The Types Unveiled, Chapter 19
CHAP. 19. I ſhall in the next place ſpeak of the Candleſtick which was placed in the Tabernacle.
IN this Tabernacle there was placed a Candleſtick which was made of pure Gold, and the faſhion of it was thus. It parted from a foot high in the ſtem into ſix branches, three of the branches going one way, and three of the branches going another way, there were three bowls made like unto three almonds, with their knobs and their flowers to every branch; but in the ſtem of the Cnadleſtick below their parting were four bowls with their knobs and their flowers, Exod. 27. 17. Exod 37. 18, 19, 20.
By the Candleſtick in this place we are to underſtand to be meant the Church of God; which Church is made up of true Believers, which truly and ſincerely profeſs and own Chriſt and his Worſhip, being redeemed by his Blood from all the earth, Rev. 7. 14. This is the ſignification of the Candleſtick; the truth of which you may read, Rev. 1. 20. where the ſeven Churches are compared to ſeven golden Candleſticks, which anſwereth to the Candleſtick in the Tabernacle, for that was made of pure beaten Gold, Ex. 27. 17. Now the Church of God may be compared to a Candleſtick ſeveral manner of wayes.
Firſt, As a Candleſtick is made to mount or hold up the light, that all in a time of darkneſs may ſee, ſo doth the Church and people of God, they hold up the light of truth, and the bright ſhinings of the word and Goſpel, that all that are in the dark world, who ſit in the Region and ſhadow of death, might behold the face of God in Jeſus Chriſt ſhining through the Saints gifts, graces, and holy converſations in upon their ſouls, Iſaiah 2. 3. The Law ſhall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem: by which means, Iſa. 9. 2. The people that walked in darkneſs have ſeen a great light, and they that dwelled in the land of the ſhadow of death upon them hath the light ſhined.
Though this latter propheſie doth principally belong to Chriſt, yet it is to be applied to his Church alſo; for its through them Chriſt ſhineth upon the dark world: therefore ſaith our Saviour to his Disſciples, Matth. 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world, meaning, they were the Candleſtick prepared of God to hold up and hold out the light of truth to the dark, blinde, miſerable world.
Uſe. 1.
This informs then what a deal of duty lieth upon the Church, both Miniſters as well as others.
Firſt, For Miniſters, what care ſhould they take, and what pains ſhould they expoſe themſelves unto, in order to the keeping up, and holding forth the light and word of the Goſpel to the dark nations of the earth: what care did Paul take to fulfil his miniſtry, and to diſcharge his duty this way, Acts 20. 24. He counted not his life dear unto himſelf, ſo that he could fulfil his miniſtry with you, which miniſtration he had received from the Lord Jeſus; and that he might be uſeful this way, you may take notice of Pauls practice, Acts 20. 20. I have kept back nothing which was profitable to you, but have ſhewed you and taught you openly, and throughout every houſe.
But O good God, how few ſuch houſe preaching lights doth the eart afford us in this our age; but contrariwiſe, inſtead of men that ſhould make it their buſineſs with Paul and the reſt of the Apoſtles, to go from houſe to houſe to enlighten the dark fami…ies of the earth in the knowledge of God and his Son Jeſus Chriſt: they rather bend their forces, parts, wits, and purſes, to darken and put out the light of truth, and the knowledge of God in all the families they meet withal where they go, like unto thoſe teachers of old ſpoken of in Ezek. 34. 18, 19. Seemeth it a ſmall thing unto you, to have eaten up the good paſture, but ye muſt tread down with your feet the reſidue of your paſtures; and to have drunk of the deep waters, but you muſt foul the reſidue with your feet; and as for my flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. How far theſe, or ſuch as theſe are from being of the true Candleſtick appointed to hold up and hold out the light of truth in the world, let the reader judge.
