392 The Gofeel of the Golden Candleflicks in the Temple. ,riás I o. 38 how God anointed yefus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghofb fitly compared to Oil, for the Excellent Nature of it : It is of a foftena ingand an Healing Nature, &c. 3. The facred Lamps were ever burning, andnever went out. The Inftitution was, that they íhould burn before the Lord continually ; fo the Phrafe is, Exod. 27.2o. Lev. 24. 3. it fhall be a Statute for ever throughoutyour Generations. It is a Queftion here, whether the Lamps in the Temple did burn both Night and Day, or only by Night ? Some think there was need of them in the Day-time, becaufe the Windows of the Temple were fifteen Cubits high from the Ground: For they were over the Side - chambers. Others think they were light- ed only from Evening to Morning ; becaufe the Phrafe is, He (hall order it fromEvening to Morning, Exod. 27. z I . andwhen Aaron light- etb the Lamps at even, Exod. 3o. 7... And in Abijam's Speech, 2 Chron. 13. I I. the Candleftick of Gold with the Lamps thereof to burn every Even- ing. But yet it was a perpetual Light in the fit Time and Seafon for it. They had therefore two forts of facred and perpetual Fire be- longing to the Temple; the Fire of the Altar, (and this was never to go out at all, of which you have formerly heard ;) and the Fire of theGolden Lamps, which was perpetual, at leaft in the Seafon of it, that is, every Night : And they were lighted probably from the Fire that was uponthe Altar. And fo it is with the Spirit of God in the Hearts of his People. This is a Lamp that never goes out. The foolifhVirgins indeed their Lamps were gone out, Matth. 25. but in the wife it was not fo. There is no falling from Grace : The true Believer cannot fall away totally and finally. 4. The dreffing and trimming of the Lamps fignified the revivings of the Work of the Spirit in the Hearts of bis People, when it begins, or is in danger to decay and decline; for the Priefts were to light the Lamps, in. See Levit. 24. 2, 314. the fame thing alfo in Exod. 27. 20. Hence is that Exprefïioti, I Sam. 3. 3. Before the Lamp of. God went out in the Temple of the Lard, he had that Appearance of God towards break of Day. The Priefts were wont, if they found any Lamps out, or burn- ing dimly, to light them again ; they did not leave it to be always Dark. This teacketh us both the Lord's Goodnefs and our Duty.: For Chrift, Mat. rz. 20. he will not quench the fmoaking Flax And fo we should 'Argwut g,, as °2 Tim. t /fir AT like a Fire that is going out, the Gifts that are in us. Ali
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