The Figures or Types of Christ, Typological category 19
THE GOSPEL of the GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS in the TEMPLE.
Hebr. 9.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.Decemb. 6. 13, & 20. 1668.
Then verily the firſt Covenant had alſo Ordinances of Divine Service, and a worldly Sanctuary. For there was a Tabernacle made, the firſt, wherein was the Candleſtick, and the Table, and the Shew-bread, which is called the Sanctuary. And after the ſecond Veil, the Tabernacle, which is called the Holieſt of all: which had the Golden Cenſer, and the Ark of the Covenant, overlaid round about with Gold, wherein was the Golden Pot that had Manna, and Aarons Rod that budded, and the Tables of the Covenant; and over it the Cherubims of Glory ſhadowing the Mercyſeat; of which we cannot now ſpeak particularly.
OF the two Courts of the Houſe of the Lord, and of the ſacred Furniture and Utenſils of the Inner Court we have ſpoken; viz. the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering, ſignifying our Reconciliation unto God by the Death and Blood of Chriſt, the molten Sea and Lavers, ſignifying our Juſtification by the applying or waſhing in that Blood; and the two Pillars Jachin and Boyas, which ſignified our perſeverance and Preſervation through the Power and Faithfulneſs and Love of God, till we be crowned with the Crown of Glory.
We are now to ſurvey the Houſe it ſelf, all the Furniture and Veſſels wherof were of Gold. And as to theſe I have pitch'd upon this Text, becauſe it gives us in a ſhort compaſs of words the moſt full and compleat enumeration of them, that doth occur to my remembrance any where in Scripture.
We may reſolve the words into theſe five doctrinal Propoſitions.
1. That the Old Teſtament had Ordinances of Divine Service, and a worldly Sanctuary. There was a Religion and a way of Worſhip ordained by God in thoſe times as well as now, though that Worſhip was not ſo ſpiritual and evangelical as is the Worſhip of the New Teſtament: They had Ordinances of Worſhip, and a Seat of Worſhip then; but they were carnal Ordinances, and a worldly Sanctuary, comparatively carnal. But the Ordinances now are ſpiritual, and the Seat of Worſhip ſpiritual: For then it was the material Temple to which God was pleaſed to tye and to annex the publick Church-worſhip and Ordinances of thoſe times: but now the Seat of Worſhip is the ſeveral Churches and Congregations of his People. However a Worſhip, Ordinances of Worſhip and a Seat of Worſhip they had.
Obſ. 2. There were two parts of that old legal Tabernacle, one called the Sanctuary, and the other called the Holy of Holies; ſo it was in the Tabernacle, and ſo in the Temple.
After the ſecond Veil] by the firſt Veil the Apoſtle intends the Curtains and Hangings that were hung about the Tabernacle of which you read Exod. 26. In the Temple there was but one Veil: for inſtead of theſe Hangings were the Walls of the Temple.
Obſ. 3. That both theſe parts of the Tabernacle had their ſacred Furniture of ſeveral holy Veſſels and Ʋtenſils belonging to them.
Obſ. 4. That the ſacred Furniture or Veſſels belonging to the Sanctuary were the Golden Candleſtick and the Table of Shew-bread.
Obſ. 5. That the Furniture belonging to the Holy of Holies were the Golden veſſels for the offering of Incenſe, and the Ark with its appurtenances.
We are now to ſpeak concerning the Furniture of the Sanctuary, of which the Doctrine is this.
That the ſacred Furniture or Veſſels belonging to the Sanctuary were the Golden Candleſtick and the Table of Shew-bread.
There was alſo the Golden Altar of Incenſe, though that did in ſome reſpects belong to the Holy of Holies, of which afterwards.
But firſt of the Golden Candleſtick; that this belonged to the Sanctuary, you may ſee Levit. 24.3. without the Veil of the Teſtimony in the Tabernacle of the Congregation ſhall the Lamps burn, &c. The hiſtory and firſt inſtitution of this Type we have in Exod. 25, Moſes made but one for the Tabernacle: but Solomon made ten for the Temple, 1 Kings 7.49. and the Candleſticks of pure Gold, five on the right ſide and five on the left before the Oracle. It was a ſacred utenſil of much ſpiritual uſe, therefore alluded to in that ſtately Viſion of the Prophet Zechary, cap. 4. and in the Revelation, cap. 5.1. and cap. 11.14.
