shoulder-pieces belonging to it in which were placed two Ouches of Gold with two Onyx stones set and fastened in them Two Ouches that is hollow Circles two hollow places in which the stones were set like Diamonds in a Ring Onyx stones white stones not unlike the white of a mans Nail The Hebrew word is Shoham It is I know otherwise rendered by some but the Onyx being a large stone as it was requisite that these should be that there might be space enough to ingrave six names in a stone besides other circumstances we may rest in this Translation The use of these precious stones was for the writing of the names of the twelve Children of Israel in them that the High Priest might bear them upon his shoulders for a memorial before the Lord. See Exod. 28.9 10 11 12. Now the Priest being a Type of Christ and the people of Israel a Type of the whole Church of God their being born thus upon the shoulders of the High Priest clothed with this sacred Ephod intimated three things 1. The Lord Jesus Christ his supporting of his Church and people and bearing them up as upon the shoulders of his Power and Grace and Government Isai 9.6 the Government shall be upon his shoulders so he is said to do with the lost Sheep Luke 15.5 Isai 46.3 4. hearken unto me O House of Jacob all the remnant of the House of Israel which are born by me from the Belly which are carried from the Womb and even to your old age I am he and even to hoary hairs I will carry you I have made you and I will bear even I will carry and will deliver you 2. His presenting them to the Lord to be in everlasting remembrance before him that he cannot look upon the High Priest but their names appear upon his shoulders for a memorial before the Lord their names are engraven in his sight that he cannot look from off them Mal. 3.16 A book of remembrance is written before him for them that fear the Lord Ephes 5.27 that he might present it to himself a glorious Church 3. He bears their names before the Lord in this curious and costly Ephod as representing his own perfect Righteousness wherewith he stands clothed before God in the glorious merit whereof he appeareth for his people For men to trust to their own works and merits is to have their names born before God in an Ephod of their own weaving which God abhors by which sin both the Jews and the Papists perish Rom. 10.3 But the Saints dare not appear before God in such filthy Garments but confess as Isai 64.6 All our Righteousness is but as filthy rags c. 5. The curious Girdle of the Ephod of which the words of Text are these And he girded him with the curious Girdle of the Ephod and bound it unto him therewith Exod. 28.8 so that this Girdle of the Ephod is thought not to be a distinct thing separable from the Ephod but to have been as it were a piece of it Mr. Ainsworths Note out of the Rabbins is this The Ephod had as it were two hands or pieces going out from it in the weaving on this side and on that with the which they girded it and they are called Cheseb the curious Girdle of the Ephod This curious Girdle of the Ephod was tyed upon his heart under the Brest-plate This differeth from the other Girdle Abnet which is after spoken of in ver 39. and by reason of the Gold in this which the other had not it is called the Golden Girdle Some have doubted whether there were two Girdles but the Text is clear for it Levit. 8.7 He put upon him the Coat and girded him with the Girdle This is the Linnen Girdle Now it follows and he clothed him with the Robe and put the Ephod upon him and he girded him with the curious Girdle of the Ephod and bound it unto him therewith And they are called by two several names Abnet and Cheseb The reason why there was two was because his Garments did require two As to the mystery of this second Girdle it is the same with the former It signified the truth and strength and readiness for action that is in Christ and should be in all that bear his name so I need say no more upon it 6. The sixth piece of the High Priestly attire and indeed the chief of all was the Brest-plate of which the Text saith and he put the Brest-plate upon him Concerning this holy Pectoral or Brest-plate there be four things declared in Exod. 28. from ver 15. c. to ver 29. 1. The Materials of Gold Blue c the same with the Ephod ver 15. 2. The form and shape four-square a span in breadth and length ver 16. 3. The twelve Stones with the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel set therein ver 17 to 22. And thou shalt set in it settings of Stones even four rows of Stones c. 4. The fastening of the Brest-plate to the Ephod by four Golden Rings in the four corners of it In the two upper Rings of the Brest-plate there were two Chains of Gold by which it was fastened above to two Golden Ouches in the shoulder-pieces of the Ephod and in the two lower Rings of the Brest-plate there was a blue Lace by which it was tyed to two Gold Rings in the sides of the Ephod ver 22 to 29. that so the Brest-plate might not be loosed from the Ephod ver 28. which may help in the understanding of that place 1 Sam. 23.9 where David saith to Abiathar the Priest Bring hither the Ephod that is to consult with the Lord by Urim and Thummim saith the Geneva Note upon the place for by the Providence of God the Ephod was preserved and kept with David the true King that so he might have the means of consulting with God in all his dangers and distresses and the Brest-plate wherein was the Urim and Thummim by which they inquired of God was fastened to the Ephod and not to be loosened from it so that David called for the Ephod because of the Brest-plate that was fastened to it and because of the Urim and Thummim that was in the Brest-plate Quest Why is it called Pectorale Judicii the Brest-plate of Judgment so Exod. 28. ver 15 29 30. Answ There may be a twofold account given of this 1. Because the High Priest was to wear this upon his Brest when he gave forth a Sentence and Judgment from God unto such as came to him to inquire of God by him 2. The Judgment of the Children of Israel may be understood to signifie the Concernments of their Good for Judgment is not always put for Wrath and Punishment but for a wise and accurate and exact Administration of things saepe per nomen Mishpat Scriptura significat quicquid bene rite ordinatum est Hoc Epitheto commendatur rectus omni vitio purus Ordo Calvin in
true Religion Adam to Methuselah who lived with him two hundred forty two years Methuselah to Sem who lived almost an hundred years after Sem was born and then Sem to Isaac for Sem lived five hundred and two years after the Flood which reached to the fiftieth year of Isaac And then all the world had but one Language whereby they could speak and communicate their thoughts to whomsoever they would yet as to the generality of mankind the knowledg of God was quite lost and forgotten by some and by others corrupted with Fables and Superstitions Moreover the Lives of men came now to be much shortened For before the Flood they lived eight or nine hundred years after the Flood but four or five hundred years About the time of Peleg when the Tower of Babel was built there was a further decurtation of mens Lives unto two hundred years or thereabout And lastly in Moses his time unto threescore or thereabout and there it hath stood ever since Moreover there was a confusion of Languages which did much increase the Darkness and obstruct the Communication and Diffusion of Light among them The way of Oral Tradition is a very insufficient way and found by experience so to be as upon other accounts so upon these occurring at this time 1. In general Knowledg of God in a manner lost 2. The Decurtations of mens Lives 3. Through the Confusion of Tongues Upon all which Occurrences the Lord thought it fit to intrust his Truth no longer with the frail and careless Memories of men but to leave it upon Record in Writing a much safer and surer way for the Preservation and the Propagation of it There is a threefold advantage of this way 1. It is an help to the weakness of Memory For if a thing be written there it is and a man may recall it by reading when he doth not well remember it 2. For the further Propagation and Diffusion of the Light for there may be opportunity of writing to persons absent and and in after times who may read when they have not opportunity of hearing 3. To prevent Corruption In the way of Oral Tradition some may say one thing and some another 2. A second preheminence and advantage of this Dispensation above the former was this that now the Gospel and the true Religion and Worship of God was settled in a whole Nation and People by divine Promise and Institution whereas before it seems to have been only in Families and Congregations formed chiefly according to the Light of Nature wherein the Ordinances of Worship were celebrated by the Fathers and Heads of Families but now a whole Nation are made the Testes Custodes of it the Witnesses and the Keepers of it as a Depositum committed to their trust Rom. 3.2 As to the Occasions of introducing