Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 35 – Chapter 37
XXXV. Of the Stairs, by which they went up into the Chambers of the Temple.
THere was Stairs, by which Men went up into these Chambers of the Temple, and they were but one pair, and they went from below to the first, and so to the middle, and thence to the highest Chambers in the Temple; 1 King. 6.8. Ezek. 41.7.
1. These Stairs were winding, so that they turned about that did go up them. So then, he that assayed to go into these Chambers, must turn with the Stairs, or he could not go up, no, not into the lowest Chambers.
2. These Stairs therefore were a type of a twofold repentance. That by which we turn from nature to grace, and that by which we turn from the imperfections which attend a state of grace, to glory. Hence true repentance, or the right going up these turning Stairs, is called repentance to salvation; for true repentance stopeth not at the reception of grace, for that is but a going up these Stairs to the middle Chambers, 2 Cor. 7.10.
Thus therefore the Soul, as it goes up these Stairs, turns and turns, till it enters the Doors of the highest Chambers.
It groans, though in a state of grace, 'cause that's not the state of glory. I count then that from the first to the middle Chambers, may be a type of turning from nature to grace. but from the middle to the highest, these Stairs may signifie a turning still from the imperfections and temptations that attend a state of grace, to that of immortality and glory; 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
For as there are turning Stairs, from the lowest to the middle Chambers, so the Stairs from thence still turn, and so will do, till you come to the highest Chambers. I do not say that they that have received grace, do repent they received grace; but I say, they that have received grace, are yet sorry that grace is not consummate in glory. And hence they are for going up thither still these turning Stairs; yea, they cannot rest below, as they would, till they ascend to the highest Chambers. O wretched man that I am; and in this we groan earnestly, is the language of gracious Souls; Rom. 7.20. 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3.
True, every one doth not do thus, that comes into the Temple of God, many rest below Stairs, they like not to go turning upward. Nor do I believe that all that bid fair for ascending to the middle Chambers, get up to the highest stories, to his Stories in the Heavens: Many in Churches, who seem to be turned from nature to grace, have not the grace to go up turning still, but rest in that shew of things, and so die below a share in the highest Chambers.
All these things are true in the Anti-type, and, as I think, prefigured by these turning stairs, to the Chambers of the Temple. But this turning, and turning still, displeases some much, they say it makes them giddy: but I say there is no way like this, to make a Man stand steddy: stedfast in the faith, and with boldness in the day of Judgment. For he has this seated in his heart, I went up by the turning Stairs, till I came to the highest Chambers. A strait pair of Stairs, are like that Ladder by which Men ascend to the Gallows, they are the turning ones, that lead us to the heavenly Mansion-houses. Look therefore, you that come into the Temple of God to worship, that you stay not at the foot of these turning Stairs, but go up thence; yea, up them, and up them, and up them, till you come to the view of the Heavens; yea, till you are possest of the highest Chambers. How many times has God by the Scripture called upon you to TVRN, and told you you must Turn or Die: and now here he has added to his Call, a Figure, by placing a Pair of turning Stairs in his Temple, to convict your very sences, that you must TVRN, if you mean to go up into his holy Chambers, and so into his Eternal Mansion-houses: and look that you turn to purpose. For every turning will not serve. Some turn, but not to the most High, and so turn to no purpose.
XXXVI. Of the molten Sea that was in the Temple.
THere was also a molten Sea in the Temple, it was made of brass, and contained three thousand baths; 2 Chro. 4.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
This Sea was for the Priests to wash in, when they came into the Temple, to accomplish the Service of God: to wash their hands and feet at, that they might not when they came thither, die for their unpreparedness. The Laver also which was in the Wilderness, was of the same use there; Exod. 28.
1. It was, as may be supposed, called a Sea, for that it was large to contain, and a Sea of brass, for that it was made thereof. It is called in Revelations a Sea of glass, alluding to that in the Wilderness, which was made of the brazen Looking-glasses of the Women, that came to worship at the Door of the Tabernacle; Revel. 4.6. Chap. 15.2. Exod. 28.8.
2. It was also said to be molten, because it was made of that fashion, by fire, and its Antitype therefore said to be a Sea of glass mingled with fire; Revel. 15.2.
1. This Sea was a figure of the Word of the Gospel, in the cleansing vertue of it, which vertue, then it has, when mingled with the fire of the Holy Ghost. And to this Christ alludes, when he saith, Now ye are clean through the Word, which I have spoken unto you, Joh. 15.3.
2 It was a figure of the Word, without mixture of Mens inventions: Hence it is called, pure water. Having your Bodies washt with pure water: And again, He sanctifies and cleanseth his Church with the washing of Water by the Word; Ephes. 5.26. Tit. 3.5.