There needs not much be ſaid for the Hiſtory of it. Every Candleſtick had a foot or baſis on which it ſtood, which though not expreſly deſcribed; yet muſt of neceſſity be ſuppoſed. Then the ſhaft or ſtalk which aroſe ſtrait up out of the foot; and on each ſide three Branches, adorned with Bowls, Knops and Flowers. And then laſtly the ſeven Lamps on the top, viz. ſix on the top of the ſix branches, and one on the top of the ſhaft, and ſo they were ſeven in all.
In theſe Lamps was the Oil, and the Light or Flame, and ſome matter for the accenſion of the Flame, which probably was made of twiſted flax:Vide Ainſw. on Exod. 25. and on Exod. 27.20. and on Lev. 24.1, 2. to which our Saviour ſeems to allude, when he ſaith, he will not quench the ſmoking flax, Matth. 12.20.
The ſpiritual myſtery aimed at in it, ſeems to lye in four things.
Here was a typical ſhadow of the Church, the Miniſtry, the Word, and the Spirit.
1. The Golden Candleſtick was a Type of the Church. For this, the Lord himſelf is his own Interpreter, Rev. 1.20. the myſtery of the ſeven Stars which thou ſaweſt in my right hand, and the ſeven Golden Candleſticks; the ſeven Stars are the Angels of the ſeven Churches, and the ſeven Candleſticks are the ſeven Churches.
But wherein doth the Golden Candleſtick repreſent the Church?
I ſhall but inſtance in four things.
1. The end and uſe of the Church is to give Light, and to hold forth the Truth, as the Candleſtick gave Light, Phil. 2.15. among whom ye ſhine as Lights in the world. 1 Tim. 3.15. the Church of God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth; the Pillar to hold it forth, and to which it is faſtened, as an Edict to be known of all men.
2. The matter of the Church. As the Candleſtick was of Gold: ſo the matter of the Church is Saints: therefore Churches are called Golden Candleſticks, not Braſs or Loaden Candleſticks, nor gilded Candleſticks, but Golden Candleſticks— not ignorant and unfound and ſcandalous perſons, but Saints, viſible Saints.
3. The Diſcipline of the Church. For there were Golden Snuffers belonging to theſe Golden Candleſticks, Exod. 25.38. and the Tongs thereof, and the Snuff diſhes thereof ſhall be of pure Gold: and Exod. 37.23. he made his ſeven Lamps, and his Snuffers, and his Snuff-diſhes of pure Gold. As theſe Golden Snuffers did cut off the Snuff of the Candle: ſo Diſcipline and Cenſures cut off corruption and corrupt members.
4. The Union and Diſtinction of Churches. There were ſeveral Branches all out of one Shaft. And ſeven Lamps: therefore diſtinct; but all growing upon one Shaft, and therefore one: ſo all Churches depend upon the ſame Chriſt, upon the ſame Head, and they are all guided by the ſame Rule, the ſame Word, and influenced by the ſame Spirit of Chriſt. Vid. Anſw. in loc.
2. Theſe Golden Candleſticks in the Temple were a Type of the Miniſtry in the Church: ſo Rev. 1.20. the ſeven Stars that ſhine in the tops of the Candleſticks are the Angels of the ſeven Churches. For as the Candleſtick doth ſupport the Lamp and the Light, ſo doth the Church the Miniſtry: and as the Lamp or Candle ſhines in the Candleſtick, ſo doth the Miniſtry in the Church. A Church without a Miniſter, is a Candleſtick without a Light. John is called a burning and a ſhining Light, Joh. 5.37. and ſo all Miniſters are, or ought to be.
3. Theſe Golden Candleſticks typified alſo the Light of the Word, with which the Miniſtry ſhines; and the Scripture is compared to a Lamp and a Candle, Pſal. 119.105. to a Light ſhining in a dark place, 2 Pet. 1.19. to Gold, and fine Gold, Pſal. 19.10. which makes the alluſion yet more full; for theſe were Golden Candleſticks: ſo the Word is Gold, yea more precious then Gold.
