Wounds of sin compared to deadly poison in foure things 327 Come for counsell to spirituall Physitians 327 who reproved 328 Confesse speciall sinnes and goe wholly out of thy selfe and all other 329 Look only unto Christ and that two wayes 331 How this looking cures us by faith and how by faith 332 Markes of one cured by looking to Christ. 333 Foure qualities of the eye that looks to him 334 Motives to look upto our Serpent 335 Vse of comfort in five particulars 337 In this Treatise are two things 1 The Introduction chap. 1. where 1 Propositions concerning the Church of God 2 Reasons of the ancient Ceremonies 2 The Treatis it selfe 6. 2. where 1 Christ is figured in holy persons 1 Singular eleven cap. 2 -12 2 Rankes and orders of men separated and sanctified 1 By birth the First-borne c. 13. 2 By office the Priests c. 14 Deputation Execution 3 By vow the Nazarits c. 15 4 By ceremonie Cleane persons c. 16. 2 He is figured in holy things c. 17. 1 Ordinary Sacraments 1 Circumcision c. 18 2 Passeover c. 19 2. Extraordinary answerable to 1 Circumcision Baptism 2 1 Pillar of Cloud Fire c. 20 2 Red Sea c. 21. 2 Passouer and Lords Supper 2. 1 Manna frō heavē c. 22. 2 Water out of the Rock c. 23. Adde hereunto the Brazen Serpent c. 24. CHRIST REVEALED IOHN 14. 6. I am the Truth CHAP. I. HAving formerly delivered that Christ is Truth as opposed to falsehood we are now to shew that he is Truth as opposed to the shadows and figures of the old Law In the entrance into which Treatise we must premise some Propositions 1. That the Lord decreed to have alwayes a Church upon the face of the earth for the upholding of which hee upholds the world For 1. Hee will have his name confessed and praised as well in earth as in heaven 2. Hee will maintaine his publike worship by it to distinguish heathenish Idolaters from true Worshippers 3. To prepare true beleevers in this Church militant to that Church triumphant and to set and polish them as living stones in this mount of the Church for that heavenly mountaine and temple II. For the effecting of his purpose he hath decreed that the doctrine of salvation by Iesus Christ should bee founded out in the Church together with the doctrine of the Law that partly the right way of his worshipp and partly the way of salvation might be made knowen and opened to beleevers III. By the Gospel the Lord hath revealed the Covenant of grace which is in substance but one as God is but one and Christ is but one who is the substance of it As there is but one hope of one eternall life the end of the Covenant and one faith which is the meane to leade to that end Ephes. 4. 5. IV. Christ and his doctrine and Covenant being the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. for substance altereth and differeth onely in the forme and manner of dispensation according to which it is diuersly propounded in the old Testament and New In the former propounded as of the Messiah to come from Adam unto his Incarnation In the latter as of the Saviour already come and so embraced in the Church from his first comming to his second comming againe V. So long as Christ was to come it pleased God to traine his Church by an heape of Ceremonies rites figures and shadows to strengthen their faith in the expectation of him Of which multitude of Ceremonies if more speciall reasons be demanded These may be given I. The nonage and infancie of that Church which was not capable of such high mysteries but was to bee taught by their eyes as well as their eares And therefore it pleased God to put the ancient Church even newly out of the cradle under Tutors Gal. 4. 2. and appointed diverse types and ceremonies as rudiments and introductions verse 3. fitted to the grosse and weake sences of that Church which was to be brought on by little and little through such shadows and figures to the true Image and thing signified who in our Text calleth himselfe truth in opposition to all those shadowes Object But the weaker and duller they were the more neede had they of cleare instruction and God could have revealed Christ as clearely to them as to us Sol. But as the Lord had observed this method in creating the world hee would have darknesse goe before light and in upholding the world hee would have dawning goe before cleare day So in the framing and upholding the Church hee would have Christ exhibited to the Fathers as to the Wise men in swadling clouts which hid his glory He respected them as children he erected for them in Iewry a little free-schoole set up in a corner of the world hee appointed the Law of Moses as a Primer or A. B. C. in which Christ was to be shadowed in darke and obscure maner he would that Christ should come to his brethren as Ioseph to his who first obscured himself to them and afterward made himselfe better knowen One compares it to Noahs 1. Opening the window of the Arke 2. Removing the covering 3. Stepping forth himselfe II. Therein the wisedome of God provided for the further advancement of Christ and his Gospel which compared with the Law must bee manifested in great brightnesse and glory Christ the Sonne must come in more glory then Moses the servant Hence Ioh. 1. 17. The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ The Gospel is called grace not because under the Law the same grace was not preached but comparatively that was scarse grace to this which is more full more manifest as the light in the dawning is scarse light in comparison of light at noone-day There was grace but here is more grace 1. In manifestation The light of the Sunne is seven-fold and like the light of seven dayes as was prophesied Isai. 30. 26. 2. In impletion and accomplishment of that which was but a promise of grace in comparison Act. 13. 32. 3. In application and apprehension by beleevers in all Countries not onely in Iudea 4. In the groweth and perfection of faith and grace in the hearts of ordinary beleevers above them Hence Heb. 10. 1. the Law had but a shadow of good things to come and not the Image and truth it selfe that is It had a rude and darke delineation of good things to come as a draught made by a painter with a coale but the Gospel exhibits the picture it selfe in the flourish and beauty that is the truth and being of it Hence also Paul to the Col. 2. 17. speaking of observances of the Ceremoniall Law saith they were but shadowes of things to come but the body is Christ. Whence hee would have us conceive 1. That as the body is the cause of the shadow and the cause more excellent then the thing
Both doe all about their Arkes at Gods commandement For as the Lord did not hide from Noah his decree Gen. 6. 13 So he communicated his whole will and counsell to his Sonne concerning the salvation of the Church Ioh. 8. 26. 2. As Noah takes many trees at Gods commandement and strongly closeth them together and pitcheth them within and without against the waters So doth Christ make choice of trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord and compacts them together by the bond of the Spirit glewes and fastens them together by the glew of Christian love and pitcheth them within and without fortifies and strengthens them against the waters of affliction temptation persecution that none shall drowne or overwhelme them 3. As Noah prepared divers roomes in the Arke for divers creatures So Christ in his Arke appoints divers places and functions for beleevers here and prepares in his Fathers house many mansions for them hereafter Ioh. 14. 2. And as Noah receives into the Arke cleane and uncleane creatures and persons a Sem and a Cham So the Lord Christ into his militant Church all sorts of Nations sexes persons conditions Jewes Gentiles men women noble ignoble beleevers and unbeleevers hypocrites and sound Christians On this floore is wheat and chaffe 4. As Noah made a window into his Arke to give light to the creatures within So Christ by the Gospel preached in the Church enlighteneth the mindes of those that are within without which light let in they should sit in everlasting darkenesse 5. As Noah by the same direction makes a doore to enter into the Arke and but one doore for so very great a building So there is but one doore to the great building of the Church dispersed farre and wide and this is Christ himselfe Ioh. 10. 7 9. 6. As Noah the Master of the Arke enters into it and receaves and saves all that enter in with him for which purpose hee is contented to bee tossed up and downe by those most raging waters and had no more freedome from feare and danger then others in the Arke So Christ the Master of his Church to save his Church himselfe enters into it and is admitted into it by the waters of Baptisme and was contented for the saving of others to bee tossed with waves and billowes of affliction ignominy shame sinne curse yea the torments of hell That his Church might be in safety with him he will bee in danger with her and every way to helpe her will bee every way like her in all things sinne excepted V. Both of them were repayrers of the world From Noah descended all the inhabitants of the earth from Christ all the inhabitants of heaven The world againe was re-peopled and replenished by Noahs posterity the Church and every member is Christs posterity Both of them were preservers and providers for all sorts of Creatures But Noah as a steward Christ as Lord and owner of them Noah for a few Christ for all Noah for a yeare and a little more Christ perpetually To both of them the creatures came in and were obedient to them Though never so fierce and savage out of the Arke yet in the Arke they were mild and tame So to Christ the windes seas divels obey and if Lyons and Cockatrices come into the Arke and Church they become as Lambs and little children putting off all fiercenesse Isa. 11. 6. VI. Both of them offered a sacrifice of rest and sweet savour to the Lord Noah Gen. 8. 21. As men are delighted with sweet savours so was Noahs sacrifice pleasing to God But his was a sacrifice but of testification witnessing his faith and thankfulnesse The sacrifice of Christ was a perfect satisfaction in which he offered not the bodies of cleane beasts as Noah but his owne body as a Lamb without spot not upon an Altar built by Noahs hand but upon the Altar of his Deity not ascending to heaven by ordinary fire but offered through his eternall spirit compard to fire Heb. 9. 14. And therefore must fully satifie his Fathers justice appease his wrath and be most acceptable in it selfe and must bring Noahs and all other sacrifices into acceptance And from hence it was that with both of them God did make a covenant of grace for their posterities that he would never breake out in such wrath against them confirming the same unto the posterity of Adam by the signe of the Raynebow and to the posterity of Christ by the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lords Supper VII Both of them sent a Dove out of the Arke Noah when the waters asswaged and much of his feare and daunger was past sends out the Dove who brought an Olive branch a signe of joy comfort and abating of the waters So Christ Jesus his sufferings and labours being ended sent his Spirit forth which had lighted as a Dove on him and brings joy and peace and comfort into the hearts of all beleevers bringing in a testimony that Gods wrath is appeased the waters are diminished his love and favour returned which is better then life Now to application I. In the type and truth learne If all the world about us be given to wickednesse and wee be cast into never so wicked an age then to labour to shine in the middest of a naughty generation Phil. 2. 15. It is a singular praise to be a Lot in Sodom and in a corrupt age to bee unlike sinners For light to shine and shew it selfe in darkenesse is beautifull and glorious Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven To shew our selves sonnes of God and children of light among enemies of God and light is a singular honour Noah fashioned not himselfe to those corrupt times nor Christ to the evill behaviour of that age Never had Christians more need among so many wicked fashions to be exhorted not to fashion themselves to the world If a Preacher hold on a preacher of righteousnesse in singlenesse and sincerity of heart not fashioning himselfe to the present temporizers and men-pleasers Let all the world scorne oppose traduce him If a private man hold forth the word of life and in blamelesse and pure conversation walke in a way which leadeth against the streame and common current of the corrupt age Both the one and the other have here the type and the truth Noah and Christ presidents for the like actions precedents in the same way II. In them both learne That these are the dayes in which we must expect our Lord to judgement As it was in the dayes of Noah c So shall the comming of the Sonne of man bee As those sinnes in Noahs time brought the deluge of water the same sinnes now reigning shall bring and hasten the destruction by fire prophecyed 2. Pet. 3. The sinnes are these 1. The sonnes of God marry with the daughters of men that is the godly with the
which set thee on worke will hasten thy deliverance CHAP. VI. 5. Ioseph a type of Christ 4. wayes I. IN regard of his person 1. Ioseph was the first borne of the beloved Rahel as Christ was the first borne of the freely beloved Mary 2. Best beloved of his father Genes 37. 3. figuring Christ who was declared the welbeloved in whom his Father delighted Matth. 3. 17. 3. Hee was very beautifull Gen. 39. 6. and his internall beauty was more then his externall Christ was more beautifull then the sonnes of men and making us beautifull in his beauty 4. Ioseph was endued with such a measure of wisedome and understanding as none was like him in whom Gods Spirit was For which cause hee was called Zaphnath-paaneah verse 45. that is an expounder of secrets figuring Christ in whom were treasures of wisedome and the Spirit beyond all measure who is therefore called the great Counseller and the Lambe onely worthy to open the booke who onely hath the key of David to open the secret mysteries of salvation 5. In Iacobs last Testament Ioseph is called a fruitfull bough whose branches runne upon the wall because out of him branched two tribes Ephraim and Manasseh therein hee was a type of Christ who is not a fruitfull bough onely but a root from whom all the tribes of God branch out and flourish And whereas those tribes are come to nothing Christ shall see his seed and prolong his dayes II. In his actions 1. Ioseph was sent by his father to visite his brethren in the wildernesse So was Christ sent to seeke his brethren wandring in the wildernesse he was sent to the lost sheepe of Israel 2. As at thirty yeares Ioseph was preferred to his Office by Pharaoh So at thirty yeares Christ entred his Office 3. As by Pharaoh a virgin was given Ioseph to wife verse 45 So in the Church as a pure Virgin given by the Father to Jesus Christ as his Spouse to sanctifie and save All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out 4. As Ioseph out of Pharaohs garners feeds all Egypt all his fathers house and the nations whence in Gen. 49. 24. he is called the feeder of Israel and a stone that is a rocke or refuge to his brethren So Jesus Christ is the feeder of Israel and of all the family of God in all Nations of the earth not with temporall food onely but with the Manna from heaven the Word and Sacraments and his owne flesh and blood the incorruptible and indeficient bread and water of life 5. As Ioseph in his lowest estate was both a Lord in the prison and a comforter of the prisoners assuring the Butler of his life and recovery of his place So Jesus Christ at his lowest abasement was Lord over death and the grave having command of them and his last breath on the Crosse all most comforted the poore thiefe promising him both life and glory 6. As Ioseph doth all the good he can for his brethren that had ill deserved it For 1. Hee teacheth them how to live together and commends brotherly love and concord fall not out by the way 2. Teacheth them how to speake to Pharaoh and what to demand 3. Goes to Pharaoh and speaks and obtaines for them whatsoever he would and placeth them in Goshen the far of the land till they come to Canaan So Jesus Christ above all lessons commended to us the new Commandement of love a badge of his disciples teacheth us how to pray and what in the Lords prayer himselfe intercedes for us and obtaineth all that good is and provides for us in earth till we come to Canaan III. In his sufferings and passions 1. The archers grieved him Gen 49. 23. that is not his Mistris onely and Master but his brethren also conspire against him although sent from his father in love and comes in love to see how they doe and to know their wants yet they scorn him behold yonder dreamer comes they consult to kill him let us kill him and see what will become of his dreames So Jesus Christ came among his owne sent from his Father in love pitying the wandrings and wants of men but the Jews scorne him for a deceiver plot to kill him conspire against his life 2. As his brethren sold him for twenty pieces stript him naked cast him into a pit sent him as a slave into Egypt where hee being indeed free became a servant So Jesus Christ in his infancy was sent into Egypt sold by the Jews for thirty pieces stript naked of his apparrell and in the forme of a servant cast into the pit of death and the grave whence they thought never to have heard more of him as Iosephs brethren did 3. As in this service Ioseph was tempted to whoredome by his wanton Mistris when they were alone and that often and dayly but by strength of grace stoutly resisted yea conquered her and himselfe So was Jesus Christ in the entrance of his Ministery strongly assailed by Satan to spirituall whoredome when he was alone in the wildernesse and that often set upon yet by the power of the Spirit overcame and conquered so as the evill one found nothing in him 4. As in this service notwithstanding his faithfulnesse and innocency Ioseph was falsely accused condemned cast into prison with the Butler and Baker So was Jesus Christ notwithstanding all his innocency falsely accused they lay things to his charge he never knew as falsely condemned bound yea fastened to the Crosse betweene the thieves and cast into the grave as into a prison till the time of his deliverance came that he was taken out from prison and judgement as Isai. 53. 8. IV. In his advancement and preferment For 1. As Ioseph was separate from his brethren Gen. 49. 26. that is advanced by God to honour above them all So Christ was separate and advanced in glory above men and Angels Heb. 1. 4. hath obtained a farre more excellent name then the Angels 2. Though Ioseph was shot at by the archers yet his arme was strengthened the bonds and fetters were loosed and he not onely brought out of prison but advanced to bee Lord over the whole land and next unto Pharaoh having all administration delivered unto him So Jesus Christ although he was a But or signe of contradiction yet his arme was strengthened to raise himselfe out of the grave to loose all chaines of sin to loose all sorrowes of death and being risâ—n againe was advanced and exalted above all creatures all power given him in heaven and earth his throne set next unto his Fathers the Lord of his Church and ruler of the whole earth to him is committed the governement and his bounds are the utmost hills Psalm 2. yea the whole Church in heaven and earth is his to whom all power belongs 3. As Pharaoh every way
all the Romish paynters quite out who paint him with his haire lying round about his shoulders but Painters and Poets may lye by authority It was enough for him that he was a Nazarite in the truth and substance of that Law although not in the letter and outward ceremony of it In which respect how did he neglect himselfe who being the Lord of all denyed himselfe of all rights and comforts He was so farre from all delicacy that with an utter refusall of all delights of flesh his whole intention was set on his function and office submitting himselfe to sorrow curse c. Besides what courage and fortitude did hee expresse through his whole function and office in overcomming sinne death Satan the Crosse Hell and all adversaries Sampson the strongest of all Nazarites was but a weakeling to him his adversaries flesh not spirit his power faint and fayling yea changed into weakenesse IV. Nazarites must not come neere the dead to touch them nor defile themselves by them nor meddle with the funerals of father mother brother sister or any of their kinred though they might pretēd never so much piety affection or good nature By which Law the Lord would teach them two things 1. That no changes of this life nor losse of their dearest friends should turne them aside from their duty or from the observation of the Law of their profession 2. To teach them constancy patience and magnanimity of spirit in the greatest outward afflictions and not to shew a weaknesse or passion in open or excessive lamentation Our Lord although he did touch the dead and was at funeralls and wept at the raysing of Lazarus and so observed not the ceremony of Nazarites because hee was no Legall Nazarite but was called a Nazarite as being the truth and substance of all the Legall Nazarites as in all other things so in this For he onely was the Master and had the true command of all his affections never exceeded measure in any thing never was defiled by any person dead in sinne never by any dead worke never touched or came neere any such defilement which Legall Nazarites could not avoid V. These Nazarites must be absolved and released from their Vow by comming to the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with their offering Num. 6. 13. plainly by that figure leading us unto Christ the only doore by which we enter and have liberty to come into the presence of God and obtaine freedome from the sinne and weakenesse of any duty wee performe before him Now for application I. Acknowledge Christ the true Nazarite Upon his head let his Crowne flourish As it was said of Ioseph Gen. 49. 26 he was seperate from his brethren so was Jesus Christ seperated from all other men and Angels 1. In holinesse and purity being advanced in holinesse above all creatures He alone in propriety and perfection is a Nazarite purer then snow and whiter then milke yea his measure runs over to his Church Eph. 5. 26. 2. In excellence and perfection of all vertues and graces hee is that Netser Isa. 11. 1 the branch or flower which alwaies flourished in all kinds and perfections of vertue and graces and casts from him farre and neere a most sweet smell sweet and acceptable to God and men 3. In power and authority The Kingdome is his and power and glory all power is given him in heaven and in earth He hath power 1. to do us good 2. to withstand our evill 3. to tread downe Satan sinne death 4. to rescue his Church to confound Antichrist and all enemies 5. to finish the grace and glory of his Saints Why must Christ be so pure a Nazarite 1. Because his passion could not have beene acceptable if his person had not beene as pure as the sunne 2. Hee was to be not onely righteousnesse in himselfe as other Nazarites or righteousnesse in part but he must be a perfect righteousnesse to many Object But how could he be so pure comming of Adam as they did Sol. He came of Adam not by Adam as they did that is he came not by naturall propagation from Adam but was conceived by the holy Ghost and so all originall impurity was stopped in the very first moment of his holy conception Object But did not he take the same infirmities comming of Adam as they did Answ. No he tooke such infirmities as he pleased to fit him for a mercifull high Priest not to hinder him and therefore he tooke such infirmities from Adam as were miserable but not damnable and so remained a pure Nazarite without all sinfull frailty II. Christ the true Nazarite being come all shadowes must fly away and therefore this order of Nazarites gives no colour or approbation to any order of Popish votaries or monasticall persons now in the new Testament Besides that white is not more contrary to black then monasticall vowes to this For 1. The Nazarites were appointed by God himselfe their 's devised by themselves 2. Their vowes were of things possible in their power and temporary these are of things impossible without their power and during life be the party never so unable to endure it 3. Their vowes though appointed by God were not able to merit remission of sinne and eternall life but these say that they merit for themselves and others that their vowes are parts of Gods worship which never came in his mind or booke and a state of great perfection Whereas a Nazarite was not more righteous then others but better fitted for his duty 4. Nazarites might not cut their haire their order stands in cutting and shaving that they may still looke neate and effeminate 5. Nazarites drink no wine nor strong drinke and are very temperate in their dyet these belly gods eat up the fat and poure in the sweet till they be monsters that the very fasts of Friers for the delicacy and abundance is become a proverbe 6. Nazarites might not come at funeralls these follow them as flyes do fat meat and suck out thence their greatest profit and sweetest morsells 7. Nazarites notwithstanding their vow lived in holy wedlock but Popish votaries abhorre marriage not lust or whoredome Yet from this order they would establish their disordered orders as contrary as darkenesse to light III. The shadow of the Law is vanished away and the truth of the Gospell is broken forth as the light saith the Canon Law Every Christian must be a Nazarite not by vow of seperation but by imitation and resemblance of Christ the true Nazarite For I. He must be seperate from others 1. He must see that he be seperate from ungodly ones as one advanced to an happy estate in Christ. 2. That now his mind affections speeches and whole course be contrary to the course of the world and so as Ioseph seperate himselfe from the evill behaviour and manners of his brethren yea complaine of them to his
this is a guilt And who can deny but the corruption and poison of the soule and spirit is farre more poison full and mortall then poison of the flesh 2. Bodily leprosie is a disease of some men sinne is of all men and of all the man Bodily leprosie spreads over all parts of the body but cannot reach the soule but this spreads over the whole man the soule and all the faculties are weakened and tainted there is not a debility onely but a corruption in the understanding will conscience memory in all affections in all sences in all parts no man no part of man exempted or excepted 3. No disease is more stinking and hatefull to men then leprosie So nothing is so hatefull and abominable to God as sinne his eyes cannot abide to behold it hee will not endure it in his dearest servants no nor Angels themselves unrevenged hee esteemes the sinner as dung 4. No disease more contagious and infectious A leper must meddle with nothing unlesse hee would defile it All hee can doe is to make others uncleane by breathing touching conversing The plague of pestilence is not so infectious as the plague of leprosie so called Levit. 13. 20. infecting houses walls vessells garments Nothing is so infectious as sinne which not onely foules the person or house but heaven and earth and all creatures are subject to the vanity of it Neither can an impenitent sinner doe any thing but make himselfe and others uncleane by the filthy breath of his corrupt communication by his wicked example and conversation No leaven is so spreading no pitch so cleaving 5. Leprosie of all diseases separated the infected persons from the fellowship of all men both in civill and divine ordinances for many dayes and if they proved incurable suppose them Kings they were utterly and for ever excluded the host as Vzziah 2. King 15. 5. Neither might they come to the Temple to joine in holy things for the Temple was legally the most holy place and no polluted thing might enter into it So in our sinne unrepented we are out of the campe aliens from God Sinne shuts out of the communion of faith and Saints shuts out of the state of grace and salvation it shuts out of the Congregation of God in earth and heaven No fellowship place or reward with them 6. Of all diseases none is more painfull sorrowfull mortall or incurable and therefore they were enjoyned to put on mournfull garments seeing God had inflicted so lamentable a disease on them so hardly and seldome cured as most did cary it unto death as Gehezi and Azariah In which the Lord as in a glasse would shew us the extreme sorrowes and paines that wait on sinne unpardoned sorrows of this life and of the life to come And that we should put on mourning garments of timely sorrow and afflict our selves for our sinnes seeing wee are all poisoned with so incurable a disease as there is no hope to expect any cure in this life for every man carries the running issues of sinne to his death naturall the most to the death eternall 7. The signes and symptomes of leprosie are most correspondent to the symptoms and effects of sinne in the soule 1. As there is a debility and weaknesse of all parts because the spirits are exhausted so sinne weakens all faculties because the spirit of grace is resisted and driven out 2. There is a tumour and swelling in the flesh here a tumour and proud swelling of minde none more proud then hee who hath least cause 3. There is burning and thirst through the adust and burnt blood by melancholy whereof it ariseth here is inflammation and burning of anger of lust and thirst after the world after revenge after preferments and this insatiable as every sinne is 4. There is filthy putred matter still breaking forth most loathsomely so here from within breaks out corrupt matter of envy of hatred of goodnesse of uncleannesse in speaches and behaviour 5. There is an hoarse and weake voice here the voice so weake as it cannot pray or cannot be heard God heares not sinners for either they pray not at all or they are in their sinnes 6. There is a filthy stinking breath and therefore they must cover their lips that by their breath they might not infect others So here is a filthy breath of corrupt communication of uncleane and adulterous speaches swearing and cursing speaches lying and false speaches slanderous and uncharitable speaches and seldome doe such cover their lips being like the uncleane vessells of the Law which were ever open to the corrupting and poisoning of numbers Sect. IV. I. From the former description of legall uncleannesses note the state of Gods Church and people here upon earth subject unto many sorts of defilements and pollutions within them without them and on every hand of them by foule and uncleane creatures and persons by foule courses and actions which a godly man may not touch or tast but hee is presently defiled as hee that toucheth pitch cannot but be defiled with it Where bee they that will see no Church if they see any uncleannesse Or who say that God is in no such society where any pollution is seeing God vouchsafeth to walk among his owne people who were daily subject to so many legall and morall pollutions God might if it pleased him wholly purge his floore here upon earth but it makes more for his glory to suffer sinne and evill and to set the Saints in the middest of defilements here below 1. There must be a difference betweene this heaven and earth and that new heaven and new earth in which dwells nothing but righteousnesse for had the Saints no warre there needed no watch there could bee no victory if no seede time no harvest 2. GODS mighty power is more manifest in gathering and preserving a Church to himselfe out of sinners and among sinners and hee magnifieth his mercy both in covering and curing so great and many corruptions 3. The godly in sence of their uncleannesse are kept low in their owne eyes and watchfull of their waies and so are driven out of themselves unto Christ for righteousnesse and unto God for strength continually as privy unto their owne continuall weakenesse So to subdue presumption Paul must have a buffeter and to way-lay security comming on Israel all the Canaanites must not be subdued 4. In that they cannot expect freedome from foulenesse and uncleannesse heere below they may the rather desire and aspire to that heavenly Tabernacle into which no uncleane thing can enter Rev. 21. 27. and wish to bee translated thither where righteousnesse shall dwell yea the righteous and holy God shall dwell immediately in the midst of his Saints and all things together with themselves shall be most absolutely cleane and holy II. The Lord by so large a description of legall uncleannesse would have them and us looke more neerely and seriously upon
true inward Circumcision Phil. 3. 3. The Motives are 1. All outward service and Ceremony without this is rejected as preaching hearing praying fasting weeping All thy service and labour is lost if by the Spirit of God thy mind bee not renewed and faith and conversion wrought in thy heart For as the Jews being circumcised were challenged to bee uncircumcised though they had the foreskinne of the flesh cut off and had the circumcision made with hands and were so farre unworthy of Abrahamsâ—eede â—eede as that they are called Witches children seed of the whore Isai. 57. 3. and Act. 7. 51 So art thou not circumcised which art onely outwardly Rom. 2. 28. A Jew without or outward is as good a worshipper as thou 2. If we cannot say truely that now not the Jews but we are the circumcision Col. 2. 11. our persons are no better before God then an uncircumcised person in the law Therefore if thou art not thus circumcised thou art 1. an exceeding hatefull person So David of Goliah by way of reproch and contempt This uncircumcised Philistine 2. thou hast no part in the promised Messiah no more then he 3. no portion in Canaan not a foot in heaven all thy portion is in earth 4. no member of the true Church but without the Communion of Saints 5. as he was in state of death and judgement Deut. 30. 6. Ier. 4. 4 14 so thou shalt bee condemned as surely for want of a sanctified and circumcised heart as he for contemning circumcision of his flesh Col. 2. 13. Yee were dead in the uncircumcision of the flesh without the life of God in grace without hope of the life of glory CHAP. XIX The Passeover a type THe second ordinary Sacrament of the Jews lively representing Jesus Christ was the Passeover instituted Exod. 12. to be a lively type of Christ. 1. Cor. 5. 7. Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us The name of this Sacrament hath in it the occasion for it was by God therefore instituted in memoriall of their great deliverance in Aegypt when the destroying Angel who slew all the first borne in Aegypt in one night passed over all the Israelites houses whose doores and posts were striked with the blood of the Paschall Lamb slaine and eaten in that house Wherein the godly Iews were not to fixe their eyes in that externall signe or the temporary deliverance signified but to cast their eye of faith vpon the Messiah and true Paschall Lamb by means of whom the wrath and revenge of God passeth over all those whose soules are sprinkled with his blood and who by true faith feed upon him And therefore howsoever the word Passeover hath in Scripture many significations both proper and figurative I understand by it the whole institution of God concerning the Lamb called Paschall In which we shall see Iesus Christ most lively pourtrayed before vs and that this one legall Sacrament preached not obscurely to the ancient Iews the whole doctrine of the Gospel and grace of salvation by the onely suffering of Iesus Christ. This will appeare in five things 1. In the choice of the Sacrifice 2. In the preparing of it 3. In the effusion of blood and actions about it 4. In the eating and conditions therein 5. In the fruits and use Sect. I. I. In the choice of the Sacrifice The Lord appointed it to bee a lamb or a kidd notably signifying Jesus Christ whom Iohn Baptist called the Lamb of God taking away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 1. 29. Christ is a lamb 1. In name Revel 5. 6. In the midst of the Elders stood a Lamb. 2. In qualities in respect of innocency patience meeknesse humility obedience to the will of his Father to the death not opening his mouth Isai. 53. 7 in fruitfulnesse and profitablenesse to feed us with his flesh and cloath us with his fleece of righteousnesse 3. In shadows being figured in all those lambs slaine especially in the Paschall lamb In which shadowes or figures hee was not yearely onely but daily held before the eyes of beleevers and so here we consider him In this Lamb for his choice must be foure conditions 1. Condition It must bee a lamb without blemish verse 5. every way perfect without any spot or defect signifying the most absolute perfection of Jesus Christ who was both in respect of his person and actions without all spot and exception 1. Pet. 1. 19. as of a Lamb undefiled and without spot Heb. 7. 26. Such an high Priest it became us to have as is holy undefiled separate from sinners The reasons are two 1. Because else his ransome were insufficient 2. He must be perfectly righteous that must become a righteousnesse to many 2. Condition It must bee a male for three reasons 1. Reason To note the excellency strength and dignity of Christ proper to that sex For although he seemed a most weak man in the state of his humiliation yet must hee be not effeminate but masculine strong stout and potent to destroy sinne and death and to foile all the enemies of mans salvation Christ indeed must be the seed of the woman but the woman must bring forth a man-child Rev. 12. 5. And though he must be borne of a Virgin yet the Virgin must bring forth a sonne Isa. 9. 6. For he must divide the spoyle with the strong Isa. 53. 12. 2. reason Consider Christ in both his natures it was fit he should be a male as the Lambe was 1. as he was the Sonne of God it was meet hee should bee of the more worthy sexe of men for it was unfit that the Sonne of God should be the daughter of man 2. as being man he was to be the Messiah the seed of Abraham the Son of David and so to be circumcised to bee a fit Minister of Circumcision 3. reason Consider him in his office Hee was to be a King a Priest and a Prophet of his Church all which necessarily require him to be a man a male as the Lambe was We conclude therefore hence that being the head of the whole Church he must be of as worthy sexe as any of his members III. Condition The Lamb must be of a yeare old ver 5. to signifie that Christ dyed at a full and perfect age in his strength and therefore had experience also of our infirmities For a Lambe of a yeare old is at his state and growth and a Lambe of a yeare old is acquainted with many miseries Even so our Saviour living to the full strength of a man was a man full of sorrowes and acquainted with infirmities See Heb. 4. 15. we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all things tempted like us yet without sinne IV. Condition He must be taken out of their own flockes and folds For so Moses to Pharaoh Exod. 10. 25 thou must allow us our
live by faith and die in faith as the Saints in former ages have done for our imitation 3. We must hold on this expectation on our Serpent as the Israelites did till they were perfectly cured And because we can never bee perfectly cured in this life but onely in part wee must still looke up to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith till we be fully and perfectly healed Hence it is that the Lord will never have this Brazen Serpent taken downe as the other was after a short time but hath appointed the Ministery to lift him up and hold him perpetually before our eyes so long as wee are here below and enjoyned us the constant use of it all the while wee are in this wildernesse which were needlesse if we had once attained our perfect cure This is a strong motive to hold our eyes fast fixed upon Jesus Christ till we come to enjoy him as he is when all Ministery shall cease and the Lamb shall be all in all Sect. VIII From this so excellent a figure ariseth a bright Sunne of light and comfort for all the faithfull 1. The Israelite that could looke to the serpent if his eye were never so tender weake or dimme yet was cured Thou that art the weakest beleever bee comforted thy weake faith shall save thee thy smoking flaxe shall not be quenched but cleared to farther brightnesse Thy weake hand shall bee able to receive and hold the gift of righteousnesse and eternall life It is not the greatnesse of thy faith that saves thee but the truth of it Yet with this caution If it be true it will strive to encrease And if there bee so much comfort in weake faith how much is there in strong 2. The Israelite stung never so often if so often hee did looke on the serpent so often hee was cured Oh singular comfort Thou that renewest thy sinnes