n) Dr. Gell on Pentateuch p. 512. learned why it should be translated thus the Rod of Aaron budded and brought forth buds as if so be it were a tautology whereas in the Hebrew it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And behold the Rod of Aaron for the House of Levi budded and it sent forth buds c. The same radicall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being used first in the Verb and then in the Noun The 70 not ashamed to use the same word likewise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It budded and brought forth buds and so Paul Heb. 9.4 onely speaks in general 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the terme being comprehensive of all the rest after mentioned in that verse in Numbers The meaning this the Text first sayes in the general that Aaron's Rod did germinate or bud or sprout forth which ye please and then comes to the particulars rehearsing in order how it was or else to express
appointment from God Oh did men but know and understand the weighty work of an Evangelical Minister how that their Rod ought to bud as did Aarons with a heavenly prognostick or sign of ministerial fruit and accordingly to prophesie of Gods mercy or judgement to a Nation How that it ought to blossom as did Aarons in doctrines of comfort joy and assurance to broken souls How that it ought to bear Nuts for the people to feed upon in spiritual knowledge surely they would not dare to venture on such holy things Shall Uzzah be smitten for toucning the Ark Shall the men of Bethshemech for prying too curiously into it be dismayed with so sore a slaughter Shall Dathan Abiram and the rest of his company be swallowed up alive for contemning the Ministry instituted of God Shall Vzziah the King be smitten with (a) 2 Chro. 26.19 Leprosie for daring to offer Incense because it did not appertain to him Nay shall Nadab and Abihu Priests by Call and Profession be slain upon the place for offering with strange fire (b) Mat. 4 20. and yet shall dry stumps to please their vain humours puft up with conceit and pride turn blossoming Rods let them take heed of Divine blasting We read the Apostles left their nets their particular callings when they were called to the Ministry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The counsel and command of Paul to Timothy and in him to every Gospel-Minister is (c) 1 Tim. 4,15 Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all But as to the people Too delicate and nice are those ears that cannot bear the smiting of Aarons Rods they love to smell the Blossoms of Rhetorick only But such must remember that Aarons Rod was a Scepter of Rule and Discipline and btought forth Almonds also of knotty truths There are sons of Thunder as well as of Consolation Aarons Bells must sometimes ring the knell of the Law as well as the marriage peales of Gospel-grace and love to weary souls Some would fling all Aarons Rods without the Camp and wait upon Inspirations from Heaven in a more immediate way On how grievously do they tempt God and oppose Christ who when he ascended up to the Oracle of Heaven gave Apostles Teachers Pastors to the Church For what (a) Eph. 4.12 for the work of the Ministry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For how long till we all come in the unity of the faith to a perfect man Ministry is a plant of Gods own right-hand an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a semper-vive For such hath God (b) 1 Cor. 12.28 set 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plac'd constituted and established in the Church as the Rod of Aaron alwayes to continue in all ages green and blossoming in the Oracle Whereas some ignorantly object those (c) John 6.45 Heb. 8.11 1 Joh. 2.27 places wherein 't is promised that we shall be all taught of God and that we need not that any man teach us nor for any to learn of his Neighbour They consider not of a mediate teaching wherewith God doth â—oncur Ministers are Instruments in the work only (d) Luke 2.17 and teach but the ear 't is God is the principal Efficient and reacheth the heart Why did John and others write their Episâ—â—â—s else if this conceit had been the true meaning of the Apostles We shall observe therefore even under the new Testament whereunto those Promises did look that God was pleased still to use the mediate teaching of his Ministers but still reserving the grand prerogative of moving the heart to himself and that in a more copious manner than of ancient times therein fulfilling the promise more abundantly Wherefore its observable that though God himself could have revealed the birth of his Son to the Shepheards by immediate suggestion yet he uses the Ministry of Angels to them and of the Shepherds themselves to the people of Bethlehem God hath appointed Shepheards and Pastors in his Church to