4. Theſe Golden Candleſticks typified alſo the Spirit of God: for this the Text is expreſs— Rev. 4.5. and there were ſeven Lamps of Fire burning before the Throne, which are the ſeven Spirits of God. That this is meant of the Holy Ghoſt, the third perſon of the Trinity, appears by this; that John prays ſon Grace and Peace from the ſeven Spirits of God, Rev. 1.4. but it had been impious to have prayed to any created Spirit for them. But why is the Holy Ghoſt myſtically expreſſed in ſuch a phraſe, the ſeven Spirits of God? Both in alluſion to the number of Candleſticks, which were ſeven, in Johns Viſion, Rev. 1.12. and in alluſion to the ſeven Lamps that were on the top of each Candleſtick in the Temple: and alſo to ſignifie the variety & perfection his of Gifts and Graces, and Operations in the Church, and in the hearts of his people: for ſeven is a number of perfection.
But you may ſee the the analogy more fully in four particulars.
1. The Lamps of the Candleſtick did ſhine and give Light: ſo the Holy Ghoſt is a Spirit of Light and Illumination, Epheſ. 1.19.
2. The Lamps were fed with Oil, they ſhall prepare Oil-Olive beaten for the Lamps, Exod. 27.20. Now this Oil is the Spirit, Iſai. 61.1. Acts. 10.38. bow God anointed Jeſus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghoſt: fitly compared to Oil, for the excellent nature of it: it is of a ſoftening and an healing nature, &c.
3. Theſe ſacred Lamps were ever burning and never went out. The Inſtitution was that they ſhould burn before the Lord continually; ſo the phraſe is, Exod. 27.20. Lev. 24.3. it ſhall be a Statute for ever throughout your Generations.
It is a queſtion here whether the Lamps in the Temple did burn both night and day, or only by night.
Some think there was need of them in the day time, becauſe the Windows of the Temple were fifteen cubits high from the ground: for they were over the ſide-chambers. Others think they were lighted only from evening to morning; becauſe the phraſe is, He ſhall order it from evening to morning, Exod. 27.21. and when Aaron lighteth the Lamps at even, Exod. 30.7. And in Abijams Speech, 2 Chron. 13.11. the Candleſtick of Gold with the Lamps thereof to burn every evening. But yet it was a perpetual Light in the fit time and ſeaſon for it. They had therefore two ſorts of ſacred and perpetual Fire belonging to the Temple; the Fire of the Altar, (and this was never to go out at all, of which you have formerly heard;) and the Fire of the Golden Lamps, which was perpetual, at leaſt in the ſeaſon of it, that is, every night: and they were lighted probably from the Fire that was upon the Altar.
And ſo it is with the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people. This is a Lamp that never goes out. The fooliſh Virgins indeed their Lamps were gone out, Matth. 25. but in the wiſe it was not ſo. There is no falling from Grace: The true Believer cannot fall away totally and finally.
4. The dreſſing and trimming of the Lamps ſignifyed thoſe revivings of the work of the Spirit in the hearts of his people, when it begins, or is in danger to decay and decline: for the Prieſts were to light the Lamps, &c. ſee Lev. 24.2, 3, 4. the ſame thing alſo in Exod. 27.20. Hence is that expreſſion, 1 Sam. 3.3. Before the Lamp of God went out in the Temple of the Lord, he had that appearance of God towards break of day. The Prieſts were wont, if they found any Lamps out, or burning dimly, to light them again; they did not leave it to be always dark. This teacheth us both the Lords Goodneſs and our Duty: For Chriſt, Matth. 12.20. he will not quench the ſmoaking flax: and ſo we ſhould foreign, as 2 Tim. 1 6▪ ſtir up, like a fire that is going out, the Gifts that are in us.
Alſo Church-diſcipline and mortification are taught us hereby, Matth. 25.7. then all thoſe Virgins aroſe and trimmed their Lamps.
Thus you ſee ſomething of the myſtery of theſe Golden Candleſticks in the Sanctuary: how the Church, the Miniſtry, the Word and the Spirit was ſhadowed forth thereby.
As to the Uſe; you ſee here the riſe, and withal the evil of the Popiſh Superſtition of Lights and Candles in their Churches. This is an Old Teſtament Ordinance: it is to dig Moſes out of his Grave, and to deny Jeſus Chriſt. Yet their having Wax-candles is a ſwerving from the Moſaical Law, which they pretend and ſeem to imitate. For Hony, as it was forbidden in their Sacrifices and Offerings made by Fire, Lev. 2.11. and conſequently Wax which belongeth to it: So we do not find that ever they did uſe Wax-candles to burn in the Sanctuary; but only Lights and Lamps of Oil.
