The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 9 · Section 3 · Part 5
The Altar of Incenſe.
This golden Utenſil was famous in its generation: a Veſſel of Honour and Renown. It ſtood (a) neareſt of all to the Oracle, and therefore comes firſt in order of dignity to be handled.
The Deſcription of this golden Altar we have heard related before. Two things more I would ſpeak to a little before I deſcend to the Myſterie. 1. The Cenſer, 2. the Compoſition of the Incenſe.
As to the Cenſer; it is thought to be a little pan made of Gold with a handle to it, which as to the brazen Altar is called a fire-pan, Exod. 27.3. and a cenſer, Lev. 10.1, & 16, 12.
As for the Compoſition of the Incenſe we read according to our Tranſlation, that it was made of a like quantity of ſeveral ingredients; and thereof they burnt(a)Ainſworth. Exod. 30. v. 8. 50 drams in the morning; and 50 at night, i.e. one pound of incenſe every day. What the Hebrew dram is, may be ſeen page 2. of this Treatiſe.
The Compoſition was of ſweet ſpices,(b)Exod. 30.24. Stacte Onycha, Galbanum, and ſweet Frankincenſe.
They are called in the Hebrew foreign
Arias Montanus turns them by Gutta, Onycha, Chalbanum, and Thus. For Gutta the Vulgar reads Stacte, the 70 foreign.
The firſt of theſe Aromata or ſweet ſpices is Nataph, from the Verb of the ſame Letters, ſignifying to diſtil or drop: intimating that it was ſome liquid Gum that diſtills out of a Tree. Dioſcorides in his firſt Book de materia medica, Cap. 62. ſpeaking of Stacte, ſaies it is the fat juyce of freſh Myrrh, bruiſed with a little water, and ſqueezed out by a preſſing Inſtrument. Matth…olus, in his Comment upon him, ſaies, 'Tis his opinion that it was a ſubtitute for Myrrh. Joſephus in his Antiquities ſpeaking of the Preſent,Pag. 60. which Jacob ſent into Egypt by the hands of his Sons, to Joſeph (his then unknown Son) the Governor, being things of the growth of Canaan; calls that Stacte, Lib. 2. c. 3. p. 46.which we in our Tranſlation render by Myrrhe from the Hebrew word foreign in that place, and that I humbly conceive it to be. Pliny, Lib. 12. c. 15. ſaith, it flowes from the Myrrh-Tree, of five cubits in height and thorny: and Baſil on the fourth Pſalm cited in the Notes on Pliny ſaith, Stacte is a ſort of the thinneſt Myrrh, which being laid aſide is ſo called,Athen. Dipn. l. 17. Edit. Commelin. 1611. p. 688. the thicker being termed Myrrhe. Athenaeus ſpeakes of it in theſe words foreign. Many …unguents (ſaith he) are prepared with Myrrh, but Stacte ſo called is made of Myrrh onelyonly: that is, without any other ingredient. To this purpoſe likewiſe ſpeaks Theophrastus in his Book of(a)Edit. Turneb. p. 8. Tem. 2. Opuſcul. var. Argentorati. 1600. Odours; foreign. There flowe… an Oy… from the Myrrhe Tree when inciſion is made▪ and is called Stacte becauſe it drops a little (agreeing with the Hebrew word taken from dropping or diſti…ing, as was ſaid before). Which ſome(b)Stuckius in Per pl. Erythr. p. 44. Saies it is Storax. and Tzori. Pſal. 40. ſay is the only Oyntment that is ſimple and uncompounded, whereas all others are mixed. See Plin. l. 2. c. 15. The next is foreign and is derived from foreign a Lion as Avenarius conceits, becauſe it is greedily ſought after as a rich prey or booty for the confection of perfumes, or poſſibly from its extraordinary ſtrong aromatical ſent.
