As we read that all the stones of the Temple were wrought with Iron tools by the Art of Masonry before they were brought and laid in order and coemented together in the walls of that sacred House In like manner the stones of the spiritual building are hewn and squared by the Preaching of the Law which as the Apostle tells us is a (a) Gal. 3.24 School-master unto Christ to fit and prepare us for the heavenly (b) 2 King 22.14 Colledge at the Temple If we shall accept it for a Type of heaven as sometimes it is then may we learn that as the Stones and Timber were compleatly fitted to fall into their several places without noise of Tools and Instruments even so in this life doth the Gospel-Ministery fit and prepare the Saints for that Celestial place (c) Rev. 21.4 where sorrow and crying shall be heard no more If we shall understand by the Temple the worship of the Gospel as Scripture doth frequently insinuate this preparative work for the Temple-buildings may possibly shadow forth and allude to the Spirit of Bondage preceding the spirit of Adoption For our blessed Saviour hath sent forth not only hewers with rough garments like John Baptist Elijah to prepare but some workmen of the temper and strain of Barnabas also like so many sons of consolation to strengthen and joyn the stones together in the spiritual building with the coement of Faith Love and Joy So that as the word of God is compared to an hammer by the Prophet (d) Ier. 23.29 Jeremy to break in pieces rugged hearts So likewise we find workmen at a gentle peaceable and quiet businesse laying Judgment to the (e) Isai 28.17 line and righteousnesse to the Plummet that the stones of the Temple may be said in an erect in an even and regular forme since we hear of the (f) Psal 19.4 line of the Apostles doctrine which is gone out through the whole World Fourthly As King Solomon did solemnly appoint in a set frame and orderly method the 24 courses of the Priests for their several services together with the duties of the Levites in their various Charge for a most noble end even to praise God and to Minister before the Priests accordingly as the (g) 2 Chron. 8.14 work of every day required instituting likewise the Porters according to their Courses to watch at every Gate so hath our blessed Lord and Saviour ordered by divine institution the several spiritual Ordinances in his Church According to which every Saint is appointed in his station to worship the Father in spirit and in truth seeing he is faithful in all his house beyond Moses the Law-giver of the antient Israelites Fifthly As King Solomon did in most stately and pompous manner performe the various rites of the dedication of this most famous and splendid Structure at Jerusalem Even so the blessed Lord of life and Saviour of the world ascending up on high (h) Psal 68.81 gave gifts unto men sending down his most holy spirit in the form (i) Act. 2.1 2 3. of Cloven tongues noting the variety of Languages wherewith they should be miraculously indued and the various Nations to which they should be sent as likewise under the shape repreentation of fire noting the fervency of zeal and the illumination of knowledge wherewith they should shine throughout the World at that time sitting upon the Apostles and Disciples assembled together in one place at Jerusalem By which plenary manifestation of the Spirit they were consecrated anointed and initiated into the several glorious Evangelical Offices to be then undertaken by them and discharged in the Primitive Church Sixthly and Lastly This glorious King conversed in this Stately and Famous House for many years together taking great delight in the Sacrifices and solemn worship of his God So doth the Lord Jesus the Pramer and builder of the spiritual Temple take wonderful solace in his Gospel-Church continually walking in the midst of his (k) Reu. 2.1 seven Golden Candlesticks Yet herein we must observe that though King Solomon declined in his latter dayes to shew that he was but a man although a most glorious and admirable Type of Jesus Christ Yet herein our blessed Lord as he did farre out-bid all other prefigurations of himself so also this personal Type of King Solomon in this particular that he never forsaketh the assemblies of his Saints but is alwayes (a) Mat. 18.20 in the midst of them For whom he once loveth (b) Ioh. 13.1 he loveth unto the end or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as some expound it even to the death Nay continuing his love beyond the term and period of his meritorious passion he hath graciously promised to be (c) Mat. 28.20 with them alway even to the end of the World Hitherto let it suffice to have treated thus largely concerning the prefatory matters respecting the Time Place and Architect of the Temple Now I shall proceed to the main design in the 6 following Sections according to the method which I have before laid down not without most humble imploration of divine aid and assistance to be yeilded and afforded to me in the further prosecution of these abstruse and profound Mysteries craving moreover a gentle and favourable connivence and remission of my failings by all serene spirits who possibly may please to converse with these so rude and impolite discourses SECT I. Concerning the Mysteries af the Covered Temple and it s included Rooms AS to the management of this present Section I shall crave leave to treat in the first place of the Mystical significations of the Temple in general and afterward to descend to the most material particulars of the covered Building whereof it may be requisite to discourse more largely In general the holy Scriptures do frequently insinuate the Typification of three things by the Temple when taken in a more laxe and ample signification as for example Our blessed Lord himself personally considered Secondly the Church or body of Christ mystical And thirdly every Saint also in particular At least I hope it may be safely said that the sacred writings do in all these 3 respects frequently allude to the antient Temple of Solomon it being no unusual thing for the self same Type to hint at various Mysteries under the Gospel as may more amply and evidently appear out of the divine pages of Scripture by this ensuing discourse 1. Some would have the Temple in general to prefigure and Typifie the blessed body of our Lord and Saviour grounding their apprehension upon that famous place where our Lord speaking concerning the destruction of the Temple in three dayes is interpreted by the Evangelist John who was the beloved Disciple and lay in his bosome (d) Ioh. 2.19 21. to have meant it of his own body Upon which account Tertullian (e) Hieron in Script Ecclesiastic Edit Erasm Ludg. 1530. Tom. 1. p. 287. who lived under the
a sound judgement upon things that (y) 1 Cor. 12 10. Rom. 2.18 Phil. 1.10 differ Besides he must not be broken-footed or broken-handed The feet are for walking the hands for working Gospel-Priests must not cease and leave off walking in holy wayes or performing of holy works If others must not be (z) Gal. 6.9 2 Thes 3.13 weary of well doing how much lesse they No nor walk or work by halfs not having fit Organs or Instruments for service Many and great are the inconveniences of the defect in these members but far sadder when those that are imployed in sacred functions tread awry and halt between God and Baal or put forth their hands to any iniquity He must not be (a) Rev. 21.20 Crook-backt or a dwarf or that hath a blemish in his eye or be scurvy or scabbed or unfit for Generation and one word in the Hebrew signifieth crooked and deceitful The crookedness of the body is an usual Index of a perverse spirit They are a (b) Deut. 32.5 perverse and a crooked generation as Moses complained of the Jews Therefore Paul exhorts the people of God to be blameless and harmeless in the midst of a (c) Phil. 2.15 crooked and perverse Nation There is an old saying Take heed of them whom God hath marked which may be heeded in a sober and serious sense It 's observable that Homer brings in crooked (d) Iliad 2. v. 212. Thersites yet alone did unmeasureably brawle Thersites as one full of uncomely Garrulity and as a mover of Sedition in the Army 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And afterwards giving in his description of him saies thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He was the most deformed man tâ—at came to Troy goggle-eye â—ame of one foot crook-shouldered his breast bending forward Besides this natural deformity which some bring along with them into the World there is another cause of it that 's accidental viz. a spirit of infirmity and weaknesse through some diseases as the poor woman in the Gospel that had bin (e) Luk. 13.11 bowed together 18 years Sometimes through constant bearing of weighty burdens As (f) Gen. 49.15 Issachar is represented couching down between two burthens and bending down his shoulders to impositions Hence is it that sorrow and mourning and oppression of spirit is resembled to (g) Psal 44.25 145 14. c. bowing or bending down to the Earth In all which respects such as serve at God's Altar should be persons of generous erect spirit calme (h) 2 Tim. 2.24 gentle easie to be intreated full of kindnesse overcoming by meekness those that oppose themselves Neither should yield their shoulders to the weight of worldly cares which depresse the mind down to the Earth and hinder the soul's contemplation of divine Mysteries Neither must he be a (i) Horat. Serm. l. 2. Sat. 3. v. 309. Dwarf such as by way of contempt were called by the ancients moduli bipedalis pigmies of two-foot high Although it be a great sin for any to mock and jeer at natural imperfections for such (a) Prov. 17.5 reproach the Maker more then those who contemn the poor yet because that Dwarfs in stature more low then ordinary are usually taunted at by wicked and profane spirits The wisdome of God thought fit that no such should be exercised in Temple-services Though God might sometimes order it in the course of nature that such deformed persons might proceed from the line of Aaron yet they were not to be advanced to the dignity of service Our Lord may invite little Zacheus to the Gospel-feast yet we read not of his being sent into the work of the Ministery The Children of Aaron though afflicted wich any of these deformities were yet admitted to enjoy sustenance to (b) Lev. 21.22 eat of the most holy things But certainly the intention of his was to signifie of what spiritual growth the Ministers of the (c) 2 Pet. 3.18 Gospel are required to be Men well grown in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Further he was to be void of any blemish in his eye Many are the Blemishes Distempers Diseases of the eyes reckoned up by the Learned (d) Riolani System part 2. p. 119. Edit Basil 1629. Physitians The word in the Hebrew for blemish is usually translated Suffusio from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to confound or mixe confusedly and it signifies either that disease which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suffusion or a Cataract vulgarly being a humour ingendred betwixt the two coats or membrans of the eye the Cornea and the Uvea so called by Anatomists or that which is called (e) Id Anat. p. 281. Iudg. Bat. 