But as to the preſſing and improving theſe things in a more practical way. It is a copious and fruitful Subject: let me only repeat and re-inculcate the four general heads of things before-mentioned.
1. Learn to prize and ſee the worth and excellency of Church-ſociety. It is no vile thing which the Lord was pleaſed to repreſent and teach by ſo many glorious Types of old. As by Noahs Ark, by the Temple, by the Golden Candleſtick, &c. And in Church-eſtate; look well to the matter of the Church, that they be Golden-Candleſticks. And when in it, look to the exerciſe of Diſcipline: a Church without the vigorous exerciſe of Diſcipline, is a Candleſtick without Snuffers: let not the Golden Snuffers be loſt or laid aſide, which by divine Inſtitution belong to the Golden Candleſtick.
2. Prize the Miniſtry. They are Lights, they are the Stars that ſhine in the tops of theſe Candleſticks. A dark Miniſtry was the Evening Star that uſhered in the night of Popery and Antichriſt into the world, Rev. 8. ult. compared with Rev. 9.1.
3. Much more prize the Word. This is the Sun in the Church, the great Light ſhining in a dark place. If thy Lamp be not lighted here, all the Light that is in thee is but Darkneſs.
4. Above all labour to find the Spirit burning and working in your hearts, that you may experience the whole myſtery of this Type. The Spirit in the Word, and in the Miniſtry of it in the Church; the Spirit enlightening, and like Oil mollifying and healing the Soul, abiding there, and reviving his own work there: and remember your own Duty alſo in this thing: look to the trimming of your Lamps, Matth. 25.7.
1. Get freſh ſupplies of Oil, Exod. 30.7, 8. this is to dreſs your Lamps. This was Davids Faith, Pſal. 92.10. I ſhall be anointed with freſh Oil. Jeſus Chriſt is the Fountain, and the Holy Ghoſt the immediate Diſpenſer of it, Zech. 4.12. and thence you are to fetch your freſh ſupplies.
2. Stir up that which you have, as well as take in new ſupplies, 2 Tim. 1.6. Stir up the Gift that is in thee, Revelat. 3.2. ſtrengthen the things that remain and are ready to dye: ſtir up thy ſelf to lay hold on God.
3. Snuff the Wick, Exod. 25.38. mortifie corruption, cut off that ſuperfluity of naughtineſs, James 1.23. this muſt be your frequent and daily work.
2. The Golden Table of Shew-bread, this was another of the holy Veſſels in the Sanctuary.
The Hiſtory of it you have in Exod. 25. and in Lev. 24. Moſes made but one, but Solomon made ten Tables, and placed them in the Temple, five on the right ſide, and five on the left, 2 Chron. 4.8.
The matter of Moſes his Table was Shittim-wood; the dimenſions two cubits in length, a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and an half the height thereof, Exod. 25.23. A cubit is about a foot and an half of our meaſure.
It was overlaid with pure Gold, and a Crown of Gold was made round about, v. 24. There was alſo a Border round about, with a Golden Crown; and four Rings of Gold in the four corners of it to put in the Staves to carry it. Moreover there were ſeveral other Veſſels belonging to it, viz. Diſhes, Spoons, Covers and Bowls, all of pure Gold. v. 29.
The uſe was of it was to ſet the Bread thereon, v. 30. And thou ſhalt ſet upon the Table Shew-bread before me alway. Which is explained more fully in Lev. 24. v. 5. to the 10. Thou ſhalt take fine Flower, and bake twelve Cakes or Loaves thereof. Two tenth Deals ſhall be in one Cake, or two Omers, Exod. 16.16. that is, about two Quarts of our meaſure. And thou ſhalt ſet them in two rows, ſix on a row upon the pure Table before the Lord, ver. 6. of Levit. 24. and a diſh of Incenſe upon each row, ver. 7. This is the ſum of the Hiſtory of this Ordinance.
In the Explication whereof, the uſe of the Table being to ſet the Bread and the Incenſe thereon, and there being ſeveral myſtical and ſignificant actions ordained about the Bread and the Incenſe, we muſt inquire into them all, and not conſider the Table alone, but with reference to its uſe, and to the Bread and Incenſe, and the ſacred actions about them.
There was a threefold myſtery in this Type.
1. The Shew-bread was a Type of the Churh, which was typified before in other reſpects by the Golden Candleſtick, in regard of the Light that ſhines there; and now in other reſpects by the Shew-bread.
The analogy to this appears in four things.
1. In that as many Grains make up one Loaf: ſo many Believers make up one Church; 1 Cor. 10.17. for we being many, are one Bread and one Body; for we are all partakers of that one Bread. One perſon is not a Church— how few and how ſmall a number the Church may be reduced unto, we need not here diſpute: In Noahs time they were reduced to 8 perſons. The firſt Church, and the beginning and foundation of the Church in all after times was, when God himſelf preached the Goſpel to our firſt Parents in Paradiſe, and then Adam and Eve and their Seed were the Church of God. There muſt be divers, there muſt be more then one to make up a Church.
2. The analogy appears in the number; for as there were twelve Tribes of Iſrael, ſo there were twelve Loaves. Theſe twelve Tribes were often and divers ways repreſented: as by the twelve Stones in the Breſt-plate of the High Prieſt, Exod. 28.21. and by the twelve Stones which Joſhua did pitch in Jordan, and the other twelve which he took out of Jordan, and pitched them in Gilgal, for a memorial of the 12 Tribes paſſing thorough, Joſh. 4.9, 20. ſo Canaan was divided into twelve parts, that people coming of twelve Patriarchs; to which anſwers the twelve Apoſtles of the New Teſtament; and the new Jeruſalem is built upon thoſe twelve Foundations, Rev. 21.14. ſo in theſe twelve Loaves there is the like myſtery; they repreſented both the Old and the New-Teſtament-Iſrael.
3. Theſe Loaves were to ſtand before the Lord all the week upon the Golden Table. This was the chief action about them, and which holds forth the principal ſcope of the Inſtitution; therefore called Panis facierum or Propoſitionis, Matth. 12.4. which our Tranſlators have fitly rendred Shew-bread. The Apoſtles phraſe is foreign, the meaning is, foreign. Lev. 24.6. thou ſhalt ſet them upon the pure Table before the Lord. This ſignified his continual eye and care over his people; they are never out of his ſight, never out of mind: his eye and his thoughts are continually upon them, from one end of the week to another; Iſai. 49.16. behold I have graven thee upon the Palms of mine Hands, and thy Walls are continually before me. Though he ſeems to forſake and forget them, yet he remembers them ſtill; Jer. 31.20. for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill; therefore my Bowels are troubled for him.
4. There is Frankincenſe ſet upon the Loaves, and offered up for a memorial before the Lord, Lev. 24 7. This ſpeaks the Lords remembrance of them with acceptance; for the Incenſe made a ſweet ſmell, a ſavour of reſt. A man may remember a thing with hatred and abhorrence; but the Lords remembrance of his people is with deareſt affection, with everlaſting loving kindneſs; he hath a precious remembrance of them. Theſe twelve Loaves, the twelve Tribes of Iſrael are by Faith in Chriſt a ſweet odour to him; as 2 Cor. 2.15. And as the Lords eye is over upon them: ſo ſhould theirs be to the Lord, and that continually. See Pſal. 123.1, 2. As the Lord ſaith of the Angels, Matth. 18.10. they do always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven: ſo the Saints even here below, they ſhould ſet the Lord alway before them. And this is Happineſs and Heaven begun, 1 Kings 10.8. happy are thy Men, happy are thy Servants which ſtand continually before thee, and that hear thy Wiſdome. The Lords eye upon them, in a way of conſtant care and love: and their eye upon him, in a way of continual dependance. This is a bleſſed condition.
Thus you ſee the firſt myſtery of the Shew-bread, how it was a Type of the Church.
2. A ſecond myſtery of the Shew-bread is the Food and ſpiritual Proviſion that is in the Church of God; that is, Chriſt in the Word and Ordinances. The Word is compared to Bread, Amos 6.11. Falſe Doctrine to leavened or ſowred Bread, Matth. 16.12. It hath the properties of Bread, Pſal. 104.15. Bread which ſtrengtheneth mans heart. ver. 16. the ſtaff of Bread. This Bread is Chriſt: He is the Bread of Life, as Joh. 6.48. Chriſt is typified alſo by the Manna, and the Golden Pot thereof reſerved in the Holy of Holies. But ſome diſtinguiſh the myſtery of theſe two Types thus.