The word is foreign, but once mentioned in Scripture, but ſeeing the Chaldee Parap raſe doth render it by foreign Tuphrah from foreign unguis, and ſo the 70. Thereby we learn from thoſe antient Verſions that it was the unguis odoratus, the ſweet-ſented Nayle, if I may ſo engliſh it. Of which Dioſcorides in the forecited Treatiſe, ſaith thus. [The Onyx is the cover of a ſhelfiiſh (like to that in which the purple-fiſh is incloſed), which is found in the lakes of India that bring forth, and yield the Nardus; therefore giving a ſweet ſent, for that the fiſh feeds upon Nardus]. It is then gathered, when the waters of the lakes are dried by Summer's heat. The moſt excellent is brought from the Red Sea, and is white and unctuous. The Babylonian kind is ſomewhat dark of colour, and leſſe then the other. Both of them are burnt for ſweet perfume, but ſmell ſomething ſtrong like Castor. To this(c)Antidotar. 82. Weckerus adds, that by the Moors it is called Blatta Byzantia, and that it preſently diſſolves in the fire like Bitumen. Matthiolus acquaints us that thoſe Ungues, Nailes, Hoofes, or Shells, call them what you pleaſe, which are uſually ſold for this ancient rarity, yields an unpleaſant ſmell being impoſed upon the ignorant Buyer for the true by the ordinary druggiſt. The true are very rare, and of a curious ſent.
The 3d ingredient is foreign Chelbenah, and is at this day called Galbanum, and is nothing elſe but the juyce of the ferula or fenel-gyant growing in Syria (ſaith(a)Lib. 3. c. 81, p. 359. Edit. Venet. Dioſcorides). The moſt tenacious and clear is the beſt; ſomewhat like to Thus or incenſe, far (and thence it gained its name from foreign Chelebh fatneſs.) The beſt is without ſticks, yet retaining ſomewhat of the ſeed and plant, of a ſtrong ſavour: [neither too moiſt nor too dry]. Thus doth he deſcribe it. Pliny ſpeaks to it in theſe words, Syria yields alſo Galbanum in the ſame mountain of Amana (mentioned, Cant. 4.8.) out of the plant call'd ferula, which is termed Stagonitis, after the manner of rezin of the ſame name) [for ſo Frankincenſe is called, viz. the male or ſtrongeſt ſort by Dioſcorides.] It ſeems the plant from whence this Galbanum is taken was by the Greek Phyſitians called Stagonitis, foreign, from the drops of this gum which it yielded:] The beſt (ſaith Pliny) is very thick and firme, pure like Ammoniack, and not wooddy. If you burn that which is pure, it(b)Plin. l. 19. c. 10. drives away Serpents and Gnats. He compares it to Ammoniack, which is ſuppoſed to be the juyce or gum of the ſame plant, but growing in Africa near the Temple of Jupiter Ammon▪ and thence ſo call'd; or elſe, as others, from the(c)Renodaei Diſpens. p. 547. root of this Ferula by expreſſion.
The laſt is called foreign an is retain'd by the Septuagint, and generally by Greek Authors in foreign, being doubles derived from the Hebrew, and that from foreign white, the pureſt whereof being the whiteſt as we ſhall ſee by and by. Some would have the mountain Lebanon called ſo from the plenty of Thus, which they ſuppoſe to have bin taken thence: but they are miſtaken, for it grew not there, that any Author of credit doth report; but in Arabia. Whereas the name of that famous mountain is taken from its being white with ſnow in the ho…teſt ſeaſons. It being ſo ſublime, that the reflection of the Sun's heat from the Earth did ſeldom ariſe ſo high as to melt it all away. So Schindler hath noted in that word, applying to this purpoſe Jer. 18.4.
(a)Lib. 1. c. 70. p. 65.Dioſcorides in his forecited Book tells us that it growes in that part of Arabia, which is thence called the Thuriferous Country. The(b)Theophr. de Odor. p. 13. lin. 30. moſt excellent in that kind is the maſculine Thus called Stagonitis (as was ſaid before), round of its own nature; when broken 'tis white, fat within, preſently burns [even like a Candle] when fire is applyed to it, and thence hath its name Thus foreign a ſuffitu, from the burning of it as a perfume at the ſacred offerings in Temples.
