The Temple in the Days of our Savior Described, Chapter 38
CHAP. XXXVIII. The Embleme of the Divine Glory at Temple. Ezek. 1. Eſay 6. Rev. 4. &c. Explained.
THe Prophet Ezekiel ſaw the viſionary Glory that he hath deſcribed, chap. 1. and chap. 10. foure times over. 1 At the River Chebar among the captives of his owne captivity, chap. 1.1. that is, that captivity which was carryed away with Jechoniah, for then was he himſelfe captived. 2 In a plaine among the captives of the other captivity, that is, Jehoiakims, Dan. 1. who dwelt indeed upon the coaſts of the ſame River, but at ſome diſtance from the other, chap. 3.15, 20, 23. 3 In the Temple, chap. 8.4. And 4 at the renewed Temple againe, chap. 43.2, 3.
The viſion and glory that he ſaw, was thus;
Ezek. 1. verſ. 4. Behold a whirle-winde out of the North, &c.) Out of the North appeared a ſtormy cloud, with fire wrapped in it, which flamed into a brightneſſe all about, and in the middle of all was as a glowing fire. For out of the North, namely, from Babel, was a ſtorme to riſe and fire to come, that was to deſtroy both City and Temple, and that ſhould cauſe the glory of the Lord which dwelt there, to come out thence as out of burning, as this glory that he ſaw which repreſented that, came out of this fire.
Verſe 5. Foure living creatures, and this was their appearance, they had the likeneſſe of a man.) That is, in ſtature and proportion of body, thighs, and legs, they had the likeneſſe and erect ſhape of a man; only their head and feet and ſome particulars els were different, of which he giveth account in the following verſes.
Verſe 6. But every one had four faces, &c.) I render the conjunction foreign But; becauſe (the Particle bearing it) it being ſo tranſlated, giveth the clearer and the readier ſenſe. They had the likeneſſe of a man, But every one had four faces.
And in verſe 7. The ſame particle foreign in foreign being tranſlated exegetically, For, doth alſo cleare the ſenſe, Their feet were ſtraight feet, for the ſole of their feet was as the ſole of a calfes feet.
And they ſparkled, &c.) that is, their feet ſparkled like burniſhed braſſe, for the brightneſſe of their bodies is deſcribed at verſe 13.
Verſe 8. And the hands of a man were under their wings on their four ſides; ſo had they four their faces and their wings.) That is, they had their faces and their wings on their four ſides: namely, a wing on their breaſt and a face that way, a wing on the backe and a face that way, and a wing on either ſhoulder and faces likewiſe, and under their wings every way was a mans hand and arme.
Verſe 9. Their wings were joining one to another.) This is explained at verſ. 11.
They turned not about when they went, they went every one ſtraight before his face) Which way ſoever they were to goe, they needed not to turne their bodies, to ſet their face that way as men and other creatures do; who when they are to goe this way or that way, they turne their bodies till their faces ſtand the way they are to goe: but theſe did not, nor needed they to doe ſo; for goe which way they would, they had a face that led them that way.
Verſe 10. As for the likeneſſe of their faces &c.) Every one had the face of a Man before, and the face of an Eagle behinde, the face of a Lion towards the right hand, and the face of a Bullock towards the left.
It is not much important to diſpute, whether they had foure heads as well as faces, or only one head faced on every ſide; I ſhould rather hold for the former, and could give ſome reaſons that ſway me to that opinion, but I ſhall not inſiſt upon them here.
Some there have been that have conceived that the quarters of their faces are named in reference to their ſtanding towards Ezekiel, as that the face towards Ezekiel was a mans, the face which was upon Ezekiels right hand (which was the left hand of the Cherub) was a Lions; the face on Ezekiels left hand (which was the Cherubs right) the face of a Bullock; and the face of an Eagle behinde: but they that have been of that opinion have not obſerved, that the foure living creatures ſtood not in a ſtraight line all facing Ezekiel, but in a ſquare poſture, as ſhall be ſhewed by and by.
