was to take fire from off that Altar to burn his Incense within the Holy Place Exod. 30.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Levit. 16.18 1. It was called the golden Altar because 't was over-laid with pure gold This Altar was not for burnt-offering as the brazen Altar was nor for the meat offering nor the drink-offering but to burn Incense thereon ver 7. which sweet Incense was a type of the grace of prayer Psal. 141.2 2. Incense or that called Incense here was not a Simple but a Compound made up of sweet Spices called Stacte Onycha and Galbanum These three and may answer to these three parts of this duty to wit Prayer Supplication and Intercession Exod. 30.34 35 36 37. Chap. 37.29 1 Tim. 2.1 3. This Incense was to be burned upon the Altar every Morning upon that Altar which was called the Altar of Incense which was before the Vail to shew that it is our duty every Morning to make our Prayer to God by Jesus Christ before the Vail that is before the Door of Heaven and there to seek knock and ask for what we need according to the word Luke 11 9 10 11 12. 4. This Incense was to be kindled every Morning to shew how he continueth interceeding for us and also that all true praise of Men to God is by the work the renewed work of the Holy Ghost upon our hearts Rom. 8.26 5. Incense as you see was made of sweet Spices such as were gumme and so apt to burn with a smoke to shew that not cold and flat but hot and fervent is the Prayer that flows from the spirit of faith and grace Zech. 12.10 Jam. 5.16 6. The smoak of this Incense was very sweet and savoury like pleasant perfume to shew how delightful and acceptable the very sound and noise of right Prayer is unto the Nostrils of the living God because it comes from a broken heart Psal. 51.17 Song 2.14 7. This Incense was to be offered upon the golden Altar to shew us that no Prayer is accepted but what is directed to God in the Name of his Holy and Blessed Son our Saviour 1 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 13.15 8. They were commanded to burn Incense every Morning upon this Altar to shew that God is never weary of the godly Prayers of his People It also sheweth that we need every day to go to God for fresh Supplies of grace to carry us through this evil World. 9. This Altar though it stood without the Vail to teach us to live by faith and to make use of the Name of Christ as we find it recorded in the first Temple yet was placed so nigh unto the Holiest that the smell of the smoke might go in thither to shew that it is not distance of place that can keep the voice of true Prayer from our God the God of Heaven but that he will be taken with what we ask for according to his Word It stood I say nigh the Vail nigh the Holiest and he that burnt Incense there did make his approach to God. Hence the Psalmist when he speaks of praying saith 'T is good for me to draw nigh unto God Psal. 73.20 Heb. 10.22 10. This Altar thus placed did front the Ark within the Vail To put us in mind that the Law is kept therein from hurting us To let us know also that the Mercy-Seat is above upon the Ark and that God doth sit thereon with his Pardon in his hand to save us O! What speaking things are types shadows and parables had we but eyes to see had we but ears to hear He that did approach the Altar with Incense of old aright and then he did so when he approached it by Aaron his High Priest pleased God how much more shall we have both Person and Prayers accepted and a grant of what we need if indeed we come as we should to God by Jesus Christ. But take heed you approach not to a wrong Altar take heed also that you come not with strange fire for they are dangerous things and cause the Worshipers to miss of what they would enjoy But more of this in the next particular XLVIII Of the golden Censers belonging to the Temple THere were also golden Censers belonging to the Temple and they were either such as belonged to the Sons of Levi in general or that were for Aaron and his Sons in special as Numbers 16.6 17 18. The Censers of the Levites were a type of ours but the Censer of Aaron was a type of Christ's The Censers as was hinted before were for this use in the Temple namely to hold the holy fire in on which Incense was to be burned before the Lord Levit. 10.1 These Censers then were types of hearts Aaron's golden one was a type of Christ's golden heart and the Censers of the Levites were types of other Worshipers hearts The fire also which was put therein was a type of that Spirit by which we pray and the Incense that burnt thereon a type of our desires Of Christ's Censer we read Revelations the viii which is always filled with much Incense that is with continual Intercessions which he offereth to God for us and from whence also there always goes a cloud of sweet savour covering the Mercie-seat Levit. 16 13. Heb. 7.25 Revel 8.3 4. But to speak of the Censers and fire and Incense of the Worshipers For albeit they were all put under one rule that is to be according to Law yet often times as were the Worshipers such was the Censers Fire and Incense 1. Hence the two hundred and fifty Censers with which Corah and his Company offered are called the Censers of sinners For they came with wicked hearts then to burn Incense before the Lord Numb 16.17 37. 