But again, this ſhould teach all the Saints (for they are a part of the Candleſtick alſo) to endeavour in their ſeveral places and callings to promote the glory of God in their generations, to ſtudy godlineſs, and which way they may be uſeful with their gifts and graces, amongſt their relations and neighbours, and in their families, in order to the bringing in of their ſouls to Jeſus Chriſt: therefore ſaith our Saviour, Mat. 5, 16. Let pour light ſo ſhine before men, that they ſeeing your good works might glorifie your Father which is in heaven: To this agreeth the words of Paul. Phil. 2 16. with ch. 15. ver. 15. He exhorts all true Chriſtians, that they would labour to hold forth the word of life, and that they would labour to live unblameable in their lives, and ſpotleſs in their converſations, and that they would keep themſelves without rebuke in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe generation, amongſt whom they were to ſhine as lights: ſo verſe 16. The reaſon of the former exhortation is given you, viz. becauſe they are to hold forth the word of life, even as a Candleſtick they are to hold up or hold forth the light of truth.
Secondly, A candleſtick is appointed to hold faſt as wel as to hold up the light, that it fall not down, becauſe the fall of which many times puts out the light; ſo is the Church of God prepared and fitted to ſuccour and keep up the light of Gods holy truth in the earth, that it might not be thrown down by the malice of the devil and wicked men, who labour night and day to put it out in the world.
There be two wayes by which God fitteth the Church as a Candleſtick to keep up the light of truth in the world.
The firſt is by pouring forth upon them the gifts of the Spirit, by vertue of which they are enabled to diſcover; detect, and finde out all errour, and whatſoever may be contrary to ſound doctrine, as in Rev. 2. 2. Thou haſt tried them which ſay they are Apoſtles, and are not, and hast found them lyars. Hence it is that the adverſaries of truth are ſaid not to be able to reſiſt the wiſdom and ſpirit, by which St. Stephen ſpake, Acts 6. 10. The reaſon you may perceive lay in this, the Church of which Stephen was a member, had a very great meaſure of the gifts of the Spirit, which came upon them but a little before, read Acts 2. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Secondly. God fits his Church as a Candleſtick to maintain and hold up the light of his holy truth in the world, is by pouring forth upon their hearts the grace of his Spirit, that ſo they might be enabled to ſuffer for it.
The Saints ſuffering for truth doth wonderfully tend to the confirming of truth in the earth, and to the making of it acceptable amongſt men in this world; inſomuch, that in the firſt three hundred years after Chriſt, the Churches ſufferings for the truth occaſioned this proverb, That the blood of Martyrs was the ſeed of the Church.
Hence it is that the ſuffering Saints are called Gods witneſſes; therefore St. Paul tells you that the truth got great ground by his ſufferings, Phil. 1. 14.
Uſe 1.
O then how ſhould this teach the Lords people to beſtir themſelves in the way of their duty. O remember, ye are God Candleſtick, and appointed by God for this purpoſe, to keep up truth in the world: O then how ſhould this encourage the Lords people to appear in the defence of that glorious light of truth, which God hath put into your hands, and not to ſuffer it to be trodden down with ſo much eaſe as it is now in the world. I do not mean, nor ſay, that the Lords people ſhould betake themſelves to any weapon beſides faith, tears, prayers, and ſound arguments, together with a bold ſtanding up in the viſible practice of the wayes and truths of God againſt all that is contrary to this truth: Theſe be the weapons that I mean, and this is the contending that I plead for: and as to this way of contending for the Faith, what cauſe hath God to complain of his people, as once he did of Iſrael of old, No man is valiant for the truth. O what little contending is there (amongſt Saints) for the faith that was once delivered to them: O what ſilly heartleſs dove-like ſpirits are the Lords people ſurprized withal, who can ſit and hear the truths of the Goſpel rended in pieces before their eyes, and in their hearing, and not a word ſpoken for it, or in the defence of it; but inſtead thereof, they out of a ſlaviſh fear do but too much comply with the wicked in it.