this new Dispensation they were partly the defections under the former but chiefly the Lords own Love and Goodness For he had engaged himself by his Promise and by his Oath wherein he had pawned his Truth and Faithfulness to Abraham Isaac and Jacob that he would do great things for their Posterity Therefore he is said to remember that Promise in the things he did for Israel See Psal 105.8 9 10. he shews that God remembred his Covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Then followeth a large Rehearsal of his Dispensations towards Israel And then he concludes again ver 42 43. For he remembred his holy Promise and Abraham his Servant and he brought forth his People with joy and his Chosen with gladness And there was need of some recovering Dispensation because of those defections that had been from under the Grace and Covenant made with Abraham If you look back a little unto Abrahams Dispensation you will find that some of his Seed fell off viz. Ishmael and Esau And the Seed of Jacob when they were in Egypt they learned too much of their manners It is thought their Calf in Exod. 32. Geneva Note on Exod. 32.4 was made in imitation of the Egyptian Idol Apis which was an Ox They smelled of the Leaven of Egypt where they saw Calves Oxen and Serpents worshipped See Ezek. 23.8 Neither left she her Whoredoms brought from Egypt And what is meant by this is more clearly and expresly held forth Ezek. 20.8 neither did they forsake the Idols of Egypt Josh 24.14 put away the Gods which your Fathers served on the other side of the Flood and in Egypt Hereupon it was time for God to work that he might not lose his People and to put things into some better way And so he brought in another great Dispensation viz. that which was under the Law And as we subdivided the former Dispensation before the Law into three lesser pieces and parcels namely Adams Noahs and Abrahams Dispensation so we must subdivide this also into some lesser pieces This whole Dispensation under the Law may be subdivided into four particulars under each of which there were remarkable Changes made by God in the state of Religion and of his Church and People 1. The Dispensation of the Tabernacle and the Judges 2. The Dispensation of the Temple and the Kingdom 3. That sad Dispensation of Captivity in Babylon 4. The Dispensation of the second Temple after their Return The first these was from Moses to the Temple The second from the Temple to the Captivity in Babylon The third from the Captivity to the Return The fourth from the Return to the Messiah 1. The first part of the Lords Dispensation to his people under the Law was from Moses to the building of the Temple most of which time they were under the Government of Judges What the Lord did for them and how and what he spake what further Discoveries of himself he gave them during this Period you may see in these five particulars 1. The Lord in remembrance of his ancient Promise delivered them out of Egypt with a high Hand and with an outstretched Arm with great Signs and Wonders and Plagues upon Pharaoh and all his Host and all his Land dividing the Sea before them the History of all which is recorded in the Book of Exodus in the first fifteen Chapters of that Book and so often celebrated with triumphing Praises in the Psalms and Prophets who often speak of all his Wonders in the Land of Egypt which it is thought were within two months before their departure and of his dividing the Sea of Edom that his redeemed might pass through upon dry ground All which was a Type of Spiritual Redemption also and therefore it was a Dispensation of much Mystery and Glory 2. He gave them his Law by Word of Mouth from Heaven and in Writing in the Tables of Stone and in the five Books of Moses Both the Moral Judicial and Ceremonial Law The Moral Law The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai in much Majesty and Terror with an Host of Angels and thundred forth with an audible voice from Heaven those
Ten Commandments Exod. 19.9 that the people might hear and cap. 20.22 he talked with you from Heaven and he wrote them in two Tables of Stone and in the five Books of Moses The Ceremonial and Judicial Laws were delivered in this last way viz. by Writing being left upon Record in the Books of Moses This is celebrated as a choice Mercy Psal 103.7 He made known his ways unto Moses his Acts unto the Children of Israel yea as a peculiar and distinguishing Mercy Psal 147.2 last v. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation And now seems to have been the first Invention of the Art of Writing The first mention we find of it is in Moses his time In Jacobs time it may seem they had no knowledg of it because in the Covenant between him and Laban instead of any Articles in Writing between them or signing or sealing of it they only erect an heap of Stones as Monuments of Remembrance of it Gen. 31.45 seq And the Invention is so admirable that it seems to transcend all humane Wit and Industry The reducing of all audible and articulate Sounds unto visible Marks and that in so familiar and short a way by twenty or thirty Letters without any further load to the Memory that we may well ascribe it unto God himself as the blessed Author and Inventor of it to help his poor people to and in the knowledg of himself according to that in Prov. 8.12 I Wisdom dwell with Prudence and find out knowledg of witty Inventions 3. The Lord accepted the whole Nation to be his own peculiar people erecting a glorious Frame and Fabrick of Church and Common-wealth amongst them wherein the Lord himself was King and did immediately preside and therefore it hath been fitly called a Theocracy so Gideon Judg. 8.23 The Lord shall rule over you Isai 51.16 that I may plant the Heavens and lay the foundations of the Earth and say unto Zion thou art my People 4. He gave them glorious and visible symbols and tokens of his Presence amongst them walking before them in a Pillar of Cloud and Fire Exod. 13.21 22. which Pillar rested upon the Tabernacle after that the Tabernacle was built Exod. ult ult which also was a symbol of his Presence with them and so was the Ark and the Manna from Heaven Exod. 16.14 15. with the Rock that followed them Exod. 17.6 1 Cor. 10.4 5. The Lord himself conducted and led them through the Desarts of Arabia by the Hand of Moses and into the Land of Promise by the Hand of Joshuah drying up Jordan for them subduing the Inhabitants before them raising up Judges and Rulers for them and finally training them up by many instructing Providences to fit them for the further Mercies he had yet in store for them One would think all things were now well setled but there were two or three things partly defects in this Dispensation it self and partly some provoking evils on their part under it by reason whereof the Lord brought in a further and an higher Dispensation afterwards 1. There had been strange Rebellions and Provocations in the Wilderness which have had an influence into all the sorrows and troubles that have befallen them ever since Murmuring against God Mutining against Moses and Aaron which the Lord took very hainously and therefore destroyed Corah Dathan and Abiram by miracle For to disobey the just Commands of a lawful Magistrate is to rebel against God himself And above all Idolatry Exod. 32.34 35 In the day when I visit I will visit their Sin upon them and the Lord plagued the people because they made the Calf which Aaron made From whence the Jews have a proverb that in every affliction in every calamity that comes upon them there be some grains of the Molten Calf in it 2. There were frequent Degeneracies and Oppressions under the Judges 3. The Tabernacle was unfixed Upon all which accounts the Lord had not yet satisfied himself in the expressions of his own Love towards them but his Heart was full and he was resolved to do yet more for them and so to try them to the utmost Therefore he was pleased to put a period unto this Dispensation which began about the year of the World two thousand five hundred and thirteen and lasted about four hundred eighty seven or eighty eight years 1 Kings 6.1 2. The Lords second Dispensation under the Law was from the Temple to the Captivity in Babylon In this Period the Glory of the Legal Dispensation rose up to the greatest height and splendor and that chiefly in two particulars the Glory of the Kingdom and Temple 1. The Kingdom was setled in the House of David as the Type and Progenitor of the Messiah And in his days and Solomons it extended to the utmost bounds that God had spoken of to Abraham though afterwards for their own sins they were cut short the neighbour Nations shaking off the yoke and the Kingdom it self divided into two parts two Tribes only left to Solomons Posterity The Lord had promised Abraham that his Seed should possess all the Land to the River Euphrates Gen. 15.18 And it was performed in Davids time and in Solomons 1 King 4.21 24. 2 Chron. 