2. Again as the Censers of these Men were called the Censers of sinners shewing they came at that time to God with naughty hearts so the fire that was in Nadab Abihu's Censers is called strange fire which the Lord commanded them not Levit. 10.1 3. This strange fire was a type of that strange spirit opposed to the spirit of God in and by which notwithstanding some adventure to perform Worship to God. 4. Again as these Censers are called the Censers of sinners and this fire called strange fire so the Incense of such is also called strange and is said to be an abomination unto God Exod. 30.9 Isa. 1.13 Chap. 66.3 Thus you see that both the Censers Fire and Incense of some is rejected even as the heart spirit and prayer of sinners are an abomination unto God Hos. 7.14 Chap. 4.12 Chap. 5.4 Prov. 28.9 But there was besides these true Censers holy fire and sweet Incense among the Worshipers in the Temple and their service was accepted by Aaron their High Priest For that was done thorough the faith of Christ and these were a type of our true Gospel-Worshipers who come with holy hearts the holy spirit and holy desires before their God by their Redeemer These are
a perfume in his Nose The Prayer of the Vpright is his delight David's Prayers went up like Incense and the lifting up of his hands as the Evening Sacrifice Pro. 15.8 Psal 141.2 Let them then that pretend to worship before God in his holy Temple look to it that both their Censers Fire and Incense Heart Spirit and Desires be such as the Word requires Left instead of receiving of gracious returns from the God of Heaven their Censers be laid up against them left the fire of God devours them and their Incense becomes an abomination to him as it happened to those made mention of before But 't is said the Censers of Gorah and his Company was hallowed Answer So is God's Worship which is so his by his Ordination yet even that very Worship may be spoiled by Man's transgression Prayer is GOD's Ordinance but all Prayer is not accepted of God. We must then distinguish between the thing commanded and our using of that thing The Temple was GOD's House but was abused by the irreverence of those that worshiped there even to the demolishing of it A golden Censer is a gracious heart heavenly fire is the Holy Ghost and sweet Incense the effectual fervent Prayer of Faith. Have you these These God expects and these you must have if ever your Persons or performances be of God accepted XLIX Of the golden Spoons of the Temple 1. THE Golden Spoons belonging to the Temple were in number according to Moses twelve answering to the twelve Tribes But when the Temple was builded I suppose they were more because of the number of the Basons Numb 7.14 20 26 32 38 40 50 56 62 68 74 80 86. 2. The Spoons as I suppose were for the Worshipers in the Temple to eat that broth withal wherein the Trespass-offerings were boiled For which purpose there were several Cauldrons hanged in the corners of that Court called the Priest's to boyl them in 1 Sam. 2.13 14. Ezek. 46.19 20. 3. Now in that he saith here were Spoons what is it but that there are also babes in the Temple of the Lord. There was Broth for Babes as well as Meat for Men and Spoons to eat the Broth withal 4. True the Gospel being more excellent then the Law doth change the term and instead of Broth saith there is Milk for babes But in that he saith Milk he insinuates that there are Spoons for Children in the Church 5. I could not saith Paul to them at Corinth speak to you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able 1 Cor. 3.1 2. 6 See here were need of Spoons milk is Spoon-meat for here were those which could not feed themselves with Milk let them then that are Men eat the strong Meat For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe For strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age who by reason of use have their sences exercised to discern both good and evil Heb. 6.13 14. 7. Spoons you know are to feed us with weak and thin food even with that which best suteth with weak stomacks or with a babish temper Hence as the strong man is opposed to the weak so the milk is opposed to the strong meat 8. So then though the Babe in Christ is weaker then the Man in Christ yet is he not by Christ left unprovided for For here is milk for babes and spoons to eat it with All this is taught us by the Spoons for what need is there of Spoons where there is nothing to eat but strong Meat 9. Babes you know have not only babish stomacks but also babish tricks and must be dealt withal as Babes their Childish talk and frompered Carriages must be born withal 10. Sometimes they cry for nothing yea and count them for their foes which rebuke their childish toys and ways All which the Church must bear because they are God's Babes yea they must feed them too For if he has found them milk spoons 