The Church Compared to a Golden Candlestick

    THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A GOLDEN CANDLESTICK

    "The golden Candlesticks are the seven Churches,"Re 1:20.

    Mr. Brightman, and others, understand this metaphor of golden Candlesticks, is taken from the Candlesticks that were in the tabernacle erected by Moses; and the resemblance between these holds good in two or three particulars, which take as follow.

    METAPHOR

    I. In general, the use of a Candlestick is to hold out the light to others. "No man," saith our Saviour, "lighteth a candle, and putteth it under a bushel, but into a Candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house."

    PARALLEL

    I. So the Church holdeth out the light of God's word to all that dwell therein, in which respect the apostle calleth the Church the pillar of truth, 1Ti 3:15, because she holds out the truth to be seen, saith Weemse;[1] the expression being taken from the custom of many nations, who are used to write their laws in tables, and so to hang them upon pillars of stone, that the people whom it concerned to know them, might see and read them: as amongst us, proclamations are nailed to posts in market towns.[2]

    [1] Exercit. Dioin. Exer. 9.

    [2] Dr. White Way to the true Church, p. 80. Curs. Theol Part. 2. Col. 324.

    The Church holds out her light three ways.

    1. By her doctrine; she having divers approved ministers belonging to her, that she calleth forth to preach and publish the word of truth. Hence the law is said to "go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

    2. By her holy discipline.

    3. By her godly example and conversation: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven," Mt 5:16. "Walk as the children of the light," Eph 5:8. The church ought to meet publicly, to make a public profession.

    METAPHOR

    II. Candlesticks of gold are of great worth, and seldom found but in the houses of princes.

    PARALLEL

    II. So the Church is very precious in God's sight: "Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me, above all people," Ex 19:5-6; Mal 3:17. Hence they are called his jewels. This Candlestick only belongs to the prince of heaven and earth; they are Christ's Churches.

    METAPHOR

    III. Those Golden Candlesticks had some part of them for use, and some part for ornament; there were knobs and flowers curiously set upon them.

    PARALLEL

    III. The Church of God is not only of use to hold out the light of God's word; but it is also richly adorned with several choice and heavenly graces, that make it, and every member thereof, who truly fears God, amiable in Christ's sight, 1Pe 3:3-4.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The throwing down, or removing of the Candlestick, throweth down and removeth the light or Candle also.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So when a Church is removed out of its place, the light of God's Word is many times removed from a nation or people likewise; which severe judgment hath befallen the people of Asia long ago, by God's taking away or removing those seven famous golden Candlesticks, or Churches, that once were there.

    INFERENCES

    Let the saints and people of God take heed how they walk before him: it behoves them to strive to recover themselves from whence they are fallen, lest he remove their Candlestick out of its place.