reveal his mind (e) Acts 8.29 Philip was sent by the Spirit to expound the Prophet Isaias to the Eunuch (f) Acts 9.11 Ananias was sent by God to Paul And the Angel bid (g) Acts 10.16 Cornelius send for Peter All to shew that God is pleased now to teach mediately and Instrumentally by his Ministers How happy then is such a people who have the true and genuine Rods of Aaron alwayes blossoming in their streets Happy are the people that are in such a case whose God is the Lord Thus much concerning the mysterious Things laid up in the Oracle I shall now descend to the Sanctuary and view the three famous Utensils therein contained The Mysterie of the Vtensils in the Sanctuary In the next place the stately Rarities of the Sanctuary or Holy place command from us a diligent and humble survey as to the excellent significations concluded in them There were in this place an Altar of Incense ten tables of Shew-bread and ten Golden Candlesticks whereof in their due order In general it is conceived of them that as the three Offices of Christ were exhibited in the Oracle which we have before-mentioned so also here in the Sanctuary we find the like viz. The bread on the Table noting Christs Kingly Office in sustaining his Church The Candlestick his Prophetick in illuminating and teaching of his people The Altar of Incense his Priestly in mediating for them As to the former I shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suspend at present only as to the last it will appear very clear I hope by what may succeed in the particular handling of it Dr. Lightf p. 58.35 Temp. First I shall endeavour to speak to the golden Altar of Incense which challenges our first attendment as standing nearest to the holy Oracle The Altar of Incense This golden Utensil was famous in its generation a Vessel of Honour and Renown It stood a nearest of all to the Oracle and therefore comes first in order of dignity to be handled The Description of this golden Altar we have heard related before Two things more I would speak to a little before I descend to the Mysterie 1. The Censer 2. the Composition of the Incense As to the Censer it is thought to be a little pan made of Gold with a handle to it which as to the brazen Altar is called a fire-pan Exod. 27.3 and a censer Lev. 10.1 16 12. As for the Composition of the Incense we read according to our Translation that it was made of a like quantity of several ingredients and thereof they burnt (a) Ainsworth Exod. 30. v. 8. 50 drams in the morning and 50 at night i.e. one pound of incense every day What the Hebrew dram is may be seen page 2. of this Treatise The Composition was of sweet spices (b) Exod. 30.24 Stacte Onycha Galbanum and sweet Frankincense They are called in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arias Montanus turns them by Gutta
Disciples by two and two But this were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 10 1. to hunt after too much nicety The Tops of the Pillars were curiously adorned 2 Tim. 4.8 to shew that those who persist to the last constantly shall be crowned The Lilly work the Emblem of Innocency Pomegranates of Fruitfulnesse there being many grains in one Apple their Crown shall declare their Glory As Crowns did vary according to the nature of the Service among the Romans so shall every one be rewarded according to his works The Vessels in the open Court IN this place there are these things considerable The Altar of burnt Sacrifice The Sea of Brasse and the ten Lavers of each in their order 1. The Altar of Brasse The Brazen Altar stood in the Priests Court in the open ayre that so the nidor fuligo the sent and smoak of the Sacrifices might be the lesse offensive This Altar had its several implements fit for service as Censers or Ash-pans Num. 4.14 Flesh-hooks Shovels Basons c. of which we must not speak particularly they being but proper appurtenances of the work of Sacrifice What the Altar signified we need not much trouble our selves or haesitate about it having so sure a guide as the Apostle by the dictate of the Spirit of God who saies We have an Altar Heb. 13.10 Molin de Altar p. 79. Rivet in Exod p. 1132. Heb. 10.10 14. whereof they have no right to eat who serve the Tabernacle Those that continued enslaved and yoked to their Jewish Ceremonies had no right to the Altar of which we are to feed on which Christ offered himself We are to eat of the Altar i. e. the Sacrifice offered on the Altar by a frequent Metonymy so then the Sacrifices signified Christ and the Altar his Crosse For Christ was offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 9.28 As the Altar was set without the Temple the Emblem of the Church or new Jerusalem Ver. 12. so Christ's Crosse was without the Gate of the old Jerusalem And as on the expiation-day the Priest officiated without the limits of the