370 The Gofpel of the Brazen Altar. 3: The Altar was anointed, and fo fan &ified unto its Office, Numb. 7. r. Exod.4o. 9. this is the Sanctification or Inauguration of our Lord Jefus Chrift into his Office; he was anointed with the spirit a- bove meafure, not only the Graces thereof in his Humane Nature, Lut that glorious Perfon himfelf goes forth by Commiffion from the Father and the Son, as the Son by Commiflîon from the Father to reconcile and fave Sinners, 4. There were divers Vefrels of the Altar belonging to it, for the Ufe and Service of it, .Numb. r4. of Brafs, i Kings 7. 47. of Gold, I Cron. 28.17. alfo pure Gold for the AA-hooks. Of which, they being. neceffary Inftruments for the Work of Sacrificing, we need not feek a particular Myftery and Signification in every Veffel ; only in general,, Some apply them to the Ordinances of the Gofpel, the means of Grace which do attend upon the Altar, upon the Service of Jefus Chrift in his Church. As we have an Altar under the Gofpel, fo we have Vef- fels belonging to this Ordinance, Gofpel-Ordinances, whereof there is great Ufe. As the Priefts could not Sacrifice and Officiate about the Altar without Knives, and Flefh-hooks, and Shovels, d?'c. fo we can- not have Communion with Chrift without Means and Ordinances. 5. The Altar wasfurnifhed with Fire from Heaven, which was to be kept always burning. Now what is the 4fyftery ofthis facred Fire? i. The Wrath ofGod againft Sin ; He is a confirming Fire, an everlaft- ing burning againft Sin and Sinners, Beb. r 2. ult. ¡fa. 33. 16. 2. The Spirit ofGod is compared to Fire, Platt!). 3. ï r . Re flail bap- tizeyou with the Holy Gh`off, and with Fire, Ifa. 4. 4. When he /hall have purged the Blood of yerufalem from the midfi thereof by the Spirit of5'udg- ment, and by the Spirit of Burning. And it is a facred Fire that nevergoes out. We should be careful to keep this Fire burning, take heed ofgrieving, of quenching the Spi- rit, i Theff 5. 19. 3. The Word and Ordinances are like UntoFire, Nr. 23..29. they will burn up and confume what oppofeth them, Rev. r r. 5. it's faid of the two Witneffes, that Fire goes out of their Mouths, that is, the Wordof God denouncing the Wrath of God : Fiery Indignation devours the Ad- verfaries, Heb. r o. 27. q.. We readof fiery Tryals and Afiíkions, Luke 12. 49. Iam come to fend Fire on the Earth. i Pet. 4. i 2. Think it not firange concerning the fiery Tryal ; the fiery Tryal of Perfecution by open Enemies publickly oppofing, the fiery Tryal ofContention by falfe Brethren fecretly un- dermining. 6. The
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