The Saints Sacrifice, Section 115
§. 115. Of the meaning and method of the laſt Verſe.
PSAL. CXVI. XIX.
In the courts of the LORDS honſe, in the middest of thee, O Ieruſalem.
IN theſe words the Prophet *See §. 107.determinately and expreſly ſetteth downe the place where he vowed to praiſe the Lord. In the former verſe, and before that in the 14th verſe, he generally profeſſed to do it, in the preſence of all Gods people. Here he deſcribeth the place of the preſence of Gods people, where they aſſembled together: and that
1 By the Relation thereof to God.
2 By the Scituation of it.
What Gods houſe is.The place in relation to God is ſtiled the LORDS houſe. This title is in Scripture uſed to expreſſe a ſelect place, or an elect people.
As it hath reference to a place, it is taken indefinitely or determinately.
1 In an indefinite acception any place where God is pleaſed to afford an eſpeciall repreſentation of his preſence, may be named Gods houſe. Thus aGen. 28. 17.that place where Iacob in his journey lay and ſlept, is called The houſe of God, becauſe of that divine viſion wherein the Lord there appeared to him. The reaſon of this name given to that place, is expreſly rendred in theſe words, b—16.Surely the LORD is in this place. On a like ground the places where the Lord appeared to cExo. 3. 5.Moſes, and to dIoſ. 5. 15.Ioſhua, are called holy ground.
Determinately, this title, Gods houſe, is attributed to places on earth, or in heaven.
On earth it was given to two places, the eIudg 18. …1.—20. 26. 1 Sam. 1. 24▪—3. 15.Tabernacle and the Temple, both f1 King. 6. 37▪ 38.that which was built in Salomons time, and gEzr. 6. 7. Hag. 1. 14.that alſo which was built after the captivity. Theſe in their ſeverall times were places where were eſpeciall repreſentations of Gods preſence, and whither Gods people by Gods appointment aſſembled to worſhip him, and in thoſe reſpects were called Gods houſe.
2 The Tabernacle continued to be Gods houſe the ſpace of 487 yeares, from the firſt making of it in Moſes his time, till the Temple which Salomon built was finiſhed. h1 King 8. 4.Then was the Tabernacle caried into the Templ… and after that remained no more to be of uſe for an … God.
3 The Temple which Salomon … continued to be Gods houſe for the ſpace of foure hundred …ares, from the time when it was firſt built i2 King. 25. 9.till the burning of it downe in Zedekiahs time.
4 The Temple built after the …aptivity continued for the ſpace almoſt of five hundred yeares, kEzr. 3. 8.from the time of Zorobabel, till it was lMat. 24. 2.utterly ruinated by the Romans.
5 The *Ioh. 14. ….higheſt heaven is called Gods houſe, moſt properly, becauſe the moſt perſpicuous manifeſtation of Gods preſence, that can be given, is there given.
6 The elect people who are ſtiled, The houſe of God, are thoſe that are compriſed under this title, Church, which is the communion of Saints. In this communion, m1 Cor. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 2.all that profeſſe the true Chriſtian Religion, and ſubject themſelves to the ordinances thereof, are, in the judgement of charity, reputed. To theſe n1 Tim. 3. 15.S. Paul having given this title, houſe of God, to ſhew whom he meant thereby, he addeth, which is the Church of the living God. Theſe Saint Peter meaneth where he ſaith, Iudgement must begin at the houſe of God, (1 Pet 4. 17.) For as the whole Church jointly conſidered in Domum Dei ſpiritualem ſeipſ…m qu…ſ que agnoſcat, qui tamen non in carne ambulet, ſed in ſpiritu. Bern. ſup. Cant. Ser. 46.it ſelfe, ſo alſo every particular member is counted and called Gods houſe. Thus is this phraſe taken where the Apoſtle, in relation to the Lord, ſaith, Whoſe houſe we are, (Heb. 3. 6.) and againe, Ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, (2 Cor. 6. 16.) So as every one may account himſelfe to be a ſpirituall houſe of God, ſo he walk not in the fleſh, but in the ſpirit.
Concerning the particular houſe of God, which is here in this Pſalme mentioned, it can hardly be determined for certen which it ſhould bee, becauſe the Author, and Time of penning this Pſalme are not expreſſed. If the Pſalme were penned by any Prophet after Davids time, then queſtionleſſe he meaneth the Temple. If David (as it is moſt probable) were the penman of it, then can it not be meant of the Temple, which was not then built: but rather of the Tabernacle.
But hence ariſeth another doubt. In Davids time there were two ſacred Tabernacles. p1 Chro. …1. 29 2 Chro. 1. 3.One made by Moſes, called the Tabernacle of the Lord, which was in the high place at Gibeon. q1 Chro. 15. 1.—16. 1. 2 Sam. 6. 17.The other made by David for the Ark of God. r1 Chr. 16. 37, 38, 39, &c.In both theſe Tabernacles there were Miniſters appointed to performe daily ſervices to the Lord. Which then of theſe Tabernacles is here meant?
