The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 9 · Section 3 · Part 3 – Part 4
The Rod of Aaron.
As in Moſes time there was laid up in the Oracle Aaron's rod which bloſſomed: It is likewiſe probable, that it might be laid up alſo in the Oracle of Solomon, though it be not praeciſely mentioned.
The ſtory of Aaron's Rod is at large recited in the 17th of Numbers, which may be conſulted at leiſure.
Aaron being the High Prieſt and chief of the Tribe of Levi (as all the Princes of the Tribes had their Rods or ſtaffes, Numb. 21.18. So he) had a Rod for an Enſign of Government. He was a Signal Type of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle to the Hebrews doth clearly manifeſt. Some think that all the three Offices of Chriſt reſpecting the Church, were ſignified by theſe three choiſe things in the Oracle. The Ark with its Crown round about it, and as being the Throne of God, noted his Kingly Office. The Manna, his Prophetical or Paſtoral Office. And the Rod of Aaron his Prieſtly. And therefore it is, that he is ſo often ſtyled in Scripture, the Branch, as Iſaiah 4.2. & 11, 1, 10. & 53, 2. Jer. 23.5. & 33, 15. Ezek. 17.22, 23. Zech. 3.8. & 6, 12. Rev. 5.5. & 22, 16. The Hebrew word in ſome of thoſe places is in the Septuagint verſion rendred by foreign. Which makes me to reflect upon that place in Luke, where the(a)Luke 1.78. foreign, is rendred by us, the Day ſpring from on high. Now conſidering that the old Greek Verſion was much eyed by the new Teſtament Writers: we may tranſlate it, The Branch from on high hath viſited us- and overſhadowed us with his healing Boughs: and therein poſſibly might be an alluſion to Aarons Rod, or Branch laid up in the Oracle, ſignifying Heaven: which that it did denote Chriſt is the opinion of Juſtin Martyr(b)Dialog. Cum Triphare. Jud. pag. 24. foreign. The Rod of Aaron bringing forth Buds, did declare him High Prieſt. Iſaias did propheſie of Chriſts birth by the Rod out of the root of Jeſſe.
To ſpeak then a while to this Rod of Aaron: being the note of the Miniſterial function, as reſiding in him and his ſucceſſours: and that none ſhould take to themſelves that honour, but ſuch as are called of God as was Aaron.
(c)Heb. 5.4.Here give me leave to enlarge a little upon this flouriſhing ſubject of Aarons Rod.
A Rod in Scripture denotes Government, and ſo this Rod ſignifies Chriſts royal Dominion in his Church. He will ſend, the (d)Pſalm 110.2.Rod of his ſtrength out of Zion. He is to rule over his people with a (e)Pſalm 45.6.Scepter of Righteouſneſſe. Sometimes it hints at judgement.
Hear the (f)Mic. 6.9Rod, and who hath appointed it. 1. The Rod of affliction. Shall I come to you (ſaith Paul to his Corinthians) with a (g)1 Cor. 4.21.Rod? i.e. with ſome Church-cenſure. Sometimes it notes Teaching and Doctrine. He ſhall ſmite the earth with the (h)Iſa. 11.4.Rod of his mouth, i. e. with doctrinal reproof. Feed thy people with thy(i)Mic. 7.14 Rod of Inſtruction. The Metaphor being taken from Shepherds, who carry wirh them a Rod & a crook the one to drive their ſheep into green paſtures, and the other to catch them.(a)Pſalm 23.4. Thy Rod and thy ſtaffe comforted me. Thereby they kept off the Wolves & the wild Beaſts from the Folds. Mercury of old was the Caduceator & Virgifer of the gods, being painted, with a Rod twined with Serpents, to note its Rhetorick, and perſwaſive Eloquence in ſpeaking, he being interpres divum. Chriſt is the revealer of the Father's will, he lay in his boſom, and hath declared him, Joh. 1. 18. Sometimes it ſignifies eaſe, becauſe this is the end of a Staffe or Rod, to lean upon as Jacob (c)Heb. 11.21.leant upon his Staffe; to ſhew that the Evangelical Miniſtry, whereof Chriſt is the head, is a ſafe reſting place for the Church.