Theſe living Creatures are called Cherubins by this Prophet very often, chap. 10. and by that name, laid to this deſcription, he teacheth us how to conceive of the forme of the Cherubins that we read of ſo oft in Scripture, as the Cherubins upon the Mercy ſeat, and the Cherubins that overſhadowed the Arke in Solomons Temple, and the Cherubins wrought in the Tabernacle Curtaines, and carved upon the Temple wals, &c. namely, of this four-fold feature or having ſo many faces; ſaving that in the imbroidery of the Curtaines and ſculpture upon the wals, only two of the four faces could be made to appeare. And ſo it is evident in Ezek. 41.19. where he ſaith there were Cherubins and Palm trees carved upon the walls, ſo that a Palm tree was between a Cherub and a Cherub, and every Cherub bad two faces: ſo that the face of a man was towards the Palme tree on the one ſide, and the face of a young lion was towards the Palme tree on the other ſide. Their other two faces were to be conceived obſcured in the wall as if they were looking into it. But it may not paſſe unobſerved that theſe two faces of a man and a lion, were not the cherubs oppoſite faces, that is, that before and that behinde, but they were his face before and his face on the right ſide: and hence I have one reaſon to conjecture that they had foure heads as well as foure faces, becauſe it will otherwiſe be very harſh to imagine how his fore-face and right ſide-face ſhould be ſet to looke before and behinde. Now theſe two faces of a Man and a Lion were the faces that the Cherub that ſtood upon the right hand of the Arke as it ſtood facing the people, looked upon the Arke and the people withall, his humane face toward the Arke, his Lions towards the people: And we ſhall obſerve afterward how thoſe whom the Cherubins repreſented, had in office to looke mutually towards God and his people, and were Mediators between them.
The Prophet in chap. 10. verſ. 14. reckoning the four faces of theſe Cherubins againe, begins with the face of a bullock firſt, which was a left hand face, and inſtead of the face of a bullocke, he cals it the face of a Cherub: was not the face of a Lion or Eagle the face of a Cherub, as well as the face of a Bullocke? It ſeemeth ſtrange therefore that he ſhould call the Bullocks face, the face of a Cherub rather then any other: But the reaſon ſeemeth to be taken from this conſideration: The High-prieſt when he went into the moſt holy place up to the Arke, the Cherub that ſtood by the Arke upon his right hand, whither he was more ready to looke then on his left, ſtood facing him with the face of a Bullocke. Now the Prophet in this place is ſpeaking of Gods glory flitting from the Temple, where it dwelt eſpecially on the Arke between the Cherubins, and as if he looked at that right hand Cherub, which was now flitting from his ſtation and removing, ſo he nameth that face that looked upon him: and he calleth the face of a bullocke, the face of a Cherub, becauſe that was the face of the Cherub that was moſt looked on and obſerved by him that went into the moſt holy place.
Verſe 11. Thus were their faces… and their wings were parted upward,) Though their wings joined one to another at the ſetting on, yet they opened and parted upward, as alſo do the wings of other flying fowls: who though they grow neere together at the rootes, yet they ſpread and part wider and wider toward the points: And the like in ſome parity may be conceived concerning the parting of their faces, that they grew upon one root as if were but parted upward, into ſo many heads: and ſo the conſtruction of the verſe ſeemeth to carry it foreign, where the Particle in the beginning of the verſe is not ordinary, and requireth obſervation: It may very well be rendred, Bvth their faces and their wings were parted upward.
Two wings of every one were joyned one to another, and two covered their bodies, &c.) The deſcription of the living creatures in Eſay 6. and the parallel to them and theſe in Rev. 4. muſt help us to interpret this eleventh verſe, about their wings. The Apocalyptick cals them living Creatures, and numbreth them foure, and nameth their four faces punctually as this Prophet doth, but reckoneth their wings to be ſix ape…ce, Rev. 4.8. Eſay nameth indeed the living Creatures that he ſaw by another name then either John or Ezekiel do, yet he meaneth the very ſame, both for number and forme, for he ſaw the very ſame glory of God that theſe deſcribe, that is, Gods glory at the Temple, as the very firſt verſe of that chapter doth explaine it: And in this ſenſe is the word His glory to be underſtood, Job. 12.41. Hee ſaw foure living Creatures, with four faces, and in all things like to theſe deſcribed here, as to their forme and proportion, and he ſaith every one of them had ſix wings, Eſay 6.2.
The Prophet Ezekiel ſaith no leſſe as to that matter, although he ſpeak it not ſo very plainly out: for laying verſe 11. and verſe 23. together, we ſhall finde the account of their wings to be to this purpoſe, and the ſame number. They had wings that were parted above: theſe were the two wherewithall they flew: And they had other two which joined one to another, over their heads, theſe are parallel to thoſe wherewithall Eſay ſaith they covered their faces: and they had two wherewithall they covered their bodies: thoſe are they that he ſaith covered their feet: Thus is the eleventh verſe to be underſtood: which the 24 ſpeaketh parallel to, and ſomething explaineth. It is ſaid there, that under the firmament (which was over their heads) their wings were ſtraight one towards another: and they had two wings which covered on this ſide, and two wings which covered on that ſide: and the meaning thereof is this, that they alwayes carryed two of their wings ſtraight upright, joining together over their heads, and when they ſtood ſtill they covered their bodies with four wings, two on back and belly, and two on either ſide: Whereas it is ſaid in verſe 24. that when they ſtood they let downe their wings, it is to be underſtood onelyonly of thoſe two wings wherewithall they flew, for they had every one of them two wings that they never let downe, and they were thoſe wherewithall they covered their faces; and they had two other which they never lift up, and they were thoſe wherewithall they covered their back and belly, or ſecret parts before and behinde. For that expreſſion of Eſay, They covered their feet, meaneth, they covered their ſecret parts: for in that ſenſe is feet ſometime taken in Scripture, as The baire of the feet, Eſay 7.20.
