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fore were used to take fire from off the altar, to light the lamps and candlesticks withal. For to trim the lights, and drefs the lamps, was Aaron's work, day by day, Exod, xl. 24, 25,, Lev. xxiv. 2, 3. Numb. viii, 3. "He fhall light and order the lamps upon the pure candlestick befor the Lord and Aaron did fo; he lighted the feven lamps thereof, as the Lord commanded Moses."

What is a lamp or candlestick to us, if there be no light thereon? and how lighted without fire ? and how fhall we take up coals to light the lamps. withal, if we have no tongs prepared for that purpofe?

With these tongs fire alfo was taken from off the altar, and put into the cenfers, to burn fweet incenfe with before the Lord. The tongs then were of great ufe in the Temple of the Lord.

But what were the tongs a type of?

The altar was a type of Chrift, the fire of the Holy Ghoft; and thofe tongs were a type of that holy hand of God's grace by which the coals, or feveral difpenfations and gifts of this Holy Ghoft, ́ are taken and given to the church, and to her meinbers, for her work and profit in this world.

Tongs, we know, are ufed inftead of fingers; wherefore Aaron's golden tongs were a type of Chrift's golden fingers, Song v. 14.

Ifaiah faith, that "one of the feraphims flew. to him with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar." Here the type and antitype, to wit, tongs and hands, are put together, Ifa. vi. But the prophet Ezekiel, treating of like matters, quite waves the type, the tongs, and fpeaketh only of this holy hand, "And he ipake to the man cloathed with linen, and faid, Go in between the wheels under the cherub," where the mercy-feat ftood, where God dwelt,. Exod, ii. Pfal. lxxx. 1." and fill thy hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims," Ezek.

X. 2.

Thus you fee our golden tongs are now turned into a golden hand; into the golden hand of the man clothed in linen, which is Jefus Chrift, who at his afcenfion received of God the Father the Spirit in al! fulness, to give, as his divine witdom knew was beft, the several coals or difpenfations thereof unto his church, for his praise, and her edification, Matth. iii. 11. Acts ii.

It is by this hand alfo that this holy fire is put into our cenfers. It is this hand alfo that takes this coal, there with to touch the lips of minifters, that their words may warm like fire; and it is by this hand that the Spirit is given to the churches as returns of their holy prayers, Luke xi. 1. 2. Rom. viii. 26, Rev. viii. 5.

It was convenient that fire in the temple fhould be difpofed of by golden tongs, but the Holy Ghost by the golden hand of Chrift's grace, for that can wittingly difpofe of it, according as men and things are placed, and to do and be done in the churches. Wherefore he adds, " And one cherub ftretched forth his hand from between the cherubims, unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen, who took it, and went out," Ezek. x. 7.

By this hand, then, by this man's hand, the coals of the altar are difpofed of, both to the lamps, the candlesticks, the cenfers, and the lips of minifters, according to his own good pleasure. And of all this were the tongs in the temple a type.

CHA P. XLVII.

Of the Altar of Incense in the Temple. THE altar of incenfe was made firft for the

tabernacle, and that of Shittim wood, but it was made for the temple of cedar, and it was to be set before the vail, that is, by the ark of the testi mony, before the mercy-feat, that is at the entering

of the holieft, but not within. And the priest was to approach it every morning, which as to the holieft he might not do. Befides, when he went in to make an atonement, he was to take fire from off that altar, to burn his incenfe within the holy place, Exod. xxx. 4.-11. Lev, xvi. 18.

1. It was called the golden altar, because it was overlaid with pure gold. This altar was not for burnt offering, as the brazen altar was, not for the meat-offering, nor the drink-offering, but to burn incenfe thereon, ver. 7. which sweet incenfe was a type of the grace of prayer, Pfal. cxli. 2.

2. Incenfe, or that called incense here, was not a fimple but a compound, made up of fweet spices, called Stacte, Onycha, and Galbanum; thefe three may answer to these three parts of this duty, to wit, prayer, fupplication, and interceffion, Exod. xxx. 34, 35, 46, 37. xxxvii. 29, 1 Tim ii 1.

