Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 58
LVIII. Of the Doors of the Inner Temple.
1. BEsides the Vail, there was a Door to the inner Temple, and that Door was made of Olive-Tree; And for the entering in of the Oracle, he made doors of Olive-Tree. The two Doors also of Olive-Tree, and he carved upon them Cherubims, and Palm-Trees, and open Flowers, and over-laid them with Gold, and spread Gold upon the Cherubims, and upon the Palm-Trees; 1 King. 6.31.
2. These Doors were a type of the gate of Heaven, even of that which lets into the Eternal Mansion-house that is beyond that Vail. I told you before, that the Vail was a type of the visible Heavens, which God has spread out as a Curtain, and through which Christ went, when he ascended to the right hand of the Father.
3. Now beyond this Vail, as I said, I find a Door, a Gate opening with two Leaves, as afore, we found at the Door of the outward Temple. These are they which the Psalmist calls to, when he saith, Lift up your heads, O ye Gates, even lift them up ye everlasting Doors, and the King of Glory shall come in; Psal. 24.7, 9.
4. The Doors of the Temple were made of Fir, but these, as you see, were made of Olive; To shew us by that fat Tree, that rich type, with what glory we shall be met, who shall be counted worthy to enter at these Gates. The Olive-Tree has its name from the Oil and fatness of its nature, and the Doors that let into the Holiest were made of this Olive-Tree.
5. Cherubims were also carved upon these Doors, To shew, that as the Angels met us at the Temple-door, and as they wait upon us in the Temple, and stand also ready at the Vail, so even at the Gate of the Mansion-house, they will be also ready to give us a welcome thither, and to attend us into the Presence-Chamber.
6. Palm-Trees also, as they were carved upon the Temple-doors, so we also find them here before the Oracle, upon the Doors that let in thither. To shew, that as Christ gave us the Victory at our first entring into faith, So he will finish that victory, by giving of us Eternal Salvation. Thus is he the Author and finisher of our faith. For as sure as at first we received the Palm-branch by faith, so surely shall we we…r it in our hands, as a token of his faithfulness in the Heaven of Heavens, for ever; Revel. 7.9.
7. Open Flowers, are also carved here; To shew, that Christ, who is the door to glory, as well as the door to grace, will be precious to us at our entering in thither, as well as at the first step we took thither-ward in a sinful miserable World. Christ will never lose his sweet-scent in the Nostrils of his Church. He is most sweet now, vvill be so at Death, and sweetest of all, when by him we shall enter into that Mansion-house prepared for us in Heaven.
8. The Palm-trees, and open Flowers may also be a type of the precious ones of God, who shall be counted worthy of his Kingdom: The one, of the uprightness of their hearts; the other, of the good savour of their lives. The upright shall dwell in thy presence; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, I will shew the salvation of God; Psal. 140.13. Psal. 50. ult.
9. Thus sweet in Earth, sweet in Heaven: And he that yields the fruit of the Gospel here, shall find it for himself, and his Eternal Comfort, at the Gates of Glory.
10. All these were over-laid with gold, as you may say, and so they were at the Door of the first House. True, but observe, here we have an addition. Here is gold upon gold. Gold laid on them, and then gold spread upon that. He over-laid them with gold, and then spread gold upon them. The Lord gives grace and glory, Psal. 84.11. Gold, and gold. Gold spread upon gold. Grace is gold in the leaf, and glory is gold in plates. Grace is thin gold, glory is gold that is thick. Here is gold layed on, and gold spread upon that. And that both upon the Palm-trees and the Cherubims. Gold upon the Palm trees, that's on the Saints; Gold upon the Cherubims, that's upon the Angels. For, I doubt not, but that the Angels themselves shall receive Additional Glory for the Service which they have served Christ and his Church on Earth.
11. The Angels are GOD's Harvestmen, and doubtless he will give them good Wages, even Glory upon their Glory then; Matt. 13.38, 39. Chap. 24.31. Joh. 4.36.
12. You know Harvest men use to be pay'd well for gathering in the Corn, and I doubt not but so shall these, when the great Ingathering is over. But what an enterance into Life is here? Here is gold upon gold at the Door, at our first step into the Kingdom.