Christ Revealed, Scriptural typology · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
10. Salomon a type of Christ: in 6. things.
I. IN person and condition.Six things wherein Salomon typified Christ. Both Salomons; both Iedidiahs, that is, beloved of God; both Kings of Israel, both Kings in Jerusalem, both Preachers in Jerusalem, both somes of David, yea both sonnes of God. To both agrees that,Person. 2. Sam. 7. 14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: But with this difference, Salomon was the sonne of God by adoption and grace: the true Salomon by nature and eternall generation.
II. Salomon was a peace-maker, ful of peace. 1. Chro. 22. 9. A sonne is borne to thee which shall be a man of peace, Pacisicus.and I will give him rest from his enemies; therefore his name is Salomon, and I will send peace and quietnesse on Israel in his dayes. A notable type of our Salomon, who himselfe is the Prince of peace, Isay 9. 6.whose Scepter is a Gospell of peace, whose subjects are sonnes of peace, whose kingdome stands in righteousnesse, joy, peace, &c: at whose birth the Angells sang, Peace on earth. But with difference, Salomon could preserve onelyonly outward peace: but Christ makes up our peace with God and all Creatures, and brings sweet peace and upholds it in our consciences. 1 Kings 4. 25. Salomon procured that in his dayes all Israel and Iudah dwelt without feare, every man under his Vine and figtree, in respect of outward tranquility and security: but our Salomon, that every beleever is redeemed from enemies to serve God without feare of sinne,Luke 1. 74. Satan, hell, damnation. Salomon brought peace but could not establish it in his owne dayes, much losse after him; for presently after, the kingdome was rent into peeces: But our Salomon brings a peace which none shall take away.
III. Salomon excelled all other men in wisdome and knowledge, 1 King. 4. 29, 30. But Christ is the wisdome of the father,Wisdome. Christ greater then Salomon, in wisdome, 5. things. and farre excells Salomon; as in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge, Col. 2. 3. For 1. Salomon had wisdome by donation and gift: Christs was native and proper. 2. Salomon by all his wisdome knew not mens thoughts: but Christ knew what was in man, Ioh. 2. 25. 3. Salomon though very wise in himselfe could not infuse his wisdome into others to make them so: But Jesus Christ is made of God our wisdome, 1 Cor. 1. 30. because he is not onelyonly our head as King, but as Mediator, unto whom we as members are mystically united. 4. Salomon was not so wise in the beginning of his raigne, nor in the end: but our true Salomon was never destitute of the wisdome of God. 5. Salomons wise sayings have commended his wisdome in all the Church of God; the fame of his wise speeches and actions spred through the World: But much more hath the fame of Christs doctrine and miracles,Joh. 7. 46. Mat. 4. 24. And never man spake like our Salomon, by his adversaries confession; therefore not Salomon.
IV. Salomon was a type of Christ in that he was a King of greatest royalty, wealth and glory that ever was.Royall glory. He so inriched his subjects, that silver and gold were as common to them as stones in the streets, 1. King. 3. 13. no King on earth was like Salomon: but Salomon was no King to Christ.In Christ, farre greater and better. Cant. 3. 11. Come forth ye daughters of Sion, looke upon King Salomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him &c. That was (no doubt) royall and glorious to behold; but we shall see all Salomons glory nothing to Christs. For 1. Salomon had but one Crowne:Revel. 19. 12. but Christ hath many Crownes on his head, 2. The maids of Sion admire Salomon for his, and reverence him: but all the Saints in earth and heaven honour and worship Christ with divine honour, which is given to none but God. 3. Salomon without wealth and abundance cannot enrich his subjects: but Christ out of poverty enricheth his: He being rich became poore to enrich us. 4. Salomon enricheth his people with silver, gold, and earthly wealth: Christ the true Salomon doth his with heavenly and spirituall wealth; as of wisdome, the price of which is above silver; of faith much more precious then gold; and all other graces to which all worldly wealth is but as stones in the street, yea dung and drosse. 5. Salomons throne was set above all the thrones of the Kings of the earth: but Christs farre above Salomons. He is the great King of glory exalted unto the right hand of God; and ruleth not a small corner of the earth, but hath all power in heaven and earth. Neither doth Christs humility and abasement hinder his glory; for when he was lowest he shewed greater glory in the least of his many miracles, then Salomon in all his royalty. Nay more, he was more triumphant upon the Crosse, and rode in more magnificence then ever Salomon did in all his golden Chariots.