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Albugo a white spot or Cicatrice after the cure of an Ulcer which is seen in the black of the eye or in the Iris that little fibrous circumference about the Pupil We see what great care there is taken about the eyes of the Priests As they must not be blind so neither have any imperfections in their eyes Seers ought to be qualified with acutenesse of eye-sight spiritual watchmen have need of clear and bright knowledge Ordinary Christians may perhaps make shift to get to heaven though with confused knowledge but Ministers must beg for a distinct and choise visive faculty The eye that 's blood-shot can't see clearly The mind that 's vexed with Cholerick suffusions cannot discern in Judgment If (a) Act. 9.18 Paul be sent of the Gospel-messages behold scales do fall from his eyes If any be Angels of Churches let them pray to (b) Rev. 3.18 Christ for a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an oyntment for their eyes that they may understand the truths of God fully and clearly Again the Priests of old were not to be tainted with (c) Lev. 21.21 scurvy or scab The Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arias turns them by purulenta scabies and scabies perpetua The Vulg. jugis scabies impetigo the 70 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first is translated a (d) Deut. 28.35 sore botch If the 70 have rightly expounded it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then it is the dry Itch as (e) P. 269.6 Riolanus explaines it and so Buxtorf out of Rab. Solomon calls it the Malignant-Scab dry within and without The other is the foul creeping Scab which the last expounds to be the Scab that cannot be healed of near kind to the Leprosie But the matter is not great about terms The meaning seems to be that Priests ought not to be infected either with the ordinary Itch or the incurable Scab which is seldom-healed Now as Itching-eares are (f) 2 Tim. 4.3 tokens of men of corrupt lusts and full of novel fancies every day new itches and lustings after strange things and new doctrines So a Priest that is itchy is much more abominable who is defiled with
assigne to each of these some distinct Church-Offices under the Gospel But I shall not loâ—e time and offend the sober with such niceties I know that several of the Ancients as Jerom * Prudent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hymn 3. p. edit Hanov. 1613. Rein. adv Hart. 84. p. 463. Prudentius and others do assign the Deacons Office under the Gospel to the Levites of old I confesse the work of the Gospel-Deacon mentioned by Luke in the first designation of their Office is to †Act. 6.1 2. serve Tables and to look after the daily ministration to the poor as there were among the Levites anciently Treasurers that managed the disbursements of the Temple But of these and other inferiour Officers as Hewers and Drawers though some may conceit a parallel betwixt them and inferiour servants of the Church yet I rather referr them to the Grandeur and Pomp of the ancient Temple which needed many servitors and attendants in respect to the great and arduous imployments of Sacrifices and all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and services of that ancient Worship If any shall bring more light into the world concerning these things conformable to Scripture and the dictates of the holy Spirit I shall rejoyce to light my dimm Lamp at their more splendid and radiant Luminaries being desirous in the mean while to be a Door-keeper of the House of God rather then to dwell in the Tents of wickednesse SECT V. The Services of the Temple spiritualized THis Section I shall divide into two Paragraphs according to the preceding History and speak very briefly to each because this would require a large Volume of it self if compleatly and fully handled and therefore I shall but succinctly touch at things in this following method and order 1. Of the several Services and Solemnities according to stated times 2. Of the various Sacrifices with several attendant Rites and Ceremonies As to the first particular the Services may be distinguished into such as were constant without intermission or such as fell out in their several appointed stations and periods The constant Service was that of the Porters in watching at the Temple-gates night and day Blessed is the man saith Wisdom (a) Prov. 8.34 that heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors Happy are they that like holy Anna depart not from the Temple (b) Luke 2.37 but serve God with fasting and prayer night and day Such as wait for the consolation of Israel and look for Redemption in Jerusalem shall have their expectations satisfied with the marrow and fatnesse of his House The daily Service of the Temple was the Juge Sacrificium the daily Sacrifice of a Lamb morning and evening Which hinted at the constant and daily approaches of the People of God to the Throne of Grace night and day The Lamb signified Christ (c) Joh 1.29 taking away the sins of the World who is represented in the Revelation-Visions as a (d) Rev. 5.6 12. slain Lamb slain from (e) Rev. 13.8 Tertull. de pudicitiâ— p. 475. Edit Par. Tom. 2. 1566. Heb. 13.20 the foundation of the World in all the Sacrifices of the ancient Patriarchs and of the Jewish Paedagogy To note that all our prayers and addresses to God must be put up in the name of this holy Lamb of God if ever we expect to find acceptation at the door of heaven Tertullian mentions the ingraving on the Cups of the Primitive Christians the figure of a Shepheard carrying a Lamb on his shoulders He that was the Lamb of God was slain that he might rise from the dead an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Chief-Shepheard to carry his poor Lambs some in his bosome some on his shoulders to heaven We in our daily Sacrifices must look up to this Lamb as onely able to carry away all the defilement of our prayers and reader us as unspotted before the Father through his mediation The weekly service was on the Sabbath or seventh day and therein the Sacrifices were doubled to set forth a more extraordinary service unto God in the publick Ordinances on that day under the Christian dispensation As for the change of the day from the seventh to the first day of the week it is not my work to handle that controversy here But whoso pleaseth to be setled and confirmed in the truth about this matter may consult that Learned and Judicious Treatise of Mr. Herbert Palmer and Mr. Daniel Cawdry who have given a Supersedeas to other mens labours in that particular where they may receive abundant satisfaction who are capable of rational arguments and clear proofs from Scripture and the practise of all the primitive Churches Besides this Sabbath we are now upon Heb. 4.9 might shadow the eternal Sabbatism of rest which our spiritual Joshua or Jesus will bring his people to at the great day The Monthly service was performed on every New-Moon which might signify the Churches renovation and reformation The Church hath her spots and vicissitudes Eclipses and various Aspects while here below Yet when at the full of her Glory all is but by a borrowed light from Christ the Gospel-Sun she being fair as the Moon Cant. 6.10 and perfect through his comlinesse Ezek. 16.14 Under the Gospel she is clothed (f) Rev. 12.1 with the Sun and hath the Moon all the Jewish festivals under her feet The Annual Festivities follow and none must come to them empty handed but bring Vitulum petulantiae Bovem superbiae Arietem luxuriae Tho. A-kemp par 1. pag. 119. The Calfe of Petulancy the Oxe of Pride the Ram of Luxury First The Passeover which signified God's passing us over for the sake of Christ and bringing us out of spiritual Egypt Christ (g) 1 Cor. 5.7 Cloppenb p. 142. 144. our Passeover being sacrificed for us For as it was in the Paschal Lamb so in Christ was it verified a bone of his was not broken As the Paschal Lamb was slain in the Evening so Christ died in the Evening (h) Joh. 19.36 (i) Mat. 27.46 about the ninth hour of the day If we divide the day of (k) Joh. 11.9 twelve hours according to the computation of those times they being unequal houres according to the various length of daies throughout the year into four parts then our Lord's death falling out about the ninth hour of the day his passion was finished about the end of three fourths or in the Evening answering about Easter in that year when as the Sun was in a vernal signe past the Equinoxe to our Afternoon between three and four of the clock as we terme it Furthermore according to the Rabbinical account of the World's duration for the space of 6000 years whereof I have given a hint before Our Lord dying in the 4000th year of the World by the computation of Bishop Vsher and other exact Computators as he finished his life by dying for sinners in the end of