That the Manna in the Oracle was the Type of Chriſt perſonal, this Bread upon the Table in the Sanctuary was a Type of Chriſt doctrinal, or Chriſt in the Word opened and applied to hungry Souls. The analogy will appear further in theſe particulars.
1. They were to ſet the Shew-bread upon the Golden Table in the Sanctuary every Sabbath, Lev. 24.8. Every Sabbath ſhall he ſet it in order before the Lord continually; that is, in the Sanctuary, which was a Type of the Church. This then ſpeaks thus much; That the Miniſters of the Goſpel are to ſet Chriſt the Bread of Life as it were upon the Table every Lords day. There is and ought to be a weekly proviſion of this Food in the Houſe of God every Sabbath. As every week there was new Bread, ſo Chriſt is to be afreſh held forth.
2. The Prieſts were to feed upon this all the week after; Lev. 24.9. And it ſhall be Aarons and his Sons, and they ſhall eat it in the holy place: ſo in the Church, they that hear the Word and have Chriſt preached and held forth therein, ſhould live all the week long upon the Proviſion that is made upon the Sabbath. Then the Bread is ſet before Lord; but in the week time it is eaten. It is a great neglect when the Bread is not eaten; when the Word is not digeſted, meditated, fed upon. But people think it is enough to come to ſome good Meeting, and there to hear the Word: But do you eat it and feed upon it all the week? do you meditate and ruminate upon it?
3. None but the Prieſts were to eat the Shew-bread; It ſhall be Aarons and his Sons, and they ſhall eat it: Lev. 24.9. though in an extraordinary caſe others might: as when David and his Men did, to ſave their Lives in hunger, 1 Sam. 21.6. which Chriſt allows and juſtifies, Matth. 12.3, 4. for ceremonial Rules muſt give place to Moral. God will have mercy rather then Sacrifice. But the ordinary Rule was, none but Prieſts were to eat the Shew-bread. And who are ſpiritual Prieſts under the Goſpel? All Believers, they are a royal Prieſthood, 1 Pet. 2.9.
This then teacheth us, that none but Believers have a right unto Chriſt and to the Promiſes, and do or can feed upon him. Unbelievers do but intrude and uſurp that which is none of theirs, when they challenge a part in him. They are but Dogs that ſnatch at Childrens Bread.
4. It is the Prieſts that ſet this Bread in the Sanctuary, and they eat it. We may here conſider Prieſts as Miniſters: for the Levitical Miniſtry was a Type of the Goſpel-Miniſtry. And ſo the Inſtruction here is this; That the Prieſts ſhould feed and live themſelves upon the ſame Chriſt, and the ſame Truths they preach to others. 1 Tim. 4.16. Take heed unto thy ſelf, and unto thy Doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou ſhalt both ſave thy ſelf, and them that hear thee.
5. There was Incenſe ſet upon the Bread, Lev. 24.7. and thou ſhalt put pure Frakincenſe upon each row.
Incenſe was a Type of Prayer: ſo the Word and Prayer ſhould go together. The ſolemn Diſpenſation of the Word ſhould be accompanied with Prayer. Acts. 6.4. But we will give our ſelves continually to Prayer, and to the Miniſtry of the Word. It is ſaid of the Levites, Deut. 33.10. they ſhall teach Jacob thy Judgments and Iſrael thy Law; they ſhall preach the Word. They ſhall put Incenſe before thee, and whole burnt Sacrifice upon thine Altar. Here is Prayer, and the Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, which do ſucceed inſtead of the Jewiſh Sacrifices.
6. Chriſt thus feeding and ſuſtaining his Church gives us ſome intimation of his Kingly Office: For he is this Bread of Life by which their Lives are ſuſtained and upheld.
And ſo look as the Candleſtick points eſpecially to his Prophetical Office, in teaching and enlightening us; and the Altar and Veſſels of Incenſe to that great work of his Prieſtly Office, mediating and interceding for us: ſo the Table of Shew-bread ſpeaks his Kingly Office, in ſuſtaining and upholding of us.
