the father to go before and leads it by the hand though the way be stony durty up hill it goes willingly so the soul that hath the spirit to lead it let the way be what it will followeth willingly Psal 119.32 I will run the way of thy Commandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart the spirit doth enlarge the heart 2 Cor. 3.17 where that is there is liberty let the Lord command things hard David will run to do them they are suitable to the spirit and the work of the spirit in the heart Sixthly The spirit is an excellent gift in that it makes them excellent who have it Dan 5.10 11. saith the Queen to Belshazzer There is a man in thy Kingdome in whom is the spirit of the holy gods he is an excellent man none like him in all thy Provinces he hath the spirit of the gods in him which others have not Where the spirit of God is put into a man that man is an excellent man he hath an excellent person in him more excellent than his soul than all souls than all Angels he hath excellent graces and is honourable above others 1 Sam. 9.6 There is in this City a man of God and he is an honourable man said Sauls servant so every one that hath the spirit be he in the City or out of it is a man of God and an honourable man Fourthly Observe There is an union between the Saints and the spirit of God I will put my spirit within you it is not said I will put my spirit upon you but within you So that by vertue of those graces it works in you there shall be an union between you and my spirit This union is not such as is between the three John speaks of 1 John 5.7 for they are one essentially nor such as is between the Deity and Christs humane nature Col. 2.9 for that is personal but it is a mystical union an union of persons not a personall union It is First Reall there is a true oneness between the spirit and those its put into 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit he saith not is one body or one soul or hath one spirit with the Lord but is one spirit there is as reall an union as is between soul and body he is so one with the spirit as he is denominated spirit John 3.6 That which is born of the spirit is spirit Secondly It is a wonderful union The spirit of God who is one with the Father and the Son to be one also with man and not with one man but all he is put into even thousands of men is wonderfull John tells us It was a great wonder to see a woman cloathed with the Sun Rev 12.1 but it is a greater wonder to see a man or woman united to the spirit of God which is in our souls and bodyes the faculties and members of them as the sap is in the root vine and branches and here is the wonder the same sap to be in every one of these and in all other Vines Thirdly It is a most glorious union When the Lord came into the Temple it was filled with glory 1 Kings 8.11 and when the spirit is put into a man and the union made between them the man is filled with glory when the Sun shines into an house it fills it with glory when the fire is in the Iron how glorious is it the union between the Fire and the Iron makes the Iron a thick dark solid body as glorious as the Fire it selfe Fourthly It is a strong and intimate union which cannot be dissolved I will put my spirit within you that is into their inward parts the spirit is deeply seated and strongly united unto those it is in 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell in them The Greek is I will indwell in them there is such an indwelling of Gods spirit in the hearts of his that he will neither leave nor be thrust out of his habitation John 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever I am leaving you saith Christ but when I am gone I will intercede with the Father for you and he shall send the spirit the great Comforter and he shall never leave you he shall abide with you for ever none shall be able to dispossesse or drive him out of you Object But both these seem contrary to Scripture 1 Sam. 16.14 The spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and David did drive away the spirit when he committed his great sins of murther and adultery Answ 1. Wicked men have the spirit from God as a Lord by vertue of the Covenant of works so sinning the spirit departs from them thus was it with Saul he rebelled against God vexed his spirit so that left him but David who was a godly man had the spirit from God as a Father in Christ by vertue of the Covenant of grace and so though the spirit were grieved by his sins it did not depart from him for Psal 51.11 he prayes unto the Lord saying Take not thy holy spirit from me Had it been gone the tenour of his prayer had been for restitution not against ablation of it Secondly The spirit departed from Saul was the spirit of prophesie and those Kingly endowments which he had received 1 Sam. 10.6 they ceased The spirit is oft put for the gifts of the spirit and they do oft-times fail in men Thirdly All men have the spirit of bondage to fear but all have not the spirit of adoption to cry Abba Father whosoever have the same it abides with them Fifthly Observe That before the spirit of God be put into men they are without life or motion towards God or spiritual things they live not to God they walk not in his statutes they live to themselves to the flesh to the creatures and wander from God and his wayes Naturally men are destitute of the spirit sensual as Jude tells you vers 19. Sensual not having the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Those that have not the spirit at the best are but sensual or soulie men and those had the best souls most reason understanding knew not God Acts. 17.23 1 Cor. 1.21 David tells us Psal 14.2 3. That God looked down from Heaven upon the children of men that is Jews and Gentiles to see if there were any that did understand and seek God that is whether any did so know God as to set them a work to seek him as being the highest good beyond all creature excellencie But what was the issue of Gods so looking upon men They are all gone aside that is from him and his wayes They are altogether become filthy their practices are such as makes them stink There is none that doth good no not one of so many millions of men as are upon the earth there is not one doth good There were men of excellent parts then
Will his Attributes his Works his Word are his Name All these set out God make him known and so are his name even the name of his holinesse or his holy name There is no name under Heaven like unto the Lords it s an holy name and so glorious a great name and so dreadful We should sanctifie the name of God which is done by believing Num. 20.12 When Moses and Aaron did not believe God they did not sanctifie his name but when men believe Gods Word then they sanctifie his name It s done also by fearing to displease him Isa 8.13 Isa 29.23 It s done also by acknowledging his name to be holy Math 6.9 when men praise him Secondly Observe The profaning of Gods holy name as it is a trouble unto him so it sticks and abides upon him Other provocations passe away but this settles upon his spirit see here what hold it took vers 20. They profaned my holy Name and vers 21. The house of Israel profaned my holy name among the heathen vers 22. Mine holy name which ye have profaned among the heathen Thrice the Lord mentions their profaning of his name yea in the next verse as if he could not shake this act of theirs out of his mind he mentions it twice more My name which was profaned which ye have profaned Gods name being holy is dear unto him and the profaning of it makes deep impressions in his heart Thirdly Observe Temporall mercies are not merited at Gods hands by men I do not this for your sakes O house of Israel What was it God did not for their sakes viz deliver them from their Babylonish bondage and bring them into their own Countrey these were temporal mercies and though there were Godly men amongst them as Ezekiel Daniel Mordecai Ezra Nehemiah and others yet with all their prayers fastings suffering and holinesse they did not merit these outward mercies liberty safety plenty possessions are not the merit or purchase of the creature but the gift of God 1 Tim 6.17 He giveth us all things richly to enjoy Have men more or lesse of these outward things they are upon free gift not any defert and if we deserve not temporal things much lesse do or can we deserve spiritual and eternal things which are of a transcendent nature if we do not deserve an outward deliverance an earthly Canaan how shall we deserve a spiritual deliverance an Heavenly Canaan all things of that nature are free gifts Luke 12.32 Rom 6.23 Fourthly Observe The good God doth unto his Church be it temporal or spiritual is for his own sake What I do saith God I do it for mine holy names sake there is nothing to move me but my own name that is holy great and glorious and I will for my names sake do much for my Church and People That they were preserved in Babylon was for his holy names sake that they were brought out of Babylon was for his holy names sake that they were replanted in Canaan was for his holy names sake that they had a Temple Sacrifices Priests Prophets Ordinances again was for his names sake when they were neer to destruction often in former dayes God wrought for his names sake Ezek 20. so Isa 48.8 9. It s not for the enemies sake that God doth preserve or deliver his people nor for their sakes their prayers tears faith obedience holinesse that he doth great things for them bestow great mercies upon them but it is for his own names sake For mans sake God cursed the earth Gen 8.21 but it s for his names sake that he blesseth it the choicest mercies Gods people have are for his names sake they have pardon of sin for his names sake Psal 25.11 1 John 2.12 Purging of sin for his names sake Psal 79.9 Leading in the paths of righteousnesse for his names sake Psal 23.3 Quickning of their dead and dull hearts for his names sake Psa 143.11 Though his people much offend him yet he forsakes them not for his great names sake 1 Sam 12.22 The Lord doth all freely and for the honour of his name let us then say with the Prophet Whatever we have not unto us O Lord not unto us but to thy name be the glory Not unto us who are thy creatures not unto us who are Tools in thy hand but to thy name which is the ground root and spring of all our mercies be the glory all the glory and that everlastingly Fifthly Observe God will not suffer his holy and great name alwayes to lye under aspersions and reproaches of men I will sanctifie my holy and great name which was profaned among the heathen even in the midst of them He will vindicate his honour and glory Great men when their names are blemished do stand upon it and will vindicate them with much cost and labour so God when wicked ones have profaned his name and darkned the glory thereof will stand upon it and do that which shall clear his name before all his enemies Goliah for many dayes defyed the God of Israel and the Armies of Israel but not long after the Lord vindicated his holy and great name by stirring up and strengthning of David to take off his head 1 Sam 17.45 51. When the King of Assyria and Rabshakeh blasphemed the name of God as they did Isa chap. 36. 37. did not the Lord quickly send an Angel and destroy their great Army of one hundred fourscore and five thousand and so by this stroke of his made his holy and great name glorious and dreadful He will scatter the smoak and venemous vapours that ascend from the tongues and lives of profane persons to hinder the beams of his glorious name from shining as the wind scatters clouds from before the Sun and as by destruction of his enemies so by delivering of his servants Sixthly Observe When God doth great things for his people and they honour his name for them then very heathens will be convinced acknowledge God and give glory to his name The heathen shall know that I am the Lord when I shall be sanctified in you that is in your deliverance before their eyes then you will magnifie my name and they will magnifie my name which hath been profaned then they will see and say that I am another kind of God then their idol gods are that I am omnipotent faithfull holy wise Psal 126.2 When the Lord turn'd the captivity of his people as they said The Lord hath done great things for us so the heathens said The Lord hath done great things for them So much of God appear'd in taking them out of Babylon that Jewish and Babylonish Tongues were constrained to speak out the power truth and goodnesse of God Seventhly Observe Things difficult and in the eye of man impossible are facile to and feasible by the power of God The Jews were among the heathens who by their Laws power and vigilancy kept them in great bondage they were scattered into
new joyes in God in Christ in the Promises in the Saints and inables us to rejoyce and glory in tribulations Rom 5.3 Fourthly It intitles us to diverse new and excellent things As First To the New Covenant When a man hath a new heart and a new spirit he hath an interest in the New Covenant Jer 31.31 33. The law of sin and principles of Satan and the woâ—ld were writ in the old heart and old spirit and so the party was under the Covenant with death and hell Isa 28.15 but in the new heart is written the Law of God the Law of faith Rom 3.27 Heb 8.10 and so they are under the New Covenant which is call'd Grace Rom 6.14 Secondly To New Names Where there is newness of heart and spirit there they are sealed in their fore-heads with new Names their Title is New Creatures 2 Cor. 5.17 The Seed of Abraham Isa 41.8 Servants of Righteousnesse Rom. 6.18 Children of Light John 12.36 Conquerours Rom 8.37 Gods workmanship Ephes 2.10 Kings and Priests Rev 1.6 Temples of God 1 Cor 3.16 The glory of God Isa 4.5 New born Babes 1 Pet 2.2 His Saints Psal 149.9 Vessels of Gold and Silver 2 Tim. 2.20 Wise Virgins Matth 25. Heirs of Salvation Heb 1.14 Thirdly To a New Lord and Master When their hearts were old Satan was their Soveraign They walked according to the Prince of the aire Ephes 2.2 2 Tim 2.26 His lusts they did execute John 8.44 But having new hearts they have a new Lord a new Master and that is the Lord Christ Phil 1.1 Paul a servant of Christ He had a new heart and now he had a new Master which was Christ he would serve Satan no longer but Christ who dyed for sinners that they might live unto him 2 Cor. 5.15 When the hearts and spirits of men are new they are dead to their old Masters and have new Rom 7.4 Christ is the Husband and Head of every one renewed by his grace he is Lord and Master of all such 1 Cor. 7.22 Matth 23.8 Fourthly To a New Guard Such have a Guard of Angels about them before as they were without God so without the protection of his Angels exposed to all dangers but having new hearts and new spirits being new creatures they have a multitude of the Heavenly Host not only to praise God for their new-birth as they did at Christs birth Luke 2.13 but to attend and protect them Heb 1.14 Are not the Angels ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation and none shall be such but those that have new hearts and new spirits for flesh and bloud cannot inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor 15.50 Fifthly To New Alliance this change is wrought in them Blasphemers Idolaters Adulterers Drunkards Murtherers Lyars Vnbelievers Hypocrites and all profane ones they the very Devils themselves John 8.44 But when they have new hearts and new spirits then they have new kindred as a man that marries a woman all her kindred becomes his so here all that have new hearts and spirits are his kindred who hath a new heart he is allied unto them all Math 23.8 All ye are brethren All the Saints throughout the earth how great how learned how rich how gifted or gracious soever they be are all brethren yea the Angels are brethren unto those that have new hearts Rev. 19.10.22.9 and that which is beyond all Christ himself is their Brother and Father Math. 12.49 50. Heb 2.12 13. Sixthly To the New Mansions in the City made without hands John 14.2 saith Christ In my Fathers house are many Mansions and I go to prepare a place for you You have right and title to them ye have new hearts ye believe in God vers 1. and I go to prepare and fit places for you in those Mansions Fifthly The excellency of a new heart is this That it sets an high price upon the things of God and a low price upon the things of the world how goodly soever they appear whereas before the things of the world were magnified and the things of God slighted When Paul had another heart and another spirit then before then he had no confidence in the flesh then he did not value his great priviledges he counted them and all things but losse for Christ they did damnifie him rather then advantage him and therefore lookt upon them as dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of no worth chaffe dirt excrements in respect of Christ his righteousnesse and knowledge of him Phil. 3.7 8 9. all which had an excellency and were so prized by Paul that he was willing to lay down his life for them Acts 21.13 When Simon Magus offered the Apostles money for to have power to give the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands Peter in his own name and in the name of the rest said Thy money perish with thee we value not bags of gold and silver but the things of God Acts 8.19 20. When the Conjurers had the Devils cast out of them and new hearts given them they brought forth their books which they had highly valued and burnt them before all men and so many they burnt as came to fifty thousand pieces of silver Acts 19.19 and instead of these they prized the books of Moses the Prophets and Apostles A new heart sees excellency in spiritual things and saith It cannot over value them but for other things it puts them under its feet Sixthly It s excellent in that it doth really make God its end and aims at his glory in its operations before self was all now God is all Acts 20.23 24. Paul was told by the Spirit of God that bonds and afflictions did abide him every where that his life was in danger now had not Paul been a man of a new heart and spirit he would have shifted for himself and let the preaching of the Gospel have fallen but being such an one what saith he None of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my selfe so I may finish my course with joy and the Ministry I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God That was Pauls end to make known the grace of God in the Gospel towards poor sinners that so they partaking of that grace might give glory to God and God be glorified by him God and his glory were so in his eye that he gave out a rule for all Christians to eye and mind God and his glory in all things 1 Cor. 10.31 Seventhly It s the principle of eternal life and happinesse When God puts life light and grace into the heart and so makes it new he hath begun our admission into Heaven and happinesse this new heart and spirit are the water springs up into everlasting life John 4.14 They are the Eagles wings will carry you not only up to Heaven but into Heaven Concerning this new heart and new spirit there be divers mistakes