Tabernacle Lev. 17.11 See Essâ—nius de sacrificiis p. 220. or Courts of the Temple so the blood of Christ that maketh atonement was shed without the Camp in Golgotha where he had the place of his burial Christ crucified is the food of Souls as the Sacrifices were of old for the Priests The name of the Altar in the Hebrew is sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Mactation or killing and offering of the Sacrifice sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from ascending up to it whence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the Greeks Altare among the Latines is derived ab Alto from its being built up high above the earth or because in high places as mountains and hills and Ara from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preces prayers or imprecations made to the Gods at their Sacrifices There be who would by no means have the Altar to signify the Crosse of Christ because the Papists do so highly idolize it and besides do count their Tables on which their unbloody Sacrifice is offered to be signified thereby and therefore understand that place by a Metonymy Habemus Altare we have an Altar i. e. A Sacrifiâ—e offered upon the Crosse viz. Christ himself But I know no reason why there should be so much flying to Tropes and such curiosity in evading this designation because Papists commit folly about it Whereas no doubt they will all affirm that Christ is the Gospel-Sacrifice For he is our Paschaâ— Lamb 1 Cor. 5.7 saith the Apostle Molin de altare p. 79. The Fathers for 200 years called the Table of our Lord The Altar as Molineus witnesseth and that onely by allusion and accommodation and in this figurative sense the Church may say still that we have an Altar though Christ's Crosse were destroyed before the Apostle wrote to the Hebrews But yet if we shall joyn both Sacrifice and Altar in one signification of Christ I shall not gainsay though I see no such grand inconvenience in applying it more distinctly especially since we do it onely by accommodation For on the contrary side by applying the Altar to Christ there 's more danger of the inference of Popish adoration Psal 118.27 if any be inferred The Sacrifice of old was to be bound to the Horns of the Altar Some by the Horns of the Altar expound the strength of Christ but if the Altar might prelude to the Crosse these might note Christ's nailing to the Crosse Whether this Altar were underneath framed of stone is not certain if it were to be sure not of hewn stone (a) Cont. Apion lib. 1. p. 1049. Josephus relates of the Altar at Jerusalem out of Hecataeus and doth not â—oâ—â—radict it thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A four square Altar not of hewn but unwrought impolished stones according to the (b) Exod. 20.25 Deut. 27.6 Jos 8.3 command of God Instruments did pollute it The hearts of Saints are compared to Altars by the Ancients in the Primitive Church Humane skill Art and Reason cannot polish stones fit for an Altar to offer up to God (c) Clem. Alex strom 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The whole Church is a grand Altar for holy Sacrifices Impolisht stones Saints differing in Judgment may lye together in one Altar on which God may have his (d) Isa 31.9 fire in Zion and hearth in new Jerusalem None but fire from heaven no culinary fire ought to inflame the Sacrifices of the Altar Aaron's Sons smarted in that case No strange fire of our Passions ought to be admitted in any service of God For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Let us in few words mention the New Testament Sacrifices that through Christ are offered up unto God whereof more in the 5th Section (e) Ps 51.17 A broken Heart is a Sacrifice which God will not despise The heart that 's wounded by the knife of Repentance is acceptable to God In Craâ—tfying of our lusts offering them up on the Altar of the Crosse of Christ is a Sacrifice well pleasing in the sight of God The offering up of Christ in prayer to God as of a Lamb without spot morning evening is another Let the (c) Psal 141.2 Mat. 27.46 lifting up of my hands sayes David be like an evening Sacrifice Christ died on the Crosse toward the evening about the 9th hour according to 12 unequal houres counted about the time of Easter from Sun-rise to Sun-set falls between 3 and 4 afternoon The service of our very bodies to God is another reasonable Sacrifice Of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unreasonable Creatures were sacrificed now we may offer our selves (d) Rom. 12.1 rational Creatures in this way of sacrifice (e) Psal 4 5. The Sacrifice of righteousness is another Praysing of God is another He that (f) Psal 50. ult 23. offereth prayse glorifieth
