A Family Altar Erected to the Honor of the Eternal God, Treatise · Chapter 1
Chap. I. The Text opened. Doctrines raiſed.
THis Text is copious, and may be called a Family-Text, as comprehending the whole Duty of Houſholders and their Inferiours: He that is not relatively Religious, is not really Religious: God hath to do with all Men in all their capacities: And Men have to do with God in all their Stations, Relations, Actions. As we muſt give an account to God of our natural, civil, and ſpiritual Acts: God's Word muſt regulate all we do, that we may act as Chriſtians, according to God's will, and for his glory. The Text contains an excellent pattern for all Families.
The whole Context holds forth theſe four Generals.
1. God's Commiſſion to Jacob, v. 1.
2. Jacob's Charge to his Family, v. 2, 3.
3. His Families chearful Compliance, v. 4.
4. The bleſſed Iſſue, viz. ſucceſs, ſafety, v. 5. An hint of all theſe.
1. The Text declares God's Commiſſion to Jacob; In which Commiſſion obſerve four things.
Viz.
1. The Privacy of it; God ſaid of Jacob, when alone:
2. The Order; 1. Ariſe, 2. Go to Bethel, 3. Dwell there.
3. The Duty to be done; make there an Altar.
4. The Reaſons to inforce this Duty.
1. God's appearing to him.
2. His danger; fleeing from his Brother.
Doct. 1. That moſt of God's manifeſtations to his People are perſonal, or when they are alone.
Jacob was alone when he had the Viſion of the Ladder, Gen. 28.12. when God bids him return to the Land of his Fathers, Gen. 31.3. Jacob was left alone when he wreſtled with the Angel,Hoſ. 2.14. Song 7.11.12. Gen. 32.24. Our Lord invites Souls to ſolitary receſſes, where he whiſpers them in the Ear, ſpeaks to their Heart,Nunquam mimes ſolus quata cum folus. there uſually is a reciprocal giving of Loves: It's good being alone with God. Happy Souls that can ſay with our dear Lord, Joh. 16.32. Ye ſhall leave me alone, and yet I am not alone, becauſe the Father is with me.
2. From the Order and Appointment; Ariſe, go to Bethel.
Doct. 2. God alone is the fitteſt to diſpoſe of Mens Habitations.
Deut. 32.8. The moſt High divided to the Nations their Inheritance; when he ſeparated the Sons of Adam—The great God is the Author of all Topography and Geography; as well as Genealogy and Chronology, Act. 17.26. He hath made of one blood all Nations of men, for to dwell on the face of the Earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, Sicut in caſtris ſua cuique Turmae & Dicuri…e diſtincta eſt ſtatio ita in terra locatos eſſe homines, ut ſinguli populi ſuis finibus contenti ſint; & in ipſis populis ſuum quiſ que domicilium incolat. Calv. in loc.and the bounds of their Habitations. And as God is the Soveraign Diſpoſer of all; ſo what he doth is in infinite Wiſdom, as a General of an Army, ordering the Troops to their diſtinct Poſts, with which all men muſt be contented.
Qu. But why doth God bid Jacob here go to Bethel?
Anſ. 1. To convince him of his abſolute dependance upon God, and his duty of Reſignation of himſelf and all he had to God's good pleaſure.
2. To quiet Jacob's ſpirit that was at this time full of fears, becauſe of the late ſlaughter of the Shechemites, chap. 34.30.
3. To ſecure him and his Family from danger, by carrying them to a ſafer place out of harms way;Gen. 28.11, 19. Eight German Miles, ſaith Paraeus in loc. Bethel being thirty Engliſh Miles diſtant from Schechem, Southwards: God hath his Pathmos for his Servants in times of danger; his Pella for his hidden ones in an Univerſal Slaughter.
4. To put Jacob upon paying his Vows; for hitherto he had been ſlack in making good his promiſe made at Bethel, chap. 28.22.
How God ſpeaks of himſelf in the third perſon. See Par. in loc.3. Here's the Duty God puts Jacob upon, which is to make there an Altar unto God; which he muſt do, partly to maintain and promote God's Worſhip; partly to ſtrengthen his Faith againſt his preſent fears, from the gracious Experiments he had at Bethel, Gen. 31.13.