the Camp or without the precincts and limits of the Temple which the Apostle explains 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in expresse termes As the bodies of the Beasts e Heb. 13.11 12. were burnt without the Camp so Jesus also suffered without the gate even upon Mount Calvary And therefore those that will stand to the Levitical Law can have no share in Christ according to the Apostles Argument drawn from the peoples having f Heb. 13.10 Weem vol. 3. p 66. no part or share in that Sacrifice which was burnt without the Camp After the Priest had ended those services he puts on his linen cloathes washes his flesh a Lev. 16.24 in the holy place and puts on his own gorgeous raiment and appears to the people in his rich attire This might signifie the death buriall and resurrection of Christ His death by the putting off his inconspicuous vestments His buriall by the washing and continuing for a while hid and obscured in the holy place b Act. 9 37. To wash the body after death was the manner of the Jews preparation for its Sepulture His coming forth with glorious rober shewed his resurrection when he rose out of the grave with his glorious body These things I dare not press but mention them only allusively with submission When these Solemnities of expiation were finisht then the c Lev. 16.3 5 24. High-Priest offered up the two burnt Offerings one for himself the other for the people after sin was fully expiated then they present their Burnt-Offerings which were wholly burnt upon the Altar except the skin whereof I spake before and signified the dedicating of our souls wholly to God in the newnesse of life and holy obedience Our blessed Lord was a whole Burnt-Offering he came to do the will of God fully in his compleat obedience He offered up himself to the Father in all waies of compleat righteousnesse and so should we d Rom. 12.1 present our bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is our reasonable service These are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore the Apostle citing the Psalmist speaks in the name of Christ e Heb. 10.6 c. Sacrifice and offerings thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me In Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I lo I come in the volume of the Book it is written of me to do thy will O God Above when he said Sacrifice and Offering and Burnt Offerings and Offering for sin thou wouldst not neither hadst pleasure therein which are offered by the Law then said he Lo I come to do thy will O God Our Lord Jesus saw that the Scribe answered f Mark 12.33 34. discreetly when he said To love God with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and withall the strength and to love the neighbour as himself is more then all whole Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices The persons that burnt the two Sin-Offerings without the Camp and the other who carried the Scape Goat into the Wildernesse were to wash their cloathes and bath their flesh in water before they could be admitted into the Camp again To shew that though we by our sins are the crucifyers of Christ yet we may be received into favour if baptized and washed in the Name of the Lord Jesus and afterward be admitted into the communion of the faithfull So the Apostle Peter tels them who a Act. 2.23 by wicked hands crucifyed and slain the Lord of life yet if they b Vers 38. did repent and were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins they might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Thus was the great work of this reconciling day finisht the sins of Priest and people pardoned the Holy place Altar and Tabernacle purifyed through the blood of sprinkling So God in the day of our Lords most meritorious death was in and through him c 2 Cor. 5.18 reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their transgressions to them To conclude It was in this glorious day as I mentioned in the fore-going story of this service that the Trumpets were blown for the year of Jubilee to d Isa 61.1 2. signifie that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Christ the Lord anointed him to preach good tydings to the meek he sent him to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that were bound To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord e Zech. 9.11 and by the blood of the Covenant to send forth his Prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water Behold f 2 Cor. 6.2 3. now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation 3. Of the Trespasse-Offering Hitherto let it suffice to have spoken of Sin-Offerings and especially concerning the great and pompous day of expiation The next that follows is the Trespasse-Offering of which I shall only say thus much that as thereby there was an atonement and reconciliation made for more gross and hainous sins the Law and manner about the Sin-Offering and the Trespasse-Offerng being all one in the main we may observe that the greatest sins for which God is pleased to grant repentence are pardonable through the blood of Christ Only as under the Law there was no Offering for sins of presumption such persons must die themselves and their own blood must lie upon them So under the Gospel presuming sinners are under a most dangerous state especially if they presume to sin against the holy Spirit a Heb. 10 26 27. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remains no more Sacrifice for sins but a certain fearfull looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall restroy the adversaries c. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace b Mat. 12.32 For whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghpst it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world nor in the world to come Having thus briefly glanced upon this I come next to speak some words about the Peace-Offering 4. Of the Peace-Offerings The Causes of the Peace-Offering are at large recited Chap. 5. of this Treatise I shall only spiritualize some things about them and so conclude In this Sacrifice principally were the joyfull Feasts exhibited For usually they were divided into three parts or Portions the first part was Gods who is the great Peace-maker and makes a c Psal 50.5 Covenant with his people in this Sacrifice Another was the Priests as a reward of his service and to shew his communion
to the praecise time and punctuall place of the situation of each of these abominable Idols For if the Father had not so soulely praevaricaed his son probably had never felt the weight of the Loins of God's vengeance upon his Kingdom nor the lash of those divine Scorpions that in most righteous and just judgment whipt off ten Tribes at one blow from the Scepter of Judah in his daies whereof we now proceed to speak The state of the Temple under Rehoboam the second King after its Building A.M. 3029. This famous Fabrick stood in its beauty unspoiled of its Ornaments all the daies of Solomon notwithstanding the grand provocations of the divine Majesty 1 Chr. 11.17 cap. 12.1 and so persisted during the three first years of the reign of Rehoboam But having strengthned himself in the Kingdome he forsook the Law of the Lord and all Israël with him denoting to us That unsanctified prospeâ—ity to a carnall Spirit proves many times a sad Temptation to fearfull Apostacy But did not God also forsake Rehoboam yes surely For when he had idolatrously turned his back upon the Temple he beholds in his fifth year Ver. 2. Shishak King of Aegypt marching in the Van of a terrible Army towards Jerusalem probably incited by Jeroboam but certainly by God who under the reign of his Father had resided in Aegypt This potent adversary and his Wars Aut. Iudaic. lib. 8. cap. 4. Lib. 2. p. 127 Edit Paul Steph. A.M. 3026 Pag. 30. Argonaut l. 4. ad ve 272 Josephus peremptorily asserts to be falsly ascribed by Herodotus to Sesostus Concerning whom the latter Historian relates in his Euterpe that in Palaestina of Syria he himself saw stones inscribed with the memoriall of his Victoryes But I rather incline to the Judgment of the learned Primate of Ireland in his Scripture-Annals and Mr. John Greaves in his discourse of the Aegyptian Pyramids who comparing Manetho the Priest with the Scholiast of Apollonius Rhodius Africanus and Eusebius together doth fully agree with Scaliger that this Shishak is the same King called by them Sesochosis or Sesonchis and possibly the same which Josephus de bello Judaic l. 7. c. 18. calls Asochaeus telling us of his taking Ierusalem the same called by Herodstus Asychis reciting some of his Lawes lib. 2. and plainly called Sasyches and related as a famous Lawgiver by Diodorus lib. 1. p. 59. Edit H. Steph. Who came up to the holy City rifled the Temple 1 Kin. 14.26 2 Chr. 12.9 ver 10. and took away the Treasures of the House of the Lord together with the Shields of Gold which his Father Solomon had made In the room whereof Rehoboam was constrained to substitute brazen ones for the Guard to carry before him when he went up to the Temple This was the first plundering Bout which befell that stately piece in this Prince's daies Ver. 12. who having humbled himself lived the remnant of his life in the Sun-shine of peace having reigned seventeen years in Ierusalem at his decease Under Abijah the third King A.M. 3046 Nothing considerable did occurre in his three years reign in relation to the Temple But the Dedication of some Gold some Silver and Vessels of service to the House of God which were carried within its sacred Wals by Asa his godly Son and Successor 1 Kin. 15.15 A.M. 3049 Vnder Asa the fourth King 2 Chr. 24.3 5 It is recorded concerning this good King that he took away the Altars of strange Gods their high places brake down the Images and cut down their Groves among all the Cities of Iudah which was succeeded with serene daies of peace and quietness Nay his Legions in war were attended with fortunate Lawrels in the famous Battel managed against Zerah the Captain of the Arabian Troops as Sir Walter Raleigh excellently manifests him to be Hist of the World part 1 lib. 1. cap. 8. §. 