A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

CHAP. XLII.

THen he brought me forth into the outer court the way towards the north, and he * 1.1 brought me to the chamber right over against the separate place, and before the buil∣ding towards the north. Having spoken of the Temple, and the buildings about it, and things pertaining thereunto, now he proceedeth to speak of the courts by the sides of the temple Northward and Southward: for it must be conceived, that as therewere spacious places at both the ends of the temple, so there were on either side: the whole building by this means being com∣passed about with ground as our Churches be with Churchyards. For al∣though no expresse mention be made of ground and chamber on the south side, as there is on the north, yet it is intimated v. 12. 13. that the south was herein, as the north; so that one being described the other is left to be un∣derstood as proportionable thereunto. The separate place, as hath been of∣ten said, was the whole temple together with the chambers or treasuries ad∣joyned, and therefore the chamber now spoken of or treasury was a large building more outward over against the other treasuries. And that we might know the length of this court, and the breadth thereof; he saith, the length * 1.2 was 100. cubits, before which was the north door or gate, for the word com∣monly rendred door is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 opening, and therefore may indifferently be rendred by either, and this door was northward, from the temple in the foresaid treasury to enter into it, on the side next unto this spacious court, being in length as all the buildings before were said to be, and the breadth at the east and west ends the just square being thus still continu∣ed.

Over against the 20. cubits of the inner court, and the pavements of the outer court * 1.3 was gallery against gallery in 3 stories. It seemeth hereby, that the 50. cubits breadth of the outer court inclosed within it, as parted by a wall an inner, not spoken of till now of 20 cubits square, so that the outer court in breadth of 50. cubits lay partly against the pavement of the same outer court, which pavement being not before spoken of neither must be conceived to be a part of the same outer court extended at both ends of the inner east and west 30. cubits, that is, at the one end 15. and 15. at the other: for so Lyra reasoneth, but surely * 1.4 he mistook the breadth for the length of 100. cubits, out of which if 20. be deducted for the inner court, there will remain 80. and so 40. at either end covered with a pavement, besides the whole length of the same outer court being 30 cubits more in breadth, all which was likewise covered home to the galleries 3. stories high here spoken of. And this court, saith Jerom, * 1.5 was thus paved to shew how cleanly from dust both in summer and winter, and from durt fouling their feet the priests went when they passed from these galleries to do their service within the temple, intimating the cleannesse of the feet of the afflictions in the Ministers of the Gospell, according to that, * 1.6 How beautifull are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of peace &c. and in all, that would enter into heaven. For the galleries, the word used here, is the same that we had before ch. 41. rendred galleries, but it signifieth pluckt away, or a chamber, yet the word gallery is best to expresse the meaning, this being on the north and south side answerable to those on the west before spoken of, but that here were three one above another, and in saying, gallery against gallery, it is meant, as on the north side, so it was on the south.

And before the chambers was a walk of 10. cubits broad inward, a way of one cubit * 1.7 and their doors towards the north. Here he returns again to speak of something more concerning the chambers adjoyned to the temple, as is aforesaid, hither∣to omitted. Here was a walk of 10. cubits broad inward, that is, in the inner court called before the twenty cubits, here was also a way of one cubit, shew∣ing the perfection, that should be in the walking of the ministers of the Go∣spell,

and the unity of their faith, all holding and teaching one and the same, and thus it was in the primitive Church, when they were all together with one accord in one place, when they began first to go out to preach amongst the Gentiles set forth by the north, towards which these doors were opened, when the Lord said unto them, goe teach all nations baptizing them, &c.

