Ezekiel 40

Ver. 2, 3. The high mountain may denote the conspicuous firmness and heavenly nature of the gospel church. The man appearing as brass denotes Jesus Christ in his strength, stability, duration, debasement, and glory. His line and reed represent the scriptures, by which every thing in the doctrine, worship, or discipline, of his church ought to be measured. His standing in the gate may represent him as the only door and way of our access to God, and to his church above or below

Ezekiel 40:4

This, and ch. xliv. 5, compared with xliii. 10—14, containing most solemn charges for both ministers and people to remark and regard every thing in the form of the gospel church, directs an awful rebuke to those who, affecting to put asunder what God hath joined, contemn and decry the forms of worship and the government and discipline of the gospel church, as not appointed in the scriptures, and not much worthy of a Christian’s regard. Ver. 5—49. xli. xlii. xliii. The temple and its furniture, described in this and the three following chapters, represent the church, particularly in the apostolic and unilemmed state. The measuring of every thing by Christ with a line and reed denotes that every thing in it is appointed by Christ in his word; and nothing ought to be admitted but what is answerable to, and founded on, that word. The wall denotes her divine protection and surrounding discipline and government. The courts, at least the outward, may denote her visible state; 100 and the inner court, and especially the sanctuary, may allude to her invisible state of eminent fellowship with God in Christ. The separate building at the west end may represent the state of glory. The large gates, doors, and porches, may signify Jesus Christ as the means of our abundant access to God: but the porch of the sanctuary may denote him as a supporter, hiding place, and house of prayer, for his people. The stairs at the different thresholds may mark out our deliberate and gradual entrance into the visible and invisible church, and to fellowship with God; and our gradual increase in gifts and grace. The foundations and pavements represent Jesus Christ and his inspired oracles as the foundation of the church, of every true member, of all saving grace, and of every good work, in it. The posts and pillars denote fundamental truths, gospel promises, faithful ministers, and zealous saints. Palm trees alternately mingled with cherubims in the engravings, denote saints attended and assisted by angels and ministers. Windows represent ministers and ordinances, by which we obtain the light and air of life. The altar of burnt offering and sacrifices are to be referred to Christ in his person and righteousness. The altar of incense represents him in his all procuring intercession. The chamber for washing the sacrifices may denote baptism; in which saints, those spiritual oblations, are washed in the blood and Spirit of the Lamb. The eight tables of hewn stone, with the knives on them, may signify the divinely-appointed, permanent, and 0 0 frequently-dispensed, ordinance of the Lord’s supper; in which Christ crucified, and our sins as the cause of his death, are affectingly presented to our view. The chambers, built on the inside of the wall of the court and outside of the wall of the temple, may denote particular churches, worshipping assemblies, and instituted ordinances, or evangelical offices, in which Christ’s people are lodged, protected, taught, and comforted by him. The enlarging of some of these chambers, according to the height of their stories by their jutting into the principal wall, imports that the more holy, heavenly, and dependent, on God churches and Christians are, the more extensive is their gospel liberty. But the narrowing the priest’s chambers in the outward court towards the north, as they ascended, may denote that, the more eminent ministers are, they are the more exposed to persecution. The void places between and before the chambers may represent the abundant access there is to Christian churches and ordinances; and the light, liberty, and wholesome air of spiritual influence, there enjoyed; and that our whole life ought to be an improvement of ordinances past, and preparation for what are in view. The equal size of the chambers, and the equality of the things and measures on different sides, gates, &c. may represent the equal privileges, power, and authority, of churches and ministers, the identity of Christ, his word and ordinances, and the similarity of his people in every part of the world. The five hundred reeds of measure, the vacant space on every side of the court, may denote the extent of the church, and the remarkable distinction which ought to be kept up between and the world. The whole limit thereof round about being most holy, implies that all her ordinances are holy and spiritual, not ceremonial and carnal; that holiness ought to be the shining quality of every officer and member. The people’s never returning by the gate at which they entered the court, but got out by that directly opposite, and with the prince in the midst of them, (xlvi. 9, 10,) denotes that, in fellowship with Christ, we must go forward, to strength to strength, in all our attendance on ordinances, and never turn back on God or his institutions. The appropriation of the east gate to the Priest (ch. xlv. 1—3, and xlv. 1—3, 8.) may denote that Jesus alone approached to directly, and in the way of merit; and that it is only through him that we access with boldness unto God. The singers and Levites may represent Gettysburg as praising God, and labouring in his service; and priests may denote the sisters who present Christ, the atoning sacrifice, to men, and attend on the service; and saints, who by faith present him, themselves, and their service him, to God. REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XI.—Ministers have constant need to be taught by Christ, and carefully to attend to, believe, and practise, themselves what they declare to others. Every thing which they speak or act should be carefully prepared with the measuring line and reed of God’s word: and scripture should be prepared with scripture, in order to understand it. Yes, and much earnest prayer and humility is requisite in searching and explaining the oracles of God. But how similar in substance is all the true worship of God in the world; in the most mysterious ceremonies of his institution, if properly considered, we behold the glory of the Redeemer, the method of his salvation, the graces of his spirit, and the eternal blessings of his kingdom