(c)Lib. 2. c. 47. p. 93. Edit. Hen. Steph. 1559.Diodorus Siculus relates that in Arabia this excellent rarity grew plentifully. [foreign, &c.] It containes (ſpeaking of Arabia) many various gums or tears dropping from Trees. The utmoſt Coaſts bring forth myrrh and frankincenſe acceptable to the gods, which is carried from thence into the whole World; & further goes on to tell us that of Coſtus, Caſſia-lignea, Cinnamou, and of this Thuriferous plant, there is ſuch abundance that, whereas they are but ſeldome offered up to the gods in other places, here the Trees adminiſter fuel for their Ovens: and whereas otherwhere ſome ſmall parcels of them are to be ſeen as great rarities, there they make beds of the wood of theſe Trees for their ſervants. Furthermore, out of(a)Lib. 12. c. 14. Pliny we underſtand that no place in the World hath it but Arabia, if we may credit him, and that among the Sabaeans, in the pagus Atramiticus: The exact deſcription of the plant he ſaies he cannot give us, but that it growes in clay grounds among hills where few ſprings are and thoſe nitrous. Some report the leaf to be like that of the Pear-Tree, others like the Maſtick-Tree. The bark for certain is like the Laurel, ſome ſay the leaf alſo: for in his dayes Embaſſadors came to Rome with Rods of this Tree in their hands, which were ſmooth and without knots. The chief time of gathering the Tear, is in the Dog-daies by inciſion. Then it ſtands in round drops, and ſuch is held to be the Thus maſculum, or the choiſeſt of all, eſpecially (ſimammoſum) if hanging in many drops cleaving together. That which is good may be known by its whiteneſs, largeneſs, bitterneſs, and eaſie burning; and that it will not bear the tooth, but is preſently reſolved into crumbles, and ſuch of it as is broken into ſmall parts; in Plinies dayes they called it Manna. In many of theſe things(b)Cap. 36. Solinus (The Scapula of Pliny) goes in one path with his maſter, but with addition.
The leaf of the Tree, ſaith he, is ſomewhat like the Olive: its trunk growes crooked, and is ſomewhat rough with prickles, and here gain-ſaies his Tutor: and further, that it never growes higher then five cubits.
But to find out this rare Country exactly where it grew, I would crave leave for a little enlargement. To which end Arrian in his deſcription of the Red Sea will be a firme and ſure guide, joyning him in Commiſſion with Ptolomy. Arrian ſaies, that beyond Cana a Mart-Town of Arabia, P. 9. Edit. Stuck.there is a famous Reach call'd the Sachalitan bay, and there lies the Country yielding this our precious plant. Now although this be the chief and principal Country where it grew; yet what Pliny ſaid was true, that the Atramitae, or as Ptolomy calls them the Adramitae, had ſome of it alſo; who received their denomination from Hatzarmaveth one of the Sons of Joktan, ſaith Bochartus in his Phaleg, p. 113. Nay, Canah was a port of theirs, to which it was brought from the in land parts ſaith Arrian, in preceeding lines. For in the Inland Country at Sabota, the chief City of the Saboeans, there was a receptacle or Ware-houſe for it; which place Ptolomy calls Sabbatha. Beſides this place, Syagros a Town near the greateſt Promontory in the Eaſt, (ſaith Arrian) was another Storehouſe for this rich Commodity. Ptolomy indeed placeth the Frankincenſe-Country near the Aſabaean Mountaines. For in his deſcription of the more in-land parts of Arabia, the happy, he ſaies that beyond the Omaritae,
(a)Lib. 6. c. 7. p. 178. Edit. Bertii.foreign, more Eaſt were the Catabaeni, near the mountaines of the Arabi under which lies the Country that yieldeth Frankincenſe, then next the Sachalitae were the Jobaritae. Which doth well agree with Arrian, for ye ſee the Sachalitae challenge by both their teſtimonies, the honour of this precious Shrub. With this, conſents Strabol. 16. p. 768. foreign, &c. foreign. A little before he ſaies that the Royal ſeat of the Catabaeni was foreign, by others called foreign, and thence is this gum called foreign, and corruptly foreign and foreign, In Dioſcorides forecited, where the tranſlator hath turned it Individuum, by a miſtake, foreign, being the corrupted name of the City, near which it was plentifully gathered. Now that we may know the true place where it is ſituate at this day, lets obſerve that Cane of the antients doth yet retain its name, and ſo directs us to Caien a City of the Kingdome of Fartach in the South of Arabia, as Stuckius, Scaliger and Cardan, have hinted; and the preſent Maps; ſuch as they be, do fully declare it. But as for Arrians deſcription, take it in ſhort. [foreign, &c.] The Country that brings forth frankincenſe is hilly and hardly paſtable,Bochart Phaleg. l. 2. c. 18. More at large. (The Aire thick and cloudy). The frankincenſe is gathered from Trees, which are not high nor large, and produce it ſticking to the bark, even as ſome of the Trees with us, ſaith he, in Egypt, weep out gums. They are called gums from the Greek foreign, and that foreign from inciſion. It's gathered by the King's ſlaves, and ſuch as are condemned to puniſhment. The places are very unhealthy, and ſomewhat peſtilential, even to thoſe that ſayl by them, and uſually the gathering of it is the cauſe of death to the labourers. In which aſſertion St…ckius defends the Author out of Strabo, who in his 16 Book p. 778. ſaies that the extream fragrancy of theſe gums and Spices produceth a Sopor in their brains, which is very hurtful.
