heart is a grievous plague so an heart of flesh is a great blessing its sensible of sin even secret sins it trembles at thoughts of God his Attributes and Word it understands divine things its teachable and obediential its compassionate and full of bowels towards all such an heart is rare to find but where-ever it is it 's a mercy of mercies a superlative mercy Secondly Observe It s a gift even the gift of God I will give you an heart of flesh None but he who can fetch water out of a Rock and turn stones into flesh Mat. 3.9 can give this tender heart we can make our hearts stony by sinning but we cannot soften them again It s Gods prerogative to make and give an heart of flesh he can make the hardest heart exceeding tender beg such an heart of him and presse him with his promise For faithfull is he who hath promised who also will do it Vers 27. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them IN the 35. verse remission of sins was promised in the 36. regeneration and in this infusion of the spirit is promised In the words are 1. The mercy promised viz the spirit 2. The parties recipient you 3. The effects of this reception walking in c. I will put my spirit within you By spirit here I understand not the new heart or new spirit mentioned in the verse before viz. the gifts and graces of the spirit but the spirit it self so Aecolampad Lavater Junius and Polonius and however it be a great dispute among School-men Whether the spirit it self be given unto men and dwell in them some conclude That the person of the spirit is not given but dwells in us only Mediantibus donis yet the Scripture is cleer That the spirit it self is given and dwells in the sons of men Rom 5.5 The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit which is given unto us Here is a distinction made between the grace of the spirit and the spirit it selfe the grace of love is shed abroad 〈◊〉 the hearts of the Saints by the spirit and that spirit which â—â—keth that grace in them is given unto them the person of the spirit is distinguished from the gifts and graces he works in men 1 Cor 6.19 Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy spirit in you A Temple is not for gifts or graces but for a person a Deity and some speciall presence of that Deity the world hath God in it yet it is not call'd The Temple of God because he is in a general and common manner in the same but the spirit is in the bodyes of the Saints and that in a special manner 1 Cor. 2.12 We have râ—ceived not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God By spirit here cannot be meant gifts or graces but the person of the spirit who searcheth the deep things of God as it is vers 10. and makes them known by degrees unto those he dwells in discovering what God hath done for them Rom 8.11 If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you it s the spirit of God himself who dwells in beleevers and not only the gifts and graces of the spirit these are in them as qualities in a Subject but he is in them as an Inhabitant in an house The spirit by reason of its Infinitenesse is every where in Trees Worms Flowers waters all creatures is it any other wise in the Saints then in them True the spirit quoad essentiam is in all things yet First It s not in them per modum unionis by way of union a Fish is in the water but not united to the water the spirit is in the Saints by way of union therefore is said to dwell in them by his own gifts and graces we are united to the spirit and the spirit to us Secondly It s not in them per modum gratiosae operationis by way of gracious operation all he doth in other creatures is upholding their beings enabling them to put forth their natural power vigour virtue and ordering their motions to what ends he pleaseth he worketh nothing in them above their natures but in those he dwells he worketh gracious effects in those the Lord gives the spirit unto he worketh such operations as are not elsewhere even such as are aboue nature he is in them Speciali titulo ratione gratiae A Gardiner worketh curious Knots in the Garden which he doth not elsewhere God made other works and set other plants in Paradise than in the world Thirdly As the Deity of Christ is every where in every creature yet otherwise in Christs humane nature than in any creature Col 2.9 so the spirit though it be every where yet is otherwise in Believers than in other creatures it is in them as it is in Christ himself but not in the same measure What doth the spirit being within us First It unites the Lord Christ and the soul together it makes an happy union between them two The Corinthians were espoused to Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 not only by the Ministry of Paul but by the spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit are we all baptized into one body that is the Church the body of Christ the spirit is the great Agent in this work Secondly The spirit gives out divine Oracles and Truths unto the soul As in the Temple God gave out his mind made known his will so doth the spirit in the heart of man Mat. 10.20 The spirit of the Father speaks in Believers 1 John 2.20 Ye have an anction from the holy One and ye know all things That unction is the spirit which makes known all needful things unto those it dwells in its needful to be instructed and armed against Antichrist and his seducements its needful to be directed in the way to Heaven they had the spirit which did teach them how to avoid the one and how to proceed in the other and so were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God and who teacheth like him Job 36.22 He teacheth inwardly infallibly powerfully Thirdly It conquers and drives out the enemies that had possession of and quartered in us There is no man the Lord puts his spirit into but the spirit finds the Devil there he hath possession of mens hearts and labours to keep the same there be also a multitude of base and ungodly lusts which fight for the Devils interest these the spirit sets upon subdues and casts out When Christ came into the Temple he whipt out all the money-changers when Joshua came into Canaan he drove out the Canaanites and other Nations and when the spirit comes into a man it beats down strong holds drives out Satan and his Troops 1 John 4.4 Greater is he that is