they are the fruits of the Spirit and grow all in a new heart John 1.16 Of his fullnesse have we all received and grace for grace Graces go together not Gifts 3. A man may have Gifts and not be saved Judas had gifts yet was a son of perdition The beast came up out of the earth had miraculous Gifts and the false Prophets also and notwithstanding their Gifts they were both cast into the Lake of fire burning with Brimstone Rev 13.11 13 14. Chap. 19.20 But he that hath a new heart and new spirit hath grace and so shall be saved John 3.6 2 Cor. 3.17 He that is born of the Spirit is a new creature he hath grace and shall be saved Acts 15.11 Seventhly Activeness Some men growing active for God and the publique Zealous against corrupt practices in Church or State gather from hence that they have new hearts and spirits they were not so before and how can it be that such new operations and activeness should be in them and from them and they not be men of new hearts When men are call'd to publique imployments they may have other hearts then they had before yet not such a new heart as is here spoken off Saul had another heart 1 Sam 10.9 when anointed to be King yet not a new heart Credit profit and conscience mis-informed may make men zealous and active when they have no other then their old hearts Paul before his conversion was very active and exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of his fathers Gal 1.13 14. How active are Jesuits how zealous are Papists and many others and that from erroneousness of their consciences not newnesse of their spirits First Observe Mens hearts and spirits by nature are old they are degenerated from that innocency simplicity and purity Adam was created in they are corrupted ever since he eat of the forbidden fruit Psal 14.1 Men are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Psal 53.3 Every one of them is gone back they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Such as their hearts are such are their actions old hearts have answerable operations Psal 58.3 They go astray assoon as they be born They brought corrupt hearts and natures with them into the world and their first actings were against God truth juâ—â—â—ce and holinesse men by nature have hearts full of old things 2 Cor. 5.17 Old things are not passed away but abide Old principles old lusts old desires old thoughts old reasonings old enmityes old confidences old hardness old deceitfulness old frowardness and old naughtiness are all found in mens hearts till they are made new Gen. 6.5 Math 15.19 Secondly Observe A new heart a new spirit is not from the power or will of man but from the grace of God A new heart will I give you a new spirit will I put into you God bade them Ezek 18.31 make themselves new hearts and new spirits but they were not able to do it he promises therefore to do it for them It s Gods way in his holy Word to command and call for that at the hands of men which he intends to give and work as Phil 2.12 Work out your own salvation and in the next verse its said Its God which worketh in you both to will and to do Isa 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean Ezek 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean Deut 10.16 Circumcise the foreskin of your heart they could not do it therefore Deut. 30.6 the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart These Scriptures evince that it is the Lord himself who performs what he commands it s not mans will or power which produceth the new heart it s the gracious and mighty hand of God which effects it and when he will work who shall let it shall mans will yes if God did only propound arguments command exhort invite encourage threaten it might but God doth promise to do the thing To give a new heart to put in a new spirit and should the liberty of mans will hinder it how should God be faithful but rather then he will be found unfaithful he will over-power the corrupt wills of men and make them flexible to his will The efficacy of grace depends not upon mans will embracing or refusing what is tendered but on the good pleasure and power of God Phil 2.13 When it pleases God to put forth his power the woâ—â—â—hall be done the new heart and new spirit shall be wrought in the man notwithstanding all the oldnesses therein And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh In Chap 11. vers 19. the words are I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and here they are I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh Much was spoken of them there something I shall speak now The stony heart The Hebrew is The heart of stone that is the heart which in a spiritual sense is like a stone First A stone is senselesse it feels or perceives nothing and so is a stony heart Ephes 4.19 Who being past feeling they were so accustomed to sin that they felt not any evill in sin Consuetudo peccandi tollit sensum peccati Zech 14.4 we read of a Mountain that cleav'd in sunder at the presence of Christ but the hearts of the Jews were so stony that they were not at all affected at the presence or voice of Christ Secondly A stone is hard and impenetrable a Knife a Sword a Nail will not enter into it so a stony heart is so hard that the Word of God hath no entrance into it Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy Words giveth light when it enters into the heart it doth so but though the Word be of a sharp and piercing nature yet it enters not into a stony heart its impenetrable Zech 7.11 They refused to hearken and pull'd away their shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear yea they made their hearts as an Adamant stone No truths no arguments no invitations no prayers no tears no mercies no threats no judgements do conquer or prevail with it neither wind rain thunder lightning sun-shine heat cold do change the nature of a Rock Thirdly A stone is unpolished and inept for building and other uses till it be hewn sawn and brought into some other form so a stony heart is an heart unpolished unfit to lye in any part of Gods building or for any service of his till it be polished hewn sawn hammered and brought into some other frame As a stone cannot change it self no more can a stony heart The Devil knew that the stones Matth. 4.3 could not turn themselves into bread therefore saith to Christ Command that they be made bread He knew they might be made bread meet to eat and so stony hearts though they cannot make themselves fleshy yet they may be made fleshy they may be brought to another form and so
hast a great helper to enable thee thereunto even the spirit of God which dwells in thee see therefore that thou keep it by the enabling power of the spirit which helps not only to remember truth but also to obey truth for Peter assures us That the beleeving Jews did obey the truth through the spirit that is through the assistance of the spirit This is that which follows in the next words to be opened And cause you to walk in my statutes The Hebrew word for cause is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faciam I will make effect or bring to passe by the operation of that spirit I put into you that you shall walk in my statutes Vatablus renders it efficiam which imports influence of power David Psal 143.10 prayes unto the Lord to teach him to do his will and Psal 119.35 he saith Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments both these the spirit being put into man performs it teaches him to do the will of God and causes him to go in the path of his Commandements To walk in Gods statutes implyes several things First The making of Godlinesse and Religion our chief work in this life other things are to be done as inferiour things this is to be the principal no work should be so minded as this saith Joshua Chap. 24.15 As for me and my house we will serve the Lord that shall be our great and chief businesse in this world He remembred what God had commended to him and all men Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thine house and upon thy gates God would have us to be godly inwardly and outwardly at home and abroad night and day and to make our familyes religious and they are repeated again Deut 11.18 19 20. that so they might take the deeper impression upon the hearts of men David looked at this work above all others Psal 119.97 O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day To be godly and religious was his principal care that is the one thing necessary and Solomon hath drawn it up into this conclusion Fear God and keep his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man Eccles 12.13 Secondly Taking delight in the wayes of God His statutes commands and wayes are grievous to men naturally they walk not in them When men walk in any way they are delighted with and in that way so here walking in Gods statutes notes delight Psal 119.14 I have rejoyced in the way of thy Testimonies as much as in all riches Some rejoyce in fine houses some in fertile Lands some in great Flocks some in Silver and Gold but David rejoyced in the way of Gods Testimonies and as much as any of them or all of them in their riches he found more sweet in them then they in their wealth vers 143. Thy Commandements are my delights They were his chief his satisfying his sole and soul delights It was meat and drink to Paul to be doing the will and work of the Lord Acts 20.24 as it was unto Christ John 4.34 Thirdly It imports motion and progresse they should not stand still in contemplation nor sit still in meditation but they should proceed and go on in the wayes of God they should get neerer their journeys end be daily more knowing more holy more gracious and godly The Thessalonians faith did grow exceedingly and their charity abounded 2 Thess 1.3 