Doct. 3. God will be worſhipped where ever his People inhabit.
Mens ſhifting their Habitation muſt not divorce them from God and Religion: As God is every where preſent, ſo in every place Incenſe muſt be offered to his Name, Mal. 1.11. Change of place muſt not leſſen our Piety.
4. Here's the Reaſon to urge this Duty; 1. God's appearing to him there.
Doct. 4. Former Appearances of God to his Children are Memento's of preſent Duty.
Jacob had been nine years in the Countrey, and had not returned to Bethel to pay his Vows made there; whether, 1. That he waited for a … opportunity, to do it ſolemnly with Tythes or Sacrifices: Or 2. Waited for an admonition from God,Totus à Divino Nutu pendebat, nec dubitabat Dom. illi fignificaturum tempus. Yid. Poli Syn. in loc. and hoped for God's ſignifying his mind, ſince he wholly depended on the Divine Appointment: Or 3. Whether now his new ſtraits put him in mind of his old ſtraits, receits: Or 4. Whether this was Jacob's ſin to forget and neglect this duty; which is moſt likely, that rich Jacob forgets what poor Jacob had vowed.
Doct. 5. God hath a day and a way to rub up his Peoples memories to perform forgotten duties.
God tells him there was a day he fled from Eſau his Brother,Dr. Lightfoot on Gen. thinks God was angry with Jacob for diſtruſting his promiſe, and ſending Eſa… 500 Cattle, which he had vowed the Tythes to the Lord of, therefore ſough to kill him Obſervat. o… Gen. p. 16. and now lets him ſee the danger he is in of the Canaanites, that he may perform old duties before he expects new mercies: And indeed new ſtraits revive old guilt, Gen. 42.21.
Thus much for the firſt General, God's Commiſſion.
2. Here's Jacob's Charge to his Family, verſe 23. Then Jacob ſaid to his Houſhold— Wherein Jacob as an Houſholder acts the part
Of a
1. Prophet.
2. Prieſt.
3. King.
1. He is as a Prophet, to inſtruct his Family in the mind of God; 2. Teaching them their duty; 3. His own purpoſe what he is reſolved upon; And 4. Communicating to them his own Experience for Argument and Encouragement, chap. 2. 1. His Prayer. 2. God's Anſwer, in his deliverance, and direction, verſe 3.
2. He acts herein as a Prieſt in his own houſe.
1. In making an Altar unto God.
2. In pouring a Drink-offering thereon, and pouring Oil thereon, verſe 14.
3. He acts the part of a King or Supreme Governour over his own Family, which conſiſts,
1. In the Command he lays on them,
1. To put away ſtrange Gods; 2. To be clean; 3. To change their Garments.
2. In his actual exerciſes of Juriſdiction,
Viz.
1. Their compliance, ver. 4. They gave him the ſtrange Gods, and Ear-rings.
2. His demoliſhing, or putting them out of their ſight; he hid them.
Q. 1. How came idols to be in Jacob's Family?
Anſ. 1. Either thoſe newly taken from the Shechemites, amongſt other ſpoils, chap. 34.29. which Jacob's Sons might keep, not to worſhip, but for their precious matter, of Gold, Silver.
2. Or Jacob's Gentile Servants kept theſe Images to worſhip, ſecretly unknown to Jacob.
3. Or they might be maintained, and uſed by Leah, or Jacob's two Wives, or Concubines, Billah, and Zilpah, or Deborah Nurſe to Rebecca; for Idolatry was but gradually purged out.
4. Why might not theſe Gods be the Images that his beloved Rachel ſtole? chap. 31.19. They are called Teraphims or Images; Laban calls them his Gods, v. 30. They were made in the ſhape of men, whom the Heathen adored as ſubordinate Gods, to whom they committed the protection of their Houſes, with whom they conſulted about ſecret or future things; from whom they received deluſory and diabolical Anſwers: Theſe Idols Laban worſhipt together with the true God; which Rachel took as due to her for a Portion; or (it may be) to prevent her Fathers conſulting them, that they might not inform him, which way Jacob fled: But Charity bids us believe that Rachel ſtole theſe Idols, to confute his egregious folly in worſhipping Gods that might be ſtoln, or at leaſt, to take away an occaſion of her Fathers Idolatry.