burning upon the Altar by addition of continual fuel and therefore all culinary fire is called strange and that which the Lord will not own in his Sacrifices This was the reason of the sore punishment of Nadab and Abihu the Sons of Aaron because they offered k Lev. 10.1 strange fire before the Lord which he commanded them not And therefore excellent is that place in the Psalmist according to the l Psal 20.4 Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let him remember all thine Offerings and thy burnt Sacrifice turn to ashes that is inflaming of it with his celestial fire in token of acceptation This may hint to us what special care we ought to adhibit that we draw not nigh to God with the culinary fire of our own corrupt passions we must not lift up hands to Heaven in m 1 Tim. 2.8 wrath If John the meekest of the Apostles shall desire of Christ to call for fire from Heaven to eonfume the wretched Gadarenes who loved their swine better then a Saviour even he shall meet with a rebuke together with the rest a Luk. 9.55 Ye knew not what manner of spirit ye are of It is observed by b V. ibid. p. 63. Concerning Cain Cloppenburg that Jerom's question is not rashly answered out of Theodotio's Translation in these words * Hieronym Tom. 3. qu. in Gen. p. 206. Vnde scrire potuit Cain quod Fatris ejus munera suscepisset Deus sua repudiasset nisi illa Interpretatio vera esset quam Theodotio posuit Et inflammavit Dominus super Abel super Sacrificium ejus super Cain vero super Sacrificium ejus non ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inflammavit How could Cain know that God had accepted the Offerings of his Brother and rejected his own unless that Interpretation were true which Theodotion hath given And the Lord sent down fire upon Abel and his Sacrifice but not on Cain's The descent of fire from Heaven upon the Sacrifices of old d Id. p. 65. was a visible token of the presence of the holy Spirit who is in Scripture compared to fire and therefore in the day of Pentecost e Act. 2.3 the Spirit did sit upon the Apostles in the shape of fiery tongues And our Lord is said by f Mat. 3.11 John Baptist to baptize with the holy Ghost and fire Hence is that metaphorical expression in the Apostle Paul commanding the Saints of g 1 Thes 5.19 Thessalonica to take heed of quenching the Spirit whose warming and inflaming motions are necessary for the offering up of all our spiritual Sacrifices unto God even as the continual fire upon the Altar was for these of the Jewish Ordinances Of this Burnt-offering concerning which we are treating I shall at present observe but one thing more and that is that there was nothing of it reserved from the fire but the skin only and that was given to the h Lev. 7.8 Priests In like manner when the Heads of Families were Priests before the giving of the Law the Sacrificer had the skin As i Origen Ho. 6. in Levitic p. 145. Origen observed of old concerning Adam that the skins wherewith he was cloathed were of the Beasts which were offered in Sacrifice To signifie that by the clothing of Christs righteousness the great Sacrifice for sin our nakedness is hidden from the sight of God But why must the Priest in following times after the solemn introduction of the several Rites of the Mosaical Law have the skin of the Sacrifice To shew thereby that in the first place God would have the pains and labour of his servants in his worship to be alway rewarded We learn also hereby that every mans Offering is to have the outward skin of profession pulled off God looks to the heart and inwards of our duties what fat and flesh there is upon our services But the Priest he must have the skin he is to take care of and look to the very externals of worship that they be managed according to the prescript forme of Gods will and is to have recompence for such his service 'T is not the skin that will satisfie or please God in our Offerings He that searches the heart expects we should worship him in spirit and truth The performance of the solemnity of this Offering consisted in eight particulars as you may read pag. 116. of this Treatise whereupon I shall briefly gloss only by allusion craving a favourable and candid Interpretation for I press not my own apprehensions rigidly at any time and then shall retire to the second the Sin-offering 1. We are to confess our sins over the head of the Offering that God may lay them upon and impute them to Jesus Christ Prov. 28.13 Confession must go before pardon Confess and forsake and ye shall find mercy b Joh. 