The Temple of Solomon Portrayed, History · Chapter 9 · Section 3 · Part 9
The Veſſels in the open Court.
IN this place there are theſe things conſiderable, The Altar of burnt Sacrifice, The Sea of Braſſe, and the ten Lavers: of each in their order.
1. The Altar of Braſſe.
The Brazen Altar ſtood in the Prieſts Court in the open ayre, that ſo the nidor & fuligo, the ſent and ſmoak of the Sacrifices might be the leſſe offenſive.
This Altar had its ſeveral implements fit for ſervice, as Cenſers or Aſh-pans,Num. 4.14. Fleſh-hooks, Shovels, Baſons, &c. of which we muſt not ſpeak particularly, they being but proper appurtenances of the work of Sacrifice.
What the Altar ſignified, we need not much trouble our ſelves or haeſitate about it: having ſo ſure a guide, as the Apoſtle by the dictate of the Spirit of God, who ſaies We have an Altar, Heb. 13.10. Molin. de Altar. p. 79. Rivet in Exod. p. 1132. Heb. 10.10, 14.whereof they have no right to eat who ſerve the Tabernacle. Thoſe that continued enſlaved and yoked to their Jewiſh Ceremonies had no right to the Altar of which we are to feed on, which Chriſt offered himſelf. We are to eat of the Altar, i. e. the Sacrifice offered on the Altar by a frequent Metonymy: ſo then, the Sacrifices ſignified Chriſt, and the Altar his Croſſe. For Chriſt was offered to bear the ſins of many, Heb. 9.28. As the Altar was ſet without the Temple, the Emblem of the Church or new Jeruſalem, Ver. 12.ſo Chriſt's Croſſe was without the Gate of the old Jeruſalem. And as on the expiation-day the Prieſt officiated without the limits of the Tabernacle,Lev. 17.11. See Eſſ…nius de ſacrificiis p. 220. or Courts of the Temple; ſo the blood of Chriſt that maketh atonement, was ſhed without the Camp in Golgotha, where he had the place of his burial. Chriſt crucified is the food of Souls, as the Sacrifices were of old for the Prieſts.
The name of the Altar in the Hebrew is ſometimes foreign from Mactation, or killing and offering of the Sacrifice: ſometimes foreign from aſcending up to it, whence foreign among the Greeks, Altare among the Latines, is derived ab Alto, from its being built up high above the earth, or becauſe in high places, as mountains and hills: and Ara from foreign Preces, prayers or imprecations, made to the Gods at their Sacrifices.
There be who would by no means have the Altar to ſignify the Croſſe of Chriſt (becauſe the Papiſts do ſo highly idolize it; and beſides, do count their Tables on which their unbloody Sacrifice is offered to be ſignified thereby): and therefore underſtand that place by a Metonymy, Habemus Altare, we have an Altar, i. e. A Sacrifi…e offered upon the Croſſe, viz. Chriſt himſelf. But I know no reaſon, why there ſhould be ſo much flying to Tropes and ſuch curioſity, in evading this deſignation, becauſe Papiſts commit folly about it. Whereas no doubt, they will all affirm, that Chriſt is the Goſpel-Sacrifice; For he is our Paſcha… Lamb,1 Cor. 5.7. ſaith the Apoſtle.
Molin. de altare p. 79.The Fathers, for 200 years, called the Table of our Lord, The Altar, as Molineus witneſſeth; and that onelyonly by alluſion and accommodation: and in this figurative ſenſe, the Church may ſay ſtill, that we have an Altar: though Chriſt's Croſſe were deſtroyed, before the Apoſtle wrote to the Hebrews.
But yet if we ſhall joyn both Sacrifice and Altar in one ſignification of Chriſt: I ſhall not gainſay, though I ſee no ſuch grand inconvenience in applying it more diſtinctly, eſpecially ſince we do it onelyonly by accommodation: For on the contrary ſide, by applying the Altar to Chriſt, there's more danger of the inference of Popiſh adoration,Pſal. 118.27. if any be inferred.
The Sacrifice of old was to be bound to the Horns of the Altar. Some, by the Horns of the Altar, expound the ſtrength of Chriſt; but if the Altar might prelude to the Croſſe, theſe might note Chriſt's nailing to the Croſſe.
