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The beams of our house are Cedar, the Rafters are of Firr.
Here is commended their house which they dwell in; and the commendations is from the matter which it is built of: which is expressed by two adjuncts, beams, and galleries.
The word Translated beams, signifies beams or Raf∣ters, * 1.1 which beare up the roofe of the house, or any
timber or stone, whereof any such prop is made. Beams are for strength and sustentation of the house: by these beams may be meant those that are strong; as James, Cephas, and John, are called Pillars of the Church, Gal. 2. 9. because these by the preaching of the do∣ctrine of faith, did, as it were, stay and uphold the Churches of Christ.
Our house) Or the houses of us, for the Catholick body is distinguished into sundry particular Congregations, or Churches, in every of which (as in sundry Nurce∣ries) the Saints are brought up and Nursed. The Church is called the house of God, 1 Tim. 3. 15. which is Interpreted to be the Church of the living God, the pil∣lar and ground of truth. And so the faithfull are called, the house of God, Heb. 3. 6. But what is this Palace? It cannot be so properly meant of Heaven, in which the Saints shall dwell for ever but rather of an house while they are yet in this World, and this house is the Church of Christ, she is the Temple of the living God. Every faithfull soule is the habitation of Christ; and hence it is, that the Psalmist calls upon men to open the doors of their heart to receive Christ: Lift up your heads yee gates, and be ye lift up yee everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in Psal. 24.
The beams of this spirituall house are set forth by the matter they were of, they were of Cedar: Cedar is a Tree very common in Mount Lebanon; and (as some say) like unto Juniper, or rather to Cypres for leafe;
but for the Tree it selfe, it is tall, and strong, and the wood of permament nature, and of a very sweet smell, and it rotteth not, nor admitting any worme. Now the Saints (who are the beams, rafters, and materialls of this house) are compared to Cedars, in Psa. 92. 13. And Balaam likeneth the Tabernacles of Israel unto Ce∣dar trees beside the waters, for goodlinesse, Numb. 24. 5, 6. This wood was used in Solomon's Temple, 1 K. 6. 36. And he made Cedars like Sycamore Trees, which are in the val', for abundance, 1 Kings 10. 27. Prefiguring the Saints of whom the spirituall Temple of the Lord was to be built: the Saints are as living stones, put into the edifice or building of Christs spirituall Temple. Thus is commended the matter of the beams of this house, wherein is set forth the stability and strength of this house or houses. Now followeth the seting forth of the excellency and statelinesse of this house.
Rafters) or Galleries, as the word borrowed from running intendeth: Galleries were certaine walking places, which were built on the tops of houses. Now in such Galleries as these, men were wont to walke and converse together: So here, these Galleries in Christs house may signifie the sweet conversing the Saints have with Christ, in the communication of all his graces. These Galleries are set forth by the matter they were of.
Our Translation saith of fir, some others Cypres; the Hebrew Brothim (whose singular for the forme of
its Characture, may be Brut) is turned by the Latine word Bruta, which was a Tree (as Pliny recordeth) * 1.2 like to a broad Cypres tree, with whitish boughs, of excellent sweet savour, much like unto Cedar. This sets out unto us the excellency of Christs Galleries, wherein he doth sweetly converse with his people, and wherein his people doe contemplate of divine things.
These Cedars and Brutine trees, may both be appli∣ed unto the persons of the Saints; and also unto the doctrine of faith, wherewith the Curch is built upon Christ the chief corner Stone, as in 1 Cor. 3. 9, 10, 11, 12. where the Apostle saith, No man can lay any other foun∣dation then that which is laid, which is Christ: Now (saith he) if any man build upon this foundation, Gold, Silver, precious stones, &c. That is meant of the Saints, who are the super-structure, built upon Christ the founda∣tion: thus was the building of the new Jerusalem, whose twelve gates were of pearles, and the street of the city was pure gold, Rev. 21. 21. Now all these similitudes doe set forth those holy persons and graces wherewith the Church should be adorned: all those things, signified by the houses of Cedar, and by the Galleries of fir, are strong and firme and very redolent and savory, unto the comfort of the Saints, and the glory of Christ.
In the Verse before Christ and his Church sung the prayse of their Bed, here they sing the praise of their Houses.
Hence Observe,
1. That the Saints are Christs house.
They are called, the house of God, 1 Pet. 4. 17. and the Temple of God, 2 Cor. 6. 16. Heaven is his house, where he manifesteth his glory, and the world is his house,
where he manifesteth his power and wisdome; but the Saints are his house, where he manifesteth his especiall grace and favour. The Lord dwells with the humble spi∣rit, Isa. 57. 15. That is, he is present with them, to cheare and comfort them with his grace and spirit.
Now the Lord maketh use of the Saints as men doe of their houses.
1. Men use to abide and be resident in their houses; a house is a place of residence. So Christ is alway pre∣sent with his Saints, by his Spirit unto the end of the world, Matth. 28. 18. And lo (saith he) I am with you unto the end.
2. Men doe refresh themselves by eating, and drink∣ing, and the like, in houses: thus Christ is said to feast and sup with his Saints, Revel. 3. 20. Christ doth con∣verse familiarly, chearfully, and comfortably with them, as friends use to Feast and make merry one with ano∣ther.
