the Garments of Christs Righteousness But it s a glory veiled up from the eyes of the most of men there is a covering of Rams skins drawn over it which keeps the sight of this glory from men there is nothing but an eye of Faith can discern this therefore is the glory of the Church said to be a hidden glory from the world men as men see little into it or know little of it Psalm 45. 13. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within all her cloathing is of wrought Gold But however though in the account of men the Church of Christ seems to be poor and mean and worthless yet because of the Righteousness of Christ with which she is cloathed she is very beautiful and glorious and lovely in Gods eyes Cant. 1. 9 10. I have compared thee Oh my love to a company of Horses in Pharoahs Chariots thy cheeks are comely with rows of Ienels thy neck with chains of Gold So ver 15. Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair thou hast doves eyes So Isa 43 34. For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethiopia and Sheba for thee since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life And hence it is the Saints are Gods Jewels Mal. 3. 17. by all which you may perceive what great respects God hath for the Church because of that glorious Tabernacle covering of the Righteonsness of Christ which is put upon them Use 1. O then how should the thoughts of this wonderfully raise and comfort the hearts of the people of God especially in two seasons First in doubting seasons when a poor Soul lieth burthened under the sence of his personal vileness and pollutedness before God which oftentimes weakens the souls confidence in God and keeps the soul at a distance with God who thinks that as he seems in his own eyes so he doth in the eyes of God Oh soul remember the Tabernacle covering that glorious wrought piece which had the Cherubims wrought in it which Cherubims were the Emblems and Signs of mercy in which covering God looks upon all Believers not as they are in themselves but as they are and do appear before him in the righteousness of his Son which covering hides all thy filth and iniquity and infirmities Psal 32. 1. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered So that you see there is that which doth cover transgression and hide iniquity that it cannot appear before God to condemn the soul Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to a soul in Christ Iesus The Robe of Christs Righteousness is such a covering for and to the Church as that it doth not only hide sin pollution and a thousand times ten thousand infirmities but also it presents the soul to God in its own dress and so draws forth the love of God and the delight of God to the creature as if the creature had never sinned Ephes 5. 26. 27. Husbands love your wives as Christ hath loved the Church and given himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water and the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Therefore the Spouse in Cant. doth notably distinguish her condition in this case as she saw her self in her self and as by faith she saw her self in the Righteousness of Christ First as she saw her self in her self so she crys out she was black as the tents of Kedar which tents were made of black hair-cloth so black and worse was she in her own eyes by reason of sin and corruption which dwelt within her Cant 1. 5. Secondly but as she looked upon her self in Christ covered over with his Righteousness so she cryeth out she was as comely as the curtains of Solomon there she knew she was without spot or wrinkle in Gods sight and in the worst of times could go with boldness to the Throne of grace to ask grace and mercy to help in time of need as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 4. 16. here it was in his covering that Paul desired to be found in above any place or state in the world for justification Phil. 3. 9. To be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Laâ— but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Oh soul study this Tabernacle covering more and more and labour by faith to see thy self in it then thy the doubts and fears will begin to leave thee but not before Secondly this will administer great comfort to the soul in times of Persecution when the Church shall be buffeted and slandered and slighted and scorned and cast out as evil and accounted the dung of the times then may the people of God comfort themselves in this truth though men slight them yet God doth not though they see no beauty in us yet God doth and he saith in all the reproaches we meet with we are honourable and precious in his sight Isa 45 3 4. What if Councils and Parliaments Kings and Princes and Nations shall vomit us up out of the midst of them yet the Lord hath other thoughts of his people and so long it s well enough the world thinks we are not worthy to live with their dogs but God accounts one of his Saints worth a whole Nation of the wicked ones Use 2. Oh then how should this truth press upon men and women to get into this Tabernacle covering Oh Sirs whatever thoughts you may have of your selves it may be you are rich and honourable in this life you may have great names amongst your Neighbours for your Wealth Parts Wisdom or Valour but let me tell you if you be not within this Tabernacle covering of the Lord Jesus his Righteousness God accounts you more worthless then the dung of the streets Prov. 10. 20. The heart of a wicked man is little worth They are the scorn of Heaven Psal 2. 4. They are the burthen of the Earth Rom. 8. 22. and to say no more they are the delight and joy of hell This is thy condition soul while thou art out of Christ thou hast no Tabernacle covering about thee to present thee faultless to God but art under the Law and Curse a poor naked wretched soul Oh therefore my advice to thee is to endeavour to get into this Righteousness O flie to Christ give him no rest untill he hath put this glory upon thy soul that so thou mightst not be found naked when the great and notable day of the Lord shall come I come now to speak unto the outward coverings which covered or comprehended all the rest of coverings or things in the Tabernacle and this covering
you cannot see the Sun in the Heavens so this smoke of Errour and Antichristianism which arose from Hell did wholly put out the Lamp lights of truth amongst them every where through out the Romish Church so that this is one way of offending the light in the Churches of Christ which hinders it from shining forth for the profit of others Secondly A thing that hinders the light in shining is the corruptness of the Teachers hearts men that are ambitious of honour or are covetous of gain being greedy after much of this world these are such as prove offensive to the light of truth and very much hinder the shinings of it in the Church such were the Sons of old Eli the Priest whose filthy greedy covetous conversation made the sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred in Israel 1 Sam. 2. 12 13 14 15 16 17. so Ezek. 34. 2. 3. with 18. 19. Likewise Jude tells you of a sort of greedy Teachers who run greedily after the way of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Corah you see the Apostle makes the covetousness of Balaam and the gainsaying of Corah to link together and well he may because the one is such a notable Introduction into the other sin for a man to grow greedy of gain with Balaam is the ready way for him to become the truths gainsayer with Corah Dâ—than and Abiram Now by such things as these is the light of Gods pure work oftentimes darkned in the Church But secondly what these snuffers are or what that provision is which God hath provided to correct these corruptions in order to the keeping pure the light of truth in the Churches of Christ and this consists of three things First Sound Arguments preached and prest upon the Consciences of men from the word of God convincing men of the errour of their notions who shall endeavour to vent any thing of an unsound or hurtful concernment in the Church of Christ by holding forth to them the judgments of God as they are laid down in his word against such as shall persist and go on in their obstinacy hence you have these words from S. Paul to Titus Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as have been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsaver You may adde unto this of Titus the whole Epistle of Jude which may very well be compared for its usefulness this way which to me doth wonderfully agree with the end of the snuffers of gold in the Tabernacle which was made to preserve the Lamp light while shining in the Churches of Christ Secondly That means which in a second place is to be added to the former in order to the making up the snuffers in the Tabernacle of Gods Church is a faithful admonishing of the erroneous person for his errours and mistakes not favouring of him either for his place or greatness you are to know truth is the greatest of all he is not worthy to be a professour of truth much less a Preacher of truth who regards not truth above the person of any man in the world this is the rule 2 Thes 3. 14 15 If any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed that is be not so intimate with him as you are and ought to be with those that are sound Christians that he may understand by your carriage that he is not right in the faith of our Lord Jesus Yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a friend Thirdly The third and last thing to be added to the making up the snuffers in the Gospel tabernacle is this that if nothing of the above said means will prevail to the correcting of errour in the maintainers thereof then cast him out for a Heretick that he may do no more mischief in the Church of Christ giving notice to all the Churches what hath been done to such a one that the Churches may avoid and shun him where ever they meet with him therefore is this rule given the Saints Tiâ—us 3. 10. A man that is a heretick after the first and second admonition reject Were this rule carefully observed in the Churches of Christ how wonderfully would it conduce to the keeping truth free from those mixtures of errour which otherwise will cleave to it do men what they can Use 1. O Brethren how infinitely should we admire the wisdom of God in these things O how much of the Divine pollicy of heaven is there which lieth wrapt up in these golden Misteries O who can read these secrets and not have a heart deeply affected with them My dear Friends let not Gods ancient contrivements from eternity go void of its great observations amongst us O peep a little into these great Misteries of the Tabernacle-worship and ask your selves what infinite reason you have to admire God in all surely if some of the heathen Phylosophers could so gaze in a way of admiration on that Divine wisdom of God which so gloriously compacted the frame of the whole world O what cause have Christians to adore the wisdom of God in framing together so glorious a piece as the Tabernacle with the several vessels of it as that there was not a vessel in the whole Tabernacle without its special signification as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 10. 1. Ther were all shadows of good things to come so likewise how much is the love and goodness of God seen to his poor people in this world that he should provide them with such spiritual necessaries to help them out in all exigencies and to relieve themselves by upon all occasions if they want light and comfort they know where to have it he hath fixed his burning Lamps amongst them if they should find their oil to grow slack their oil of comfort their oil of peace and refreshment they know where the Olive-tree Christ stands they have him with them Thy name is in the midst of us saith the Prophet it s but to call upon him and he hath promised to hear Psal 50. 15. And if their Lamp light at any time prove dimme through any corruptions cleaving to it they have their snuffers made up of sound Scriptural Arguments together with these two Ordinances of admonition and excommunication to correct the evil at pleasure that the lights may keep their shining in the midst of them still Use 2. Lastly The Use of lamentation O how little of this means have the Lords people made use of for the protecting of the light of truth in the midst of us how have the snuffers been laid by as wholly uselesse of late years by which means errour hath gotten the ground of truth in an aboundant measure insomuch by the neglect of Christians herein though truth was sent into the world to get ground of errour the truth is errour hath almost weeded out truth truly for redress in this