This Rod of Aaron was made of an Almond-Tree, of which its obſerved by(d)Plin. l. 16. c. 25. Pliny, that it flowres the firſt of all Trees, even in Jan. in the more Southern Countries, and brings forth ripe fruit there in March.
To ſhew how quickly thoſe that are deſigned for the Miniſtry, ſhould bloſſom toward Heaven; young(e)1 King. 18.12. Obadiahs (f)Jer. 1.5.Jeremiahs, (g)Luk. 1.15.John Baptiſts, (h)2 Tim. 3.15.Timothies, even in their youth, ſavouring the things of God. This doth likewiſe reflect upon the effect of their Miniſtry, how ſoon God will bring to paſſe what they precict in his name, when they receive their Viſions from him in the holy Mount. Therefore Jeremy, who was a Prieſt of Anathoth, ſaw the Viſion of an(i)Jer. 1.11. Almond-Tree, to confirm his heart in the work of the Miniſtry. The vulgar Latine reads that place [by virga vigilans] a watchful Rod, hin…ing how God would haſten the judgement he threatned, unleſs the people repented: and further, to ſhew what diligence and vigilancy Miniſters ought to uſe in their Embaſſies, they muſt be(k)Iſay 11. Watchmen and See…s of the night. We read that the Egyptians reſembled God by the hieroglyphical ſculpture(l)Plutarch. de Iſide & Oſtride moral. part 1. gr. p. 632. ed 1. H. Step…. 573. of a Rod or Scepter, with an Eye in it; noting his omni…cient care and wiſdom in the Government of the World. Every Goſpel-Miniſter ſhould have for his hieroglyphick, an Almond Rod, with an Eye annexed to it; not to rule and teach onelyonly, but a ſo providently to foreſee the evill coming, and to warn the people of approaching judgements.
Beſides, it was a fruitful Rod. The Rod of Aaron had(m)Numb. 17.8. Buds, Bloſſoms, and ripe Nuts, all at once. As to the words in the letter, there is a little haeſitation among the(n)Dr. Gell on Pentateuch, p. 512. learned, why it ſhould be tranſlated thus, the Rod of Aaron budded and brought forth buds, as if ſo be it were a tautology, whereas in the Hebrew it is foreign
And behold the Rod of Aaron for the Houſe of Levi budded: and it ſent forth buds, &c. The ſame radicall word foreign being uſed firſt in the Verb, and then in the Noun. The 70 not aſhamed to uſe the ſame word likewiſe, foreign, It budded and brought forth buds: and ſo Paul Heb. 9.4. onelyonly ſpeaks in general, foreign, the terme being comprehenſive of all the reſt, after mentioned in that verſe in Numbers. The meaning this: the Text firſt ſayes in the general, that Aaron's Rod did germinate or bud, or ſprout forth, which ye pleaſe; and then comes to the particulars, rehearſing in order how it was: or elſe to expreſs, that at the very ſame time there were upon it botn buds, flowers, and fruit; and probably, leaves alſo: which might be included in the general ſignification of the Verb, ſet in the firſt place. Junius & Tremelius renders it, Ecce flouriſſet &c. Producens enim germen emiſerat florem & educebat amygdala. Behold it had flowred, &c. For bringing forth buds, it ſent forth flowers, and brought forth Almonds, much to the ſenſe of our preſent acceptation of the Text.
The Almond-Tree is exceeding plentiful in its flowers; and when they knit well, its a ſign, ſay ſome, that it ſhall be a very great year for Corn,Pierius p. 647. Hieroglyph. as Pierius obſerves out of Virgil, according to our common ſaying, that a good Nut-year ſhewes a good year for Wheat.