O brethren, the precious truths of Sion are more worth then ſo, more worth then not to have one word ſpoken for them. O remember, the Church is to contend for the faith, and know that God will deeply charge home the neglect of this duty one day cloſe upon your ſouls.
O therefore as you would avoid that judgement ſpoken of in the third of the Revelations, ver. 16. I beſeech you brethren to labour to give up your ſelves to a holy contending for the faith. O earneſtly contend for the faith, there is great reaſon ſo to do; for the name of God is upon the Faith, the Blood of Chriſt was ſhed for this faith, the blood of all the Martyrs in all ages in the world hath been ſhed for this faith: O the faith that was once delivered to the Saints is worth the contending for. O that God would ſtir up your hearts to an earneſt contending for the faith. O ſet a work a praying ſpirit, and a believing ſpirit. O ſet on work your parts, your pens, your purſes, every way as you are able, (if the way be warrantable) do you contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints, Jude 3.
Thirdly, This Candleſtick was made of pure gold, this was to teach the Saints what they ſhould and ought to be; namely pure gold, that is very ſincere to God ward, void of a heart full of guile and hypocriſie, therefore ſaith our Saviour, Mat. 5. 48. …e ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.
Fourthly, This Candleſtick was made of beaten gold, which was to ſhew or ſet forth the glory and the excellency of the Church, for as gold exceeds for glory and excellency Iron, Lead, Tinne, or Braſs, ſo do the Saints all other men and women in the world; Therefore ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 16. 3. The Saints are the excellent of the Earth.
Though the blind world ſee no worth or excellency in the Saints in this life, yet they ſhall know (as Solomon once ſaid) that the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour, Prov. 12. 26.
Firſt, The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour for grace.
Secondly, For their attendance, for not gilded creatures, but glorious Angels are the Saints ſervants, Heb. 1. 14.
Thirdly, For the Saints food on which they live, in reſpect of which all the dainties in the world, or which the world lives upon, are but husks and ſwines meat, for the Saints live upon the Bloud, and Fleſh, Word, Spirit, and promiſes of Chriſt, John 6. 55.
Fourthly, The Saints are more excellent then others in point of inheritance, for its not an earthly Dunghil, but an inheritance which is pure and undefiled, which fadeth not away is the Saints birthright, Pet. 1. 1, 4.
Fiſthly, The Saints are more excellent then others, becauſe they only can prevail upon the heart of God in prayer, Prov. 15. 29.
Sixthly, Its ſo becauſe its only amongſt the Saints God delights to dwel, 2 Cor. 6. 16. Pſal. 132 13, 14.
Uſe 1.
O then what excellent Converſation ſhould the Saints lead in this world, what an engagement ſhould this put upon the Saints to a ſtrict holy walking, that they ſhould (through grace) be made of Gods pure golden Candleſtick.
O therefore ſoul, think with thy ſelf, when the Devil would at any time intice thee to ſin againſt God, or would draw away thy heart at any time from the Lord, O ſay this to thy temptation. O Satan I am one that belongs to Gods pure Candleſticks, how ſhould I dare to beſpot my ſelf with the leaſt of impurities, as Joſeph anſwered his Miſtreſs, Gen. 39. 9. So do thou thy temptation, How ſhall I do ſuch a wickedneſs and ſin againſt God.
Again, As the Candleſtick had three Bouls and Knops with their flowers upon it. This was for Ornament to adorn the Candleſtick that ſo it might the more appear in its glory and beauty to the beholder; all which was to ſet forth the glory and beauty of the Church of God, which by the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt and the Divine Graces of his Spirit, is made more glorious then the gold of Ophir, read Pſal. 45. 13, 14. Iſa 54. 11, 12. Rev. 12. 1. The Churches glory is only diſcerned by an eye of believing, a carnal underſtanding knows very little of this, ſaith John 1. 3, 1. The world knows us not, certainly were not the glory of the Saints a hidden veiled up glory from the world; its impoſſible but the Saints would be better intreated at the worlds hands then they are, but however thou fareſt at the worlds hands, let me adviſe thee to theſe two things.