10. †6. 2 Chr. 21.16 and not of the Aethiopians of Africa who came against him with a Million of men Whence we learn That prosperity both in peace and warr doth crown the heads of those Magistrates that promote the purity of God's Worship Asa the famous Conquerour upon admonition of Azariah the Prophet in the fifteenth year of his Rule and the third Month of the sacred year put away all the abominable Idols out of all his dominions 2 Chr. 15.8 and renewed the brazen Altar for Sacrifices in the Court of the Priests gathered all his People to Ierusalem and offered of their victorious spoiles seven hundred Oxen and seven thousand Sheep to the God of Battell At the same time he made a solemn Covenant between God and his People and commanded that whosoever would not seek the Lord should be put to death His Grand-Mother likewise he removed from being Queen of the Idol Beth-peor De diis Syris p. 160. Syntag 1. c. 5. Ver. 18. 2 Chr. 16.1 Anno Mundi 3064. 1 Kin. 15.18 2 Chr. 16.2 as some conceive stamping her Idol to pieces and burning it at the Brook Kidron He brought likewise the Silver Gold and Vessels into the House of God which himself and his Father had dedicated in that famous year of his Reformation In the thirty sixth year of his Kingdome since the revolt of the 10 Tribes but the 16th year of his Reigne as the reverend Primate observes in his Annals he presents all the Silver and Gold that was left in the Treasures of the House of the Lord unto Benhadad the King of Syria to bribe him to a breach of that League which he had contracted with his fatall Enemy Baasha the King of Israël Here we see that Sacriledge and Truce-breaking two enormous sins are linkt together But he that dares put his hand to the Robbing of God of his Temple-Treasures will not fear to be unjust to man as we behold sadly testified of this Prince who being reproved by Hanani the Seer sent from God added yet more sins to the former in putting the Prophet in prison and oppressing the People at the same time But from thenceforth God denounced War against him and In the thirty ninth year smote him in his feet and yet he added to seek to the Physitians and not to the Lord and died in the one and fourtieth year of his Reigne Take heed therefore of being hardned by holy mens sin as well as of despairing by the story of their falls It was no wonder to behold an Aegyptian King spoiling the Temple of God But for an Asa the Protector and Enricher of the Temple to commit such Aegyptian wickedness for a godly King to manifest such heinous impiety demonstrates the Instability of the best without God's manutenency who though not bound to preserve us alwayes from sin yet hath ingaged himself to punish it even in the Children of David when he threatned to visit their Transgressions with the rod Psal 89.32 and their Iniquity with stripes which is manifest
in these last dayes He hath (g) Heb. 1.2 spoken to us by his Son who is expresly called (h) Dan. 9.24 Rev. 19.13 the most holy by the Prophet Daniel and was the person through and by whom the Father hath opened his minde to the World For the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father (i) Ioh. 1.18 he hath declared him He is Ioh. 1.1 called the word of God the Interpreter of the divine will in all ages neither (k) Mat. 11.27 knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him It was the (l) 1 Pet. 1.11 spirit of Christ in the Prophets of old testifying before hand of his sufferings and the glory that should follow By the same spirit (m) 1 Pet. 3.19 he went and preached to the spirits of the old World which are now in prison by which also he taught (n) 2 Cor. 13.3 the Apostle Paul and continues to inspire the hearts of his faithful Embassadours to the end of the World having upon his Ascension-day (o) Eph. 4.8 12 13. given gifts unto men for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery and the edifying of his Body till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Wherby is evidently declared that the Gospel-Ministery divinely taught by Christ the Supreme Prophet of his Church (p) 1 Pet. 2.25 the Shepheard and Bishop of our souls (q) Ioh. 7.46 who spake as never man spake must endure till all the Elect be gathered and built up into a holy Temple in the Lord which shall not be fully and compleatly finished till the end of the World Moreover As in the Temple of Solomon there was an Ark made of Shittim-wood containing the Tables of stone whereon the ten Commandements were engraven and preserving them as a lively memorial of Gods Covenant with the Children of Israel to protect and defend them in case they kept and obeyed those precepts of God So Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour is declared to have (a) Mat. 5.17 fulfilled the Law not only as it became a just and righteous person so to do but on the behalf of the elect that so by the (b) Rom. 5.19 obedience of one many might be made righteous Which he performed with so much alacrity and willingnesse of spirit that he speaks of himself that (c) Psal 40.8 he delighted to do the will of God yea the Law was within his heart as a more excellent Cabinet then that which lay of old within the Oracle To contract As the curious vaile in the Tabernacle or Temple kept off the overcomming Majesty of divine glory from the eyes of those persons who entred the Sanctuary so the (d) Heb. 10.20 vaile of Christs flesh was drawn over Him as a Curtain to obumbrate and shadow the radiant divinity of his Godhead that rested in him in the daies of his Incarnation As the Golden Altar of Incense was the seat of those fragrant Odours which perfumed the holy of holies So are the prayers of the Saints offered up by the Lord Jesus upon the heavenly (e) Rev. 8.3 Altar of his intercession which stands before the Throne where our High Priest perfumes them in the golden censer of his own merit and makes them acceptable to his Father As the Table of shew-bread did exhibite food to the Priests that ministred before the Lord after the Cakes had stood their limited time within the Sanctuary So the Lord Jesus (f) Iohn 6.32 descending from heaven is that true bread of Life whereupon Saints do feed who are consecrated for (g) Rev. 1.6 Priests under the Gospel unto God the Father As the Golden Candlestick did yield a beautiful light within the Temple continually before the Lord Accordingly doth our Lord Jesus term himself (h) Ioh. 8.12 the light of the World that whoever followeth him and worketh by that light shall not walk in darknesse but enjoy the light of eternal life The seven lamps likewise of that Candlestick did signifie the various and excellent graces (i) Rev. 4.5 of the holy Spirit wherewith our Lord was adorned above his fellows who took great delight in (k) Rev. 2.1 walking in the midst of those 7 golden branches As the brazen Altar received the sacrifices which were offered up for the people's sins to make an atonement on their behalf before God So upon the Altar of the Crosse did the Lord Jesus (l) Heb. 9.26 put away the sins of his people by the Sacrifice of Himself As the Gate of the Temple gave admission to the Priests into those mysterious places where they executed their offices and performed services acceptable unto God So the Lord Jesus is the door of the new Testament-worship through which we must enter with our Gospel-sacrifices to performe our spiritual homage to his divine Majesty In all our prayers we must have a special eye to Christ and his mediation Even as Daniel in the Land of his Captivity kneeling upon his knees prayed when the (m) Dan. 6.10 windows of his Chamber were open towards Jerusalem and as Jonah though (n) Ion. 2 4 7. cast out of sight his soul fainting within him yet looked towards the holy Temple so must we in our deepest exigencies and the most fainting fits of distresse look towards Christ our spiritual Temple and through him only expect audience at the throne of grace In these and many other particulars I might proceed to amplifie upon this point but shall reserve them to a more copious enlargement in the succeeding treatise 2. Let us go on in the next place to shew briefly how the Church also the mystical body of Christ was signified by that glorious building Wherein I shall but succinctly mention some few things recommending the more large explication to their more proper and convenient places As the Temple was the material house wherein God was worshipped under the Jewish administration So is the Church under the Gospel the spiritual (a) 1 Cor. 3.16 Temple of God wherein his holy spirit dwelleth Nos enim sumus Templa dei altaria luminaria vasa We are saith (b) Tertul. de Cor. mil. p. 753. Edit Par. 80. Tertullian the Temples of God the Altars Lamps and Vessels Every Christian Church (c) Dr. Ed. Reyn. on Hos Ser. 5. p. 131. quar as a most Reverend and Learned Dr. of our own Nation is the Israel of God and every Regenerate person born in Zion and every spiritual worshipper the Circumcision Now Christ is crucified in Galatia and a Passeover eaten in Corinth and Manna fed on in Pergamus and an Altar set up in Egypt and Gentiles sacrcified and stones made Children unto Abraham and Temples unto God The Ark of old
contained the stony Tables of the Commandements But now the Church of Christ preserves within her bosome the holy Scriptures God having graciously promised (d) Jer. 31.33 to put his Law in their inward parts and to write it in the fleshy Tables of their hearts To be short the Cherubins on the walls of the Temple signified the protection of Angels who now (e) Psal 34.7 encamp round about them that fear the Lord as commissionated Guardians for their comfort preservation and deliverance The shewbread in the Sanctuary did set forth the bread of life under the Gospel the Lamps the pure doctrine of the Church's Teachers the Altar of incense their ardent prayers the Pillars in the Porch their constancy and perseverance the Laver the washing of Regeneration and the brazen Altar with its appendant Rites their confission of sin and expiation made on their behalf by the sacrifice of Christ Thirdly and Lastly I come to speak of the Typification of each particular Saint as shadowed forth by that holy Temple Even as the Apostle Paul doth expresly declare making it strange that they should be ignorant of this truth (f) 1 Cor. 6.19 What know ye not that your body saith he is the Temple of the Holy Ghost To which may be added the assertion of (g) Tom. 1. pag. 105. Jerom to Paulinus Verum Christi Templum anima credentis est illam exerna illam vesti illi offer donaria in illa Christum suscipe that the soul of a believer is the true Temple of Christ adorn and cloath that offer gifts to that entertain Christ in such a building Wherefore craving leave to compare them by way of resemblance desiring that these parallels may not be strictly interpreted The foundation of this Temple may be laid in humility contrition of spirit wherein the inhabiter of eternity (h) Isa 57.15 delighteth to dwell We may referre the Porch to the mouth of a Saint wherein every holy Jacob erects the (i) Gen. 28.18 c. Pillars of Gods praise calling upon and blessing his name for received mercies when songs of deliverance are uttered from the (k) Psal 141.3 doors of his lips The Holy place is the renewed mind and the windowes therein may denote divine illumination from above cautioning a Saint to beware least they be darkned with the smoak of anger the mist of grief the dust of vain glory or the filthy mire of worldly cares The golden Candlesticks the infused habits of divine knowledge resting within the soul The shewbread the word of grace exhibited in the promises for the preservation of a Christians life unto glory The Golden Altar of Odours the breathings suspirings and groanings after God ready to break forth into (l) Gal. 4.6 Abba Father The Vaile the righteousnesse of Christ The Holy of Holies may relate to the conscience purified from dead works and brought into a heavenly frame The Ark to the heart of a Saint (m) Rom. 7.22 delighting in the Law of God after the inward man The mercy seat to Christ dwelling therein (n) Col. 1.27 as the hope and foundation of glory The two Cherubins to Faith and Love from between whose wings the Father of mercies uttereth the glorious Oracles of assurance by the (a) Rom. 8.16 witnessings of his own Spirit The pot of Manna may be resembled to that food (b) Rev. â— 17 of hidden joy unknown to the World which is the Quintessence of divine assurance laid by for a Saint to feed upon and refresh his spirits in his deepest and darkest agonies The rod of Aaron budding and flowring within the Oracle of their hearts shews the ardent affection which the soul beats to and the profitable fruit it receives by the Gospel-ministery when having accepted the Law from the mouth of God by his Embassadors (c) Iob â—2 22 he layes up his words in the secret recesses of his heart Finally the Laver is repentance the brazen Altar is a broken and a contrite spirit the fire holy zeal the sacrificing instrument is the two-edged sword of the Spirit and the beasts to be slain are the various lusts of the flesh which we are to drag before the Altar by holy confession to mortifie by constant hatred and offer up in a heavenly renewed conversation as sacrifices acceptable and well-pleasing in the sight of God To which purpose in some measure doth that famous Maull of Pelagianism speak in these words (d) Austin de Civ Dei l. 10. c. 4. more c. 5. 6. Ejus est altare cor nostrum c. et sacrificamus hostiam humilitatis laudis in areâ cordis igne fervidae charitatis Our heart is his Altar c. we offer up to Him the sacrifice of humility and praise on that Altar of the heart with the fire of fervent Charity Thus farre may it suffice to have insisted on the more general significations of the Temple humbly craving a favourable pardon of what infirmities have hitherto passed at the hands of such Learned and Ingenuous persons who may countenance my further endeavours after more clear satisfaction in descending to the several particulars which by divine permission I shall proceed to handle The Mysteries laid up in the Foundation of the Temple IN the first place I shall search into the Foundations of the Temple it being most proper to tread in the steps of the foregoing History of its erection and endeavour with all diligence to turn over those ponderous and (e) 1 King 5.17 costly hewn stones wherewith it was laid of old in the daies of Solomon to see what mystical treasure â—as hidden under them Vain and futilous are the feavourish dreams of the antient Rabbins concerning the Foundation-stone of the Temple (f) Sheringham in Jomae p. 104. c. Some assert that God placed this stone usually mentioning but one principal stone in the Centre of the World for a firme basis and settled consistency for the Earth to rest upon Others held this stone to be the first matter out of which all the beautiful visible beings of the World have bin hewn forth and produced to light Others relate that this was the very same stone laid by Jacob for a pillow under his head in that night when he dreamed of an Angelical vision at Bethel and afterward anointed and consecrated it unto God Which when Solomon had found no doubt by forged Revelation or some tedious search like another Rabbi Selomoh he durst not but lay it sure as the Principal Foundation stone of the Temple Nay they say further he caused to be engraven upon it the Tetragrammaton or the ineffable name of JEHOVAH All which stories are but so many idle and absurd conceits yielding thus much of wonder that any persons should be so besotted as to think ever to find such stupid and blind proselytes who would indure to be imposed upon by such fopperies wherewith of old they did pollute the Jewish
holy scorn and contempt we may take notice from the narrownesse of the Windows externally and the breadth inwardly together with their elevated situation how little Saints do or should meddle with others conversations looking principally into their own breasts The Floor of the Sanctuary which was laid with planks of Firr overlaid with Cedar boards and plated with Gold the place designed to be walked on might shew the humility of the Saints their meeknesse lowly-mindednesse and prostration of spirit before God's Majesty who was pleased to (z) 2 Cor. 6.16 walk in and out among them such Graces being more fragrant then Cedar more beautiful then Gold The Ornament of a meek and quiet spirit †1 Pet. 3.4 being in the sight of God of great price We see the Ornaments of the very Floor were the same for matter with those of the insides of the house to shew possibly that humility and lowly reverence of heart as befitting best divine Ordinances is of as high regard with God as other Graces nay in some sort of higher esteem For the humble shall be (a) Jam. 4.10 exalted by him and receive more Grace from him for as the person walking is in more conjunction to the Pavement or Floor whereon he stands than to the other parts of the building Thus the Lord the high and the losty One who inhabiteth aeternity professeth that he will dwell with him and look on him with an eye of favour that is of an (b) Isa 57.15 66.2 humble and contrite spirit Although humble and meek spirits are counted fools by the World and quickly insulted upon by every proud and insolent spirit yet as holy David sitting by the rivers of repentance and hearkning to the sighs of the groaning Willows under the storms of divine anger sweetly be moans himself a (c) Ps 51.17 broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Happy is the humble person who lying upon his back in a prostrate posture and helplesse condition as to himself yet alwaies is looking up to heaven Even as the lowly Floor did constantly face the cieling of the Sanctuary which was all filled with Cherubims a heavenly Host dispatcht from heaven and ready at hand for their aid and comfort Besides the Roof of the Sanctuary which was laid upon those Cherubims held forth the constant divine protection of the Church that resteth on all the Assemblies of the Saints when feasting in that secret communion which the true Members of the mystical and invisible body do maintain in their hearts with Christ (d) Isa 4.5 6. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a cover from the storm and from rain God will be a (e) Isa 16.4 covert to his people from the face of the spoyler (f) Isa 32.2 a covering from the Tempest and a hiding place from the Wind. Our second Solomon having made his Church like a Chariot as well as a Tabernacle or Temple of the wood of Lebanon c. and the (g) Cant. 3.10 covering thereof of Purple even his own righteousnesse to shield us from the danger of his Father's wrath Nay his banner over us is love in this (h) Cant. 2.4 banquetting house of the Sanctuary Where the people of God having satiated themselves with divine love and fully satisfied with the curious views of all its unparallel'd rarities It 's now high time for them to enter the Holy of Holyes with adoration The Mysteries of the Oracle BEfore we set foot into the Oracle strict notice should be taken of the curious Vail embroidered with Cherubims which hung down to the ground cross the Temple and before that most sacred place But although in the Tabernacle there was no other division between the Holy place and the Holy of Holyes yet in the Temple there was a partition of stone which divided betwixt them and Doors in the midst of the patrition Therefore we shall consider the Walls without the Oracle and then the Door and after that the Vail and so proceed to give some account why probably there were no Windows and then descend to the Floor the Roof and after that to the side-Chambers of the Temple To speak first in general There be some as Rivet on Exod. p. 1129. that say The Oracle noted the Gospel-Church However that be for certain It was the Type of Heaven as 't is clear by the Apostle's acquainting us that the (i) Heb. 9.7 8. High-Priest entered into it alone once every year the Holy Ghost thereby signifying that the way into the holyest of all was not yet made manifest that is while the first Tabernacle was yet standing The meaning whereof may be this (k) Cloppenb Schol. sacrif p. 68. that so long as the sacred ceremonies were performing in the former part or room of the Tabernacle which was called the Sanctuary the entrance into the more secret part or the Holy of Holyes called the second Tabernacle was not yet made open So that while the state of the old Law endured and the rites and ceremonies of the Sanctuary continued in their vigour till Christ appeared for the putting of a period to the Mosaical worship there was no entrance or admission into Heaven the Holy of Holyes But when Christ had once offered up himself and was expiring upon the Cross then the (l) Mat. 27.51 Vail of the Temple was rent in twain to give notice that the Door of Heaven was now opened by vertue of his blessed sufferings who (m) Heb. 10.11 after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God For the Apostle ver 11. opposeth this to a Tabernacle not made with hands i. e. the heavenly into which by his body and blood entrance is made ver 13. In the Oracle we read of the Ark of the Covenant the Cherubims and the Session of the divine Majesty upon their wings In like manner when the Temple of God was opened in heaven (n) Rev. 11.29 there was seen the Ark of his Testaments whereof more hereafter when I arrive to that mysterous Utensil The place of God's glorious presence is in heaven whither all our prayers are to be directed accordingly as David prayes to be heard in his supplications (o) Ps 28.2 when he lifted up his hands towards his holy Oracle This divine place was a perfect Cube hollow within shadowing the perfection of happinesse as the great Philosopher saies that he that bears the shocks of Fortune valiantly is (p) Ethic. l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is truly good and of a square posture without reproof Besides as a square figure
sacrifice for sin hast thou not required but a Body hast thou prepared me Implying that all the legal Offerings were in themselves of no validity only so far as the Offerer did look through them with an eye of Faith upon the Lord our Saviour who bore our sins in his own Body upon the Tree The chief and principal scope of all those ancient Services was to bring near to the view of their Faith the apprehension of Christs meritorious sufferings for penitent sinners Now as there were various creatures offered so each of them held forth some excellent quality in our Lord. The Heifer a laborious creature might signifie his labour and constancy in the great work which he undertook for mankind and because used for the tillage of the ground with (e) Diod. Sic. Ed. H. Steph. p. 73. incessant and industrious pains it was consecrated by the Heathens to Osiris the Inventor of Fruits and Corn. He was most exceeding laborious and painful in the sowing the seed of the Gospel of the Kingdom The Lamb noted his meeknesse (f) 1 Pet. 2.23 There being no guile found in his mouth who when reviled reviled not again but committed himself to him who judgeth righteously As a Lamb he opened not his mouth (a) Isa 53.7 but was dumb before the shearer He was the Lamb slain (b) Rev. 13.8 from the foundation of the world not only in respect of the Eternal decree of God and the vertue of his death reaching even to the beginning of the world but in respect also of those Typical Shadows wherein among the rest there were Lambs offered up to God For so we read of Abel that in the beginning of the world he offered of the (c) Gen. 4.4 firstlings of the flock and of the fat thereof The Goat or Kid a lively and vivacious creature might hold out to us the alacrity and cheerfulnesse of his Spirit in that great and admirable kindnesse of his to dye for sinners The Dove his Chastity Innocency Purity Wherefore our Lord bids his Disciples to be innocent or (d) Mat. 10.16 harmlesse as Doves Nay the eyes of Christ are compared to the (e) Cant. 5.12 eyes of Doves The Turtle a mourning lonely meditating creature to shew him (f) Isa 53.3 a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs who (g) Luke 19.41 wept over the Daughters of Jerusalem and was grieved for their hardnesse of heart These Creatures though so often and in such multitudes offered up to God (h) Mar. 3.5 were not of themselves in the least measure available to the expiation of sin what commensuration can there be stated betwixt the demerit of the sins of rational beings and the offering up of poor brute Creatures wherefore some of the wiser Heathens whether they received it by tradition from some of the Families of the faithful who as Esau Moab and Ammon Ishmael c. swerved from the true Worship or whether some of them as Socrates Plato c. in their travels into Judaea and Egypt had it by converse with the true Priests of the most high God or gathering it from the remaining glimmerings of natural light by speculation and contemplation I shall not discusse have declared to the World that no sacrifice could expiate for the sin of man but man himself For so Caesar treating of the ancient Gauls affirms that they used the service of the Druides to offer up men in sacrifice (i) Caesar Comment de bell Gall. l. 6. Quod pro vitâ hominis nisi vita hominis reddatur non posse aliter Deorum immortalium numen placari arbitrantur Supposing unless the life of man were sacrificed for his life that the Deity of the immortal Gods could not otherwise be appeased But as touching those horrid heathenish rites in the sacrificing of men I shall speak no more referring that discourse to Diodorus Sicul. in his 5th Book and 32 Section to Strabo lib. 4. p. 198. To Pliny lib. 30. cap. 1. Porphyr de Abstinent p. 224. And Homer who (a) Homer Il. ψ v. 175. mentions Achilles his slaughtering of twelve Trojan youths at the Funeral of Patroclus and others (b) Zepper de leg mos p. 265. who make mention of several fearful and prodigious actions of the Heathens in these matters Alas poor Creatures so miserably tyrannized over by the Devil through his Serpentine perswasions when he appeared to them and spake through the mouths of their Idols they were put upon the perpetration of such direful murthers nay even sometimes of their own Children which Gods Majesty did so highly abominate and detest as the way of the Heathen whom the Land of Canaan had spewed out There is but one sacrifice of a man which can be acceptable and pleasing to God even the Man Christ Jesus who being delivered by the determinate Counsel and foreknowledge of God Act. 2.23 Act. 7.52 Psal 40.7 Phil. 2.8 the Jews did take and by wicked hands have crucified and slain That just one of whom they were the betrayers and murderers whom it behoved to come according as it was written of him in the Volume of the Fathers Book to do the will of God being obedient thereunto even to the death of the Crosse Of which glorious Sacrifice the Heathens in those their tremendous rites forementioned might seem to have had some dark and obscure conception though most horribly corrupted by the subtle and most hellish insinuations of Satan To which purpose very memorable is that discourse of Acinous with his Phaeacians in Homer assuring them that the Gods did meditate some such admirable thing as the sending down one of their Company from Heaven and gives this in as a reason of his apprehension Odys 11. v. 201. c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Gods saith he do alwayes before hand manifestly appear to us when we sacrifice splendid Hecatombes moreover they do feast with us sitting by us Plutarch also in a Book concerning Homer ascribed by some to him sayes that the Gods do not onely confer together about men but descend also upon the Earth and converse with them which assertion he manifests to have bin the opinion of Homer whom he there greatly magnifies for his knowledge in all divine and humane speculations by producing some passages out of his Poems to confirm it But to return to the work in hand I shall conclude this Discourse with that saying of the great Bishop of Hippo Austin Contr. Faust Manicc l. 20. cap. 21. Col. 376. Edit Bas 1569. Tom. 6. Hoc interest inter Sacrificia Paganorum Hebraeorum quantum inter imitationem errantem praefigurationem praenunciantem There is as great a difference between the Sacrifices of the Pagans and the Hebrews as there is betwixt an erroneous imitation and a typifying prefiguration But blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus that we are now guided