And thus are we to reconcile thoſe two verſes in this firſt chapter of Ezekiel, which ſeem to be diſſonant, the one whereof, namely, verſe 11. ſaith that with two of their wings they covered their bodies; and the other, which is verſe 23. ſpeakes of four that covered their bodies; which mean diſtinctly thus, that two of their wings continually covered their ſecret parts before and behinde, and they never lifted them up; and when they ſtood ſtill, they let downe their wings wherewith they flew, and with them covered their ſides. And ſo it appeareth that their two flying wings grew out at their ſhoulders, and the wings wherewith they covered their faces, grew out at their breaſt and backe, and thoſe grew out below them that covered their ſecret parts.
Verſe 12. And they went every one before his face whitherſoever their minde was to goe, &c.) Went they backward, forward, ſide-way, any way, they had every one a face to goe that way, and needed no turning about to ſet their faces that way they would goe.
Verſe 13. Their appearance was like burning coales of fire, &c.) Hence Eſay calleth them Seraphim, or burning ones; and that the rather, becauſe fire is there threatned to the Temple.
It went between the living Creatures, &c.) It, that is, fire: Every one of the living Creatures was of a glowing and flaming brightneſſe, glowing like coals of burning fire, and flaming like Lamps, and yet beſides this firineſſe that they carryed every one with them, there was fire alſo in the midſt of them, of a great brightneſſe and flaſhing as lightning: So in Rev 4.5. Out of the Throne went lightnings and thunders and voices.
Thus was the appearance of theſe Cherubims, one thing more being added out of Ezek. 10.12. That their whole body and their backs and their hands and their wings were full of eyes: The like is ſaid Rev. 4.6. Now their poſture or manner of ſtanding was ſuch, that ſtanding ſtill or moving, they were in a ſquare forme, as if four men ſhould ſtand ſo, as to make a ſquare ſpace or a quadrangle in the middeſt between them: Their quadrangular ſtanding, was (as I may ſo expreſſe it) lozenge-wiſe, or after the Diamond ſquare, one looking toward the South with his humane face, and another with his humane face towards the North, a third with the ſame face toward the Eaſt, and the fourth with the ſame towards the Weſt. Thus they ſtood when they ſtood, and in this quadrature they moved when they moved: and to this ſenſe is that paſſage to be underſtood in chap. 10.6, 7. where it is ſaid that fire was between the Cherubims, and one of them raught fire from between them, that is, out of the ſquare ſpace that was in the middeſt of them as they ſtood. And ſo is Ezek. 1.15. which is the next verſe that comes to be explained, to be underſtood.
Verſe 15. And behold a wheele on the earth by the living Creatures foreign on his foure faces,) That is, on the four ſides or faces of the ſquare body as it ſtood; namely, a wheele before every one of the living creatures on the out-ſide of the ſquare: A wheele before him that ſtood with his humane face looking Eaſt, and a wheele before him that ſtood with his humane face looking Weſt, and ſo before them that ſtood looking North and South: Or if you will apprehend this whole body as it ſtood in its ſquare, in the forme of any of the living Creatures as he was ſingle, do but conceive that one ſtood looking Eaſt with his face of a Man, and another Weſt with his face of an Eagle, another looking South with his face of a Lion, and the fourth looking North with his face of a Bullocke; and ſo you have the four ſeverall faces on the out-ſide of the ſquare, and the four ſeverall faces on the inſide of it, and the four wheeles ſtanding before the out-ſide ſtaves.
Verſe 16. As it were a wheele within a wheele,) The faſhion of every wheele was ſo, as it were one wheele put croſſe within another, ſo that they could runne upon either of theſe croſſing rings as there was occaſion: were they to goe Eaſtward, they ran upon the one ring, but were they ſuddainly to turn South, then they ran upon the croſſe ring: And ſo as the living Creatures had faces to lead them any way, ſo had theſe wheels rings or rims to go on any way: And this is meant in verſe 17. when it ſaid, they went upon their foure ſides, and turned not when they went: Not but that they turned about as wheeles doe when they goe, but when they were to change their way, as to goe from Eaſt to South or North, or from Weſt to either of theſe quarters, they needed not to fetch a compaſſe and wind about to ſet themſelves to goe that way, but they readily turned upon the croſſing ring and needed no more adoe.