wickedness My brethren where can you go into what Land Countrey County City Town or Family but you may blush to see the common prophaneness of it to your great grief what swearing lying couzening theeving brawling fighting and revelling is there abounding amongst men how do the most men tumble and wallow in the filth of uncleanness how are some buried up head and ears in their pride how do others glory in their oppression O how are others drowned in their malice how like swines do others reel up and down in their drunkenness what treachery and deceit and falshood dwells there in the mindes of men one against another as the Prophet speaks Micah 7. 4 5 6. The best of them is as a briar and the most upright of them sharper then a thorn-hedge Trust ye not in a friend put ye no confidence in a guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom for the son dishonoureth the father the daughter riseth up against the mother in law a mans enemies are the men of his own house To this agreeth the words of Paul to the Ephesians chap 2. 2 3 Where in times past you walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience among whom ye had your conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desire of the minde and of the flesh and were by nature the children of wrath even as others Therefore it is that David when he was forced to flie into Gath among the Philistines because of the prophaneness of the people cryed out Woe is me that I dwell in Mesech and am constrained to live in the tents of ungodliness Secondly As this agreeth with Egppt for prophaneness so for false worship It is natural for men in a carnal concondition to worship God in a wrong manner as a good man said once every man is born with a little Pope in his belly To set up a false worship is the first thing a carnal man puts himself forth in This is the reason that the greatest part of the world lieth drowned in false worship and ante-christianisme it is because they are carnal and blinde and so want the light of God his holy Spirit to guide them into the truth Where will you expect to finde fish but in the water where would you see birds but in the air where would you expect to finde four footed beasts but upon the earth so where would you finde poor blinde carnal men and women worshipping but in their false forms pictures images and rejected ceremonies you may see how stiff the Pharisees stuck unto these things Matth. 15. 1 2. but you may see our Saviours answer Ver. 3. with 8 9. You know Paul the Apostle telleth the Saints in his day that they had been worshippers of stocks and stones dumb idols to this agreeth our Saviours words John 4 22 speaking to the poor carnal woman of Samaria You worship you know not what This is is most certain that the world for want of sight erre in every thing So that you see how well the natural estate of mankinde doth agree with the Land of Egypt for false worship or for worshipping God in a false manner Again Egypt was a place of hard bondage and cruel burthens a place that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. besides the officers of the place would often beat the people if they failed of ought of their work ver 14. they would also refuse to hear the peoples cryes ver 16 17. This answers unto the covenant of works which every carnal man and woman in the world is bound unto by nature and lives under This covenant even to fulfil it in the exactest measure thereof This covenant was made with us in the state of innocency which requires perfect obedience in thought word and deed and not onely perfect obedience but constant continual obedience to the last breath Deut. 6. 5. with Gal. 3. 10. So that if a man fails but in one point of the Law of Works he is guilty of the breach of the whole Iames 2. 10. Now this Covenant of works doth not onely reach the outward actions of the body as some think but the inward motions intentions and purposes of the minde for so our Saviour expounds this Covenant Mat. 5. 20 21 22 with 27 28. verses Now as the case stands with the creature with respect to his fall this covenant of works may well be compared unto Pharaohs task-masters and those that yet live under it to the Jews in Egypt who were under the power of those Task-masters Exodus 5. 10 11 12 13. 14 15 16 17. verses For first of all they required of the Jews brick to be made without straw ver 10 11. so doth the Law require full and perfect obedience of the soul both in body and spirit as ever it did Saith the Law Bring me forth the full tale of obedience according to my commands let not ought of the works be deminished which ye should do in soul and body I will not abate one jot of it bring forth the full tale of your duties let not one be neglected if there be you shall dye the death and perform them in such a manner as I have required or expect death without mercy what you do see it be perfectly holy without the least stain of sin in it in thy prayings in thy fastings in thy mournings in thy hearings in thy almes in thy works of mercy in all that thou doest see that there be not the least vain thought in it nor the least stain of hypocrisie in it if there be thou shalt be damned to eternity Likewise see that it be constantly so with thee from thy birth to thy death If in all thy life thou shalt but miscarry in a word or thought I will pour out all my plagues and curses upon thee Matth. 12. 36. with Gal. 2. 10. I will not regard any thing that thou hast done in my service before though thou hast served me to the last hour of thy life with all thy strength and with all thy power yet if at last thou shalt offend in one word or deed thou shalt dye the death a death eternal of soul as well as body Ezek. 18. 24. Deut 27. ver 26. Now when the soul comes to be awakened to the voice of the Law how is it overwhelmed with amazement and horrour like the Jews under their task-masters how bitterly doth the soul bewail his condition crying out with Paul Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from so cruel a bondage as this Thus the soul falling down flat on the ground cryeth out of his condition because of the hard usage it hath from the Law that it should require the full tale of brick and yet deny straw O saith the soul
out O what manner of love is this that we should be called the Sons of God CHAP. 19. I shall in the next place speak of the Candlestick which was placed in the Tabernacle IN this Tabernacle there was placed a Candlestick which was made of pure Gold and the fashion of it was thus It parted from a foot high in the stem into six branches three of the branches going one way and three of the branches going another way there were three bowls made like unto three almonds with their knobs and their flowers to every branch but in the stem of the Cnadlestick below their parting were four bowls with their knobs and their flowers Exod. 27. 17. Exod 37. 18 19 20. By the Candlestick in this place we are to understand to be meant the Church of God which Church is made up of true Believers which truly and sincerely profess and own Christ and his Worship being redeemed by his Blood from all the earth Rev. 7. 14. This is the signification of the Candlestick the truth of which you may read Rev. 1. 20. where the seven Churches are compared to seven golden Candlesticks which answereth to the Candlestick in the Tabernacle for that was made of pure beaten Gold Ex. 27. 17. Now the Church of God may be compared to a Candlestick several manner of wayes First As a Candlestick is made to mount or hold up the light that all in a time of darkness may see so doth the Church and people of God they hold up the light of truth and the bright shinings of the word and Gospel that all that are in the dark world who sit in the Region and shadow of death might behold the face of God in Jesus Christ shining through the Saints gifts graces and holy conversations in upon their souls Isaiah 2. 3. The Law shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem by which means Isa 9. 2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light and they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined Though this latter prophesie doth principally belong to Christ yet it is to be applied to his Church also for it s through them Christ shineth upon the dark world therefore saith our Saviour to his Dissciples Matth. 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world meaning they were the Candlestick prepared of God to hold up and hold out the light of truth to the dark blinde miserable world Use 1. This informs then what a deal of duty lieth upon the Church both Ministers as well as others First For Ministers what care should they take and what pains should they expose themselves unto in order to the keeping up and holding forth the light and word of the Gospel to the dark nations of the earth what care did Paul take to fulfil his ministry and to discharge his duty this way Acts 20. 24. He counted not his life dear unto himself so that he could fulfil his ministry with you which ministration he had received from the Lord Jesus and that he might be useful this way you may take notice of Pauls practice Acts 20. 