To this I ſhall onelyonly add what two or three of the antient Poets have ſaid, and ſo conclude, Virgil. Georg. l. 1.
India mittit Ebur, molles ſuae thura Sabai.
And Georg. l. 2.
—ſolis eſt Thurea virga Sabaeis.
And near to that place.
Tota que thuriferis Panchaia pinguis arenis,
In his Culex near the beginning.
—Illi Panchaica thura.
Cap. 36. Indeed Pomponius Sabinus on the Culex, ſaies that Panchaia is a port of Perſia, from whence the incenſe was brought of old. Iſa. 60.8. Jer. 6.20.Solinus ſpeaks further about it, when treating of that rare bird the Phoenix, in that part of Arabia, Regos ſuos ſtruit cinnamis, quos prope Panchaiam concinnat, in Solis urbem flrue altaribus ſuppoſitâ. Which City of the Sun ſo called i… by Ptolomy ſtyled foreign. the ſacred promontory's of the Sun, a place among the Nariti, a people ſituated by him near the Sachalitae, with whom, Arrian told us, this our excellent Tree did grow. Which agrees with the holy Scripture, where we read that Sheba of old brought incenſe to the Temple. Another place of the antients, is that of Seneca in his Hercules Octaeus v. 790.
Splendeſcat ignis Thure, quod Phoebum colens,
Dives Sabaeis colligit truncis Arabs.
And not to meddle with Ovid, Propertius, Horace, or any others. Sidonius ſhall cloſe all, Carm. 5.
P. 41. Edit. Paris. 1609.—Ser vellera, Thura Sabaeus, v. 43,
And again v. 47.
—Arabs guttam, Panchaia Myrrham.
Whereby it ſeems theſe places were famous for all the chief precious gums in antient times. This of ours which we are now ſpeaking to, retaining the Hebr.(a)Wocker Antidotar p. 375. and others, name in ſome meaſure, is at this day called Olibanum in the Shops, and is of great uſe in Phyſical Plaiſters, as may appear by the writings of our modern Learned Phyſitians, and their Diſpenſatories. Thus much of Frankincenſe.
Now to the Myſtery of the Incenſe which was compounded of theſe four ſtately ingredients forementioned, for the golden Altar. As for the Altar it ſelf, that the Gold ſhould ſignifie Chriſts Divinity, and that the Ce…ar-wood underneath, ſhould note his humanity; or concerning its quantity and dimenſions or figure, that it was ſquare, ſignifying the firmity or ſtrength of Chriſt his mediation; or that its Angles or Horns ſhould note the extenſion of his interceſſion, through the four parts of the World; theſe things ſhew more the curioſity, than the ſolidity of ſuch Interpreters: neither date I aver that, Its Crown round about the edges, ſhould hold forth Chriſts Kindly Dignity.