And thus did the living Creatures ſtand in one ſquare, and the wheeles in another ſquare about them: And let us take a patterne of their motion, ſuppoſing the living Creatures to ſtand with their humane faces looking ſeverally to the foure quarters of heaven. Were they to move Eaſt, he that ſtood Eaſt his humane face led him, and his wheele ran before him; He that ſtood Weſt, his Eagles face led him, and his wheel followed him; He that ſtood South, his face of a Bullocke led him; and he that ſtood North, his Lions face led him, and their wheels ran beſide them: Were they to turne ſuddainly South? he that ſtood South, his humane face led him, he that ſtood North, his Eagles, he on the Eaſt his Lions, and he on the North his Bullocks, and now the wheels ran upon the other ring.
Verſe 18. Thus were their rings,) That is, one croſſe within another: And they were high, and they were reverent,) foreign It were an eaſie ſenſe, if the clauſe were tranſlated, And they were dreadfull, that is, wheeles had their dreadfulneſſe as well as the living Creatures: But ſince the word foreign doth moſt properly and moſt generally ſignifie, the inward affection of feare or reverence, it ſeemeth in this place to meane the reverentiall and attendent poſture in which the wheeles ſtood, ready to move or ſtand according to the motion or ſtanding of the living Creatures, and both they and the living Creatures obſervant of that preſence and glory, upon which they waited: Had it been foreign it might very well have carryed it into that conſtruction, but being foreign it may the better countenance this that is produced, and R. Solomon ſpeaketh of ſome that did ſo interpret it.
Such was the faſhion of this divine chariot, of living creatures and wheeles, the creatures drawing as it were and acting the wheels, whitherſoever they moved, and the wheels moving or ſtanding together with them in all voluntarineſſe and compliance: Now the Lords riding upon this glorious carriage, is deſcribed in the verſes following; An azure skie juſt over their heads, borne up as it were with the points of their wings which they held upright over their heads covering their faces with them: Above that skie a Throne, on which ſate the reſemblance of a man all fiery; from his loines upward like fire glowing, and from his loines downward like fire flaming: and a brightneſs in the form of a rain-bow round about him Compare Rev. 4.2.3.
And now to take up the morall or ſignification of this Embleme, we will firſt begin with the conſideration of the generall intention of it, and then deſcend to the application of particulars.
That it intends in generall to ſignifie and character out unto us, the Lords glory and preſence dwelling at his Temple, and among his people, theſe obſervations will make it paſt doubting or peradventure.
1 The Temple is very commonly in Scripture ſtyled by the name of Gods Throne, as Jer. 17.12. A glorious high Throne from the beginning is the place of our Sanctuary, Ezek. 43.7. The place of my Throne, and the place of the ſoles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midſt of the children of Iſrael, &c. Which the Lord proclaimeth when his glory was returned to the renewed Temple, as is apparent in the verſes immediately preceding. And ſo the Prophet Eſay ſaith, I ſaw the Lord ſitting upon a Throne high, and lifted up, and his Traine filled the Temple, &c. And the houſe was filled with ſmoake, &c. Eſay 6.1, 4. Where he charactereth the Lords ſitting parallel to his dwelling in the cloud of glory upon the Arke, and from thence filling the whole houſe with the traine of his glory. And ſo in the booke of the Revelation, where the Lord is inthroned, with ſuch living Creatures attending him as are deſcribed here, there are ſo plaine intimations, that it meaneth his glory at his Temple, that nothing can be plainer: for when there is mention of a Sea of Glaſſe before the Throne, and of ſeven Lamps, Rev. 4. v. 5, 6. and of a golden Altar of incenſe, chap. 8.3. and of a voice from that Altar, chap. 9.13. &c. the alluſion is ſo cleare to the molten Sea, ſeven Lamps of the golden Candleſtick, the Altar of incenſe, and the Oracle given from beyond it, which all were before the Arke where the Lords glory dwelt in the cloud, that the matter needeth no more proofe then only to obſerve this: And that the throne and glory of God throughout all that deſcription meaneth in this ſenſe, there is evidence enough in that one clauſe in chap. 16. v. 17. a voice came out of the Temple of heaven from the Throne.
2 Ezekiel himſelfe ſheweth that this glory referred to the Temple, becauſe he hath ſhewed it pitched there, flitting thence and returning thither againe. 1 He ſaith, that the glory of the God of Iſrael was at the Temple, namely, that that he had ſeene and deſcribed in the firſt chapter, chap. 8.4. though he be there in numbring up the abominations that were committed in the Temple, which were great and many, yet doth he relate that this glory was there ſtill, becauſe the Lord had not yet withdrawne his preſence thence. But 2 At the laſt the provocations in that place do cauſe it to depart; and that departure he deſcribeth in the tenth chapter, and there he ſetteth forth the very ſame glory, and almoſt in the very ſame termes that he doth in the firſt chapter. He telleth that this glory of the Lord departed from off the Cherub, that is, from off the Mercy ſeat, where it had alwayes dwelt between the Cherubims, and went out, firſt to the threſhold, verſ. 4. then to the Eaſt gate, verſ. 19. then to the City and to the Mount Olivet and ſo departs, chap. 11.23. But 3 When he ſpeaketh of and deſcribeth a new Temple, then he ſheweth his glory returned thither againe, chap. 43.2, 3, 4. And upon theſe three particulars of its pitching at the Temple, flitting thence and returning thither again, we may take up theſe obſervations for the further clearing of this ſignification.