20. I have kept back nothing which was profitable to you but have shewed you and taught you openly and throughout every house But O good God how few such house preaching lights doth the eart afford us in this our age but contrariwise instead of men that should make it their business with Paul and the rest of the Apostles to go from house to house to enlighten the dark famiâ—ies of the earth in the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ they rather bend their forces parts wits and purses to darken and put out the light of truth and the knowledge of God in all the families they meet withal where they go like unto those teachers of old spoken of in Ezek. 34. 18 19. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures and to have drunk of the deep waters but you must foul the residue with your feet and as for my flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet How far these or such as these are from being of the true Candlestick appointed to hold up and hold out the light of truth in the world let the reader judge But again this should teach all the Saints for they are a part of the Candlestick also to endeavour in their several places and callings to promote the glory of God in their generations to study godliness and which way they may be useful with their gifts and graces amongst their relations and neighbours and in their families in order to the bringing in of their souls to Jesus Christ therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5 16. Let pour light so shine before men that they seeing your good works might glorifie your Father which is in heaven To this agreeth the words of Paul Phil. 2 16. with ch 15. ver 15. He exhorts all true Christians that they would labour to hold forth the word of life and that they would labour to live unblameable in their lives and spotless in their conversations and that they would keep themselves without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation amongst whom they were to shine as lights so verse 16. The reason of the former exhortation is given you viz. because they are to hold forth the word of life even as a Candlestick they are to hold up or hold forth the light of truth Secondly A candlestick is appointed to hold fast as wel as to hold up the light that it fall not down because the fall of which many times puts out the light so is the Church of God prepared and fitted to succour and keep up the light of Gods holy truth in the earth that it might not be thrown down by the malice of the devil and wicked men who labour night and day to put it out in the world There be two wayes by which God fitteth the Church as a Candlestick to keep up the light of truth in the world The first is by pouring forth upon them the gifts of the Spirit by vertue of which they are enabled to discover detect and finde out all errour and whatsoever may be contrary to sound doctrine as in Rev. 2. 2. Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars Hence it is that the adversaries of truth are said not to be able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which St. Stephen spake Acts 6. 10. The reason you may perceive lay in this the Church of which Stephen was a member had a very great measure of the gifts of the Spirit which came upon them but a little before read Acts 2. 1 2 3 4. Secondly God fits his Church as
a Candlestick to maintain and hold up the light of his holy truth in the world is by pouring forth upon their hearts the grace of his Spirit that so they might be enabled to suffer for it The Saints suffering for truth doth wonderfully tend to the confirming of truth in the earth and to the making of it acceptable amongst men in this world insomuch that in the first three hundred years after Christ the Churches sufferings for the truth occasioned this proverb That the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church Hence it is that the suffering Saints are called Gods witnesses therefore St. Paul tells you that the truth got great ground by his sufferings Phil. 1. 14. Use 1. O then how should this teach the Lords people to bestir themselves in the way of their duty O remember ye are God Candlestick and appointed by God for this purpose to keep up truth in the world O then how should this encourage the Lords people to appear in the defence of that glorious light of truth which God hath put into your hands and not to suffer it to be trodden down with so much ease as it is now in the world I do not mean nor say that the Lords people should betake themselves to any weapon besides faith tears prayers and sound arguments together with a bold standing up in the visible practice of the wayes and truths of God against all that is contrary to this truth These be the weapons that I mean and this is the contending that I plead for and as to this way of contending for the Faith what cause hath God to complain of his people as once he did of Israel of old No man is valiant for the truth O what little contending is there amongst Saints for the faith that was once delivered to them O what silly heartless dove-like spirits are the Lords people surprized withal who can sit and hear the truths of the Gospel rended in pieces before their eyes and in their hearing and not a word spoken for it or in the defence of it but instead thereof they out of a slavish fear do but too much comply with the wicked in it O brethren the precious truths of Sion are more worth then so more worth then not to have one word spoken for them O remember the Church is to contend for the faith and know that God will deeply charge home the neglect of this duty one day close upon your souls O therefore as you would avoid that judgement spoken of in the third of the Revelations ver 16. I beseech you brethren to labour to give up your selves to a holy contending for the faith O earnestly contend for the faith there is great reason so to do for the name of God is upon the Faith the Blood of Christ was shed for this faith the blood of all the Martyrs in all ages in the world hath been shed for this faith O the faith that was once delivered to the Saints is worth the contending for O that God would stir up your hearts to an earnest contending for the faith O set a work a praying spirit and a believing spirit O set on work your parts your pens your purses every way as you are able if the way be warrantable do you contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. Thirdly This Candlestick was made of pure gold this was to teach the Saints what they should and ought to be namely pure gold that is very sincere to God ward void of a heart full of guile and hypocrisie therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5. 48. â—e ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Fourthly This Candlestick was made of beaten gold which was to shew or set forth the glory and the excellency of the Church for as gold exceeds for glory and excellency Iron Lead Tinne or Brass so do the Saints all other men and women in the world Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 16. 3. The Saints are the excellent of the Earth Though the blind world see no worth or excellency in the Saints in this life yet they shall know as Solomon once said that the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12. 26. First The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour for grace Secondly For their attendance for not gilded creatures but glorious Angels are the Saints servants Heb. 1. 14. Thirdly For the Saints food on which they live in respect of which all the dainties in the world or which the world lives upon are but husks and swines meat for the Saints live upon the Bloud and Flesh Word Spirit and promises of Christ John 6. 55. Fourthly The Saints are more excellent then others in point of inheritance for it s not an earthly Dunghil but an inheritance which is pure and undefiled which fadeth not away is the Saints birthright Pet. 1. 1 4. Fisthly The Saints are more excellent then others because they only can prevail upon the heart of God in prayer Prov. 15. 29. Sixthly It s so because its only amongst the Saints God delights to dwel 2 Cor. 6. 16. Psal 132 13 14. Use 1. O then what excellent Conversation should the Saints lead in this world what an engagement should this put upon the Saints to a strict holy walking that they should through grace be made of Gods pure golden Candlestick O therefore soul think with thy self when the Devil would at any time intice thee to sin against God or would draw away thy heart at any time from the Lord O say this to thy temptation O Satan I am one that belongs to Gods pure Candlesticks how should I dare to bespot my self with the least of impurities as Joseph answered his Mistress Gen. 39. 9. So do thou thy temptation How shall I do such a wickedness and sin against God Again As the Candlestick had three Bouls and Knops with their flowers upon it This was for Ornament to adorn the Candlestick that so it might the more appear in its glory and beauty to the beholder all which was to set forth the glory and beauty of the Church of God which by the righteousnesse of Christ and the Divine Graces of his Spirit is made more glorious then the gold of Ophir read Psal 45. 13 14. Isa 54. 11 12. Rev. 12. 1. The Churches glory is only discerned by an eye of believing a carnal understanding knows very little of this saith John 1. 3 1. The world knows us not certainly were not the glory of the Saints a hidden veiled up glory from the world its impossible but the Saints would be better intreated at the worlds hands then they are but however thou farest at the worlds hands let me advise thee to these two things First If the world shew thee and the rest of the Saints no favour yet pity them because they are held so much in a condition of darknesse as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of
