The Gofpel of Solomon's-Temple. 34 being the thicknefs of the Wall, r Kings 6.7. It is not to be too rigo- roufly underftood, but the meaning is, as fome exprefs it, no found that was obftreperous to a publick Difturbance : No laborious Sound firm the hewing or fquaring of Timber, but only a more cheerful, yea melodious harmony from the Conjunftion and compa&ingof Matter afore-hand fitted and prepared. Doubtlefs this was not without a Myftery : It may be divers ways applied ; as that the matter of the Church fhould be well prepared be- fore their Admifïiòn as Members ; and that the Saints are afore-hand fitted and prepared unto Glory : So that when they come to die, they have nothing elfe to do but to die ; for the Temple was a Type of Heaven, and of the Church Triumphant. But the Application_ that L would makeof it, is this : There fhould be no noire ofStrife, no Con- tention, no Collifion of Mens Spirits in ChurchSociety. And the Means to avoid this, is the well-preparing of the Matter . When the Soul is well-prepared by anhumbling-work in its firft Converfton, when hewed and fquared, it will lie even in the Building, elfe not. For only by Pride comes contention, Prov. r 3.. r O. 4. Build the Houfe of the Lord beforeyour own Hours : So Solomon did Thç Lord's Houle was finifhed in feven Years,but his ownwas not finifh- ed till thirteen Years, I Kings 6. ult. with cap. 7. r. not that he re- garded his own Houfe more, . but lefs ; and therefore finifhed the Lord's Houle beforehis own. And the Jews after their return from theCap- tivity, are greatly reproved for this Neglea, Hag. r.4. and 2. rg. It is indeed the general Scope of the whole Book"of Haggai. It brings a Bleang upon all your Concernments, Matth. 6.33. Seek firft the King dom ofGad, and all other Things(hall be added. But if this be negleaed and poftponed, Godwill Blaft and Curfe all the other Worksof your Hands, as hedidtheirs. 5. Labour to fee the Beauty of the Lord in his Temple. This was Da- vid s earneft Deliire, Pfal. 27. 4. One thing I have defired of the Lord, that will Ileek after, that Imay dwell in the Houfeof the Lord al the Days ofmy Life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, Kai. 84 .7. to appegr before God in Sion, Pfal. 63. 2. to fee thy Power and thy Glory in thy Sanftriary.. What do you come there for, if you do not meet with God there ? Be in the pureft way of Worfhip, but reft not in it without God. Get real Visions and Fruitions of God in his Ordinances, to fee the plead fant Beauty of the Lord in his Temple. Quell. But when is God real to theSoul in his Ordinances I 4nfw. WhenGod is as rea! to the Soul, to the Eye of Faith, as the external part of anOrdinance is to the Eye of Senfe. When you fee Chrift
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