The rind of an Almond is bitter, but the kernel very delicious, and the Oyl expreſt out of it very phyſical, and of much vertue. To ſhew that chaſtiſing and reproving words, though bitter in the preſent taſte, yet yield a precious and excellent fruit, if well improved.
The ſhell of the Almond is very hard and not to be broken by the teeth but with great difficulty. Such is the Law, but the Goſpel is the ſweet kernel within.
Though mainly this Rod did decipher and hint at Chriſt: yet did it alſo lock at the Miniſtry,Heb. 13.20. 1 Pet. 2.25. whereof he is head and principal; He is the foreign the graet Shepheard of the ſheep, and Biſhop of ſouls. A flouriſhing Miniſtry is an excellent Omen of a fruitful and holy people.
Beſides, this Rod did denote a continued ſucceſſion of Goſpel-Miniſters in the work: Chriſt the great Aaron hath his ſucceſſours by his aſſignation,(d)Cant. 2.13. nay that are begotten by him by the Word of truth as his Children: Some tender buds, growing up in the Spring of Learning and divine knowledge: Some ſweet bloſſomes opening into the flower of ſervice, and giving a goodly ſent: Some ripe fiuit, able Miniſters of the New Teſtament, that can both divide the truth aright and withſtand gainſayets, whoſe ſhells are hard for oppoſition, whoſe kernels ſweet in the food of Doctrine. Or we may underſtand this Rod, as ſignifying the Miniſtry [effectivè] as to the effects it produceth, by the bleſſing of God, being made effectuall to produce ſome precious buds of Grace in the hearts of their hearers; ſome bloſſomes of heavenly joy and aſſurance; ſome holy fruits of righteouſneſſe and new obedience. There are ſome Lambs in Chriſt's fold, ſome riper, ſome elder Chriſtians; ſome great with young travelling in birth, with Paul, (e)Gal. 4.19.till Christ be formed in others.
The Buds nor Bloſſomes nor Nuts did not periſh but miraculouſly continued on the Rod laid up by the Teſtimony: ſo neither ſhall the Miniſtry, or the Word of the Goſpel, or the work of Grace in the hearts of the faithful, wither away. Every branch in Chriſt ſhall not onelyonly be like Aaron's Rod, but ſhall(f)Joh. 10.10. bring forth more fruit, and have life more abundantly.
The colour of the bloſſomes of the Almond are of a rubens Candor, a whiteneſſe tinctured with red: white, to ſhew the purity and innocency of the Doctrine and Life of faithful Miniſters, and yet many times diſcoloured with redneſſe by reproach and perſecution.
They have a fragrant and ſweet ſent: ſo, ſaith the Apoſtle, that the Goſpel-Miniſters are a(g)2 Cor. 2.15. ſweet ſavour of Chriſt in them that are ſaved and them that periſh. (h)Plin. lib. 7. cap. 17.Pliny relates of the Panther, that by his ſweet breath he draws and allures the beaſts to him; ſo doth Chriſt in his Goſpel-Miniſters draw the ſouls of ſinners to him, and then teacheth them the knowledge of life and ſalvation.
But as to this Rod, further. We do not read expreſly of any leaves it brought forth (though I cannot ſay it did not, yet however by way of alluſion) we may thence obſerve; that as leaves are Emblems of outward profeſſion: ſo the Miniſters ought mainly to take care of bringing forth fruit in themſelves and others: No leaves of a bare formal profeſſion onelyonly but a holy, practical, fruitful life attending their flowring doctrines.