from the right side of the house at the South-side of the Altar 2. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate Northward and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh Eastward and behold there run out waters on the right side 3. And when the man that had the line in his right hand went forth Eastward he measured a thousand cubits and he brought me through the waters the waters were to the ancles or waters of the ancles 4. Again he measured a thousand and brought me thorow the waters the waters were to the knees Again he measured a thousand and brought me thorow the waters were to the loyns 5. Afterward he measured a thousand and it was a River and I could not pass over for the waters were risen waters to swim in a River that could not be passed over IN this Chapter are two principal parts 1. A Vision of waters and the description of them from Verse 1. to Verse 13. 2. The bordering and dividing the Land from Verse 13. to the end Concerning the waters they are described 1. From their Original or Place whence they spring and flow ver 1 2. 2. From their increase ver 3 4 5. The man with the measuring line in his hand having led our Prophet up and down to view the Temple the parts and appurtenances of it brings him again to the door of the House that is to the door of the Temple or Sanctuary And behold waters issued out from under c. Vilalpandus makes these waters to be those subterraneal waters which were carried in pipes under ground and issued forth into the Priests Court to wash the Sacrifices and purge away the blood excrements and filth occasioned by the slaying so many Sacrifices for certainly had there not been aquaeducts about Solomons Temple to have cleansed the places where the Sacrifices were slain and prepared it would have been an unsavoury and unhealthful place These waters issued forth some from the threshold some from the South-side of the Altar and so ran away From these waters the Lord takes occasion to speak of spiritual waters The Water came down from under from the right side of c. The Temple was upon an high Mountain Ezek. 40.2 therefore the waters are said to come down and they came from the right side of the House that was the South-side for the front of the House standing towards the East when a man stood and lookt East-ward his right hand or side was towards the South The Altar for Burnt-offering was before the porch of the Temple and at the South-side thereof did these waters run Our Prophet having seen the spring and rice of the waters is led out of the inner Court by the way of the North-gate and brought to the uttermost East-gate where he first entred and it was to behold how the waters ran out there on the right side also The words in Hebrew are Maiim mepaccim aquae phialantes peccah signifies to flow but lente tanquam e phiala manando he saw the waters run there gently and pleasingly they run not fiercely as a torrent but gently as oyl poured out of a vial These waters though they run gently yet increased mightily for upon Christs measuring out a thousand cubits they became waters of the ancles upon his measuring out the two thousand cubits they rose to be waters of the knees upon his measuring out the third thousand of cubits they ascended to be waters of the loyns and upon measuring the fourth thousand they became waters for swimming they could not be waded through they were so deep even a great River impassible What these waters do signifie is worthy enquiry Some make these wate s to signifie the prosperity of the Church that great happiness which the Jews had after their return from Babylon This was an outward mercy and but for a little season for they suffered great and grievous things by Antiochus and others in the Maccabees times But here some spiritual mercy is intended by the waters others therefore understand by them the waters of Baptism which Christ instituted and so came from the Altar viz. the side of Christ but these waters are too shallow to be Ezekiels waters A third sort make them to be the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit It s true the Spirit is said to be poured out Joel 2.28 but it s not to be understood of the person of the Spirit which is infinite indivisible and immoveable but of the gifts and graces of the Spirit with such with him who saith Per aquas istas gratiae benedictiones divinae quibus in Ecclesia dei frumitur designantur A fourth sort interpret these Waters of the Gospel the glad tidings touching mans salvation by Christ which is compared to water frequently in Scripture Isa 11.9 The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea The knowledge of the Lord Jesus shall abound as the waters of the Sea see Joel 3.18 Zech. 14.8 We may take the Gospel with the gifts and graces of the Spirit to be these waters for the Gospel is veliculum Spiritus the ministration of the Spirit as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3.8 And the Spirit with the graces and gifts are oft compared to water as well as the Gospel See Ezek. 36.2 Isa 44.3 and 41.18 Acts 2.17 John 4.14 and 7.37 38 39. Now it remains to shew