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithfull to forgive us and the c Verse 7. bloud of Christ his Son shall cleanse us from them 2. As the person did slay his Offering so 't is we that by our sins have crucified the Lord of life 3. As the Priest sprinkled the bloud round about the Altar so Christ who offered up himself sprinkles his meritorious bloud upon the Altar and makes his Sacrifice acceptable Nay all our Spiritual Sacrifices are only pleasing to God through the sprinkling of his precious blood This d Heb. 12.24 bloud of sprinkling speaks better things then that of Abel Abel's bloud cried for vengeance against his wicked Brother this bloud of our elder Brother cries for mercy atonement and pardoning grace for such as are elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and e 1 Pet. 1 2. sprinkling of the bloud of Jesus Christ 4. As the Priest flayed off the skin So our great Highpriest by the power of his Divinity did lay down his life he did exuere Tabernaculum lay aside the thin a 2 Cor. 5.1 4. 2 Pet. 1.13 14. Tabernacle of his body for a while when he gave up the Ghost to the Father and commended his Spirit to him b Heb. 10.20 The vail of his flesh was rent insunder in the day when he made his c Isa 53.10 Soul an Offering for sin 5. As the Sacrifice was cut in pieces Oh how was his blessed Body mangled by the nails and spear his head pierced with thorns d Psa 22.16 They pierced his hands and feet Oh how was his blessed soul under flaming agonies in that hour when he cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 6. Fire was laid upon the Altar and fuell to preserve it The wrath of God was the fire and sin the fuel to keep it burning till this blessed Saviour had fully satisfied for all the sins of the elect 7. All the parts were laid in order upon the Altar even as Christ our Lord was stretched out upon
the Cross 8. The inwards and legs were washt in water and then burnt Interanea diluit qui conscientiam purgat Orig. Hom. 1. Lev. p. 116. being an offering made by fire of a sweet favour to the Lord. For Incense was joyned with Sacrifice to give a sweet perfume This might allude to the cleanness and holiness of Christs heart he was a most innocent person The water of the Spirit ran alwayes thorow him and noted the purity of his walking the spotlesness of his life and therefore he could e Dan. 9.26 not suffer for himself f Isa 53.5 't was for our transgressions that he was wounded for our iniquities was he bruised Upon our account was he scorched in the flames of his Fathers wrath when the ardent ejaculations of his soul in prayer like inflamed Incense went up smoaking towards Heaven and giving a most precious sent and favour to his glorious Sacrifice g Heb. 9.14 when through the eternal Spirit he offered up himself without spot to God Of the Six-Offering There is a common name in the Hebrew to all Offerings made by fire and it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fire because offered by fire Sometimes it is applied to the a Exo. 29.19 Lev. 1.9 13. burnt-offering as we translate it an offering made by fire to b Lev. 2.2.23.13 meat-offerings to c Lev. 3.3 9. peace-offerings d Lev. 4.35 and to sin-offerings And therefore because they were Sacrificia ignita The proper name of this is taken from the reason or ground whereupon it was offered and that was for the expiation of some sin committed as hath been declared in the Historical part of this Work This Sin-offering principally referred unto Christ who was made e 2 Cor. 5.21 Sin for us that is as f Parisiensis de Legibus cap. 8. Parisiensis expounds the place an offering for sin on our behalf according to that expression concerning the Priests in the Prophet Hosea They eat up the sin of my people g Hos 4.8 which seems to allude to the Priests part and share in the Sacrifice So likewise when the Apostle declares h Rom 8.3 that God for sin did condemn sin in his flesh For sin that is saith he For the Sin-offering of Christ God did for the sake and upon the account of his infinitely precious Sacrifice condemn and destroy sin that it should never have dominion over the Elect i Rom. 8.34 seeing Christ hath died The Sin offering was usually a Male to signifie the strength of Christs merits Perfect and without spot to shew the integrity and purity of his Nature He offer'd himself without spot k Heb. 9.14 1 Pet. 1.19 Jer. 11.19 Heb. 9.14 Lev. 16.14 or blemish he was a Lamb without spot As there were Heifers Goats and Lambs offer'd in this case so is our Lord in Scripture resembled to them in his blessed Sacrifice There were several seasons of the presenting Sin-offerings to God but the principal time was on the Expiation day to which I would speak somewhat largely First relating historically the services of the day and then applying them in a spiritual manner unto Christ The Services of the solemn Day of Expiation being the 10th of the 7th Moneth In the Morning of this solemn day betimes as usually on other dayes the ashes were taken off from the Altar and the wood laid in order Then the High-priest who performed all the solemnities of this day putting on his golden garments slew the Lamb the constant Morning Sacrifice and sprinkled the bloud on the Altar then he went into