The branch of the Lord, the beauty of ZionThe branch of the Lord, the beauty of Sion

4. He is the Candlestick of this House. The making, fashioning, and use of the Candlestick, in the holy ⟨p. 19⟩place of the Tabernacle, you have Exod. 25 31. &c. It was one of the most glorious Utensils of that frame: made of pure and beaten Gold, with much variety of works, knops, flowers and lamps. The Use of it was to bear out light, for all the worship of God in that most Holy Place. The Tabernacle was made close, without any window: It was not to receive light from without: It had all its own light from within. It is true, this Candlestick with its 7. lamps, did secondarily represent the Churches of Christ, which hold out his light among themselves, and unto others, Revel. 1. last: the seven Candlesticks thou sawest are the seven Churches: Therefore Solomon made ten Candlesticks of pure Gold, 1. Kings 7. 49. to set out yet further the Increase & multiplying of the Churches of God. Upon this account also, the two witnesses are said to be two Candlesticks, Rev. 11. 4. And, the two anointed ones that stand before the God of the whole Earth, Zech. 4. 3. Whence that in the Revelation is taken, there is mention indeed of two Anointed ones, but of one Candlestick: the Holy Ghost plainly intimating, that though the Churches and Witnesses of Christ are also Candlesticks in a second sense, yet there is one Eminent Candlestick which hath light originally in it self, which also it communicates unto all others. And this is that which is mentioned in Zech. 4. which hath the two Olive Trees, or the two Anointed Churches of Jews and Gentiles, standing by it, receiving light from it, to communicate to others: they empty the Golden oil out of themselves, which they receive from the Candlestick. For this Candlestick hath seven lamps, v. 2. which lamps that burn before the throne, are the seven spirits of God, Rev. 4. 5. seven spirits ⟨p. 20⟩