Whether this Altar were underneath framed of ſtone is not certain: if it were, to be ſure not of hewn ſtone.(a)Cont. Apion lib. 1. p. 1049. Joſephus relates of the Altar at Jeruſalem out of Hecataeus (and doth not …o…radict it) thus; foreign A four ſquare Altar not of hewn, but unwrought impoliſhed ſtones, according to the(b)Exod. 20.25. Deut. 27.6. Joſ. 8.3. command of God. Inſtruments did pollute it. The hearts of Saints are compared to Altars by the Ancients, in the Primitive Church. Humane skill, Art, and Reaſon cannot poliſh ſtones fit for an Altar to offer up to God,(c)Clem. Alex. ſtrom. 7. foreign The whole Church is a grand Altar for holy Sacrifices. Impoliſht ſtones, Saints differing in Judgment, may lye together in one Altar, on which God may have his(d)Iſa. 31.9. fire in Zion, and hearth in new Jeruſalem.
None but fire from heaven, no culinary fire ought to inflame the Sacrifices of the Altar. Aaron's Sons ſmarted in that caſe. No ſtrange fire of our Paſſions ought to be admitted in any ſervice of God: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteouſneſſe of God.
Let us in few words mention the New Teſtament Sacrifices, that through Chriſt are offered up unto God: whereof more in the 5th Section.
(e)Pſ. 51.17.A broken Heart is a Sacrifice which God will not deſpiſe. The heart that's wounded by the knife of Repentance, is acceptable to God.
In Cra…tfying of our luſts, offering them up on the Altar of the Croſſe of Chriſt is a Sacrifice well pleaſing in the ſight of God.
The offering up of Chriſt in prayer to God, as of a Lamb without ſpot, morning & evening is another. Let the(c)Pſal. 141.2. Mat. 27.46. lifting up of my hands, ſayes David, be like an evening Sacrifice. Chriſt died on the Croſſe toward the evening, about the 9th hour: (according to 12 unequal houres counted about the time of Eaſter, from Sun-riſe to Sun-ſet) falls between 3 and 4, afternoon.
The ſervice of our very bodies to God, is another reaſonable Sacrifice. Of old, foreign unreaſonable Creatures were ſacrificed: now we may offer our ſelves(d)Rom. 12.1. rational Creatures in this way of ſacrifice.(e)Pſal. 4, 5. The Sacrifice of righteouſneſs is another. Prayſing of God is another. He that(f)Pſal. 50. ult. 23. offereth prayſe glorifieth me. The(g)Hoſ. 14.2. Calves of our lips may be given to God. By him i. e. Chriſt let us offer the(h)Heb. 13.15. Sacrifice of prayſe continually, i. e. the fruit of our lips: giving thanks to his name. Such are the free-will-offerings of holy Davids mouth, breathing toward Heaven. Alms-deeds, and giving to the indigencies of the poor Saints, is another(k)Heb. 13.16. Sacrifice, wherewith God is well pleaſed.
The moſt famous of all is Martyrdom, and therefore*See, his Life. Cyprian at his ſuffering calls himſelf a Sacrifice. So the Martyrs Souls ſay under the Altar, even as the blood of the Sacrifice was of old, powred out at the foot of the Altar, and the blood is ſaid to be the life or ſoul of the Creature; therefore is that elegant alluſion mentioned of the Martyrs:(i)Pſal. 119.108. who…e blood was powred out for the Teſtimony of Chriſt: Their ſouls are ſaid to lie under the Altar, crying, how long, &c. and Paul ſayes foreign, I am ready to be offered up upon the account of your Faith.(k)Heb. 13.16. But ſo much as to the Altar, briefly.
The Brazen-Sea.
Another rare and admirable Veſſel, call'd a Sea for its greatneſs, ſtood in this Court of the Prieſts: the end of it was for the Prieſts to waſh in, or elſe in the water drawn out by Cocks or Syphons into leſſe Veſſels, before they did go about their ſervices. Which way ſoever, it noted the purity and cleanneſs of their perſons, who were to officiate in ſacred ſervices; to which poſſibly David might allude, when he ſaid,Pſ. 16.6. He would waſh his hands in innocency, and ſo would he compaſs the Altar of God.
Oh how ought they to prepare, even after the preparation of the Sanctuary, that draw nigh to God?
They were to waſh their hands and their feet, in this water of the Moſaicall Laver. Their hands for working and ſervice, their feet for walking, Miniſters muſt walk cleanly as well as teach.Heb. 10.23: Holy things are not to be toucght in unholy manner; beſides,*p. 146. Ribera would have it to ſhadow one of their invented Sacraments, viz. repentance and penitent teares: others the blood of Chriſt, as Mr. Cotton upon the Revelations on the 2d Viall, p. 18.1643. Seeing Chriſt hath waſhed us in his blood,Rev. 1.6. and made us Prieſts unto his Father.
