390 The Gofpel of the Golden Candefirks in the Temple. and five on the left before the Oracle. It was a facred Utenfil of much Spiritual Ufe, therefore alluded to in that ftately Vifion of the Prophet Zechary, Cap. q.. and in the Revelations, Cape 5. t. and Cap. tt.I¢. There needs not much be Paid for the Hillary of it. Every Candle- flick had a Foot or Balls on which it flood, which though not ex- prefly defcribed; yet mutt of Neceflity be fuppofed. Then the Shaft or Stalk which arofe ftrait up out of the Foot ; and on each fide three Branches, adorned with Bowls, Knops and Flowers. And then faft- ly the (even Lamps on the top, viz. fix on the top of the fix Branches; and one on the top of the Shaft, and fo they were feven in all. In thefe Lamps was the Oil, and the Light or Flame, Vide Ainfw. on Exod. and force matter for the accenGon of the Flame, 25 and on Exed.27.20. which probably was made of twitted Flax : To and on Lev. 24. I. 2. which our Saviour feems to allude, when he faith, he will not quench the fmoaking Flax, Mat. I a. 20. The Spiritual Wary aimed at in it, feems to lie in four Things. Here was a typical Ihadow of the Church, the Miniflry, the Word, and the Spirit. t . TheGolden Candleftick mets a Type ofthe Church. For this, the Lord himfelf is his own Interpreter, Rev. t. zo. The Myflery of thefeven Stars which thou faweft in my right-hand, and the feven Golden Candleflicks; the feven Stars are the Angels of the feven: Churches, and thefeven Candlefticks are the feven Churches. But wherein doth the Golden Candleltick reprefent the Church r I fhall but instance in four Things. t. The End and Vfe of the Church is to give Light, and tohold forth the Truth, as the Candleftick gave Light, Phil. 2. z 5. among whom ye Thine as Lights in the World, z Tim. 3. 15. the Church ofGod, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth; the Pillar to hold it forth, and to which it is fattened, as an Ediec to be known ofall Men. z. The Matter of the Church. As the Candleftick was of Gold So the matter of the Church is Saints: Therefore Churches are called Golden Candlefiicks, not Brafs or Leaden Candlefticks, nor Gilded Can- dlefticks, but Golden Candlefticks not ignorant and unfound and fcandalous Perfons, but Saints, vifible Saints. 3. The Difcipline of the Church. For there were Golden Snuffers belonging to thefe Golden Candlefticks, Exod. 25.38. and the Tongs thereof, and the Snuff-dies thereof(hall be ofpure Gold : And Exod. 37.23. be made his feven Lamps, and his Snuffers, and his Snuffdifhes ofpure Gold. As thefe Golden Snuffers, did cut off the Snuff of the Can-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=