Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 54 – Chapter 56
LIV. Of the Singers belonging to the Temple.
HAving thus far passed thorow the Temple, I come now to the Singers there. The Singers were many, but all of the Church, either Jews, or Proselites. Nor was there any, as I know of, under the Old Testament-worship, admitted to sing the Songs of the Church, and to celebrate that part of Worship with the Saints, but they, who, at least, in appearance, were so. The Song of Moses, of Deborah, and of those that danced before David, with Others that you read of, they were all performed, either by Jews by nature, or by such as were proselited to their Religion; Exod. 15.1. Judg. 5.1, 2. 1 Sam. 18 6. And such worship then was occasioned by God's great appearance for them, against the power of the Gentiles, their Enemies.
But we are confined to the Songs of the Temple, a more distinct type of ours in the Church under the Gospel.
1. The Singers then were many, but the chief of them in the days of David, were David himself, Asaph, Jeduthan, and Heman, and their Sons.
2. In David's time the chief of these Singers were two hundred threescore and eight; 1 Chro. 25.
These Singers of old were to sing their Songs over the burnt-offering, which were types of the Sacrificed Body of Christ, a Memorial of which Offering we have at the Lord's Table, the Consummation of which, Christ and his Disciples celebrated with a Hymn; Matt. 26.30.
And as of old, they were the Church, that did sing in the Temple, according to Institution, to God; So also they are by God's appointment to be sung by the Church in the New. Hence,
1. They are said to be the redeemed that sing.
2. The Songs that they sing, are said to be the Songs of their Redemption; Revel. 5.9, 10.
3. They were and are Songs, that no man can learn, but they.
But let us run a little in the Parallel.
1. They were of old appointed to sing, that were cunning and skilful in Songs. And answerable to that, 'tis said, That no Man could learn our New-Testament Songs, but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the Earth; 1 Chro. 15.22. Revel. 14.3.
2. These Songs were song with Harps, Psalteries, Cymbals, and Trumpets; a type of our singing with spiritual Joy, from grace in our hearts; 1 Chro. 25.6. 2 Chro. 29.26, 27, 28. Col. 3.16.
3. The Singers of old were to be clothed in fine Linnen, which fine Linnen, was a type of Innocency, and an upright Conversation. Hence the Singers under the New Testament, are said to be Virgins, such, in whose mouth was no guile, and that were without fault before the Throne of God; 1 Chro. 15.27. and Revel. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. See also Chap 7.9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Psal 33 1.
4. The Songs sung in the Temple, were new, or such as were compiled after the manner of repeated mercies, that the Church of God had received, or were to receive, and answerable to this, is the Church to sing now, new Songs, with new hearts, for new mercies; Psal. 33.3. Psal. 40.3. Psal. 96. Psal. 144 9. Revel. 14.3.
New Songs, I say, are grounded on new matter, new occasions, new mercies, new deliverances, new discoveries of God to the Soul, or for new frames of heart. And are such as are most taking, most pleasing, and most refreshing to the Soul.
5. These Songs of old, to distinguish them from Heathenish ones, were called God's Songs, the Lord's Songs; because taught by him, and learned of him, and injoyned to them to be sung to his praise. Hence David said, God had put a new Song in his mouth, even praises to our God; 1 Chro. 25.7. Psal. 47.6, 7. Psal. 137.4. Psal. 40.3.
6. These Songs also were called the Songs of Sion, and the Songs of the Temple; Psal. 137.3. Amos 8.3.
And they are so called, as they were theirs to sing there, I say, of them of Sion, and the Worshipers in the Temple: I say, to sing in the Church, by the Church, to him who is the God of the Church, for the mercies, benefits, and blessings, which she has received from him. Sion-Songs, Temple Songs, must be sung by Sion's Sons, and Temple-worshipers.
The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with Songs, and everlasting Joy upon their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness; and sorrow and sighing shall flie away. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height, or upon the Mountain of Zion: and shall flow together, thither, to the goodness of the Lord. Break forth into singing ye Mountains, and let the Inhabitants of the ROCK sing; Isa. 44.23. Chap. 42.11.
To sing to God, is the highest Worship we are capable to perform in Heaven; and 'tis much if sinners on Earth, without grace, should be capable of performing it, according to his Institution, acceptably. I pray God it be done by all those that now a days get into Churches, in spirit, and with understanding.
LV. Of the Vnion of the holy and most holy Temple.
THat commonly called the Temple of God at Jerusalem, considered as standing of two parts, was called the outward, and inward Temple, or, the holy, and most holy place. They were builded upon one, and the same foundation, neither could one go into the Holiest, but as thorow the holy place, 1 King. 3.1. Chap. 6.1. 2 Chro. 5.1, 13. Chap. 7.2.
The first house, namely, that which we have been speaking of, was a type of the Church-militant, and the place most holy a type of the Church triumphant. I say, of the Church-triumphant, as it is now.
