These are the ordinances of the Altar] In the description of the fabricke, and of the ordinances of this new Temple and Jerusalem, two things are very observable. First, that the Temple and Citie described, are such as never were nor could be materially among the Jews: For the Temple described is bigger then all the materiall Jerusalem, and the Jerusalem described is farre bigger then all the earthly land of Canaan. Secondly, that the ordinances of this new Citie and Temple are such as were ordinarily and commonly observed among the Jews. And the reason of this difference is, because that though in all this description the chiefe intention is, to set forth the glory and extent of the Church under the Gospel among the Gentiles, and therefore he setteth forth a Jerusalem farre larger then all the land of the Jews; yet because the Jews being now in captivitie with the Prophet, were to returne to the earthly Jerusalem, and many of them there to be converted, and to be made members of the new and heavenly; therefore he speaketh of, and alludeth to some rites and ceremonies usuall among that people, that he might shew that these glorious things here specified, belong to the Jews called, as well as to the Gentiles. Therefore it will not be needfull, to prosecute the Text hence forward with explanation in every particular, seeing very many of the very same things here mentioned have fallen under observation before, as the rites of sacrificing, the charge of the Priests, the qualifications of those that draw neer unto the sanctuary: And seeing that all these things are but to shew puritie, holinesse, and sinceritie in the worship of God under the Gospel: But we will only take up some things of the greatest difficultie, and yet of the clearest evidence, that all these things are to be understood in a spirituall and mysticall sense, and not of an earthly or materiall Citie, Temple, and Ordinances. As, First, In the measures of the portion of the land for the sanctuary, Chap. 45. The length of this holy portion must be five and twentie thousand reeds and ten thousand reeds in breadth. It is true indeed that the word reeds is not expressed in the Originall, yet the second verse of that Chapter being compared with Chap. 42. vers. 16, 17, 18, 19. make it most cleare and evident that it is so meant and to be understood. Now if we cast these measures into an unequall square as the Text hath done, and summe them up into miles as neere as we can, we shall finde that portion for the sanctuary will amount to a peece of land of 97. miles and an halfe long, and 39. miles broad: which amounteth to, if it do not exceed the proportion of the whole land of Canaan: Besides which is the possession of the Citie in verse 6. of five thousand reeds, or 19 miles and an halfe broad, and 97 miles and an halfe long: besides the portion allotted to the Prince over and above these. Secondly, In the vision of the waters flowing from under the threshold of the house, Chap. 47. and then of the trees growing upon the brinke of those waters: of the large dimensions, borders and buildings of the Countrey and the Citie; All being figures of good things to come under Christ, and the times of the Gospel: and not at all promising or presaging any corporall pompous or earthly kingdome, citie or condition yet to come when the Jews shall be called, but declaring the spirituall happinesse, that both Jew and Gentile shall enjoy in the embracing of the Gospel, and living in the new Jerusalem the Christian Church: And the very same glorious things, in the very like borrowed and allusive expressions hath John set forth in the Revelation. Chap. 21. 22. It hath been a very long continued errour of the Jews, and divers Christians have joyned with them in it, that at their calling, which is yet to come, they shall be all brought home to the land of Canaan, and there shall have an earthly Jerusalem, and a materiall Temple built of more glory and beautie then in the time of Solomon, and that they shall enjoy a pompous State, and sumptuous Kingdome, and Messias to appeare in the midst of them, and afford them earthly peace and prosperitie without any disturbance, change or interposition: And for the ground-worke of this opinion, this description of Ezekiel is mainly alleadged by the Jews, and that of the Revelation is stood much on by Christians. Whereas, First, the earth was cursed for the fall of Adam, Genesis 3:17. and that land of Canaan cursed again for the transgression of the inhabitants. And it is most improper to looke for the Kingdome of Christ, of this world, or on this earth which the Lord hath cursed. Secondly, The Jews shall be called in the places where they shall be scattered among the Gentiles: For they must have their vineyards from among the wildernesse of the Heathen, Hosea 2:15. and the Heathens must be their Instructors for their conversion, Hosea 2:1. And as it was with the converted Jews among the Heathen in the time of the Apostles, that they never left the places of their residence, where they were called, to goe to live in Judea, after their conversion, so shall it be with these. Thirdly, Of those prophecies therefore that speake of their being gathered together, making one head, and going out of the lands where they be; see notes on Hosea 1:11. &c. and if they be applyed to the calling of the Jews, as they are now scattered and expected to come unto the faith, they are to be understood of their uniting in faith, and not in place, and their change of condition, and not of abode or residence. Fourthly, The eleventh Chapter of the Revelation, which is a prophecie of their calling, and a description of their estate and condition being called, sheweth, that their calling shall be in the times, and their profession of the faith, shall be under the persecution of Antichrist, and so shall have but little tranquillitie or happinesse in regard of outward things. Fifthly, As the Jerusalem described by Ezekiel, is bigger in compasse then all the land of Canaan, as is noted before, so is the Jerusalem described in the Revelation; being at the least 1500 miles about, if not so much upon every side of the square of it, Revelation 21:16. and therefore of necessitie must be mystically understood for the Church, and not for any particular Citie.