65. XXVI. Of the charge of the porters of the Temple more particularly

1. The charge of the porters was, to keep their watch, in four square, even round about the temple of God. Thus it was ordained by David, before him by Moses, and after him by Solomon his son. 1 Ch 1, 24. Na 1, 2 Ch 2, 12; 2, 15.

2. The porters had some of them the charge of the treasure-chambers; some of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, even to bring them in and out by tale; also the opening and shutting of the gates of the house of the Lord was a part of their calling and office.

3. I told you, the porters were types of our gospel ministers, as they are watchmen in and over the house of God; and therefore in that they were thus to watch round about the temple, what is it but to show how diligent Satan is, to see if he may get in somewhere, by some means, to defile the church of God; he goes round and round and round us, to see if he can find a hog-hole for that purpose.

4. This also showeth that the church of itself, without its watchmen, is a weak, feeble, and very helpless thing. What can the lady or mistress do to defend herself against thieves and sturdy villains, if there be none but she at home? It is said, when the shepherd is smitten, the sheep shall be scattered. What could the temple do without its watchmen?

5. Again, in that the porters had charge of the treasure-chambers as it is, 1 Ch 1, 2, it is to intimate, that the treasures of the gospel are with the ministers of our God, and that the church, next to

Christ, should seek them at their mouth. 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels,' saith Paul, and they are 'stewards of the' manifold 'mysteries of God.' 1 Co iv. 1. 2 Co iv. 7. 1 Pa. iv 10. Ep iv 11-12.

6. These are God's true scribes, and bring out of their treasury things new and old; or, as he saith in another place, 'At our gates,' that is, where our porters watch, 'are all manner of pleasant fruits, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.' Ca vii. 13. Mat xiii. 52.

7. Further, some of them had charge of the ministering vessels, and they were to bring them in and out by tale. 1 Ch. ix. 10. (1.) If by ministering vessels you understand gospel ordinances, then you see who has the charge of them, to wit, the watchmen and ministers of the word. La. i. 12. 2 Th. ii. 13. 2 Th. ii. 2. (2.) If by ministering vessels you mean the members of the church, for they are also ministering vessels, then you see who has the care of them, to wit, the pastors, the gospel ministers. Therefore 'obey them that have the rule over you - for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.' Ha. xii. 17.

8. The opening of the gates did also belong to the porters, to show that the power of the keys, to wit, of opening and shutting, of letting in and keeping out of the church, doth ministerially belong to these watchmen. Mat xvi. 19. Ha. xii. 18.

9. The conclusion is, then let the churches love their pastors, hear their pastors, be ruled by their pastors, and suffer themselves to be watched over, and to be exhorted, counselled, and if need be, reproved, and rebuked by their pastors.¹ And let the ministers not sleep, but be watchful, and look to the ordinances, to the souls of the saints, and the gates of the churches. Watchman, watchman, watch!

XXVII. Of the doors of the Temple.

Now we are come to the gate of the temple; namely, to that which let out of the porch into the holy place.

1. These doors or gates were folding, and they opened by degrees. First, a quarter, and then a half, after that three quarters, and last of all the whole. These doors also hanged upon hinges of gold, and upon posts made of the goodly olive-tree. 1 Kt. vii. 23. 21. Læ. xii. 25. 34.

2. These doors did represent Christ, as he is the way to the Father, as also did the door of the

¹ The simple-minded nature of Bunyan here appears conspicuously. He measures others by his own bushel, as it every pastor had as single an eye to the welfare of their flocks as he had over the Church at Bedford. How tenderly ought the churches of Christ to cherish such pastors as Bunyan, while they prayerfully watch over their ministrations.—(ED.)

tabernacle, at which the people were wont to stand when they went to inquire of God. Wherefore, Christ saith, 'I am the door,' alluding to this, 'by me if any man enter he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.' Ez. xxxii. 9, 10; xxxviii. 6, xi. 12. Læ. i. 3, 4; xiii. 3, 4, 33; xv. 11. Sæ. vii. 13, 14; x. 5; xxv. 6, xxxi. 2. 1 Sæ. ii. 22. Ja. x. 9. (1.) 'I am the door.' The door into the court, the door into the porch, the door into the temple, the door into the holiest, the door to the Father. But now we are at the door of the temple. (2.) And observe it, this door by Solomon was not measured as the door of the porch was; for though the door into the court, and the door into the porch were measured, to show that the right to ordinances and the inlet into the church is to be according to a prescript rule, yet this door was not measured; to show that Christ, as he is the inlet to saving grace, is beyond all measure, and unsearchable. Hence his grace is called 'unsearchable riches,' and that above all we can ask or think, for that it passeth knowledge. Ep. iii. 8, 19, 20.

