Obs. 1V. The human nature of Christ is the only true tabernacle, wherein God would dwell personally and substantially.—The dwell- ing of God with men was ever looked on as an infinite condescen- sion. So Solomon expressed it, in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, “ But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee,’ 1 Kings viii. 27. But there are various degrees of this condescension, various kinds of this inhabitation of God among men. Under the old tes- tament, he dwelt in the tabernacle and temple, by many symbols and pledges of his glorious presence. Such in especial were the ark and mercy-seat; whence that which was done before the ark is said to be done “before the Lorn,” Exod. xxx. 8. This was, as Solo- mon expresseth it, a great condescension in the infinite, incompre-
hensible God; and there was a great glory accompanying this his
presence. Under the new testament, God dwelleth in his saints by his Spirit, whereby they become a holy temple unto him. And of this inhabitation of God I have treated elsewhere.’ But his dwell- ing in the human nature of Christ is quite of another nature than
- either of these; and his love with his condescension, inconceivably
more conspicuous than in them. Hence is that expression of our apostle, “In him dwelleth all
1 See vol, ii, 232, iii. 549, iv. 383, of the author’s miscellaneous works.—ED.
22 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
the fulness of the Godhead bodily,” Col. 1.9. It is not any sign or token, it is not any effect of the divine power, goodness, and grace, that dwells in him, but “the fulness of the Godhead ;” that is, the divine nature itself. And this dwelleth in him “bodily;” that is, by the assumption of the body or the human nature into personal subsistence with the Son of God. How glorious should this be in our eyes! How did they admire the condescension of God of old, in his dwelling in the tabernacle and temple by the glorious signs of his presence! and yet was it all but a dark representation and shadow of this glorious love and grace, whereby he dwells in our nature in Christ.
Obs. V. The church hath lost nothing by the removal ‘of the old tabernacle and temple, all being supplied’ by this sanctuary, true taber- nacle, and minister thereof. —The glory and worship of the temple was that which the Jews would by no means part withal. They chose rather to reject Christ and the gospel than to part with the temple, and its outward, pompous worship. And it is almost incre- dible how the vain mind of man is addicted unto an outward beauty and splendour in religious worship. Take it away, and with the most you destroy all religion itself ;—as if there were no beauty but in painting; no evidence of health or vigour of body, but in warts and wens, The Christians of old suffered in nothing more, from the prejudice of the whole world, Jews and Gentiles, than in this, that they had a religion without temples, altars, images, or any solemnity of worship. And in later ages men ceased not, until they had brought into Christianity itself a worship vying for external order, ceremony, pomp, and painting, with whatever was in the tabernacle or temple of old; coming short of it principally in this, that that was of God’s Grestaation for a time, this of the invention of weak, superstitious, and foolish men. Thus is it in the church of Rome. And a hard thing it is to raise the minds of men unto a satisfaction in things merely spiritual and heavenly. They suppose they cannot make a worse change, nor more to their disadvantage, than to part with what is a present object and entertainment unto their senses, fancies, carnal affections, and superstitions, for that which they can have no benefit by, nor satisfaction in, but only in the exercise of faith and love, inclining us to that within the veil. Hence is there at this day so great a contest in the world about tabernacles and temples, modes of worship and ceremonies, which men have found out in the room of them which they cannot deny but God would have removed; for so they judge that he will be satisfied with their carnal ordinances in the church, when the time is come that he would bear his own no longer. But “unto them that believe Christ
is precious.” And this “ true tabernacle,” with his ministration, is
more unto them than all the old pompous ceremonies and services
ee ee
VER. 3.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 23
of divine institution, much more the superstitious observances of human invention.
Obs. VI. Weare to look for the gracious presence of God in Christ only.— Of old all the tokens and symbols of God’s presence were confined unto and included in the tabernacle. There were they to be found, and nowhere else. Many altars the people of old did erect elsewhere, many high places they found out and prepared: but they were all sin and misery unto them; God granted his presence unto none of them all, Hos, viii. 11, xii, 11. And many ways there are whereby men may and do seek after the presence of God, after his favour, and acceptance with him, not in and by this “true taber- nacle:” but they labour in vain, and spend their strength for that which doth not profit; neither the love, nor grace, nor goodness, nor mercy of God, is elsewhere to be found, nor can we by any other way be made partakers of them.