The Types Unveiled, Chapter 23
CHAP 23. I now come to ſpeak of the two Altars which were made and placed in the Tabernacle, both of which having ſpecial reference to Jeſus Christ.
THeſe Altars were two in number, their difference in form and faſhion was not great, only the one was overlaid with pure gold and had his Crown upon it, and the other was overlaid with braſs, but we find not any Crown upon that, and the Altar which was overlaid with braſs had a Grate of Net-wort made for it, which was to let out the aſhes of the ſlain ſacrifices which were to be offered as a burnt-offering upon it, Exod. 27. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Both of the Altars had horns alike, which were in number four, and placed at the four corners of the Altars, Exod. 27. 2. with Exod. 37. 25, 26.
Now theſe two Altars differed moſtly in uſe or office, for the Altar which was overlaid with pure gold and had the Crown upon it, was only to offer the burnt Incenſe upon, Exod. 40. 26, 27. And the Altar which was overlaid with braſs, that only was to offer the burnt ſacrifice upon, which ſacrifices conſiſted of the bodies of the ſlain beaſts, which were to be offered before the Lord, Exod. 40 29.
Theſe two Altars did ſignifie both to them and all elſe, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as then to come, with reſpect to the twofold work which he was to do and ſuffer for believers; in the handling of which I ſhall do theſe two things
Firſt, I ſhall ſhew you that theſe Altars did ſignifie Chriſt our Lord who was then to come.
Secondly, That according to the differing uſes of theſe Altars, are the differing works of Chriſt for and in the behalf of all true believers.
Firſt, That theſe Altars did ſignifie Chriſt to come, to this you have St. Pauls words agreeing, read 1 Cor. 9. 13, 14. In which place you have the Apoſtle ſpeaking how much a duty it is that Preachers of the Goſpel ſhould be well provided for by the Saints, and that becauſe they wait on the things of the Goſpel, and that was to preach and make known Jeſus Chriſt to their ſouls; now to prove that ſuch Miniſters are of right to be provided for, the Apoſtle doth inſtance the right which the Moſeical Law did give thoſe men (which did wait on the Altar) to eat of the things of the Altar, as if the Apoſtle ſhould have ſaid, certainly Goſpel Miniſters have no leſs a right to a maintenance, then the legal Miniſters had under the Law, ſeeing our work is one and the ſame, the difference only lay in mode and circumſtance, not in ſubſtance, they and we all taught one and the ſelf ſame Chriſt; they waited on the Altar typical, and we wait upon the Altar ſubſtantial; they upon the Altar of the legal tabernacle and we upon the Altar Chriſt of the heavenly tabernacle, as that their Altar was but the type or forerunner of Chriſt our Evangelical Altar, which we wait on and preach to you; my end in this Commentary was not ſo much to handle a Miniſters maintenance, as to give you by what hath been ſpoken a ſight of the great congruity the Apoſtle makes to be between the Altars in the tabernacle and Chriſt Jeſus, ſo Heb. 13. 10. We have an Altar whereof none have right to eat which ſerve the tabernacle, you may eaſily perceive in reading through this Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, that the drift and purpoſe of the Apoſtle was to bring off the Jews from their reſting in theſe ſhadows, to live more upon Chriſt the true ſubſtance, which the legal Figures were only the types of; And labours to convince them that the tabernacle with all the glorious Veſſels in it, together with what elſe was of any Ceremonial uſe amongſt them, all was but to ſhadow out Chriſt to come, read, Heb. 9. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. And amongſt which things the Altars in the Tabernacle were of ſpecial uſe (in point of ſignification as they related to Chriſt) as any other type which was in uſe amongſt them; And therefore doth the Apoſtle ſo apply the matter in hand, if you compare the 10. verſe of Heb. 13. with the 5th ver. of the ſame Chapter, for when in the 10. ver. he had ſpoken of the Jewiſh Altar, ſaying, in theſe words, We have an Altar which none have right to eat, which ſerve at the tabernacle, he preſently (in ver. 12.) brings in Chriſt as the Antytipe of that type in theſe words, Wherefore Jeſus that he might ſanctifie the people with his own bloud ſuffered without the gate. Mark, he ſuffered without the gate as a ſacrifice which was proper to the Altar in the Tabernacle; thus you ſee how the Apoſtle makes Chriſt and the Altar in the Tabernacle to agree here alſo, ſo Rev. 6. 9. I ſaw under the Altar the ſouls of them which were beheaded for the word of God and for the teſtimony of Jeſus which they hold: Which Altar we muſt underſtand to be meant of Jeſus Chriſt, which was ſlain for the ſins of the world, under which ſacrifice lieth murdered, of the ſlain Prophets, Apoſtles, & Martyrs of Jeſus Chriſt, that have died for the word of God in all Ages of the world, for as Chriſt was ſacrificed for their ſins, ſo are the Saints willingly ſacrificed for his truths; and ſo Chriſt and the Saints are by John repreſented to our view in one ſuffering heap or body together, only Chriſt hath the preeminence, he firſt, and they after, or Chriſt above and his people under the Altar Chriſt; ſo that by all hath been ſpoken it appears that the Altars in the Tabernacle did intend Chriſt which was then to come in the fleſh.
Secondly, I ſhall ſhew you in the next place, how the two Altars (being of two differing uſes) did ſignifie the two great works which Chriſt was to perform to God for believers.
I ſhall begin with the Altar that was overlaid with Braſs. This Altar ſignified Chriſt in the work of making or giving ſatisfaction to the juſtice of God for ſin, for upon this Altar in the Tabernacle were the bodies of thoſe beaſts offered which were ſlain for ſin, and they were offered to God in hot flaming fire, therefore called the burnt offering; ſo was Jeſus Chriſt an Altar to bear the indignation of God for the Elect upon Chriſts back (as upon the Altar) did ſtand both the ſins and the burning hot wrath of Gods juſtice together, which like mighty flaſhes of lightning came upon the ſoul of our dear and precious Saviour, which made the bloudy ſweats upon him in the Garden, Luke 22. 44. Therefore in Iſa. 53. The Holy Ghoſt ſhews you the Elects ſins and Gods wrath both together, ſtanding at one and the ſelf ſame time upon the back of Chriſt, Iſa. 53. 6, 7. We all like ſheep have gone aſtray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid the iniquities of us all upon him, he was oppreſſed, he was afflicted, ſo ver, 10. It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him and to put him to grief, when thou ſhalt make his ſoul an offering for ſin, ſo ver. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, becauſe he hath poured out his ſoul unto death, and was numbred with the tranſgreſsour, and did bear the ſins of many, ſo 1 Pet. 1 18, 19. with chap. 2. 24. For ye know that ye were not redeemed with Silver or Gold, but by the precious bloud of Jeſus Chriſt, as a Lamb without blemiſh and without ſpot, who in his own body bear our ſins upon the Tree. But notable is that place of the Apoſtle in Heb. 13. 11, 12. For the bodiess of thoſe beaſts, whoſe bloud is brought into the ſanctuary by the High Prieſt for ſin, are burnt without the Camp, wherefore Jeſus alſo that he might ſanctifie the people with his own bloud ſuffered without the gate, ſo Eph. 5. 2. ſaith S. Paul ſpeaking of Chriſt, He gave himſelf for us an offering, and a ſacrifice to God for a ſweet ſmelling ſavour; Thus you ſee how Chriſt in his ſufferings makes good what the Altar of Braſs (with the ſacrifice upon it) did ſignifie and hold out to the beholders, where indeed our Saviour was both the Altar and the Sacrifice too: By which offering up of himſelf (as the Altar and Sacrifice to God) he hath purchaſed eternal Redemption for us, and hath for ever perfected thoſe which are ſanctified, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Heb. 10. 10, 12, 14. verſes.
Uſe 1.
O then this ſhould teach all true Believers to rejoyce, and ſing aloud for joy of ſoul. O Saints, lift up your heads, and with your voice bleſs the Lord; take with you theſe words and ſing with the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 118. 20, 21. 22, 23. I will praiſe the Lord, for thou haſt heard me, and art become my ſalvation, for the ſtone which the builders refuſed is become the head of the corner; this is the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes: this is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoyce and be glad in it. That the ſoul that was once ſo far from God, as hell is from heaven, ſhould have an Altar of ſatisfaction provided for him, yea, and a ſacrifice to, in order to his full juſtification before the everlaſting burnings. O ſaith David, Pſal, 66. 16. Come hither and I will tell you what God hath done for my ſoul.
Why, whats the matter David, what is it that God hath done for you? O, I that was a poor ſinful wretch, and accurſed, miſerable creature, a condemned Malefactor before God, for the breach of his royal law, and could never poſſibly have redeemed my ſelf by all that ever I could do of my ſelf, or in my own ſtrength O I was one who was under the guilt of ſin, and a ſlave to Satan, an heir of Hell, a childe of darkneſs, a fire-brand of the bottomleſs pit, a ſon of perdition, a loſt periſhing ſoul in my ſelf for ever. Oh I that was alien to the promiſe, a ſtranger to the Covenants and Commonwealth of Iſrael, and without hope of God in the world, am now again made nigh by the Blood of Chriſt, and thereby taken again into the reconciled love and favour of God, through this altar of grace and ſatisfaction, (which the Father in mercy) hath ſet up for my ſoul, upon which all my ſins are laid, paſt, preſent, and to come, Iſ…. 53. 6. So that through the rich mercy of God I can ſay I am delivered from the law wherein I was held, through the ſatisfaction and full payment the Father received from my Altar Chriſt, Rom. 7. 6. And although (before I had any intereſt in this Altar Chriſt) I feared death and hell every day before; yet now I can ſay, there is therefore now no condemnation to me, who am reſolved not to walk after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit, Rom. 8. 1. Now can I come with boldneſs to the throne of grace, to ask grace and mercy to help in time of need, Heb. 4. 16. O this Altar Chriſt by his ſufferings hath opened a new and living way to the Father for me, a way conſecrated through the vail of his fleſh, Heb. 10. 18, 19, 20. By which means (although I durſt not look up to the Father before) I can come into his bleſſed preſence as a childe, and call him Father, and I can come to him upon the account of purchaſe, and demand my adopted rights, and purchaſed priviledges at my Fathers hands, and that upon the account of altar attonement, which was made and done by my Altar Chriſt, when he offered up himſelf a ſacrifice to God, without ſpot and blemiſh for me, Eph. 5. 2. And although I was as black as hell, and as full of ſpots as the Leopard in Gods ſight, yet now ſhall I be found of God compleat in Jeſus Chriſt, not having ſpot or wrincle, Col. 2. 10 Epheſ. 5. 27. O thus may every true Believer ſay, and ſing with David, for the weakeſt and leaſt of the Children of God hath as large, and as full, and as ample a ſatisfaction laid down for him to God as David, and his priviledges by this Altar, and his right unto this Altar Chriſt, is as large and altogether as full as David's was; ſo ſaith Paul, Rom. 10. 12. The ſame Lord over all is rich unto of that call upon him, for he is no reſpecter of perſons.
Uſe 2.
Let this teach Chriſtians to have great recourſe to the Altar of attonement and ſatisfaction. There be three ſeaſons when a Chriſtian ſhould have ſpecial regard to the Altar of ſatisfaction.
Firſt, In guilt ſeaſons.
Secondly, In doubting ſeaſons.
Thirdly, In corruption-prevailing ſeaſons.
Firſt, In guilty ſeaſons, when the heart and conſcience comes to be ſtained with the guilt of ſin, then is it the ſouls time to run to the Altar of ſatisfaction; when ever the Jews had any guilt broke out upon them; they were to take ſome offering or other in their hands, and a way to the Prieſt with it, that he might haſten to the altar of ſatisfaction, and there make an attonement for them by offering up their offering before the Lord. O ſo ſhould believers do when guilt breaks forth upon them, they ſhould flie by faith to their Goſpel Altar of ſatisfaction and attonement: ſaith John 1. 2. 1. 2. My little children, if any man ſin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, for he is a propitiation in his blood for our ſins, and not onelyonly for ours, but for the ſins of the whole world. Certainly, many a poor ſoul many times lies longer under trouble of ſpirit then they need to do, were they but well acquainted with this truth, that the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin, 1 John 1. 7. A through acquaintance with, and a cloſe application made of this Scripture in doubting times, it would wonderfully eaſe the heart in trouble; therefore, O troubled ſoul, wouldſt thou have thy guilts removed from thy conſcience, and wouldſt thou get thy ſelf into the favour of God again; wouldſt thou have within in thy ſoul, wouldſt thou have the anger of God pacified again, whom thou haſt offended. O then, run to the altar of ſatisfaction, take an offering in thy hand, go and call upon the Prieſt, and pray him to go into the Tabernacle for thee, and there offer upon the Altar of ſatisfaction thy offering before the Lord; I mean take with thee in thy hand of faith, the blood, merits, and righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, and beg him to lay up this upon the Altar of his ſatisfaction for thee. O ſtand at the Tabernacle door of the throne of grace, there call upon thy high Prieſt Jeſus, give him no reſt day or night, until he hath gone in to the Father, and made an attonement for thee: which done, thon mayeſt aſſure thy ſelf of that peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding, as the Jews in offering what they had to preſent their High Prieſt withal, might expect a full peace between God and their ſouls, which was obtained by the high Prieſt for them: And you know the obtaining of their peace at Gods hands upon their obſerving of this rule, was very unqueſtionable) ſo ſoul in the obſervation of this rule between thy ſoul and Chriſt, thou needeſt doubt of the love and favour of God to thy ſoul no more then the Jews.
Secondly, A ſecond ſeaſon when a Chriſtian ſhould have regard to the Altar of ſatisfaction, is in doubting ſeaſons, when the Devil ſhall ſo far prevail, as to diſcourage the ſoul from coming to partake of his right to the altar of ſatisfaction: and this the Devil doth oftentimes, by telling the ſoul that the Altar was never ſet up, or prepared for ſuch a vile rebellious wretch as the ſinning ſoul hath been. And thus the ſoul being filled with diſcouragements, is oftentimes almoſt ſwallowed up with exceeding grief and deſpair. But let me anſwer the devil in that ſoul: O Satan, thou haſt by thy cunning, ſubtle, crafty devices deceived many poor ſouls this way already, by which helliſh craft thou haſt held back many a thouſand poor ſouls from partaking of the priviledges of their Altar Chriſt, bearing them in hand, that the Father looks for greater preparations of ſoul, and higher qualifications of heart and life (to fit the ſoul for ſuch a mercy as the Altar Chriſt is) then the ſoul is yet able to bring with him, which deſign is but to put the ſoul upon delayes, on purpoſe for his everlaſting undoing, (for he well knows, if the ſoul ſhould ſtay from Chriſt until he be fit for Chriſt, the ſoul never gets Chriſt to eternity:) But Satan, that thou mayeſt prevail no more this way upon poor ſouls, I tell thee by the word of the Lord, and in the name of my God, firſt of all, that the Altar of ſatisfaction is erected and ſet up for every comer to it; as that, let the ſoul be never ſo vile, unworthy, unclean, or impure in himſelf, yet he ſhall be accepted as heartily as ever was Saint in the world, if he will but come to the Altar; for Satan, thou knoweſt very well, (though thou thus blindeſt the eyes of poor ſouls) that the Commiſſion which Chriſt hath given to all his Miniſters, is to preach another doctrine in the world, then what thoa preacheſt to men and women, which is as follows, Iſaiah 55. 1, 2. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and ye that have no money come ye buy wine and milk without money, and without price: wherefore do you ſpend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not, hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your ſoul delight its ſelf in fatneſs: Incline your ear and come unto me, hear and your ſoul ſhall live; come unto me and I will make an everlaſting covenant with you, even ths ſure mercies of David: ſo John 7. 37. And Jeſus stood and cried, it any man thirſt, let him come to me and drink. Matthew 11. 28, 29. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and ye ſhall finde reſt to your ſouls; take my yoke upon you; for my yoke is eaſie, and my burden is light: So Revelations 22. 17. The Spirit ſaith come, and the Bride ſaith, come, and let him that heareth ſay, come, and let him that is a thirſt come, and whoſoever will, let him take of the water of life freely; ſo that the ſouls coming in a way of believing gives him a real right to the Altar of ſatisfaction; for the altar of ſatisfaction or attonement was erected for the guilty, not for the righteous: ſaith Chriſt, I come not to call the righteous but ſinners to repentance. Therefore the Apoſtle tells you, that the Altar was ſet up to make reconciliation for ſinnes, Hebrews 9. 13. But to perſwade a ſoul that he muſt not come to the Altar, until he is ſo and ſo qualified, and humbled, and mortified to ſinne, is to make void the great excellency of the Altar, and to render it of no effect.
Thus Satan, thou laboureſt by thy ſubtleties, not onelyonly to deſtroy the ſoul for ever, by keeping it from Chriſt, but alſo thy next deſign is wholly to overthrow the glory of Chriſts ſufferings in the whole world.
Secondly, This Altar is ſo far from expecting ſuch qualifications in the comers to it, as that it ſtands there on purpoſe to give out theſe things to the comers: read Jeremiah 3. 33, 34. with Ezekiel 26. 27. Read Proverbs 1. 22. 23. How long ye ſimple ones will ye love ſimplicity, and ſcorners delight in ſcorning, and fools ha…e knowledge; turn ye at my reproofs: behold, I will pour out my ſpirit upon you, and I will make known my words unto you. Therefore ſoul, let not the father of lyes keep thee any longer from Jeſus Chriſt thy Goſpel Altar, but come with the greateſt freedom, and do not diſpute ſo much thy unworthineſs, as the Lord Chtiſts ſufficiency in point of righteouſneſs; for whatever thy life hath been, though never ſo notoriouſly wicked, yet in the name of God, and by ſpecial commiſſion from Chriſt, we are to tell thee, that neither the number of thy ſins, nor yet the greatneſs of thy ſinnes can hurt thee, but thy coming …o the Altar of ſatisfaction. where attonement is to be made for ſinne: this is it that will prove thy ſoul-deſtroying ſinne for ever, if thou take not heed of it: Hence it is that David made the greatneſſe of ſin the onelyonly ground of coming to the Altar, Pſal. 25. 11. Lord pardon my Iniquity, for my ſinne is wondrous great.
Thirdly, A third ſeaſon when a Chriſtian ſhould have regard to the Altar of ſatisfaction is in corruption-prevailing ſeaſons, when the heart is overcome with the ſtrength of corruption, then is it a fit time for the ſoul to have much recourſe to ths Altar, corruption can never live if thou bring it to this place, that altar upon which Chriſt died for ſin will of all places in the world yield thee the greateſt death to, ſin this is the ſword of Goliah which hath none like it, Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin. But worthy of note is that place of the Apoſtle in the 1 John 3. 8. For this purpoſe was the Son of God manifeſt, that he might deſtroy the work of the Devil. As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, for this purpoſe was the Son of God manifeſted, or for this purpoſe was the Altar of ſatisfaction erected and ſet up, that poor ſouls might as well get ſin and corruption mortified and ſubdued in them, as to have the guilt of ſin removed out of their ſouls; O this is the tree of Life which ſtandeth in the Paradiſe of God, the leaves whereof will heal the Nations.
O therefore ſoul wouldſt get down the power of ſin in thy ſoul, as well as to get out the guilt of ſin from thy ſoul; O then when ever corruption gets head, be ſure to bring thy ſoul to the Altar of ſatisfaction and atonement, and there lay thy ſoul down at the feet of the Altar, and beg of Jeſus Chriſt that he would yield forth the bleſſed effects of his death upon thy ſoul, that as he died upon the Croſs to remove out of the way the guilt of thy ſins, ſo likewiſe he would be pleaſed (out of his infinite mercy and love) to drop ſomething of his ſufferings, ſome vertue of his death into thy ſoul, which might kill ſin in thy mortal body: Now this being done, adding faith to the work, thou needſt not doubt but a bleſſed iſſue in time will proceed to the great joy and comfort of thy ſoul, only labour for a waiting frame of ſpirit, give God his own time to effect this work in thy ſoul, for in time thou ſhalt Reap if thou faint not.
Objection, But doth not the Apoſtle ſay in Hebrewes 13. 10. That we have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which ſerve the Tabernacle, then it ſeems all may not come with that boldneſſe to the Altar of ſatisfaction as you ſay?
Anſwer, The Apoſtle is not to be underſtood ſo much in treating about the guilt of ſin as above the uſe of Ceremonies. Now the dangerous condition of the Hebrewes was two-fold, not only was their Caſe ſad with reſpect to their diſtance from God upou the account of ſinnes guilt,
But their danger did farther appear in this, they having their Ceremonies for a Chriſt to reſt upon, this kept them from Chriſt indeed, by which means they were deprived of the benefit of Chriſts Merits, Bloud, and Righteouſneſſe, which only takes away the guilt of ſin, as the Apoſtle elſewhere ſaith, Galatians 5 4. For Chriſt is become of none effect unto you, whoſoever of you are iuſtified by the Law you are faln from grace: As if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, certainly ſo long as you ſtick to your Ceremonies and Jewiſh Rights, you are at a great diſtance with Chriſt, Chriſt can profit you nothing, for you have Converted the Tabernacle Service into a Chriſt, and you reſt here, and you live upon the Shadow in the neglect of the true Subſtance Chriſt, unto which theſe Types and Legal Shadows ſhould lead you.
Therefore while you ſerve the Tabernacle (in this ſenſe) you have no right to eat of the Altar Chriſt, but otherwiſe, let the ſouls condition be never ſo deſperate by reaſon of ſinne, yet here is an open door for him to ſtep into the Tabernacle, and fall upon this Altar Chriſt with boldneſſe, according to that word of the Apoſtle in Hebrewes 9, 13, 14, 14.
So that there is no ſinne how great ſoever makes the ſoul uncapable of partaking of the Altar Chriſt, (who hath a deſire to make out after Chriſt) but only the ſouls reſting upon ſome thing elſe on this ſide Chriſt, and ſhall make that and not Chriſt his bottom for Salvation.