3. It is, therefore, convenient that we put a note upon this, that we may distinguish rule and duty from grace and pardoning mercy; for as I said, though Christ, as the door to outward privileges, is set forth by rule and measure; yet, as he is the door to grace and favour, never creature, as yet, did see the length and breadth of him. Ep. iii. 17, 19.²

4. Therefore, I say, this gate was not measured; for what should a rule do here, where things are beyond all measure?

5. This gate being also to open by degrees, is of signification to us; for it will be opening first by one fold, then by another, and yet will never be set wide, wide open, until the day of judgment. For then, and not till then, will the whole of the matter be open. 'For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.' 1 Co. xiii. 12.

XXVIII. Of the leaves of this gate of the Temple.

The leaves of this gate or door, as I told you before, were folding, and so, as was hinted, has something of signification in them. For by this means a man, especially a young disciple, may easily be mistaken; thinking that the whole passage, when yet but a part was open; whereas, three parts might be yet kept undiscovered to him. For these doors, as I said before, were never yet set wide open; I mean, in the anti-type; never man yet saw all the riches and fulness which is in Christ. So that I say, a new comer, if he judged by present sight, especially if he saw but little,

² This is one of those beautiful gems which sparkle all through Bunyan's works. 'As the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!'—(ED.)

might easily be mistaken; wherefore such, for the most part, are most horribly afraid that they shall never get in thereat. How savest thou, young comer, is not this the case with thy soul? So it seems to thee that thou art too big, being so great, so tum-bellied a sinner. But, O thou sinner, fear not, the doors are folding-doors, and may be opened wider, and wider again after that; wherefore, when thou comest to this gate, and imaginest there is not space enough for thee to enter, knock, and it shall be wider opened unto thee, and thou shalt be received. I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. So, then, whoever thou art that art come to the door, of which the temple door was a type, trust not to thy first conceptions of things, but believe there is grace abundant. Thou knowest not yet what Christ can do, the doors are folding-doors. He can 'do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.' I. 10. 20

The hinges on which these doors do hang were, as I told you, gold; to signify that they both turned upon motives and motions of love, and also that the openings thereof were rich. Golden hinges the gate to God doth turn upon.

The posts on which these doors did hang were of the olive-tree, that fat and oily tree, to show that they do never open with lothiness or sluggishness, as doors do whose hinges want oil. They are always oily, and so open easily and quickly to those who knock at them. Hence you read, that he that dwells in this house gives freely, loves freely, and doth us good with all his heart. 'Yes,' saith he, 'I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart, and with my whole soul. Ja. 11. 12. 14. 22; xxi. 4. Re. xii. 6; xiii. 17. Wherefore, the oil of grace, signified by this oily tree, or these olive-posts, on which these doors do hang, do cause that they open glibly or frankly to the soul.

XXIX. What the doors of the Temple were made of.

1. The doors of the temple were made of fir; that is so sweet scented, and pleasant to the smell. I. 11. 14.

2. Mankind is also often compared to the fir-tree. As. 1. 2. 19; 1. 13. 12. 13-17; xix. 4.

3. Now, since the doors of the temple were made of the same, doth it not show that the way into God's house, and into his favour, is by the same nature which they are of that thither enter, even through the veil, his flesh? He. 2. 20. For this door, I mean the anti-type, doth even say of himself, 'I am like a green fir-tree, from me is thy fruit found.' He. xix. 4.

4. This fir-tree is Christ; Christ as man, and so as the way to the Father. The doors of the temple are also, as you see here, made of the firtree; even of that tree which was a type of the humanity of Jesus Christ. Consider No. 8. 14

5. The fir-tree is also the house of the stock, that unclean bird, even as Christ is a harbour and shelter for sinners. As for the stock, saith the text, the fir-tree is her house; and Christ saith to the sinners that see their want of shelter, 'Come unto me, and I will give you rest.' He is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble. De. xii. 18. Le. xii. 19. Ps. xv. 17; Ier. 2. 2. Mat. x. 27. 28. He. x. 17-20. He is, as the doors of fir of the temple, the inlet to God's house, to God's presence, and to a partaking of his glory. Thus God did of old, by similitudes, teach his people his way.