Firſt, If the world ſhew thee and the reſt of the Saints no favour, yet pity them, becauſe they are held ſo much in a condition of darkneſſe, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of this world hath blinded their minds, leaſt the light of the glorious Goſpel ſhould ſhine in upon them.
Secondly, Labour to comfort thy ſelf from this good conſideration, under all the ignomy and reproach which the world will or can caſt upon thee, that the time is coming which (will not ſtay long) wherein the Lord will make thine with the reſt of his peoples glory, to ſhine forth with more brightneſſe and Majeſty then the Sun in its full ſtrength; that although thou with the reſt of the Saints haſt lain (for a while) amongſt the pots, yet the time will not be long, But thy wings ſhall be as a D…ve covered over with ſilver, and all thy feathers of yellow gold, Pſal. 68. 13.
Again, in this Candleſtick we may obſerve theſe things.
Firſt, The parting of the Candleſtick, which was in this maner, it parted a foot high or thereabouts in the ſtem.
Secondly, Out of which parting came ſix Branches, which ſhews us thus much, the great Candleſtick out of which the little Candleſticks branched forth, ſignifies the Jewiſh national Church, this holds as intire from the foot of the Candleſtick to the parting above in the ſtem, out of which ſtem came the ſix Branches; and the Branches ſignifie the Gentile Churches which ſucceeded or ſprung forth from the Jewiſh Church, Iſa. 60. 3. The Gentiles ſhall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightneſs of thy riſing. Pray obſerve the thing well, there were not ſix little Candleſticks branched beſides and apart from the great Candleſtick, but ſix little Candleſticks branched themſelves forth of the great Candleſtick, but ſtill maintained union with the great Candleſtick, which ſhews us theſe two things.
Firſt, That both Jews and Gentiles are but one people to God, (conſider the Jews as they were befre they were broken off by unbelief) and all intereſted in one Chriſt alike, all that did believe, either Jew or Gentile ſhall all ſit down in one Kingdom of God together, Rom. 10. 12. For there is no difference, but the ſame Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him.
Secondly, It ſhews us thus much, that the difference between Jew and Church was not eſſential, but circumſtantial, not ſo much in the ſtate as in the Ordinances. Pray obſerve, the Candleſticks all hold union in the ſtem, although they differed above in the Branches: Its true, the Lord held the Jews and Gentiles under differing adminiſtrations, but not under a divers ſtate, they and we differed in our Ordinances, but not in eſſence or ſubſtance as to a Church ſtate, ſo much as this clearly offers it ſelf to me from the union between the ſtem and the Branches in the Candleſtick, if it will be granted that the Candleſtick in the Tabernacle be a figure of the Church of God, as then it was, together with theſe other Gentile Churches which ſhould ſucceed that; now conſidering the Scriputres elſewhere do ſo apply the word Candleſtick, I know not but this ſhould paſs for a fair notion, Rev. 1. 20. Where its ſaid that the Myſtery of the ſeven golden Candleſticks are the ſeven Churches. You ſee the Candleſtick in the Tabernacle for Eſſence and Subſtance was one and the ſame, though they differed above in the Branches; ſo then if this be a figure of the Church of God under both Old and New Teſtament, then both the Jews then, and we Gentles now, muſt ſtand upon one and the ſelfſame ſtock or root, or elſe how doth this hold good in the ſimilitude, for after the ſame manner reaſons the Apoſtle about the Jewiſh and Gentile Churches, Rom. 11. 24. For if thou wert cut out of the Olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into the good Olive tree, how much more ſhall theſe which be the natural Branches be grafted into their own Olive tree.
Methinks then how clearly do this warrant the practice of the Congregational Churches in giving to their Infants Memberſhip in their Church, and conſequently Baptiſm.