Now the upper chambers were shorter, for the galleries were higher then these, then * 1.8 the lower and middlemost of the building. Having not said any thing hitherto of the height of the gallery, of which there were three stories, now he setteth that forth, saying, that each of those stories were higher, then the stories of the chambers, both uppermost, lowest, and middlemost: therefore in saying, the upper chambers were shorter, he meaneth lower, but not then the middle∣most and lowest hext the ground, as some would have it; for the comparison is not made betwixt the chambers joyning to the temple, the heighth of one and another of them, but betwixt those chambers and the galleries. And those galleries in height exceeding the chambers do not unaptly represent secular men, who are higher in worldly dignity and wealth and power, then spiri∣tuall [Note.] men, that serve God in the Ministery, although they be nearer to the temple, and they are 3. stories seting forth these 3. things, worldly wealth, ho∣noun and power, as the 3. stories of the chambers do the spirituall riches and the power that the ministers have with God, and their future honour in heaven.

For they were three, and had not pillars as the pillars of the courts, therefore the buil∣ding * 1.9 was straightned more then the lowest and middlemost from the ground. Here a rea∣son is yeelded why the stories of the chambers were lower then those of the galleries in the outer court, viz. Because they stood upon pillars, and these not, for so are the pillars of the court to be understood, as suppor∣ters.

And the wall that was without over against the chambers towards the outer court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was 50. cubits. The vulg. for well, * 1.10 hath peribolus and Hebr. it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifying any fence, that compasseth about, as peribolus doth, and this fence is to be understood of one at the east end of the north side of chambers, because from the east it is by and by said that there was an entry to these chambers, v. 9. and this breadth is just the breadth of the outer court, where the galleries stood northward, and therefore it was both against them and the chambers eastward, but not near unto them, but a good distance of, for these buildings, it is expressely said extended in length but 50. cubits, and the court 100. therefore at each end there were 25. to this fence from chambers and galleries also, for of these one was said before to stand against another. Of the foresaid length see v. 8. And both that this * 1.11 fence stood eastward; and that there was a space of that court, before one come from thence to the chambers, the next words shew v. 9. * 1.12

The chambers were in the thicknesse of the wall of the court towards the east ••ver against the separate place and the building. The vulg. there was under these treasuries an entrance from the east of those that entred into them out of the outer court in the breadth of the compassing fence of the court, which is far more sensible and better agreeing to the Hebr. which hath it, and under these chambers or treasuries an entrance of one going, or in ones going to them, and the word rendred thicknesse, signifieth breadth also, and because it was used before in speaking of this outer court for breadth, it may best be also so taken in this place. And then the meaning will plainly be, as a man cometh out of the outer court, which in length exten∣ded much more then these buildings, he came by the breadth of the fence there of beforesaid to be 50. cubits, thence going on till he came at the ne∣thermost room eastward, where he entred under the two stories that were higher, and thus it appears, that the entrance through this sence from the east, was over against the separate place, and the building, that is, the building of treasuries, which were part of the temple together called commonly the separate place, because betwixt them and other building belonging to the

temple there was a great space of ground, they being called before for this, pluckt away, as hath been often shewed. Spiritually by the way to the treasu∣ries from the east is shewed, that whoso would come to be inriched with the * 1.13 treasures of God, must attain hereunto by Christ, that is the East; and be∣cause it is said, that the way before them was like the chambers or treasuries towards * 1.14 the north, as long and as broad as they, &c. That all true Christians are [Note.] like unto the godly ministers, who are nearest to God, in the length of pa∣tience and the breadth of love, and in all other their goings out and coming in and in their doors of utterance, as their callings will permit, opening them to speak so, as that grace by their speeches may be ministred to the hea∣rers: for so Paul saith, Follow me as I follow Christ, and Mark those that rule over * 1.15 yeu, that preach the word of God unto you, whose examples follow. And it is to be noted, that he saith not only the treasuries, but the treasuries towards the north, and v. 12. Towards those in the south there was such another door, to shew, that both in * 1.16 adversity and prosperity it must be thus, but because the state of Christians is such in this world, that they live more in adversity, then in prosperity, especially at the first going out of the Gospell, the north is first spoken of be∣ing cold and nipping, and then the south, in which part yet there is more danger by being corrupted, so that men have need to be put in mind of a door here towards these treasuries, that their hearts may not be stoln away by the riches of this world, or choaked as with briers.

