Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 31 – Chapter 34
XXXI. Of the Wall of the Temple.
THE Wall of the Temple was cieled with Firr, which he over-laid with fine gold: and set thereon Palm-trees, and Chains; 2 Chro. 3.5, 6, 7.
The Walls were as the Body of the House, unto which Christ alluded, when he said, Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up, Joh. 2.19, 21.
Hence to be, and worship in the Temple, was a type of being in Christ and worshiping God by him. For Christ, as was said, is the great Temple of God, in the which all the Elect meet, and in whom they do service to, and for his Father.
Hence again, the true Worshipers are said to be in him, to speak in him, to walk in him, to obey in him: (2 Cor. 2.14. chap. 12.19. Col. 2.6.) For as of old all true Worship was to be found at the Temple, To now it is only found with Christ and with them that are in him. The promise of old was made to them that worshiped within these Walls. I will give, saith he, to them in my house, and within my walls, (to them that worship there in truth) a place, and a name, better then that of Sons and of Daughters, Isa. 5.6, 5.
But now in New Testament times, all the promises in HIM are yea, and in HIM Amen, to the glory of God by us; 2 Cor. ….20.
This is yet further hinted to us, in that 'tis said these Walls are cieled with Firr; Which, as was shewed before, was a figure of the humanity of Jesus Christ.
A Wall is for defence, and so is the humanity of Jesus Christ. 'Tis, was, and will be our defence for ever. For it was that which underwent, and overcame the curse of the Law, and that in which our everlasting righteousness is found. Had he not in that interposed, we had perished for ever. Hence we are said to be reconciled to God in the body of his flesh thorow death, Col. 1.19, 20. Rom. 5.8, 9, 10.
Now this Wall was overlaid with fine gold, Gold here is a figure of the righteousness of Christ, by which we are justified in the fight of God. Therefore you read that his Church as justified, is said to stand at his right hand in Cloth of Gold. VponUpon thy right hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir. And again, her clothing is of wrought gold, Psal. 45.9, 13. This the Wall was overlaid with, this the body of Christ was filled with. Men, while in the Temple, were clothed with Gold, even with the gold of the Temple: and Men in Christ are clothed with righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. Wherefore this Consideration doth yet more illustrate the matter.
In that the Palm-trees were SET on this Wall, it may be to shew, that the Elect are fixed in Jesus, and so shall abide for ever.
Chains were also carved on these walls, yea, and they were golden Chains; there were Chains on the Pillars; and now also we finde Chains upon the Walls, Philip. 1.12, 13.
1. Chains were used to hold one Captive, and such Paul did wear at Rome, but he calls them his Bands in Christ.
2. Chains sometimes signifie great afflictions, which God lays on us for our sins, Psal. 107.9, 10, 11. Lam. 1.14. chap. 3.7.
3. Chains also may be more mystically understood, as of those Obligations which the love of God lays upon us, to do and suffer for him, Acts 20.22.
4. Chains do sometimes signifie beauty and comely Ornaments; Thy Neck, saith Christ to his Spouse, is comely with Chains of Gold: And again, I put Bracelets upon thy hands, and a Chain about thy Neck; Song 1.10. Ezek. 16.8, 9, 10, 11. Prov. 1.9.
5. Chains also do sometimes denote Greatness and Honour, such as Daniel had, when the King made him the Third Ruler in the Kingdom, Dan. 5.7, 16, 29.
Now all these are Temple-chains, and are put upon us for good, some to prevent our ruine, some to dispose our minds the better, and some to dignifie, and to make us noble. Temple-chains are brave Chains. None but Temple-worshipers must wear Temple-chains.
XXXII. Of the garnishing of the Temple with precious Stones.
AND he garnished the House with precious Stones for beauty; 2 Chron. 3.6, 7.
1. This is an other Ornament to the Temple of the Lord; wherefore as he saith, it was garnished with them; he saith, It was garnished with them, for beauty. The Line saith garnished, the Margent saith, covered.
2. Wherefore, I think, they were fixed as Stars, or as the Stars in the Firmament, so they were set in the cieling of the House, as in the Heaven of the holy Temple.
3. And thus fixed, they do the more aptly tell us, of what they were a figure, namely, of the Ministerial Gifts, and Officers in the Church. For Ministers, as to their Gifts and Office, are called STARS of God, and are said to be in the hand of Christ, Revel. 1.20.
4. Wherefore, as the Stars glitter, and twinkle in the Firmament of Heaven: So do true Ministers in the Firmament of his Church; 1 Chro. 29.2. Joh. 5.35. Dan. 12.3.
5. So that 'tis said again, these Gifts come down from above, as signifying they distill their dew from above: And hence again, the Ministers are said to be set OVER us in the Lord, as placed in the Firmament of his Heaven to give a light upon his Earth. There is Gold, and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel, Prov. 20 15.
Verily 'tis enough to make a Man in this house, look always upward: since the cieling above head doth thus glitter with precious Stones.
