38o The Gofpel of the Sea and Lavers in the Temple. Ezra S. i o, as much as to fay, the People that were given or appoin- ted unto that life. But whence the Gibeonites did fetch the Water, it is not much material to inquire about that : They had it either from Wells or Springs near at Hand, or it may be there were force Springs even within the Courts of the Temple, as in Ezekiel's vifionary Tem- ple, which one calls a vifionary Varnifh upon an hiftorical Ground- work, Ezek. 47. 1. So much for the Hiflory of this Type. 2. Now for the Spiritual Senfe andScope of it. 1. The main thing aimed at in this typical Sea, or Confluence ofWa- ters in the Temple, is our Spiritual wafhing in the Blood of7eßts Cbrifs from Sin and from llncleannefs : For it is faid, Rev. r. s. He bath to- ved us, and wafht us from our Sins with his own Blood t John 1. the Blood of Yefits Chrifl his Son cleanfeth us from all Sin. Therefore the Saints are prefented to Tfohn, after the Tribulations and Perfecutions of Antichrift are come to an end, as being clothed with white Robes, Rev. 7. 9. And how came their Robes to be fo white and clean ? See Verf, 14. Thefe are they which came out ofgreat Tribulation, and have wafhed their Robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Hence the Holy Ghoft doth not exprefs it under that Phrafe of a Sea of Blood, partly becaufe that Blood, and a Sea of Blood is in Nature dreadful and horrible, and Iooks rather like an Emblem of Deftruaion and Mife- ry, and partly becaufe the fcope and aim of theSpirit is to defcribe the Blood of Chrift from the fpiritual Efficacy of it, which is to make the Soul fpiritually white and clean. Therefore fitly prefented under the Emblem of a Sea, or a Confluence of Spiritual Waters ; becaufe as Water wafbeth and cleanfeth the Body, fo Both the Blood of Chrift wafh and cleanfe the Soul ; it wafheth away the Guilt of Sin : They have wafhed their Robes and made them white in the Blood ofthe Lamb. This is that Fountain which is fit open for the Houfe ofDavid, and for the Inha- bitants of Jerufalem to wafh in, for Sin and, for Z'ncleannefs, Zach. 15. h. That great Priviledge therefore of Yußiftcation by the Blood of Chrift,_ whereby we are juflified from the Guilt of all our Sins, feems tobe the thing primarily and chiefly intended in that molten Sea of Old, and is this Sea of Glafs like unto Cryftal which was before the Throne. 2. The Scripture fpeaks alfö of the wafhing of Regeneration, and the renewing ofthe Holy Gbofi; it is the Apoflle's Phrafe, Tit. 3. g. there is a Spiritual Wafhirig of the Soul in the regenerating Workof theHo- ly Ghoft upon the Soul. As in Juftification we are wafhed from the Guilt of Sih : So in Regeneration we are wafhed from the inherent kiliti and Dominion of it : Therefore in Cpnverfion or Regeneration we
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