Qu. 2. Why did Jacob bury them, or hide them under an Oak, and not break them to pieces?
Anſ. 1. The Greek Verſion addeth, [foreign] and aboliſhed them, even until this day:Exo. 32.… 2 Kin. 18 And this ſeems probable from parallel Inſtances, that he firſt melted them, then hid them.
2. He did this privately, not known to his Family, ſo that they could not ſeek for them or find them: And they being now to depart thence, could not have the opportunity to enquire after them. De non exiſtentibus & non apparentibus eadem eſt ratio.
3. There is a peculiar reaſon, why he hid them in this place: Whether we take it for Terebinth, or Turpentine Tree as the Greeks tranſlate it, [foreign —] or an Oak, (as we read it,) for the Hebrew word foreign ſignifies either) (if we reſpect verſe 8. we find Deborah was buried under an Oak, called Allon-Ba…uth, the Oak of weeping, a fit Funeral of dead Idols; ſo was theſe.
Siradix ſpetetur ſign. arborem exſecra…ile… ſuneſt…s… qualis ap…d Ho…e… delubra …l…i ſolert & fo… tè … cauſa ſui … Poli Crit. … …oc.4. Interpreters give us two Reaſons why they buried theſe Idols under an Oak; 1. Becauſe thoſe Trees were generally abuſed to Idolatry, as Iſa. 1.29. therefore proper places for Interment of theſe Monuments of Idolatry. 2. This was the ſafeſt place, where they were likely to remain longeſt hid, becauſe the Heathen had a great Veneration for Oaks, therefore would not cut them down, or dig them up. Beſides; Criticks obſerve, that the root of this word ſignifies … execrable, doleful Tree; ſuch as is wont to be planted by Idol-groves; thence he hid th…ſe execrable Idols, in that place.
Doct. 6. It's fit all Monuments and occaſions of Idolatry be put out of peoples ſight.
See Exod. 23.13. Deut. 12.2, 3. H…ſ. 2.16, 17.
Doct. 7. A reſolute Reformation produceth ſafety and ſatisfaction.
When Jacob had taken this courſe, the terrour of God was upon the Cities round about them, and they did not purſue after the Sons of Jacob, v. 5. they became ſtill as a Stone: Yea, their deſire to hurt them was reſtrained; or they were diſpirited: Yea, God made them Friends to them: Oh wonderful work of Almighty God!
But all this is Excentrick to my main deſign; I ſhall not meddle with Jacob's Prophetical, and Regal Office over his Family, but ſpeak chiefly or only to his Prieſtly and Sacerdotal Office, ſignified here by his making an Altar unto God.
The famous Ʋſher in his Annals on the third Age of the World, fol. 9. ſaith, Jacob was 91 years of Age when Joſeph was born, conſequently 77 years old when he began firſt to ſerve Laban; upon his return into Canaan he built an Altar, which he called El-Elohe-Iſrael [i. e. The mighty God, the God of Iſrael] Gen. 33.20. which was the ſelf-ſame place where Abraham heretofore had built his firſt Altar, Gen. 12.6, 7, and where Jacob's Well was, near to Mount Gerſim, Job. 4.5, 20. This was about the year of the World 22…3. 1731. before the birth of Chriſt; he died at the Age of 147 years, 2315 years after the Creation: Having got both the Birth-right and Bleſſing from his Brother Eſau; and ſo was Prieſt in the Family, till God ſettled the priviledge of Prieſthood on the Tribe of Levi, inſtead of the firſt-born. He ſaith, this Hiſtory of Geneſis contains the Story of 236… years ſpace; he quotes Servius Sulpicius, affirming that in this Tract of time lived Job, a man embracing the Law of Nature, and the knowledge of the true God, &c. But this by the way.