't is that they may be fed therewith and live Yea grown Ministers are God's Nurses wherefore they must have a Lap to lay them in and Knees to dandle them upon and Spoons to feed them with 11. Nor are the Babes but of use in the Church of God for he commands that they be brought to cry with the Congregation before the Lord for mercy for the Land Joel 2.16 12. Incense I told you was a type of Prayers and the Spoons in the time of Moses were presented at the Temple full of it Perhaps to shew that God will vvith the Milk vvhich he has provided for them give it to them as a return of their crying to him even as the Nurse gives the Child the Teat and Milk. 13. You knovv the Milk is called for vvhen the Child is crying as vve say to stop its mouth vvith it O Babes did you but cry soundly God would give you yet more Milk. 14. But what were those golden Spoons a type of I answer If the Milk is the Juice and Consolations of the Word then the Spoons must be those soft sentences and golden Conclusions with which the Ministers feed their Souls by it I have fed you said Paul with the Milk of the Word saith Peter even as you have been able to bear it Compare these two or three Texts 1 Pet. 2.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 3.2 1 Thess. 2.7 15. And this is the vvay to strengthen the weak hands and to confirm the feeble knees This is the vvay to make them grovv to be Men vvho novv are but as Infants of days Thus a little one may become a thousand and a small one a strong Nation Yea thus in time you may make a little Child to Jostle it vvith a Leopard yea to take a Lyon by the beard yea thus you may imbolden him to put his hand to the hole of the Asp and to play before the Den of the Cockatrice Isa. 11.6 7 8. Chap. 60.22 Who is most stout vvas once a Babe he that can novv eat meat vvas sometimes glad of Milk and to be fed vvith the Spoon Babes in Christ therefore must not be despised nor over look'd God has provided them Milk and Spoons to eat it vvith that they may grovv up to be Men before him L. Of the Bowles and Basons belonging to the Temple AS there were Spoons so there were Bowles and Basons belonging to the Temple Some of these were of Gold and some of Silver and when they were put together their number was four hundred and forty These you read of Ezra 1.10 The Bowles or Basons were not to wash in as was the Sea and Lavers of the Temple they were rather to hold the Messes in which the Priests at their holy Feasts did use to set before the People This being so they were
9.2 13 14. XXI Of the Ornaments of the Porch of the Temple THere were three things belonging to the Porch besides its height that was an Ornament unto it I. It was over-laid within with Gold. II. It had the Pillars adjoyned unto it III. It was the in-let into the Temple First It was over-laid with Gold. Gold oft-times was a type of grace and particularly of the grace of love That in Solomon's Chariot called Gold is yet again mentioned by the name Love Song 3.9 10. As it is in the Church the grace of Love is as Gold 'T is the greatest the richest of Graces and that which abides for ever Hence they that shew much love to Saints are said to be rich 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. And hence Charity is called a treasure a treasure in the heavens Luk. 12.33 34. Love is a golden Grace let then the Churches as the Porch of the Temple was be in-laid with love as gold Secondly It had the Pillars adjoyned to it the which besides their stateliness seem to be there typically to teach example For there was seen by the space of four Cubits their Lilie-work in the Porch 1 King. 7.19 Of their Lilie-work I spake before now that they were so placed that they might be seen in the Porch of the House it seems to be for example to teach the Church that she should live without worldly care as did the Apostles the first Planters of the Church And let Ministers do this they are now the Pillars of the Churches and they stand before the Porch of the House let them also shew their Lilie-work to the House that the Church may learn of them to be without carefulness as to worldly things and also to be rich in love and charity towards the brethren A covetous Minister is a base thing a Pillar more symbolizing Lot's Wife then an holy Apostle of Jesus Christ let them since they stand at the door and since the eyes of all in the Porch are upon them be Patterns and Examples of good works 1 Tim. 6.10 11 12. Tit. 2.7 Thirdly Another Ornament unto this Porch was that it was an inlet into the Temple Charity is it which receiveth Orphans that receiveth the poor and afflicted into the Church worldly love or that which is carnal shuts up bowels yea and the Church-doors too against the poor of the Flock wherefore look that this kind of love be never countenanced by you Crave that rather which is a fruit of the Spirit O Churches let your Ministers be beautified with your love that they may beautifie you with their love and also be an Ornament unto you and to that Gospel they minister to you for Jesus Christ's sake XXII Of the Ascent by which they went up into the Porch of the Temple 1. THis Porch also had certain steps by which they went up into the House of the Lord. I know not directly the number of them Though Ezekiel speaks something about it Ezek. 40.38 39. Hence when Men went to worship in the Temple they were said To go VP into the house of the Lord Isa. 38.22 These steps which were the ascent to the Temple were SO curiously set and also so finely wrought that they were amazing to behold Wherefore when the Queen of Sheba who came to prove Solomon's wisdom saw the house which he had built and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord she had no more spirit in her She was by that sight quite drowned and overcome 1 King. 10 4 5. 