the iron gates fly open. Accordingly the second seems to belong to sinners, who are passively to be lifted up. For sinners cannot open their own hearts, but a power goes along with the command.

The demand is made literally by the priests, who bare the ark into the temple; mystically, by the ministers of the gospel, who are sent to demand access for their Master into the hearts of sinners; or whatever instrument our Lord uses to prepare his way.

The demand is doubled. To shew Christ's willingness and earnestness to get admission. It also intimates the aversion of sinners to admit him, and the vast importance and consequence of the

matter.

2. The person for whom admission is demanded. It is for the King of glory. He is a King, even King Jesus, typified by the ark. It is a solemn entry such as a king makes in state into a city. He comes in, not only a guest to abide with sinners, but as a King to rule all. He is not only a King, but "the King of glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." He is a glorious King in himself, and the purchaser of eternal glory for his people. The first is here chiefly meant.

Assurance is given that he will enter if admitted. The gates shall not be opened for nought. He will not stand without, unless he be kept out. He is represented as a victorious King making a triumphant entry.

Doctrine 1. Where the ark of gospel ordinances comes, Christ himself comes to the door of the hearts of sinners for admission. The ark's coming to the temple is the King of glory's coming to the hearts of sinners. Now there is no more an ark, but gospel ordinances have succeeded it and have the same use. And this is the call to go along with them to the end of the word. In speaking from this doctrine, I shall,

I. Inquire what is the ark of gospel ordinances.

II. How Christ comes along with this ark to the doors of the hearts of sinners.

It was

I. We are to inquire what is the ark of gospel ordinances. The ark was the most holy of all the Old Testament ordinances. the chief thing in the most holy place, where God was in a special manner present, sitting between the cherubims. From this place he gave answers, and on that account the most holy place was called the oracle. The place for the ark, was the oracle of the house, the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. From this we may gather that there are two things which may come under the name of the gospel ark.

1. The word read and preached. The holy scriptures are the oracle of God. From them we have a clearer discovery of the mind of God, than what was given from the Jewish ark. And the gospel, as purely preached, after the reformation from popery, is called the appearing of the ark of his testament. "For the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of the testament."

2. The holy sacrament, baptism and the Lord's supper. These are really sacred symbols of the divine presence as truly as ever the ark was. Some divines say, the ark was called Jehovah, Num. xvi. 35. But that is certainly too much. It is God himself whose name alone is Jehovah. The greatest honour put upon it in the scripture seems to be in these words of Joshua, "Behold, said he, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan." But as to the sacrament of the supper, it is nothing short whatever it be more. This, said our Lord, "is my body broken for you. And this cup is the new testament in my blood." Consider, that wherever the ark came, the places were made holy. The places, said Solomon, are holy, whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come. And what are the means of bringing holiness into any place of the unholy world, but the word and sacraments. These bring light into the dark places of the earth, and set up a kingdom for Christ, where the devil had ruled all before. The ark was the special dwelling place of God upon earth. He dwelt between the cherubims, which overshadowed the ark, and it was that by which he communicated himself to his people. And these ordinances are the places of his special presence, from which he conveys his counsels, comforts, and graces, to his people. His people's experience confirms this. "The king is held in the galleries." We are now,

II. To inquire how Christ comes along with this ark, to the doors of the hearts of sinners.

1. In the word, Christ comes in the offer of himself to sinners. Wherever the gospel is preached, Christ is offered to sinners with all his saving benefits. "Behold, says he, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me." A market of free grace is opened and whosoever will, is invited to buy without money and without price. There are some places where the market is not yet opened. Christ is not yet in their offer. There are other places where the market is over, and the despisers of the gospel in these are now gone to their place. But yet with us the market is still open, and Christ comes to the door of our hearts for admission.

2. In the sacraments Christ is exhibited. There is not a simple

offer of him, as one may have of meat, which he sees not, as in the word. But in them he is held forth to us, as meat set down upon a table before a man, to eat, and welcome. "Take, eat, this is my body broken for you." And does he not come near us then? He was sacrificed on the cross, and in the supper the sacrifice is presented to the guests to feed upon spiritually.

3. Both in word and in sacraments he demands admission. He comes not to look at the door, but stands and knocks for admission, as one that would have access. He would be admitted even into the place where the strong man keeps house alone. He would be admitted farther where he has had some access before. Saying, "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled." For as we must always be coming to Christ, so always opening, and opening, wider and wider, till he possess not only the whole man, but possess him wholly without any rivals.