wherein they are like unto water 1. Water cleanseth it purges away the filth of the body and other things So doth the Gospel with the gifts and graces of the Spirit cleanse the souls of men and purge their hearts from sin and filthiness John 15.3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you Christ spoke unto them the Gospel and that was the word together with the Spirit which made them clean from their unbelief disobedience and other sins 1 Pet. 1.22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit The Spirit accompanying the Gospel purified their souls and made them obedient to the truth Ezek. 10.36.25 2. Water moistens and softens the earth which before was dry and hard so that there was no entrance for the plow but being well watered with the rain of Heaven its soft and fit for the plow So the Gospel the Doctrine of Christ moistens and mollifies hard and heavy hearts Those that put Christ to death were hard-hearted sinners but when they heard Peter preach the Gospel and some of that water fell upon their hearts they were softned and became sensible of what they had done They were pricked in their hearts and said Men and Brethren what shall we do Acts 2.37 So Paul was a stout and stubborn fellow but the water of the Gospel did so supple him that it made him yield and say Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9.6 3. Water cools heat the heat of the earth and air
length of the Temple-courts c. make 100. Cubits as Haffenrefferus exactly demonstrates Of the signification of this Temple Some make the Court belonging to it to represent the World and the Temple to represent Heaven It may be considered whether the Porch do not point out the common Professor the Temple true Saints who are Temples of the Spirit and the Sanctum Sanctorum the Saints in glory the condition of those made perfect The true representation of this Temple I take it is the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ both his Body Natural and his Body Mystical viz. the Church 1. It 's a representation of his Natural Body Solomons Temple and Zorobabells or the 2d Temple was so Joh. 2.19 saith Christ Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up And why Ezekiels Temple should not type out Christ I see no cause There be many things wherein it fitly doth so 1. This Temple was holy vers 3. This is the most holy place hence it 's evident the other part of the Temple was holy The Hecal was holy though not so holy as the Devir and the body of Christ was holy Luk. 1.35 That holy thing c. Act. 13.35 Thou shall not suffer thine Hâ—ly one c. 1 Pet. 2.22 Chap. 1.19 Heb. 7.26 He was holy harmless undâ—filed separate from sinners 2. It was very lightsome and beautiful within it was adorned with Cherubims and Palm-trees vers 18.19 so the Lord Christ was full of light Col. 2.3 In him were hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge He was adorned with all the graces of the Spirit He was full of grace and truth Joh. 1.14 Cant. 5.10 Psal 45.2 Thou art fairer then the children of men 3. By the Temple they came to know the mind of God one part of it was call'd Devir the Word or Oracle there God spake so by Christ we come to know the mind of God Joh. 1.1 He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word He brought the mind of God to us and declared it to the world Heb. 1.2 God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Christ was an Embassador sent from God to acquaint us with the mind of the King of Nations and he did it faithfully Joh. 15.15 All things which I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you 4. The Temple was God's delight it 's call'd an House for God dwelt in it and manifested his glory there Ezek. 43.4 5. The glory of the Lord came into the house yea the glory of the Lord filled the house And Psal 29.9 In the Temple doth every one speak of his glory There God's glory is seen Is not Christ such a Temple Did not God come into the Temple of his Body 1 Tim. 3.16 Col. 2.9 There the glory of God was seen fully Joh. 1.14 The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Fathâ—r full of grace and truth The glory of God never appeared so evidently as in this Temple and God delighted therein Mat 3.17 This is my belâ—ved Son in whom I am well pleased See Rev. 3.12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out And I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my Gâ—d which is New Jerusalem God is establishing and will establish New Jerusalem with Pillars daily more and more and therein is strength to be found not in the World or in Babylon 1 Tim. 3.15 5. There were Cherubims and Palm-trees in the Visional Temple vers 18 19 20 25 26. and in the Church of Christ there are Cherubims and Palm-trees These Cherubims may note the presence of the Angel in the Church 1 Cor. 11.10 There were Angels in the Church of Corinth And so in the Temple John speaks of Rev. 14.15 17. Each Cherubim had two faces one of a Man another of a Young Lion to signifie the wisdome strength and zeal of the Angels which are imploy'd for the good of the Church Or by Cherubims understand those Christians who were wise stout and zealous for the truth and cause of God such as loved not their lives to the death Rev. 12.11 But were beheaded for the Witness of Jesus and for the Word of God Rev. 20.4 These Cherubims looked to the Palm-trees they were patient under all crosses afflictions in hope of certain victory Rom 8.35 36 37. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword c. Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors c. Their eyes were upon the Palm-trees And Rev. 9.7 they had Palms in their hands they were certain of victory whereof Palms and Palm-trees are emblems There be several things wherein the Saints do resemble Palm-trees 1. They are always green and growing so are the Saints Psal 92.12 14. The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree They shall still bring forth fruit in old age 2 Palm-trees cannot endure dung Magnopere abhorrent à fimo they hate it So the Saints they hate Superstition Idolatry and all sin as dung they will dye rather then worship the Beast or his Image rather then receive his Mark in their foreheads or their hands Rev. 20.4 they watch and keep their garments undefiled 3. The Palm-tree bears up against all weight laid upon it and the Saints do the like in all their troubles and afflictions Paul met with sharp tryal's yet he fainted not but found more strength 2 Cor. 4.16 And Chap. 7.4 He saith I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation And Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulation 4. These Cherubims and Palm-trees were the ornament of the Temple and Christians who are wise couragious and patient under all tryals are the ornaments of the Church of Christ 5. This Temple with the Porch and Buildings belonging to it was great and large vers 12 13 14 and 15. 100. Cubits in breadth 100. Cubits in length So the Church of Christ is great and large In the Apostles times there were thousands of the Jews believed Act. 21.20 It was Prophesied in Isays days that all Nations should flow unto the Mountain of the Lord that is the Church Isa 2.2 And in Daniels days Chap. 7.14 That all people languages and nations should serve Christ And John in the vision saw it made good Rev. 7.9 I beheld a great multitude which no man could number of all nations kindred people and tongues which stood before the Throne and the Lamb. 2. It 's the representation of Christs Body Mystical and that in several things 1. All things in this Temple were measured as in the 40. also the 41 42 43 and 47. Chapters appears So in the Church the Mystical Body of Christ Ephes 2.21 Paul tells the Ephesians that the Saints are a
not to know any thing among the Corinthians that is to make known any thing to preach any thing save Jesus Christ and him crucified That should be his work to measure out Christ to them So Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans Act. 8.5 And Peter preached Christ unto the Jews and others Act. 2. The virtue of Christ crucified is to be made known fully Vers 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27. 10. And he said unto me Son of man thus saith the Lord God These are the ordinances of the Altar in the day when they shall make it to offer Burnt-offerings thereon and to sprinkle blood thereon 19. And thou shalt give to the Priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadock which approach unto me to minister unto me saith the Lord God a young Bullock for a Sin-offering 20. And thou shalt take of the blood thereof and put it on the four horns of it and on the four corners of the settle and upon the border round about Thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it 21. Thou shalt take the Bullock also of the Sin-offering and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house without the Sanctuary 22. And on the second day thou shalt offer a Kid of the Goats without blemâ—sh for a Sin-ffering and they shall cleanse the Altar as they did cleanse it with the Bullock 23. When thou hast made an end of cleansing it thou shalt offer a young Bullock without blemish a Ram out of the flock without blemish 24. And thou shalt offer them before the Lord and the Priests shall cast salt upon them and they shall offer them up for a Burnt-offering unto the Lord. 25. Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a Goat for a Sin-offering they shall also prepare a young Bullock and a Ram out of the flock without blemish 26. Seven days shall they purge the Altar and purifie it and they shall consecrate themselves 27. And when these days are expired it shall be that upon the eighth day and so forward the Priest shall make the Burnt-offerings upon the Altar and the Peace-offerings and I will accept you saith the Lord God HAving prescribed the form of the Altar the Lâ—rd gives out to Ezekiel the Ordinances thereof the Lâ—ws and Rites which concern'd the Sacrifices and Priests shewing him what Priests he would have imployed in the service of this Altar as also what Sacrifices and how the Altar is to be purified which things extend to the 27. vers and therein the daily work and worship of the Altar is appointed Although the chief scope of this Vision be to set out the glory and greatness of the Church under the Gospel and among the Gentiles yet because the Jews at this time being in Babylon were to return unto Jerusalem therefore the Lord alludes to Ordinances Rites and Ceremonies which were well known among the Jews holding out under them the spiritual worship of the Gospel The Priests to be in the service of this Altar and to draw near to God were to be of the seed of Zadock David being on his death-bed Abiathar the High-priest sided with Adonijah the eldest Son to make him King but Zadock was for Solomon whereupon after the death of David Solomon obtaining the Kingdome Abiathar was put out of his place and Zadock made High-priest 1 King 2.36 Zadock was constant and faithful a just and upright man as his name signifies and such men were to serve at this Altar such as are constant to Christ faithful just sincere ought to be in Gospel administration and to draw near to God in these Ordinances which belong to the Gospel which differ from the Judaical Here are three sorts of Sacrifices mentioned the Burnt-offering the Sin-offering and the Peace-offering vers 18 19 27. of which and their different Rites you may read Levit. 