Solomons Temple Spiritualized, Chapter 63 – Chapter 64
LXIII. Of the Mercy-Seat, and how it was placed in the holy Temple.
THE Mercy-Seat was made in the Wilderness, but brought up by Solomon, after the Temple was builded, with the rest of the holy things; 2 Chro. 5.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
The Mercy-Seat, as I have shewed of the Ark, was but low, Two Cubits and a half was the length, and a Cubit and a half the bredth thereof. But the height thereof, was without measure.
1. The length and bredth of the Mercy-Seat is the same with that of the Ark: perhaps to shew us that the length and bredth of the Mercy of God to his Elect, is the same with the length and bredth of the Merits of Christ; Exod. 25.10.17.
Therefore we are said to be justified in him, bless'd in him, even according to the purpose which God purposed in him.
2. But in that the Mercy-Seat is without measure, as to height, it is to shew, that, would God extend it, it is able to reach, even them that fall from Heaven, and to save all that ever lived on Earth, even all that are now in Hell. For there is, not only breadth enough for them that shall be saved, but bread enough and to spare; Luke 15.17.
And thou shalt, says God, put the Mercy-Seat above upon the Ark. Thus he said to Moses, and this vvas the place vvhichwhich David assigned for it; Exod. 25.21. 1 Chro. 28.11.
Novv its being by God's Ordinance placed thus, doth teach us many things.
1. That Mercie's foundation to us is Christ. The Mercy Seat vvas set upon the Ark of the Testimony, and there it rested to us-ward. Justice vvould not, could not have suffered us to have had any benefit by Mercy, had it not found an Ark, a Christ to rest upon. Deliver him, saith God, from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom; Job 33.24.
2. In that it was placed above, it doth shew also that Christ was of Mercies ordaining, a fruit of Mercy. Mercy is above, is the Ordainer; God is love, and sent of love his Son to be the Saviour, and propitiation for our sins; Joh. 3.16. 1 Joh. 4.10.
3. In that the Mercy-Seat, and Ark, was thus joyned together, it also shews, that without Christ, Mercy doth not act. Hence, when the Priest came of old to God for Mercy, he did use to come into the holy place with blood; yea, and did use to sprinkle it upon the Mercy-Seat, and before it seven times. Take away the Ark, and the Mercy-Seat will fall, or come greatly down at least: So take away Christ, and the Flood-gate of Mercy is let down, and the currant of Mercy stopt. This is true, for so soon as Christ shall leave off to Mediate, will come the Eternal Judgment.
4. Again, In that the Mercy-Seat was set above upon the Ark, it teacheth us to know, that Mercy can look down from Heaven, though the Law stands by, and looks on; but then it must be in Christ, as kept there, and fulfilled by him for us. The Law out of Christ is terrible, as a Lion, the Law in him is meek as a Lamb. The reason is, for that it finds in him enough to answer for all their faults, that come to God for Mercy by him. Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness, and if that be true, the Law for that can look no further, whoever comes to God by him. The Law did use to sentence terribly, until it was put into the Ark to be kept: But after it was said it is there to be kept, we read not of it as afore; 1 King. 8.9. 2 Chro. 5.10. Rom. 10.4.
5. Let them then that come to God for Mercy, be sure to come to him by the Ark, Christ. For grace, as it descends to us from above the Mercy-Seat, so that Mercy-Seat doth rest upon the Ark. Wherefore sinner, come thou for Mercy that way: For there, if thou meetest with the Law, it can do thee no harm: nor can Mercy, shouldst thou elsewhere meet it, do thee good.
Come therefore, and come boldly to the Throne of Grace, this Mercy-Seat, thus born up by the Ark, and obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need, Heb. 4. ult.
Wherefore the thus placing of things in the Holiest, is admirable to behold in the Word of God. For that indeed is the Glass, by, and through which we must behold this glory of the Lord. Here we see the reason of things: Here we see the reason of things: Here we see how a just God can have to do, and that in a way of mercy, with one that has sinned against him: It is because the Law has been kept by the Lord Jesus Christ. For as you see the Mercy-Seat stands upon the Ark of the Covenant, and there God acts in a way of grace towards us; Exod. 25.17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
LXIV. Of the Living Waters of the Inner Temple.
ALthough in the holy Relation of the Building of the Temple, no mention is made of these Waters, but only of the Mount on which, and the Materials with which the King did Build it: Yet it seems to me, that in that Mount, and there too, where the Temple was Built, there was a Spring of Living Water. This seems more than probable by Ezek. 47.1. where he saith, He brought me to the Door of the House, and behold, Waters issued out from under the Threshold of the House East-ward, for the fore-front of the House stood toward the East, and the Waters came down from under, from the right side of the House, at the South side of the Altar.
So, Again, Joel 3.18. And a Fountain shall come forth of the House of the Lord, and shall Water the Valley of Shittim. Nor was the Spring, where-ever was the first appearance of these holy Waters, but in the Sanctuary, which is the holyest of all (Ezek. 47. v. 12. where the Mercy-seat stood; which in Revelations is called, The Throne of God, and of the Lamb, Chap. 22.1, 2.
This also is that which the Prophet Zechariah means, when he says, Living Waters shall go forth from Jerusalem, half of them toward the former Sea, and half of them toward the hinder Sea, &c. Zech. 14.8. They are said to go forth from Jerusalem, because they came down to the City from out of the Sanctuary which stood in Jerusalem.
This is that which in another place is called a River of Water of Life, because it comes forth from the Throne, and because it was at the head of it, as I suppose, used in and about Temple Worship. 'Twas with this, I think, that the Molten Sea and the Ten Lavers were filled, and in which the Priests washed their Hands and Feet when they went into the Temple to do service; and that also in which they washed the Sacrifices before they offered them to God: Yea, I presume, all the washings and rinsings about their Worship, was with this Water.
This Water is said in Ezekiel and Revelations, to have the Tree of Life grow on the Banks of it, Ezek. 47. Rev. 22. and was a type of the Word and Spirit of God, by which, both Christ himself sanctified himself, in order to his Worship, as high Priest: And also this Water is that which Heals all those that shall be Saved; and by which, they being Sanctified thereby also, do all their works of Worship and Service acceptably, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This Water therefore is said to go forth into the Sea, the World, and to Heal it's Fish, the Sinners therein: Yea, this is that Water of which Christ Jesus our Lord saith, Whosoever shall drink thereof, shall live fer ever, Ezek. 47.8, 9, 10. Zech. 14.8.