V. Salomon was a type of Christ in 1. building, 2. dedicating, In templo 1. aedificando. 2. dedicando. 3. constituendo3. ordering the Temple. 1. In the building. 1. Salomon according to the wisdome and large heart which God gave him, built God an house wherein he dwelt at Jerusalem; for God kept house and fire in Sion, Isa. 31. 9. and Salomon set him up a standing house.Structure. Our true Salomon builds an house for God, even for the blessed Trinity to dwel in, Joh. 14. 23.Not a materiall house of stones, or of gold, silver, wood, marble; but a spiritual house of living stones. And as the house is spirituall:1 Peter 2. 5. so are the meanes and instruments he useth. His rule is the word of God; Psa. 19. 4. Their line is gone forth through all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world. The hammer by which he hewes and polisheth these rugged stones is the same word or doctrine of the Law. Jer. 23. 29.The cement by which he couples them to the head, is faith, and to the members, is love and charity. 2. Salomon being to build his Temple could not find matter enough for his building in his owne country of Judea, but sent abroad to Hiram a Gentile, and to Pervaim (now Peru as some thinke) and to other farre and remote parts for supply: So our Salomon for his spirituall building gathers matter not onelyonly out of Judea his owne ancient people, but contracts friendship with the Gentiles, and these come in out of the most remote parts of all the world to set forward that building, therefore the Church is now Catholike. 3. Salomon prepared great stones to lay in the foundation of the house: 1. King. 5. 17. but as great and costly as they were they could not uphold that house, but it must fall to ruine and destruction: Our true Salomon by inimitable art, layes himselfe, a foundation in Sion:Isay 28. 16. an elect, precious, and chiefe corner stone, VponUpon which firme foundation, he so aptly layes and knits every living stone, that is, every beleever, that all the gates of hell cannot prevaile against any one of them, Mat. 16. 18. 4. Salomon in that building prepared and hewed stones in Mount Lebanon, 1. King. 6. 7. and being so squared and fit, not an axe or hammer, nor any toole of Iron was heard while the house was a building. Our Salomon admits no stone into his building which is not first prepared and initiated by the word and Sacraments, and being fitted, layes them on the foundation without any more shaking by hammer or hatchet, and knits them to the other stones by the durable cement of Christian love and charity, so as now the noyse of contention, nor blowes of bitternesse and hatred are heard among them any more.Dedication. 2. In dedication of the Temple. 1. Salomon consecrated that house to the service of God by solemne prayer, imploring his eye of protection upon it, and his presence with it upon all occasions and necess…ties, 1. King. 8. 14. Our Salomon hath also dedicated his house, and by solemne prayer commended it to the care and custody of his heavenly father:Iohn 17. Nothing needfull for his Church hath hee forgotten to procure for it, not onelyonly by that most effectuall and meritorious prayer, but also by his continuall intercession now in heaven for it. 2. In that dedication Salomon framed a most excellent prayer, the forme of which is registred in Scripture: but our Salomon hath delivered us a forme and patterne of prayer: which is a great part of the riches of the new Testament above the old.Order set. 3. In ordering the Temple, that is, in the constitution of Gods true and publike worship in that Temple, in appointing the severall offices and officers of it. A type of Jesus Christ who ascending on high appointed the officers of his Church; some Prophets, some Apostles, some Evangelists, and some Pastors, and Teachers for the building up of the body of Christ, Eph. 4. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 5, there are many administrations, but the same Lord.
VI. Salomon was a type of Christ in wise dispensing and administring justice. 1. in respect of gifts,Administration of Iustice. 2. of execution or manifesting them. 1. For the gifts, they are notably signified in Salomons Throne, which was exalted above all the Thrones of all Princes;Salomons Throne: sixe things opened. described, 1. King. 10. 18. 1. The matter was Ivory and gold wherewith it shined: Signifying the sincere and upright disposition of Salomon to justice and equity, shunning all corruption and by-respects which make men pervert Justice. And as these vertues made Salomons throne to shine: so the royall throne of Christ is a throne of Justice, a great white Throne, Rev. 20. 11. Nothing but sincerity and purity proceeds thence. Hee justifies no wicked person or cause, nor takes the ungodly by the hand. 2. The state of it. The King ascended to it by sixe stayres, signifying that the King riseth above all his subjects many degrees in practise of many vertues; wisdome, prudence, justice, fortitude, piety: So Christs Throne is infinitely exalted above all Princes, above men & Angels, dominations, principalities, thrones, and set at the right hand of God; and himselfe as infinitely transcendeth all creatures in practice of all graces, in perfection of all holinesse. 3. The figure was round: signifying the perfection and simplicity of the minde in the Judge discerning causes; who could not abide any deceitfull, fraudulent, or hypocriticall courses or corners: Such is the Throne of Christ, in whom was never found guile nor deceit, neither can he abet, or not hate it in any. 4. There were two pillers or barres to beare up the armes of Salomon: signifying the rewards and defence of good men, and the punishment and repressing of evill men by the power of his arme, whereby Kings and kingdomes are sustained: So our Lord Jesus upholds his kingdome by reward and punishment; Premio, & paena.and in the last day shall set the sheepe at his right hand, and the goats on his left. 5. Two Lyons of gold standing by the stayes: noting the power and fortitude of the King, whose strength is as the strength of Lyons against enemies, and to put in execution wise and soveraigne counsells. But Salomons strength was weakenesse to the strength of Christ; who as a couragious Lyon of the tribe of Judah shall teare and spoyle his enemies, and none shall rescue, Hos. 5. 14. 6. The foote stoole of it was of gold, 2. Chr. 9. 18. to note the freedome of the King from covetousnesse; that he ought to have his wealth under his feet, and so master them as they neither overcome nor corrupt him: So Christ the Judge of the world most perfectly despised the world; and at his appearing shall set it under his feet and burne it. 2. For administring according to those gifts. Salomon did with such admirable wisdome judge betweene the two harlots for the living child, as all Israel hearing the judgement feared the King; for they saw that the wisdome of God was in him to doe justice, 1. King. 3. 28. But our Salomon is the just Judge of all the world, who shall passe a righteous sentence betweene the godly and the wicked, in that great and terrible day. Mat. 25. when all flesh shal see and admire the wisdome and power of God in him to doe justice.
