Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 61
LXI. Of the Ark of the Covenant, which was placed in the inner Temple.
IN the Word, I read of three Arks, to wit, Noah's Ark; That in which Moses was hid; and the ARK of the Covenant of God; Gen. 6.14. Exod. 2.3, 5. But it is the Ark of the Covenant, of which I shall now speak.
The Ark was made of Shittim Wood, two Cubits and an half was the length thereof, and a Cubit and an half the breadth thereof, and a Cubit and an half the height thereof. It was over-laid with pure gold within and without, and a Crown of gold was made for it round about, Exod. 25.10, 11.
1. This Ark was called the Ark of the Covenant, as the first that you read of was called Noah's, because, as he in THAT was kept from being drowned: So the Tables of the Covenant was kept in this, from breaking.
2. This Ark, in this, was a type of Christ. For that in him only, and not in the hand of Moses, these Tables were kept whole. Moses brake them, the Ark keeps them.
3. Not only that wrote on two Tables of Stone, but that also called the Ceremonial, was put into the Ark to be kept. The two Tables were put into the midst of the Ark, to answer to this, Thy Law is within my heart to do it. But the Ceremonial was put into the SIDE of the Ark, to shew, that out of the side of Christ must come that which must answer that. For out thence came blood, and water: Blood to answer the blood of the Ceremonies, and water to answer the Purifyings and Rinsings of that Law.
The Ceremonies therefore were lodged in the side of the Ark, to shew, that they should be answered out of the side of Jesus Christ; Exod. 25.16, 17. Deut. 10.5. Chap. 31.26. Psal. 40.8. Joh. 19.34. Heb. 10.7.
4. The Ark had the Name of God put upon it; yea, it was called the strength of God, and his glory, though made of Wood. And Christ is God both in Name and Nature, though made flesh; yea more, made to be sin for us: 2 Sam. 6.2. 2 Chro. 6.14. Chap. 13.6. Joh. 1.14. Rom. 9.5. 2 Cor. 5 21.
5. The Ark vvas carried upon Mens shoulders this vvay and that, to shevv how Christ should be carried and preached by his Apostles and Ministers, into all parts of the World: Exod. 25.14. 1 Chro. 15.15. Matt. 28.19, 20. Luk. 24.46, 47.
6. The Ark had those Testimonies of God's presence accompanying it, as had no other Ceremony of the Lavv: and Christ had those Signs and Tokens of his Presence vvith him, as never had Man either in Law or Gospel. This is so apparent, it needs no proof. And now for a few Comparisons more.
1. 'Twas at that that God answered the People, when they were wont to come to enquire of him: And in these last days, God has spoken to us by his Son: 1. Chro. 13.3. 1 Sam. 14.18. Heb. 1.1, 2: Joh. 16.23, 24.
2. At the presence of the Ark the Waters of Jordan stood still till Israel, the ransomed of the Lord, passed over from the Wilderness to Canaan: And it is by the power and presence of Christ, that we pass over Death: Jordan's antitype from the Wilderness of this World to Heaven; Jos. 3.15, 16, 17. Joh. 11.25. Rom. 8.37, 38, 39. 1 Cor. 15.54, 55, 56 57.
3. Before the Ark the Walls of Jericho fell down, and at the presence of Christ shall all high Tovvers, and strong Holds, and hiding Places for sinners be razed, and dissolved at his coming; Isa. 6.20. Chap. 30.25. Chap. 2.1, 2, 13, 14, 15, 16. 2 Pet. 3.10. Revel. 20.11, 12, 13.
4. Before the Ark, Dagon fell, that Idol of the Philistines; and before Christ Jesus, Devils fell, those gods of all those Idols. And he must reign till all his Enemies be put under his feet: And until they be made his foot stool; 1 Sam. 5.1, 2, 3, 4. Mark 5.12. 1 Cor. 15.25. Heb. 10.13.
5. The Philistines vvere also plagued for medling vvith the Ark, vvhile they abode uncircumcised, and the vvicked will one day be most severely plagued for their medling vvith Christ, vvith their uncircumcised hearts; 1 Sam. 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Psal. 50 16 Matt. 24.51. Chap. 25.11, 12. Luke 13.25, 26, 27, 28.
