Secondly, The materials of the tabernacle being freely offered, were wisely framed and compacted together, and fashioned into a sanctuary for a habitation of the Lord. This was the work of Bezaleel and Aholiab, by art, wisdom, and skill. But the fashion- ing of the real spiritual house of God by Christ in all ages is a thing full of mysterious wisdom and holiness. The apostle expresseth it in sundry places; we may touch on some of them: Eph. ii, 20-22, “ Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The living stones being brought together by their own willing offering themselves to the Lord, they are by him (as the tabernacle of old) fitly framed together into a holy temple or habi- tation for God. _ How this is done, as he says in general that it is by the Spirit, so he particularly declares, chap. iv. 15, 16, “ Growing up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly jomed together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” And he expresseth it again to the same purpose, Col. ii. 19. There are various allusions in the words, both unto an artificial house and unto the natural body of aman. The sum is, that in Christ, the head of this body, the lord and builder of this house, there is resident a Spirit of life, which by him is com- municated to every stone of the house, which gives it life, useful- ness, union unto the head or lord of the body or house, as also order and beauty in reference unto the whole; that is, being all alike united unto Christ, and acted in their places and order by ‘one Spirit, they become one house unto God. In brief, the compact- ing and uniting of the materials of this house is twofold ;—first, physical and living; secondly, legal or moral. The former is, as was said, by the communication of the same Spirit of life unto them all which is in Christ their head, so that they are all animated and acted by the same Spirit. The latter is their regular disposition
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546 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IIT.
into beautifully-ordered societies, according to the rules and laws of the gospel. ,
Thirdly, That the house so built and compacted might be a habitation unto God, it was necessary that an atonement should be made for it by sacrifice, and that it should be purified and sanctified with the blood thereof. This our apostle declares, Heb. ix. 19-21: “ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people accord- ing to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.” This also was Christ to do in the building of his church, as the apostle in the same place declares. He was to make atonement for it by the sacrifice of himself, and to sprinkle it wholly with his own blood, that both an atonement might be made for it, and likewise that it might be cleansed, sanctified, and dedicated unto God; which part of his work in building his house the Scripture most largely insists upon.
Fourthly, The tabernacle being erected, and sprinkled with blood, it was also with all its utensils to be anointed with the holy ow; and it was so accordingly, Exod. xl 9,10. “Thou shalt,” saith God, “ take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it ‘shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt- offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.” That this unction was a type of the Holy Ghost is known; he is the “oil of gladness” wherewith Christ himself and all his were to be anointed. This, therefore, the Lord Christ in an especial manner takes care for in the building of his house, namely, to have it anointed by the Holy Ghost. This he promised unto them, John xvi. 7; and this he performeth accordingly, 1 John ii. 27. This unction, with all the blessed and glorious effects of it, doth the Lord Christ grant unto this whole house of his. And these are the heads of some of the principal actings of Christ in the build- ing of the house of God; all which are done by him mneypiiies and by him alone.
Lastly, Unto the completing of this house for a habitation to the Lord, the glorious entrance of his presence into it was required. And this also is accomplished by him, according to his promise that he will be with us, among us, and dwell in us by his Spirit, unto the end of the world, Matt. xxviii. 20, 1 Cor. iii, 16, 2 Cor. vi. 16, Eph. ii. 19-22.