Mal. 3.10 Bring ye all the Tithes into the store-house that there may be meat in my house and prove me now herewith saith the Lord If I will not open you the windowes of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground neither shall your Vine cast her fruit before the time in the field saith the Lord of Hosts b Joel 2.14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him even a Meat-offering and a Drink offering unto the Lord your God that is by blessing of the fruits of the Land that they may yeeld such plenty as wherewithall you may prepare Offerings for his Altar which before was c Joel 1.9.13 Verse 10 c. cut off from the house of the Lord. For the field was wasted the land mourned the corn was consumed the new wine was dried up and the oyl languished Several Appendices there were unto Sacrifices under the legal Administrations Manifold washings to denote the purifying of our souls by way of preparation for our solemn spiritual worship which we are to performe to God under the Gospel In Meat-offerings d Lev. 2.15 oyl was used It was an Embleme of mercy saith e Orig. Hom. 2. in Levitic p. 118. Origen and signified the great condescending favour and mercy of our God to hold fellowship and communion with his poor people in Ordinances of his worship Salt was a constant attendant upon f Lev. 2.13 Sacrifice every oblation of thy Meat-offering shalt thou season with Salt nay with all thine Offerings thou shalt offer Salt No Sacrifice is acceptable to God but what 's savoury Salt resists putrefaction and is a great digester of crude and raw humours We must sprinkle Salt upon our Sacrifices and draw nigh to God in his Worship with a serious savoury frame of spirit If Christian conference must be a Col. 4.6 seasoned with Salt how much more our Prayers wherein we speak to the great and infinite Majesty of Heaven In the sacred pages the word of God is compared to salt as wherewith the hearts and mouths of Christians are seasoned against the waterish and indigested notions of persons erroneous in principle and practice Our Lord doth call his Disciples b Mat. 5.13 the salt of the earth by reason of that sound soul-preserving Doctrine which they should preach in his name throughout the world and especially that of repentance from dead works and remorse for sin which though it be for a time smarting and tedious while men do chasten their own spirits therewith yet is it most safe and wholsom and yeeldeth the peaceable c Heb. 12.11 fruit of righteousness to them who are exercised thereby Every true Christian is an evangelical Sacrifice and is to be salted in this wholsom manner that he may become savoury and relishable before God For with such Gods Majesty will make a d Ps 50 5. Covenant by Sacrifice and it shall prove to them a perpetual Covenant e Numb 18.19 a Covenant of salt for ever before the Lord. To this ancient Levitical custom of salting the Sacrifices doubtless our Lord doth strongly allude in the evangelical story when cautioning his Disciples to beware of scandals and offences he argues à periculo presenting before them the danger and torments of hell fire speaks thus f Mark 9.49 Every one shall be salted with fire and every Sacrifice shall be salted with salt Concerning which place g Camerar in p. 22. Edit Cantabr 1642. Camerarius in his notes on the New Testament affirms that in an ancient Copy he sound the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 added thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every loaf or cake shall be salted in the fire as if there were an Ellipsis of the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 According to that copy there seems to be a more manifest allusion made to that place in Leviticus before cited concerning the salting of meat-offerings For the meat-offering which we translate h Levit. 7.12 13. a Cake in Levit. 7.12 13. according to our division of the Bible into Chapters and verses is found in ver 2 3. of the said Chapter as the printed Septuagints are distinguisht and expresly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 loaves But it is no wayes safe to allow such varieties of readings in the holy Scripture according to every corrupt and musty manuscript giving great advantage to the Papists in reference to their Vulgar Latine as is excellently noted by the most learned and judicious a Dr Owen on the Bibl. Polygâ—â—â—a Dr Owen in his usefull animadversions concerning the various readings in the late Bibles And yet farre bolder is the censure and correction of b Scalâ—ger 442 Edit Lugâ— Bat. 1627. Scaliger upon this place of Mark which is extant in his 442. Letter sent by him to John de Laet pag. 806. where he deals with the sacred Scriptures as if he were criticizing upon Theocritus Pindar or some other Heathen Poet and makes no bones of crying out here 's a fault and there 's another contra gentes it must be thus corrected and nemo praeter me indicaverit and crows too peremptorily and irreverently Nihil verius esse potest and all the stir is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must be expunged and sayes for certain the Evangelist wrote thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. making at length a Tautology in Scripture and that very unfit and improper which clearly appears being englisht thus according to him Every Sacrifice shall be salted and every Sacrifice shall be salted with salt But well have c Cloppenburg Schol. Sacrif Patriarch pag. 200. Cloppenburg and Spanhemius noted that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is never used by the Septuagint or New Testament Pen-men so neither is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should answer found in that place of Leviticus and besides that the Greek word is never used in any classical Author for a Sacrifice offered by fire d Spanhem dub Evang. part 3. pag. 453. Whereas our blessed Lord in that place of Mark is shewing that t is better to go to heaven maim'd and halt or blind of one eye expressing matters parabollcaly then for a man to go whole to hell that will not pull out his right eye and cut off his right hand in the case of scandal For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one or every whol man as some gloss upon the place that will not submit to deny himself in the point of scandal shall be salted with fire who being made a Sacrifice to the wrath of God in hell shall be salted with his indignation in that fire that shall never be
extinguisht Others refer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one that is every worm the worm of every sinners conscience in hell that never dieth shall be salted and inflamed with the fire of Gods wrath to make it sting and punish the more accurately and feelingly A reverend Divine of our Nation whose usefull Comment on Mark is intended for the Press speaks in this place concerning the fire of affliction and the fire of the Spirit Salignis naturam sequitur Isidor lib 16 c. 2. wherewith every good Christian must be seasoned before he can be a meet Sacrifice for God and so the sense of the place seems plain and clear That who ever shall be delivered from the everlasting fire of hell must be here in this life salted and seasoned with the salt of repentance and the fire of affliction that thereby he may be fitted to be offered up as an acceptable Sacrifice unto God For as every Sacrifice which God accepted under the ancient Law was seasoned with salt and hereby the citation of that place in Leviticus comes in properly to good purpose so every spiritual Sacrifice that may be well-pleasing in the sight of God under the Gospel must be rendred savoury by some spiritual salt and offered up in some spiritual fire that they may prove Sacrifices of mercy and praise and not of Gods wrath and justice a Jud 7. suffering the vengeance of eternal fire To proceed As the charge concerning salt was strict so the prohibition of the use of leaven and honey at Sacrifices was very strong Lev. 2.11 b Ye shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering of the Lord made by fire They are both of a fermenting nature swelling and puffing up Corrupt Doctrines are compared to leaven traditions inventions of men false glosses and expositions of Scripture are set forth by it Beware says our Lord of the leaven of the Pharisees which is there expresly interpreted of their Doctrine Mat. 16.11 12. and so when he forbids them to beware of the leaven of Herod it is to be meant of that false Doctrine of the Herodians who taught that Herod was the Messiah Gregor notes on Scripture p. 147. on Mat. 22.16 edit Oxo 1646. because a King in Judea after the Scepter was departed from Judah To adde any thing of mans vain conceptions to the pure Doctrine of Scripture and to interlace Divine Worship with Humane Inventions is a highly provoking sin in the sight of God and savours of a monstrous spirit of pride swelling with corrupt leaven wherefore the Scripture doth stigmatize erronious persons who corrupt the truth that they usually speak great swelling words of vanity 2 Pet. 2.18 We must endeavour to purge out this leaven of pride corrupt Doctrine oâ—â—holiness of heart and life when we draw near to God to present our Sacrifices to him we must keep Gospel feasts not with old leaven which we fed upon in the house of Bondage in the Egyptian state of nature Exod. 12.15 1 Cor. 5.8 neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness but the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth For hypocrisie is Pharisaical leaven Luke 12.1 Yet as to this particular of leaven though it was generally forbidden to be used in Sacrifice yet it was permitted in one case Lev. 7.13 Amos 4.5 viz in the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving of Peace-Offerings and here it may be either taken in a good sense as sometimes leaven