fent immediately, their call was extraordinary, their office was univerfal, they had alike power in all churches, and their doctrine was infallible; Acts xxvi. 16. 1 Cor. ix. 1. Gal. i. r. John i. 1, 2, 3. John ii. 23.

And what can our pretended giants do or fay in comparison of these? The truth is, all other men to thefe, are dwarfs, are low, dark, weak, and beneath them, not only as to call and office, but alfo as to gifts and grace. This fentence, Paul an apostle of Jefus Chrift, drowneth all. What now are all o ther titles of grandeur and greatness, when compas red to this one sentencé?!

True, the men were but mean in themselves for what is Paul or Apollos, or what was James or John? Yet by their call to that office, they were made highest of all in the church. Chrift did raise them eighteen cubits high, not in conceit, for fo there are many higher than they, but in office, and calling, and divine authority.

And obferve it, thefe ftand at the door, at the entering into the temple of God, at which they enter that go in thither to worship God, to fhew that all right worship, and that which will be acceptable to God, is by, or according to their doctrine.

CHA P. XIV.

Of the Chapiters of the Pillars of the Temple. THE

HERE were also two chapiters made for the pillars of the Temple; for each, one; and they were five cubits high a-piece. Thefe were for the adorning of the pillars: and there fore were types and thadows of that abundance of grace which God did put upon the apostles after the refurrection of our Lord. Wherefore, as he faith here, the chapiters were upon the pillars; fo it faith, that great grace were upon all the apostles, Acts iv. 33.

These chapiters had belonging to them, a bowl

made pumil-fashion, and it was placed upon the head of them, perhaps to fignify their aptnefs to receive, and largenels to contain of the dew of heaven, that fhadow of the doctrine of the gospel, which doctrine the apoftles, as the chief, were to receive, and hold forth to the world for their converfion. Hence, as the bowls were capable to receive the dew of heaven, thefe are faid to receive grace, an apoftlefhip, for obedience to the faith a mong all nations, for his name, Rom. i. 5. 1 Kings vii. 16, 42. 2 Chron. iv. 33. Deut. xxxii. 1. Rom..

There was alfo upon these chapiters a net-work er nets like unto checker work, which ftill addeth to their luftre. Thefe nets were they which fhewed for what intent the apoftolical offices were or dained; namely, that by their preaching, they might bring many fouls to God. And hence Chri calls them thermen, faying, "ye fhall catch men,” Matth. iv. 19. Mark, i 17, Luke v. 10. and 2 Cor. xii. 16.

The world is compared to a fea; men to filhes; and the gospel to a net, Ezek. xlvii. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Matth. xii. 47, 48, 49, 50. As therefore men catch fish with a net, fo the apoftles caught men by their word, which word, as I told you, to me is fignified by this net work upon the top of these pillars. See therefore the mystery of God in the fe things.

CHA P. XV.

Of the Pomegranates adjoined to thefe Nets on the Chapiters.

TH HERE were alfo joined to thefe nets upon the top of thefe pillars, promegranates in abundance, four hundred for the net-work. Pomegra nates, you know, are beautiful to look on, pleafant to the palate, comfortable to the ftomach, and -chearing by their juice, 1 Kings vii. 42. Song iv. 3. viii. 2. iv. 13. vi. 11. vii. 12. There were ta

be two rows of these pomegranates for one network, and fo two rows of them for the other.

And this was to fhew, that the net of the gospel is not an empty thing, but is fufficiently baited with fuch varieties as are apt to allure the world to be eatched by them. The law is but a found of words, but the gospel is not fo; that is, baited with pome. granates, with variety of excellent things. Hence it is called the gospel of the kingdom, and the gof. pel of the grace of God; becaufe it is, as it were, baited with grace and glory, that finners may be allured, and may be taken with it to their eternal falvation, Matth. xxiv. 14. Acts xx. 24.

