as the hearts of the Jews were with hypocrisie But alas they were stone still that is hard and cruel else they could not have been an Anvil for Satan to forge such horrid Barbarism upon The Tables were in number the same with the Lavers and were set by them to shew what are the fruits of being devoted to the Law as the Jews were in opposition to Christ and his holy Gospel there flows nothing but hardness and a stony heart from thence This was shewed in its first writing it was writ on Tables of stone figures of the heart of Man and on the same Tables or hearts was the death of Jesus Christ compassed One would think that the meekness gentleness or good deeds of Jesus Christ might have procured in them some relentings when they were about to take away his life but alas their hearts were Tables of Stone What feeling or compassion can a Stone be sensible of Here were stony hearts stony thoughts stonâ— counsels stony contrivances a stony Law and stony hands and what could be expected hence but barbarous cruelty indeed If I ask you said Christ you will not answer me neither will you let me see Luk. 22.68 In that these stony Tables were placed about the Temple it supposeth that they were Temple-men Priests Scribes Rulers Lawyers c. that were to be the Chief on whose hearts this murder was to be designed and by them inacted to their own Damnation without Repentance XL. Of the Instruments wherewith this Sacrifice was slain and of the four Tables they were laid on in the Temple THE Instruments that were laid upon the Tables in the Temple were not Instruments of Musick but those with which the burnt-offering was slain And the four Tables were of hewen Stone for the burnt-offering whereon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt-offering and the Sacrifice Ezek. 40.42 43. 1. Here we are to take notice that the Tables are the same and some of them of which we spake before 2. That the Instruments with which they slew the Sacrifice was laid upon these Tables The Instruments with which they slew the Sacrifices what were they but a bloody Ax bloody Knives bloody Hooks and bloody Hands For these we need no proof matter of fact declares it But what were those Instruments a type of Answer Doubtless they were a type of our sins They were the bloody Ax the Knife and bloody Hands that shed his precious blood They were the meritorious ones without which he could not have died When I say ours I mean the sins of the World. Though then the hearts of the Jews were the immediate Contrivers yet they were our sins that were the bloody Tools or Instruments which slew the Son of God. He was wounded for our transgressions he died for our sins Isa. 53. 1 Cor. 15. Gal. 1. Oh these Instruments of us Churls by which this poor Man was taken from off the Earth Isa. 32.7 Prov. 30.14 The Whip the Buffetings the Crown of Thorns the Nails the Cross the Spear with the Vinegar and Gall were all nothing in comparison of our sins For the transgressions of my people was he stricken Isa. 53. Nor were the flouts taunts mocks scorns derisions c. with vvhich they follovved him from the Garden to the Cross such cruel Instruments as these They vvere our sins then our cursed sins by vvith and for the sake of vvhich the Lord Jesus became a bloody Sacrifice But why must the Instruments be laid upon the Tables 1. Take the Tables for the hearts of the murderers and the Instruments for their sins and vvhat place more fit for such Instruments to be laid upon 'T is God's command that these things should be laid to heart and he complains of those that do not do it Isa. 42.25 chap. 57.11 2. Nor are Men ever like to come to good until these Instruments vvith which the Son of God vvas slain indeed be laid to heart And they vvere eminently laid to heart even by them soon after the effect of vvhich vvas the conversion of thousands of them Acts 2.36 37. 3. Wherefore vvhen it says these Instruments must be laid upon the stony Tables he insinuates that God vvould take a time to charge the murder of his Son home upon the Consciences of them that did that murder either to their conversion or condemnation And is it not reason that they vvho did this horrid villany should have their doings laid before their faces upon the Tables of their heart That they may look upon him whom they have pierced and mourn Zech. 12.10 Revel 1.7 4. But these Instruments vvere laid but upon some of the Tables and not upon all the Ten to shevv that not all but some of those so horrid should find mercy of the Lord. 5. But vve must not confine these Tables only to the hearts of the bloody Jevvs they vvere our sins for the vvhich he died Wherefore these Instruments should be laid upon our Tables too and the Lord lay them there for good that we also may see our horrid doings and come bending to him for forgiveness 6. These Instruments thus lying on the Tables in the Temple became a continual Motive to God's People to Repentance for so oft as they saw these bloody and cruel Instruments they were put in mind how their sins should be the cause of the death of Christ. 