the Spirit for the benefit of the Elect of God in several ages of the world that as the Lamps were never to go out in the Tabernacle so the Lord will never be wanting with the gifts of his Spirit upon his Ministers throughout all ages that he might by and through them keep up the light and truth of his holy will in the world in despight of all opposition whatsoever read Psalm 132. 15 16 17. I will abuudantly bless their provision I will satisfie their poor with bread I will cloath her Priests with salvation and their Saints shall shout for joy there will I make the horn of David to bud I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed This is the promise of God to the Candlestick is Church throughout all ages in the world giving them to understand that let men and devils do what they can yet certainly God will alwayes keep up the lamp light of truth to the end of the world You see the lamp was alwayes to burn in the Tabernacle so as certainly the light of truth shall and must alwayes burn in the world Hence you have it in the Psalms Psalm 132. 14. where God is speaking of the Candlestick his Church saith in these words This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it for my habitation Use 1. This informs us then of the great folly and madness of the children of this world who labor night and day to extinguish and put out these lamp lights of Gospel truth which God hath set up in his Church Alas men do but strive against the stream in the thing you see how successess men have been in their attempts this way even from the beginning How did Pharaoh King of â—â—yâ—t strive to root out the Lamp lights in his day so how did King â—â—â—â—bâ—am lay out himself this way in his day by setting up the Calves by throwing out the good Ministers of the Lord and in putting into their rooms Priests made of the lowest and basest of the People 1 Kings 12. 31. so in Christs time what ado did King Herod make to finde out the Lamp of lamps viz. our Lord Jesus Christ that he might quite rid the world of his light Mat. 2. so in the Apostles dayes how did the Jews labour to fill the world with uproars against them that their lamp light of truth might be wholly put out of the earth so the heathen Emperours in the first three hundred years after the Apostles what bloody attempts did they in their times make against the lamps and so all along ever since their time for this fifteen hundred years what horrid cruel desperate attempts have the Antechristian party in the world made against these lamp lights of Gospel truth which Christ by his Apostles hath left for the good of his Church witness the slaughtering of the Waldenses Albingenses beside those many murthers which have been done upon the Christians in Germany whose case without doubt God is now a pleading by the Turks You may call to minde the many cruel murthers done in France and Ireland as also the many cruelties which have past upon the Lords people in England ever since Queen â—â—arâ—â— time what endeavours what plots what secret treacheries have there been afoot to get down these divine lights which God in mercy hath caused to shine in the midst of us But alas alas let me tell such men that all their labour is but lost labour men do but kick against the pâ—icks and throw back their heels against sharp stakes that persist in a work of this nature O you persecutors of truth and such as think to extinguish the lamps of Gods truth to you I speak even to you of every nation in the world O Sirs lay down your weapons of contention push at the pikes no longer for you will certainly perish in the end know you that do what you can God will keep alive his lamp lights of truth in the world in despight of you all certainly you do but set the briars and thorns in battle aray against the everlasting burnings in rising up to resist the work of God in the earth God will have his work to go on O therefore stand not in his way God will make way for it though it be through your heart blood read Psalm 45. 4 5 6. Psal 36. 9. O therefore be wise ye judges of the earth and be ye instructed ye great ones serve the Lord with fear and come before him with trembling kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the miâ— way when his wrath is kindled but a little therefore if you love your selves hearken to the advice of that learned Doctor Acts 5. 34. with 38 39. Then stood there up one in the councel a Pharisee named Gamaliel a doctor of the Law who said And now I say unto you Refrain your selves from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily ye be found even to fight against God Lastly and I have done this Type It is to be noted that this Type viz. the Lamps was to burn before the Lord or in his sight which signifies Gods watchful eye over the lamps that so nothing might hinder or obstruct the burning of them you may fully see the care of God set out to you in this thing Isa 27 2 3. In that day saith God speaking of his Church sing ye unto her a vineyard of red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day Use 4. This should inform us then what a dangerous thing it is for men to endeavour to corrupt the pure Worship of God by mixing any thing of their humane inventions with Gods divine Institutions certainly there cannot be any thing added to the Doctrine or Worship of God but God will readily espy it for the lamps were to burn before the Lord where the eyes of his glory should be fixed upon them let it be in the most secret Chambers men can devise yet God will finde it out Ezek. 8. 12. You may see how dearly the two sons of Aaron paid for so bold an adventure Levit. 10. 1 2. Truly men cannot easily provoke God in any thing more then by endeavouring to eclipse the shining of his lamp lights of Gospel truth in the world for truth may be as much eclipsed by corrupting of it as any other way But good Lord what little conscience do men make of this crying sin at this day Alas how do the learned of the earth labour by their wits and parts to adulterate the worship of God and the pure oyl of truth in this our age so that the great evil is come upon the earth now which fell upon Israel of old Ezek. 34. 18. They eat the good pasture and tread wn the residue
with their feet they drink up the best water and foul the residue with their feet But truly though men may joyn hand in hand in this thing yet they shall not go unpunished Use 5. What an ingagement should the thoughts of this doctrine of the lamps burning alwayes before the Lord put upon the hearts of all Ministers of the Gospel to look to it that there doctrine be sound and that which will hold weight before the Lord if Ministers doctrine do at any time carry more of their own water in it then Gods Wine certainly God will discover it the Ministers are Gods Lamps appointed for the Tabernacle and they are to burn before the Lord that is they never act but Gods eye is upon what they do and preach in his Worship to observe what comes from them his eye is upon them in the studying of their matter while in the composing of it and his eye is upon them in the Pulpit while they are preaching of it if there be iron and tin mixed with Gods gold and silver surely the pure eyes of Gods glory will try it of what sort it is therefore saith Paul in 1 Cor. 3. 12 13 14 15. If any man build on this foundation gold silver precious stones hay wood or stubble every mans work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed or fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is if any mans work abide which he hath built thereon he shall receive a reward but if any mans work shall be burnt he shall receive loss yet he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire O if men were well acquainted with the strict eye that God exerciseth always over his burning lamps the Ministers with respect to their doctrine surely men would be more careful then they are both in their studying and preaching of them and would tremble to bring forth such sad stuff for doctrine as some do amongst us Paul â—ells you of a doctrine of devils 1 Tim. 4 1. And sayes that some men which give heed to seducing spirits may be given unto therefore if men would be protected from being delivered up to the doctrine of seducing spirits let men labour faithfully to bring forth the doctrine of God Hence it is that Paul hath it in 1 Tim. 4. 16. Take heed unto thy self and to the doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt both save thy self and them which hear thee CHAP. 22. I now come to speak of the Snuffers which did belong to the Lamps in the Tabernacle ANd there were Snuffers likewise made of pure gold which belonged to the Tabernacle as well as the Lamps and Candlestick Exod 37. 23. Now the use of that instrument you know it is to correct or to remove out of the way any thing that shall offend the burning of the light that so the light might shine with the more brightness and clearness Now if you observe the thing the snuffers are put together with the lamps Exod. 37. 23. And he made seven lamps and his snuffers with his dishes of pure gold which gives us to understand that the snuffers were appointed for the use of the Lamps which Lamps as I have said signifies the light of truth which through the pourings out of the gifts of the Spirit into the hearts of the gifted men of the Candlestick the Church God intends by them to keep up in all ages of the world Now by the adding the snuffers to the seven Lamps we the better come to understand their property which is as I have said to correct all those superfluities which in cleaving to the lights of the Lamps are apt to hinder its shining This shews us the great care which God doth and will take to the keeping up of the purity of truth in its glory and lustre in the Church do what men and devils will to the contrary it shews us likewise the great provision which God hath prepared to his peoples hands for the removing out of the way any thing that might tend to the darkening or hindering the light from burning in his Churches and that is it which we are to understand by the Snuffers which were added to the Lamps Now here two things are to be noted First What it is which hinders the light of truth from shining in the Churches of Christ Seeondly What that provision is which as the Snuffers is given forth by God on purpose to correct it and remove it out of the way For the first what it is which offends the light of truth in the Churches of Jesus Christ First It s all that corrupt doctrine and unsound opinions which false teachers labour to usher into the Church of God and of Christ by the cunning craftiness of men which handle the word of God deceitfully of such the Apostle speaks of in his time who laboured to bring in damnable errours into the Church of God Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained unto condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into wantonness and denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ Hence it is that Paul gives such a charge to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20. 28 29 30. Take â—eâ—d brethren unto your selves and unto the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you over seers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud for I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in amongst you not staring the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them so likewise do the Apostle shew us that it will be the portion of the latter ages of the world to be pestered in the Churches of Christ by men of very base and corrupt principles to the eclipsing and darkning of the Lamp lights of truth in the midst of them these are S. Paul words unto Timothy 2 Tim 3. 1. with ver 8. This know that in the last days perilous times shall come for there shall arise men such as Jannes and Jambres who withstood Moses so shall these resist the truth Men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith so Rev. 9. 1 2 3 4. And the fifth Angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit and he opened the bottomless pit and there arose as make out of the bottomless pit like the smoke of a furnace and the Sun and the Air was darkned by reason of the smoke of the pit By the Sun and the Air here spoken of I understand the Lamp light of truth which did once burn in the Romish Church before its falling away for it is the condition of the Church of Rome which the holy spirit intends in this Chapter who intimates to you that as smoke darkens the Air as that
