both men and angels that did, or would do other- | are in the foundations, this shows us the reason of wise. 1 Th. iii. 8. Ga i. 8. Timothy must have his rule from Paul, and so must holy Titus. All which, if we consider it, the Holy Ghost speaks to the purpose, in saying that in the twelve foundations are found the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. They are called the chief, and such as have laid the foundation, and others build thereon, and that as no men have laid the foundation but they, so none can lay even that foundation otherwise than they afore have laid it. 1 Cor. xii. 28. Ep. iv. 11, 12. 1 Cor. iii. 6--11. He. vi. 1–3. [Consideration from these words.] And in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.' These words, then, teach us two things worthy of our Christian consideration. twelve are the heaven. First. That God hath given to every man a certain and visible mark to aim at for his salvation, or to build his soul upon, namely, the doctrine of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. For in that he saith their names are in the foundations, it is better for us, all things considered, than if he had said in them was the name of God himself; that is, it is more easy to see this way, through the mist of our carnality, what the mystery of his will should be, which is, that we receive Christ The names of the according to their doctrine, words, broad seals of writings, epistles, letters, &c., their names, I say, being there, God counts it as the broad seal of heaven, which giveth authority to all that doctrine whereunto by themselves they are prefixed and subscribed; not where they are writ by others, but by themselves. I say, as the token of every epistle, and of their doctrine for truth, the which Paul insinuates, when he saith that his hand is the token of every epistle. 2 Th. iii. 17. Ga. vi. 11. As he saith again, Am I not an apostle? 1 Co. ix. 1. And again, Behold, I Paul, have written unto you; I Paul, Ga. v. 2. I, an apostle, I, a wise master-builder, I, who am in my doctrine one of the foundations of the wall of salvation, I have written unto you. 1 Cor. xi. 5. And, as I said before, there is reason it should be thus: for as he who was the foundation of the Jewish church, even Moses, received the pattern of all his order from the mouth of the angel in Mount Sinai, so the twelve received their doctrine of faith and manners, the doctrine of the New Testament, from the mouth of the Son of God himself, as from the mouth of the angel of the everlasting covenant, on the mountain of Zion. Ac. vii. 38; i. 3. Mat. xxviii. 19. Second. In that he saith the names of the twelve All authority in the church is strictly limited to the written Word. Throw away then to the owls and the bats all tradition, and the power of the church to decree rites and ceremonies. It is treason against God to suppose that he omitted anything from his Bible that his church ought to do, or commanded that which may be neglected, although human laws may authorize such deviation.-(ED.) the continual standing of this Jerusalem; it is built upon the doctrine of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and standeth there. For, observe, so long as he sees this holy city, he sees her standing upon these foundations; but he saw the city till she was taken up, therefore she continued as being settled for ever upon them. Indeed, the primitive city, or first churches, was built upon these foundations, and had also, so long as they there continued, sufficient supportation and upholding by that means. Ep. ii. 20-22. But then, as I have showed you, the wall of her salvation, and the wall of God's special protection, stood at a distance each from other, and were not so conjoined as now they will be. Wherefore they then, to answer the type, did fall into the ditch that was between, and through their foolishness provoked God to remove the wall of his outward protection and safeguard from them, whereupon the wild beast, Antichrist, got into his vineyard, making havoc of all their dainties. But mark, this city is not so, the walls are now conjoined, and for ever fastened upon the foundations, therefore it abides for ever, and . ascends higher and higher; yet not from the foundations, but by them into heaven: Behold,' saith God, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.' Is. xlix. 16. 2 Second. These twelve are not neither to be considered simply as twelve Christians, or twelve disciples; but as their witness of the Lord Jesusthey being with him from first to last-were a twelve-fold witness of him in all his things; a twelve-fold seeing with their eyes, a twelve-fold hearing with their cars, a twelve-fold handling also with their hands, and feeling of the Son of God. As one of them said, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, and our hands have handled of the word of life: that which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us,' &c. 1 Jn. i. 1, 3. Now this being thus, it followeth that the doctrine of the other 2 The walls do not go from or leave the foundations, but, resting upon them, they gradually ascend to perfection.