The Gffpel of the Golden Candlefticks in the Temple. 393 Alto Cburcb-Difcipline and Mortification are taught us hereby, Mat. 15. 7. Then all thole Virgins arofe and trimmed their Lamps. Thus yon fee fomethingof the Myflery of thefe Golden Candlefticks in the San&nary : How the Church, the Miniftry, the Word, and the Spirit were fhadowed forth thereby. As to the Vfe ; you fee here the Rife, and withal the. Evil of the Popifh Superffition of Lights and Candles in their Churches. This is an Old Teftament Ordinance : It is to dig Mofes out of his Grave, and to deny Jefus Chrift. Yet their having Wax-Candles is a fwerving from the Mofaical Law, which they pretend and feem to imitate. For Honey, as it was forbidden in their Sacrifices and Offerings made by Fire, Lev. z. II. and confequently Wax which belongeth to it : So we do not find that ever they did ufe Wax-Candles to burn in the San&uary ; but only Lights and Lamps of Oil. But as to the prefling and improving tbefetbings inamore praáicat may. It isa copious and fruitful Subje& : Let me only repeat and re-inculcate the four general Headsof things before mentioned. I. Learn toprize and fee tbeWorth and Excellency ofChurcb-Society. It is no vile thing which the Lord was pleafed to reprefent and teach by fo many glorious Types of old. As by Noab's Ark, by the Temple, by the Golden Candleftick, en. And in Church.eftate; look well to the Matter of the Church, that they be Golden-Candlefticks. And when in it, look to the Exercife of Difcipline : A Church without the vigorous Exercife of Difcipline, is a Candleftick without Snuffers Let not theGolden Snuffers be loft or laid afide, which by Divine Inflitu- tion belong to the Golden Candleftick. z. Prize the Minifiry. They are Lights, they are the Stars that thine in the tops of thefe Candlefticks. A dark Miniftry was the Even- ing Star that ufhered iiithe Night of Popery and Antichrift into the World," Rev. 8. alt. compared with Rev. 9. r. 3., Mach more prize the Word. This is the Sun in the Church, the great Eight fhining in a darkPlace. if thy Lamp be not lighted here, all the Light that is in thee is but Darknefs. q. Above all, labour tofind the Spirit burning and working in your Hearts, that you may experience the whole Myftery of this Type. The Spirit in the Word, and in the Miniftry of it in the Church; the Spirit en- lightning, and like Oil mollifying and healing the Soul, abiding there, and reviving his own Work there : And remember your own Duty alfo in this thing : Look to the trimming of your Limps, Mat. 25. 7. 1. Get frejl [applies of Oil, Exod. 3o. 7, 8. this is to drefs .your Lamps. This was David's Faith, Pfal. 92, 10, I[hall be anointed with E e e frefh
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