3. Men doe take great delight and contentment in their houses, as being a part of their worldly excellen∣ency: So Christ taketh great contentment and de∣light in his Saints: The upright are his delight, Prov. 11. 20.
4. Men lay up their greatest treasures and their most precious Jewells in their houses: So doth Christ, he comes into the soule (his house) to bestow his Jewels, and to spread his treasures of grace there; he makes the spirit of glory to rest upon his Saints, 1 Pet. 4. 14.
Now as the glory of Christs house is set forth, so also is the glory of the beams or rafters thereof commended unto us. You heard that these beams were applied to the persons of the Saints, wherewithall the house of Christ is builded. Christ is the Foundation, and the
Saints are the super-structure put into the building. This is that the Apostle tells us, 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5. To whom comming (that is unto Christ) as unto a living stone: yee also (saith he) as lively stones are built up as spirituall house, an holy Priest-hod, to offer up spirituall Sacrifices, ac∣ceptable to God by Jesus Christ. So Gods house is built of Saints, of lively stones, such as have received life from him, & this house is Gods dwelling place, where he communicates both grace and glory. And it is called a spirituall house, because it is built up by the Spirit of God.
Now as Christs house is commended by the beams there∣of; so the beams or rafters, are set forth by the matter they are of and that is Cedar.
Hence note,
That the Saints (who are the materialls of Christs house) in respect of their excellency, are called Cedars. Cedar was used in Solomons Temple, 1 Kings 6. 36. and did prefi∣gure the Saints under the Gospell Church. And the Saints are compared to Cedars. Psal. 92. 13. Now the Saints may well be compared to Cedars, in diverse re∣spects, but especially in these that follow.
1. The Cedar is a very tall and high tree, all other trees are but shrubs unto them. So are the Saints, in their gifts, in their graces, in their priviledges and at∣tainments; they are above the men of the world, and therefore they are taller then the people by the head and shoulders, as it was said of King Saul. Solomon con∣firmeth this and saith, The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour, Prov. 12. 26.
2. Cedar is a tree of incomparable strength: So the Saints are made stronger then their enemies; they are so strong that they are become more then Conquerours,
through him that loved them.
3. Cedar is a very durable wood: So the Saints are such as endure to the end; they stand fast in the faith of Jesus Christ, and are not moved away from the hope that is in them. Though they walke in the midst of temptations, yet they never give over their hope: Though thou kill me (saith Job) yet will I trust in thee. And though the Saints walk in darknesse and have no light at all, yet they will trust in the name of the Lord, and stay themselves upon their God, Isa. 50. 10.
4. Cedar rotteth not; no more doe the Saints decay in their graces. Indeed there may be some spirituall lan∣guour or deadnes befall them, by reason of some deser∣tion or temptation, and the like: but for the graces of the Spirit in them, they never perish nor decay.
5. Cedar (as some report) will not admit of any worme; no more will the Saints admit of any worm of coveteousnesse, or any worldly thing to consume them, or eat them out.
6. Cedar is very sweet of smell; So the Saints are o∣doriferous and redolent of savour, in all their Sacrifi∣ces to God by Jesus Christ: and to man in their lives and conversations.
7. Cedar (as some say) will putrifie and kill things that are living and restore and conserve that which is rotten: So the Saints have received power and grace from Christ to kill and mortifie all their lusts, and have also received power from him to live and revive, al∣though dead before. This Christ himselfe tells us, John 5. 25. The dead shall heare the voyce of the Son of God, and they shall live.
8. And lastly, the Cedar is more fruitfull in age then before; and for this cause are the Saints compared un∣to
Cedars, in that as Cedars they grow from perfection to perfection, bearing most fruit in their age: as it is in Psal. 92. 14. a Christian is a Cedar, set in Christ the chiefe Cedar, he is a plant that grows in him, he hath eternall root, and therefore he flourisheth eternally.
Lastly, from the Galleries of converse and contem∣plation: Observe, That Christ doth sweetly converse with his people, in his Galleries of contemplations. Galleries are for walking, and walking for converse: Christ hath his Galleries where he doth converse with his Saints. Now it is by faith we must ascend up into these Galle∣ries, and being there, we may with Abraham see Christs day afar of, and rejoyce. It is in these Galleries, where we may, with Jacob, see a Vision of Angells ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Here is that Mount that with Moses we may see all Canaan before we come there: and with Peter, James, and John, we may see Christ in excellent and transcendent glory. In these Galleries it is that Christ reveals such glorious secrets unto his people, which are unpossible to be uttered; as he did unto Paul in his rapture, 2 Cor. 12. 4. I heard things (saith the Apostle) which is not lawfull (or is unpossible) for a man to utter. That is, none but God * 1.3 himselfe could reveale such things unto me.
In a word, Christ doth take the soul into these Gal∣leries, and sheweth it all the glory, excellency, riches, and glory of heaven, and doth also, to the unspeakable comfort of his Saints, assure them of the fruition and enjoyment of all these things. Thus much for the first Chapter.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Occurit, Inde. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tignum.
Plinie in Lib. 12. Cap. 17.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