7. A third myſtery of the Shew-bread is this. It ſeems to have been a Sacrifice unto the Lord, namely, a Meat-offering, and conſequently all the Goſpel-myſteries of the Meat-offering do belong to the Shew-bread, as being one ſpecies or kind thereof. For the Rule is this in Lev. 24.7. Thou ſhalt put pure Frankincenſe upon each row, that it may be on the Bread for a memorial, even an Offering made by Fire unto the Lord: and accordingly it was to be eaten, as other Fire-offerings were, by Aaron and his Sons in the Holy place. For it is moſt holy unto him of the Offerings of the Lord made by Fire, ver. 9. The Incenſe was burnt upon the Altar as a memorial for the Bread; or (as ſome think) an handful of the Flower whereof they were made, was burnt with the Incenſe for the whole.
Now the Meat-offering did purge away Sin, as typifying the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, both his active and paſſive Obedience, 1 Sam. 3.14. purged by Sacrifice, or by Meat-offering. It ſignified alſo the Perſons and Services of the Saints, and the Acceptance of both before the Lord. All which may be applied to the Shew-bread under the notion of a Meat-offering. Therefore I ſhall not here inſiſt upon theſe Conſiderations, but refer them to that place to which they do belong, namely to the legal Offerings and Sacrifices, where the Meat-offering comes to be conſidered. But as to the two former notions of the Shew-bread, to improve them a little more practically; we may apply them both for Comfort and for Tryal.
1. For Comfort. As the Church is this Shew-bread, they ſtand before the Lord continually, his eye is ever upon them. Though thou art one whom Man deſpiſeth, and whom the Nations abhor, as uſually the beſt of Gods people are moſt hated and leaſt beloved in the world; yet if the Lord regard thee, what though men deſpiſe thee? Pſal. 40. ult. I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me.
Queſt. But how may I know that I am one of thoſe that are under the Eye and Care and Love of God?
Anſw. The ſecond notion of the Shew-bread ſpeaks to this.
Doſt thou feed upon Chriſt? Is he the Shew-bread, the Food of thy Soul? whom, as a ſpiritual Prieſt, thou doſt feed upon by Faith. Then thou art the Shew-bread in that other notion, as being continually before the Lord, under his eye of ſpecial Care and Love. And becauſe all depends upon this: let me give you a few Directions about it, ſome Directions in eating the Shew-bread, in feeding upon Chriſt in the Word.
1. Do not feed upon other things. Iſai. 55.2. Wherefore do you ſpend your Mony for that which is not Bread? It is but to feed upon Husks, Luke 15, 16. and lying Vanities that cannot profit. As if, through a Diſtemper in the Stomach, a man eats Coals, or feeds upon Aſhes, it hurts the Appetite and weakens Nature: ſo in Spirituals.
2. Do not feed upon the Word without Chriſt in the Word: For it is not the Letter of the Word; it is not the bare Letter of the Promiſe; but Chriſt in the Promiſe that is the Food of the Soul: there be ſome that catch at the Promiſes and Benefits of Chriſt; but do not cloſe with Chriſt himſelf in the Promiſe, who is indeed exhibited and manifeſted therein. Therefore you ſhould labour to ſee Chriſt himſelf there, to behold his Glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth: as Joh. 1.14. to ſee his fitneſs and ſuitableneſs to all the neceſſities of a poor ſinful Soul: and that he is a perſon every way fit to be the great means of our acceſs unto God; and ſo upon that account to cloſe with him as your Saviour, having ſeen who and what a one he is as revealed in the Word of Promiſe, by which we are firſt united to his Perſon, and then do enjoy. Communion with him in his Benefits.
3. Never think that you ſeed upon Chriſt in the Promiſe a right, until you find ſtrength and nouriſhment from him. Bread ſtrengthens mans heart, Pſal. 104.15, 16. It is a lamentable thing when the Bread of life ſtrengthens not, when there is no ſtaff nor ſtay in the Promiſe; when God ſends leanneſs into mens Souls.
But may not true Believers complain of unprofitableneſs? Yes. But ſtrength comes at laſt, if they go on to feed upon this food: Therefore that which I aim at is this; that you ſhould never ceaſe believing, and eating and feeding upon Chriſt in every Ordinance, and at every opportunity, till at laſt you find ſtrength and ſpiritual nutriment unto your Souls by him.