I know there are many of our dear Chriſtian friends (in England) of a differing opinion to me in this matter, but how ever read my notion without offence, and then give thy thoughts about it.
Now mark, there is nothing more clear to me from the union that the Branches hold to and with the Candleſtick, but that the Jews and we Gentiles were taken into a Church ſtate alike, ſo ſaith St. Paul, Rom. 11. 16. with ver. 24. For if the firſt fruit be holy, the lump is alſo holy, if the root be holy ſo are the branches, and if thou wert cut out of the Olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into the good Olive-tree, how much more ſhall theſe which be the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree. From hence I ſhall take leave to ask a queſtion or two.
Firſt, What may we underſtand by the root and the branches laid down here by St. Paul.
Secondly, What may we underſtand by this holineſs with which the branches were made holy, ver. 16. and what theſe branches were.
Firſt of all, by the root and branches muſt be meant either Chriſt, together with all thoſe ſound Believers which are ingrafted into him by true Faith; or elſe by the root and branches muſt be meant a Church ſtate, and all thoſe viſible branches which ſtand there by memberſhip: Now if we ſhould underſtand it in the firſt ſence, then this will follow, that thoſe that are truly ingrafted into Chriſt by faith, may be wholly broken off; and ſo we muſt run our ſelves upon Arminianiſme do what we can: But if we muſt not take it in the former ſence, then we muſt take it in the latter ſence: (viz.) by the root and branches, a Church ſtate, and thoſe which are taken in the viſible memberſhip of it, for ſuch may be broken off, or may fall away (conſider them meerly as Church Members) and no truth, or part of the truth of election impared: Now what were the branches of the root (which root was the Jewiſh Church ſtate) were they not the parents and the children, …en. 17. Well then, if theſe were the branches of the old root, viz. the believing parents and their children, and that the Gentiles are ingrafted into, or upon the ſame root, and are partakers of the fatneſs of the old olive tree, meaning the priviledges of the Church.
And if the candleſtick of the Jews holds union with the Candleſtick of the Gentiles (under the Goſpel) in the ſame ſtem, how then can our Church ſtate under the Goſpel be like the Jews under the Old Teſtament, if onelyonly we ſhould ſtand as Members in a Church ſtate without our little ones: but again, mark what the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 11. 16. For if the firſt fruits be holy, the lump is alſo holy: if the root be holy ſo are the branches; ſo that the ſecond queſtion will be this what may we underſtand by holineſs here, or in what ſence ſhall we take it; either it muſt be a holineſs conſiſting of the divine graces of the Spirit, or elſe it muſt be a holineſs ariſing from a Church ſtate; and in this ſence were the Jews called a holy nation, and a peculiar people, which aroſe from their being ſet apart by God to holy uſes and purpoſes to God himſelf; or if you will take it in St. Pauls terms, 1 Cor. 7. 14. A holineſs in oppoſition to uncleanneſs, which uncleanneſs is elſewhere proved to conſiſt of not being of a profeſſed Church ſtate to God; read Iſa. 52. 1. with Acts 10. 14. For it could not be a holineſs with which the whole body of Iſrael were made holy; that conſiſts of the divine qualifications of the Spirit of grace: I think but few are of that opinion, that the whole body of Iſrael were in ſuch a ſence holy: then it muſt be a holineſs ariſing from a Church State; as if he had ſaid, If the firſt fruit be holy, that is, if Abraham with his Iſaac and Iſhmael, together with the reſt of his family, who were first (with all their ſucceeding little ones) taken into a Church ſtate, and ſo became the firſt fruits of ſuch a work to God, The lump is holy, that is, then the whole body of that people is holy with reference to a Church ſtate, they need not call it in queſtion. But if they keep cloſe to God, certainly God accounts the iſſue of Abraham, for many generations after, as much in a holy ſtate (as to a Church ſtate) and as much a Church to himſelf, both they and their little ones, as ever he accounted it in the firſt fruits of it, meaning in Abrahams time, The lump, ſaith Paul, is alſo h…ly. Then he comes to conclude, that if the firſt fruits were holy, which were the parent and the childe, And if the lump be holy, that is, if God to this day have accounted the whole body of the Jews ever ſince in the ſame Church ſtate, which admitted of the parent and the childe, then are the branches holy, viz. The Gentile Churches which were ingrafted in upon the ſame ſtock; then the childe as well as the parent being ſet on upon this ſtock as formerly, are likewiſe hily ſtill: ſo that from what hath been ſpoken doth (to me) clearly warrant the congregational people the giving of their Children memberſhip amongſt them, and conſequently baptiſm. Let not any miſtake me, I did not this to revive any part of the old contention, or to beget any new quarrel between us and thoſe Chriſtians which diſſent from us in this thing; but as I conceived things lay ſo in my way, that I muſt have leapt quite over a clear truth if I had left it and ſo paſſed by.