the Temple and burnt the Incense of the Morning and trimmed the Lamps After this he comes out and burns the flesh of the daily Sacrifice and offers its meat-offering and drink-offering with it Then he proceeds to the extraordinary work of the day which was the offering of the l Numb 29.8 Bullock Ramme and seven Lambs mention'd in the Book of Numbers Then he puts off his gorgeous attire and performs the more solemn work of that day in the atonement wherein I shall enlarge by it self After that work is ended then he puts on his precious garments again and m Numb 29.11 offereth the Goat for the sin-offering mentioned also in Numbers together with the n Lev. 16.3 24. Bullock for a burnt-offering for himself and the o Ibid. Ram for the burnt-offering for the people In the last place he offers the p Num. 28.3 4. Lamb for the daily Evening sacrifice and when he hath burnt the Incense and trimmed the Lamps in the Sanctuary he goes out puts off his rich array and invests himself with his own common garments and goes to his own house So that on this day besides the two Lambs for the daily Sacrifice being the q Numb 29.11 continual burnt-offering there were slain r Ib. ver 8 9. one Bullock one Ram seven Lambs for a burnt-offering extraordinary with their attendant meat-offerings and drink-offerings with a Goat for a sin-offering ſ Numb 29.11 besides the sin-offering of Atonement If this tenth day happened on a Sabbath then the extraordinaries of the constant Sabbath-offerings were added So that as we shall see by and by in the Atonement work there was one Bullock two Rams two Goats which being added to the former makes fifteen The several Offerings on the Expiation Day Burnt-offerings Numb 29 8. One Bullock Besides the Morning and the Evening Sacricrifice and in case a Sabbath fell on the same day two more Numb 28.9 10 So that here are four Sacrifices of the Expiation viz. one Bullock two Rams and one Goat with their meat-offerings and drinkings to be added to the Catalogue pag. 113. One Ram Seven Lambs Sin offering Numb 29.11 One Goat The Atonement One Bullock Two Rams Two Goats whereof one a scape Goat  Fifteen  The solemn work of Atonement performed on the day of Expiation by the Highpriest In the first place there was preparation made of a young a Lev. 16.3 Bullock for a sin-offering which was appointed for the Highpriest himself and for his b Ver. 6. house that is the c Ver. 33. Priests which were called the house of Aaron in Scripture There was likewise to be brought in a Ram d Ver. 31. for a burnt-offering to make e Ver. 24. Atonement for himself Besides there were f Ver. 5 24. two Kids of the Goats to be provided for a sin-offering for the people one was to be slain and the other to escape and a Ram also for a burnt-offering The manner of the performance of this solemnity in its orderly method First of all the Highpriest was to wash his flesh in water and g Ver. 4. to put on the pure white linen garments and then to slay the Bullock h Ver. 11. which was for a sin-offering for himself When that was done then he
other of an Ecclesiastical Writer The former because precedent in time I shall name first and it is of Ammianus Marcellinus Ammian Marcel l. 23 ad initium p. 429. Edit Lug. Bat. 1632 who relates this story of Julian in these words Ambitiosum quondam apud Hierosolymam Templum quod post multa interneciva certamina obsidente Vespasiano posteaque Tito aegre est expugnatum instaurare sumtibus cogitabat immodicis negotiumque maturamdam Alypio dederat Antiochensi qui olim Britannias curaverat pro praefectis Cum itaque rei idem fortiter instaret Alypius juvaretque Provincia Rector metuendi globi flammarum prope fundamenta crebris assultibus erumpentes ficere locum exustis aliquoties operantibus inaccessum hocque modo elemento destinatius repellente cessarit incoeptum He designed with excessive costs and charges to restore the somtime most magnificent Temple at Jerusalem which after many fatal skirmishes in the siege of Vespasian and afterwards of Titus was with great difficulty won by assault This business he had committed to be hastned by Alypius of Antioch who had formerly ruled Britain in the room of the Praefects When as then Alypius did strenuously set himself to the work being assisted by the Ruler of the Province fearful balls of fire breaking out near the foundations with frequent assaults rendred the place unapproachable the workmen being several of them consumed and in this manner the enterprize ceased through the resolute opposition of that element So much from him Niceph. Cal. list Eccles Hist l. 10. c. 32. p. 74. vol. 2. Paris 1630. The other testimony of Nicephorus Callistus is extant in chap. 32. 