9.26 And this Kingdom was a Type of the Kingdom of Christ 2. The other piece of their Glory was the Temple Before God had dwelt in Tents but now he had an House built unto his Name The Lord turned his flitting Tabernacle into a fixed Temple for which David made plentiful Preparation Solomon did erect and set it up He did it in seven or eight years time or more precisely seven years and an half for he began it in the second month and finished it in the eighth 1 King 6.1 and ult and he began it in the fourth year of his Reign and finished it in the eleventh moreover he began it in the 480th year after the coming out of Egypt and dedicated it seven or eight years after which fell into the year of the World three thousand or three thousand and one as you will find if you take the pains to compute and put all the former Periods together And their Kingdom and Temple stood in some degree of outward Glory about four hundred years from the finishing and dedicating of it to the beginning of their Bondage under the Yoke of Babylon And now one would think they had been setled in such a condition as might have stood for ever But the Apostacies were very great which brought this high and prosperous Dispensation to an end to a sad end For 1. The peoples hearts being not so with God as became a people crowned with such Glory God left them and their Princes the first and wisest of them the very Founders of their Kingdom and Temple unto very great and enormous transgressions David committed Adultery and Murther a very unparallell'd case for which the Lord threatneth the
distributed but I shall content my self at present with this distribution in the Text and shall speak unto them as the Lord shall enable me in the order wherein the Text hath set them down before us the Words whereof are a short recapitulation of the general Heads of the seven first Chapters of this Book all which treat upon these several sorts of Sacrifices and Offerings with the Rules and Rites appertaining to them which having been delivered and laid down at large the Text concludes and winds up all thus This is the Law of the Burnt-Offering and of the Meat-Offering c. Quest Wherein lay the difference between these several kinds and sorts of Sacrifices Ans There were some things wherein they all agreed namely in all those general things before mentioned in the description and explication of them As 1. They were all offered at the Brazen Altar and so were Offerings of a lower nature also But 2. These were all Quodesh Quodeshim most Holy Holy of Holinesses 3. They were all Ishim Offerings made by Fire 4. They were all Propitiatory they did serve for Expiation and Atonement therefore they differed not in the general nature or in the general scope and intent of them which was the same in all namely to shadow forth Christ in his death as the true Sacrifice for our sins and in other mysteries of his Wisdom and Grace and Love in the Gospel of our Salvation But the difference consists in three things 1. Partly in the different matter of them as an Oxe or a Sheep in some Flower and Wine in others of them 2. Partly in the particular Ends and Designs and Occasions of them some being for sins of Ignorance as the Sin Offering some for sins against Knowledg as Trespass Offerings some for Consecration of the Priests c. 3. Partly yea principally in the different Ceremonies accompanying them some were cut in pieces as Sheep and Oxen but some were only slit in the middle but not cut asunder as Birds And various other Ceremonies there were as you will see further when we come to open and explain the several sorts and kinds of Sacrifices At present I shall conclude with two words of use from all that hath been said Vse 1. Let us learn this great Lesson to keep close to the Rule of divine Institution in matters of Worship I beseech you mark the Text how emphatical the expressions are This is the Law of all the several sorts of Sacrifices which the Lord commanded Moses when he commanded the Children of Israel to offer their Oblations c. As they did nothing but what the Lord commanded Moses so we should do nothing but what Christ hath commanded us Make that your great enquiry in all things that concern the Worship of God hath the Lord commanded it Is the Command gone forth from Mount Sion for it Yea or No The Apostles were limited Mat. 28. ult in their preaching to teach only what Christ had commanded them had they taught their own Inventions they had exceeded their Commission they had not been faithful to their Trust but they were faithful in teaching and transmitting to the Churches what the Lord himself had taught and commanded them 1 Cor. 11.23 What I received of the Lord that I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread c. When a Minister baptiseth with the sign of the Cross or any such like superstition he cannot say I received this from the Lord. Practise nothing which the Word doth not require omit nothing that the Word doth require whatever worldly troubles or dangers you incurr Vse 2. See the worth and value of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the necessity of it for the Justification and Salvation of lost Sinners For what was the meaning of all these Offerings and Sacrifices whereof they had so great a multitude and so many several sorts and kinds of them under the Law but to lead us by the hand to Jesus Christ to the true Sacrifice and Atonement that is in his death and blood for he is the Propitiation for our sins 1 Joh. 2.2 This was the scope and design of them all for it was impossible that such Sacrifices should do the work of making satisfaction to Divine Justice and reconciling God and sinners therefore they were not to terminate their thoughts there but to look beyond them to Jesus Christ in whom both we and they are reconciled to God That this was the Scope of them appears throughout the New Testament therefore Christ is called a Sacrifice Ephes 5.2 and a Propitiation for our sins 1 Joh. 2.2 And hence the Apostle so argues Heb. 9.13 14. If the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heiser sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself with out spot to God purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God THE GOSPEL OF THE BURNT-OFFERING June 21 and 28. 1668. Levit. Cap. 1. Of the Burnt-Offering Yola THe first sort of propitiatory Sacrifices under the Law is the Burnt Offering this is set down first in that enumeration of them Lev. 7.37 and taught first in this Book as being the chief and of most common and continual use I shall speak to it somewhat the more largely because it will give Light unto the other sorts of Sacrifices that follow wherein we may be more brief The Institution of it being recorded in this place I know not how to speak to it better than in the way of an Exposition upon this Chapter borrowing also some further Light out of other Scriptures and out of other Chapters of this Book and particularly the 6th where some things are further explained It is called the Burnt-Offering or the whole Burnt-Offering because it was to be wholly burned and consumed in the fire except only the Skin In Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ascendit because being wholly burnt it ascended and went up to Heaven in smoak and vapour in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The special occasions upon which it was to be offered were many and various Confer on Lev. 7.37 38. of the general occasions of Sacrifices they may be referred to three Heads 1. Such as were providential as upon all emergent occasions when they had Guilt or Judgments to be removed or prevented or Mercies to be bestowed and acknowledged Of these see Lev. 22.18 2. Such incidental occasions wherein they were required by the Law as at the Consecration of Priests Exod. 29.18 And of the Levites Numb 8.12 At the Purification of unclean persons and upon several other occasions 3. At their stated Festivals and appointed Seasons which were both dayly weekly monthly and anniversary of which hereafter Amongst the rest there was a constant Burnt-Offering every day or
