7. Aaron and his fons, were to eat of the old fhew.bread; to fhew that when faints have lived in the world, as long as living is good for them, and when they can do no more fervice for God in the world, they fhall yet be accepted of Jefus Christ, and that it fhall be as meat and drink to him, to fave them from all their unworthineffes.

8. The new fhew-bread was to be fet even on the Sabbath before the Lord. To thew with what warmth of love and affection God's fervants fhould approach his prefence upon his holy day.

CHA P. XLIV.

Of the Snuffers belonging to the Candlesticks and Lamps of the Temple.

AS there were candlesticks and lamps, fo there were fnuffers alfo prepared for the fe in the temple of the Lord. And the fnuffers were fnuffers of gold," Kings vi. 50.

1. Snuffers, The ufe of fnuffers is to trim the lamps and candles, that their light may fhine the brighter.

2. Snuffers, you know, are biting, pinching things, but use them well, and they will prove, not only beneficial to thofe within the house, but profitable to the lights.

Snuffers, you may fay, of what were they a type?

Anfwer, If our fnuffs are our fuperfluities of naughtiness; our fnuffers then are those righteous reproofs, rebukes, and admonitions, which Chrift has ordained to be in his house for good; or as the apoftle hath it, for our edification; and perhaps Paul alludes to thefe, when he bids Titus to rebuke: the "Cretians fharply, that they might be found in the faith." Tit. i. 12, 13.

As who fhould fay, they muft ufe the fnuffers of the Temple, to trim their lights withal, if they burn not well. The fe fnuffers therefore are of great ufe in the Temple of God, only, as I faid, they

must be used wifely. It is not for every fool to handle fnuffers, at, or about the candles, left, per. haps, instead of mending the light, they put the candle out. And therefore Paul bids them that are fpiritual do it, Gal. vi. 1.

My reafon tells me, that if I use these fnuffers as I should, I must not only endeavour to take the fuperfluous fnuff away, but fo to do it, that the light thereby may be mended; which then is done, if, as the apostle faith, "I use sharpness to edification, and not for destruction, 1 Cor. v. 4, 5. 2 Cor. xii. 10.

Are not the feven churches in Afia called by the name of candlesticks? And why candlesticks, if they were not to hold the candles? and candles muft have fuffers, therewith to trim the lights. And Chrift, who is our true Aaron, in thofe rebukes which he gave those churches, alluding to thefe fnuffers, did it, that their lights might shine the brighter, Rev. ii. 3.

Wherefore, as he used them, he did it ftill with caution to their light, that it might not be impair. ed. For as he ftill thus trimmed thefe lamps, he yet encouraged what he faw would fhine, if helped. He only fnipt the fnuff away.

Thus therefore he came to them with these snuf. fers in his hand, and trimmed their lamps and candlesticks, Rev.ii. 4, 20. chap. iii, 2, 15.

This fhould teach minifters to whom it belongs, under Chrift to use these fnuffers well. Strike at the fnuff, not at the light, in all your rebukes and admonitions. Snuff not your lamps, of a private revenge, but of a defign to nourish grace and gifts in churches. Thus our Lord himself fays he did, in his using of these fruffers about thefe candlesticks, As many, faith he, as I love, I rebuke and chaften, be zealous, therefore, and repent, Rev. iii. 19.

To conclude, watchmen, watch, and let not your fnuffs be too long, nor pull them off with your fingers, or carnal reasonings, but with godly admonitions, &c. Ufe your fnuffers gracioufly,, curb

vice, nourish virtue, fo ye will ufe them well, and fo your light will thine, to the glory of God.

Of the Snuff dishes that were with the Snuffers in the

A

Temple.

S there were fouffers, fo there were also fnuffdifles in the Temple. "And they were alfo made of gold, Exod. xxv. 28. chap. xxxvil. 23. Numb, iv. 9. The fnuff-dishes were thofe in which the fnuff were put when fnuffed off, and by which they were carried forth of the Temple, They, therefore, as the fnuffers are, are of great ufe in the temple of God.