But as to the ſweet Incenſe which was burnt upon it, the holy Scripture is a ſure guid to us, that it exhibited or ſhadowed forth as to Chriſt the fragrancy and ſweet Savour of his Interceſſion. The odours were to ſignifie the(a)Rev. 5.8. prayers of Saints. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf is repreſented ſtanding with a golden Cenſor, there being given to him much incenſe, that he ſhould offer it with the (b)Rev. 8.3, 4.prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar before the Throne, and the ſmoak of the incenſe which came with the prayers of the Saints aſcended up before God, out of the Angels hand. So that as the High-Prieſt on the expiation day, did go into the holy of holies, and perfume it with incenſe from this Altar: So is Chriſt gone into Heaven, and there(c)Col. 3.1. ſitting at the right hand of the Father, ever liveth to make(d)Heb. 7.25. interceſſion for us.
Nay, the prayers of the Saints themſelves are ſhadowed forth by this, which were offered up by the Prieſts every day. Let my Prayers ſaith David, be ſet before thee as (e)Pſal. 141.2.incenſe; and whereas Zachary was by lot burning incenſe in the Temple of the Lord; we read, that the whole multitude of the people were(f)Luk. 1.10. praying without at the ſame time.
The time of this ſervice, was(g)Exod. 30.7, 8. morning and evening, about the time of the lighting of the Lamps. As The Lamps denoted the light of the Word (whereof more by and by): So we ſee, that the Word and Prayer muſt go together. In that it was every morning and evening, it denotes daily and conſtant prayers, which we ought to powre out before the Throne of grace, even as(a)Luk. 2.37. Anna the Propheteſs, departed not from the Temple, but ſerved God with faſtings and(b)Rom. 12.11. 1 Theſ. 5.17. prayers night and day. In which ſenſe, the Apoſtle Paul is to be underſtood, when he bids us to pray without ceaſing, to continue inſtant in prayer.
Foraſmuch alſo as this Golden Altar was to be ſprinkled with the blood of the(c)Exod. 30.10. ſin-offering of atonements, once in the year by the High-Prieſt, on the(d)Levit. 16, 18. v. 29. 10th day of the 7th month: it ſhewes that neither the prayers of Prieſt or people, can be acceptable with God, unleſs the impurities thereof be taken away by the(e)Joh. 1.7. & 2, 1. blood of Chriſt, and his all-ſufficient Mediation with the Father, or elſe he that(f)Iſa. 66.3. offereth incenſe is all one in the ſight of God, as if he bleſſed an Idoll.
To add a little by way of alluſion: As theſe precious gums in this fragrant Incenſe, came naturally and freely dropping out of the Trees which bare them, & that was counted the beſt and pureſt; or elſe the Trees did yield it by incluſion and cutting of the Bark: So is that prayer moſt acceptable, that comes with the freeeſt breathings of the ſoul; or elſe, that we ought to apply the launcings of the Law, or cutting-conſiderations of Repentance, to work upon the ſoul in its ardent drawings near to Heaven in prayer.
As we have ſaid before, that the odours of theſe gums when burnt, did drive away Serpents, and perfume the Air from all noxious ſents: So is it with heavenly and ardent prayers, whereby the ſoul is enabled through faith, to reſiſt the Devil, and the contagious Air of his temptations; and of all corrupt luſts and affections; for(f)Mat. 21.17. this kind goeth not out but by prayers and faſting.
As theſe ingredients were to be(g)Exod. 30.36. beaten very ſmall into fine duſt or powder, before they were put into the cenſers: ſo is the heart by humbling meditations, to be brought into a low and ſelf-abhorring frame, when it appeares before God in prayer. A(h)Pſal. 51.17. broken and a contrite heart the Lord will not deſpiſe. Such as with Abraham eſteem themſelves but duſt and aſhes: Then he whoſe name is holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy place of the Heavenly Temple, will dwell alſo with him that is of a (i)Iſa. 57.17.humble and contrite ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones, with gracious anſwers to their prayers.
Furthermore, the burning of this incenſe, ſhewed the ardency and the heavenly inflammation of the heart in prayer,(k)Rom. 12, 11. ſervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord: We ought to be ſo. Laſt of all, as the ſweet and fragrant ſmell came from theſe incenſed or fired ingredients upon Gods Altar: ſo it ſhewes how ſweetly pleaſing to Gods Majeſty it is for the ſoul to draw nigh to him with a humble, holy, ardent frame of ſpirit, through the mediation and interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt.