Moses and Aaron. Goodwin Thomas Aiken

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СКАЧАТЬ sacrifices to be offered for the Roman Empire, or for the safety of the Emperour; whereupon, Pilate being incensed with anger, slew them whilst they were sacrificing.188 To this faction belonged those murderers, termed Σικαριοὶ, mentioned, Acts 21. 18.

      Concerning the Herodians, those that number them among Hereticks, make the heresie to consist in two things: First, in that they took Herod the Great for the promised Messias; because in his Reign, he being a stranger, the Scepter was departed from Judah; which was the promised time of the Messiah his coming. Secondly, they honoured him with superstitious solemnities annually performed upon his Birth-days. Of Herod his Birth-day the Poet speaketh,

      – Cum

      Herodis venere dies, unctaque fenestra,

      Dispositæ pinguem nebulam vomuere lucernæ,

      Portantes violas, rubrumque amplexa catinum,

      Cauda natat thynni, tumet alta fidelia vino.

Pers. Sat. 1.

      Now whether this latter may be referred to Herod the Great, I much doubt; because I find not any Author among the Ancients to speak of Herod the Great his Birth-day: It was another Herod, Tetrarch of Galilee, otherwise called Antipas, whose Birth-day we read celebrated, Mark 6. 21. The former point, that the Herodians received Herod as their Messiah, though it hath many grave Authors189 avouching it, yet others190 justly question the truth thereof; for if the Herodians were Jews (as most think) how then could they imagine, that Herod, a stranger, could be the Messiah, seeing that it was so commonly preached by the Prophets, and known unto the People, that the Messiah, must be a Jew born, of the Tribe of Judah, and of the house of David?

      Others say,191 that the Herodians were certain flatterers in Herod his Court, varying and changing many points of their Religion with Herod their King.

      To omit many other conjectures utterly improbable, I incline to Saint Hierom, whose Opinion is,192 that the Herodians were those who stood stifly for tribute to be paid to Cæsar. It concerned Herod, who at first received his Crown from Cæsar, to further Cæsar’s tribute, not only in way of thankfulness, but also in way of policy, to prevent a possible deposing or desceptring; for it was in Cæsar’s power to take away the Crown again when pleased him. Now, in respect that Herod saught to kill Christ, and the Herodians with the Pharisees took counsel against him; unto this our Saviour might have reference, saying, Mar. 8. 15. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. Viz. Of their contagious Doctrine, and fox-like subtleties.

      THE SECOND BOOK

      TREATETH OF PLACES

      CHAP. I.

      Their Temple

      When the Israelites came out of Ægypt, Moses was commanded to build a Tabernacle for the place of Gods publick worship. Afterward, when they were settled in the promised Land, then Solomon was commanded to build a Temple.

      These two shadowed the difference between the Jews Synagogue, and the Christian Church. The Tabernacle was moveable, and but for a time: The Temple fixed, and permanent: the state of the Jews vanishing, to continue in their generations; the state of Christians durable, to continue unto the worlds end. More principally it shadowed forth the state of the Church Militant here on earth, and triumphant in heaven: Unto both the Prophet David alludeth; Lord, Who shall sojourn in thy Tabernacle? who shall rest in thine holy Mountain? Psal. 15. 1.

      There were in the same tract of ground three hills, Sion, Moria, and Mount Calvary. On Sion was the City and Castle of David; on Moria was the Temple, and on Mount Calvary Christ was crucified. But193 all these three were generally called by the name of Sion; whence it is, that though the Temple were built on Moria, yet the Scripture speaketh of it commonly, as if it were upon Mount Sion.

      In their Temple there are these three things considerable: First, the Sanctum Sanctorum, the Holy of Holies; answerable to our Quire in the Cathedral Churches. Secondly, the Sanctum, the Sanctuary; answerable to the Body of the Church. Thirdly, the Atrium, the Court; answerable to the Church-yard.

      In the Holy of Holies there were the Golden Censer, and the Ark of the Testament, Heb. 9. 4.

      In194 the Ark there were three things: First, the pot of Manna; secondly, Aaron’s rod that budded; thirdly, the Tables of the Testament, Heb. 9. 4. Thus they were in Moses his time; but afterwards in the days of Solomon, onely the Tables of the Law were found in the Ark, 1 King. 8. 9.

      The cover of this Ark was called ἱλαστήριον, the Propitiatory, or Mercy-seat, because it covered and hid the Law, that it appeared not before God to plead against man. It was a type of Christ, who likewise is termed ἱλαστήριον, our Propitiation, Rom. 3. 25. and ἵλασμος, a Propitiatory, John 2. 2. At each end of the Mercy-seat stood a golden Cherub, each Cherub stretched forth his wings; and from between them, as from an Oracle, God gave his answer, Exod. 25. 22. Hence it is, that the Lord is said to sit between the Cherubims, Ps. 99. 1. The positure of the Cherubims was such, that their faces were each towards the other, but both looking down towards the Mercy-seat; they fitly shadowed out the people of the Jews and Christians, both looking toward each other, but both expecting salvation in Christ only.

      In the Sanctuary, there was the Incense-altar in the middle, and the Table, with the twelve Loaves of Shew-bread on it on the one side, and the Candlestick on the other. The incense-altar was a type of our prayers, Psal. 141. 2. And that this altar must be once every year sprinkled with the blood of the Sacrifice by the High-priest, Exod. 30. 10. It teacheth that our very prayers, except they be purified by the blood of Christ they are unavailable before God. The twelve loaves were a type of the twelve Tribes, and the Candlestick a type of the Word of God. In them all, we may see the necessity of both Ordinances required, Prayer and Preaching, if we would be presented acceptable unto the Lord: The Candlestick was a type of Preaching; Incense, of Prayer.

      In Moses his Tabernacle there was but one Table, and one Candlestick: In Solomon’s Temple there were ten Tables, and ten Candlesticks; as likewise in the Court of the Tabernacle, there was but one brazen Laver, in the Court of the Temple there were ten, and another great Vessel wherein the Priests washed: in the Tabernacle there were but two silver Trumpets; in the Temple there were an hundred and twenty Priests sounding Trumpets.

      The Courts of the Temple at the first were but two, Atrium Sacerdotum, the Priests Court; and Atrium populi, the Peoples Court.

      In the Priests Court were the brazen Altar for Sacrifices, and the Laver for the washing, СКАЧАТЬ