All these Places are an allusion to the molten Sea, at which of old they washed, when they went into the Temple to worship. Therefore, saith he, being washed, let us draw near to God; Heb. 10.22.
3. This Sea from brim to brim was compleat ten Cubits, perhaps to shew, there is as much in the word of the Gospel to save, as there is in the ten words to condemn.
4. From under this Sea round about appeared Oxen, ten in a Cubit did compass it round about, 2 Chro. 4.3. Understand by these Oxen, Ministers, for to them they are compared in 1 Cor. 9.9. And then we are taught whence true Ministers come, to wit, from under the power of the Gospel, for this Sea breeds Gospel-Ministers, as the Waters breed Fish.
5. 'Tis also said in the Text, that these Oxen were cast when the Sea was cast: insinuating that when God ordained a word of grace to save us, he also in his Decree provided Ministers to preach it to us to that end. Paul tells us that he was made a Minister of the Gospel, according to God's eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; Ephes. 3.9, 10, 11. Col. 1.25.
6. This Sea is said to have a brim like the brim of a Cup. To invite us as well to drink of its grace, as to wash in its Water. For the Word and Spirit when mixt, has not only a cleansing, but a saving quality in it; 2 Chro. 4.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 15.1, 2.
7. This brim was wrought with Lilies: or was like a Lily-flower; To shew how they should grow and flourish, and with what beautiful Robes they should be adorned, who were washed, and did drink of this holy Water: Yea, that God would take care of them, as he also did of Lilies, and would not fail to bestow upon them, what was necessary for the Body, as well as for the Soul; Matt. 6.28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33.
XXXVII. VponUpon what the molten Sea stood in the Temple.
1. THis molten Sea stood upon the backs of twelve brazen Bulls, or Oxen, 2 Chro. 4.4.
2. These Oxen, as they thus stood, looked three towards the North, three toward the West, three toward the East, and three towards the South.
3. These twelve Oxen, were types of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb, who, as these Beasts, stood looking into the four corners of the Earth, and were bid to go Preach the Gospel in all the World.
4. They were compared to Oxen, because they were clean, for the Oxe was a clean beast. Hence the Apostles are called Holy. They were compared to Oxen, because the Oxe is strong; and they also were mighty in the Word, Prov. 14.4. 2 Cor. 12.12.
5. The Oxe will not lose what he has got by drawing; He will not let the Wheels go back: So the Apostles were set to defend, and not let that Doctrine go back, which they had preached to others, nor did they, they delivered it pure to us.
6. One of the Cherubs of which you read in the Vision, had a face like an Ox, to shew that the Apostles, these Men of the first order, are most like the Angels of God; Ezek. 1.10.
7. In that they stood with their Faces every way, it was as I said, to shew how the Apostles should carry the Gospel into all the World: Matt. 28.19. Mark 16.
8. And observe, Just as these Oxen were placed looking in the Temple every way, even so stand ope the Gates of the new Jerusalem, to receive those that by their Doctrine should be brought into it. And they shall come from the East, and from the West, and from the North, and from the South, and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God; Revel. 21.13, 14. Luke 13.29.
9. These Oxen bear this molten Sea upon their back, to shew that they should be the foundation Workmen of the Gospel, and that it ought not to be removed, as was the molten Sea of old from that Basis to another.
10. It is also said concerning these Oxen, that thus did bear this molten Sea, that all their hinder parts were inwards, that is, covered by that Sea that was set upon their backs. Their hinder-parts, or as the Apostle has it, our uncomely parts: 1 Cor. 12.23, 24.
11. And indeed it becomes a Gospel-Minister to have his uncomely parts covered with that grace, which by the Gospel he preacheth unto others. As Paul exhorts Timothy to take heed unto himself, and to his doctrine; 1 Tim. 4.6.
12. But alas, there are too too many, who, can they but have their heads covered with a few Gospel-notions, care not though their hinder parts are seen of all the World. But such are false Ministers, the Prophet calls them the Taile. The Prophet that speaketh lies, either by word or with his feet, he is the tail; Isa. 9.15. Prov. 6.12, 13.
13. But what a shame is it to hide his head under this molten Sea, while his hinder parts hang out. Such an one is none of Christ's Oxen, for they with honour to their Master, shew their heads, before all the World, for that their hinder parts are inward, covered.
14. Look to thy hinder parts, Minister; least while thy mouth doth preach the Gospel, thy nakedness and shame be seen of those which hear thee.
For they that do not observe to learn this Lesson themselves, will not teach others to believe the Word, nor to live a Holy Life: They will learn of them to shew their shame, instead of learning to be Holy.