case God hath not been so much wanting to his people in the means as Christians have been to themselves about the faithful use of means if errour have prevailed above truth the fault hath been ours not Gods We have wanted hearts to deal plainly with our offending Brethren in this case besides the great liberty which hath been given to some of our green raw rash members of Churches to vent their undigested notions in publick and that before themselves well skilled in the knowledge of the Scripture and the form of sound words I am not pleading against a Christians exercising his gifts to the building up his fellow-members in the faith provided they keep their bounds and act within their compass untill their growth be such in the judgment of the wise as that they may be adventured upon publick work for want of using the golden snuffers sure I am that many a poor ignorant soul hath been carried away with gross opinions to their utter undoing without the infinite mercy of God prevent it Therefore if we would have our Lamps burn clearly in the midst of us let us more use the golden snuffers which were appointed to remove that which should hinder the light in its shining with more diligence then yet we have done I shall conclude this type of the snuffers with that good word of the Lord in Prov. 36. 6. Adde thou not unto his word lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar for every word of God is pure CHAP 23. I now come to speak of the two Altars which were made and placed in the Tabernacle both of which having special reference to Jesus Christ. THese Altars were two in number their difference in form and fashion was not great only the one was overlaid with pure gold and had his Crown upon it and the other was overlaid with brass but we find not any Crown upon that and the Altar which was overlaid with brass had a Grate of Net-wort made for it which was to let out the ashes of the slain sacrifices which were to be offered as a burnt-offering upon it Exod. 27. 1 2 3 4 5. Both of the Altars had horns alike which were in number four and placed at the four corners of the Altars Exod. 27. 2. with Exod. 37. 25 26. Now these two Altars differed mostly in use or office for the Altar which was overlaid with pure gold and had the Crown upon it was only to offer the burnt Incense upon Exod. 40. 26 27. And the Altar which was overlaid with brass that only was to offer the burnt sacrifice upon which sacrifices consisted of the bodies of the slain beasts which were to be offered before the Lord Exod. 40 29. These two Altars did signifie both to them and all else the Lord Jesus Christ as then to come with respect to the twofold work which he was to do and suffer for believers in the handling of which I shall do these two things First I shall shew you that these Altars did signifie Christ our Lord who was then to come Secondly That according to the differing uses of these Altars are the differing works of Christ for and in the behalf of all true believers First That these Altars did signifie Christ to come to this you have St. Pauls words agreeing read 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. In which place you have the Apostle speaking how much a duty it is that Preachers of the Gospel should be well provided for by the Saints and that because they wait on the things of the Gospel and that was to preach and make known Jesus Christ to their souls now to prove that such Ministers are of right to be provided for the Apostle doth instance the right which the Moseical Law did give those men which did wait on the Altar to eat of the things of the Altar as if the Apostle should have said certainly Gospel Ministers have no less a right to a maintenance then the legal Ministers had under the Law seeing our work is one and the same the difference only lay in mode and circumstance not in substance they and we all taught one and the self same Christ they waited on the Altar typical and we wait upon the Altar substantial they upon the Altar of the legal tabernacle and we upon the Altar Christ of the heavenly tabernacle as that their Altar was but the type or forerunner of Christ our Evangelical Altar which we wait on and preach to you my end in this Commentary was not so much to handle a Ministers maintenance as to give you by what hath been spoken a sight of the great congruity the Apostle makes to be between the Altars in the tabernacle and Christ Jesus so Heb. 13. 10. We have an Altar whereof none have right to eat which serve the tabernacle you may easily perceive in reading through this Epistle to the Hebrewes that the drift and purpose of the Apostle was to bring off the Jews from their resting in these shadows to live more upon Christ the true substance which the legal Figures were only the types of And labours to convince them that the tabernacle with all the glorious Vessels in it together with what else was of any Ceremonial use amongst them all was but to shadow out Christ to come read Heb. 9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. And amongst which things the Altars in the Tabernacle were of special use in point of signification as they related to Christ as any other type which was in use amongst them And therefore doth the Apostle so apply the matter in hand if you compare the 10. verse of Heb. 13. with the 5th ver of the same Chapter for when in the 10. ver he had spoken of the Jewish Altar saying in these words We have an Altar which none have right to eat which serve at the tabernacle he presently in ver 12. brings in Christ as the Antytipe of that type in these words Wherefore Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Mark he suffered without the gate as a sacrifice which was proper to the Altar in the Tabernacle thus you see how the Apostle makes Christ and the Altar in the Tabernacle to agree here also so Rev. 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them which were beheaded for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus which they hold Which Altar we must understand to be meant of Jesus Christ which was slain for the sins of the world under which sacrifice lieth murdered of the slain Prophets Apostles Martyrs of Jesus Christ that have died for the word of God in all Ages of the world for as Christ was sacrificed for their sins so are the Saints willingly sacrificed for his truths and so Christ and the Saints are by John represented to our view in one suffering heap or body together only Christ hath the preeminence he first and they after or Christ
to the Altar of attonement and satisfaction There be three seasons when a Christian should have special regard to the Altar of satisfaction First In guilt seasons Secondly In doubting seasons Thirdly In corruption-prevailing seasons First In guilty seasons when the heart and conscience comes to be stained with the guilt of sin then is it the souls time to run to the Altar of satisfaction when ever the Jews had any guilt broke out upon them they were to take some offering or other in their hands and a way to the Priest with it that he might hasten to the altar of satisfaction and there make an attonement for them by offering up their offering before the Lord. O so should believers do when guilt breaks forth upon them they should flie by faith to their Gospel Altar of satisfaction and attonement saith John 1. 2. 1. 2. My little children if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous for he is a propitiation in his blood for our sins and not onely for ours but for the sins of the whole world Certainly many a poor soul many times lies longer under trouble of spirit then they need to do were they but well acquainted with this truth that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 7. A through acquaintance with and a close application made of this Scripture in doubting times it would wonderfully ease the heart in trouble therefore O troubled soul wouldst thou have thy guilts removed from thy conscience and wouldst thou get thy self into the favour of God again wouldst thou have within in thy soul wouldst thou have the anger of God pacified again whom thou hast offended O then run to the altar of satisfaction take an offering in thy hand go and call upon the Priest and pray him to go into the Tabernacle for thee and there offer upon the Altar of satisfaction thy offering before the Lord I mean take with thee in thy hand of faith the blood merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ and beg him to lay up this upon the Altar of his satisfaction for thee O stand at the Tabernacle door of the throne of grace there call upon thy high Priest Jesus give him no rest day or night until he hath gone in to the Father and made an attonement for thee which done thon mayest assure thy self of that peace of God which passeth all understanding as the Jews in offering what they had to present their High Priest withal might expect a full peace between God and their souls which was obtained by the high Priest for them And you know the obtaining of their peace at Gods hands upon their observing of this rule was very unquestionable so soul in the observation of this rule between thy soul and Christ thou needest doubt of the love and favour of God to thy soul no more then the Jews Secondly A second season when a Christian should have regard to the Altar of satisfaction is in doubting seasons when the Devil shall so far prevail as to discourage the soul from coming to partake of his right to the altar of satisfaction and this the Devil doth oftentimes by telling the soul that the Altar was never set up or prepared for such a vile rebellious wretch as the sinning soul hath been And thus the soul being filled with discouragements is oftentimes almost swallowed up with exceeding grief and despair But let me answer the devil in that soul O Satan thou hast by thy cunning subtle crafty devices deceived many poor souls this way already by which hellish craft thou hast held back many a thousand poor souls from partaking of the priviledges of their Altar Christ bearing them in hand that the Father looks for greater preparations of soul and higher qualifications of heart and life to fit the soul for such a mercy as the Altar Christ is then the soul is yet able to bring with him which design is but to put the soul upon delayes on purpose for his everlasting undoing for he well knows if the soul should stay from Christ until he be fit for Christ the soul never gets Christ to eternity But Satan that thou mayest prevail no more this way upon poor souls I tell thee by the word of the Lord and in the name of my God first of all that the Altar of satisfaction is erected and set up for every comer to it as that let the soul be never so vile unworthy unclean or impure in himself yet he shall be accepted as heartily as ever was Saint in the world if he will but come to the Altar for Satan thou knowest very well though thou thus blindest the eyes of poor souls that the Commission which Christ hath given to all his Ministers is to preach another doctrine in the world then what thoa preachest to men and women which is as follows Isaiah 55. 1 2. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that have no money come ye buy wine and milk without money and without price wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight its self in fatness Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live come unto me and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even ths sure mercies of David so John 7. 37. And Jesus stood and cried it any man thirst let him come to me and drink Matthew 11. 28 29. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and ye shall finde rest to your souls take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easie and my burden is light So Revelations 22. 17. The Spirit saith come and the Bride saith come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely so that the souls coming in a way of believing gives him a real right to the Altar of satisfaction for the altar of satisfaction or attonement was erected for the guilty not for the righteous saith Christ I come not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Therefore the Apostle tells you that the Altar was set up to make reconciliation for sinnes Hebrews 9. 13. But to perswade a soul that he must not come to the Altar until he is so and so qualified and humbled and mortified to sinne is to make void the great excellency of the Altar and to render it of no effect Thus Satan thou labourest by thy subtleties not onely to destroy the soul for ever by keeping it from Christ but also thy next design is wholly to overthrow the glory of Christs sufferings in the whole world Secondly This Altar is so far from expecting such qualifications in the comers to it as that it stands there on purpose to give out these