Object. But ſome may ſay, upon the ſame account, will a national Church be proved to be lawful, even the ſame way that the memberſhip of Infants will come in?
I anſwer firſt, I know no abſolute neceſſity lying upon the thing, ſo as that we muſt not diſpute for or practice the one but the other muſt come in, you ſee in the practice of the Congregational Churches, both here and in New England, that the connexion is not forcible, but that we may give our Children Memberſhip and Baptiſm amongſt us, and yet be far enough from building our Churches upon a National bottom.
But ſecondly, And that which will lead me to the other conſideration in the Candleſtick, which is this: The candleſtick you know had one ſtem, out of which came ſix branches. The ſtem of the Candleſtick ſignifies the Jewiſh Church, and the little Candleſticks which came out of that, ſignifies the Gentile Churches under the Goſpel: the ſtem of the Candleſtick was but one individual, ſhewing that the Church of the Jews was to be national: But the branches above in the Candleſtick were ſeveral in number, ſignifying that the Churches under the Goſpel day, ſhould be no more national but congregational, To this agreeth the two Propheſies of Zechariah and John, who writing both about one and the ſelf-ſame thing, viz. about the two Witneſſes, Zach. 3. 3. with Rev. 11. 3, 4. OnelyOnly Zachariah ſayes, That at that time when he writ about the two Witneſſes belonging to the Jewiſh Church, he ſaw but one Candleſtick, Zach. 3. 2 Becauſe then the Church was national: but when John writ of the Witneſſes in the Gentile or Goſpel Church, he ſaw two Candleſticks, or ſeveral Candleſticks, Rev. 11. 4. Becauſe now the Churches of Chriſt were no more to be national, but congregational, or many Churches in one nation.
There is one thing more to be ſpoken to, about the Candleſtick, and I have done with it. You may obſerve in reading, Exod. 37. 18, 19, 20, 21. This plain difference about the Candleſticks, which is, that the main Candleſtick had four bowls, with his knobs and his flowers belonging to it; but the leſſer Candleſticks which branched themſelves forth of the great Candleſtick had but three Bowls, with their knobs and their flowers. Now you muſt obſerve (as hath been already ſaid) that the bowls, knobs, and flowers added to the Candleſtick, it was to ſet ſorth the glory of it: then where the moſt of the bowls, knobs, and flowers were, there was the greateſt glory: but now the moſt of theſe things were about the great Candleſtick, which ſhews us thus much, that although the Jewiſh Church did at firſt fall ſhort of the Gentile Churches in glory and brightneſs; yet the time ſhall come that the glory of the Jewiſh Church ſhall far excel all the Gentile Churches in the world, Iſa. 54. 11, 12. O thou afflicted and toſſed with tempeſt and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy ſtones with fair colours, and lay thy foundation with ſaphires, I will make thy windows of agats, thy gates of carbuncles, and all …hy borders of pleaſant ſtones. This is a Prophepheſie which relates to the latter, day glory of the Church of the Jews, when they ſhall be brought into Jeſus Chriſt.