1. per totum Levit. 6. from the 24. to the end Levit. 3. per totum with Chapt. 7. from the 11. to the 22. These Sacrificee were not sufficient to expiate sin but they were media cultus leading them unto Christ So Baptisme and the Supper are not of great validity as to purge away sin but they are means of worship leading unto Christ who onely is the expiatory Sacrifice for sin Heb. 7.27 Chap. 10.10 11 12 14. Concerning the Bullock for the Sin-offering two things are proposed 1. That the blood thereof be taken and put upon the four Horns of the Altar and upon the f ur Corners of the Settle and upon the Border round about vâ—rs 20. And the like wâ—s to be done with the Kid of the Goats vers 22. This presignified the abundant shedding of the blood of Christ which cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 â—nd that Christ crucified should be preached to the four corners of the earth Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 1.23 2. This Bullock was to be burnt in the appointed place of the house without the Sanctuary which shadowed out the place of Christ's suffering as it 's written Heb. 13.11 12. The Sin-offering was burnt without the Camp Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the pe ple with his own blood suffered without the Gate even in the place appointed Luk. 23.33 As for the Burnt-offering of a young Bullock and a Ram out of the flock both without blemish the Priests were to cast salt upon them vers 23 24. In Leviticus they were commanded with all their Offerings to offer salt Chap. 2.13 Salt makes all things savory and preserveth from corruption by the heat and shâ—rpness of it and therefore salt was accounted an embleme of duration and eternity 2 Chron. 13.5 Num. 18.19 We read of a covenant of salt which notes an inviolable incorruptible and perpetual covenant Sanctius thinks salt was used in Sacrifices because it notes prudence and wisdome without which Sacrifices are unsavory Without question it notes the wholesome doctrine of the Gospel gratious words and seasonable reproofs Col. 4 6. Eph. 4.29 which are savory to God and Man This salting the Sacrifices by the Priests types out the office of Gospel Ministers who are styled by the Lord Christ The salt of the earth Mat. 9.13 and are to season others with wholsome doctrine and sharp reproofs Titus must rebuke the Cretians sharply that they may be sound in the faith Tit. 1.13 The salt of the Gospel will eat out those ill humors are in men Christ saith Mark 9.49 Every â—ne shall be salted with fire that is with the fire of the Spirit the fire of afflâ—ctions or the fire of hell and every Sacrifice shall be salted with salt that is with grace and especially the grace of mortification which will eat out and consume those lusts which are offensive to God to themselves and others and the grace of zeal which will make the affections mount up to the Lord. True Christians are sacrifices well season'd uncorrupt doctrines will make uncorrupt souls and bodies the salt makes both immortal men
soundly salted with gospel-Gospel-truths shall never perish Vres 26. They shall consecrate themselves The Hebrew is They shall fill their hands Some by hands understand the sides of the Altar because Jad signifies both a hand and a side others take hands for the hands of the Priests which should be fill'd with Sacrifices that is with sacrificing-work and so prefigured the full imployments the Gospel-Ministers should have But the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes signifies to consecrate as learn'd Hebricians observe Exod. 28.41 Thou shalt anoint them and consecrate them the Hebrew is thou shalt fill their hand so Exod. 29.9 Nu◠3.3 1 King 13.33 Judg. 17.5 In these places the Hebrew is fill'd the hand which notes consecration according to the Hebrew dialect and so it imports the Ministers consecrating and dedicating themselves unto the work of Christ under the Gospel The 27. verse speaks of the daily sacrifices and work of the Altar One Sacrifice or other was to be offered daily Two Lambs one in the morning another in the evening were to be offered daily Exod. 29.38 39. these were for the Burnt-offering vers 42. Besides which here is mention of a Peace-offering of which they were neither to eat the fat nor the bloud Levit. 3.17 signifying that those who are at peace with God through Christ ought neither to be carnal nor cruel but to mortifie their carnal lusts and to be meek as Christ was The daily sacrificing of the Priests here shew'd the daily and constant work of the Ministers under the Gospel Preaching Administring of Sacraments Praying and Praysing of God is to be their daily work which being done according to rule and in the name of Christ makes them and the people accepted Vers 28. It shall be upon the eighth day Here is foretold saith Master Shepheard the continuance of the Sabbath in Gospel-days The eighth day from the Creation being the first of our Redemption Noah is call'd the eighth 2 Pet. 2.5 who was the first in regard of his years and dignity of person and first entred into the Ark Gen. 7.7 And so the Lord's day may be the eighth in one sense and the first in another The EXPOSITION continued upon the Remaining Chapters of EZEKIEL CHAP. XLIV Vers 1 2 3. 1. Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward Sanctuary which looketh toward the East and it was shut 2. Then said the Lord unto me This gate shall be shut it shall not be opened and no man shall enter in by it because the Lord the God of Israel hath entred in by it therefore it shall be shut 3. It is for the Prince the Prince he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord he shall enter in by the way of the Porch of that Gate and shall go out by the way of the same THIS Chapter treats of the Priests and divers Ordinances concerning them 1. Sundry things are presented to Ezekiel touching the Priests 1. The priviledge of the High-priest in the three first verses 2. A reproof of the Priests for their profaness and neglect from the beginning of the 4. vers to the 9. 