7. It would be well also if these Instruments were at all times laid upon our Tables for our more humbling for our sins in every thing we do especially upon the Lord's Table when we come to eat and drink before him I am sure the Lord Jesus doth more than intimate that he expects that we should do so where he saith When ye eat that Bread and drink that Cup Do this in remembrance of me In remembrance that I died for your sins and consequently that they were the meritorious cause of the sheding of my blood To conclude Let all Men remember that these cruel Instruments are laid upon the Table of their hearts whether they see them there or no. The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond upon the Tables of their heart Jer. 17.1 A Pen of Iron will make Letters upon a Table made of Stone and the Point of a Diamond will make Letters upon Glass Wherefore in this saying God informs us that if we shall forbear to read these Lines to our Conversion God will one day read them against us unto our Condemnation XLI Of the Candlesticks of the Temple AND he made ten Candlesticks of gold according to the form and he set them in the Temple five on the right hand and five on the left 2 Chro. 4.7 1. These Candlesticks were made of Gold to shew the worth and value of them 2. They were made after the form or exâ—ct according to rule like those that were made in the Tabernacle or according to the Pattern which David gave
shew that God delighteth in the Company of new and warm Believers I remember thee the kindness of thy youth when Israel was a child I loved him Men at first conversion are like to a Cake well baked and new taken from the Oven they are warm and cast forth a very fragrant scent especially when as warm sweet Incense is strew'd upon them Jer. 2. Hos. 11. 5. When the Shew-bread was old and stale it was to be taken away and new and warm put in its place to shew that God has but little delight in the service of his own People when their duties grow stale and mouldy Therefore he removed his old stale mouldy Church of the Jews from before him and set in their Rooms upon the Golden Table the warm Church of the Gentiles 6. The Shew-bread by an often remove and renewing was continually to stand before the Lord in his House to shew us that all ways as long as Ordinances shall be of use God will have a new warm and sanctified People to worship him 7. Aaron and his Sons were to eat the old Shew-bread to shew that when Saints have lived in the World as long as living is good for them and when they can do no more service for God in the World they shall yet be accepted of Jesus Christ and that it shall be as Meat and Drink to him to save them from all their unworthinesses 8. The new Shew-bread was to be set even on the Sabbath before the Lord. To shew with what warmth of love and affections God's servants should approach his Presence upon his holy day XLIV Of the Snuffers belonging to the Candlesticks and Lamps of the Temple AS there were Candlesticks and Lamps so there were Snuffers also prepared for these in the Temple of the Lord. And the SNVFFERS were Snuffers of Gold 1 King. 7.50 1. Snuffers The use of Snuffers is to Trim the Lamps and Candles that their Lights may shine the brighter 2. Snuffers you know are biting pinching things but use them well and they will prove not only beneficial to those within the House but profitable to the Lights Snuffers you may say of what were they a type Answer If our snufs are our superfluities of naughtiness our Snuffers then are those righteous reproofs rebukes and admonitions which Christ has ordained to be in his House for good or as the Apostle hath it if for our edification and perhaps Paul alludes to these vvhen he bids Titus to rebuke the Cretians sharply that they might be sound in the faith Tit. 1.12 13. As who should say thou must use the Snuffers of the Temple to trim their Lights withal if they burn not vvell These Snuffers therefore are of great use in the Temple of God only as I said they must be used wisely 'T is not for every fool to handle Snuffers at or about the Candles lest perhaps instead of mending the light they put the Candle out And therefore Paul bids them that are spiritual do it Gal. 6.1 My reason tells me that if I use these Snuffers as I should I must not only endeavour to take the superfluous snuff away but so to do it that the light thereby be mended which then is done if as the Apostle saith I use sharpness to edification and not for destruction 1 Cor. 5.4 5. 