Grace and glory, grace and glory! thefe are the pomegranates with which the word of the gospel is baited, that finners may be taken and faved› thereby. The argument of old was, milk and ho ney, that was, I fay, the alluring bait, with which Mofes drew fix hundred thousand out of Egypt, into the wilderness of old, Exod. ii. 8. But, behold, we have pomegranates; two rows of pomegranates; grace and a kingdom is the bait of the holy gefpel, no wonder then, if when men of skill did caft this net into the fea, fuch numbers of fish have been catched, even by one fermon, Acts ii. They baited their nets with taking things, things taking to the eye and taster

Nets are truly inftruments of death, but the net of the gospel doth catch to draw from death, where. fore this net is contrary, life and immortality is brought to light through this. No marvel then, if men are fo glad, and that for gladnefs they leap like fishes in a net, when they fee themselves catch-ed in this drag of the holy gofpel of the Son of God. They are catched from death, and helly, catched to live with God in glory.

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Of the Chains that were upon thefe Pillars that flood before the Temple.

As there were nets to catch, and pomegranates to bait, fo there were chains belonging to thefe chapiters or thefe pillars. "And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them upon the head of the chapiters," 2 Chron. iii. 16.

But what were the fe chains a type of? I anfwer, they were (perhaps) a type of those bonds which attend the gofpel, by which fouls are taken and tied faft to the horns of the altar. Gospel-grace, and gofpel-obligations, are ties and binding things; they can hold those that are entangled by the word. Love is ftrong as death: bands of love, and the cords of a man, and chains take hold on them that are taken by the gofpel, Hof. xi. Song viii. 6.

But this ftrength to bind, lieth not in outward force, but in a fweet constraint, by virtue of the difplays of undeferved love, "The love of Chrift conftraineth us," 2 Cor. v. Wherefore, as you find the nets, fo the chains had promegranates on them," And he made a hundred pomegranates, and put them upon the chains," a Chron. iii. 16.7 The chains then had baits, as well as the nets, to thew the bands of the gospel are unrefiftible good. neffes: fuch with which men ❝ love to be bound, and fuch as they pray they may hold faft by." He binds his foal to the vine, his faint unto this Saviour, Gen. xlix. 11.

By thefe chains, there is therefore fhewed what Frength there is in gospel charms, if once the adder doth but hear them: never man yet was able to refift them that well did know the meaning of them. They are mighty to make poor men obedient, and that in word and deed.

These chains were fuch as was in the oracle, to fhew that gofpel-bonds are ftrong; as the joys of

heaven, and as the glories there, can make them chains, as in the oracle, as in the most holy place. 'Tis heaven that binds finners on earth, to the faith and hope of the gofpel of Chrift.

CHA P. XVII.

Of the Lily work which was upon the Chapiters that were upon thefe Pillars of the Temple.

Hefe pillars were alfo adorned with lily-work,

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as well as with pomegranates and chains. "Chapiters alfo which were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work: fo was the work of the pillars finifhed: fee 1 Kings vii. 19, 20.

This lily work is here put in on purpose, even to fhew us how far off thofe that were to be the true apoftles of the Lamb fhould be from feeking carnal things, or of making their preaching a ftalking horse to worldly greatnefs, and that preferment. There was lily work upon them: that is, they liv. ed upon the bounty and care of God, and was con tent with that glory which he had put upon them. "The lilies, faith Chrift, they toil not, neither do they fpin, and yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of thefe," Matth. vi. 28, 29. Luke xii. 28, 29.

Thus, therefore, thefe pillars fhew, that as the apoftles fhould be fitted and qualified for their work, they fhould be alfo from cares and worldly cumber, they fhould be content with God's providing for them, even as the goodly lilies are. And as thus prepared, they were fet in the front of the houfe, for all minifters to fee and learn, and take example of them, how to behave themselves as to this world in the performing of their office.

And that which gives us further light in this, is, that this lily work is faid by divine inftitution, to be placed over-against the belly," the belly of the pillars, a type of ours, 1 Kings vii. 20.

The belly is a craving thing; and thefe things,