3. This incenfe was to be burned upon the altar every morning, upon that altar which was called the altar of incenfe, which was before the vail; to fhew, that it is our duty every morning to make our prayer to God by Jefus Chrift before the vail; that is, before the door of heaven, and there to seek, knock, and afk for what we need, according to the word, Luke xi. 9, 10. 11, 12.

4. This incenfe was to be kindled every morning, to fhew how he continueth interceeding for us, and allo, that all true prai'e of men to God is by the work, the renewed work of the Holy Ghost upon our hearts, Rom. viii. 26.

5. Incense, as you fee, was made of fweet fpices, fuch as were gummy, and fo apt to burn with a fmoke, to fhew, that not cold and flat, but hot and fervent is the prayer that flows from the Spirit of faith and grace, Zech. xii. 10. Jer. v. 16.

6. The fmoke of this incenfe was very fweet and favoury, like pleafant perfume, to fhew how delightful and acceptable the very found and neife of

right prayer is unto the noftrils of the living God, because it comes from a broken heart, Pfal. li. 17. Song . 14.

7. This incenfe was to be offered upon the gol. den altar, to fhew us, that no prayer is accepted but what is directed to God in the name of his holy and bleffed Son our Saviour, 1 Pet. ii. 5. Heb.

xiii. 15.

8. They were commanded to burn incenfe every morning upon this altar, to fhew that God is never weary of the godly prayers of his people. It also fheweth, that we need every day to go to God for fresh fupplies of grace, to carry us through this evil world,

9 This altar, though it flood without the vail, to teach us to live by faith, and to make ufe of the name of Chrift, as we find it recorded in the first Temple; yet was placed fo nigh unto the holieft, that the fmell of the fmoke might go in thither, to fhew that it is not diftance of place that can keep the voice of true prayer from our God, the God of heaven; but that he will be taken with what we ask for according to his word.

It ftood, I fay, and he that burnt proach to God.

nigh the vail, nigh the holieft; incenfe there did make his ap. Hence the Pfalmift, when he pake of praying, faith, "It is good for me to draw nigh unto God, Pfal. lxxiii. 20. Heb. x. 22. 10. This altar thus placed, did front the ak within the vail; to put us in mind, that the law is pt therein from hurting us; to let us know also,' that the mercy-feat is above, upon the ark, and that God doth fit thereon, with his pardon in his hand, to fave us. O! what fpeaking things are types, fhadows, and parables, had we but eyes to fee, had we but ears to hear!.

He that did approach the altar with incenfe of old aright, (and then he did fo when he approach, edit by Aaron his high-prieft) pleated God; how much more fhall we have both perfon and prayers H

accepted, and a grant of what we need, if indeed we come as we should to God by Jesus Christ.

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But take heed you approach not to a wrong tar, take heed also that you come not with frange fire, for they are dangerous things, and caufe the worshippers to mifs of what they would enjoy. But more of this in the next particular.

CHA P. XLVIII.

Of the gelden Cenfers belonging to the Temple. TH HERE were alfo golden cenfers belonging to the Temple, and they were either fuch as belonged to the fons of Levi in general, or that were for Aaron and his fons in fpecial, as Numb. xvi. 16, 17, 18.

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The centers of the Levites were a type of ours, but the cenfer of Aaron was a type of Chrifl's.

The cenfers, as was hinted before, were for this ufe in the Temple, namely, to hold the holy fire in, on which incenfe was to be burned before the Lord, Lev. x. 1.

Thefe cenfers then were types of hearts. Aaron's golden one was a type of Chrift's golden heart, and the cenfers of the Levites were types of other worshippers hearts.

The fire alfo which was put therein was a type of that Spirit by which we pray, and the incenfe that burnt thereon a type of our desires.

Of Christ's cenfer, we read, Rev. viii. which is always filled with much incenfe, that is, with continual interceffions, which he offereth to Grd for us, and from whence alfo there always goes a cloud of fweet favour, covering the mercy-feat, Lev. xvi. 13. Heb. vii, 25. Rev. viii. 3, 4.

But to fpeak of the cenfers, and fire, and incenfe of the worshippers, for albeit they were all put under one rule, that is, to be according to law; yet oftentimes, as were the worshippers fuch were the cenfers, fire, and incenfe.

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