—(ED.) apostles, as of Paul and Barnabas, was still but the doctrine of the twelve; their doctrine, I say, and no other. Wherefore, as Ephraim and Manasseh were dissolved into the twelve tribes, so these two, with all other the apostles of Christ, are dissolved into the number of the twelve, because their doctrine is only the doctrine of the twelve; for they centre in their doctrine; their length, and breadth, and depth, and height being the doctrine of the twelve. So, then, the names of the twelve being found in the foundations of this wall, it argueth that that doctrine is only true that is the doctrine of the twelve eye-witnesses of the Lord Jesus. And again, that at the day of Antichrist's fall, this doctrine shall be in its former purity, and bear the sway, and for ever hold up the wall of safety for the inhabitants of New Jerusalem. And indeed this doctrine, that the doctrine of the twelve is that upon which eternal safety is built and stands, is so true, that it must not be varied from upon pain of eternal damnation. Here centered Luke the Evangelist, here centered Jude, here centered the author to the Hebrews, yea, here centered Paul himself, with all the Old and New Testament. The doc trine of the twelve must be the opener, expounder, and limiter of all doctrines; there also must all men centre, and ground, and stay. A man may talk of, yea, enjoy much of the Spirit of God, but yet the twelve will have the start of him; for they both had the Spirit as he, and more than he. Besides, they together with this, did feel, see, handle, and receive conviction, even by their very carnal senses, which others did not; besides, their names also are found in the foundations of this saving wall, as being there engraved by God himself; which putteth all out of doubt, and giveth us infallible ground that their doctrine is only true, and all men's false that do not keep within the bounds and limits of that. Lu. i. 2. Jude 3, 17. Ile. ii. 3, 4. 1 Co. xv. 1-9; ix. 1. Ga. i. 1, 2. Ep. iii. 5. 1 Co. iv. 9. No preacher now allowed but he that can preach the doctrine of the twelve. trine, and the preaching of the doctrine of the Thus you see the doctrine of the twelve is that which letteth souls into this city; and that the same doctrine is the doctrine that keepeth up the wall of their salvation about them, when they are entered in within the gates. [The measuring line, or golden reed: what it is.] Ver. 15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.' Now, having passed the relation of the wall, gates, and foundations, he comes to the A golden measuring line, to see how all things lie reed. and agree with that. Under the law, I find that all things pertaining to the worship of God were to be by number, rule, and measure, even to the very tacks and loops of the curtains of the tabernacle. Now the rule or line by which all things were then squared, it was the laws, statutes, and ordinances which were given to Moses by the Lord in the Mount Sinai, for thither he went to receive his orders; and according to the pattern there showed him, so he committed all things by writing to them To conclude, here are yet two things worthy of that were to be employed in the workmanship of noting The first [consideration] is, that by the the holy things pertaining to the rise and comnames of the twelve apostles being in the founda-pleting of the tabernacle, and all its instruments. tions of this wall, and the names of the twelve tribes being upon the gates of this city, it giveth us to consider, that at the time of the building of this city the Jews and Gentiles shall be united together, and become one body; which very consideration must needs be to the Jews a great encouragement to have in mind at their conversion. Ro. xi. 1 Pe. i. 1. For it plainly signifieth that our New Testament preachers shall carry in their mouths salvation to the Jews, by which means they shall be again reconciled and made one with the Lord Jesus. Ja. i. 1. Ac. xiii. 16, 26. Ro. i. 16; ii. 10. The second consideration is, that at the day of New Jerusalem, there shall be no doctrine accepted, nor no preachers regarded, but the doc Ex. xx. 21; xxiv. 1; xxv. 40. De. xxx. 10; xxxi. 20–26. Now, when this rule was thus received, then whosoever observed not to do it, he was to fall under the penalty that by the same law also was prescribed against the offenders and transgressors. Nu. xv. 30, 31. I find also, that when the temple was built in the days of Solomon, all things were then done according to the writing that David made, when the hand of God was upon him, when he made him understand all the work of this pattern. 2 Ch. iii., iv. 1 Ch. xxix. 3–7; xxviii. 19. 1 Thus again, when Josiah went about to bring to Anabaptist was the name given to those who submitted to be baptized upon a profession of faith, because, having been christened when infants, it was called re-baptizing.—(ED.) pass the reformation of the church of the Jews, and their instruments of worship, after their revolting, he goeth to the law of God, and by that understanding what was out of order, and how to put all things into order, he so did reduce them to their former manner. The same way also went Ezra and Nehemiah. at the rebuilding of the temple and city after the captivity. 