2. These steps whether Cedar Gold or Stone yet that which added to their adornment was the wonderment of a Queen And whatever they were made of to be sure they were a shadow of those steps which we should take to and in the house of God. Steps of God Psal. 85.13 Steps ordered by him Psal. 37.23 Steps ordered in his Word Psal. 119.133 Steps of faith Rom. 4.12 Steps of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.18 Steps of truth 3 Joh. 4. Steps washt with butter Job 29.6 Steps taken before or in the presence of God. Steps butted and bounded by a Divine Rule These are steps indeed 3. There are therefore no such steps as these to be found any where in the World. A step to honour a step to riches a step to worldly glory these are every where but what are these to the steps by which Men do ascend or go up to the House of the Lord He then that entreth into the House of the Lord is an ascending man as it is faid of Moses he went VP into the Mount to God. It is ascending to go into the House of God. The World believe not this they think 't is going downward to go up to the house of God but they are in a horrible mistake The steps then by which Men went up into the Temple are and ought to be opposed to those which Men take to their lusts and empty glories Hence such steps are said not only to decline from God but to take hold of the path to death and hell Psal. 44.18 Prov. 2.18 chap. 55. chap. 7.25 26 27. The steps then by which Men went up to the House of the Lord were significative of those steps which Men take when they go to God to Heaven and Glory for these steps were the way to God to God in his holy Temple But how few are there that as the Queen of the South are taken with these goodly steps Do not most rather seek to push away our feet from taking hold of the Path of Life or else lay snares for us in the way But all these notwithstanding the Lord guide us in the way of his steps they are goodly steps they are the best XXIII Of the Gate of the Porch of the Temple 1. THE Porch at which was an ascent to the Temple had a Gate belonging to it This Gate according to the Prophet Ezekiel was six Cubits wide The Leaves of this Gate was double one folding this way the other folding that Ezek. 40.48 Now here some may object and say Since the way to God by these doors were so wide why doth Christ say the way and gate is narrow Answer The straightness the narrowness must not be understood of the Gate simply but because of that cumber that some Men carry with them that pretend to be going to Heaven Six Cubits What is sixteen Cubits to him who would enter in here with all the World on his back The young Man in the Gospel who made such a noise for Heaven might have gone in easie enough for in six Cubits breadth there is room but poor Man he was not for going in thither unless he might carry in his Houses upon his shoulder too and now the Gate was strait Mark 10.17 18 19 20 21 22. Wherefore he that will enter in at the Gate of Heaven of which this Gate into the Temple was a type must go in by himself and not with his bundles of trash on
we have golden Palm-trees as tokens of our victory and golden Flowers to smell on all the way to Heaven XXXI Of the Wall of the Temple THE Wall of the Temple was cieled with Firr which he over-laid with fine gold and set thereon Palm-trees and Chains 2 Chro. 3.5 6 7. The Walls were as the Body of the House unto which Christ alluded when he said Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up Joh. 2.19 21. Hence to be and worship in the Temple was a type of being in Christ and worshiping God by him For Christ as was said is the great Temple of God in the which all the Elect meet and in whom they do service to and for his Father Hence again the true Worshipers are said to be in him to speak in him to walk in him to obey in him 2 Cor. 2.14 chap. 12.19 Col. 2.6 For as of old all true Worship was to be found at the Temple To now it is only found with Christ and with them that are in him The promise of old was made to them that worshiped within these Walls I will give saith he to them in my house and within my walls to them that worship there in truth a place and a name better then that of Sons and of Daughters Isa. 5.6 5. But now in New Testament times all the promises in HIM are yea and in HIM Amen to the glory of God by us 2 Cor. â— 20 This is yet further hinted to us in that 't is said these Walls are cieled with Firr Which as was shewed before was a figure of the humanity of Jesus Christ. A Wall is for defence and so is the humanity of Jesus Christ. 