3. The exclusion of some and deposing of others from the Priest's office from the 9. to the 15. 4. What Priests God will accept of vers 15 16. 2. The Ordinances which concern the Priests are laid down from the 17. vers to the end Vers 1. Then he brought me c. The Prophet having seen the Altar for Burnt Sin and Peace-offerings with the Ordinances thereof is brought back to the East-gate or Gate of the outward Sanctuary that which separated the Priest's Court from the peoples or the outmost Gate of all We must follow Christ which way so ever he leads us be it backward or forward he hath something to reveal unto us which will be for our use Vers 1 2. It was shut What Gate so ever this was it was shut and therefore shut because the Lord had entred in by it and no man might but the Prince only Some take Prince literally for the governour of the people but the best Expositors take it for the High-priest who was preferr'd above and so Prince of all the rest For in this Chapter he speaks of the orders of the Priests This Prince or High-priest was a type of Christ The High-priest was to be without blemish anointed with holy oyle to be covered with clean linnen and cloathed gloriously on him was a plate ingraven with holiness to the Lord he had the Vrim and Thummim he bare the names of the 12. Tribes of Israel upon his Breast and Shoulders as appears Levit. 22.13 Exod. 29.7 Exod. 28.2 42.36 30.9 So Christ our High-priest was without blemish Heb. 7.26 Anointed with the Spirit Isa 61.1 He was holy glorious yea Holiness altogether Luk. 1.35 Mark 1.24 He had all perfection Col 1.19 Chap. 2.3 He bears all Israel in his Breast and on his Shoulders Isa 40.11 Heb. 7.25 What is meant by the Gate shut is necessary to inquire It was not the Womb of the Virgin which was shut up after the birth of Christ as Popish Interpreters expound it Some of the Antients make it to be Heavenly mysteries which none know but 〈…〉 the Father and the Son Some make it the Scripture or Book sealed with seven seals Rev. 5.1 which none could open but Christ This Gate shut rather notes the Gate or Entrance into heaven which Adam by his fall had shut so that no man whatsoever being sinful could open it or enter onely Jesus Christ our High-priest hath opened it and entred Heb. 4.14 We have a great High-priest who is passed into the heavens He hath broken all the bars locks and bolts which kept it shut and hath opened the same so that now sinners may have access to God The High-priest once in a year entred into the Most Holy place the door opened to none but him this typified Christ's opening of heaven and entrance in thither as is clearly exprest Heb. 9 7 8 11 12 24. The Tabernacle and Temple were representations of heaven and so was this Vision of Ezekiel and as the Gate here was shut so was the Gate of heaven till the Lord Christ the Arch-bishop of our souls opened the same and entred No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven even the Son of Man which is in heaven Job 3.13 No man ever by his own virtue or power ascended up to heaven but Christ Henoch and Elijah neither ascended nor entred by their own strength grace or goodness Christ's merits were the Key which opened heaven for them and others Christ is the door and the way and no man comes to the father but by him Job 14.6 It 's by Christ alone that we come to the knowledge and fruition of the Father he reveals him and his mysteries and brings us unto the injoyment of him Quest If Christ have entred in by this Gate why is
in Summer and heat of the body in hot weather Many bathe themselves in the water to cool them Dives begg'd a little water to cool his tongue Luke 16.24 The waters of the Gospel have a cooling vertue in them they cool the heat of persecution Mat. 5.11 12. they cool the heat of our passions James 3.20 Mat. 5.22 they cool the heat of temptations Rom. 16.20 1 Cor. 10.13 James 12.12 they cool the heat of our lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom. 8.13 1 Tim. 6.9 10. they cool the scorchings of a guilty Conscience and fire of Hell Matth. 12.31 and 11.28 1 John 1.7 4. Water makes the earth fruitful When they wanted rain there was barrenness and famine Jer. 14. but when they had the former and latter rain all things flourished and abounded Ezek. 34.26 27. I will cause the shower to come down in his season there shall be showers of blessings and the tree of the field shall yield her fruit c. Litterally these words are true and spiritually also and set out the fruitfulness of those who were to live under the sweet showers of Gospel Doctrine They should be like a watered garden Jer. 31.12 The doctrine of the Lord is as the rain and dew which falling upon the tender herbs and grass causes them to grow Deut. 32.1 When Zacheus was watered with this water he became very fruitful and gave half of his goods to the poor Luke 19.8 others sold all and laid the money down at the Apostles feet Acts 4.35 They were abundant in love and in good works 5. Water quencheth thirst satisfies and revives the thirsty soul It was their drink in the infancy of the World and is still in some hot Countreys Sampson when like to perish for thirst having some water out of the jaw-bone of an Ass he revived and was satisfied Judg. 15.18 19. The waters of the Gospel have this property also when the soul is a