1 That the Prophet maketh ſome diſtinction betwixt the glory of the Lord dwelling upon the Cherub, that is, on the Mercy ſeat, over the Arke, and the glory of the Lord upon theſe Cherubims: for he ſaith the glory of the Lord went up from the Cherub, and ſtood ever the threſhold of the houſe, theſe Cherubims then ſtanding on the right ſide of the houſe, chap. 10.3, 4. and then that the glory of the Lord departed from off the threſhold of the houſe, and ſtood over the Cherubims, verſ. 18. The glory of the Lord in the repreſentation that the Prophet deſcribeth in the firſt chapter was upon the Cherubims already, for he ſaith the glory of the God of Iſrael was there according to the viſion that I ſaw in the plaine, chap. 8.4. and yet he mentioneth another glory now added to it: namely, the cloud of glory that dwelt upon the Mercy ſeat, for he ſaith that upon the flitting of that glory from off the Cherub to the threſhold, the houſe was filled with the cloud; the meaning of this we ſhall looke at afterward.
2 As to the flitting of this glory from the Temple, the Prophet ſaith he ſaw it when he came to deſtroy the City, chap. 43.3. that is, when he came to foretell that the City ſhould be deſtroyed. And he dated the time of his firſt ſeeing of this glory, in the fifth yeare of the captivity of Jehoiakim, chap. 1.2. which was the fifth yeare of the reigne of Zedekiah, 2 Kings 24.8, 17, 18. in which very yeare Zedekiah did rebell againſt the King of Babel, which action was the very beginning of Jeruſalems ruine.
3 As to the returning of this flitted glory againe to the new built Temple, chap. 43. it is obſervable that the cloud of glory which had deſcended and filled the Tabernacle, and had done the like at Solomons Temple, did never ſo at the ſecond Temple, or that built after the Captivity, as the Jewes themſelves confeſſe, and that not without, good reaſon: Yet doth the Prophet as clearly bring that glory into his new Temple, as ever it had come into them: but onelyonly that this was in a viſion, and ſo it ſhewed viſionarily, the Lords dwelling in his Ordinances and preſence among his people under the ſecond Temple, unto which the People returned out of Babel, and in the ſpirituall Temple or Church under the Goſpell (for Ezekiels new Temple promiſed a bodily Temple to the returned, and promiſed, and typified a ſpirituall Temple under the Goſpell) even as he had done viſibly in his cloud of glory, in the Tabernacle and firſt Temple. And 2 he addeth further, that when that glory was entered, the Eaſt gate at which it came in, was ſhut and never opened after, chap. 44.2. to denote the Everlaſting dwelling of the Lord in the Church of the Goſpell among his people, and never departing as hee had done from Hieruſalem Temple.
This then being the ſignification of this appearance and glory, in generall, we are next to look upon the particulars of it, which will more fully alſo confirme and cleare this matter, and firſt we will beginne with the living Creatures, or Cherubims.
For the better diſcovery of them what they were, and what they meant, theſe things do deſervedly challenge ſpeciall conſidering and obſervation.
1 That they are plainly diſtinguiſhed from Angels: For in Rev. 5.11. there is mention of many Angels round about the Throne and about the living Creatures, and the number of them was ten thouſand times ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands: And in Rev. 7.11. All the Angels ſtood round about the Throne, and about the Elders, and the foure living Creatures: So that here is apparent difference between Angels and living Creatures both in their names and in their placing: For the living Creatures were about the Throne, the 24 Elders about the living Creatures, and the innumerable multitude of Angels about all.
2 That they were ſuch as Chriſt redeemed from the earth; For obſerve in Rev. 5.8, 9. The four living Creatures as well as the four and twenty Elders fall downe before the Lamb, &c. ſaying, Thou waſt ſlaine and haſt redeemed us to God by thy bloud, out of every kindred and tongue, and people and Nation, and haſt made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts &c. So that the living Creatures were redeemed, and were of people and Nations, and were made Kings and Prieſts as well as the 24 Elders, which cannot be applied to Angels.