They walked from faith to faith and from love to love When Paul was converted and brought into the way of Christ he encreased in spiritual strength Acts 9.22 He reached forward and pressed towards the mark Phil 3.13 14. He put on mightily for to get the knowledge of Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings he did not only walk but ran oft in the way of truth and godlinesse 1 Cor. 9.26 Fourthly Walking in Gods statutes imports perseverance in them they shall not apostatize and turn back from them but continue in them Of a wicked man destitute of Gods Spirit it s said He hath left off to be wise and to do good Psal 36.1 But of a righteous man it s said He shall hold on in his way Job 17.9 He knows he is in a safe and good way a way that will recompence him fully at the end whatever hardships or storms he meets withall and therefore will neither sit still nor go back he may be extra semitam sometimes but never turning back again Ye shall keep my judgements and do them Statutes and Judgements are comprehensive words and sometimes are used promiscuously as hath formerly been shewed in Chap 18. and 5. but here they may be thus differenced Statutes to signifie the duties of the first Table the things of Gods worship and manner of the same whether under the Law or Gospel and Judgements the duties of the second Table matters of equity and justice between man and man The word for keep is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports keeping with care and diligence they should not keep them in their houses or memories only but they should keep them practically they should do them First Observe Gods spirit differs from all other spirits Angels are spirits souls of men are spirits but these are below Gods spirit I will put my spirit Gods spirit is a spirit of holinesse Rom. 1.4 The power of the highest Luke 1.35 A spirit of truth guiding into all truth John 16.13 A spirit of grace Zech 12.10 The Oyl of gladnesse Heb 1.9 The Comforter John 14.16 A spirit of glory 1 Pet. 4.14 A spirit that is the Lord Isa 11.2 Ruach Jehovah The spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him Whatever excellencies may be in souls or Angels they are infinitely short of that that is in the spirit of God Psal 143.10 Thy spirit is good that is Thy spirit O Lord is transcendently good my own spirit is naught and all other spirits are nothing compared with thy spirit that and that only is good good originally good transcendently good infinitely Secondly Observe The putting in of the spirit into the sons of men is a free act of God He doth it not upon the account of the Covenant of works but by vertue of the Covenant of grace This verse is a branch of the Covenant of grace and agrees with that in Jerem. 31.33 I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts that God doth when he puts in his spirit 2 Cor. 3.3 for the spirit being within writes divine truths in the heart Adam had the
in the world men of soul or foulie men but not one of them did know God or seek after God Paul therefore hath laid it down for an universal Maxime That the animal natural or soulie man receives not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him Whilest he is without the spirit of God they are no better than foolishnesse unto him and so are rejected by him Sixthly Observe The principle of spiritual life and motion is the spirit of God I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk Immediately upon the putting in of the spirit into the heart of any there is life and motion men live and move spiritually Some make grace the principle of life and motion but all grace flows from the spirit Gal. 5.22 23. Ephes 5.9 and why should grace have that honour is due to the spirit It was the entrance of the spirit which quickned the dead bodies of the Witnesses and caused them to move Rev. 11.11 and it is the entrance of the spirit which quickens dead souls and causes them to move We must beware of an error here which hath siezed upon divers of late viz That because the spirit is in us and the principle of life and motion that therefore the spirit doth all Matth 10.20 It is not ye that speak but the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you so it is not you that do but the spirit in you and if the spirit speaketh and do all we must sit still and leave our selves to the spirits motions and actings This is a dangerous error know therefore That though the spirit be in men and the principle of life and motion yet it doth not act or work without us in the putting in of the spirit we are Passive John 3.6 we concur no more to our birth then a child doth to its generation but when the spirit is in us and hath quickned us then there is the co-operation of man with the spirit Rom 8.16 The spirit beareth witnesse to our spirit vers 26. It helpeth our infirmities Acti agimus the spirit acts us and we co-act with it If the spirit did all then the spirit should repent believe and not man but what cause hath the spirit to repent or believe it never sinned it stands not in need of help or mercy that place Matth 10.20 is not absolutely to be taken that they did not speak for so it should be false Luke 12.12 The holy spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say They spake and the spirit taught them to speak the place is to be taken comparatively not you but the spirit that is it is rather the spirit than you the spirit is the principle which sets you on For men to sit still and leave all to the spirit is a grieving of the spirit and contradicts what the spirit hath given out Matth. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you The spirit would have us use means and doth most vigorously assist us when we are most diligent in the use of them Prov. 2.3 4 5. 2 Chron. 15.2 Quest If the spirit be put into us dwell in us and be the principle of life and motion what need the soul look unto Christ for any fresh or further supply Answ 1. It is granted there is a sufficiency and fullnesse in the spirit yet because it is the will of God that we should look unto Christ we are bound to do it Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Authour and Finisher of our faith 2 Tim. 2.1 Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and Paul himself 2 Cor. 12.8 9. looked up to Christ for more help notwithstanding he had a fullnesse of the spirit within him Acts 13.9 Answ 2. The spirit is not the head of the body though it be in the body that honour is Christs Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church and from it the whole body receiveth influence Eph. 4.15 16. Col. 2.19 it s requisite therefore that every member in the body should look up to the head Seventhly Observe God first makes men good and then they do good first he puts his spirit into them and then they walk in his wayes It is said of God himself He is good and doth good Psal 119.68 He is first good and then good comes from him so God makes men good by the infusion of his spirit and then they bring forth spiritual fruit Ephes 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works Since mans fall amongst all the sons of men God finds none good Rom. 2.10 There is none righteous no not one if any be so he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God hath made him so by his spirit he hath made him a new creature so fitted him for good works the Tree must first be good before the fruit be good amongst men good actions are first done and then men are reputed good but with God it is otherwise he makes men first good and then they do good actions they do not make themselves good by their free will by frequent acts of good but God puts in his spirit towards which they contribute nothing and thereby they are made good and act answerably then their actions have life in them worth in them and are suitable to God who is a spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and truth Let men look heedfully to themselves and not stand upon their actions men may do many actions outwardly glorious and magnified by men themselves being corrupt and naught if men have not the spirit of God in them their actions are no better than corrupt fruit of a corrupt Tree they do not please God and if any have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his He is neither good nor doth good Eighthly Observe In what heart soever the spirit dwells there will be outward and visible manifestations of it Grace within will appear without I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes to keep my judgements and to do them The spirit is like the Sun in the Firmament which cannot be hid long though it may be clouded for a season the Cough and Grace are of such natures as will not be concealed and the spirit is of that nature as it will diâ—â—â—â—er it self in the man it is within causing him to change his courses and to walk in other wayes then ever he walked in When the spirit is put into a swearer a lyar an unclean person an extortioner a bloudy persecutor it makes the swearer fear an oath the lyar speak truth from his heart the unclean man to possesse his vessel in sanctification and honour the extortioner to make satisfaction and give half of his goods to the poor and the bloudy persecutor to love and preach the Gospel he persecuted so demonstrating it self to
