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Joshua, the Lord's type, told the people, they should not shout, or make any noise with their voice, until the day he bid them shout-and then it will be, "Grace, Grace unto it!"

9 and 14. It is remarkable, in both these verses, Solomon is said to have "built the house and finished it;" whereas, according to our limited apprehension, he had scarcely began it, so much remained to be done. See Ezra, v. 11.

12 and 13. In these two verses, the Lord seems to have called the attention of Solomon anew; and the manner of carrying on the building is quite different to the structure that is now said to be "finished:" it may therefore be regarded as the finishing of the Jewish ceremonies, and entrance of the intercessory offering, Jesus Christ, which the Lord promised to fulfil in "the fulness of time." Especially mark, the house is built by OBEDIENCE, to walk in all the commandments of the Lord. See I Chro. xxviii. 7-10. This is the Temple to build. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 1 Cor. iii. 16. “In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Eph. ii. 21. See 1 Kings. ix. 25; 1 Chro. xxii, 11, 12, 13.

15. To a common observer, this verse must bear a paradoxical aspect-the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, are said to be built within with boards of cedar: at the

conclusion we find they are covered on the inside with wood and fir. Evergreens are usual emblems of the Lord, and his united people; but it is to the Cross they must come to be covered with the Righteousness of Christ, who is the green Fir-tree, from whom it is found. Hos. xiv. 8. And yet such virtue is in this Cross-this green Fir-tree, it causes all Israel (the Israel of God) to make all manner of instruments of rejoicing to play before the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice." 2 Sam. vi. 5. See Ezek. xli. 22; Gal. vi. 14.

16. See Psalm xxviii. 2.

17. This verse is peculiarly expressed; bearing an allusion to the temple of Christ's body, under the forty day's fasting.

18 and 19. Enter but within the house, and the foundation-stone is only hid by greater beauties, sweeter perfumes, and a covenant never to be broken, because the LORD is our Lawgiver, Counsellor, Advocate, and Judge.

20. Oracle signifies covering: "Blessed is he whose sin is covered"-" covered with the robe of Righteousness." It also means "Sanctuary," though now chiefly understood as the word of life. But there is but one measure for the length, and breadth, and height, of "The Holy of Holies," who is the true Sanctuary. See Rev. xxi. 16.

21. The heart must be pure. See Ps. xlv. 13. The Lord separates his people by chains of gold; there must

be a partition between their righteousness and his

own.

22. The Saviour is still overlaying the whole house with gold; the progressive work yet in continuancestill covering his people from the wrath of God with his own Righteousness!

23 to 27. These two Cherubims, are Jew and Gentile, united under one head, of one measure, and one size; set in the inner house, touching the wall, or Salvation, touching each other in brotherly love, and He who is our Lord, unites us to himself in the midst of the house. Exo. xxxvii. 7-9. We are one with him, our "life is hid with Christ in God." See John, xvii. 22, 23; Col. iii. 3.

28. Gold implying Righteousness, so the Cherubims were overlaid with gold, to make them of perfect beauty.

29. We may always be carving upon the walls of our Master's house-" Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" and "Victory by the blood of the Lamb." Palm is a token of victory, and as such was carried before Christ, at his triumphal entry into Jerusalem-his triumph over sin and death. "The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree;" no weight presses it down-it will grow upright: what an encouraging emblem for Christian perseverance! See Exo. xv. 27; John, xii. 13; Ps. xcii. 12; Ezek. xli. 19.

30. Mat. iii. 12, says, "He will throughly purge his

floor;" removing from it our chaff to fill it with the finest wheat-the gold of his Righteousness.

31 to 35. Here is a beautiful figure of union-Jesus is the door, and the Olive-tree, and the Fir-tree: his children, Jew and Gentile, partake of all with him. Each door has folding leaves, either to fold his beloved ones in the arms of his mercy, or to typify the unfolding of the word of life to all generations. Upon these precious doors, made of the mingled wood of Fir and Olive, are carved Cherubims, palm-trees, and open flowers: open flowers, full-blown, or expanded—the perfume of Christian graces may never be closed, always open to the view of the GIVER! These are covered with gold— "The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS," for nothing will fit upon his own work but his own Righteousness. The Olive-tree, is among those of longest duration, the richest, the fattest, and most productive: a lively emblem of the door of entrance to Eternal Glory. Ps. lii. 8; 2 Sam. vi. 5; Jer. xi. 16.

36. Observe, the inner court is built last: and what is the inner court, but The Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, whose secret presence is typified, in the three rows of hewn stone, and his Oneness, in the row of cedar beams! It is said, there are now in existence cedar-trees co-eval with creation. "The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." Ps. xcii. 12. The knowledge of the Holy is the last subject we attain, though Solomon tells us, "The knowledge of the Holy

is understanding;” and adds, “For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased." Prov. ix. 10, 11. “And I give unto them eternal life." John, x. 28.

38. The Temple was seven years in building.-A Jubilee. Seven being a holy number as six is earthly. When God made the world in six days, he rested the seventh; and sanctified it for ever! There were two thousand years before the flood, two thousand the Jews were under God's peculiar care, two thousand for the Gentiles to be under their Redeemer God, then the Millenium; and when the seven thousand years expire, then indeed will the glorious Temple, or "House be finished throughout all its parts," to the everlasting joy of every soul, that knows salvation by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and to the Eternal Glory of JEHOVAH ! See Zec. vi. 15. 2 Chro. iii. is a short but interesting repetition of 1 Kings, vi.-full of light and instruction.

Solomon built in the same place that Abraham offered Isaac-and in the same place that David made ready to build-and in the same place that Ornan the Jubusite prepared-Calvary is the same place—and there, in the same place must every child of the heavenly household build-The Cross of Christ.

Ezra, v. 16. "Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now, hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished." See Acts,

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