3 That theſe living Creatures or Cherubims are never mentioned but in viſion or Hicroglyphick; In viſion, as in theſe places that have been cited of Eſay, Ezekiel, and the Revelation, and in Hieroglyphicke, as the Cherubims covering the Arke, and wrought in the Tabernacle Curtaines, and on the Temple wais. It is true indeed that it is ſaid in Gen. 3. God placed Cherubims at the gate of Eden, which is onelyonly for the fuller and more feeling apprehenſion of the thing, the Cherubims being ſuch formes as with which the people were beſt acquainted ſeeing them in the Tabernacle curtaines.
4 They therefore being thus conſtantly held out in a doctrinall and ſignificative tenour, as viſions and Hieroglyphicks are, they are to be expounded to ſuch a doctrinall and figurative ſenſe, and ſo is the whole body of glory, as I may ſo call it, the whole viſionary theatre or ſpectacle that is before us to be taken.
And firſt to begin with the quadrature or four-ſquare poſture of the whole appearance, which was touched before, and now a little more to be conſidered on. There is intimation enough in Ezekiel, that the four living Creatures ſtood ſquare, with a fire in the middeſt of them, and the wheeles in a ſquare on the outſide of the ſquare of the living Creatures: but in the Revelation it is yet more plaine, for there it is ſaid the foure living Creatures ſtood round about the Throne, which could not be but in a quadrature, one before, another behinde, and one of either ſide; for how elſe could foure ſtand round about it? The Throne then meaning the Temple as was ſhewed before, this double quadrature about it, doth call us to remember the double camp that pitched about the Tabernacle upon the four ſides of it, Eaſt, Weſt, North, and South: When the Lord did firſt platforme and order the incamping of Iſrael in the Wilderneſſe.
1 He pitched his owne Tabernacle in the middle, as that being the very Center, heart, and life of the Congregation, and they being all to attend upon it, and God thereby declaring himſelfe to be in the middeſt of them, Lev. 26.11, 12.
2 He pitched the Tribe of Levi in foure ſquadrons on the four ſides of the Tabernacle next unto it: for they being the Miniſters that attended upon the publick ſervice, and that drew neare unto the Lord, and were Mediators 'twixt God and his people, the Lord cauſed them to incampe next unto his Sanctuary, and betwixt the Camp of the people and himſelfe.
3 The outmoſt of all, in four main bodies on the foure ſides of the Tabernacle, and of the Levites Camp, did the whole Congregation pitch, and ſo there were two quadratures, the Levi…es about the Sanctuary and the Congregation about the Levites. See Numb. 2.
Anſwerable is the platforme here, and the quadrangular poſture is in reference and alluſion to that, and from thence muſt we explain it. In the midſt was a quadrangle of fire: and upon every ſide of that quadrangle a Cherub, and on the outſide of the Cherubims even before every one of them was a wheel. And in the Revelation, A Throne in the middle, foure living Creatures next about it, and the 24 Elders about them.
So that by this parallel to Iſraels Camp from whence the platforme both in the Prophet and the Apocalyptick is taken, the foure living Creatures did ſignifie the Prieſts and Miniſters of the Lord, and the wheels in the one, and the 24 Elders in the other did repreſent the people or the Congregation: And this will ariſe clearer and clearer ſtill to our obſervation, as wegoe along to conſider their place, actions and deſcriptions.
1 I know it is conceived by ſome that the 24 Elders in the Revol…tion were neerer the throne then the Cherubims (and that opinion muſt needs conclude the like in Ezekiel) but the contrary is apparent by theſe obſervations. 1 That (beſides what hath been ſaid upon v. 15.) in Ezek. 10.6. a man clothed in linnen, being bidden to take fire from between the wheeles, from between the Cherubims, he firſt goeth in within the compaſſe of the wheels, and then a Cherub taketh fire from the midſt of the Cherubims and reacheth it to him. 2 It is ſaid there againe at v. 9. that the four wheeles were by the Cherubims, whereas if the wheeles had been inmoſt it had been proper to have ſaid, the Cherubims were by the wheeles. 3 And at v. 18. It is ſaid the glory of the Lord ſtood over the Cherubims, and chap. 1.22, 26. &c. It is ſaid the Throne of God was juſt over their heads, and there is no mention of being over the wheeles, which ſhews it very unlikely that the wheels were in the middle of the Cherubims. 4 In Rev. 5.6. the platform is named thus, In the midſt of the Throne, and of the four living Creatures, and in the midſt of the Elders; the Throne in the midſt, the living Creatures next, and the Elders outmoſt: and ſo againe in v. 11. &c. 5 In chap. 4.4. It is ſaid that about the Throne were four and twenty ſeats, and on them four and twenty Elders ſitting; and at verſe 6. foreign: which is a hard piece of Greeke to conſtrue, becauſe there is an ellipſis of a particle, which not obſerved, hath produced but harſh interpretations of the place. The Syriack hath rendred it In the midſt of the Throne, and about it and before it; the moſt tranſlations, In the midſt of the Throne, and about the Throne, which how to make a ſmooth expoſition of, is hard to finde. The particle foreign ſeemeth to be underſtood, which expreſſed, the ſentence would run thus, foreign, that is, between the Throne and the incompaſſing that was about it (of 24 ſeats and Elders on them) there were four living Creatures.
