Sdly. He is the altar of this house. There were two altars in the old tabernacle and temple, — an altar for sacrifice and an altar for incense, Exod. xxvii. and xxx. The first was the great brazen altar that stood without the holy place, whereon tlie burnt -offerings and all sacrifices of blood for remission were offered. The other less, made of shittim-wood, all overlaid with pure gold, and a crown of beaten gold uj^on it, on which they were to burn pure incense unto the Lord always. And they were both most holy, sanctifying the gifts with legal sanctification that were offered on them. Matt, xxiii. 19. Now, both these doth our Saviour supply in this house. He is the great altar of sacrifice, the altar of offerings for expiation and atonement: " We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle," Heb. xiii. 10; that is, even He who sanctified the people with his own blood, and suffered without the gate, verse 11. The good-will and soul of Christ offering up liimself, through the eternal Spirit, a pure oblation and sacrifice, by one offering to perfect
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for ever tliem that are sanctified, is all our altax. He is also the golden altar of incense. Incense is prayer, Ps. cxli. 2, " Let my prayer come before thee as incense." Jesus Christ is the golden altar whereon that incense is offered. Rev. viii. 3, 4, even that altar which is always before God, Rev. ix. 13. As by being the fonner he makes our persons accepted, so by the latter he makes our duties accepted. And all the living stones of this house are priests to offer sacrifice on these altars. By him, as priests, they have approximation to the holy place ; — there they have a share and participation in all the sac- rifices that are offered upon or by him.
4:th. He is the candlestick of this house. The making, fashioning, and use of the candlestick in the holy place of the tabernacle, you have, Exod. xxv. 31, &c. It was one of the most glorious utensils of tliat frame, made of pure and beaten gold, with much variety of works, — knops, flowers, and lamps. The use of it was, to bear out light for all the worship of God in that most holy place. The taber- nacle was made close, without any window. It was not to receive light from without ; it had all its own light from within. It is true, this candlestick, with its seven lamps, did secondarily represent the churches of Christ, which hold out his light among themselves and unto others, Rev. i. 20, " The seven candlesticks thou sawest are the seven churches." Therefore Solomon made " ten candlesticks of pure gold," 1 Kings vii. 49, to set out yet farther the increase and multiplying of the churches of God. Upon this account, also, the two witnesses are said to be " two candlesticks," Rev. xi. 4, and " the two anointed ones that stand before the God of the whole earth," Zecli. iv. 3, whence that in the Revelation is taken. There is mention, indeed, of two anointed ones, but of one candlestick; — the Holy Ghost plainly intimating, that though the churches and witnesses of Christ are also candlesticks in a second sense, yet there is one emi- nent candlestick, which hath light originally in itself, which also it communicates unto all others. And this is that which is mentioned in Zech. iv., which hath the " two olive-trees," or the two anointed churches of Jews and Gentiles, standing by it, receiving light fi'om it to communicate to others: they empty the golden oil out of them- selves which they receive from the candlestick. For this candlestick hath "seven lamps," verse 2 ; which lamps, that burn before the throne, are the " seven Spirits of God," Rev. iv. 5, — seven Spuits, that is, the perfection and completeness of the Spirit of God in all his graces and operations. Now, who hath these seven Spiiits? Even he who re- ceived not the Spirit "by measure," John iiL 34, being the " stone" upon which are the " seven eyes," Zech. iii. 9. He alone, then, is this candlestick, and all the light which this house hath it is from him.
There are two Avays whereby Jesus Christ makes out light to this
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house: — (Ist.) By way of doctrinal revelation; {'2dli/.) Of real com- munication.
(Ist.) He alone discovers light to all the stones of this buildiiig: " No man hath seen God at any time ; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him," John i. 18. No saving discovery of God, of his nature, his will, his love, but what is by Christ. The moon and stars give light ; but it is only Avhat they receive from the sun. The prophets and apostles held out light ; but it was all received from him. They spake by the Spirit of Christ that was in them. " I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you," 1 Cor. xi. 23. The same apostle curses every one that shall bring in any other light into this house, be they angels or men. Gal. i. 8, 9. Christ alone fully knows the mind of God, as being always " in the bosom of the Father," John i. 18; yea, he knows it to the uttermost, being one with his Father, John X. 80. And he is willing to reveal it ; for even " for this end came lie into the world, that he might bear witness to the truth." And lie had ability enough to do it, for " in him were hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 8. He alone is the author of all light to this his holy habitation. Many attempts have been to set up light m this house, and not from Christ. Some would kindle their traditions, for the doctrine of this house; some their pnidentials, for the government of it ; some their ceremonials, for the worship of it ; — all candles in the sun. Shall men think to compass themselves with sparks, and walk in the light of the fire which themselves have kindled, in the face of the Sun of righteousness? Shall not such men lie down in sorrow? Beloved, take heed of such " ignes fatui," — foolish, misgiiidiug fires.