6. God's blessing vvas upon those that entertained the Ark as they should; and much more is, and vvill his blessing be upon those that so imbrace and entertain his Christ, and profess his name sincerely; 2 Sam. 6.11. Acts 3.26. Gal. 3.13, 14. Matt. 19.27, 28 29. Luke 22.28 29.
7. When Vzza put forth his hand to stay the Ark, vvhen the Oxen shock it, as despairing of GOD's protecting of it, vvithout a humane help, he died before the Lord: even so will all those do (without repentance) who use unlawful means to promote Christ's Religion, and to support it in the World; 1 Chro. 13.9, 10. Matt. 26.52. Revel. 13.10.
8. The Ark, though thus dignified, was, of it self, but low; but a Cubit and a half high: Also Christ, though he vvas the glory of Heaven and of God, yet made himself of no reputation, and was found in the likeness of a man; Exod. 25.11, 12. Phil. 2.6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
9. The Ark* had a Crown of Gold round about upon it, To shevv hovv Christ is crovvned by his Saints by faith, and shall be crovvned by them in glory, for all the good he hath done for them, as also hovv all Crovvns shall one day stoop to him, and be set upon his Head. This is shevved in the type, Zech. 6.11, 14. and in the Antitype, Revel. 4 10. Chap. 19.12.
10. The Ark vvas over-laid with gold within, and without. To shevv, that Christ vvas perfect in inward grace; and outward life; in spirit, and in righteousness; Joh. 1.12, 13, 14. 1 Pet. 2.22.
11. The Ark vvas placed under the Mercy Seat, to shevv that Jesus Christ, as Redeemer, brings and bears, as it vvere upon his Shoulders the Mercy of God to us, even in the body of his flesh, thorough death; Exod. 25.21. Ephes. 4.23. Chap. 5.1, 2.
12. When the Ark vvas removed far from the People, the godly vvent mourning after it; And vvhen Christ is hid, or taken from us, then we mourn in those days; 2 Sam. 7.2. Mark 2.19, 20. Luke 5.34, 35. Joh. 16.20, 21, 22.
13. All Israel had the Ark again, after their Mourning-time vvas over: And Christ, after his People have sorrovved for him a-vvhile, vvill see them again and their hearts shall rejoyce; Joh. 16.1, 2, 3, 20, 21, 22.
By all these things, and many more, that might be mentioned, it is most evident, that the Ark of the Testimony was a type of Jesus Christ; and take notice a little of that vvhichwhich follovvs; namely, that the Ark at last arived to the place most holy; Heb. 9.3, 4.
That is, after its Wanderings, for the Ark vvas made, first to vvander like a Non-inhabitant, from place to place; now hither, and then thither, novv in the hands of Enemies, and then abused by friends; yea, it vvas caused to rove from place to place, as that of vvhichwhich the World vvas vveary. I need instance to you for proof hereof, none other place, than the 5th, 6th, and 7th Chapters of the first Book of Samuel: And ansvverable to this, vvas our dear Lord Jesus posted backvvards and forvvards, hither and thither, by the force of the rage of his Enemies:
1. He was hunted into Egypt so soon as he was born; Matt. 2.
2. Then he was driven to live in Gali…e, the space of many years.
3. Also when he shewed himself to Israel, They drove him sometimes into the Wilderness, sometimes into the Desert, sometimes into the Sea, and sometimes into the Mountains, and still in every of these places he was either haunted, or hunted by new Enemies.
And last of all, the Pharisees plot for his life, Judas sells him, the Priests buy him, Peter denies him, his Enemies mock, scourge, buffet, and much abuse him: In fine, they get him condemned, and crucified, and buried; but at last God commanded, and took him to his place, even within the Vail, and sets him to bear up the Mercy-Seat, where he is to this very day, being our Ark to save us, as Noah's did him, as Moses did him: Yea better, as none but Christ doth save his ovvn.