Thus then was the place of the living Creatures, next the Throne; and that being the place of the Levites next the Sanctuary, it ſheweth that theſe Cherubims or Creatures, did repreſent the Miniſters and the wheeles, and 24 Elders did repreſent the Congregation.
And this will yet appeare the clearer by obſerving that the living Creatures were the firſt agents and movers continually in any expedition or imploiment, as the Miniſters were in the publick ſervice. In Ezek. 1. & 10. the wheels moved or ſtood, according as the living Creatures did firſt. And in the Apocalypſe the living Creatures firſt praiſe and worſhip, and then the Elders, chap. 5.14. The four living Creatures ſaid Amen, and the 24 Elders fell downe and worſhiped, &c. chap. 4.9, 10. When the living Creatures give glory and honour, &c. the 24 Elders fell down, &c.
2 And now to come to the conſideration of their figure and reſemblance, and firſt to begin with their four faces; the Jewes acknowledge that theſe four faces were ſeverally pictured in the four Standards of the ſquadrons of Iſraels Camp, as they pitched in the quadrangular forme that hath already been ſpoken of. There were figures (ſaith*Aben Ezra in Num. 22. Aben Ezra) in every Standard and Standard: And our Ancients do ſay that in the Standard of Reuben, there was the picture of a man, and in the Standard of Judab the picture of a Lion, in the Standard of Ephraim the picture of a Bullocke, and in the Standard of Dan the picture of an Eagle, ſo that they were like the Cherubims which Ezekiel ſaw: With which aſſertion Ramban alſo agreeth, and Targum Jonathan doth not much diſſent, and this opinion was entertained as an ancient Tradition of the Nation: upon what ground, and upon what references of theſe Pictures to the Tribe and Standard to which they belonged, it is not much materiall to inſiſt upon, to debate here.
Upon the obſervation that theſe repreſentations were ſeverally in the ſtandards of Iſraels campe, ſome have concluded, that therefore the foure living creatures which bare theſe repreſentations did ſignifie the Congregation or people, and not the Levites or Miniſters: which is unproper to conceive, becauſe ſuch a conſtruction allotteth all the foure figures to every ſtandard, whereas all the foure ſtandards did but make up and carry theſe foure figures amongſt them all. But it is not improper to allot all theſe foure figures to every one of the ſquadrons of the Levites, for every one of them, nay every particular one of the Prieſts and Levites had intereſt in and relation to the whole Congregation, as being Miniſters in their behalf: And as Aaron carried all the tribes upon his ſhoulders and breaſt, ſo are the Miniſters in theſe emblemes of the living creatures, decyphered as carrying the faces of all the ſtandards of the whole Congregation: becauſe of their reference to the whole Congregation, they ſerving at the Temple for it. What allegoricall interpretations are made of theſe foure faces, I ſhall not trouble the reader to produce, every one may finde one ſuch application of them or other as his conception upon them ſhall lead him to it.
As for the reſt of the proportion of theſe living Creatures, they are eſpecially remarkable for their wings and feet, for the reſt of their bodies was like the body of a man: Two of their wings were alwaies erect over their heads covering their faces, from under which they ſpied as it were at their way they were to goe, and at the glory they attended on: which pertinently denoteth the reverentiall reſpect that the Miniſters of the Lord have to his glory and to the myſteries of his counſell; compare 1 Pet. 1.12. With two other wings they covered their ſecrets, in ſigne of humble ſenſibleneſſe of their owne deformity, and with two they flew, in ſignification of ready activity and attendance for and upon the Lords ſervice; their feet were in faſhion like to the feet of a bullocke, and in colour like to burniſhed braſſe: according to which latter character the feet of our Saviour are deſcribed Rev. 1.15. His feet like unto fine braſſe as if they burned in a furnace. Every one will be ready to frame an allegoricall application of theſe circumſtances, according to his owne conception: It may be ſome (if they take thoſe living creatures to repreſent the Miniſters as I ſuppoſe they do) will when they read of their feet like to the feet of bullocks, apprehend that it is, becauſe they trod out the corne of the word for the people; and as that was alſo done with a wheele, ſo there are wheeles here in the like manner: It may be they will thinke they are deſcribed thus footed for the fitter ſetting them forth as the drawers of this divine charret. It may be they will ſuppoſe the beauty and ſhining brightneſſe of their feet, may ſignifie the holineſſe of their waies ſhining in ſanctity and burning in zeale: It may be they may thinke of the Prieſts feet red for cold as they ſtood upon the bare ſtones in their ſervice, and they ſeeming unſenſible of it as are the feet of bullocks, and ſuch variety of apprehenſions will be ready to be taken up upon theſe things, that a man may ſpeake his owne thoughts and opinion in this matter, but not readily bring another to be of his minde,
The likeneſſe of theſe living creatures all over their bodies, was as burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lampes Ezek. 1. v. 13. for the faithful miniſters of the Lord are as a flame of fire, as Pſal. 104.4 ſhining in life and doctrine like lampes and lights, Iob. 5.35. Mat. 5.14, 15, 16. and by the word of the Lord even devouring the diſobedient, as Ier. 5.14. I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood and it ſhall devoure them.