This Rod was laid up neer the Ark, which was the Embleme of Gods preſence; The Mercy-ſeat of Chriſt incarnate, the Cherubins of the holy Angels, and the tables of the Law, and all this within the Oracle, the Figure of Heaven. To note that the paſtoral or Prophetical Office of Chriſt is near and dear to God. The only begotten ſon who lyeth in the boſom of the Father, he hath(c)Joh. 1.18. declared him: and as all the Buds of the Miniſtry flow from Chriſts Rod, and lies by and near him: It notes, from whence the Goſpel Embaſſy comes, even out of the Conclaves or ſecret Chambers of Heaven: and to note that Miniſters ſhould ſtudy much, converſe with God, with Chriſt, and the holy Angels: and as the Tables of the Law were there, the Compend of Scripture So ſhould it be their diligent care to ſearch in it as(d)Prov. 2.4. for hidden Treaſure; As the Holy of Holies ſignified Heaven wherein this Rod lay. It admoniſhes Diſpenſers of the ſacred Oracles, that they ſhould often Aſcend the rounds of Jacobs Ladder, be often in the Mount of transfiguration with Chriſt, and be transformed from the Image of the world, often in the Piſgah of Prayer; often in the Nebo of meditation, and when they come down, O how will their faces (like to Moſes's) ſhine before the people. But alas! many there be, who intrude into that ſacred Function, that need Moſes's Vail rather to cover their ſhame, than to hide the ſtrength of their gracious beauty from the people. Did they walk more with God, the reproaches and marks of Chriſt would be their honour.(a)Pet. 4.14. The Spirit of God and of glory would reſt upon them.
Though Iſrael was in the Wilderneſſe, yet this Rod lay in the Oracle; and though the Iſraelites murmured againſt the Prieſtly Office, yet the Rod falls a bloſſoming. If thou wouldſt prove a bloſſoming Miniſter, endeavour to keep company with the Ark of Gods preſence. Hence we may infer from the Rods lying near the Ark, that a holy fruitful, flouriſhing Miniſtry is of great eſteem with God. How then ought the people to cheriſh, honour, and pray for theſe Rods of Aaron. Oh pray for a bloſſoming Miniſtry. While Zachary was praying within the Sanctuary, and converſing with an Angel: we read, that(b)Luke 1.10. the people were praying without. If the people did pray more fervently for their Miniſters, they would feel more bloſſoming work in and upon their hearts from the Miniſtry of Chriſt. While they are meditating and ſeeing Viſions, do you fall a praying.
If this Rod were laid up as a token of the perſons whom God had choſen: then let all perſons beware of propheſying, unleſs their Rod do bring forth bloſſoms, unleſſe they find a ſealing appointment from God. Oh did men but know and underſtand the weighty work of an Evangelical Miniſter, how that their Rod ought to bud as did Aarons, with a heavenly prognoſtick or ſign of miniſterial fruit, and accordingly to propheſie of Gods mercy or judgement to a Nation. How that it ought to bloſſom as did Aarons in doctrines of comfort, joy and aſſurance to broken ſouls: How that it ought to bear Nuts, for the people to feed upon in ſpiritual knowledge: ſurely they would not dare to venture on ſuch holy things. Shall Uzzah be ſmitten for toucning the Ark? Shall the men of Bethſhemech for prying too curiouſly into it, be diſmayed with ſo ſore a ſlaughter? Shall Dathan, Abiram, and the reſt of his company be ſwallowed up alive for contemning the Miniſtry inſtituted of God? Shall Ʋzziah the King be ſmitten with(a)2 Chro. 26.19, Leproſie for daring to offer Incenſe, becauſe it did not appertain to him? Nay, ſhall Nadab and Abihu, Prieſts by Call and Profeſſion be ſlain upon the place for offering with ſtrange fire,(b)Mat. 4, 20. and yet ſhall dry ſtumps to pleaſe their vain humours, puft up with conceit and pride turn bloſſoming Rods: let them take heed of Divine blaſting? We read the Apoſtles left their nets, their particular callings, when they were called to the Miniſtry foreign The counſel and command of Paul to Timothy, and in him to every Goſpel-Miniſter is.(c)1 Tim. 4,15. Meditate upon theſe things, give thy ſelf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.
But as to the people: Too delicate and nice are thoſe ears that cannot bear the ſmiting of Aarons Rods: they love to ſmell the Bloſſoms of Rhetorick only. But ſuch muſt remember that Aarons Rod was a Scepter of Rule and Diſcipline, and btought forth Almonds alſo of knotty truths. There are ſons of Thunder as well as of Conſolation: Aarons Bells muſt ſometimes ring the knell of the Law, as well as the marriage peales of Goſpel-grace and love to weary ſouls.