2 Ki. xxii. 8-13. Ezr. vii. 14; viii. 34. From all which I conclude, that the reed, the golden reed, that here you read of, it is nothing else but the pure and unspotted Word of God; by which both the city, gates, and wall of this Jerusalem are regulated. Which word, by the holy prophet, is also compared to gold, and is said to be above much fine gold.' Ps. xii. 6; xix. 10. This golden reed is the Word of God. I find in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel, that the angel that there is said to measure the city, which was a type of our Jerusalem, he appeared with a line of flax in his hand, to measure the pattern withal, Eze. xl. 3; which very phrase doth show us that this was but the type, and an Old Testament business; but John hath his in a New Testament style, and that in the most excellent manner of language, to signify that his city, or the city that he hath the vision of, is to be the end of all types and shadows, and the very perfection of them all. Wherefore he tells us also, suring line of that the line or reed by which this in special city is builded and squared, it is not called a golden now a line of flax, but a reed of gold, a golden reed; to signify not a word of the law and letter that had to do with shadows, but the New Testament, and ministration of the Spirit, which hath to do with substance, and the heavenly things themselves. He. ix. 23. [The city measured.] Why the mea New Jerusalem reed. by the hewing words of the prophets. Ho. vi. 5. They must join in Christian communion also according to the golden reed of the New Testament, and ministration of the Spirit. Indeed, all the time of the reign of Antichrist, the church, as she was a holy temple in the Lord, so she was measured with reference to the truth of her grace, and invisible condition, Re. xi. 1, 2; but as she is to be a city, so she then is to be trodden down, and to lie without all form and order; but when Antichrist is dead, she shall again come into mind, be considered, reared, built by measure, and inhabited. And observe it, as the rule of the carpenter is of use in building, from the first appearance of the laying of a stone in order, even till it be in every point and part complete, so the golden reed with which the angel is here said to measure the city, &c., is to be of use from the first foundation even to the laying of the last stone thereof; as was also fore-showed by the man that is said to measure the pattern of this, in Ezekiel. Eze. xxx.—xlviii. And he measured the city.' That is, he measured the church in her constitution and fellowship. Now when God is said to measure, he is said to measure sometimes in judgment, and sometimes in mercy; sometimes to throw down, and sometimes to build up and establish. Sometimes, I say, he is said to measure in judgment, with intention to throw down and destroy. Thus he measured the city before she went into captivity, and the ten tribes before they were carried away beyond Babylon, because they lay cross to his word, and had perverted that which was right, &c. Is. xxviii. 17, 18. Am. vii. 7-9. But when he is said to measure the city in this place, it is that she might be built and set up. Wherefore, as I said, the line or golden reed that is now stretched forth to measure this city, it is to the end that all things may be in right form and order, fitly joined' and knit 'together, by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love.' Ep. iv. 16. Col. ii. 19. A golden reed to measure the city,' &c. I told you at the first that this city was the church of God that should be in the latter days; but yet not the church disorderly and confusedly scattered here and there, without all visible order and discipline, but the church brought into exact form and order, lying every way level and square with the rule and Again, By measuring the city, he would have golden reed of the New Testament of Christ; where- us to understand that all her limits and bounds fore he calleth it a city, a city under rule. Thus it were now apparent, that all things, even the church was in the type; for when Solomon's temple was to and all the world, were made to see their own be builded, and the city in after times, it was not compass. For as God in the days when templeenough that they had stones and timber, but every worship only was on foot, would not lose a form one of them must be such stones, and such timber, or ordinance of all the forms and ordinances of his and must also come under the rule and square of temple; so when city-work comes up, he will not the workman; and so being fitted by hewers, lose an inch of the limits, and bounds, and comsaws, axes, and squares, they were fitly put into pass of his city, she shall be full as large, and of the building. 1 Ki. v. 17, 18; vii. 9-12. 