those that come to God by him Heb. 7. And to be a propitiation in his bloud for the sins of the whole world John 1. 2 2. That is there was so much Incense given this Angel by the Lord or so much vertue put into the death of Christ that although it was never intended for all the world yet there is a vertue or a sufficiency in his death able to save all the world at once And it s said the Angel offered Incense that is the Lord Jesus Christ was interceding at the Throne of grace for the Saints Now pray observe all this was done with the prayers of all Saints so that the Saints are set forth as a praying people as well as Christ is set forth as an interceding High Priest Christs prayers and his peoples prayers going up together before the Lord make up the great cloud of Incense which went up from the Altar Thus you see the point cleared that Christs interceding in Heaven at his Fathers right hand for Believers doth not give any liberty to the least neglect in prayer here on earth therefore doth our High Priest himself enjoyn prayer to be made by the Saints that live under his Priesthood Matth. 26 41. And farther says that men ought to pray always Luke 18. 1. So likewise the Apostles of Christ they tell you that the subjects of this Gospel Priesthood must pray James 5. 13. and that they must pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. and that without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17 and that men should continue instant in it Rom. 12. 22. and that men should pray always night and day Eph 6. 18. Thes 2. 3 10. and for one another James 5. 16. with this advice that it must be in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. likewise this hath been made the Character of a good man Acts 9. 11 and on the contrary a prayerless heart is looked upon in Scripture to be a wicked heart Job 27. 10. Thirdly and lastly I come to speak of the end or main purpose of the work of the Incense Altar or of the work of Christs Intercession which he driveth on in Heaven for Believes Now the purpose of this glorious work of Christs Intercession it was to make Reconciliation for sin or amongst many other things one mainâ— thing was this viz. the keeping up a constant peace between God and the Soul therefore it was called the office for atonement Exod. 30. 10. And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of the Incense Altar once a year with the bloud of the sin offering of atonements once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your Generations its most holy to the Lord. This the Apostle applies to Jesus Christ Heb. 2 17. where you have the Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ as our Gospel High Priest succeeding Aaron of old the Apostle hath this saying about it in Verse 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God and that he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people Note here That he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people or an atonement which is all one so that this was the end or purpose of the High Priests atonement it was to keep peace between God and the people under the Law this you may see read Numb 16. 46 47 48. And Moses said to Aaron take the Censer and put fire therein off the Altar and put on Incense and go quickly unto the Congregation and make an atonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the Lord the Plague is begun And Aaron took as Moses commanded him and ran into the midst of the Congregation and behold the Plague was begun among the people and he put on Incense and made an atonement for the people and he stood between the dead and the living and the Plague was stayed Thus you see clearly what the purpose and end of the Priests interceding or making atonement for the people amounts unto it is to interpose between Gods wrath and the people or to keep God at peace with the people which is the proper work of Jesus Christ now in glory to make peace for the Saints and to interpose by his Intercession between the anger of God and their sinning souls who labours by those strong cries sighs and groans with many tears which cannot be uttered to prevail with God that he would be pleased for his own death and righteousness sake to pass by those many sins failings and infirmities which his people are apt to commit And as in the like case we read of Moses Exod. 32. 11 12 13. So doth Christ of whom in the work of Intercession Moses was the Type cast himself at the feet of God praying begging intreating that he would be pleased to pass by the sins and daily infirmities of his people and not remember their iniquities against them but that he would extend his Love Favour and Grace to their souls as afore-time and would lead them and conduct them by his special grace to the good land of Canaan the land of promise which was purchased for them by his own bloud upon the Cross at Jerusalem and begs his Father that he would be pleased to look more upon his bloud and righteousness for them and less upon their sins And doth confess as Moses did that the people are and ever have been a stiff-necked and rebellious people ever since he knew them but yet still crys good Father put up all the injuries done against thy glory by this people and let not thy wrath wax hot against the sheep of thy pasture O remember the promises which thou hast made to me concerning this people That a seed should serve me a Generation of men should call me blessed Psal 22. 30. and Psal 72. 17. And that I should see of the travel of my soul and be satisfied Isa 53. 11. and therefore prays that the Father would consider what loss it would be to him who was his Son should the people miscarry how all his sufferings would be lost the end of his coming in the flesh would be lost the fruit of all his Sermons works of Miracles and works of Righteousness would be lost therefore in John 17. 24. Prays saying Father I will that they whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold â—y glory which thou hast given me for thou hase loved me before the Foundation of the world Use 4. O then soul thou seest where to fly under the guilt of sin O what comfort wlll this afford a poor doubting soul that shall well digest this truth into his soul that Jesus Christ is interceding for him now in Heaven how will the knowledge of this feed the hearts of Gods people in times of doubts O let not the Wolves catch any comfort from hence this is what belongs to the true
sheep of Christ and to none else This is not for him that will catch at any comfort to protect himself in a trade of sin but this truth chiefly belongs to those that are indeed truly humbled under and burthened with the sense of the weight of sin To such only I speak do your sins press you down as a Cart is pressed with sheaves Do your iniquities so weigh down your heads as that you cannot look up Dare not you come to God nor stand in his presence Do you fear that your sins have provoked God against you Do you doubt the Plague is begun against you are you fearful the wrath of God is coming out upon you and that it may prove such a storm as may sink you into the lowest Hell Yet O look up to your interceding High Priest who is now in Heaven for you who labours to prevail upon the heart of God for pardoning grace on your behalf who likewise makes it his business to observe his Fathers countenance towards Believers that if at any time his face of Justice begins to look grim and he perceives that wrath begins to come forth he may as Aaron did step quickly in between God and the people and so by his interposing presence of grac eand powerful Intercession he may allay the anger of his Father again Hence it is that John comforts doubting drooping souls in his day with this truth because indeed it is a truth proper to that end and purpose and farther John the Divine doth not only apply this truth as a Cordial to bear them up under the sense of sin but likewise as a notable preservative against the act of sin 1 John 2. 1 2. My little children I write unto you that you sin not and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is a propitiation in his blood for our sins and not onely for ours but for the sins of the whole world O Soul live upon this blessed truth stay thy self here under all thy doubtings O consider sin may vex and disquiet thee but all cannot hurt thee so long as Christ keeps up his praying hands to God for thee it shall not do thy soul the least injury Christ doth prevail and he will prevail in heaven for thee against sin and wrath Christ lies in the way of his Fathers wrath as it were if any of it run forth it must pass through Christ he stands between the Father and thy Soul in a time of the Fathers displeasure and cryes out good Father stay thy wrath O hold thy hands strike not this poor sinner if thou strikest I am resolved the blows shall alight all on my back I will bear all and suffer all and take all both fault and punishment upon my self This the Father tried once and it proved true when the Father went to strike the Elect the blows fell all upon Christs own back which bruised him very much Isa 52. 1. which leads me to a fifth use of the Point Use 5. Which is to exhort thee O soul from what hath been said about the intercession of Jesus Christ for thee Oh! to love Jesus Christ with all thy heart and with all thy strength and with all thy soul O who can love such a friend as Christ is too much O therefore strive to love with the love of service and obedience with the love of delight with the love of communion and with the love of desire so as to part with Father Mother Wife Husband Children Honours Lands Livings yea all that 's near and dear for Jesus Christ O account nothing too much you do for him in his Worship in his Ordinances as in Prayer Hearing Reading in Meditating Mourning Weeping Repenting Oh account nothing too much you administer unto him in his People in his Ministers in the mannaging of his Cause and Gospel in the world O with Mary think not your Alablaster Box and Oyntment too good to bring forth in a time of need for Jesus Christ Oh account nothing too much you suffer for Christ account no prison to bad to go into for Christ no dungeon too deep to lie in for Christ no death too disgraceful for Christs sake because he thought nothing too much he suffered for you nor any thing too much which he now doth for you CHAP. 25. Of the Brazen Laver. I Now come to speak of the brazen Laver which was for this purpose that the Priests might wash themselves therein before they went into the Tabernacle to perform the Worshp and Service thereof Exod. 30. 18 19 20. Thou shalt also make a laver of Brass and his foot also of Brass to wash withal and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the Altar and thou shalt put water therein for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat when they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall wash with water that they die not or when they come near unto the Altar to minister to burn offerings made by fire unto the Lord. This brazen Laver was a Type of Jesus Christ and the cleansing water which was in it typed out the Blood of Jesus Christ which onely can cleanse poor souls and wash them from their sinful guiltiness and sinful filthiness for as the Priests under the Law were to wash themselves in the brazen Laver before they were thought fit to have to do either with the holy God of Worship or the holy things of the Worship of God so are all the Elect first by Faith to wash themselves in the Blood of Christ this spiritual brazen Laver before they are thought fit to have to do either with God or his Worship Hence is that cleansing attributed to the Blood of Christ so often in Scripture to shew you it performs the same use to the Gospel Priests for so doth the Gospel term every Believer now Rev. 1. 6. as the Laver water did to the legal Priests 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin so Rev. 1. 5. To him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Now in this chapter of Revelations you may see by the order of the words in verse 5 6. how the Holy Ghost makes the type and the antitipe to agree In Exod. 30. 19. you have the brazen Laver set up now in the 5. verse of this chapter you have Christ set out to you performing the same use and office in washing and cleansing In Exod. 30. 19. you have the subjects spoken of who they should be which should wash in the brazen Laver and these were Aaron and his sons now you know these were Priests Now look into Rev. 1. 6. there the subjects spoken of which must wash in the Laver of Christs Blood they are called Priests likewise which intends all believers in and under the Gospel all those which have washed in the Blood of Christ our
with deep sighs and groans crying out O Father these are all of my body for whom I intercede if thou lovest me have regard to their conditions they are my own flesh and bones in helping them and relieving them and easing them out of pain thou relievest me and helpest me and easest me out of pain for in all their afflictions I am afflicted Therefore I pray thee let the Angel of thy presence save them Lord look upon my heart and here thou shalt see the names of the twelve tribes even all my Israel engraven in the Letters of my own blood thou shalt never see thy Son but with their conditions engraven upon his heart And what think you souls will not this prevail may not Believers safely adventure their all upon the work of this Priesthood Oh study this more and your comfort will be infinite Obj. But some may say it may be thought the High Priest under the Law did do so for the people I mean carry their names upon his heart before the Lord yet it s a question whether Christ doth do this always now he is in heaven Is always for so much as this lieth in the Type Exod. 28 29. The Priest was to bear the names of the people upon his heart for a Memorial before the Lord continually which sheweth that this Priesthood piece of service of bearing the names of the people before the Lord was to continue for ever for it was to be a Memorial before the Lord continually not only was this work of the High Priest in the Type to remain for a for ever so long as there will be any need of Christs Intercession but always for ever for so the word continually doth likewise import therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 24. But this man because he continueth ever hath aâ— unchangeable Priesthood ver 24. He ever livetâ— to make Intercession for them so that we may safely say that Christ our High Priest is always in heaven lifting up holy hands as it were to God for Believers in a way of presenting their conditions before him whether thou sleepest or wakeest whether thou art able to pray or not yet Christ is at prayer for thee he intercedes night at day for thy welfare He ever liveth to make Intercession for thee Hence it is that David could so comfortably lie down in his bed and take his rest so securely by night he knew that Christ had his condition upon his heart Psalm 4. 8. I will both lay me down to sleep for the Lord only maketh me rest in safety Lastly We may learn this from it that the High Priests going into the presence of the Lord with the names of the twelve tribes upon his heart it shews uâ— that Christ enters he presence of the Father in the names of all true Believers Christ doth it for them and intercedes for them in their name as well as for their sake As the High Priest under the Law was chosen for the people so Christ was sent forth to agitate for Believers and tells the Father as it were that he is come to him in the form of a servant to discharge his duty to God for Believers If I pray Petition intercede for any spiritual mercy for them it is but to fulfil thy will in this case from eternity for this was the great design that thou hadst before the world was that I should come down from glory and take upon me the form of a servant and die the bitter death of the Cross that the Elect might be saved and then to go up to glory again on purpose to make Intercession for them and therefore if I ask any spiritual favour for them it s no more then I was appointed to do by thee from everlasting Oh what a deal of comfort may a poor soul draw from this consideration of the brest-plates being upon the High Priests heart wherein the names of the Elect of God are engraven Oh methinks if a soul were assured he were upon no bodies heart in the world either Husbands heart Wives heart Fathers heart Mothers heart Brothers heart Sisters heart Friends or Neighbours heart yet to be in so eminent a manner upon Christs heart this is enough to bear up the soul in the worst of times There was likewise placed in the brest-plate the Urim and Thummim Exod. 28. 30. This of the Urim and Thummim was to be understood two ways First As it had relation to the Type it self 2. As it related to the Anti-type which was Christ First As it related to the Type it self which was the High Priest called to office a principal part of whose office it was to teach and instruct the people in the Doctrine of God as to the Worship and Service of him its true there were others of the inferiour Priests did this work of expounding to and teaching the people also but the High Priest was not exempted from this great duty Mal. 2. 7. The Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Now the Urim and Thummim did signifie those two qualifications to be in the Priest was which the soundness of his Doctrine which he was to deliver to the people and the holiness of his life as a pattern and example amongst them the Priest was to preach to or press upon the Consciences of the people nothing else but the sound substantial truths of God not his own novels or brainish fancies or dreams but the wholsome Doctrine of God Ezek. 3. 17. saith God Son of man I have made thee a watch-man unto the house of Israel therefore hear the word of my mouth and give them warning from me Oh what care should the Ministers of the Lord take in this matter that they feed the flock of God with sound and wholsome food therefore is the exhortation from St. Peter to all the Ministers of the word in the world 1 Pet. 4. 11. If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God It s true there are many men passing under the name of Ministers of Christ now a days in the world but how few of them make it their faithful and painful labours in their studies to bring forth pure truth but on the contrary wrest it and stretch it and puts it upon a rack to make it bend every way to serve their ungodly wicked ends and purposes And so instead of feeding the flock of God which was purchased with his own blood with sound wholsome food they feed them with Gall and Wormwood who rather pervert then convert any they have to do withall Take the most sober sort of them I mean the most Idle and Laze sort such who love neither to feed the fold of Christ either with Gall or Honey that is as the Prophet speaks they are dumb dogs such as will not bark lying down loving to slumber yet they can feed themselves with the fat and
