Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/6_200.lzh/6_214.TXT

Text File | 1994-08-18 | 7KB | 128 lines

for the thickness of both walls of each gate, and
there will be fifty cubits, or twenty-nine yards and
half a foot.
Ver. 16. And there were narrow windows to the little
chamber$,&e.] The walls being sloped both within and
· without, that the light let in might be spread the more:
as those little chambers signify the several congregated
churches of Christ in the Gospel dispensation; see the
note on vet. 7. so these windows design the word and
ordinances therein administered, which are the means
of letting light into them; see Cant. ii. 9. Isa. liv. 12.
and Ix. 8. in attending on these, the light of God's
countenance is enjoyed, which lies in the discoveries
of his love; in the manifestations of himself; in his
gracious presence, and in communion with him; than
which nothirig is more desirable or delightful: through
these ordinances Christ the sun of righteousness shines
in upon his people; he looks in at these windows,
and shews himself through these lattices; he is seen
through the glass of the Gospel; he is held forth in the
ordinance of the supper; and by means thereof the
souls of God's people are enlightened, comforted, and
warmed: also in this way are communicated the
illuminations of the spirit, both at first conversion,
and in after-discoveries of the things freely given of
God; of the doctrines of the Gospel; of the blessings
of grace, and of the glories of heaven. The Gospel
itself is a great and glorious light; and the ministers of
it are the light of the world, and of the churches; and
by the light being diffused through these little c, ham-
bers, the churches, those who are in them see to walk
on in Christ, as they have received him, and becoming
his Gospel, and their profession of i,t; and also see to
work, not for life, justification, and salvation, but to
evidence their faith, and adorn their profession ,; to glo-
rify God by their shining lights, and to cause others to
glorify him; and by the whole, the light of joy, peace,
and comfort, is transmitted to all the inhabitants of
Zion. These windows are said to be narrow, or shut,
or closed {}; that it, comparatively, not absolutely, fpr
then they would be of no use. The ordinances of the
Gospel dispensation are no doubt clearer, and the light
of it larger, than of the legal dispensation, but this
light has been darkened by the Papacy; and. though it
increased at the Reformation, yet before the latter-day
glory will break forth it will be as a twilight, neither
clear nor dark, day nor night, Zech. xiv. 6, 7. and
though the light that then will break out will be ex-
ceeding great, as the light of the sun, and that as the
light of seven days, Isa. xxx. 26. yet in comparison of
the light of the New-Jerusalem state, when there will
be no need of the sun or moon, but the Lord will be
the everlasting light of his people; and in comparison
of the ultimate glory, when the saints shall see face to
face; the light even of this dispensation will be like
what is let in at narrow windows; see Rev. xxi 23,
24, 25.. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. And to their posts within the gate
round about; that is, to the posts of the doors that led
into these chambers, over the lintel of them, were win-
dows to let in light to those that were entering them,
as well as were in them; and so there were to all the
chambers round about the porch on one side and the
other, between the two gates: and likewise to the
arches; or porchesa; to these doors, to which there
were windows giving light to those that passed through:
and the windows were round about inward; in all the
chambers within the grand porch, on the north and
south: and upon each post were palm-trees; that is, on
every post, column, or pillar, belonging to the cham-
bers; and very probably on all the other before men-
tioned, ver. 9, 10, 14. these posts or pillars signify
either the ministers of the Gospel; so called for their
strength, being mighty in the Scriptures, able mini-
sters of the New Testament, capable of retaining and
defending the truths of the Gospel, and of bearing re-
proach and persecution for them, and also the infirmi-
ties of weak believers; and for their stability, being
steadfast and immovable in the work and cause of
Christ, and not to be taken off from it either by the
frowns or flatteries of men; and for their usefulness, in
supporting the cause and interest of the Redeemer, and
the minds of weak Christians, as well as the glorious
truths of the Gospel; and may with great propriety be
called the pillar and ground of truth; see Prov. ix. 1.
1 Tim. iii. 15. yea, all true believers, and proper
members of the churhes of Christ,, are pillars there.
and such as shall never go out, Rev. iii. 12. the word {}
used has the signification of strength, as pillars should
be strong; and such believers are, not in themselves,
but in Christ, in his power and grace, and through his
spirit; whereby they can do all things, perform all
duties, exercise all grace, and engage with all enemies.
They are like pillars that stand firm and stable;
grounded in the love of God; secured in election-
grace; settled in the everlasting covenant; laid on the
sure foundation Christ, and established iu thetruths of
the Gospel; so that they never go out of the heart of
God, the hands of Christ, the family of the saints, or
church of God. They are as pillars; some more useful
to support in an external way the interest of re'ligion,
giving liberally to the maintenance of ministers, the re-
lief of the poor, and the defraying of all necessary
charges; and others to strive and contend for, and so
maintain and preserve,the truths and ordinances of the
Gospel; and others to comfort and confirm weak be-
lievers. Now on these posts or pillars were palm-trees
painted, two on each, one on one side, and one on the
other, as appears from vet. 26. which are also an em-
blem of true believers in Christ; see Psal. xcii. 12.
'Cant. vii. 7, 8. comparable to them for their upright-
ness, Jer. x. 5. these looking upwards to Christ by
faith, and moving heavenwards in their affections and
desires, and being upright in heart and life; and for
their bearing pressures, and growing the more under
them, as the palm-tree does. Saints have many weights
on them, a body of sin and death, reproaches, afflic-
tions, and persecution; but they bear up under all,
and are not left to desert the cause, they are engaged
in; yea, grow the more hereby, in numbers and grace,
like the children of Israel, Exod. i. 12. the force of the
palm-tree is in its top or head; if that is taken away it
dies: Christ is the believers' head, from him they have

{c} \^twmja\^ calausae, Montanus, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
{d} \^twmlal\^ in vestibulis, Vatablus, Montanus, Piscator; porticibus,
Cocceius, Starckius.
{e} \^lya\^ fortitudo, hinc \^la\^ fortis.