The fire that was in the midſt of theſe Creatures, which went up and downe among them, and out of which proceeded thundrings and lightnings, Ezek… 1.14. Rev. 4.5. may draw our thoughts to the Altar and fire there, and to obſerve the Prieſts ſtanding on the 4 ſides of it in their attendance on it (and ſo Eſay ſaith, one of the Seraphims took a fiery coal from the Altar and touched his lips with it, Eſai. 6.6, 7.) as theſe living Creatures ſtood on the foure ſides of a quadrangle of fire which was in the midſt of them, or rather it ſo plainly denoteth the word of God among his miniſters, and the thundrings and lightnings and voices doe ſo clearly relate to the giving of the word at Sina…, that ſo to allegorize it, is without any ſtraining at all, eſpecially conſidering how commonly the word of God is compared to fire in the ſcripture, as Deut. 33.2. Ier. 3.14. &, 23.29. & 20.9. 1 Cor. 3.13.
Thos were theſe living creatures which did reſemble and embleme the Lord Miniſters: the embleme of the people or the Congregation was two fold; in Ezekiel, wheeles; in the Revelatron, foure and twenty Elders, and theſe latter helpe to underſtand the meaning of the former. As the Arke and Cherubims upon it and by it are called th… charet of the Cherubims 1 Chron. 28.18. the Lord there riding as it were in his glory and preſence, in the cloud that dwelt upon it, even ſuch another compoſture doth Ezekiel deſcribe here, the divine charet of the Lord, of his glorious and triumphant riding and ſitting among his people in his word ordinances and his preſence in them: And it is remarkable what is ſpoken by Ezekiel in chap. 10.4.18. of which mention was made before when he ſaith, That the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub and ſtood ovber the Cherubims: which meaneth but this, that that glory which had dwelt upon the Arke in the moſt holy place, did now depart and came to dwell upon this other charet which he had deſcribed, of living creatures and wheeles donoting this, that though the viſible preſence of the Lord which had appeared in the cloud of glory upon the Arke were now departed, yet was his preſence ſtill among his people in that manner which he emblemed in that Scheme, namely his miniſters & people attending him in his word and ordinances, and acting and moving according thereunto. And in the deſcription of this divine charet, you may obſerve, that the living creatures or miniſters, are charactered out. as both the body of the charet and they alſo that acted the wheeles: for the Lord rideth upon their miniſtery (as it were) and his name is thereby carried where he pleaſeth: and they are thoſe whom he uſeth by that miniſtery to draw and move the people to obedience, and conforming to his word: and there the Lord doth ride triumphantly among a people, as Pſal. 45.4. where miniſters and people in joint and ſweet harmony and conſent, doe agree and concurre to carry up the word, name, and glory of the Lord, and both doe act in the power of the word and ordinances: the miniſters miniſtring, and the people moving or ſtanding according to the direction and influence of that word.
What the Apocalyptick meaneth by the foure and twenty elders, he himſelfe giveth ſome explanation of in chap 21.12.14. where he ſpeaketh of the gates and foundations of the new Ieruſalem, parallel to the twelve tribes of Iſrael, and the twelve Apoſtles of the Lambe. And as theſe twelve and twelve, were the beginnings as we may call them, the one number of the Church under the law, and the other number of the Church under the Goſpell, ſo under the ſumme and number of both theſe united together, or under the notion of theſe foure and twenty elders he intendeth the whole Church or Congregation both of Jewes and Gentiles. Both wheeles and living Creatures are deſcribed full of eies, in Ezek. 1.18. Rev. 4.8. becauſe of the great meaſure of knowledge the Lord vouchſafed to his people, and to denote the heedfulneſſe of the Saints in their walking before him. The Lord himſelfe is deſcribed dwelling upon them and among them, in bright glorious and majeſtick repreſentations, but withall, incircled with the likeneſſe of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of raine Ezek. 1.28. Rev. 4.3. which was the embleme of the Lords Covenant with his people: as Gen. 9.13, 14, 15.