Some would fling all Aarons Rods without the Camp, and wait upon Inſpirations from Heaven in a more immediate way. On how grievouſly do they tempt God and oppoſe Chriſt? who when he aſcended up to the Oracle of Heaven, gave Apoſtles, Teachers, Paſtors to the Church; For what?(a)Eph. 4.12. for the work of the Miniſtry foreign; For how long? till we all come in the unity of the faith to a perfect man. Miniſtry is a plant of Gods own right-hand, an foreign a ſemper-vive. For ſuch hath God(b)1 Cor. 12.28. ſet foreign plac'd, conſtituted and eſtabliſhed in the Church as the Rod of Aaron, alwayes to continue in all ages green and bloſſoming in the Oracle.
Whereas ſome ignorantly object thoſe(c)John 6.45. Heb. 8.11. 1 Joh. 2.27. places, wherein 'tis promiſed, that we ſhall be all taught of God, and that we need not that any man teach us, nor for any to learn of his Neighbour. They conſider not of a mediate teaching, wherewith God doth …oncur. Miniſters are Inſtruments in the work only,(d)Luke 2.17. and teach but the ear: 'tis God is the principal Efficient, and reacheth the heart. Why did John and others write their Epiſ…s elſe. if this conceit had been the true meaning of the Apoſtles? We ſhall obſerve therefore, even under the new Teſtament (whereunto thoſe Promiſes did look) that God was pleaſed ſtill to uſe the mediate teaching of his Miniſters, but ſtill reſerving the grand prerogative of moving the heart to himſelf, and that in a more copious manner than of ancient times, therein fulfilling the promiſe more abundantly. Wherefore its obſervable, that though God himſelf could have revealed the birth of his Son to the Shepheards by immediate ſuggeſtion, yet he uſes the Miniſtry of Angels to them, and of the Shepherds themſelves to the people of Bethlehem. God hath appointed Shepheards and Paſtors in his Church to reveal his mind.(e)Acts 8.29. Philip was ſent by the Spirit to expound the Prophet Iſaias to the Eunuch.(f)Acts 9.11. Ananias was ſent by God to Paul. And the Angel bid(g)Acts 10.16, Cornelius ſend for Peter: All to ſhew, that God is pleaſed now to teach mediately and Inſtrumentally by his Miniſters.
How happy then is ſuch a people, who have the true and genuine Rods of Aaron alwayes bloſſoming in their ſtreets? Happy are the people that are in ſuch a caſe, whoſe God is the Lord!
Thus much concerning the myſterious Things laid up in the Oracle: I ſhall now deſcend to the Sanctuary, and view the three famous Utenſils therein contained:
The Myſterie of the Ʋtenſils in the Sanctuary.
In the next place the ſtately Rarities of the Sanctuary or Holy place, command from us a diligent and humble ſurvey, as to the excellent ſignifications concluded in them. There were in this place, an Altar of Incenſe, ten tables of Shew-bread, and ten Golden Candleſticks: whereof in their due order.
In general, it is conceived of them: that as the three Offices of Chriſt were exhibited in the Oracle, which we have before-mentioned: ſo alſo here in the Sanctuary we find the like, viz. The bread on the Table noting Chriſts Kingly Office in ſuſtaining his Church. The Candleſtick, his Prophetick, in illuminating and teaching of his people: The Altar of Incenſe, his Prieſtly in mediating for them. As to the former I ſhall foreign, ſuſpend at preſent, only as to the laſt it will appear very clear, I hope, by what may ſucceed in the particular handling of it.
Dr. Lightf. p. 58.35. Temp.Firſt, I ſhall endeavour to ſpeak to the golden Altar of Incenſe, which challenges our firſt attendment, as ſtanding neareſt to the holy Oracle.