the sweet and cloth themselves with the wooll But for the fatness of sound Doctrine and the sweetness of truth the Church of God may perish and rot and die for any thing they eare or are thoughtful about surely the Urim and Thummim was never upon the breasts of these sacred Priests as they would be owned Secondly As for the other qualification which is holiness of life and conversation this ought to be in and upon the Ministers of the Lord They ought to be exemplary in their lives and conversations for others to imitate them that so they might not build for God with one hand and throw it down again with the other hand this is our Saviours exhortation to all Ministers of the Gospel Math. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works might glorifie your Father which is in heaven therefore saith St. Peter 1 Pet. 2. 5 3. Neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock Use 2. O Then how unhappy are the people of some Countries in the World with respect to the want of this great qualification in their Ministers or pretended such how hard a thing is it to find the Urim and Thummim upon their Priests methinks to see men and meet men with their loins girt so seemingly devout and yet to see these casks so empty either of sound Doctrine or a holy Conversation it is to me a piece of unparallel'd hypocrisie It s known to all that know any thing that the generallity of the world are apter to walk by examples then by precept the Authority of precepts depends very much upon the good lives of those which preach them alas Brethren what is it if a man go into a Pulpit and preach a very good Learned Sermon and as soon as he is come forth of the place to spend the rest of the Sabbath with his Parishioners in an Alchouse it may be untill they are all drunk in the place or to some ungodly sport or other to the very shame of nature it self if their be any Bull-baiting or Bear-baiting any Hurling Wrestling or Cudgel-playing any Crowding Dancing May-pole or Church Ale-gaming who more fritcher and forwarder in the work then the Parson of the Parish Thus the poor people are made Sermon proof and shut up against all convictions of truth through the scandalous conversations of their idle profane Priests which they have amongst them how far are such from being the Priests of the Lord bearing the Urim and Thummim upon their brests let the world Judge Lastly Where as it s said that the Urim and Thummim was written in the brest-plate and placed upon his heart it shews us how much the work should be upon his spirit that the Priest doth for God and how near he should set it to his heart so should it be with all the Ministers of the Gospel they ought to set those truths which they preach very near their hearts yea such as are true Ministers of Jesus Christ they do set those truths which they preach to others nearest their hearts of any thing in the world God hath ordered it that it shall be so he gives them that he sends forth as Ministers the little Book of truth to eat into their bowels that it might live in their hearts Rev. 10. 9 Hence it is that Jeremiah tells you that the word of God lived in his heart Jer. 20 9. And David a Prophet of the Lord also could tell you that the word of God and the truths he was to deliver were dearer to him then thousands of Gold or Silver Psal 119 72. The Lord makes it so to them that they may take delight in the preaching of it 2. That they may be careful of corrupting of it you know things that are dear and near our hearts we are very apt to keep pure but such things as we regard not we throw into any hole so that it easily corrupts and rusts 3. That if need be they may lay down their lives in defence of it this it was made St. Paul cry out he was not only ready to be bound but to die in the defence of truth Acts 21. 13. It was the nearness of truth to his heart but how few of them are there in the world that call themselves Ministers that in any sense wears the Urim and Thummim upon their hearts 2. As this qualification did relate to the Type which was the High Priest and so in him all the succeeding Ministers of the Gospel so it relates to Christ who was the Anti-type of it And so the Urim and Thummim shews us these two great things for our comfort which are infinitely to be considered in Jesus Christ First The infinite perfection of holiness and sanctification which is in Christ John 1. 14. He was full of grace and truth Col. 1. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell This teacheth us these two things 1. What believers are in the sight of God through Christ a people full of holiness for Christ is the Vine and believers the Branches now by vertue of this union God looks upon all alike God in the wise dispensations of his grace hath so ordered it that believers and his Son shall make up but one body that so God might account for the Heads sake all the members holy not that they are so in themselves but I say God is pleased to account it so that believers are as holy as his Son they being of him and in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him And God would have us to reckon so too for our comfort mark that place in Rom. 6. 11. Likewise reckon your selves to be also dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord There is not any man in the world dead to sin or perfectly alive towards God its true the Saints are a dying to sin daily and a labouring out after life towards God saith St. Paul I press hard after the mark Phil 3. 14. But for any to say he is perfectly dead to sin and perfectly alive to God in himself he saith not the truth I speak of perfection in the degree yet you see God would have believers look upon themselves so reckon it to be so saith God that is as they are in Christ and by the Father there apprehended for Christ was so in himself fully yet not for himself but for believers read 1 Cor. 1. 30. He was made of God Wisdom Righteousness and Sanctification for us 2. It informs the Saints from whom they do derive their holiness and sanctification and to whom they should go for it O friends you drive it all from Jesus Christ he is the fountain of all your grace of holiness and sanctification John 1. 14 16 17. The word was made flesh and it dwelt amongst us and we
all pains of body or decrepidness of limbs Isa 35. 5 6. Revel 21. 4. Revel 22. 3. Lastly And that which will crown all will be this they shall be under the constant shinings of Gods face of glorious love and mercy which will never admit of any withdrawings more Rev. 22. 4 5. Object But some may say doth not our Saviour say That my kingdom is not of this world 1 John 18. 36. and that the kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation Luke 17. 20. and that the kingdom of God is within you ver 21. How is it which you say the kingdom of Christ shall be on earth in this world To which I answer That there is a three-fold kingdom which is attributed to Jesus Christ 1. A kingdom of providence or his providential kingdom 2. And a kingdom of grace 3. A kingdom of glory here on earth As for his providential kingdom of that I shall say but little But there is his kingdom of grace in the heart This Kingdom cometh not with observation indeed and this is not of this world for nothing in the world can procure or effect it in the heart of any creature The strongest Caesar or wisest Philosopher or richest Nabal in the world should they put all their strength and parts and riches together can do nothing in this case without the mighty power of God This kingdom of grace is within in the heart indeed and it affords no signs or fore-running tokens of it in the least but as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is the spirits coming upon a soul at the time of its conversion you hear the sound of it but know not from whence it is so saith our Saviour John 3. 7 8. But thiâ—dly There is his glorious Kingdom or Kingdom of Glory and that is what is of this world and that which cometh with signs and tokens of observation that Christ is to have a Kingdom in this world a Kingdom of external glory hath been the business which we have proved already but for better satisfaction take this Scripture Revel 11. 15. And there were voices in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lords and of his Christs And that the coming of this kingdom is with observation that is it s attended with its fore-running signes and tokens there is nothing more clear read Mat. 24. from the 1. ver to the 30. You shall meet with little else but matter of observation touching the coming of this kingdome into the world ver 30. So that Christ saying My kingdom is not in this world and my kingdom cometh not with observation and my kingdom is within you doth not in the least fight against this truth if we consider the various administrations of the Kingdom I grant all this to be properly applied to the kingdom of his Grace but not to the Kingdom of his Glory which he shall have here as he is the Son of man Further Now the Jews Canaan was an inheritance which God gave the people freely Deut. 19. 1. So is it in this case to have a right to this Kingdom or Gospel Canaan of rest and peace it is the free gift of God without any desert on our part at all take the kingdom as it is of grace here in the heart or of glory in the Nations or of ultimate glory above to have a portion in it it s of free gift therefore saith Christ Luke 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdome Likewise Canaan it was an inheritance which was divided to the children of Israel proportionably to every one by lot Numb 26 54 55 56. So is it in this case of the Gospel Canaan every true Israelite shall have his portion of grace and glory in this kingdom none shall say then that his field shall yield no meat or that his flock be cut off the fold no no but rather with David to cry out Psalm 16. 5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot the lines are fallen in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Again The Jews were to march in an armed state to their Canaan of old so should all the Saints get on about them their spiritual armour as the Apostle speaks in Ephes 6. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Wherefore take on thr whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and when you have done all to stand stand therefore having your loins girt about with â—ruth and having on the brest plate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace above all things take on the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be abâ—e to quench the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying alwayes with supplâ—cation in the spirit watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Without this armour on about you never think to march safe to this good Land take it either for the kingdom of glory here on earth or the kingdom of glory above with the Father Your enemies are worse then those which stood in Israels way to their Canaan saith Paul Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but agaâ—nst principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spirital wickedness got into high places Likewise the Jews were to fight for the good Land they were not onely to put on their armour but they were to use it Deut. 7. 19 20 21 22 23 24 So must Christians not onely put on their spiritual armour but they must use it against the Devil sin and temptation Armour signifies but little if a man make no use of it therefore saith Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 12. Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called Lastly They were to fight under their captain Joshua So this sheweth Christians under whose banner they should fight and who they should engage with them in the quarrel their spiritual Joshua in whose strength alone they are more then conquerors Rom. 8. 37. Nay in all these things we are more then conquerors through him that loved us Saints your enemies are great and politick and truly they contend with you for things of a very great concernment it s for your souls things of more worth then the world and in your selves you are poor weak things but Christ is the power of God yea the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be sure if you intend to overcome and prevail get under the shadow of Christs wing set Christ before you make him the captain and he will fight your battle for you and make the necks of your stout enemies to lie under your feet CHAP. 37. Of their Cities of Refuge THese Cities were six in number