forgive the sins of the Jews in general and bring them out of their forlorn condition to glorious injoyments and liberty This word Richamti is from Racham which signifies Intimo commiserationis affectu aliquem amplecti to imbrace one with a most inward affection of bowels mercy or compassion God would be as merciful to them as a Mother to the fruit of her womb And will be jealous for my holy Name In the Hebrew it is I will be jealous or zealous for the Name of my Holiness I will not suffer my Name to be polluted as it 's vers 7. The mercies I have promised shall be performed whatever obstacle is in the way my holy Name is ingaged for it and the jealousie I have for my Name will provoke me to do the same Jealousie is such an ardent affection as will break through all would retard or frustrate an undertaking It is given to God more humano and nothing shall let him from accomplishing what he hath promised Vers 26. After that they have born their shame The Jews being a people distinguished from other Nations by their laws and worship should have so liv'd as never to have given God occasion to have cast them off but they sinning above the Nations were scattered of God into several parts of the World and there they were reproached by the Heathens for their God their Worship and their Laws and so did bear shame Or thus Shame may be put for the punishment of their shame viz. their sin that was their shame and sad judgements did they bear for the same which was also their shame And all their Trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me Trespasses here notes punishment they trespassed against God in Canaan and he punished them for those trespasses in Babylon and other places After they had born their shame and punishment the appointed time God would visit them in mercy bring them back to Sion and do great things for them When they dwelt safely in the Land and none made them afraid They had much peace were secure feared no Enemies nor Judgements and thereupon sinn'd freely and multiplyed transgressions without number The word for making afraid is Charad which signifies to be moved in body or mind Fear doth distemper both but the Jews had none to disaffect either by frighting of them Vers 27. When I am sanctified in them in the sight of many Nations In Chap. 38. vers 9. God saith he will sanctifie himself that is declare himself to be an holy God and here the word is passive When I am sanctified that is when I am openly acknowledged to be just in punishing of them and merciful in delivering of them Piscator carries the words actively thus I will demonstrate my Holiness and Majesty both by afflicting and by freeing of them Vers 28. Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God which caused them to be led into Captivity among c. After their suffering grievous and long afflictions and receiving choyse mercies they shall know and confess that it was the hand of God which led them into captivity and not the hand of man before their eyes were upon men Nebuchadnezzar and his Forces they looked not at God but when they should be throughly purged in the furnace of affliction and be brought out thence to partake of special mercies then they should see know and acknowledge that God did all that it was his hand did it that Nebuchadnezzar could not have done ought against them nor Cyrus ought for them without his Commission So when the Jews shall be gathered out of all parts they are now in they shall know it to be the hand of God The Hebrew for which caused them be led into Captivity among the Heathen is In my transferring them or causing them to be transferred to the Heathen And have left none of them any more there At the first gathering of the Jews out of Babylon many were left there Ezra 1.5 Not all the Fathers of Judab and Benjamin but the chief of the Fathers and such whose spirits God had stirred came thence not the rest But here is mention of such a gathering as that none shall be left None de praedestinatis saith Maldonate Not any one Vâ—lentem in Patriam redire saith Mariana But these senses do not come up fully to the words which are I will not leave of them any more formerly many have been left but there shall be such a gathering as none shall be left whole Tribes were then left in captivity Vers 29. Neither will I hide my face any more from them God hid his face seventy years from them in Babylon and since their crucifying of Christ he hath hid it from them 1600. years But he hath a time to let them see his face again and never more to hide it from them they shall have his favour his counsel his help and protection They shall not be under severe judgments but injoy sweet mercies For I have poured out my Spirit upon the House of Israel Junius hath the words Quum effudero When I shall pour out my Spirit upon them In the Hebrew it 's a pretertense for a future which is usual therein to shew the certainty of the thing The Septuagint saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because I have poured out my wrath upon them their sense is Seeing I have uttered and accomplished all my displeasure against them they shall henceforth have my face and favour The word for my Spirit is Ruchi the same with that in Chap. 36.27 which the Septuagint render there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my Spirit and it 's so to be taken here God makes the House of Israel a great promise he will pour out his Spirit upon the same It shall have all spiritual blessings in abundance and the continuation of them First Observe The afflictions of Gods People they may be long and sharp yet they shall not be alwayes they shall have an end There is a time when they shall cease Now will I bring again the Captivity of Jacob. God brings his into captivity and out again in due time Some Vessels must be longer in the fire then others their dross and rust is so incorporated into them that they must not only be heatt but melted and when they are melted then they are taken out of the furnace and new moulded The Jews were long in the Wilderness but at length they were brought into the Land of the Amorites Josh 24.7 8. The Gentiles must tread down the Holy City 42 moneths or 1260. dayes and then it shall be freed Revel 11.2 3. God may be wroth with the Sheep of his Pasture his wrath may be hot may be long but it shall not be for ever Psal 103.9 Let us be patient under long afflictions and wait for deliverance it 's drawing nigh dayly and the set time will come ere long Heb. 10.37 Secondly Observe There is a day of mercy to come for the Jews
efficacious besides him All the efficacy of the Word is from Christ by his Spirit 2 Cor. 10.4 Our weapâ—ns are mighty through God All things in the Church must be exact and according to Divine order things must not be jumbled but fitly framed and joyn'd together Ephes 2.21 Chap. 4.16 nothing is left in this house to the Wills Inventions and Humors of men all things must be measured and measured by the line and reed of Christ no men may bring their own reeds or lines to measure ought Mat. 15.9 In vain do they c. this is dangerous Mat. 17.5 Hear him Act. 3.23 Every soul that will not c. Timothy must not do what he pleas'd in the House of God but he must proceed according to rule according to what Paul the Servant of Christ had writ unto him 1. Tim. 3.14 15. The breadth of the building one reed and the heighth one reed Here were small beginnings at first the building was but one reed in breadth and height This seems to point out the smallness of the Christian Church at first it was onely in Judaea and Jerusalem Of little breadth and low in gifts and graces it knew little of the Mysteries of the Gospel and so as little in height but after it extended in bredth and height Vers 6. Then came he unto the Gate which looketh toward the East and went up the Stairs thereof and measured the Threshold of the Gate which was one read broad and the other Threshold of the Gate which was one read broad There is frequent mention of the Gates belonging to this Temple and the Courts of it as the East-gate vers 6 32 44. the North-gate vers 20 35 40 44. the South-gate vers 24 27 28. And there were divers East-gates North-gates and South-gates as there were divers Walls and Courts so in Solomons Temple and in that built after the Captivity Christ came from the Gate of the outward Wall where he first stood vers 3.5 and came to an inward Gate which Expositors make to be the Gate of the Temple He passed through the first Court which some call the Court of the Gentiles and came unto the next Gate Why Christ came to the East-gate rather then to the North gate this being nearer the Gate of the Wall which he entred by then the other is questioned It 's probable 't was because the face of the house looked that way as it 's Chap. 47.1 The forefront of the house stood towards the East and that Gate is counted the principal which stands before the face of an house The outward Wall had but one Gate the other Walls of the inward Courts had 3. Gates a piece one East-ward one North-ward and one South-ward but no Gate was West-ward The Jews call'd the East anterior pars coeli the forepart of heaven and the West posterior pars coeli the backpart of heaven by the first they note spiritual things by the second temporal and earthly things Those that come into this Temple must mind spiritual things they must not let out their hearts unto the world and worldly delights they are Western things and there was no door in the West They must go upwards not downwards keep within not go out The Prophet being to measure the Gates was brought first to those of the outward Court and first to the East-gate then to the North-gate and lastly to the South-gate but when he came to the Gates of the inner Court he begins with the South-gate then the East-gate and last of all the North-gate There was a differing order in measuring these Gates ver 28 32 35. These Gates doe hint unto us the readiness in Christ and God to receive comers and the confluence of them from all parts This Temple hath many Gates and those looking to the several quarters of the world If men come from any of them there is a Gate before them and admittance for them Isa 60.3 4 5 6 7 8. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising Lift up thine eyes round about and see all they gather themselves together they come to thee thy sons shall come from far and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side c. He goes on there and shews what flowing and flocking shall be to the Church even as doves to a window and vers the 11. it 's said of this Jerusalem Her Gates shall be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night and that this is meant of New Jerusalem John satisfies us Rev. 21.25 where he brings in these words speaking of the New Jerusalem The Gates of it shall not be shut It had 12. Gates vers 13. and not one of them should be shut Went up the Stairs thereof There be Stairs and Steps spoken of in the 6 22 26 31 34 37 49. verses The Temple being upon a Mountain the ascent must needs be by Stairs and Steps for the number of them in the 6. vers the Septuagint saith they were 7. but the Hebrew mentions not the number in that place In the 22. and 26. verses you hear of 7. Steps and in the 31 34 and 37. of 8. Steps but these were in several places and served for several ascents For that is the use of Stairs and Steps Three things I conceive are bereby held out unto us 1. That we come to the knowledge of Spiritual things by degrees they are not known at once but successively Temple-Mysteries we come unto by Steps Christ leads his on from one thing to another from faith to faith from strength to strength Those that come to the Temple proceed by degrees first one step then another Ezekiel was carried on in the sight of his Vision gradatim he had not the sight of all at once but one thing after another 2. The knowledge of Divine things is not attain'd without labour and difficulty There be Steps and Stairs in this Temple and those will behold the glory and understand the Mysteries of it must go upward first one step then another and it 's difficult to go up Stairs and Steps it hath cost many hot water who have been going up these Steps to find out the Secrets comprehended in this Vision 3. In Temple-work we must make progress It 's not sufficient to go up a Step a Stair or two and then stand still or descend we must go forward go up higher to the top It 's not enough to go up two or three Rounds in Jacobs ladder and look about but if ever men will get into heaven they must go to the top of the Ladder Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne Christ overcame the difficulties he went up all the Stairs and persevering to the end was Crown'd And measured the Threshold of the Gate which was one read broad and the other Threshold of the
unto him The humble find mercy and are raised when the proud meet with judgment and are thrown down The 2. consequent is The Spirit leading of him and that was into the inner Court He had led him into several places and now leads him into the inner Court whereby he came to understand the mysteries of and behold the glory in the Temple which none are able to do without the leading of the Spirit None destitute of the Spirit can enter into the Church to understand the things thereof and behold the glory thercin 1 Cor. 2.14 15. 2 Cor. 3.18 It 's the Spirit makes men discern spiritual things it 's the Spirit that leads us from knowledge to knowledge from mystery to mystery and from glory to glory he leads into the Temple and into the inner Court he reveals the deep and glorious things of God unto the Saints The 3. is the filling of the house and that with glory vers 3. Behold the glory of the Lord filled the house There was aboundance of glory in it the Temple and Sanctum Sanctorum were full of it This leads us to consider not onely the Temple re-built after the Babylonish Captivity which the Lord said by Haggai Chap. 2.7 that he would fill it with glory And that the glory of it sh uld be greater then of the former house vers 9. which was fulfilled in Christ's bodily presence there but it leads us also unto Christ who was filâ—'d with the glory of the Spirit and fullness of the Deity Col. 2.9 and unto the Church of Christ which is fill'd with the glory of the Gospel for it is glorious and hath shining light in it 2 Cor. 4.4 but chiefly unto the New Jerusalem wherein a greater glory is expected to be seen then hath ever yet been there will be aboundance of grace and glorious effusions of the spirit See how glorâ—ous the New Jerusalem is Rev. 21. The 4. thing is the Lord speaking unto Ezekiel vers 6. And I heard him speaking unto me The Hebrew is I heard a Saying to me from the house a saying from the glory or from the Lord being in that Glory which fill'd the house The Temple saith Vatablus the Sanctum Sanctorum saith Maldonate but we understand it of both As the glory was in the Temple so the voice came from the Temple The Lord spake not of the Temple as Lyra would have it but from or out of the TempIe The thing pointed out hereby is this That God reveals and makes known his mind in his house in the Church he speakes from the Temple unto his Isa 66.6 A Voice from the Temple a voice of the Lord. There God discover'd his displeasure towards his enemies and his good will towards his servants In Judah is God known Psal 76. There his mind is known The law goes forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Isa 2.3 Where his Church is there is his presence there he utters his voice there he opens his mind Why did David desire to dwell in the house of the Lord all days of his life but to behold the beauty of the Lord which appeared there eminently and to inquire in his Temple because the Lord there spake and answered the desires of his servants Psal 27.4 When he was troubled at the prosperity of the wicked what did he then but enter into the Sanctuary of God and there he was resolved he understood their end Psal 73.17 The Spirit and Christ spake in the Churches and to the Churches Rev. 2. and 3 Chap. And in the 16. Chap. vers 1. A great voice was heard out of the Temple And the Man stood by me The Hebrew is And a Man was standing by me Some make this Man to be an Angel but it was he mentioned Chap. 40.3 The Man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring-reed This was Christ the Master-builder Zech. 6.12 Behold the Man whose name is the Branch he shall grow up out of this place and he shall build the Temple of the Lord. This Man stood by Ezek. to assist incourage and interpret things unto him Whence cometh this Observation That the Lord Christ who is the chief Architech in Temple-work stands by his Prophets and Servants who are imployed therein When the Temple was first built many were imploy'd therein but they were not left to their own wisdom and skill Solomon was principâ—l therein he was present counselled directed and assisted therefore it 's said he built the house of the Lord 1 King 6.2 So in Ezekiel's Temple a Type of the Gospel-Temple Christ was present he counselled directed assisted he stood by the Prophet he stood by the Apostles Mat. 28.20 Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world He stood by Paul Acts 18.10 I am with thee so Chap. 23.11 And Paul doth acknowledge it 2 Tim. 4.16 17. All men forsook me they shew'd their unfaithfulness Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me he was about Temple-work for it follows that by me the Preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might fully hear Christ was with him to instruct incourage and bless him and his labors Christ walkes in the midst of the Churches and holds the stars thereof in his right hand Rev. 2.1 And Chap. 5.6 it 's said In the midst of the Elders stoâ—d a Lamb. There be two things worthy notice from the 5 and 6. verses considered together The 1. Is the distinction of Subsistences in the Divine Nature and Essence Here are 3. distinct Ones named 1. The Spirit which took up Ezekiel 2. The glory of the Lord whom he heard speaking out of the house which was the Father 3. The Man standing by him which was Christ Here is the Spirit Father and Son who as they have distinct personalities so distinct operations The Spirits work is raising up the Fathers speaking and the Sons assisting or standing by The 2. thing is the gradual proceedings of God in carrying on his from mercy to mercy Here be 5. steps of mercy The 1. Is the Spirit taking up the Prophet being fallen upon his face Had any one come and raised the Prophet being down it had been kindness Especially if Daniel Zorobabel or some Elder of Israel had done it but one greater and better then them all did it viz. the Spirit of God This was great mercy The 2. Is the Spirit leading of him into the inner Court He did not raise him and then leave him but led him And whither not into the outward Court but into the inner Court This was a further mercy a choise mercy to be brought so near the Temple The 3. Step was a sight of glory he saw the glory of the Lord filling the house this was a grand mercy which none of the Jews besides himself saw As when Christ was transfigured and the Mountain shin'd with the glory of his
