In all these things did God instruct the church by the tabernacle, especially by this most holy place, the utensils, furniture, and services of it. And the end of them all was, to give them such a representa- tion of the mystery of his grace in Christ Jesus as was meet for the state of the church before his actual exhibition in the flesh, Hence he is declared in the gospel to be the body and substance of them all. And I shall endeavour, with all humblo reverence, to make that application of them unto him which Scripture light guides us unto.
1. In his obedience unto God according unto the law he is the true ark, wherein the law was kept inviolate; that is, was fulfilled, answered, and accomplished, Matt. v.17; Rom. viii. 3, x. 4. Hence
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by God’s gracious dealing with sinners, pardoning and justifying them freely, the law is not disannulled, but established, Roma, ili. 31. That this was to be done, that without it no covenant between God and man could be firm and stable, was the principal design of God to declare in all this service; without the consideration whereof it was wholly insignificant. This was the original mystery of all these institutions, that in and by the obedience of the promised seed, the everlasting, unalterable law should be fulfilled. In him, as the Jews speak, was the “law restored unto its pristine crown,” signified by that crown of gold which was round about the ark wherein the law was kept. Then had the law its crown and glory, when it was fulfilled in Christ. This the church of Israel ought to have learned and believed, and did so whilst they continued to pray for mercy “for the Lord’s sake,” as Dan. ix. 17. But afterwards, when they rejected the knowledge hereof, and adhered unto the law absolutely as written in tables of stone, they utterly perished, Rom, ix. 31-33, x. 2,3. And they do all yet, what lieth in them, return unto the material ark and tables of stone, who reject the accomplishment of the law in and by Jesus Christ.
2. He was the mercy-seat; that is,-he was represented by it. So the apostle speaks expressly, “God set him forth to be iAaorapioy,” Rom. iii. 25,—“a propitiation;” that is, to answer the mercy-seat and what was signified thereby. And this was to cover the law under the eye of God. He interposeth. between God and his throne and the law, that he may not enter into judgment with us im pur- suit of the curse of it. The law required obedience, and threatened the curse in case of disobedience. With respect unto the obedience which it required, Christ was the ark in whom it was fulfilled; and with respect unto the curse of the law, he was the mercy-seat or propitiation whereby atonement was made, that the curse should not be inflicted, Gal. iii. 13.
3. It was his blood in figure that was carried into the holy place to make atonement, as the apostle declares at large in this chapter. The efficacy of his blood, when he offered himself an expiatory sacri- fice for sin unto God, prevailed for an atonement in the holy place not made with hands. See chap. x. 11-14,
4, It is his antercession that is the clowd of incense which covers the ark and mercy-seat. This gives a continual sweet savour unto God from his oblation, and renders acceptable all the worship of the church in their approaches unto him, Rev. viii. 3. These things did God instruct the church in by types and figures, to prepare their faith for the receiving of him at his actual oblation, » And on the. representation so made of him, all that truly believed lived in the expectation of him and longing after him, with the departure of these shadows of good things to come, Cant. ii. 17, iv. 6, viii. 145
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Luke x. 24; 1 Pet. i.10,11. And the refusal of this instruction was that which ruined this church of the Hebrews.
5. It was He who took off the original curse of the law, whose first execution was committed unto the cherubim, when man was driven out of the garden, and kept from all approaches unto the tree of life. Hereby he made reconciliation between them and the elect church of God, Eph. i. 10. Hence have they now a ministry with respect unto the mercy-seat, for the good of “the heirs of sal- vation,” Heb. i. 14.
6. He was the bread of life, typed by the manna kept in the golden pot before the mercy-seat; for he alone is the nourishment of the spiritual life of men. The mystery hereof himself at large declares, John vi. 31-35. This were they taught to expect in the memorial of that heavenly food which was preserved in the sanc- tuary.
7. He was that spiritual rock which was smitten with the rod of Moses, the curse and stroke of the law. Hereon the waters of life flowed from him, for the quickening and refreshment of the church, 1 Cor. x. 3, 4.
Thus was the Lord Christ all and im all from the beginning. And as the general design of the whole structure of the tabernacle, with all that belonged thereunto, was to declare that God was reconciled to sinners, with a blessed provision for the glory of his holiness and the honour of the law, which is in and by Jesus Christ alone; so every thing in it directed unto his person, or his grace, or some act of his mediation. And two things do now attend all _ these institutions: 1. As they are interpreted by gospel light, they are a glorious representation of the wisdom of God, and a signal confirmation of faith in Him who was prefigured by them. 2. Take them in themselves, separated from this end, and they. give no representation of any one holy property of the nature of God,— nothing of his wisdom, goodness, greatness, love, or grace; but are low and carnal, base and beggarly. And that we may have a due apprehension of them, some things in general concerning them may be considered.