And thus you may see the truth of this point manifested. The ministers of the gospel coming with the Lord's message to sinners, drive not an empty chariot. For saith Jesus to them, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." He speaks by them, and so the great business of salvation is transacted between Christ and sinners.

Use for information.

Is it so, that where the ark of the gospel ordinances comes, Christ comes to the door of sinners' hearts for admission? Then,

1. Seeing we have the ark of gospel ordinances amongst us, be it known unto you, that Christ himself is come to the doors of your hearts for admission. Many do not consider, nor believe that Christ is knocking at the door of their hearts for admission, and therefore they do not bestir themselves to receive him. But believe it, it is no fancy, but the most certain reality, and therefore I say to you and to each of you: "To you is the word of this salvation sent." Will you consider for the reality of it, that there is no salvation without receiving Christ into our hearts. "Which is Christ in you the hope of glory." He must dwell in all those now, who shall dwell with him for ever. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Where there is no union with Christ, there can be no communion with him. And where there is no communion with him, there can be no holiness, no grace, no peace, no pardon, no happiness.

As we cannot receive him unless he offer himself unto us, so for what end are ordinances, if Christ come not to us in them, offering himself to us. The way in which Christ dwells in the hearts of his

people, is by his spirit and by faith. Now the ordinances are the channels in which the conveyance of his Spirit is made. "This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" The ordinances also are the means of begetting and of increasing faith. So then faith cometh by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God." If then they be the means of uniting us to Christ, he really comes in them for entrance into our souls.

But farther, it is so real, that men will be really saved by embracing Christ coming in to them by the ordinances, and really damned for slighting him, coming to them in these. Jesus said to his disciples, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." He that cannot see Christ in gospel ordinances, to close with him, will never see him to his comfort in another world. Who are they that will be owned by him at the last day? "Those that have made a covenant with him by sacrifice. For it hath pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." And who are they that will be disowned by him at the last day? those who are without hope for another world. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

2. The word and sacraments coming to a place, will highly aggravate the condemnation of those that do not receive Christ into their hearts. For where they come, there he is, whether he be received or not. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Many a time the ordinances seem to be in vain, and preaching in vain, but they are not so. Be their success what it will, God's work is still going on for his honour at the long run. "For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

The ordinances will always be doing good to some. "O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?" And as many as are ordained to eternal life shall believe Where Christ lights a candle we may suppose there are

some lost pieces to be found. Where Christ covers a table, there will readily always be some of his children to feed.

As for others, neither will they be in vain. Where the ark comes, the call is given, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and those that keep their hearts still shut against Christ, are hereby rendered inexcusable, and their condemnation aggravated. Their sin will be the greater, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin but now they have no cloak for their sin." The more frequent, and the more solemn offers that are made to sinners, the greater is their contempt which they pour upon the Son of God. And every sermon and every communion will add to their account; so that I doubt not but many of us, if they hold on as they are doing in slighting Christ and his ordinances, the day will come, in which they will wish from their hearts, that they had never lived where sermons and communions were to be heard and seen. And reflections on these will cut them to the heart for ever more.

Their condemnation and punishment will be greater. "But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee." In solemn appearances of the ark of God among his people great things have been done in the experience of some. But that makes a heavy reckoning to those who have no part nor lot in that matter; that keep their hearts shut against Christ, while others are opening to him. Of all vengeance that which follows a despised gospel is the most dreadful. The fire that breaks out from the altar burns the most vehemently.

Use second, of Exhortation.

Seeing you have the word preached and expect the sacrament to be administered, remember that these are the gospel ark, by which Christ comes to the hearts of sinners demanding admission.

1. Do not idolize the ark, but look beyond it to Jesus Christ, to whom the ark directs you. This was the sin of the Israelites when they brought the ark into the camp, in order that it might defend them from their enemies. 1 Sam. iv. 3. They thought that though they did not reform, and repent, yet if they had the ark all would be well. But they were deceived. Their unrepented of sins made them fall, and the ark could not hold them up. So many please themselves in taking Christ's livery, though they still remain Satan's slaves; in sitting down at the Lord's table though strangers to communion with him; in getting a token from men and mixing themselves with the saints, though they have no token. from the Master of the feast. And so they cry, the temple of the Lord, che taruple