that they may be ashamed of their iniquities And here it 's If they be ashamed of all that they have done shew them the form of the house In the first sight of the house is required as precedaneous to humiliation and here humiliation is required as precedaneous to sight of the house The answer to this seeming contradiction is easie The sight of the house first was mercy and that made way for humiliation and then their humiliation upon that made way for further mercy First they had a general sight of the house which caused shame and being throughly ashamed they had a more distinct and particular knowledge of the same The forms and fashions of the house In an house there be several parts as Walls Windows Doors Posts Lintels Galleries Stairs Chambers c. And these are of several forms and fashions which he must shew to the house of Israel even all the forms which is twice mentioned and notes the outward and inward forms of the Church The outward lies in profession in the union and harmony of the parts in the greatness and extent of the whole in the discipline and government of it The inward forms consist in those gratious principles and qualifications are in those professors make up the house and body of Christ in the power of godliness and the cordial closing one with another in the life spirit purity and power of Ordinances There is beauty and glory in the outward forms but most in the inward Psal 45.13 The King's daughter is all glorious within and her cloathing is of wrought gold The Church shines without but is very glorious within all-glorious The Kingdome of God is within men Luke 17.21 and that is in righteousness peace and joy Paul had an eye to both forms when he told the Colossians He rejoyced to see their order and faith Col. 2.5 And the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof There were several Gates in this Temple and they were to come in at one and go out at another Those came in at the North-gate must go out at the South-gate and they came in at the South-gate must go out at the North-gate and not at the Gates they come in by Ezek. 46.9 In this Temple there was no turning back but going forward when the Tabernacle was up there was looking and turning back to Egypt When Solomon's Temple stood there was of them who went backward and not forward Jer. 7.21 Isa 1.4 Jer 15.6 But in this Temple they were to go forward and not backward Isaiah Prophesied that the People of this Temple should be all righteous Isa 60.21 And the righteous hold on their way Job 17.9 All the ordinances and all the laws thereof The Hebrew word for Ordinances is Choak from Chakak to ingrave upon Wood or Stone and that for Law is Torah from Jarah to instruct or teach so that this latter imports the instruction of the mind the former the impression of truth upon the hearts and affections Suarez saith De legib lib. 1. c. 5. that a Law properly so call'd is illuminative reforming and directing the judgement and impulsive moving the heart and will to action Some by these Ordinances and Laws understand the rites and rules they were to observe in re sacrificali for it 's probable being 70. years in captivity they had forgotten them in part if not wholly but not onely these are here intended for then the scope of the vision would extend no further then Zorobabel's Temple whereas it refers chiefly to the Temple and worship of Christ under the Gospel as hath been shewed The Ordinances and Laws thereof are here likewise included and what the worshipers are to do when and how and which belong to the Temple First Observe That to repentant men asham'd of all their evil doings the ways of God's house are to be made known by the Prophets and Ministers If they be asham'd shew them the form and fashion of the house c. If they were not humbled for and ashamed of their abominations which caused the destruction of the first Temple they must not be informed in the mysteries of this Temple either by word or writing Impenitency excludes from Temple-mercies but shame and hearty sorrow for sin makes way for such mercies To them so affected must the forms and fashions the comings in and goings out of the house all the outward and inward forms all the ordinances and laws thereof be made known by word or writing or both they are to be admitted to the mysteries and secrets of the Temple As for dogs holy things are not to be communicated unto them Secondly Observe Temple and Church-work must not be according to mens phansies but according to the mind of God and that pattern He gives forth God set a pattern before Ezekiel he must set it before the house of Israel and they must build and order the Temple answerably they must keep the whole form thereof and all the ordinances thereof they might not adde to nor detract from what God had prescribed Moses in the Tabernacle-work must do all after the pattern given him Exod. 25.40 Chap. 39.42 43. Noah in his Ark-work must keep to what God appointed Gen. 6.14 15 16. 1 Chron. 28.11 12. 13. Solomon in his Temple-work was tied to the pattern given out by the Spirit to David In the Gospel-Church it is so Mat. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you Nothing is left to their liberty God's appointments onely must be in his house neither antiquity nor custome nor convenience nor prudential considerations nor shew of holiness nor any pretext whatsoever will warrant any humane invention brought into the Church and Worship of God Thirdly Observe That the Temple and Church of Christ hath distinct and peculiar laws of it 's own Ezekiel must shew them the Laws and Oâ—dinances of the house not those of nature or nations Aliae sunt leges Caesarum aliae Christi Caesars and Christ's laws do differ his are Civil and Christ's are Sacred He rules in Sion and man's laws have no place there Fourthly Observe The Church in due time shall be such a Temple as here it 's represented by this Visioâ— It shall be one large strong and full of glory as this visional Temple was When God gives forth visions it 's in the thoughts of his heart to make them good How shall the house of Israel the true Christians keep the laws and ordinances of his house if it never be built God hath not onely purposed but promised to build it Ezek. 37.26 27. I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people And John saw it accomplished in vision hearing God uttering parallel words Rev 21.2 3. And doubtless the time is drawing near for the building of it Now men see a difference between the stones of Babylon which must
nâ—ture Psal 92.12 The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Palm-trees and Cedars especially grow very high Amos 2.9 their tops reached to Heaven And did not the Thessalonians grow exceedingly in Faith and Charity 2 Thess 1.3 Did not Paul grow greatly when hâ—s Conversation was in Heaven daily Phil. 3.20 The Saints grow up into Christ in all things Ephes 4.15 5. Of Trees some are strong some are weak some are high some are low So is it with Saints some are strong and high as the Centurion Mat. 8.10 the Woman of Canaan Mat. 15.28 James Cephas and John Gal. 2.9 some are low and weak as the Corinthians 1 Cor. 3.1 and the Hebrews Heb. 5.12 13. John hath ranked these spiritual trees into three sorts 1 John 2.12 13 14. Little Children Young Men and Fathers 6. They are fruitful and bear several kindes of fruit Hence the tree of the field is said to be mans life Deut. 20.19 that is it brings forth fruit of several kindes whereby the life of man is preserved and true Christians are not barren trees or trees which bring forth sowre or corrupt fruit but they are fruitful and their fruit is good fruit The Philippians were filled with fruits of righteousness Phil. 1.11 Dorcas was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did Acts 9.36 the Churches of Macedonia abounded in liberality 2 Cor. 8.2 and the Church of Corinth in every thing v. 7. some had tongues some interpreted some wrought miracles and some prophesied Those Widows which were to be taken into the Church had fruit much and variety of it they brought up children they lodged strangers they washed the Saints feet they relieved the afflicted and they diligently followed every good work 1 Tim. 5.9 7. Some trees are very fragrant well sented they perfume the air where they grow Hos 14.6 His smell shall be as Lebanon In Lebanon which was a great Mountain and fruitful Forrest were fair trees Cedars and Almuggin trees which filled the air with a sweet sent and like unto Lebanon Israel should be And Christ saith of his Spouse Cant. 4.11 The smell of thy garments is as the smell of Lebanon The Churches garments are the graces and gifts with which the Spirit hath adorned her as Knowledge Faith Love Humility Zeal Wisdom c. These yield a good savour From the Church of Philippi was an odour of a sweet smell Phil. 4.18 The Church of Rome in Pauls days had a good sent her faith was spoken of throughout the whole World Rom. 1.8 Gaius was a tree very fragrant 3 John 2 5 6. and Demetrius alone had the smell of Lebanon of Firre-trees Cedars and Almuggins for he had good respect of all men and of the truth it self v. 12. 