4X0 The Gofpel of the RK fruitful toGod e betimes, as ferem. r. 5. and ver. i r. He fees an Almond- Tree the fooneft ripe. Yobn the Baptift, Luke r, 15. was filled with the Holy Ghoft even from his Mothers Womb. And Timothy, z Time 3, r 5. from a Child knew the Holy Scriptures. 3. The Fruit remains, the Buds and Bloffoms miraculonfly continued upon the Rod of Aaron, John 15. i 6. That you fhould bring forth Fruit, and that your Fruit fhould remain. The Fruit of the Miniftry is never loft ; it doth remain in the Hearts of God's People, and fhali remain for ever. 4. This Rod of Aaron is a Rod of Government : So the Scripture of- ten fpeaks of a Rod, for a Rod of Authority and Government ; Pfal. tiro. 2. He will fend the Rod of hia Strength out of Sion --. fhall 1 come unto you with a Rod ? faith the Apoftle. There is a Rod of Govern- ment and Difcipline. For a Miniftry to lay this afide, is the way to be Popular, and to get Applaufe arnongft the largeft fort of Profefl'ors for a time : But if he make Confcience to exercife the Difcipline of Chrift in his Congregation, he (hall be hated and laden with Reproach- es and Revilings he (hall hear the defaming of many on every fide, :bat will fay, Report and we will report it.. But the Lord will be with him as a mighty Terrible one, Jer. zo. to, II. If thou diftingu`Zfh between the pre- cious and the vile, thou (halt be ao my Mouth, Jer. 15. 19, dre. s. This Rod of Aaron is laid up before the Ark in the Holy of Ho- lies. An Emblem of the nearnefs of faithful Minifters unto God, which is both their Duty and their Priviledge. They fhould be much in Heaven the Holieft of all, they fhould converfe much with God and Chrift, and the Holy Angels. The Rod of Aaron fhould be before the Ark. q.. The Tables of the Covenant,] fo called, Deut. 9.9, It, t .. and Tables of Teftimony, Exod. 31. r 8. Hence the Ark is called the Ark of the Covenant, as in the Text : So Numb. to. 33. And the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord went before them. Thefe were in the Ark, to teach us that the Law is in Chrift's Heart : He bath kept the Co- venant. 5. And over it the Cherubims of Glory.] The firft mention of Che- rubirus is in Gen. 3. 14.. And he placed at the Eáft of the Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming Sword, to keep the way of the Tree of Life. Some derive the word Cherub from Rechub, a Chariot ; becaufe God is laid to ride upon the Cherubims, Pfal. 18. r r. He rode upon a Cherub and did fly. Though others have ether derivations of the Word as way be fern by the Englilh Reader in Ainfwortb and Lee. The íhape of them may be gathered from the Vifions of the Prophet Ezekiel and Jfaiab,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=