1 Ch. xxii. 2. By as great a compass every way, as is this, then, we may see with what a holy, exact determined of her; as he saith by the line, rule, and order, this church and city, at this prophet, All the land, saith he, shall day, will be compact and built; the members must be turned as a *plain;' that is, there be all such as shall be made fit for the city of God shall be a smooth face upon the whole earth, This is that which a little before is called the new heaven and a new earth. all snugs, and hubs, and hills, and holes, shall now be taken away, even from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem: and it (the city) shall be lifted up and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of IIananiel, unto the king's wine presses.' Zec. xiv. 12. The four places here mentioned in this verse, they do seem to be the four corners of the city of old; at which places the city bounds were set; and in which very circle the prophet tells us, but with gospel language, she shall be settled again. [The gates measured.] And he measured the city,' and the gates The gates mea- thereof. This was figured forth by sured. the vision in Ezekiel, for in it he saw the angel go from gate to gate, and saw him take the exact and distinct measure of every one thereof; nay, not only of them in a general way, but of the thresholds, the porch, the posts, and the faces of their entrances; he measured also every little chamber that was above upon the gates, with all the spaces that were between. Eze. xl. Now by gates, I told you, we are to understand the Son of God, as he is the way to the Father, and to the privileges of this city. Wherefore when he saith he measured the gates, it is as if he had said, he measured the entrance, strength, and goodly countenance of him, with the mansions of glory that are to be enjoyed by every one that entereth in hereby; for the porch, posts, face, entrance, and chambers of the gate in Ezekiel, they signify the entrance, strength, shining countenance, and resting places that every one shall find in the Lord Jesus that entereth in by him; and to measure all these, it is in substance but this, to set them forth, and out, in their full force, glory, largeness, beauty, and profitableness, in the view of all; for I told you at the first, the golden reed is the Word of God. Now the city and the gates thereof, are said to be measured by this golden reed: which, I say, can be nothing else but an opening of all the excellencies of Christ, as he is the gate of the sheep, even by the full sway, power, majesty, and clearness of the Word. The Lord help us! Christ, as he is the door to God, and to all gospel-privileges, is now strangely handled, and so hath been of a long time among the sons of men; some of them making him the very in-let to all the vile and abominable crew in the world, counting all that are pliant to their ungodly humours, the saints of the Most High, and Christ the door and gate through whom they have right to enter; and to whom belong the delicates of the precious things of God, even those which he 1 'Hub;' an obstruction, a thick square sod, the mark or stop at the game of quoits.-(ED.) 2 hath most choicely laid up and reserveth for none but those that unfeignedly turn from iniquity, and walk with him in the newness of the Spirit. Others again do shut up the gates against the godly, labouring with might and main to hinder those that labour to enter, that fain would do it unfeignedly. Mat. xxiii, 14. 2 Ch. xxix. 7. Others again do labour all that in them lies to deface the gates, to take away their beauty: like him that took the gold from off the doors and gates of the temple. 2 Ki. xviii. 16. Rendering Christ a low and carnal business, &c. But at the measuring-day, at the day when the golden reed shall be the alone rule: then you shall see this city, and her gates discovered in their own glory, holiness, and beauty. For though in our affliction under antichrist, our temple and instruments of worship, with the city, wall, gates, and the like, have been much defaced, even our doctrine of faith and worship, and have been much trod and trampled under the foot of the uncircumcised, yet all shall be recovered and brought into order again by the golden reed of the word of God. Which thing was figured forth to us by the good man Ezra the scribe, who at the restoring of Jerusalem took review of all the things pertaining to the city, both touching its breaches and deformity, and also how to set all things in order, and that by the law of God which was in his hand, even according to the writing thereof. Ezr. vii. 14; viii. 34. Ne. viii. 9. And whosoever doth but read the history of Ezra and Nehemiah throughout, they shall find that by the Word of God they brought all things to pass; all the ordinances of the house and city of God into their right and holy order. And indeed the measuring of the city and of the gates thereof, which is Christ the way, it can be nothing else but a bringing of them by the right understanding and opening of the Word into their proper places and excellencies, both for comers in, and goers out, according to the commandment. Eze. xl. 4; xliii. 7–12. For, to speak properly, Christ in his love, grace, merits, and largeness of heart, to let souls into communion with God and all happiness, is in all these things unsearchable, and passing knowledge, being filled with these things beyond thought, and without measure. Ep. iii. 8, 18, 19. Col. i. 9. Jn. iii. 34. [The wall measured.] sured. And he measured the city, the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. In that he saith, The wall meahe measured the wall also, it is to show us that all things now are according to the rule of the Word: the inhabitants are according to 2 These observations apply to such churches as admit to the Lord's table unconverted persons, because they have passed through certain outward ceremonies; and to those who refused to admit the most godly saints, because they had not submitted to an outward ceremony.