Prop. 2. They are compared to Candlesticks of Gold; they are, or should be, Golden Candlesticks. Their being compared to Gold, may note their purity & preciousness 1. Their purity. The Candlestick in the Tabernacle, was called the pure Candlestick, Le. 24.4. It was made of pure Gold, Exo 25.31· It was Gold that had no base alloy or mixture in it. So, the Churches of Christ should be pure. They should be pure in their Doctrine, their Faith; believing, professing, ⟨p. 16⟩& (by their Ministers) teaching agreeably to the Holy Scriptures. They should not teach for doctrines the commandments of men. Mat 15.4. nor corrupt the Word of God, 2 Cor. 2.17. They should be pure in their Worship; Worshipping of God in spirit and in truth, John 4.24. and making Gods Word their Rule, even in the whole external part of Worship. They should as far as possible, do all things according to the Pattern in the Mount. They should carefully avoid Humane Inventions, and Impositions in the Worship of God. If men lift up their tool on Gods Altar, in fashioning of it, they pollute it, Exo. 20.25. Churches should keep close to Scripture rule, Lev. 18.4. Ye shall do my Judgments and keep mine Ordinances, to walk therein, I am the Lord your God. Jer. 11.4. Obey my voice and do them, according to all that I command you; so shall ye be my people, and I will be▪ your God. We should walk in all the Ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless, Luke 1.6. bu• our fear toward him, should not be taught by the precepts of men, Isa. 20.13. In worshipping ⟨p. 17⟩of God the holy Scriptures are a sufficient Rule, they ought not to add to it, nor detract from it; they should to the law and to the testimony as the Rule, Isa. 8.20 All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God ma• be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3.16 They should be pure in their Conversation; having clean hands, pure hearts, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1. As he who hath called them is holy, so they should be holy in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1.15. They should be pure also in their Discipline, as was hinted before. Candlesticks oft contract that filth, or those spots, which should be rubbed off and done away.
Prop. 2. They are compared to Candlesticks of Gold; they are, or should be, Golden Candlesticks. Their being compar'd to Gold, may note their purity & preciousness 1. Their purity. The Candlestick in the Tabernacle, was called the pure Candlestick, Le. 24.4. It was made of pure Gold, Exo 25.31· It was Gold that had no base alloy or mixture in it. So, the Churches of Christ should be pure. They should be pure in their Doctrine, their Faith; believing, professing, ⟨p. 16⟩& (by their Ministers) teaching agreeably to the Holy Scriptures. They should not teach for doctrines the commandments of men. Mat 15.4. nor corrupt the Word of God, 2 Cor. 2.17. They should be pure in their Worship; Worshiping of God in spirit and in truth, John 4.24. and making Gods Word their Rule, even in the whole external part of Worship. They should as far as possible, do all things according to the Pattern in the Mount. They should carefully avoid Humane Inventions, and Impositions in the Worship of God. If men lift up their tool on Gods Altar, in fashioning of it, they pollute it, Exo. 20.25. Churches should keep close to Scrip•ure rule, Lev. 18.4. Ye shall do my Judgments and keep mine Ordinances, to walk therein, I am the Lord your God. Jer. 11.4. Obey my voice and do them, according to all that I command you; so shall ye be my people, and I will be▪ your God. We should walk in all the Ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless, Luke 1.6. bu• our fear toward him, should not be taught by the precepts of men, Isa. 20.13. In worshipping ⟨p. 17⟩of God the holy Scriptures are a sufficient Rule, they ought not to add to it, nor detract from it; they should to the law and to the testimony as the Rule, Isa. 8.20 All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for rep•oof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God ma be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