thirst there is no water quenceth that thirst but the water of life which the Gospel sheweth and conveyeth unto us The Gospel hath this water of life in it Christ and the Spirit which it makes men partakers of The great and precious promises are satisfying things the righteousness and Spirit of Christ are satisfying and reviving things Peter found it so when he said to Christ Lord to whom should we go thou hast the words of eternal life Let others go to what Brooks Pits or Cisterns they will to quench their thirst we will never go from thee who hast the words of eternal life who art the Fountain of living Waters and canst satisfie us for ever John 6.68 This Water quencheth unlawful desires and satisfieth Spiritual desires 6. Some waters have a curing and healing vertue The Pool of Bethesdah healed all manner of diseases Joh. 5.4 There be waters in our Land which have healing vertue in them Such be the waters here mentioned for they healed other waters v. 8. Gospel waters will heal sick souls and bodies The Centurion said to Christ Lord speak thou but the wâ—rd onely and my servant shall be healed and it was so Mat. Mat. 8.8 13. Christ cast out Devils with his word and healed all that were sick ver 16. The Gospel is not onely a pattern of wholesome words but of healing words also there is no spiritual disease in the soul but the Gospel hath healing vertue to cure it therefore it is called the Gospel of Salvation Ephes 1.13 and the power of God unto Salvation Rom. 1.16 7. Some waters are very cordial and do greatly comfort the spirits of man None more then the waters of the Gospel by which the Spirit the true solid eternal Comforter flows into the heart The Gospel and good things of it are set out by Water Milk and Wine Isa 55.1 all which are comforting things The Gospel is glad-tidings and affords strong and everlasting consolation to the soul 2 Thess 2.16 2 Cor. 3.5 Jeremiah saith the Word of God was the joy and rejoycing of his soul chap. 15.16 David professes he had perished in his affliction had he not drunk of these Cordial Waters Psalm 119.92 To come to those Observations which we may pick out of these Verses Observ 1. That as it is Christ who makes known the things of the Temple so he doth the same not all at once but he makes known some at one time some at another Formerly Christ had revealed much to the Prophet and here he brings him again to the door of the House and shews him waters he had not seen before We are not capable of much at once like children we must have line upon line precept upon precept here a little and there a little Ezekiel is instructed a little in one place and a little in another place as he was capable So Christ the wise and chief Builder of the Temple deals with him and revealed one thing after another unto him and so he dealt with his Disciples John 16.12 Observ 2. The waters of the Gospel the gifts and graces of the Spirit do flâ—w from Sion from Jerusalem where Ezekiel had his vision Chap. 40.2 The bitter waters of the Law flowed from Mount Sinai but the sweet waters of the Gospel flowed from Mount Sion Isaiah long before prophesied whence these waters should come Isa 2.3 Out of Sion shall go forth the Law that is the Law of Faith not of Works and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem So in Zach. 14.8 And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem half of them towards the former sea that is East-ward and half of them towards the hinder sea that is West-ward In Summer and in Winter shall it be there shall be no time wherein these Jerusalem-waters shall cease flowing It is not Rome or any other City in the World which hath the honor to send out these waters but Jerusalem onely where was the true Church of God Observ 3. These spiritual waters although they flowed from Sion and Jerusalem yet Christ himself was the Fountain and Original of them they came from the door and threshold of the house Christ tells us He is the the door John 10.7 All spiritual water is in him all Heavenly Doctrine all gifts and graces When the Spirit moved holy men to speak as it is 2 Pet. 1.21 it received of Christ and shewed unto them John 16.14 and all the waters which flowed from the Apostles they received from Christ The Spirit was given them to fill their vessels and fitted them to carry these living waters from Jerusalem to all parts Acts 2.8 and Christ sent them forth to preach the Gospel all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in him Col. 2.3 and he that believes in him receives living waters from him all gifts graces and divine truths are from him The waters of the Sanctuary flow from the Lord of the Sanctuary Observ 4. God would not have his Worshippers to conform to and comply with the
Worlds Worshippers They worshipped with their faces towards the East that was the Nations practice The Heathen Idolaters had their backs to the West but here the front of the House stood East-ward that when they came to worship the true God their backs might be toward the East and their faces towards the Sanctum Sanctorum which was West-ward When some Jews degenerated into Heathenish customs did worship with their faces towards the East Ezek. 8.16 and their backs towards the Temple God counted it an abomination it did greatly provoke him causing him to deal in fury with them and to shew them no pity Ezek. 8.17 18. God must be worshipped according to his own order and not after the rites and customs of others Observ 5. The Gospel spread first into the Eastern and Southern parts of the World it is said the waters issued out Eastward and came down from the South-side They were dry and hot Countreys and God took special care of them that they should be first watered In