The Altar which Jacob now was to build was at Bethel, formerly called Luz, Gen. 28.19. Which he promiſeth ſhall be Gods Houſe, verſ, 22. Where he will offer Prayers and Sacrifices to God, and where God promiſeth and vouchſafeth his ſpecial preſence; according to Exod. 20.24. Whether Jacob repaired, the old Pillar, his quondam Pillow, Ch. 28.18. which might be ruined by the injury of time, or demoliſhed by Idolatrous neighbours: Or whether he erected a new one, more ſtable, durable and faſhionable than time and his former low circumſtances would then permit: Is … much material unto diſpute: Though moſt probably the latter: However this Altar was a Monument of Gods mercy, and a token of his preſent gratitude: And the uſe and end of it was to offer Sacrifice; ſo ſaith the Text, Gen. 35.14. He poured a Drink-offering thereon, and he poured Oyl thereon; theſe were to be joyned with a Sacrifice, Exod. 29.40. Called Drink-offerings, Numb. 28.14.
Concerning an Altar obſerve, the Scripture takes notice of a threefold Altar,
1. A Literal, or Typical Altar.
2. A Myſtical.
3. A Metaphorical Altar.
1. The Literal, or Typical Altar was that either before the Law or under the Law, the firſt Altar we read of is that of Noah, Gen. 8.20. yet thoſe Sacrifices we read of, Gen. 4. preſuppoſe an Altar. In the Moſaical Diſpenſation,See Mr. Weemſe Expoſ. of Cerem. Laws. Com. 2. p. 46. there were two ſorts of Altars; 1. The Altar of Burnt-offering; 2. Of Incenſe: The former in the Wilderneſs was built of Earth; and, ſaith Mr. Weemſe, the Lord would have it ſo, becauſe he would not have it permanent, to remain after they were gone out of the Wilderneſs: And he would not have it made of hewn Stone, to ſignifie, that mens Inventions do but pollute the Worſhip of God, Exod. 20.24, 25. This is an Altar moſt holy, Exod. 40.10. it ſignified the Death of Chriſt for ſatisfaction to Divine Juſtice. 2. There was the Altar of Incenſe, mentioned Exod. 30.27. This is called the Golden Altar, Exod. 40.26, 27. and it holds forth Chriſt's Interceſſion at God's right hand. The four Horns ſignifie the ſtrength and efficacy of Chriſt's undertaking. None might go to the Golden Altar to offer Incenſe, but he who might go to the Brazen Altar to offer Sacrifice. So we have no Mediator of Interceſſion, but he that is the Mediator of our Redemption.
2. A Myſtical Altar; that's Jeſus Chriſt only, Heb. 13.10. We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat, which ſerve the Tabernacle. This is in oppoſition to the Moſaical. Our New-Teſtament Altar, Chriſt, affords to us our Soul-ſuſtenance, ſafe Protection, Sanctification, Juſtification, Conſolation, Eternal Salvation: We need no other: We have all in Chriſt. See Iſa. 56.7. Rev. 8.3.
3. There's a Metaphorical Altar, figuratively ſo called: So Goſpel-Mniſtration is called an Altar, 1 Cor. 9.13. They which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar, i. e. holy things, or things of the Temple in alluſion to the Old Teſtament Diſpenſation. So the Worſhip of God is called the Altar, Matth. 5.23, 24. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar, i. e. to God in a religious action: Yea, the whole Goſpel-Worſhip is thus denominated, Rev. 11.1. Riſe, meaſure the Temple of God, and the Altar, and them that worſhip therein; i. e. look that Goſpel-ſervice be regualar according to God's Word cleanſed from Antichriſtian pollutions: This is propheſied, Iſa. 19.19. In that day ſhall there be an Altar to the Lord in the midſt of the Land of Egypt—i. e. God's Worſhip ſhall be ſettled in all places in Goſpel-times, not a Levetical, but Evangeligal Altar: Nothing is more common in Old and New Teſtament, than to ſpeak of Goſpel-worſhip in the phraſe of the Law.