1. By them the golden floor of the Temple is kept from being daubed by the fauffs.

2. By them alfo the clean hands of those that worship there are kept from being defiled.

3. By them alfo the ftinks of the fnuffs is fooneft fuppreffed in the Temple, and confequently the tender noses of them that worship there preferved from being offended.

Snuffs, ye know, are daubing things, ftinking things, naufeous things; therefore we must take heed that they touch not this floor on which we walk, nor defile the hands which we lift up to God, when we come to worship him. But how must this be done, but as we take them off with the fnuffers, and put them in these fnuff-dishes ?

Some are for being at the fnuffs with their fin gers, and will caft alfo them at their feet, and daula the floor of God's holy houfe, but ufually fuch do burn as well as defile themselves. "But is it not a fhame for a man to defile himself with that vice which he rebuketh in another?" Let us then, while we are taking away the fnuffs of others, hate even the garment spotted by the flesh, and labour to carry fuch ftink with the fnuff-difhes out of the Temple of God.

Snuff-dishes, you may fay what are they?

1 anfwer, If fins are the fnuffs, and rebukes and admonitions the fnuffers, then, methinks, repentance, or in cafe that be wanting, the cenfures of the church fhould be the fnff d'fhes.

Hence, repentance is called a church-cleansing grace, and the cenfures of the church a purging out of the old leaven, and making it a new lump," 1 Cor. v. 2. 2 Cor. vii. 11.

Ah! were the fe fnuff dishes more of ufe in the churches, we should not have this man's fruff defile that man's fingers as it doth. Ner would the Temple of God be fo befmeared with these fnuffs, and bedaubed as it is.

Ah! fnuffs pulled off lie ftill in the Temple. floor, and there tink and defile both feet and fin-gers, both the callings and converfations of Tem-ple worshippers; to the difparaging of religion, and the making of religious worship but of low efteem with men and all, I fay, for want of the due ufe of these fnuffers, and these fnuff dishes there.

Nay, are not whole churches now defiled with thofe very fnuffs, that long fince were plucked off; and all for want of the use of these fiuff dishes, according to the Lord's commandment. For you muft know, that reproofs and admonitions are but of finall ufe, where repentance, or church-cenfures, are not thereto annexed. When minifters ufe the fnuffers, the people fhould hold the fnuff difhes.

Round reproofs for fin, when they light upon penitent hearts, then brave work is in the church :: then the fnuff is not only pulled away, but carried out of the temple of God aright; &c.

And now the worship and worshippers fhine like. gold. "As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold: fo is a wife reprover upon an obedi. ent ear, "Prov. xxv. 12.

Minifters, it appertains to you to ufe the fnuffers, and to teach the people to hold the fnuff dishes right, Acts xx. 20, 21. I Tim, iv, 2. We muft

often be fnuffed with thofe fnuffers, or our light will burn but dimly, our candle will also waste : Pray therefore, O men of God! look diligently to your people, fnuff them as you fee there is need; but touch not their fnuff with your white fingers, a little finutch on you will be feen a great way. Remember alfo that you leave them no where, but with thefe fnuff-dishes, that the Temple may be cleared of them.

Do with the fnuff as the neat houfe-wife doth with the toad when the finds it in her garden. She takes the fork, or a pair of tongs, and therewith doth throw it over the pales. Caft them away, I fay; with fear, zeal, care, revenge, and with great indignation, 2 Cor. vii. 11. and then your church, your converfation, your fingers and all will be kept white and clean.

CHAP. XLVI.

Of the Golden Tongs belonging to the Temple. THERE were alfo tongs of gold ufed in the Temple of old, 1 Kings vii. 49.

1. The tongs were used about the altar, to or◄ der the fire there.

2. They were used too about the candlesticks, and are therefore called His tongs.

3. Perhaps there were tongs for both thefe fervices, but of that the word is filent.

But what were they ufed about the candlestick to do?

Anfwer. To take holy fire from off the altar to light the lamps withal. For the fire of the Temple was holy fire, fuch as at first was kindled from heaven, and, when kindled, maintained by the priests, and of that the lamps were lighted, Lev. ix, 24. 2 Chron. vii. 1.

Nor was there, upon pain of death, any other fire to be used there, Lev. x. 1. The fe tongs there