2 Cor. 13.10 Are not the seven Churches in Asia called by the Name of Candlesticks And why Candlesticks if they were not to hold the Candles And Candles must have Snuffers therewith to trim the lights And Christ who is our true Aaron in those rebukes which he gave those Churches alluding to these SNVFFERS did it that their lights might shine the brighter Revel 2 3. Chapters Wherefore as he used them he did it still with caution to their light that it might not be impaired For as he still thus trimed these Lamps he yet encouraged what he saw would shine if helped He only nipt the snuff away Thus therefore he came to them with these Snuffers in his hand and trimed their Lamps and Candlesticks Revel 2 4. ver 20. chap. 3 2. ver 15. This should teach Ministers to whom it belongs under Christ to use these Snuffers well Strike at the Snuff not at the Light in all your rebukes and admonitions snuff not your Lamps of a private revenge but of a design to nourish grace and gifts in Churches Thus our Lord himself says he did in his using of these Snuffers about these Candlesticks As many saith he as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Revel 3.19 To Conclude Watchman watch and let not your snuffs be too long nor pull them off with your Fingers or carnal reasonings but with godly admonitions c. Use your Snuffers graciously curb Vice nourish Vertue so you will use them well and so your light will shine to the glory of God. XLV Of the Snuff-dishes that were with the Snuffers in the Temple AS there were Snuffers so there were also Snuff-dishes in the Temple And they were also made of gold Exo. 25.28 cha 37.23 Numb 4.9 The Snuff-dishes were those in which the Snuffs were put when snuffed off and by which they were carried forth of the Temple They therefore as the Snuffers are are of great use in the Temple of God. 1. By them the golden Floor of the Temple is kept from being daubed by the Snuffs 2. By them also the clean hands of those that worship there are kept from being defiled 3. By them also the stink of the Snuffs is soonest suppressed in the Temple and consequently the tender Noses of them that worship there preserved from being offended Snuffs you know are daubing things stinking things nautious things therefore we must take heed that they touch not this Floor on which we walk nor defile the hands which we lift up to God when we come to worship him But how must this be done but as we take them off with the Snuffers and put them in these Snuff-dishes Some are for being at the snuffs vvith their fingers and will also cast them at their feet and daub the Floor of God's holy House but usually such do burn as well as defile themselves But is it not a shame for a man to defile himself with that vice which he rebuketh in another Let us then while we are taking away the snuffs of others hate even the garment spotted by the flesh and labour to carry such stink with the Snuff-dishes out of the Temple of God. Snuff-dishes you may say what are they I answer If sins are the snuffs and rebukes and admonitions the Snuffers Then methinks repentance or in case that be wanting the censures of the Church should be the Snuff dishes Hence Repentance is called a Church-cleansing grace and the Censures of the Church a purging out of old leven and making it a new Lump 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 7.11 Ah! vvere these Snuff-dishes more of use in the Churches vve should not have
him Psal. 23.5 Luk. 15.22 23 24. Song 5.1 chap. 7.11 12. Joh. 14.23 Revel 3.20 This is that to which the Apostle alludeth when he saith Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess but be ye filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making melody in your hearts unto the Lord. For the Cups as to their use in the general understand them as of the Bowls made mention of before For assurances are the blooms and flowers of Faith not always on it though usually on Feasting days 't is so So the degree of the one is still according to the measure of the other Ephes. 5.18 Jam. 5. Rom. 15.13 LII Of the Chargers of the Temple IN the Tabernacle they had but twelve of them and they were made of Silver but in the Temple they had in all a thousand and thirty The thirty were made of Gold the rest were made of Silver Numb 7.84 These Chargers were not for uses common or profane but as I take it they were those in which the Passover and other Meat-offerings were drest up when the People came to eat before God in his holy Temple The meat you know I told you was opposite to milk and so are these Chargers to the Bowls and Cups and Flaggons of the Temple The Meat was of two sorts rost or boyl'd Of that which was rost was the Passover and of that which was boyl'd was the Trespass offerings Wherefore concerning the Passover he saith Eat not of it raw nor sodden at all in Water but rost with fire his head with his legs and with the purtenance thereof Exod. 12. This rost meat was a type of the body of Christ as suffering for our sins the which when it was rost was and is as drest up in Chargers and set before the Congregations of the Saints But what were the Chargers a type of I also ask in what Charger our Gospel-Passover is now drest up and set before the People Is it not in the four Evangelists the Prophets and Epistles of the Apostles They therefore are the Chargers and the Ordinance of the Supper in these also is the Trespass-Offerings with what is fried in Pans mystically prepared for the Children of the highest And why might they not be a type of Gospel-Sermons I answer I think not so fitly for alas the best of Sermons in the World are but as thin slices cut out of those large dishes Our Ministers are the Carvers good Doctrine is the meat and the Chargers in which this meat is found are the holy Canonical Scriptures c. Though