north Gates of the holy City restored which some think is not without something of mystery Ezek. 48.1 16 30. Tydings out of the North. Dan. 11. that is say some the Reformation in these northern Countries the Tydings whereof is evil News to Antichrist and the continual progress of that Work hath been a continual trouble to him these hundred and fifty years But I think we may acquiesce in what was first mentioned Aynsworth hath this Note on Lev. 6.25 hereby was figured that Christ our Sin-Offering should be killed by the Priests in Jerusalem and Mount Sion which was on the sides of the North Psal 48.2 Crucified on Mount Calvary which was on the North-West side of Jerusalem as by the Jews Tradition the morning Sacrifice was killed at the North West Horn of the Altar 4. The blood must be poured forth at the foot of the Altar and sprinkled upon it round about The former indeed is not expressed in this Chapter but it is necessarily implyed and you find it expressed Cap. 8.15 for we must borrow Light from other Scriptures poured forth Lev. 8.15 sprinkled in this Chapter vers 5. it was poured forth And almost all things in the Law were purged by blood Heb. 9.22 and without shedding of blood there is no Remission This was a great mystery a Type of the blood of Christ it leads us to the effusion and application of the blood of Christ First the effusion of it to the satisfaction of divine Justice Isai 53.12 He hath poured out his Soul unto death Mat. 26.28 my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins Jesus Christ did often bleed for us in the day of his Humiliation under the guilt of our sins As at his Circumcision then were the first drops of that pure and precious blood shed that Sin-Expiating that Soul-Saving blood and in his Agony in the Garden he did sweat clodded blood and when he was scourged then he bled again for us and when Crowned with Thornes and in his Death and Crucifixion And finally when they pierced his Side with the Spear when that sacred Blood and Water issued forth which John saw and bare record of Joh. 19.34 35. One of the Souldiers with a Spear pierced his Side and forthwith there came out Blood and Water and he that saw it bare record and his record is true and he knoweth that he saith true that ye might believe Thus was the blood of the Sacrifice poured forth And it was also sprinkled so is Christs blood and therefore it is called Heb. 12.24 the blood of sprinkling Sprinkling is a Ceremony very significant of spiritual things but where was this blood sprinkled The Text saith It was sprinkled upon the Altar round about From this expression we may note the mistake of such as think the setting of the Communion-Table close to the Wall like a Dresser or Side-Table is to set it Altar-wise For it is most clear and certain that their Altars were ever so situate as that they might be compassed round about This expression doth occur no less than twelve times in this book of sprinkling upon the Altar round about so Psal 26.6 so will I compass thine Altar As to that conceit no other account can be given of it but the profound ignorance of Papists and Prelates Now the Altar was a Type of the Deity of Christ as being that which supported and sanctified the Sacrifice Mat. 23.19 It is the Altar that sanctifies the Gift It was the Deity of Christ that gave that infinite value and virtue to his Sufferings therefore look as the Altar was a Type of the divine nature of Jesus Christ and the blood was his Sufferings in the humane nature so the pouring forth and sprinkling this humane blood upon the divine Altar may lead our thoughts to consider the conjunction of the humane nature to the divine and the influence of that Conjunction into all the Sufferings of the humane nature Were not the Blood at the bottom of the Altar and sprinkled round about upon the Altar it could have no merit no value nor efficacy it could have no Soul-Redeeming virtue and efficacy and acceptation with the Lord. But it is the blood of God Act. 20.28 and therefore infinitely valuable and meritorious the Offering being sanctified by the Altar of his Deity It was sprinkled also upon the Book The Scripture and Ordinances must be sprinkled with the blood of Christ if ever they be made effectual to us for our good And upon the people Heb. 9.19 20 21. This shews the application of it to our Souls and Consciences 1 Pet. 1.2 Isai 52.15 5. The fifth ceremonial Action about the Burnt-Offering was this the Priest is to flay it and cut it into its pieces vers 6. The Skin must be taken off and the Body of the Sacrifice must be cut asunder yet not meerly chopt in pieces and mangled but according to the several joynts and pieces of the Body for God will have order in the things of his Worship The Skin was the Priests Portion see Cap. 7.8 As to the mystery of this I would not make too curious an application of it but there be four things we may observe and learn out of it 1. It related in general to the Sufferings of Christ for great Sufferings are set forth by such expressions Micah 3. 2 3. Who hate the good and love the evil who pluck off their Skin from off them and their Flesh from off their Bones who also eat the Flesh of my people and flay their Skin from off them c. Psal 22.15 16. 2. Something we may note here as to spiritual cloathing Skins were first used for Apparrel God clothed Adam with Skins Gen. 3.21 And much of our Clothing at this day is either the Skins of Beasts or the Hair and Wooll taken from those Skins as the Sacrifice being dead and slain did leave a Skin for clothing to the Priest by whose hand he died so Jesus Christ our true Sacrifice who was led as a Sheep to the slaughter for our sins yet being dead leaves a Garment of Righteousness to cloth Believers with therefore we are said to put on Christ as a Garment Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jacob got the Blessing having his hand and his neck covered with Goat-Skins and being clothed in the Garments of his Elder Brother So Believers are blessed of God being clothed with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ 3. Whereas the Sacrifice in this Action was laid open and the inward parts of it discovered to open view so is Jesus Christ fully and openly discovered in the preaching of the Gospel Gal. 3.1 before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you like a Sacrifice that is flayed and cut asunder Moreover God sees the inward part of every Service of every Sacrifice we present unto him The Sacrifice was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
way of Retribution for mercies received Lev. 7.11 12. of which Psal 107.22 And let them sacrifice the Sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoycing Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of praise to God continually acknowledging Christ in all our mercies 2. Another end of the Peace-Offerings was for the impetration or obtaining of mercies wanted either in the way of a Vow or a Freewil-Offering Lev. 7.16 Judg. 20.26 The Tribes in their Fast for obtaining victory against the Benjamites offered Peace-Offerings in the way of a Freewil-Offering Psal 56.12 Thy Vows are upon me O God I will render praises unto thee Or I will pay confessions unto thee that is he would in a way of praise offer the Peace-Offerings that he had vowed So Jonah 2.9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving I will pay that I have vowed Salvation is of the Lord. Gen. 28.20 21 22. The tenth of all that God should give him Jacob vowed to give to God that is as a Peace-Offering The difference between a Vow and a Freewil-Offering was only this That in the Freewil-Offering they did present the thing it self unto the Lord but in a Vow they did first promise it being it may be not in a capacity to perform it at that time As Jonah in the Whales belly and then when the deliverance was bestowed and the Prayer heard and granted they paid their Vows unto the Lord. Hence some have thus referred and compared these three sorts of Offerings hitherto described and directed in this Book That as the Burnt-Offering Cap. 1. principally figured our Reconciliation to God by the death of Jesus Christ and the Meat-Offering Cap. 2. had a special respect to our Sanctification in him before God so this Peace-Offering signified both Christs Oblation of himself whereby he became our Peace and our Salvation and likewise our Oblation of Praise Thanksgiving and Prayer unto God in the midst of our troubles temptations and spiritual conflicts which we fight by Faith in this world so that in this Sacrifice we come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may receive Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need as Heb. 4.16 Therefore some have noted that this Sacrifice of Peace-Offering was often added under the Law to other sorts of Sacrifices Because beside the expiation of sin by the Blood of Christ there must be an effectual application of the atonement in a way of actual communion with God in a way of grace and peace through Jesus Christ Christ doth not only procure peace for us but Communicate and apply it to us Here was an actual Participation and an exercise of mutual Communion between God and the Priest and the Offerers feasting together Quest What were the times and seasons when they offered and were to offer Peace Offerings Ans They were either Occasional or more stated The Occasional times were either 1. in thanksgiving or 2. as Vows or 3. as Freewil-Offerings which were formerly spoken to The more stated times are such as these 1. At the Consecration of the Priests One of the Rams is called a Peace Offering Exod. 29.28 And at the first Consecration of Aaron and his Family Lev. 9.4 Also a Bullock and a Ram for Peace Offerings to sacrifice before the Lord. 2. At the expiration of a Nazaretical Vow Numb 6.14 One Lamb without blemish for a Peace Offering 3. At the Dedication of the Tabernacle Each of the twelve Princes of the twelve Tribes of Israel brought for a Sacrifice of Peace Offerings two Oxen five Rams five Hee Goats of the first year Numb 7.17 So at the Dedication of the Temple by Solomon 1 King 8.62 63. Solomon offered a Sacrifice of Peace-Offerings which he offered unto the Lord two and twenty thousand Oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand Sheep 4. In the Feast of First Fruits Two Lambs of the first year for a Sacrifice of Peace-Offerings Lev. 23.19 As for the Offerings at the Purification of a Leper the two Birds Lev. 14. It differs so much from the ordinary Rule of the Peace-Offerings that it cannot well be annumerated to them but it was a peculiar Sacrifice of Purification of which we shall speak hereafter So likewise the Passover Lamb. Exod. 12. though Eucharistical yet cannot well be reduced to the Peace Offerings or to any of the six ordinary kinds but was indeed a peculiar Sacrifice having other Rites than what belonged to the Peace Offering 3. The matter of the Peace Offering it was either of the Herd or of the Flock either of the bigger or of the lesser sort of Cattel either Lambs or Goats There was no Peace-Offering of Fowls as there was of Turtle Doves and young Pigeons in the Burnt-Offering The reason whereof is thought to be because this was to be divided amongst so many to God and the Priest and the Offerers but in Birds being so small this division could not so conveniently be made Moreover it must be without blemish and this was required before in the Burnt-Offering and indeed in all their Sacrifices And finally the Peace Offering it might be either Male or Female which was otherwise in the Law of the Burnt-Offering that was to be Males only Cap 1.3 This Interpreters do apply spiritually to the estate of the Church in Christ in whom there is neither Male nor Female Gal. 3.28 He that accepteth a Female in his Sacrifice doth not exclude Women from his Service they are not excluded from his Love and therefore should not count themselves freed from his Law It was a good speech of a Woman that was a Martyr Jesus Christ suffered as much for the redeeming of our Souls as he did for Men and therefore why should not we have as much courage as they to suffer for him God is no Respecter of persons 4. The Rites and Ceremonies of the Peace-Offering they were of two sorts 1. Common unto this with other Offerings 2. Peculiar to the Peace-Offerings As to the former sort there be five sacred Ceremonies required here which were mentioned before in the Burnt-Offering Cap. 1. and accordingly were there explained As 1. It must be brought to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation 2. The Owner must lay his hands upon it 3. It must be killed 4. The blood shed and sprinkled upon the Altar round about 5. Burning it upon the Altar all which having been explained before when we were upon the Burnt-Offering We may now proceed to the second sort viz. 2. Such Rites as are here first mentioned as having some peculiar respect to the Sacrifice of Peace-Offerings Now these may be reduced to four Heads 1. The division of it into three parts namely between God and the Priest and the people 2. The limitation of time for eating the Priests and peoples part to wit upon the same day or the next 3. The addition of Leaven 4. The prohibition of fat and blood These are the sacred Rites
and threw it up with his own Bowels with these words vicisti Galilaee vicisti In these latter times of all the Persecutors in Queen Marys time there is none that seems to have sinned and shed the blood of Saints against Light more than Stephen Gardner of whom there is this Story in the Book of Martyrs and others that write of those times That having invited sundry persons of Quality the Duke of Norfolk and others to dine with him at his house he would not sit down to Dinner till he had news brought him by his servant of the death of two Martyrs Ridley and Latimer who suffered at Oxford and so made his Friends and Guests stay and wait upon his cruelty and blood thirstiness till four a clock in the Afternoon and then being informed that fire was most certainly set to them he said now let us go to Dinner and he began to eat but was taken ill and carried sick from his Table and so lay fifteen days in most intollerable torments having no ease or voidance of any thing in his body by Urine or otherwise his body being miserably inflamed thereby and thrusting his tongue out of his mouth swollen and black and while he lay in this condition uttering sometimes words of despair and blasphemy when Dr. Day Bishop of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with the Promises of the Gospel and free Justification in the blood of Christ what my Lord saith he will you open that Gap now Nay then farewell all together such words may be fit for one in my condition but if once you open that Gap to the people then farewel altogether And when he was put in remembrance of Peters denying his Master he said that he had denyed with Peter but had never repented with Peter Acts and Monuments vol. 3. pag. 527. and pag. 957. Here was Light and inward Conviction that this was indeed the right way and yet malice even unto blood Open that Gap to the people and then farewel all together just as the Pharisees said they feared the people would go after Christ Some have Instanced also in some of the last killers of the Witnesses of Christ Rev. 11. of whom it is said fire proceedeth out of their mouths and devours their Adversaries vers 5. which they parallel with that expression of the Apostle Heb. 10.27 a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation that shall devour the Adversaries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A receiving of Judgment that is in their own Consciences God sealing up with some flashes of his Wrath their eternal damnation they have some sparks of Hell fire spit into their Consciences from the lives and doctrine of the Witnesses It is spoken in Rev. 11. in allusion to Moses by whom those Rebels Corah and his Company as also Nadab and Abihu were burnt with fire There be two things which are sure signes a man hath not committed it 1. When the Soul is afraid of it least they have committed this sin here is no malice against the Spirit of Grace for on the contrary here is a fear least they have sinned against him this great sin 2. If there be but common meltings and relentings of heart yea though without any true and saving brokenness and softness of heart yet even this common work is evidence enough that this sin hath not been committed for the sin against the Holy Ghost is the highest degree of wickedness and hardness of heart but where there are any common meltings there is not the highest degree of hardness therefore there is not the sin against the Holy Ghost In such there is a perfect fixation of the will in evil like the very Devils and the damned in Hell Therefore let the greatest sinners know if God hath but kept them from this unpardonable sin that there is hope and help in the Gospel for them there is atonement in the blood of Christ for all that come unto God by him God hath not excluded thee do not thou exclude thy self 'T is true there is atonement but how are we to apply this atonement How may we so improve and apply that precious blood of Christ as to get peace by it and sense of pardon and reconciliation with God 1. Turn your eyes and thoughts from all other things but the blood of Jesus Christ alone for reconciliation a man may set his mark upon his Sheep but it is his money that bought them Other things may be Evidences of Justification but it is the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ that purchases it Phil. 3.7 8. Never think to make God amends or content his Justice or appease his Wrath by any thing that you can do 2. Get a thorough conviction in thy Conscience of the fulness of the atonement and the Soul-redeeming virtue that is in the blood of Jesus Christ that it cleanseth from all sin 1 Joh. 1.7 The redeeming power of the blood of Christ is greater then the condemning power of sin This excellency it hath from the excellency and dignity of his person for it is the blood of God Act. 20.28 which makes his obedience and suffering give more glory to God then our sufferings in Hell would have done Desire the Lord to make a clear discovery of this mystery to thy soul 3. Consider how freely this blood is held forth and offered in the Gospel to be rested on by sinners Rom. 3.25 and 16.26 God has revealed it that it may be rested on 4. Be not afraid of receiving the Atonement Rom. 5.11.17 but rather be afraid to reject it Heb. 4.1 We should not be afraid of believing but of not believing for the Gospel is not tendred unto men that they should have notions in their heads but that they should believe Rom. 4.23 24. 5. Let your acting of Faith upon Jesus Christ be always accompanied with repentance Ezek. 16. last This obviates that Objection about fear of presuming if thy Faith be accompanied with repentance thou dost not presume THE GOSPEL OF THE OFFERINGS and SACRIFICES September 10. 1668. Lev. 7.37 INtending at this time my brethren to wind up this Subject of the Legal Offerings and Sacrifices I have therefore now resumed this Text from which you may remember two Doctrins have been formerly observed 1. That there was a divine Institution and command of God for the Offerings and Sacrifices that were under the Law 2. That there were six kinds or sorts of propitiatory Sacrifices under the Law namely the Burnt-Offering the Meat Offering the Peace-Offering the Sin-Offering the Trespass-Offering and the Offering of Consecrations in Serm. 1. of Doct. 1. on this Text pag. 232 233. Doct. 2. That the propitiatory Sacrifices under the Law may be referred to these six kinds or sorts viz. c In the prosecution of this Doctrine we have gone through many of the Offerings and Sacrifices of the old Law in the way of Exposition upon the former Chapters of this Book to vers