For application, briefly.
I. A greater then Salomon is heere, Vse. 1.Luk. 11. 31. 1. Hence our Saviour perswades to come to him to partake of his wisdome,Duties to Christ, our Salomon. wealth, peace, grace. But the Queene of the South shall rise up against this generation. For shee 1. a woman of weake sexe.1 Heare him. 2. a Queene enjoying pleasures at home. 3. undertooke a long journey from the ends of the earth, Mat. 12. 42. 4. Set aside the weighty affaires of her kingdome, the charge of her journey and gifts to Salomon not small, 1. King. 10. 10: the dangers, wearinesse, and all to heare the wisdome of Salomon, yet as a Gentile did all this: But many men and women professing Christianity will not step over their thresholds to heare the wisdome of a greater then Salomon. Ob: If Salomon or Christ were heere, we would. Sol. 1. The Jewes would say so, but would not. 2. Hee that heares you, heareth mee. 3. He that will not heare us, would not heare Christ himselfe. Ob: Wee have businesse and occasions. Sol: 1. Many make occasions which might be avoided. 2. Many pretend occasions. 3. Many have occasions, but so had this Queene, who would not be hindred from Salomon by the weighty affaires of a kingdome. 4. Whose occasions ordinarily hinder them,2. Wait on him and thinke thy selfe therein happy. they shall never taste of the supper. 2. Hence wee must labour to account it our happinesse that wee may have liberty to wait on the true Salomon. So the Queene of Saba: Happy are thy servants that may attend on thee, and heare thy wisdome. So our Saviour himself: Happy are they that heare the word and keep it. Happy we, if we saw our happinesse, that we need not with such cost and toyle seeke after our Salomon. For he comes to us, and knocks at the doores of our hearts, and offers to enrich us with treasures of wisdome. Let us open our gates that this King of glory may enter in. Let us receive the rules of wisdome from his mouth, and consider how unhappy they are that despise the word, of which both the Salomons were preachers.
II. Comfort that Christ is the true Salomon 1. Great were the blessings which Salomon procured to Israel,Vse 2. but all temporary, and outward: but our Salomon procures greater,Fourefold comfort in our Salomon. spirituall and eternall. 2. Salomon prayes, and is heard for al that pray in the temple, 1. King. 8. Christ prayes, and merits that all prayers of Saints be heard, Ioh. 17. 3. Salomon could not be present in all his Kingdome at once. Cant. 8. 11. Salomon had a Vineyard, and let it out to dressers: vers. 12. but my vineyard is set before mine eyes. Himselfe still walks in the midst of the golden Candlesticks, and watcheth for the good of it. 4. All the excellencies which now wee see and enjoy in Christ, are nothing to them wee shall see, as the Queene of Saba, halfe was not told me in my countrey. So as the glory, delight, pleasure, which our Salomon now gives us must affect our hearts to renounce carnall delights, and pursue those that are above. What is earth to heaven, that is, faith to fruition? This is that, Cant. 3. 7. Behold his bed is better then Salomons, which was for price and safety most excellent; for threescore valiant men stood about it every night. But the spirituall marriage bed in the mariage chamber (the kingdome of glory) surpasseth all comprehension: all sweetned with incense of holinesse, happinesse, glory, immortality, better then the best perfumes, there is perfect security, & lasting joy on their heads for ever.