They were in ſeverall places. ſIoſ. 18 25.—21. 17.Gibeon was one of the cities of Benjamin allotted to the Prieſts. There was the Tabernacle. But the Arke was in the city of David, which was *… Sam. 5. 6, 7, 9Zion in Ieruſalem.
The title, houſe of God, and the courts applied to that houſe, give ſome evidence, that he meaneth the Tabernacle made by Moſes. For tIudg. 19. 18. 2 Sam 12. 20.that is uſually ſtiled the houſe of God, the uNumb. 17 13—19. 13. Ioſ 2…. 19. 1 King. 2. 28, 29 1 Chro. 16. 39Tabernacle of the Lord. But the Tabernacle that David made is never ſo called. Beſides we read of a xExo. 27. 9, &c Lev. 6. 26.ſpatious court appertaining to the Tabernacle made by Moſes. For, that Tabernacle (as afterwards the Temple after the patterne thereof) was divided into three parts.
1 yExo. 26. 33.The innermoſt, called the Sanctum Sanctorum, the moſt holy place, whereinto zLev. 16. 2.the High-Prieſt onelyonly was to enter, and that but once a yeare.
2 The Middlemoſt, called the aExo. 39. 1.holy place, wherein the Prieſts performed their daily ſervices, in which reſpect it was called the b2 Chro. 4. 9.court of Prieſts.
3 The outermoſt; called the cExo, 27. 9.court of the Tabernacle. d2 Chro. 23. 5.Into this came all the people: in which reſpect it was called e—4 9.the great court. fLev. 17. 5.Hither they brought their ſacrifices; here they ſtood and beheld the Prieſts offering them: for gExo. 40. 6.the great altar whereon the ordinary ſacrifices were offered ſtood at the partition betwixt this court and the holy place. Hence was it, that the people are ſaid to hPſal 26. 6.compaſſe the altar: and to i1 King. 1. 50.—2. 28.lay hold on the hornes of the altar. But we read not of any ſuch courts appertaining to the Tabernacle which David made. Yea after David had made a Tabernacle for the Arke, k1 Chro. 16. 40 2 Chro. 1. 3.the moſt ſolemne aſſemblies were notwithſtanding at the other Tabernacle. It is therefore moſt probable, that by the Courts of the Lords houſe he here meaneth that publike and ſolemne place of aſſembling at the Tabernacle of the Lord.
Object. That Tabernacle was in Davids time l1 Chro. 16. 39 2 Chro. 1. 3.at Gibeon, how can that ſtand with the ſcituation of the place here mentioned, In the middest of Ieruſalem.
Anſw. It is not neceſſary that both thoſe clauſes be applied to one and the ſame place. But as he mentioneth two duties, ſo he noteth two places fit for each duty. The firſt duty is to offer ſacrifice of thanksgiving. This was moſt fit to be done in the Tabernacle at Gibeon, which was the court of the Lords houſe. The other was to call upon the name of the Lord. This was moſt fit to be done before the Arke which was in the Tabernacle that David had made for it, m1 Chr. 15. 29in his owne city, even in the middeſt of Ieruſalem.
Ieruſalem was the moſt famous city that ever appertained to the Iewes. It was the place where Melchizedek the firſt, moſt ancient, and beſt King that we read of after the floud, Of Ieruſalem.even that King, who by reaſon of his integrity was called aHeb. 7. 2.a King of righteouſneſſe; and by reaſon of the peace which he preſerved, the place where he raigned was called bGen. 14. 18.Salem. That Ieruſalem was this Salem, both the notation thereof, and alſo the title cPſal. 76. 2….Salem (after it was called Ieruſalem) given to it, do give ſufficient proofe. The dGen. 14. 18. foreign Targum foreign Item Pſal 76. 2Hebrewes do uſe the name Ieruſalem where this Salem is mentioned. This title Ieruſalem is compounded of two words. One is taken from that proverbiall name which Abraham gave to the place where he was about to ſacrifice his ſonne, eGen. 22. 14. foreign Iehovah providebit. Hieruſalem eſt viſio pacis. Ber. in Dedic. Eccleſ. Ser. 5. foreignIehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide. The other is taken from the name of the place where Melchizedech was King, which was Salem, peace. So as the meaning of the name of Ieruſalem is, He will provide peace, or the viſion of peace. The Hebrew word is oft ſet down in the f duall number, a number that ſignifieth two, becauſe of the two places whereon it was built, which were Salem before mentioned, and Moriah, the place whither God ſent Abraham to ſacrifice his ſonne. This place being the chiefeſt of all the cities that were among the Iewes, the onelyonly people of God under the Law, wherein the Arke then was, wherein the Temple was to be built, was an eſpeciall type of the Church of God: and as hPſal. 51. 18.—128. 5. Iſa. 24 23.—40. ….—62. 1, 7▪ Ier. 3. 17▪in the Old Teſtament the militant Church is oft ſet out by that name, iRev. 3. 12.—21. 2, 10.ſo in the New, the triumphant Church. Though therfore I cannot but think, that the Prophet here meaneth literally the city which was called Ieruſalem, yet I doubt not but that under this title may alſo typically be meant the kIn atrijs, &c. id eſt, in Eccleſia Trem. & Iun. in Annot. in hunc loc.Church of God.
