The Types Unveiled, Chapter 16
CHAP. 16 I now come to ſpeak of the Tabernacle, another Type given out to the Iſraelites in the VVilderneſs, the manner and form of it I have already deſcribed to you before.
THis Tabernacle was typical two wayes, or it typed out theſe two things to us.
Firſt. Chriſt himſelf.
Secondly, The Church of Chriſt.
Firſt, It typed out Chriſt himſelf, and that in theſe reſpects.
Firſt, As to the glory and excellency of Jeſus Chriſt, the Tabernacle was exceeding excellent and glorious within, for all the inward parts of it were over laid with pure Gold, Exod. 35. This was to ſhew us the richneſs and worth of the Son of God, that ſo the creature might ſee cauſe to deſire him, love him, and chuſe him to themſelves, as their higheſt portion for ever: therefore when the Holy Spirir doth ſpeak of Chriſt, it ſpeaks of him under this conſideration as excellent, Prov. 3. 13, 14, 15, 16. Happy is the man that findeth wiſdom, and the man that getteth underſtanding, for the merchandize of it is better then the merchandize of ſilver, and the gain thereof then fine gold; ſhe is more precious then rubies, and all the things which thou cauſt deſire are not to be compared to her; length of dayes are in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour. Heb. 13. (ſpeaking of Chriſt, ſaith) He is the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, and the expreſs image of his Fathers perſon. Therefore ſaith the Spouſe, Cant. 5. 10. (ſpeaking of Chriſt) He is the chiefest to me of ten thouſand. And to this agreeth the words of Peter, ſpeaking of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you which believe he is excellent.
Secondly, As the Tabernacle typed forth Chriſt in point of beauty or excellency, ſo in point of acceptation; for in the Wilderneſs, if the people would worſhip God acceptably, it muſt be at the door of the Tabernacle: ſee Numb. 8. 15. chap. 18. 3, 4. 7, 8. and at the Tabernacle door were the people to wait, until the Prieſt within had done the ſervice of the Tabernacle for them before the Lord: which ſhews us thus much, that if we intend in Goſpel dayes to worſhip the Father acceptably, we muſt come to the Father, at the Tabernacle Chriſt, and by the hand of Faith lay down our offerings at the door of his Worth and Merits: therefore ſaith Chriſt himſelf, John 14. 6. I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man can come to the Father but by me.
Uſe 1.
O therefore ſoul, when ever thou doeſt any thing of the Worſhip of God, be ſure thou come to God alwayes by the door of this Tabernacle Chriſt, if thou meaneſt to be accepted in and about what thou doeſt in the ſervice of God, offer all thou haſt to offer God withal, in Chriſts name, in and by his worth and merits, onelyonly for his ſake, and upon his account, and be wholly nothing in thy own eſteem: Come to the door of the Tabernacle, under the ſence of a meer piece of nothing; bring with thee a ſelf-loathing, and ſelfcondemning, ſelf-abhorring frame of ſpirit, and let Chriſt be all, and in all to thy ſoul, and in thy eſteem, when thou art before the Lord in point of acceptation, Phil. 2. 8, 9. I count all things but as dung in compariſon of Christ, and I deſire to be found alone in him.
Thirdly, The Tabernacle was a Type of Chriſt in point of revelation, Exod. 40. 35. with Levit. 1. 11. Exod. 30, 6. For thorow it God appeared to the people, and out of which God gave the knowledge of his will and minde, as the above Scriptures ſhew.
This anſwereth to the uſefulneſs of Jeſus Chriſt to the Elect of God, or it ſhews us very much of the prophetical Office of Chriſt; for it is Chriſt onelyonly that can give out the knowledge of his Fathers will and pleaſure to the Church of God. All the manifeſtations of the love, grace, mercy, favour and councel of God comes home to the Church, through the humane nature of this bleſſed Tabernacle Chriſt Jeſus: therefore ſaith Chriſt, John 14 24. The word which you hear is not min…, but the Fathers which ſent me. John 15. 15. I call you friends for all the things which I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you▪ John 12. 49, 50. For I have not ſpoken of my ſelf, but the Father which ſent me gave me a commandment what I ſhould ſay, and what I ſhould ſpeak; and I know that his commandment is life everlaſting; wha…ſoever I ſpeak therefore what the Father ſaid unto me ſo I ſpeak.
Hence is Chriſt called the wonderful councellour, Iſa. 9. becauſe of his revealing office; by all which it appears, that Chriſt is the way through which the Father reveals, or maketh manifeſt himſelf to his people now, as he did to the Iſraelites of old through the Tabernacle.
Uſe 3.
O therefore ſoul, if thou wouldſt have more fatherly grace let out upon thy ſoul, if thou wouldſt have more of the knowledge of God, more of the love of his Spirit of Light and aſſurance, if thou wouldeſt know more of his will ſo as to obey it and live to it, O then wait upon God at the door of this Tabernacle Chriſt, for in him it is that the Father will ſpeak with thee, and no where elſe, Matth. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed. O wait upon him in the meaneſt of grace, break through all diſcouragements, and oppoſition, and temptations to wait upon the ordinances of the Goſpel if ever thou intendeſt to acquaint thy ſelf with the ſaving knowledge of Gods preſence of grace and favour to thy ſoul. O ſtir not from prayer, reading, hearing the word, meditation, Chriſtian conference, and communion with the Lords people; for thou waiteſt upon Chriſt in all theſe things, and in waiting upon Chriſt thou waiteſt upon the Tabernacle, through which God will diſcover himſelf to the people; therefore be not diſcouraged to wait here: though thou meeteſt but with little profit hitherto, yet the promiſe is in Iſa. 30. 31. He that waiteth upon the Lord he ſhall mount up as on eagles wings; they ſhall run and not be weary, walk and not be faint.
But to be a little more particular about ſeveral things in the Taberuacle; as they were many in number, yet not a thing there without its ſpecial uſe and ſignification, as they related to Chriſt; and there is not one of theſe things but had a wonderful deal of glory and excellency laid up in them; and were but the ignorant more acquainted with it then they are, they would not ſlight the Books of the old Teſtament as they do.