Precious Stones, all manner of precious Stones; Stones of all colours: For there are divers gifts, differences of administrations, and diversities of operations: but it is the same God which worketh all in all; 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6.
Thus had the cieling of this house a Pearl, here; and there, a Diamond; here a Jasper, and there a Saphire; here a Sardius, and there a Jacinth; here a Sardonix, and there an Amathist. For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom, to another the Word of Knowledge; to one the gift of healing, to another faith; to this man to work miracles, to that a spirit of prophesie; to another the discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, 1 Cor. 12.8, 9, 10, 11.
He also over-laid the House, Beams, Posts, Walls, Doors, &c. and all with Gold. O what a beautiful House the Temple was, how full of glory was it! And yet all was but a shadow, a shadow of things to come, and which was to be answered in the Church of the living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth, by better things than these.
XXXIII. Of the Windows of the Temple.
AND for the House, he made Windows of narrow Lights, 1 King. 6.4. There was Windows for this House, Windows for the Chambers, and Windows round about; Ezek. 4.16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 33, 36.
These Windows were of several sizes, but all narrow, narrow without, but wide within, they also were finely wrought, and beautified with goodly stones; Isa. 54.14.
1. Windows, as they are to an house, an ornament, so also to it they are a benefit. Truly the light is good, and a pleasant thing it is for the eye to behold the Sun; Eccles. 11.7. The Window is that which Christ looks forth at, the Window is that which the Sun looks in at; Song 2.9.
2. By the light which shines in at the Window, we also see to make, and keep the House clean, and also to do what business is necessary there to be done. In thy light we see light; light to do our duty, and that both to God and Man.
3. These Windows therefore were figures of the written Word, by and thorough which Christ shews himself to his, and by which we also apprehend him. And hence the Word of God is compared to a Glass, thorough which the light doth come, and by which we see not only the beams of the Sun, but our own Smutches also, 2 Chron. 3.18. Jam. 1.23, 24, 25.
4. The Lights indeed were narrow, wherefore we see also thorow their anti-type but darkly, and imperfectly. Now we see thorow a glass darkly, or as in a riddle, now we know but in part, 1 Cor. 13.12.
5. Their Windows and their light are but of little service to those that are without; The World sees but little of the beauty of the Church by the light of the written Word, though the Church by that light can see the dismal state of the World, and also how to avoid it.
XXXIV. Of the Chambers of the Temple.
IN the Temple Solomon made Chambers, 1 King. 6.5.
1. The Chambers were of several sizes; some little, some large; some higher, some lower; some more inward, and some outward.
2. These Chambers were for several services, some were for rests, some to hide in, some to lay up treasure in, and some for solace and delight; 2 Chro. 3.9. Ezek. 40.7. Chap. 41.5, 9, 44. 2 Chro. 31.11, 12. 2 King. 11.1, 2, 3. Ezra 8.29.
1. They were for resting places. Here the Priests and Porters were wont to lodge.
2. They were for hiding places. Here Jehoshebath hid Joash from Athaliah the term of six years.
3. They were also to lay the Temple-Treasure, or dedicated things in, that they might be safely kept there for the Worshippers.
4. And some of them were for solace and delight; and I must add, some for durable habitation. Wherefore in some of them, some dwelt always, yea their Names dvvelt there vvhen they vvere dead.
1. Those of them which were for rest, were types of that rest, which by faith we have in the Son of God, Matt. 11. and of that Eternal rest which we shall have in Heaven by him; Heb. 4.3.
2. Those Chambers which were for hiding, and security, were types of that safety which we have in Christ from the rage of the World; Isa. 26.20.
3. Those Chambers which were for the reception of the Treasures, and dedicated things, were types of Christ, as he is the common store-house of believers. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell, and of his fulness we all receive, and grace for grace; John 1.16. Col. 1.19.
4. Those Chambers that were for solace and delight, were types of those retirements, and secret meetings of Christ with the Soul, where he gives it his imbraces, and delights her with his bosom and ravishing delights. He brought me, said she, into his Chambers, into the Chamber of her which conceived me; and there he gave her his love; Song 1.4. Chap. 3.4.
5. The Chambers which were for durable dwelling-places, were types of those Eternal dwelling-places, which are in the Heavens, prepared of Christ and the Father, for them that shall be saved; Joh. 14.1, 2, 3, 4. 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4.
This it is to dwell on high, and to be safe from fear of evil. Here therefore you see are Chambers for rest; Chambers for safety, Chambers for Treasure, Chambers for Solace, and Chambers for durable Habitations. O the rest and peace that the Chambers of God's high house will yield to its Inhabitants in another World. Here they will rest from their labours, rest upon their beds, rest with God, rest from sin, temptation, and all sorrow; Revel. 14.13. Isa. 57.1, 2. 2 Thes. 1.7.
God therefore then shall wipe all tears from our eyes, even when he comes out of his Chambers as a Bridegroom, to fetch his Bride, his Wife, unto him thither, to the end they may have Eternal solace together.
O these are far better then the Chambers of the South.