Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Ezekiel · Chapter 42
CHAP. XLII.
Ver. 1. THen he brought me forth into the utter Court] ſc. Of the Temple, at both ends and on either ſide whereof there were ſpacious places, in manner of our Church-yards, ſaith One. Sequitur locus valdè confuſus & muliò impeditiſſimus, ſaith Caſtalio: this is a very dark and difficult Chapter, the ſenſe whereof I would fain learn of ſome other: for I know not what to make of it: Thus He. Oecolampadius alſo to like purpoſe, (after R. Solomon) and thus prayeth, Suggerat Dominus conanti quae ad gloriam illius, certè quae non officiant, precor, &c. i. e. The Lord help our honeſt endeavours, that we may do what may be for his glory, and not for the hurt of any Reader. That was an holy prayer of his Colleague Zuinglius in like caſe; and may it be ours alſo, Deum Opt. Max. precor ut vias noſtras dirigat, &c. I beſeech Almighty God to direct our wayes: and if at any time,Zuing. Epiſt. l. 3. (Balaam-like) we ſhall obſtinately reſiſt the truth, let him ſet his Angel againſt us, who with the terrour of his ſword may ſo daſh this aſſe (our ignorance I mean, and preſumptuous boldneſſe) againſt the wall, that we may feel our feet (that is, our carnal ſenſe and reaſon) cruſht and broken; that we no longer diſhonour the name of our Lord God.
Ver. 2. Before the length of an hundred cubits] The meaſure mentioned in this Chapter,The calling of the Jew. by Finch. and whatſoever followeth touching the diviſion of the land, the ſeats of the Tribes, the portions allotted to the Prince, Prieſts and Levites, the manner of their ſacrifices and oblations, are all new; varying from that which is in Moſes (though for their weakneſſe by thoſe outward things he ſhadoweth heavenly) to ſhew both the abrogating of the legal ceremonies, and the eſtabliſhing of a ſpiritual Chriſtian Church: the magnificence whereof is here ſet forth to the Prophet by the Lord Chriſt, qui Myſtagogus noſter eſt, who is our God, and will be our Guide even unto death.
Ver. 3. Which were for the inner Court] Viz. Of the Temple, this was a figure of the Church inviſible; as the outward Court, deſcribed in this Chapter, was of the viſible and external.
The pavement which was for the utter Court] Which might ſignify that thoſe who would enter into heaven, muſt keep themſelves unſpotted of the world, undefiled in the way, Pſal. 15. & 24.
Ver. 4. A way of one cubit] A narrow way, but ſuch as led them into ſpacious walkes of ten cubits bredth inward. Strait is the gate and narrow the way that leadeth unto life eternal, Mat. 7.14. but they that hit it, hold it, ſhall once walk arm in arm with Angels, Zach. 3.7. See the Note there. Through many tribulations we muſt enter into Gods Kingdom, Acts 14.22. but there, God ſhall ſet our feet in a large room, as Pſal. 31.8. we ſhall walk at liberty on the everlaſting mountains. Let it be remembred, that this narrow way is but ſhort: it is but of one cubit, &c.
Ver. 5. Now the upper chambers were ſhorter] As being a kind of cock-lofts, and not ſo fit for habitation.
Ver. 6. Therefore the building was ſtraitned] As the rules of Architecture direct, and as right reaſon required,Ne ſtructura pondere diſſiliret. left the building ſhould ſhrink under its own burden.
Ver. 7, 8, 9, &c.] Here the Rabbines call again for the help of their Elias: See on chap. 40.6.
Ver. 13. They be holy chambers] Or, cells of the Sanctuary, belonging to thoſe that ſerve in the Sanctuary. God appointeth his Miniſters their ſeveral ſtations; together with the bounds of their habitations.
Shall eat the moſt holy things] Miniſters muſt eat as well as others (they are not of the Camelion-kind, cannot live upon air:) and the Lord Chriſt hath ordained that as they which waited at the Altar were partakers of the Altar, ſo alſo ſhould they that preach the Goſpel, live of the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9.13, 14.
And the meat-offering, and the ſin-offering] i. e. The Prieſts ſhare out of them: For (beſides their tithes, and gl…be or ſubburbs) the Prieſts had many rich revenues, and were far better provided for then now-adays Goſpel-miniſters are, however begrudged that little that is allowed them.
Ver. 14. Then ſhall they not go out of the holy place] Miniſters may not leave their ſtation, lay aſide their holy calling, entangle themſelves with worldly cares and buſineſſes, but Hoc agere, make their Miniſtry their buſineſſe; giving themſelves wholly to it. Verbi Miniſter es, hoc age: this was Mr. Perkins his Motto. And, ſay to Archippus, Take heed to the Miniſtry which thou haſt received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it, Coloſſ. 4.17.
But there they ſhall lay their garments] And not go amongſt the people in them, leſt they make themſelves over-cheap, or the people ſuperſtitious, by placing holineſſe in their ſeeing or touching thoſe holy veſtments.
And ſhall put on other garments] Miniſters,Oecol. as in doing their office they muſt uſe all becomming gravity and authority, as the Embaſſadours of Chriſt: ſo, at other times, they muſt familiarize themſelves with their people, becoming all things to all men, in Paul's ſenſe, that they may win ſome.
Ver. 15. Now when he had made an end of meaſuring the inner houſe] The inner part of the Church, the Church inviſible is firſt and chiefly to be looked into, rather then the external adjuncts, as multitude, proſperity, clarity, antiquity, &c. the Subſtantials rather then the Accidentals. The Church of Rome borrows her mark from the market, Plenty or cheapneſſe, &c. Viliſſimus pagus, ſaith Luther, the meane ſtvilage ſeems to me to be an ivory Palace, if there be but in it a faithful Paſtour, and a few true believers.
Ver. 16. Five hundred reeds] Loe here the large extent of the holy Catholike Church, the Communion of Saints. See the Note on chap. 40.1.
Ver. 17.18. He meaſured the North-ſide five hundred reeds] To ſhew that many ſhould come from all coaſts and quarters to ſit down with Abraham and Iſaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven, Mat. 8.11. See the Note there.
Ver. 20. He meaſured it by the four ſides] The Church is fair and firm, for it is quadrangular: ſo is every true member thereof homo quadratus, four-ſquare, ſtedfaſt and unmovable, foreign, always abounding in the Work of the Lord, &c. 1 Cor. 15. ult. his heart is fixed truſting in the Lord, Pſal. 112. He quits himſelf well in all eſtates, and comes of a gainer. Gold is purged in the fire, ſhines in the water: as, on t'other ſide, clay is ſcorcht in the fire, diſſolved in the water. The new Jeruſalem is ſaid to lye four-ſquare, Rev. 21.16. See the Note there.