8. Trees are exposed to all winds weathers storms to heat and cold so are Saints Jer. 17.8 The man that trusts in God shall be as a tree planted by the waters and what though heat and drought come he shall be prejudiced by neither his branch is green before the Sun Job 8.16 There will be scorching heat and terrible blasts Christians do meet with Satans fiery darts the Dragons floods reproaches afflictions tempations troubles of all sorts they are exposed unto Psal 34.19 2 Tim. 3.12 Verse 8. These waters issue out towards the East-Countrey and go down into the Desart These are the places into which the waters of the Sanctuary did run Some render the Hebrew words Haggelilah hakadmonah into Galilee of the East Montanus Arith ad revolutionem orientalem or terminum orientalem to the Eastern border Galilee was Eastward from Jerulem and in it was Lacus Asphaltites the Lake of Sodom or Mare mortuum so called because no fish could live in it nor birds fly over it but dyed so deadly were the waters and vapors thereof Hither the Sanctuary waters came and they went down also into the Desart that is say some Expositors into the Mediterranean Sea which was in the West suitable to which interpretation seems that in Zach. 14.8 where living waters are said to go out from Jerusalem half of them toward the former sea that is the Salt or dead sea and half of them towards the hinder sea that is the Mediterranean sea Others conceive these waters of Ezekiel did run onely East-ward first into the dead sea and then out of that into the Desarts or Plains of Moab for here is not mention of several seas but there is of rivers ver 9. Nachalaim duo torrentes The effects of these waters are 1. Healing When they came into the dead sea they healed the waters thereof the Sanctuary waters made those deadly waters salubres utiles wholesome and profitable as the bitter waters of Marah were healed by a tree thrown in Exod. 15.25 and the waters of Jericho by a cruse of salt 2 Kings 2.20 21. 2. Production of Fishes and them in abundance These waters were fruitful waters ver 9. they begat life in dead creatures and caused Fish to abound as the Fish of the Sea exceeding many as it is in the end of ver 10. By Fish understand those that are wrought upon and brought in by the Gospel And they are so called 1. Because as Fish are generated of Spawn or Seed and Water so Believers are born of Water and the Spirit John 3.5 2. Fish it s conceived were not under the curse that fell upon the earth and things upon it not on the waters and fish therein so Believers are not under the curse of the Law Unbelievers are under condemnation and wrath John 3.18 36. but Believers are free from both 3. They keep fresh in salt and brackish waters and true Converts do so When there are brackish corrupt doctrines abroad hot and fierce persecutions by reason of them the sound Believer is not tainted with them Arianism Pelagianism Familism Rantism and Quakerism do not corrupt them and the greater troubles they meet with the more lively they are 4. Some Fish swim constantly against the stream Such are true Christians they swim against the stream they are not led by the multitude There be several streams one of Prophaness another of Flattery a third of Superstition a fourth of Lukewarmness and Formality a fifth of Carnal policy a sixth of Self-seeking Against all these and many others doth the sincere Christian swim and row daily 5. Fish live in and by the waters they cannot live in arido they presently dye without water And true Christians they live in and by the waters of the Sanctuary they live in and by the Spirit they drink in the waters of the Gospel These spritual Fish cannot live without them Rev. 22.1 there is a pure River of water of life wherein these live and swim 6. Fish of the same kinde do sort together It is so with true Converts they leave their old company and sort with those that are regenerate and godly David saith Psal 119.63 I am a
should be 360. to repentants Gods ways of his house are to be shewed 364. the nature of it lieth in turning 124. it makes a change in judgement affection and life 385 Reproach God notes the reproachings of his 382. Requital in the same or like kind 273 274 280 Resurrection in it men shall have their own bodies 437 Revealed things should content us 564 Revolters God hath no pleasure in nor will honor 391. have found mercy 588. its free grace when recalled ibid. Righteousness 127. legal 128 there is righteousness will not profit 132. what men are apt to rest in 132 133 Ruah what it signifies 432 S. SAbbaths to be sanctified 396 397. mercy on such days to be had 533 Sacrifices what properly 255. what they imply 305. several sorts 374 375. daily sacrifice what it implied 377 types of Christ 416 Salt what it doth is and notes 375. salting the sacrifices what it types out 376 Saints like Palmtrees 313 314. like trees in general 565 Sanctum Sanctorum what it signifies 316 317 Scripture in it order of things not exactly observed 29. shall be fulfilled 238 239 Shame to bear shame 269 when to be ashamed 360. of what and how ibid. Sheol what it signifies 55 56 Sin A City what now called 21 Shekel 412 Shepherds what and their duty 176. those over the people are and ought to be so 183. few such as they ought to be 184. Characters of ill ones ibid. and 185. wicked ones as none 187. God eyes and deals impartially with wicked ones ib. their sins greatly provokes and brings judgements upon themselves 192. those under oppressing shepherds shall be freed 193. God will require his flock at the Shepherds hand 199. God the best shepherd 198 200. See Christ Sin Sinners under judgement apt to dispond 121 122 their unbeleif puts God to his oath 122. if they turn have no cause to dispond 123. they are authors of their own destruction 125. they lay lands wast 157. it distances sets at enmity 221 222. defiles 216. with holds mercies draws judgments 265. brings shame and punishment 273. what it causes 308. nothing of mans cleanses from sin 417 sins of ignorance ibid. Sion her enemies would rise by her ruine 260 261. when Sion shall have kindness 265. all is noted that 's thought or said against Sion 268. it s against God 269 270 when she goes down Babylon rejoyces 286. Gospel and grace from thence 553 Soul sleeps not 436 437 Spirit new Spirit what and what he doth 318 319 what attributes at work about it 319. dignity of it 321. and mistakes about it 325 326 c. not from mans power or will but from grace 329. whether it be in us and how 349 350. what it doth in us 351 352 353 354 it differs from other spirits 359. its freely put into us 357. a great gift and wherein 359. before had men are without life and motion 364 it s the principle of spiritual life 365. not leave all to the Spirit and sit still ibid. it manifests it self 367. inables to persevere 368. makes way of God delightful 369. he that hath it for both tables duties 371 372. it leads into the inner Court opens mysteries shews glory 347 Stairs of the Temple what they hint to us 294 295 States what ruine them 12 25. what upholds them in greatness 46. what States resemble the dead 445 446. no state but God can raise out of it 402 447 448 Statutes of God kept afford life 133. walking in them what it notes 355 356 Statutes and judgements differenced â—57 only to be walked in 370. Sticks used by God to honourable purposes 455 Storm how it comes 220 221 Strangers might not come into the Sanctuary 389 Sword makes no difference 8 Symbolizing not to be with Heathens or Idolaters 371 397 554 T TAble with dishes and guests 257. what the Tables in the Temple implied 305 306. first and second Table man 371 Tanis two of that name 21 Tehaphnehes what City and whence so named 23 Temple three parts of it 310 311. the signification of the Temple ibid. and 312 313 314 315. all things measured that are of it 319 materials of Christs Temple must be curious and carved work 323. filled with glory 358. Gods mind is made known from thence ibid. in the new Temple shall be no posts of men 357. God will not leave it but dwell there 358. no going back in it 363 Things difficult impossible to men not so to God 311. mean things used by God to honorable purposes 455. typical cause inquiries 456. great things done not for man but Gods sake 273 Thresholds what 356 Tidings after tidings of mercy come tidings of afflictions 494 Time to visit heathens 7. to take off heavy burdens 27 of publick calamities to be noted 65. times to mourn as well as rejoyce 83. there be times to deal with enemies of the Church but hid from us 240 241. God observes who are faithful who false in Apostatizing times 391. when princes shall no more oppress 408. but own Christ and submit to him 408. a time for the Jews coming in 589 Trade what is the spiritual mans 369 Transgression what 127 Trees when great ones fall many suffer with them 54. by their destruction God quiets Nations 79. for what use 379. Saints likned unto them 556 Tribes whether the ten Tribes did return and unite to the rest 459 460 461. Trumpets what made of 100 Types Tropes not to be taken literally 443. God author of true Types 454. typical things excite inquiries 456 Tyrants they suffer severely and where God appoints 70 V VAlleys of passengers where 247. of Haman Gog 228 Victory God gives great and incredible victories to his 244. procures names 252 253. after them ought to be cleansing ibid. Vision God the best interpreter of visions 443. why Ezekiel had the Temple vision 286 Visits now nothing secures against Gods visits 11 26. some are in mercy some in judgement 498. when God begins to visit his enemies he goes on 239 Vncleanness what 378 379 saved from all 381 Vnthankeful and Vncharitable not small on Gods account 208 Voice Christs like what 344 W VVAlking in Gods Statutes what it implies 355 356. the trade of a spiritual man 369 Wall of the Temple Gods Protection 290. substantial 318. Christ the wall 407 Wars lay all waste 8. God the authour of them 35 106 God disappoints Warriers 237 Watchmen who are such 107. what to do ibid. suppose dangers 108. they must depend upon God for more whatever they have 109. they must forewarn the people ibid. Act in Gods name 113. if unfaithful their account will be dreadful 112 113. those that regard them bring certain ruine upon themselves 113 114. its necessary that they deal faithfully 114. their warning secures 115. though spared long yet shall suffeâ— 201 Waters what they signifie 42. it notes the blood of Christ in three things 313 314. of sanctuary what 549 550. spiritual