'T is was and will be our defence for ever For it was that which underwent and overcame the curse of the Law and that in which our everlasting righteousness is found Had he not in that interposed we had perished for ever Hence we are said to be reconciled to God in the body of his flesh thorow death Col. 1.19 20. Rom. 5.8 9 10. Now this Wall was overlaid with fine gold Gold here is a figure of the righteousness of Christ by which we are justified in the fight of God. Therefore you read that his Church as justified is said to stand at his right hand in Cloth of Gold. Vpon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir And again her clothing is of wrought gold Psal. 45.9 13. This the Wall was overlaid with this the body of Christ was filled with Men while in the Temple were clothed with Gold even with the gold of the Temple and Men in Christ are clothed with righteousness the righteousness of Christ. Wherefore this Consideration doth yet more illustrate the matter In that the Palm-trees were SET on this Wall it may be to shew that the Elect are fixed in Jesus and so shall abide for ever Chains were also carved on these walls yea and they were golden Chains there were Chains on the Pillars and now also we finde Chains upon the Walls Philip. 1.12 13. 1. Chains were used to hold one Captive and such Paul did wear at Rome but he calls them his Bands in Christ. 2. Chains sometimes signifie great afflictions which God lays on us for our sins Psal. 107.9 10 11. Lam. 1.14 chap. 3.7 3. Chains also may be more mystically understood as of those Obligations which the love of God lays upon us to do and suffer for him Acts 20.22 4. Chains do sometimes signifie beauty and comely Ornaments Thy Neck saith Christ to his Spouse is comely with Chains of Gold And again I put Bracelets upon thy hands and a Chain about thy Neck Song 1.10 Ezek. 16.8 9 10 11. Prov. 1.9 5. Chains also do sometimes denote Greatness and Honour such as Daniel had when the King made him the Third Ruler in the Kingdom Dan. 5.7 16 29. Now all these are Temple-chains and are put upon us for good some to prevent our ruine some to dispose our minds the better and some to dignifie and to make us noble Temple-chains are brave Chains None but Temple-worshipers must wear Temple-chains XXXII Of the garnishing of the Temple with precious Stones AND he garnished the House with precious Stones for beauty 2 Chron. 3.6 7. 1. This is an other Ornament to the Temple of the Lord wherefore as he saith it was garnished with them he saith It was garnished with them for beauty The Line saith garnished the Margent saith covered 2. Wherefore I think they were fixed as Stars or as the Stars in the Firmament so they were set in the cieling of the House as in the Heaven of the holy Temple 3. And thus fixed they do the more aptly tell us of what they were a figure namely of the Ministerial Gifts and Officers in the Church For Ministers as to their Gifts and Office are called STARS of God and are said to be in the hand of Christ Revel 1.20 4. Wherefore as the Stars glitter and twinkle in the Firmament of Heaven So do true Ministers in the Firmament of his Church 1 Chro. 29.2 Joh. 5.35 Dan. 12.3 5. So that 't is said again these Gifts come down from above as signifying they distill their dew from above And hence again the Ministers are said to be set OVER us in the Lord as placed in the Firmament of his Heaven to give a light upon his Earth There is Gold and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel Prov. 20 15. Verily 't is enough to make a Man in this house look always upward since the cieling above head doth thus glitter with precious Stones Precious Stones all manner of precious Stones Stones of all colours For there are divers gifts differences of administrations and diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. Thus had the cieling of this house a Pearl here and there a Diamond here a Jasper and there a Saphire here a Sardius and there a Jacinth here a Sardonix and there an Amathist For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge to one the gift of healing to another faith to this man to work miracles to that a spirit of prophesie to another the discerning of spirits to another divers kinds of tongues 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10 11. He also over-laid the House Beams Posts Walls Doors c. and all with Gold. O what a beautiful House the Temple was how full of glory was it And yet all was but a shadow a shadow of things to come and which was to be answered in the Church of the living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth by better things than these XXXIII Of the Windows of the Temple AND for the House he made Windows of narrow Lights 1 King. 6.4 There was Windows for this House Windows for the Chambers and Windows round about Ezek. 4.16 22 23