is where the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to it for the encreasing and growing nature of the Kingdom of Christ in the world or of the work of grace in the heart of a Saint and so it may signifie the exuberancie dilatation or swelling of the spirits in joy and praise Mat. 13.33 Luk 13.21 when the soul gives up its thank-offerings to God or else it s taken in a bad sense for sourness of grief and sorrow mixture of sin and infirmity to shew that our praises here in this life are imperfect not onely as to the matter there being great cause of mourning and heaviness for the relicts and remainders of sin in us are attended with many griefs and sorrows no Christian can say of any day in his life atque ibat sine nube Dies that there was no cloud of sin or storm of trouble to hinder his visions of peace and joy So neither for the manner of the management of our praises we cannot be upon the wing in so holy and spirituall a manner as such a heavenly and Angelical service as that of praise is doth require there will still be a lump of leaven hanging to our feet and therefore herein the goodness and tenderness of Gods love is seen that he will yet accept our thank offerings though they have in them some mixtures of flesh some tinctures of imperfection Another thing annexed to Sacrifices was the burning of incense Now this was of two sorts and accordingly called in our translate by two names Incense and Frankincense Incense in the Hebrew is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffire adolere suffumigare to burn and make a sweet smelling smoak by fire Exo. 30.35 This is that which was made of the five ingredients mentioned in the book of Exodus whereof largely before and is there translated a perfume This was burnt upon the golden Altar of Incense every morning and every evening in the a time of the Sacrifice of the two Lambs every day Dr. Lightf Temple service p. 111. Lev. 16.13 and in the Expiation day we read of Incense burnt before the blood was brought into the most holy place whether or no this chief and precious Incense were generally burnt in a stated quantity at the offering of every Sacrifice I cannot evidently determine from Scripture In one place it s called the Incense of Rams Psal 66.15 probably because usually annexed to the Sacrifices to perfume the ayr The other sort termed Frankincense is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lebonah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof fully before and was gathered of the Frankincense Tree in Arabia so called because freely sweating from it as a gum and of it self without any other mixture gives a most fragrant odour Lev. 2.1 2 15 16. 6.15 c. Acts 6.4 This was commanded to be offered with most Meat-offerings therefore are they called Offerings of a sweet savour unto the Lord. In a word the joyning of Incense with Offerings signified prayer to attend all our sacred services The word must be joyned with prayer Our blessed Lord joyned ardent prayers with his own precious offering on the Cross when he gave himself for us an offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5.2 I have spoken so much about Frankincense in the foregoing lines that I shall onely allude to what Porta speaks of it Porta Phyto nom l. 5. c. 13 p.
forced and compelled nor in the least measure oppressed When the godly Magistrates of the Nation do cause the Laws touching that ancient Free gift and Donation granted by their Ancestors to be put in execution for the Supreme Magistrate is Custos utriusque Tabulae and doubtless may as godly Hezekiah did 2 Chro. 31.4 command the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the Lord's Ministers that they might be encouraged in the Law of the Lord. So that there was not of late even in the times of the Bishops one peny but that which was called the Easter-offering that was paid of 2d a piece out of the peoples purses which is now generally fallen with the late Hierarchy Insomuch that what people will give freely to such with whom they are in Communion and Church-Fellowship is wholly left to their Christian love and zeal to the Ministry and Ordinances So that if men throughout the Nation generally were left to their own Free-wills unless it be for such whose hearts the Lord hath touched with ardent affections and tender love to his Sanctuary if the godly Civil Magistrate did not interpose for the conservation of the Rights of Ministers the generality of the carnal formal and ungodly people who hate a sound soul-searching and convincing Ministry and are by the conscientious and faithful dispensers of the Word by reason of their scandalous sins justly kept off from ruining their own souls in eating and drinking their own damnation by receiving unworthily at the Lord's Table they would be so far from contributing freely and liberally to the maintenance of such a Sound Holy and Godly Ministry as that they would generally deny to render those very Dues to which the people can never in any Justice lay the least Claim to as being by a Deed of Gift past over to the Ministry by our Zealous Fore-fathers in the first Plantation of the Gospel and since established by so many strong and binding Laws But there are still some persons who I charitably hope would not foster and cherish in their breasts any obstinacy and opposition against a faithful holy able and sincere Ministrey that yet do fly to the examples of the Apostle Paul who that he might not be chargeable to the Churches 1 Thes 2.9 would rather work with his hands and think it a fit president for Ministers to use some calling whereby to get their livelihoods To whom I would reply in the spirit of meekness and soberness First That the Apostles needed not to study they had the gift of Tongues and utterance they had an extraordinary measure of the Spirit of God poured out upon them in the day of Pentecost Acts 2.4 they had the gifts of miracles to conciliate and gain Authority to their Doctrine where ever they came and the revelation of the mysterie of grace clearly manifested to them whereas now such extraordinary gifts being ceased Ministers must give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine they must meditate on these things 1 Tim. 4.13 15. and give themselves wholly to them that their profiting may appear to all which work if they conscionably perform looking at the injunction of God and the profit of souls they will finde little time to spend in outward vocations and businesses of the world which take off the edge of the affections from spiritual things and put them out of a prepared frame for Gospel services unless they were sure to enjoy infallibly the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit in an extraordinary manner unto the several emergencies of their duties I doubt not but godly Ministers if they had such eminent and miraculous assistance which the primitive times enjoyed for the performance of their incumbent services in the Gospel they would be content to betake themselves to such moderate imployments in Trade and Merchandize as whereby possibly they might attain to some good estates by the blessing of God as well as others they being generally no more destitute of parts then other men if this were the minde of God and the rule of the Gospel But secondly The state of the Churches in the Apostles times was generally poor and mean and not able to contribute to their necessities The Apostle doth frequently complain of the poverty of the Saints and acquaints us that not many mighty not many noble were called Rom. 15 26. 1 Cor. 19 1 3 2 Cor. 9.12 Philem. v. 7. Hebr. 6.10 1 Cor. 1.26 If any Gospel-Minister should in this case deny to set himself to some labour or work and still press upon the peoples pure necessities he would then not walk as he had Paul for an ensample But blessed be God there are thousands that have given their names to Christ in England who enjoy such splendid and ample patrimonies that they might easily take off from the poorer sort any burden and yet sufficiently maintain their Teachers if there were no stated and legal maintenance and not necessitate them to work in callings to the great dishonour both of themselves and the Gospel in these times Such are to be charged from God that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. who giveth us richly all things to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life But alas it is to be feared that there are many great ones whose case is sadly to be bemoaned and lamented over that spend far more annually in the maintaining of Faulconers and Huntsmen to say no worse then they expend upon pious uses The Lord lay not their sin unto their charge How far are such persons from the temper of the primitive Saints in the Apostles days who mutter and grumble at the present condition of the Ministrey which at this day is generally so low and mean that their very Ministrey is almost brought into contempt and reproach among the wicked and prophane spirits of the vulgar The state of the Church of Christ before Constantines days was generally under persecution and afflicted in most places with deep poverty then indeed there was a necessitous duty lying upon the Ministers to take some care for their Families or else they would prove worse then Infidels Such persons who insist so warmly upon this point of Ministers working according to the example of some of the Apostles for it seems all did not excepting Barnabas and Paul 1 Cor. 9.6 others did forbear working I would wish them to look to their duty likewise to follow the example of the Primitive Saints for the same rule in all equity bindes them on the other side For Acts 4.34 there was none among them that lacked For as many as were possessours of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were