Galilee did Christ first preach the Gospel Mat. 4.23 and so all Judea over and after from Jerusalem these Gospel-waters flowed into all Nations Mat. 28.19 Go and teach all Nations Mark 16.15 Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature The Apostles were spiritual clouds and they were to water not onely Jerusalem and Samaria but the uttermost parts of the earth Acts 1.8 Observ 6. Those who are Preachers of the Gospel must look for hardship for travel and trouble for much heat much cold for many storms and tempests They that carry these waters must travel into all quarters East South North where be fierce winds parching heats terrible storms Preachers must expect temptations persecutions reproaches accusations imprisonments c. And notwithstanding these they must go on and carry Sanctuary-waters to all places Endure hardness saith Paul to Timothy as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ Gospel Preachers must not be dismaid at Northern or Eastern blasts nor faint at Southern heats Observ 7. Sanctuary-waters are no common but choice Mercies they are Right-side Mercies South-side Blessings The Gospel is a right-hand mercy Some mercies are left-hand and left-side mercies they are those of an inferior nature Others are right-hand mercies and such are those of the highest nature amongst which is the Gospel Rev. 5.1 I saw in the right-hand of him who sate upon the Throne a book written within and on the back-side sealed with seven seals and ver 7. Christ who was the Lamb took this Book out of the right-hand of God and so handed it over to us acquainting us with the mysteries and mercies in it Observ 8. The glorious and blessed truths of the Gospel do come from Christ Jesus as Mediator and making Reconciliation for us with God the Father These waters are said to flow from the Altar which was a type of Christ The Sacrifices offered upon the Altar were for Reconciliation and Christ being both Altar and Sacrifice hath reconciled man to God and as he doth this so the Waters flow from him so Gospel-truths are given out by him The Gospel is the purchase of the death of Christ seal'd with his blood and holds out strong arguments of our being reconciled to God and therefore it is called The Gospel of peace Ephes 6.15 These are the Observations from the two first Verses Now for those that flow from the other three Verses Observ 1. The Lord Christ as he is the Ahchitector of the Church so the Measurer of all things belonging unto it He is the Man in this Vision with the line in his hand nothing is to be done in his spiritual Temple but according to his will and direction Moses measured out all in the Tabernacle David and Solomon all in the Temple but Christ is the onely Measurer in this House Gospel-measurings are committed to the Son Heb. 1.2 God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son and he is over his own House Heb. 3.6 to order and dispose all things as himself pleaseth Observ 2. The motion of Sanctuary-waters is not accidental or Humane but according to Divine Appointment Christ goeth forth Eastward measures a thousand cubits and then the waters flow that way and then he measures a thousand cubits more and so they flow another way That way Christ went with his line measuring the waters still flowed which imports that the preaching of the Gospel in one place and not in another is not casual or as man will but the Appointment of Christ He forbad his Disciples to go into the way of the Gentiles and into the Cities of the Samaritans but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Mat. 10.5 6. Christ here measured out the cubits where these Gospel waters should flow Paul and those with him being forbidden to carry these waters into Asia and not suffered to go with them into Bythinia whither their wills were bent at length by a Vision they are directed into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel there Acts 16.6 7 8 9 10. Christ had measured out a thousand cubits there for these spiritual Waters to flow It is at the Appointment of Christ what Countreys what Cities what Towns and what Families shall have these waters Observ 3. That as it is at Christs Appointment to what places these waters shall flow so likewise how far therein they shall flow So many cubits as Chrâ—â—â— measures out so far they shall flow and not further If he measure out a thousand cubits they shall extend so far if he measure out but five hundred cubits or one hundred onely the waters shall run to the borders thereof and not one cubit beyond nor one short So far as Christs line is stretched over any place so far the waters of the Sanctuary will and must flow Observ 4. The Doctrine of the Gospel is never rightly understood unless we be taught it by Christ He led Ezekiel into the waters of the Sanctuary so is the Hebrew bammaiim and we read it through them He instructed him in the nature and qualities of them Whosoever understands the Gospel savingly is led into that knowledge by the Spirit of Christ The Apostles themselves had not understood the Gospel had not Christ sent them his Spirit John 16.13 When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth that is he will make you know all truth savingly The truths of Christ are spiritual and without the Spirit they are not discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 15. Many wade into these spiritual waters without Christ and his Spirit and they are of those who are said to be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.7 Observ 5. The Doctrine of the Gospel conversion of sinners and graces of the Spirit proceedeth gradually 1. For the Doctrine of the Gospel that went out gradually like water out of a fountain which