;66 The Gofpel of the Brazen Altar. durablenefs, to bear the Eire that was continually burning upon it; and fo to reprefent the flrength of Chriftt to endure the Wrath of God, without being burnt up, confumed, and overcome by it. For Brafs is often mentioned to fignifie ftrength, fob 40. f 8. His Bones are as firong pieces of Brafs. Is my Strength of Stones, or my Flefh of Brafs ? Job 6. 12. am I not a poor, weak, frail Creature? So Zacb. 6. T. The Moun- tains of Brafs lignifie God's irrefiftible Purpofe and Decree ; fo likewife Chriít is reprefented under that appearance, Ez,ek. 4.0.3. A flan whole appearance was the appearance of Brafs : and Rev. i..i 5. His Feet like unto fine Brafs, as if they burned in a Furnace. Thefe Reprefentations have the like Myftery of Strength and Invinciblenefs. [That it was of unhewedStones : ] This inftruE s us, that humane Po- lifhments do not perfe&, but corrupt the Worfhip of God ; that which carnal Wifdom thinks doth adorn, doth indeed pollute ; there be no peddling Additions. We muft obferve the plainnefs and fimplicity of Inftitution. 2. As to the Figure and Dimen/lons of it ; it was four Square,with four Horns upon the tour Corners of it. Mofes his Altar was five Cubits in length, and five in breadth, and three Cubits high : But solomons was twenty Cubits in length, and twenty Cubits in breadth, and. ten Cu- bits high ; compare Exod. 27. I, 2. with the Text, 2 Chron. q.. I. The four - fquare Form (faith Ainfmorth on : Exod. 27. t.) lignifies firmnefs and ftability : Therefore theHeavenly 7erufalem is four Square, Rev. 2I. 16. fo was the Figure of it, Ez.ek. 48. 20. fo was the Oracle, or molt holy Place in the Temple and Tabernacle too, 2 Cbron 3. 8. The height of Solomon's Altar was too high for any Prieft to reach ; yet they might not go up by Steps to it, Exod. 20. 26. therefore it is thought there was an eafy afcent by a Declivity on the South fide, the Ground riling by little and little. The largenefs of Solomon's Altar beyond that of the Tabernacle might intimate the inlargement of the Church, and great increafe of the Worlhippers and Worfhip of God under the Gofpel, which is the myftery of thofe great inlargements in Ezekiel's vifionary Temple, be- yond Solomons, as Solomons went beyond Mofes his Tabernacle. 3. The fituation of the Altar was fub dio, in the open Air : That fo the nidor and fuligo, the fcent and fmoak of the Sacrifices might be the lefs offenfive. Moreover it Rood in the Priefts Court, before the Porch of the Temple, 2. Chron. 8. 12. The Altar of the Lord which be bad built before the Porch Joel 2.. 17. Let the Priefts, the Miniflers of the Lord weep between the Porch and the Altar. . The lift of it was to offer Sacrifice upon, Exod. 20, 24.. An Altar of
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