The north and south chambers which are before the separate place are holy, where * 1.17 the priests that approach to the Lord shall eat the most holy things. Having spoken so much of the treasuries or chambers before, now he proceedeth to tell, for what use they served, viz. for the priests attending in their courses to eat those parts of the offerings in, which were theirs by Gods ordinance.

To put off and lay up their garments, wherein they ministred to the Lord, * 1.18 putting on other garments when they went out to the people to minister to them. Eating holy things in the holy place represented the eating at the Lords supper, not in any place indifferently, but in the place dedicated to his worship, for so it was done even in the Apostles dayes, who saith, when ye * 1.19 come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lords body, intimating hereby, that it was there a custome then to congregate to one known publique place, which was called the house of God, as appeareth in the words following, Have ye not houses to eat and drink in, or despise ye the Church of God? Putting off the gar∣ments wherein they ministred, shewed that the ministers of the Gospell are not [Note.] to speak so to the people as unto the Lord, or when amongst them they are putting up prayers, for in secret praying in the spirit either with groans only, or words, that the people understand not, is acceptable praying, and to be in silent meditation, no words being uttered, and soaring aloft in these meditations beyond vulgar capacities is acceptable service: but to the peo∣ple, and amongst them all praying must be vocall and plain and easie to be understood, and preaching in a known tongue and of such necessary points of instruction, as whereof they are capable, and whereby they may be most edified, as S. Paul saith to the Hebrewes, that he gave them milk and not * 1.20 strong meat, because they were not able to bear it.

To the end of the chapter nothing else is set forth, but the length and * 1.21 breadth of the uttermost court compassing about all hitherto spoken of, and it is said to be 500. reeds east and north, west and south, which was a just square almost a mile every way, and this was so large a compasse, as that it cannot agree to any temple built after the Jewes return out of Babylon, but onely to one spiritually understood, because even that, which was built by Herod of the largest dimensions, which had the largest outmost court of any other, had it but 720. cubits, into which the people of other nations, that resorted to Jerusalem for devotions sake might come: as I have shewed in my Preface to the holy Gospels. Therefore hereby the amplitude of the Church under the Gospell was set forth, when the fulnesse of the Gentiles should come in. For the number of 500. in particular, I like that conjecture

best, whereby it is conceived, that it is herein alluded to the Jubilee, which was the fiftieth year, because 500. doth consist of 10. f••••ties, 10. being the num∣ber of perfection, and 50. of that joyfull time, when they sounded with trum∣pets, * 1.22 thus declaring the good news of every ones returning to his possessi∣on, and comming out of servitude into liberty, which most aptly agreeth to the Gospel being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 good newes, and a time of perfect liberty, according to the saying of our Lord, If the Son, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed, and * 1.23 again, he hath anointed me to give sight unto the blinde, to heal the bruised and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. * 1.24

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 1.
• * 1.2

  V. 2.
• * 1.3

  V. 3.
• * 1.4

  Lyra.
• * 1.5

  Hieron.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 10.
• * 1.7

  V. 4.
• * 1.8

  V. 5.
• * 1.9

  V. 6.
• * 1.10

  V. 7.
• * 1.11

  V. 8.
• * 1.12

  V. 9. V. 10.
• * 1.13

  Gloss. ord.
• * 1.14

  V. 11.
• * 1.15

  1 Cor. 11. Heb. 13. 7.
• * 1.16

  V. 12.
• * 1.17

  V. 13.
• * 1.18

  V. 14.
• * 1.19

  1 Cor. 11.
• * 1.20

  Heb. 5. 12.
• * 1.21

  V. 15, 16, &c.
• * 1.22

  Levit 25.
• * 1.23

  Joh. 8.
• * 1.24

  Luk. 4.