The ſubſtance of that which he intendeth by this deſcription of the place is to ſhew that he would performe the forenamed duties in publike and populous places, ſuch were the courts of the Lords houſe, where all the people of the Lord met together. Such alſo was Ieruſalem the metropolis, and chiefe city of the Kingdome, where the Kings court was, and whither all of all ſorts reſorted. And that he might not be thought to intend to do it in a private corner of the city, cloſely and ſecretly, he addeth, in the middest, in the moſt open and populous part of that ample and populous place: which implieth an holy boldneſſe: he would not be aſhamed to bind himſelfe publikely to performe ſuch bounden, publike duties. Yea further to ſhew how his heart was ſet on that place where the Arke of the Lord was, by a moſt elegant and familiar kind of turning his ſpeech to that place, as foreign.ſpeaking to a moſt familiar friend in whom he delighted, he ſaith, thee, O Ieruſalem. In the midst of thee.
In this patterne of the Prophet is declared
A fit place for ſolemne and publike duties.Summe.
Of this Deſcription both the Matter and the Manner are diſtinctly expreſſed.
The Matter pointeth at two places.
1 That which was conſecrated to ſacred duties.
2 That where the moſt glorious repreſentation of Gods preſence was ſet.
The former is ſet out
1 Generally, by the uſe of it. In the courts. Courts are places for aſſemblies.
2 Particularly by the quality of it. Houſe of God. Gods houſe is a ſacred houſe, where ſacred duties of piety are performed to him.
The latter is expreſſed by the name of it, Ieruſalem: and amplified by that part thereof where hee would performe the fore▪mentioned duty, the middeſt.
The Manner of ſetting out this latter is by an Apostrophe, turning his ſpeech to the place it ſelfe, and ſpeaking to it as to an intelligible creature, thee O Ieruſalem.
page missing 3 There are times of founding new Churches, and edifying ſetled Churches. Planters and Founders may have more liberty then ſuch as find Churches planted, and ſetled in good order.
4 There are places of perſecution where no liberty is granted for publike aſſemblies: and places of peace, where Churches have much reſt, and great liberty. In places of perſecution bounden duties muſt rather be performed in private, then omitted. For matter of circumſtance muſt give place to matters of ſubſtance: matters of conveniency to matters of neceſſity.
Wherefore to leave extraordinary perſons to their extraordinary warrant, we that live in well ſetled Churches, where thorow the diviue providence we have publike places for divine ſervices ſet apart, whereunto we have much liberty on all occaſions to reſort, ought to bee of his mind, who aPſal. 12…. 1.Was glad when they ſaid, let us goe into the houſe of the Lord: and was b—84. 1, &c.exceedingly perplexed when by force hee was kept from thence. It was of old fore-told that this ſhould be the diſpoſition of Saints under the Goſpell in the kingdome of Chriſt: to ſay, cIſa. 2. 3.Come ye, let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord, &c. Chriſt and his Apoſtles, though they had juſt cauſe and good warrant to performe many publike duties in private places, yet did they much frequent thoſe publike places, where publike duties were in their time performed. Of Chriſt it is expreſly recorded that, dLuk 4. 16.as his custome was, he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day. Of the Apoſtles alſo, and of them that continued in their doctrine and fellowſhip, it is ſaid, eAct. 2. 46.They continued daily with one accord in the Temple praiſing God. Herein lieth a maine difference betwixt ſuch, as like Chriſt, do all to edifying (fIoh. 18. 20.He ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Iewes alwaies reſort) and ſuch as doe all for their owne ends, ſeeking to beguile others. (g2 Tim. 3. 6▪ They creepe into houſes, and lead captive ſilly women.) Wherefore to manifeſt a mind that aimeth at Gods glory, the edification of the Church, the quickening of our owne ſpirits, let us take the occaſions that are offered, to go into the courts of the Lords houſe, and performe duties of piety according to their kind, publike duties publikely, ſolemne duties ſolemnely. This is a good Chriſtian decorum, agreeable to that Apoſtolicall hIn medio credentium populorum laudabo t…, pr… dicab… te. Hier. Comment. in Pſal. 21.rule, Let all things bee done decently and in order, (1 Cor. 14. 40.) Let us therefore be every one of his mind who ſaid, in the midſt of the faithfull people I will praiſe thee, I will publiſh thee, O Lord.