It was made of the Looking-glaſſes of women, i.e. of the poliſhed Braſſe,Exod. 38.8. which they uſed for the reflection of their faces, as the manner was of old: ſo that the Prieſts might look into it; and when they waſht their faces, diſcern whether the ſpots were fully cleanſed. But as to this of Solomon's, when there was more plenty of Braſſe: we do not read of any ſuch foreign uſed for this end: But ſurely it was made of(a)1 King. 7.45. bright poliſht Braſſe in a larger form, and greater beauty then that of Moſes. I ſhall adhere to holy Paul's alluſion, when he compares waſhings to the Laver of regeneration, and the renewing of the ſpirit, which purgeth our conſcience from dead works, as in Baptiſm.Tit. 3.5. 'Tis the anſwer of a good conſcience:1 Pet. 3.21. ſetting its ſeal within, to the outward waſhing. Therefore was it placed in the Court, noting admiſſion: before we enter the Sanctuary to ſit at the Table to eat of the feaſt of fat things in the Mountain of the Houſe of the Lord.
Rev. 4.6.We read of a Sea of Glaſſe like Cryſtal ſtanding before the Throne, it being an alluſion to the Sea of Solomon, made of bright poliſhed Braſſe, then uſed to reflect the face in; the Text looking back on that of Moſes and Solomon. We read it was mingled with fire,Rev. 15.2. foreign. i. e. mixed or tempered together into that form by fire; for the materiall was of Braſſe, but brought into that ſhape by the uſe of fire. But becauſe the phraſe is ſomewhat uncouth in the Greek, to hold out the way of its artificial Compoſition, ſeeing the Sea did note Baptiſm, there is added fire, poſſibly to reflect upon the baptiſm of fire as well as of water,Mat. 3.11. which muſt be joyned together, to make Saints pure. When Chriſt doth it, he baptizes with the Holy Ghoſt and fire.
Under this great Veſſel, ſtood twelve Oxen to ſupport it, which ſome apprehend to be meant of the(a)Ribera p. 149. Potter in 666. p. 41. Sheringham in Jona. p. 49. twelve Apoſtles, who firſt of all carried the Doctrine of regeneration and of Baptiſm, in the name of the infinite Trinity throughout the whole World: upon this account, becauſe the Apoſtle Paul compares the Miniſters to Oxen. But it may ſeem, the Apoſtle doth, for their induſtry and laboriouſneſs, compare them to Oxen, arguing à Minori, out of the Judicial Law of Moſes. Doth God take care of Oxen, that tread out the Bread-Corn? how much more then of thoſe that tread out the Corn of the Goſpel,(b)1 Cor. 9.9. 1 Tim. 5.18. Tab Heleac. p. 39. for the Children of the Kingdom?
Oxen are the emblem of fertility, becauſe they are uſed for tillage of the ground: as Aleander notes out of the Aegyptian Myſteries. But I leave it to others application.
The 10 Lavers.
Theſe were for the waſhing of the Sacrifices, and that briefly doth note: that in all the works, ſervices, and duties, wherein we make our addreſſes to God, we muſt be ſure to waſh and cleanſe them by holy preparation beforehand: prayers, prayſe and alms, are all to be waſhed; our very teares need waſhing in the Layer of Chriſt's purification. But ſo much of the Ʋ tenſils.
Lightfoot, Temple 2d. p. 240. Pſal. 133. 1 Iohn 2.27. Exod. 30, 23. Rivet. p. 1168.We read of ſundry things laid up in the Chambers of the Courts, as Salt, Wood, &c. and the Oyl of Unction, wherewith the Prieſts and Kings were annointed: which ſignified the Oyl of Joy, wherewith Chriſt our High-Prieſt was annointed: It ran down upon his Beard and Garments, and ſo to his feet. We have receiv'd an Unction of the Holy One, whereby he hath taught us all things. Of the Compoſition of this Oyntment, I might ſpeak particularly, viz. pure Myrrh, Cinnamon, Calamus Aromaticus, Caſſia-lignea, and Oyl-Olive: But it ſhall ſuffice to have mentioned it at preſent, becauſe I have been too long, and ſhall have a more convenient place in the next Section: it being high time to invite the Temple-Officers to our Diſcourſe.