as I said most properly the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In these is Christ most truly lively and amply set before us as crucified or rost at the fire of God's Law for our sins that we might live by him through faith feeding upon him 2 Cor. 3.12 Gal. 3.1 2. Acts 3.18 19 20 21. Chap 13.4 Chap 26.22 1 Pet. 1.10 Acts 7.42 Chap. 15.15 Chap. 28.23 Rom. 16.26 Revel 10.7 There is in these Chargers not only meat but sawce if you like it to eat the meat withal For the Passover there is bitter herbs or sound repentance and for other as the thank-offerings there is holy chearfulness and prayers to God for grace All these are set forth before us in the holy Scriptures and presented to us thereby as in the golden Chargers of the Temple He that will scoff at this let him scoff The Chargers were a type of some thing and he that can shew a fitter Antitype then is here proposed to consideration let him do it and I 'l be thankful to him Christians here is your Meat before you get your Carvers to slice it out for you and this know the deeper you dip it in the sawce the better it will relish But let not unbelief teach you such manners as to make you leave the best bits behind you For your liberty is to eat freely of the best of the fat and of the sweet LIII Of the goings out of the Temple AS to the comings into the Temple of them we have spoken already namely of the outer and inner Court as also of the Doors of the Porch and Temple The coming in was but one strait course and that a type of Jesus Christ but the goings out were many Joh. 10.9 Chap. 14.6 Now as I said it is insinuated that the goings out are many answerable to the many ways which the Children of Men have invented to Apostatize in from God. Christ is the way into but sin the way out of the Temple of God. True I read not of a description of the goings out of this House as I read of the comings in Only when they had Athalia out thence She is said To go out by the way by which the Horses come into the King's Stables and there she was slain as it were upon the Horse-dunghil 2 King. 11.16 2 Chron. 24.15 When Vzziah also went out of this House for his transgression he was cast out of all Society and made to dwell in a kind of a Pest-house even to the day of his death 2 Chro. 26.20 21. Thus therefore though these goings out are not particularly described the Judgments that followed them that have for their transgressions been thrust out thence have been both remarkable and tremendous For for to die upon a dunghil or in a Pest-house and that for wicked actions is a shameful a disgraceful thing And God will still be spreading dung upon the faces of such no greatness shall prevent it Yea and will take them away with it Mal. 2. I will drive them out of my house says he I will love them no more Hos. 9.15 But what are we to understand in Gospel-days by going out of the house of the Lord for or by sin I answer If it be done voluntarily then sin leads you out if it be done by the holy compulsion of the Church then 't is done by the Judicial Judgment of God That is they are cut off and cast out from thence as a Just reward for their transgressions Levit. 20.18 Chap. 22.3 Ezek. 14.8 1 Cor. 5.13 Well but whether do they go that are thus gone out of the Temple or Church of God I answer Not to the Dunghil with Athalia nor to the Pest house with Vzziah but to the Devil that 's the first step and so to Hell without repentance But if their sin be not unpardonable they may by repentance be recovered and in mercy tread these Courts again Now the way to this recovery is to think seriously what they have done or by what way they went out from the House of God. Hence the Prophet is bid to shew to the rebellious house first the goings out of the house and then the comings in But I say first he bids shew them the goings out thereof Ezek. 43.10 11. And this is of absolute necessity for the recovering of the sinner For
until he that has sinned himself out of God's house shall see what danger he has incurred to himself by this his wicked going out he will not unfeignedly desire to come in thither again There is another thing as to this point to be taken notice of There is a way by which God also doth depart from this House and that also is by sin as the occasion The sin of a man will thrust him out and the sin of men will drive God out of his own house Of this you read Ezek. 11.22 23. For this he saith I have for saken mine house I have left mine heritage I have given the dearly beloved of my Soul into the hand of her Enemies Jer. 12.7 And this also is dreadful The great sentence of Christ upon the Jews lay much in these words Your house is left unto you desolate that is God has left you to bare Walls and to lifeless Traditions Consider therefore of this going out also Alas a Church a true Church is but a poor thing if God leaves if God forsakes it By a true Church I mean one that is Congregated according to outward rule that has sinned God away as she had almost quite done that was of Laodicea Revel 3. He that sins himself out can finde no geod in the World and they that have sinned God out can finde