these parts for the whole this teacheth us the same that was noted before out of the same Ceremony concerning the blood And whereas he must put the Oyl upon the blood that is upon the same place where he had put the blood before as it is explained more fully vers 28. This teacheth us that our Sanctification flows from our Justification the blood must be applied first and then the Oyl upon it the Spirit of Christ is the purchase of the death of Christ and therefore the Spirit of Sanctification is the fruit of the blood of Justification Look not to have thy Soul cleansed from the power of sin by Sanctification unless it be cleansed from the guilt of sin by the blood of Christ applied for Justification We are first justified and reconciled by his blood and then sanctified and anointed by his Spirit He forgiveth all thine Iniquities and healeth all thy Diseases Psal 103. Justification is in order before Sanctification first the blood and then the Oyl upon the blood These are the Laws and Ordinances for the purifying of the Leper But now a Case of Conscience may arise what if the Leper be not able to get all these Sacrifices and Requisites for his cleansing what shall be done in such a Case The Answer is That the Lord hath made a gracious provision for the necessities of his people therefore lesser Sacrifices are provided and appointed in such a Case from vers 21 to vers 33. where this Case is fully spoken to viz. in stead of three Lambs he requires here but one Lamb and two Turtle Doves or else two young Pigeons whichsoever he could best get And in stead of three Omers of fine flower for a Meat Offering he requires in this Case but one Omer that is about a Pottle of our measure and a Log of Oyl that is about half a Pint. This is the same that was before and these lesser Sacrifices are as effectual for the cleansing of a poor Leper as the greater Sacrifices were for richer persons God accepting a man according to that he hath and not according to that he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 The Rites and Ceremonies of these are the same with the former so I shall pass from this observing only the gracious Condescension of God to the several capacities and necessities of his people The latter part of the Chapter is concerning the cleansing of a leprous house from vers 33 to the end Some say it was a peculiar thing in that Land a strange infection that seized the Land in some Cases the whole Land being a typical Land as we have heard I shall only note two or three general Observations from it and from the whole Chapter and so conclude Obs 1. The marvellous infectious and defiling nature of sin in that it infects and defiles other things the very house and the Garments To the unclean all things are unclean as to the pure all things are pure Tit. 1.15 It poysons and corrupts all the concernments and enjoyments of a sinner The Apostle speaks how the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now Rom. 8.22 For the Creature was made subject to vanity c. The Stones out of the Walls and the Timber out of the houses are troubled with a wicked man and cry out against him as Habakkuk hath it Chap. 2.11 That 's the first Observation Learn the wonderful defilement and infectious nature of sin that it corrupts all the concernments that a sinner is concerned in Obs 2. Whereas the leprous house if it were incurably infected must be pulled down and all the Materials of it cast away vers 40 45. This teacheth us that all the Monuments and remainders of leprous and corrupted things must be destroyed Idolatry and Superstition is a Leprosie that hath overspread the whole Christian World during Popery And as the Prophet saith concerning Babylon Jer. 51.26 They shall not take of Babylon a stone for a Corner nor a stone for Foundations but thou shalt be desolate for ever saith the Lord. It holds true of mystical Babylon that leprous Church whose Idolatry and Superstition is a spiritual Leprosie which did overspread the whole Church of God in the time of Popery therefore away with all the Monuments and Remainders of it Dwalphintramis applies this not impertinently to the Popes mass-Mass-Book The Popes Mass Book was a leprous house the stones and timber whereof should have been cast aside as polluted and an abomination therefore it was an unhappy and a fatal error in the first Reformation to take Materials out of that to reform with to take the stones and timber of that leprous house to use in the Worship of God which must be therefore framed to comport with those leprous polluted things It hath been the occasion of a new Conflict to the people of God in this Age and of manifold sufferings to the servants of Christ because they contended that these leprous polluted things should be cast aside This might have been prevented if there had been a thorough Reformation at first and the stones and timber of those leprous houses the Popes Mass-Book Ritual Pontifical and Breviary had been at our first Reformation cast forth as pollutted and abominable Obs 3. How difficult and yet withal how necessary a work the purifying and cleansing of the Leprosie is The Leprosie was a Type of sin and sinful Corruption especially that original and universal pollution and defilement of our natures the Purification of the Leprosie therefore is nothing else but the work of Mortification or purging out of sinful Corruption This is a difficult work see how many Ingredients must concur to it in the Type there must be two Birds with Cedar Scarlet and Hyssop and a great many Ceremonies about these Materials There must be Spring Water and an earthen Vessel and killing dipping sprinkling washing shaving c. And when all this is done there is but half the work done for there must be also three Lambs for a Burnt-Offering a Trespass Offering a Sin Offering And three Omers of fine Flower with Oyl for a Meat Offering and a Log of Oyl and a multitude of sacred Rites and Ceremonies about these materials O how much ado there is to get a Leprous person purified and made clean And all these things instruct and shew you all along the method of the Lords proceeding in purifying the hearts of sinners There must be a great deal of pains taken with thy own heart in the use of all the means and Ordinances that God hath appointed And though there be all this pains and difficulty in the work yet it must be done there is a necessity of it This Disease is very troublesom and loathsom and it may be mortal at last if a Cure be not provided in time Therefore the Leper must use means and take pains And so should sinful Leprous souls Obs 4. That as there is a Leprosie of the heart as we are defiled and unclean by
the Mountains of delights of Holiness as Dan. 11.45 No account can be given hereof but the good Pleasure of his Will 4. The Materials and Preparations of them there were the choicest Materials and the most plentiful Preparations for them the people contributed to the Tabernacle very liberally Exod. 35.21 29. Exod. 36.5 6 7. So that Proclamation was made for them to cease And for the Temple was prepared Gold Silver Brass Iron Wood Stone all in great abundance and vast Sums by David and Solomon 1. These rich and choice Materials instruct us that we must give God the best we have and give it plentifully and liberally 2. There must be a preparing time and work for the building of the Temple which to do is Gods free Gift therefore we must acknowledge and admire him for it as David did 1 Chron. 