There was an Ark or Chest provided for the law (Exod. 25.21.) and that Ark was Christ, he was typified by it, and indeed the law would be too hot for our hearts, too hot to lye there if it had not first lain in the heart of Christ; we (since fallen) could never have been an Ark for it, if he had not been. The tables of the law were laid in the Ark, and the Ark (in which the law was put) had a mercy-seat which did cover it all over (The dimensions of the Ark and of the mercy-seat were exactly the same, two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth, (Exod. 25.10.17.) so that nothing of the law could appear or rise up in Judgement against poor sinners. The propitiatory or mercy-seat covered all. Now as Christ hath been the Ark of the law to protect and cover us from the condemning power of it; so the hearts of believers must be the Ark of the law, where it must be laid up with a readiness of mind to yield our selves up to the commanding power of it. David prophesying of Christ saith (Psal. 40.10.) I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart, yet he had said before, I delight to do thy will, thy law is within my heart. To clear which Scripture take notice that there is a twofold hiding of the righteousness or word of God in the heart. First, so as to obscure or conceal it from others, in that sense David saith, I have not hid thy righteousness in mine heart, I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation, and not concealed thy loving kindness and truth from the great Congregation. And thus no man ought to lay up the truths, the law, the promises of God in his heart to conceal and stifle them there. Secondly, ⟨p. 228⟩There is a hiding of the law in our hearts, first, that it may be safe, lest Satan or the world should snatch it from us. Secondly, That we may further consider of it; when a man hath got an excellent truth, or Scripture, he should lay it up in his heart to ponder and meditate more upon it, to draw out the sweetness, and to experience the power of it. Thirdly, That we may have it ready at hand for our use; and so the Scribe instructed for the kingdom of heaven is described by bringing forth out of his treasury things both new and old. How sad is the condition of many that have heard much, but laid up little or nothing at all of all that word which they have heard.
There was an Arke or Chest provided for the law (Exod. 25.21.) and that Arke was Christ, he was typified by it, and indeed the law would be too hot for our hearts, too hot to lye there if it had not first layne in the heart of Christ; wee (since fallen) could never have been an Arke for it, if he had not been. The tables of the law were laid in the Arke, and the Arke (in which the lavv vvas put) had a mercy-seat vvhich did cover it all over (The dimensions of the Arke and of the mercy-seate were exactly the same, two cubits and a halfe in length, and a cubit and a halfe in breadth, (Exod. 25.10.17.) so that nothing of the law could appeare or rise up in Judgement against poore sinners. The propitiatory or mercy-seate covered all. Now as Christ hath been the Arke of the law to protect and cover us from the condemning power of it; so the hearts of beleevers must be the Arke of the law, where it must be layd up with a readines of minde to yeeld our selves up to the commanding power of it. David prophecying of Christ saith (Psal. 40.10.) I have not hid thy righteousnesse within my heart, yet he had said before, I delight to doe thy will, thy law is within my heart. To cleare which Scripture take notice that there is a twofold hiding of the righteousnesse or vvord of God in the heart. First, so as to obscure or conceale it from others, in that sence David saith, I have not hid thy righteousnesse in mine heart, I have declared thy faithfullnes and thy salvation, and not concealed thy loving kindnesse and truth from the great Congregation. And thus no man ought to lay up the truths, the law, the promises of God in his heart to conceale and stifle them there. Secondly, ⟨p. 228⟩There is a hiding of the law in our hearts, first, that it may be safe, lest Satan or the world should snatch it from us. Secondly, That we may further consider of it; when a man hath got an excellent truth, or Scripture, he should lay it up in his heart to ponder and meditate more upon it, to draw out the sweetnes, and to experience the power of it. Thirdly, That vve may have it ready at hand for our use; and so the Scribe instructed for the kingdome of heaven is described by bringing forth out of his treasury things both new and old. How sad is the condition of many that have heard much, but laid up little or nothing at all of all that vvord which they have heard.