33. of his Ecclesiastical History which for the Press sake I shall not transcribe in Greek but relate the principal things in English These are his words The Jews having got together as many as were skilful in the art of Building prepared materials for the structure and fully cleansed the place they provided spades made of silver their charges being allowed out of the publique stock With such earnestness and alacrity did they labour in the work that the very women did carry away the rubbish in their laps whatsoever Jewels or other precious ornaments they had they expended upon that business c. and when as they had dug up the remainders of the old building from the lowest foundations and had cleared the ground Luk. 21. so that now there was not a stone remaining upon a stone according to the prophesie The next day coming to the place to lay the first foundation they say there was a great earthquake insomuch that the stones were cast out of the foundation so that many of the Jews were slain who either came to see the work or had the oversight of the Structure The publike buildings also wch were neerest the Temple were loosned falling down with great force proved the Sepulchres of those that were in them Some that attempted to fly away were found half dead some lost their legs hands and other members according as the violence of that sudden accident seized upon them The Earthquake was scarce over but those that remained fell upon the work again Cap 33. c. But when the second time they attempted it some fire violently issued out of the foundations and other fire fell down impetuously from Heaven and consumed more then before There is he saith some variations among Authors of the punctual time and manner of this accident of fire but the main of the truth is without doubt Moreover the fire which came down from Heaven consumed to ashes the hammers graving tools saws hatchets axes and all the other instruments which the Workmen had brought for their service continuing a whole day together c when Cyril who was at that time Bishop of Jerusalem saw these things He considered in his minde the word of the Prophet Daniel to which Christ also had set his seal in the holy Gospel He told them all that now was the time that the Oracle of our Saviour had its accomplishment which said That a stone should not remain upon a stone in the Temple And when he had spoken this a sore earthquake assailed the foundations and cast out all the remaining stones and dispersed them Upon this there arose a fearful storm and whirled into the ayr many thousand bushels of lime and plaister and sudden flames of fire flashing from beneath burnt up in a moment an innumerable company of people that were as yet either labouring in the work or that came to behold it Thus did Julian fulfil Christs predictions concerning Jerusalem which he designed to have made void c. These prodigies are sufficient to prove the truth of the Oracle But what shall be now declared being very wonderful will further confirm it which I shall report as I have found in the Archives and it is thus When the foundations were a laying as I have said there was a stone among the rest to which the bottom of the foundation was fastned that slipt from its place and discovered the mouth of a cave which had been cut in the rock Now when they could not see to the bottom by reason of its depth the Overseers of the building being desirous to have certain knowledge of the place tied a long rope to one of the Labourers and let him down He being come to the bottom found water in it that took him up to the mid-ancles and searching every part of that hollow place he found it to be four square as far as he could conjecture by feeling Then returning toward the mouth of it he hit upon a certain little pillar not much higher then the water and lighting with his hand upon it found a book lying there wrapped up in a piece of thin and clean linnen Having taken it into his hands he signified by the rope that they should draw him up When he was pulled up he shews the book which struck them with admiration especially seeming so fresh and untoucht as it did being found in so dark and obscure a hole The Book being unfolded John 1.1 did amaze not onely the Jews but the Grecians also holding forth even at the beginning of it in great Letters In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God To speak plainly that Scripture did manifestly contain the whole Gospel which the Divine tongue of the Virgin-Disciple had declared This together with the other miracles which at that time were proclaimed from Heaven did demonstrate that not any word of our Lord should fall to the ground Socr. Eccles hist l. 3. c. 17. Theod. l. 4. c. 20. Sozomen l. 5 c. 21. which had foretold the utter desolation both of City and Temple For the truth of this story I am not bound to undertake yet this I may safely say that the main substance thereof concerning the miraculous fire causing the work to cease is true