no good in the Church A Church that has sinned God away from it is a sad Lump indeed You therefore that are in God's Church take heed of sinning your selves out thence also take heed that while you keep in you sin not God away for thence-forth no good is there Yea wo unto them when I depart from them saith God Hos. 9 12. LIV. Of the Singers belonging to the Temple HAving thus far passed thorow the Temple I come now to the Singers there The Singers were many but all of the Church either Jews or Proselites Nor was there any as I know of under the Old Testament-worship admitted to sing the Songs of the Church and to celebrate that part of Worship with the Saints but they who at least in appearance were so The Song of Moses of Deborah and of those that danced before David with Others that you read of they were all performed either by Jews by nature or by such as were proselited to their Religion Exod. 15.1 Judg. 5.1 2. 1 Sam. 18 6. And such worship then was occasioned by God's great appearance for them against the power of the Gentiles their Enemies But we are confined to the Songs of the Temple a more distinct type of ours in the Church under the Gospel 1. The Singers then were many but the chief of them in the days of David were David himself Asaph Jeduthan and Heman and their Sons 2. In David's time the chief of these Singers were two hundred threescore and eight 1 Chro. 25. These Singers of old were to sing their Songs over the burnt-offering which were types of the Sacrificed Body of Christ a Memorial of which Offering we have at the Lord's Table the Consummation of which Christ and his Disciples celebrated with a Hymn Matt. 26.30 And as of old they were the Church that did sing in the Temple according to Institution to God So also they are by God's appointment to be sung by the Church in the New. Hence 1. They are said to be the redeemed that sing 2. The Songs that they sing are said to be the Songs of their Redemption Revel 5.9 10. 3. They were and are Songs that no man can learn but they But let us run a little in the Parallel 1. They were of old appointed to sing that were cunning and skilful in Songs And answerable to that 't is said That no Man could learn our New-Testament Songs but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth 1 Chro. 15.22 Revel 14.3 2. These Songs were song with Harps Psalteries Cymbals and Trumpets a type of our singing with spiritual Joy from grace in our hearts 1 Chro. 25.6 2 Chro. 29.26 27 28. Col. 3.16 3. The Singers of old were to be clothed in fine Linnen which fine Linnen was a type of Innocency and an upright Conversation Hence the Singers under the New Testament are said to be Virgins such in whose mouth was no guile and that were without fault before the Throne of God 1 Chro. 15.27 and Revel 14.1 2 3 4 5. See also Chap 7.9 10 11 12 13 14 15. Psal 33 1. 4. The Songs sung in the Temple were new or such as were compiled after the manner of repeated mercies that the Church of God had received or were to receive and answerable to this is the Church to sing now new Songs with new hearts for new mercies Psal. 33.3 Psal. 40.3 Psal. 96. Psal. 144 9. Revel 14.3 New Songs I say are grounded on new matter new occasions new mercies new deliverances new discoveries of God to the Soul or for new frames of heart And are such as are most taking most pleasing and most refreshing to the Soul. 5. These Songs of old to distinguish them from Heathenish ones were called God's Songs the Lord's Songs because taught by him and learned of him and injoyned to them to be sung to his praise Hence David said God had put a new Song in his mouth even praises to our God 1 Chro. 25.7 Psal. 47.6 7. Psal. 137.4 Psal. 40.3 6. These Songs also were called the Songs of Sion and the Songs of the Temple Psal. 137.3 Amos 8.3 And they are so called as they were theirs to sing there I say of them of Sion and the Worshipers in the Temple I say to sing in the Church by the Church to him who is the God of the Church for the mercies benefits and blessings which she has received from him Sion-Songs Temple Songs must be sung by Sion's Sons and Temple-worshipers The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting Joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flie away Therefore they shall come and sing in the height or upon the Mountain of Zion and shall flow together thither to the goodness of the Lord. Break forth into singing ye Mountains and let the Inhabitants of the ROCK sing Isa. 44.23 Chap. 42.11 To sing to God is the highest Worship we are capable to perform in Heaven and 't is much if sinners on Earth without grace should be capable of performing it according to his Institution acceptably I pray God it be done by all those that now a days get into Churches in spirit and with understanding LV. Of the Vnion of the holy and most holy Temple THat commonly called the Temple of God at Jerusalem considered as standing of two parts was called the outward and inward Temple or the holy and most holy place They were builded upon one and the same foundation neither could one go into the Holiest but as thorow the holy place 1