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<p>We have attended the measuring of this mystical temple and are now to see how far the holy ground on which we tread extends; and that also is here measured, and found to take in a great compass. Observe, 1. What the dimensions of it were. It extended each way 500 reeds (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.42.16-Ezek.42.19" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.42.16-Ezek.42.19">Ezek. 42:16-19</a>), each reed above three yards and a half, so that it reached every way about an English measured mile, which, the ground lying square, was above four miles round. Thus large were the suburbs (as I may call them) of this mystical temple, signifying the great extent of the church in gospel-times, when all nations should be discipled and the kingdoms of the world made Christ’s kingdoms. Room should be made in God’s courts for the numerous forces of the Gentiles that shall flow into them, as was foretold, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.49.18,Isa.60.4" href="/passage/?search=Isa.49.18,Isa.60.4"><span class="bibleref" title="Isa.49.18">Isa. 49:18</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Isa.60.4">60:4</span></a>. It is in part fulfilled already in the accession of the Gentiles to the church; and we trust it shall have a more full accomplishment when the <i>fulness of the Gentiles shall come in</i> and <i>all Israel shall be saved</i>. 2. Why the dimensions of it were made thus large. It was to <i>make a separation</i>, by putting a very large distance <i>between the sanctuary</i> and <i>the profane place</i>; and <i>therefore</i> there was a wall surrounding it, to keep off those that were unclean and to separate between the <i>previous and the vile</i>. Note, A difference is to be put between common and sacred things, between God’s name and other names, between his day and other days, his book and other books, his institutions and other observances; and a distance is to be put between our worldly and religious actions, so as still to go about the worship of God with a solemn pause.</p>
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