29.14 who or what am I or my people that we should offer so willingly And the way to continue this frame is to beg it of God as there David also doth ver 18. keep it for ever in the hearts of thy people 5. The Parts which I shall mention now but deferring the interpretation of them to another time they were three the House the Courts and the Vessels all these were parts of the Temple take it in the largest sense for all the holy Buildings and appertainances thereof 1. The House or Building the covered Temple Of this there are the common parts that belong to every House namely the Foundation the Walls the Doors the Windows the Floor the Roof The peculiar parts of this house as it was the house of the Lord were the Porch the Sanctuary and the Oracle with the side-chambers belonging to them These are the parts of the House it self or the covered Temple 2. The second general part of the Temple is the Courts about it for they were holy ground as well as the covered Building and they were two the outward and the inward Court or the Court of the People and the Court of the Priests 3. The Vessels they were many I shall instance only the chief and such as were significant of Gospel-mysteries and they are either belonging to the Sanctuary or to the Oracle 1. To the Sanctuary and that either sub dio or sub tecto without or within doors There were four without doors and three within without the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering the molten Sea the Lavers and the Pillars of Brass within the Altar of Incense the Table of Shew-bread and the Candlesticks 2. To the Oracle wherein was the Ark and the appertainances thereof Heb. 9.1 to 5. Vse Exhortation unto Temple-work It is prophesied that even the Gentiles Zech. 6. ult they that are far off shall come and build in the Temple of the Lord. We are all by nature far off Ephes 2. but brought nigh by the Blood of Christ and built up into an holy Temple to the Lord as it there follows ver 13 17 19 c. to the end Take these Rules about Temple-work 1. Be sure you build according to the Pattern shown in the Mount to Moses Exod. 25.9 Heb. 8.5 It is eighteen times repeated in the two last Chapters of Exodus as the Lord commanded Moses so did he as the Lord commanded Moses And in like manner David and Solomon See the Geneva Note upon it 1 Chron. 28.11 12 19. they had both the Word and Spirit of God to direct them If you ask how may we know the Pattern These are the means of knowing it the Word and the Spirit Hag. 2.5 and they give light in this matter in the way of effectual Humiliation and Repentance especially repent and be humbled for Temple-sins Temple-defilements for your Church-sins Church-defilements sins against the Worship of God see Ezek. 43.10 11. so Rev. 11.1 a Reed is given at the restoring of the Churches and Worship of God from the Antichristian Apostacy to measure the Temple the Altar and the Worshippers Get this measuring Reed into your hands the Word of God Revel 21.15 2. Leave out the outer Court Rev 11.2 that is nominal Christians Look to the matter of the Church else it will be like rotten timber in the foundation of a Building Not that I do exhort you to rigour and severity I know there may be an extream on both hands but take heed of extreams and of admitting persons visibly unfit These two Directions are of that weight that I have thought they are enough as to Communion of Churches If they own the Scripture for their Rule of Worship and Discipline if they build by the golden Reed and if they leave out the outer Court if there be care taken to keep off promiscuous Administrations But if they slight the Scripture as the rule of their Walking or of their Worship and Administrations Or if they be not in a capacity to keep the Ordinances pure I do not see how we can have comfortable communion with them 3. Let there be no noise of Axes and Hammers in building the Temple It was built entirely of hewed and squared stones whereof every one was perfectly fitted for its place the length of the stones some say being the thickness of the Wall 1 Kin. 6.7 It is not to be too rigorously understood but the meaning is is as some express it no sound that was obstreperous to a publick disturbance no laborious sound from the hewing or squaring of timber but only a more cheerful yea melodious harmony from the conjunction and compacting of matter aforeâ—â—â—d fitted and prepared Doubtless this was not without a mystery it may be divers ways applied as that the matter of the Church should be well prepared before their admission as members and that the Saints are aforehand fitted and prepared unto Glory so that when they come to dye they have nothing else to do but to dye for the Temple was a Type of Heaven and of the Church triumphant But the Application that I would make of it is this There should be no noise of strife no contention no collision of mens spirits in Church-society And the means to avoid this is the well preparing of the matter when the Soul is well prepared by an humbling work in its first conversion when hewed and squared it will lye even in the building else not For by Pride only comes Contention 4 Build the House of the Lord before your own Houses so Solomon did The Lords House was finished in seven years but his own was not finished till thirteen years 1 Kings 6. ult with cap. 7. 1. not that he regarded his own House more but less and therefore finished the Lords House before his own And the Jews after their return from the Captivity are greatly reproved for this neglect Hag. 1.4 and 2.19 It is indeed the general scope of the whole book of Haggai It brings a Blessing upon all your concernments Matth. 6.33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added But if this be
is no Gospel-mystery therefore no need it should be typified by so great a Type If there be any thing of old that may any way relate to it it must be some small circumstance of some Tye but not such a great and principal a Type as the Altar 2. The Altar is greater than the Gist Matth. 23.19 but the wooden Cross is not greater or more excellent than the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for us nor doth it sanctifie or make Jesus Christ accepted Therefore the wooden Cross is not the Altar There hath been also another weak and impertinent application of it which is to be found in some books of Devotion viz. the Altar of our Hearts But wherein the Heart is like an Altar I cannot tell The same argument confutes this also It is not thy Heart that sanctifies thee or thy Services But then what is the Altar The Answer is that the Altar is Christ himself so the Holy Ghost himself expounds it Heb. 13.10 Quest But how doth the Altar represent Christ Answer In two respects in regard of his Deity and Priestly Office 1. It is Christ in regard of his Divine nature Reas 1. Because his Humane nature was the Sacrifice therefore his Deity is the Altar for in offering Sacrifice there must be both a Sacrifice and an Altar And so in Christ there are two natures his Deity and Humanity whereof the Humane nature being the Sacrifice that was slain and offered for us it remains that his other nature was the Altar Reas 2. Because it is the Altar that sanctifies the Gift Matth. 23.19 Exod. 29.37 But it was the Deity of Christ that gave that infinite vertue and value to his sufferings It was his Deity that sanctified his Humane nature to be such an acceptable Sacrifice to the Lord. Reas 3. Because the Altar did support and bear up the Sacrifice But it was his Divine nature that did support his Humane nature in those unutterable Sufferings Heb. 9.14 through the eternal Spirit he offered up himself unto God What did that piece of Wood do It did but cruciate and torture his blessed Body it did not bear up his Spirit It is true that Tree did lift up his Body from the earth but it was another manner of support that was necessary to our Salvation 2. The Altar typifies Christ in regard of his Priestly Office You know he hath a threefold Office he is a Prophet Priest and King The Altar looks chiefly at his Priestly Office and the concernments of that for as a Priest he offered Sacrifice and it is the Altar that doth support and sanctifie the Sacrifice Both the Natures of Christ have an influence into all his Offices and so into his Priestly by which he made satisfaction for our sins To open it a little more particularly all the concernments of the Altar are full of mystery and teaching I shall instance in seven particulars about it wherein you may see something of Christ and of the Gospel 1. There was but one Altar the Lord forbad all others though intended to himself 2 Kings 18.22 so there is but one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 The Papists have other Mediators Saints and Angels c. this is to have many Altars whereas the Lord accepts none but this nor no Sacrifice but what is offered upon this Altar 2. The Altar had four Horns upon the four corners of it they are called Horns because they were made like Horns upwards but bending towards the top Ezek. 43.15 upward shall be the four Horns The use of them was not only for Ornament but to keep things from falling off the Altar and to bind the Sacrifice to them when they were to slay it as Psal 118.27 Horns is an emblem of power Jer. 48.25 the Horn of Moab is cut off that is his strength and power saith your Marginal note Lam. 2.3 he hath cut off in his fierce anger all the Horn of Israel 1 Sam. 2.1 Mine Horn is exalted in the Lord it is applied to God Hab. 3.4 he had Horns coming out of his hand and there was the hiding of his power These four Horns of the Altar signified the Power and Glory of Christs Priesthood for the Salvation of his Church gathered together from the four corners of the earth Ainsw in Exod. 27.1 If the Altar be his Deity the Horns of this Altar is the Power of his Deity the Horns of an almighty Power Fly for refuge thither and thou art safe enough Joab fled to the Horns of the Altar but he was pluckt from thence and slain 1 Kings 2.31 according to the Law Exod. 21.14 But he that flies to Christ and hangs upon the Horns of this Altar shall never be pluckt thence he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6.37 3. The Altar was anointed and so sanctified unto its Office Numb 7.1 Exod. 40.9 this is the Sanctification or Inauguration of our Lord Jesus Christ into his Office he was anointed with the Spirit above measure not only the Graces thereof in his Humane nature but that glorious Person himself goes forth by commission from the Father and the Son as the Son by commission from the Father to reconcile and save sinners 4. There were divers Vessels of the Altar belonging to it for the use and service of it Numb 4.14 of Brass 1 Kings 7.47 of Gold 1 Chron. 