So then, The house standing of these two parts, was a shadow of the Church both in Heaven and Earth. And for that they are joyned together by one and the same foundation, it was to shew, that they above, and we below, are yet one and the self-same house of God. Hence they, and we together, are called, The whole Family in Heaven and Earth, Ephes. 3.14, 15.
And hence it is said again, that we who believe on Earth, are come to Mount Zion, to the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem; and to an invincible company of Angels. To the general Assembly, and Church of the first born, which are writen in Heaven, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to God the Judge of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel: Heb. 12.22, 23, 24.
The difference then betwixt us, and them, is, not that we are really two, but one body in Christ, in divers places. True, we are below stairs, and they above; they in their holy-day, and we in our working-day cloaths: they in harbour, but we in the storm; they at rest, and we in the Wilderness: They singing, as crowned with Joy; we crying, as crowned with thorns. But I I say, we are all of one house, one family, and are all the Children of one father.
This therefore we must not forget, lest we debar our selves of much of that, which otherwise, while here, we have a right unto. Let us therefore, I say, remember, that the Temple of God is but one, though divided, as one may say, into Kitchin and Hall, above stairs and below; or holy and most holy place. For it stands upon the same foundation, and is called, but one, the Temple of God; which is builded upon the Lord our Saviour.
I told you before, that none of old, could go into the most holy, but by the holy place, even by the Vail that made the Partition between; Exod. 26.33. Levit. 16 2, 12, 15. Heb. 9.7, 8. chap 10.19.
Wherefore, they are deceived, that think to go into the holiest, which is Heaven, when they did; who yet abandon, and hate the holy place, while they live.
Nay Sirs, The way into the holiest, is thorow the holy place; the way into Heaven, is thorow the Church on Earth; for that Christ is there by his Word to be received by faith, before he can by us in Person be received in the beatical Vision. The Church on Earth, is as the house of the Women, spoken of in the Book of Esther, where we must be dieted, perfumed, and made fit to go into the Bridegroom's Chamber, or as Paul says, made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light; Esth. 2. Col. 1.12.
LVI. Of the Holiest or Inner Temple.
THE most holy place was, as I said, a Figure of Heaven it self: consequently, a type of that where the most special presence of God is; and where his face is most clearly seen, and the gladness of his countenance most enjoyed; Heb. 9.23, 24. Exod. 25.22. Numb. 7.89.
The most holy place was dark, it had no Windows in it, though there was such round the Chambers; the more special presence of God too, on Mount Sina, was in the thick Darkness there; 1 King. 8.12. 2 Chro. 6.1 Exod. 1….9. chap. 20.21.
1. This Holiest therefore being thus made, was to shew that God as in Heaven, to us on Earth, is altogether invisible, and not to be reached otherwise than by Faith. For I say, in that this House had no Windows, nothing therein could be seen by the highest light of this World. Things there were only seen by the light of the fire of the Altar, which was a type of the shinings of the Holy Ghost; 1 Cor. 2. chap. And hence it is said, notwithstanding this darkness, He dwelleth in the light, which no man can approach unto; none but the High Priest, Christ; 1 Tim. 6.16. 1 Pet. 3.21, 22.
2. The Holiest therefore was thus built, to shew how different our state in Heaven will be, from this our state on Earth. We walk here by one light, by the light of a written word; For that is now a light to our feet, and Lanthorn to our Path. But that place, where there will be no written Word, nor Ordinances as here, will yet to us shine more light and clear, then if all the lights that are in the World were put together to light one Man: For God is light, and in him is no darkness at all; 1 Joh. 1.5. And in his light, and in the light of the Lamb immediately, we shall live, and walk, and rejoyce all the days of Eternity.
3. This also was ordained thus, to shew, that we while in the first Temple, should live by faith, as to what there was, or as to what was done in the second. Hence 'tis said, as to that, we walk by faith, not by sight; 2 Cor. 5.6, 7, 8.
The things that are there we are told of, even of the Ark of the Testimony, and Mercy-Seat, and the Cherubims of glory, and the presence of Christ, and of God; we are, I say, told of them by the Word, and believe, and are taken therewith, and hope to go to them hereafter: but otherwise we see them not. Therefore we are said to look, not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal; 2 Cor. 4.18.
4. The People of old were not to look into the Holiest, lest they died, (Numb. 17.13.) save only their High Priest, he might go into it: To shew that we, while here, must have a care of vain speculations, for there is nothing to be seen by us while here, in Heaven, otherwise then by faith in God's eternal Testament: True, we may now come to the Holiest, even as nigh as the first Temple will admit us to come; but it must be by blood and faith, not by vain imagination, sence, or carnal reason.
5. This Holiest of all was four square every way, both as to height, length, and breadth. To be thus, is a note of perfection, as I have shewed elsewhere; wherefore it was on purpose thus built, to shew us, that all fulness of blessedness is there, both as to the nature, degree, and duration. So when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away; 1 Cor. 13.8, 9, 10. Heb. 10.19, 20, 21, 22.