-(ED.) the Word, the entrance is according to the Word, yea, and so is the safety of it also, even a fence to fence them from their enemies; even a fence on every side, that they may be at ease and rest, and be no more a tossing to and fro. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest,' saith he, and not comforted, (I will do many good things for thee) - In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.' Is. liv. 11-14. Touching the wall, what it is, I have spoken already; therefore here I speak only to the measure of it, which measure is only the fulfilling all those promises and engagements of God that are made to New Jerusalem, for her safety and continual defence; and that not only in her own eyes, but in the eyes of all her beholders. Then shall that saying be with gladness in the mouths of all the inhabitants of this Jerusalem, We were bondmen, yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.' Ezr. ix. 9. Which wall, I say, shall be so conspicuous to all the adversaries of this holy and beloved city, that the greatest of them shall not once dare to peep or mutter1 against her any more. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together, they saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.' Ps. xlviii. 1—6. As it is said of the building of the wall after the captivity: when the enemies and all the heathen saw it was finished, they were much cast down in their own eyes.' Ne. vi. 15, 16. The regulating of this city by this golden reed, and the measuring the gates and wall by this word, when finished, will then cause all that have skill in singing the Lord's songs, and of lifting up the praises of God in this city, to gather themselves together to sing, and to praise, and to say, Bless ye the name of the Lord, for his mercies endure for ever: for then will they purify the people, this city, with the gates and wall thereof. Ne. xii. 27-47. Wherefore in the mean time, between this and the building of this city, let Jerusalem come into your mind, and walk about her, 'go round about her,' inquire by the Word what God hath said of her state, strength, safety, ease, peace, and blessed tranquillity in the latter days, tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her See Is. viii. 19. To peep and mutter,' as pretended sorcerers or magicians attempting their incantations against the truth. (ED.) palaces, that ye may tell it to the generations following.' Fs. xlviii, 12, 13. [The form and measure of the city.] Ver. 16. And the city lieth four square, and the length is as large as the breadth and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs, the length, and the breadth, and height of it are equal.' And the city lieth four square.' These words do open unto you the matter yet more, to wit, that now both the city, gates, and wall were exactly in their visibility according to the Word, lying even every way with that golden reed: for by four square you are to understand perfection, or an answering the figures that of old did figure to us the completeness and perfection of the New Testament order. For if you search the Scriptures, you will find that especially the great and principal instruments of God's worship in and under the law, their perfection was what here you read to be the perfection of this city, even a four square. As for instance, The breastplate of judgment, on which were engraved the names of the children of Israel, its exact point of perfection was to be a right four square. The ten bases also, that were to be for bearers to the lavers in the temple, they were to be four square: the altar of burnt-offerings likewise, with the altar of incense, their perfect pattern was that they should be four square. The inward court, and outward court, with the posts of the temple, and tables on which they were to slay the sacrifices, they were all four square. Yea, the city in the type, in the vision of Ezekiel, was seen to be of the same frame and fashion every way, having just twelve gates, and on each of the four sides three gates. Wherefore, when he saith the city lieth four square, it is as if he had said she lieth even with the pattern or golden reed of the Word; even, I say, both in her members, doctrine, worship, and manners: for the things afore hinted unto you do hold forth all these particulars. Ex. xxviii. 15, 16; xxxix. 8, 9; xxvii. 1; xxxviii. 1; xxxvii. 1. 1 Ki. vii. 27, 28. Eze. xliii. 13—18; xl; xli. 21; xlviii. 30–34. And the length is as large as the breadth.' This explaineth the matter yet more fully and distinctly; for as to the things that I made mention of before, though they were to be made four square, and that their perfection lay exactly in that form, yet these squares did not lie in their height and depth, but in their length and breadth, just as you read here of the square of this city. As to instance: The altars, though they were five cubits long, and five cubits broad, yet but three high. Ex. xxvii. 1; xxxiii. 1. 1 Ki. vii. So the bases, they were a cubit and an half broad, and a cubit and an half long, yet but half a cubit high; the tables |