28.17 also pure Gold for the Flesh-hooks Of which they being necessary instruments for the work of sacrificing we need not seek a particular mystery and signification in every Vessel only in general some apply them to the Ordinances of the Gospel the means of Grace which do attend upon the Altar upon the Service of Jesus Christ in his Church As we have an Altar under the Gospel so we have Vessels belonging to this Ordinance Gospel-Ordinances whereof there is great use As the Priests could not sacrifice and officiate about the Altar without Knives and Flesh-hooks and Shovels c. so we cannot have communion with Christ without means and Ordinances 5. The Altar was furnished with Fire from Heaven which was to be kept always burning Now what is the mystery of this sacred Fire 1. The Wrath of God against Sin He is a consuming Fire an everlasting burning against sin and sinners Heb. 12. ult Isai 33.16 2. The Spirit of God is compared to Fire Matth. 3.11 He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire Isai 4.4 When he shall have purged the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of Judgment and by the spirit of burning And it is a sacred Fire that never goes out We should be careful to keep this Fire burning take heed of grieving of quenching the Spirit 1 Thess 5.19 3. The Word and Ordinances are like unto Fire Jer. 23.29 they will burn up and consume what opposeth them Rev 11.5 it s said of the two Witnesses that Fire goes
docebantur ne dum convenit spirituali cultui novi Testamenti If it were saith he a good and pious thing to appoint Holy days this Piety were better imployed in so many Commemorations of the actions of Christ as the Church could bear then in turning aside to the Saints To dedicate a day unto God in remembrance of a man is a thing which the very Jews were never taught to do in those weak and childish times much less doth it agree to the spiritual Worship of the New Testament And though it were lawful saith Mr. Cartwright First Reply p. 153. for the Church to ordain Holy days to our Saviour Christ or the blessed Trinity yet it is not therefore lawful to institute Holy days to the Apostles and other Saints or to their remembrance As to that pretense of honouring their memorial I remember this is alledged by Bellarmine for the keeping of Reliques and Dr. Ames Bellarm Enerv. tom 2. l. 6. c. 6. thes 25. his answer to him De istiusmodi conservatione nihil traditur in Scripturâ ubi tamen omne genus honoris virtuti defertur may be applied here this is such a way of honouring the memorial of Saints departed as the Scripture knows not wherein yet all due honour is given to virtue and holiness For as we reason against the Popish Purgatory saith Mr. Cartwright First Reply p. 153. that it is therefore nought forasmuch as neither in the Old Testament nor in the New there is any mention of Prayer at any time for the Dead so may it be reasoned against these Holy days ordained for the remembrance of the Saints that forasmuch as the old people did never keep any Feast or Holy day for the remembrance either of Moses or Daniel or Job or Abraham or David or any other how holy or excellent soever they were Nor the Apostles nor the Churches in their time never instituted any neither to keep the remembrance of Stephen or of the Virgin Mary or of John Baptist or of any other notable rare personage that the instituting and erecting of them now and this attempt by the Churches which followed is not without some note of presumption for that it undertaketh those things which the primitive Church in the Apostles times having greater gifts of the Spirit of God durst not venture upon And what though some of these Corruptions crept in some what early they are but old sins and grey-headed errors That Antichristian violence of Victor Bishop of Rome for Easter was about the year of Christ one hundred ninety eight but Christmas is not so ancient Pezelius refers the first establishment of it to the Council of Constantinople in the year of Christ five hundred fifty three Celebrata est saith he Constantinopoli Synodus Oecumenica quinta circa annum Christi 553. In eadem Synodo dies natalis Christi dies Purificationis Mariae primum sunt instituti ut solenniter quotannis celebrarentur Pezel Mellific Hist par 2. Justinian 1. pag. 326. But be their antiquity more or less they have been abundantly testified against by the faithful Servants of Christ both in former and later times Socrates who wrote the History of the Church above twelve hundred years ago hath a whole Chapter concerning Easter wherein he hath many notable arguments against those that contend so much for it He saith that as many other things crept in of custom in sundry places so the Feast of Easter prevailed amongst all people of a certain private custom and observation seeing not one of the Apostles hath any where prescribed any thing about it He sheweth also that the Apostles have set the Churches free from the yoke of bondage by their Letters to them Acts 15. But some neglecting these things account of Fornication as a thing indifferent yet they contend about Holy days as it were for life and death they despise the Commandments of God and establish them Canons of their own they set at nought they make no account of the Law published by the Apostles but raise a foul stir about Days and Months c. Thus Socrates Hist lib. 5. cap. 22. Which Testimony of his is so plain and punctual that Bellarmine knew not how to rid his hands of it but by flying out upon Socrates and calling him a Novatian Heretick Bell. de Cultu Sanct. l. 3. c. 10. which is but a poor shift instead of answering his Arguments to reproach his Person But the Book he hath written I mean his Ecclesiastical History is evidence enough for him that he was a man of an excellent spirit It was one of the Articles held and owned by the Waldenses as Mr. Fox sheweth five hundred years ago Constrained and prefixed Fasts bound to days and times difference of Meats superfluous Holy days and all the rabblement of Rites and Ceremonies brought in by Man to be abolished Fox Acts and Mon. vol. 1. p. 300. art 6. It was Luthers desire no less then seven score years ago in his Book de Bonis Operibus set forth anno 1520. that there were no other Festival days amongst Christians but only the Lords day Beza saith Superstitiosum esse docemus arbitrari unum aliquem diem altero sanctiorem Bez. Confes c. 5. art 41. And Reverend Mr. Dod condemns it as Idolatry against the second Commandment either to pray unto the Saints or to swear by them or to dedicate set days and times to the honour of them either by Fasting or Feasting Dod on the second Commandm p. 67 68. In Scotland they were laid aside in the first Reformation and have been witnessed against by the Godly there ever since They were revived indeed by those backsliders in the Assembly of Perth in the year 1618. For one of the five Articles of that Assembly was concerning Festival days but they found little acceptance with such as adhered to the Reformation of Religion as appears by the Books and Writings of many godly learned men against the Acts of that Assembly Yea King James himself before his Apostasie bore witness against them Right excellent was that Speech of his to a National Assembly in Scotland anno 1590. He praised God that he was King in the sincerest Church in the world sincerer then the Church of England for their Service was an ill said Mass in English sincerer then Geneva it self for they observed Pasche and Yoo le that is Easter and Christmas and what warrant said he have they for that I find this Speech of his recorded in Didoclavius his Altare Damascenum pag. 666. and in the Book intituled Perth Assembly the Proceedings the Nullity thereof c. printed 1619. pag. 64. and in the Re-examination of the five Articles of Perth printed 1636. pag. 340. How far he did sin against these enlightenings and convictions and how the Bishops did poyson him and pervert his Spirit in his declining times it is needless here to discourse But these were his Principles in his first which were his best times