The like may be ſaid of Sacrifices, ſpiritual Sacrifices in a Goſpel ſenſe; ſo offering up to God our ſelves, Rom. 12.1. prayer and praiſe, Heb. 13.15. Acts of Charity, v. 16. a broken heart, Pſal. 51.17. Martyrdom, Phil. 2.17.
As for a falſe Altar, conſtituted in the Romiſh Church, upon which they would offer Chriſt daily as a Sacrifice for quick and dead, Proteſtants renounce it, as a crucifying the Son of God again, and inconſiſtent with Scripture and Reaſon, Heb. 9.25. nor yet that he ſhould offer himſelf often—v. 26.28. Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many, Heb. 10.14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are ſanctified. It cannot be denied that the Antients have called the Lord's Supper, an unbloody Sacrifice; the Table, an Altar; Miniſters, Prieſts; the whole action, an Oblation: but not in the ſenſe the Papiſts do, but by way of alluſion, as it is a Memorial of Chriſt's Sacrifice; or as ſpiritual prayers, praiſes, alms, are attended therewith; as our Divines have abundantly proved; and diſproved the propriety of ſpeech as applied to that Ordinance.
Well then, we renounce Popiſh Altar,Quid opus eſt Altari ubi nec ignis ard…at nec vi…im… caedantur. Pet. Martyr cont. Gard. Sacrifices, Prieſts, yet acknowledge in a ſpiritual ſenſe, that Chriſt by his Blood hath made all Believers Kings and Prieſts unto God and his Father, Rev. 1.6. And that we are built up a ſpiritual Houſe, an holy Prieſthood, to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.5, 9.
The words being thus opened, I ſhall raiſe this important
Doct. That Governours of Families muſt as Prieſts erect Family-Altars for God's Worſhip.
It well becomes Houſholders or Governours of Families, to ſet up and maintain Family-Altars for worſhiping of God, in and with the Members of their Families.
As holy Jacob the famous Patriarch was a Prophet to inſtruct his Family in the true Religion, and a King to Govern them for God; ſo a Prieſt to ſet up an Altar, offer Sacrifices and perform Religious Worſhip for and with his Family: Yea the pooreſt man that hath a Family is to be Prophet, Prieſt and King in his own Houſe.
God commands Jacob to build an Altar at Bethel, Jacob reſolves upon it, and gives all his Family orders how to behave themſelves in managing this important affair; and when they did their duty, God ſecured them, they journeyed and paſſed on ſafely.
Let none ſay that this ſetting up an Altar by Jacob was but ordered upon this particular occaſion of his paying his Vows formerly made at Bethel, and ſo doth not oblige us?
I Anſwer, 1. It's true this circumſtance of the place, occaſion, and this ſolemnity are perſonal and particular but the duty is, general, moral and prepetual, as I ſhall prove it.
2. Jacob doubtleſs worſhipt God with his Family in all places where he had come, as he took the fear of God with him in his heart, ſo he left not the external practice of Religion behind him: But ſet up Gods Worſhip which was equivalent to an Altar in all places where he came, as his Father Iſaac and his Grand-father Abraham had done.
3. And may not we have the like occaſion as he had to rear an Altar? Have we had no mercies from God? Do we lie under no Vows, or at leaſt, Obligations to the Lord? And do not theſe preſidents, and general rules bind us to the like practice, except we have a particular command by a voice from Heaven, or in an extraordinary way? I ſhall evince the contrary.
4. Becauſe Jacob was left alone, and wreſtled with the Angel and prevailed upon an extraordinary occaſion, Gen 32.24 i. e. the fear he had of his Brother Eſau: Shall we think that Jacob never prayed alone, but when he was in the like hazard? No, doubtleſs he was well acquainted with God, and much accuſtomed to this trade of converſing with God: So becauſe we find God prompting him to this Family-work here, can this be thought to exclude his ordinary courſe of Family-doctrine? No certainly, It rather implies and includes this.
In proſecuting this Point I ſhall uſe this Method,
1. Open what I mean by Altars in Families.
2. Prove it to be Houſholders Duty to ſet them up.
3. Anſwer Objections againſt this Practice.
4. Make ſome Deductions and Applications.