every day and every day goest over the same frailties renew also thy faith daily and thy repentance and thou art safe That brazen serpent lost his vertue of healing but our Brazen Serpent never loseth his If thou sinnest seventy times seven times and so many times returnest by faith in Christ and say It repents mee by this looking upon the brazen serpent all those wounds shall be cured Yet with this caution That as he had been a madd Israelite who because there was a serpent set up to cure him would therefore runne of purpose among serpents to be stung by them So is hee no lesse witâ—esse a Christian who therefore willingly makes his sinne abound because grace hath abounded A madd man he is that will therefore breake his head or wound his members because he hath a soveraigne plaister by him 3. The Israelites stung never so deadly never so desperately never so long wounded yet looking on the serpent were cured If thy sinnes bee as redd as scarlet and never so great if in thy sense some one of them deserve a thousand hells and the guilt of it or them rings continually in the eares of thy conscience frighted with feares of hell and death if thy sinnes bee festered and of long continuance Now come to the Brazen Serpent Never was any Israelite that could looke on the serpent sent away uncured But there is ten thousand times more vertue in Jesus Christ then in ten millions of brazen serpents onely looke on this Serpent by the eye of faith turne from all thy sinnes and be saved 4. The Israelites looking on the serpent brought present cure and ease and they went away rejoycing If thou beleevest in Jesus Christ thou art perfectly cured As Christ was wont to say to his patients so I say to thee Goe in peace Thy faith hath made thee whole Onely this grace can quiet the heart distressed and can keepe it from sinking as once it did Peter Mat. 14. 29. In this is the beginning and accomplishment of thy happinesse The converted Gaoler went away rejoycing that he his house beleeved Act. 16. 34. Now if one sight of faith in this our absence from Christ bee so joyfull a thing what shall the â—ight of fruition doe in his presence 5. The Israelites having once the brazen serpent cared not for the fiery serpents They might sting them now but not much hurt them they might now poison them but not kill them So the beleever looking to the true Brazen Serpent may triumph over the old Serpent and all the serpentine seed and say as the Apostle teacheth 1. Cor. 15. 55. Oh sinne where is thy sting oh hell where is thy victory Nay Thanks bee to God who hath given us victory by our Lord Iesus Christ. Great was the power of the Israelites looking upon that serpent for when the fiery serpents were present it made them powerlesse and not hurtfull Greater is the power of faith in the Lord Jesus which though our sinnes in themselves are most venemous and poisonfull stings and such as wee cannot be rid of them yet it so blunts them and makes them so powerlesse that they kill us not Nay that they hurt us not nay more that they helpe us and make us better more humble more wise more watchfull Thus our good God who out of the most infinite curse of Christ his Sonne on the Crosse brought forth to us the most infinite blessing which fills heaven and earth doth out of our cursed sinnes bring forth his owne glory joyned with our greatest good For which as for all other his unspeakable mercies unto us be praise given in all Churches and from henceforth to all eternities Amen FINIS I. Lambert Martyr Epist. ad Romanos Col. 3. 11â— Rom. 10. 4. Cont. Iul. 9. Do cibis Iud. cap. 5. Cont. Faust. Advers Iud. Heb. 13. 8. John 14. 6. Heb. 1â— 2. Eph. 4. 5. M. Min. Fel. Octav. Rom. 11. 26. Ludov. Caâ—retus 1553. Christ the truth of legall shadows Introduction to this Treatise Sacramenta sunt muâ—ata non fides Aug. God appointed a multitude of ceremonies to the â—ewes for 5. reasons Velata sunt ista donec aspiraret dies removerentur umbâ—â—e Aâ—g Grace in the new Testament specially how Ceremonies called shadows for 4. reasons Non ex opere opâ—ato Vse of them to the Jews Gods wisdome in appointing them The generall division of this Treatise Adam a type of Christ in foure things Vterque ad imaginem Dei conditus uterque Deo charissimus Primus ecclesiae doctor audiens immediate a Deo quae ecclesiae eraÌ„t proponenda ita Christus Vse 1. The Ministery â—everend for antiquity Antiquity of the doctrine of free grace Quod antiquissiâ—â—um verissimuÌ„ Tertul. Seeke life by Christs death 2. Cor. 4. 6. Get into Christ the second Adam as thou art surely of the first Motives 1. Cor. 1. 30. Noah a type of Christ in seven respects Differences betweene Christs and Noahs righteousnesse Christus iam perfectus Noah currâ—ns ad perfectionâ—m August Noahs Arke and Christs 6.
ungodly religious with the superstitious beleevers with infidels 2. Horrible contempt of the word As Noah preached by the power of the Spirit and Christ himselfe by the Spirit so as never man spake yet both were despised and the Spirit resisted whereby they spake So now godly Ministers must not thinke much to bee despised in their Ministery For as it was in the dayes of Noah and of Christ So Christ hath told us it must be 3. Profanenesse of the Ministery and generall malice against sincerity As in the dayes of Noah many Wrights and workemen were busie to prepare an Arke for others but themselves neither entred into the same nor saved by the same And as in the dayes of Christ the Scribes and Pharisees professed themselves chiefe builders but refused the corner stone and neither entred themselves nor suffered others but envy Christ they could So shall it be in the daies of the Sonne of man 4. In the Common-state and men apostacy security sensuality men eate drinke marry but know nothing of judgement that is will not know So shall the comming of the Sonne of man be Mat. 24. 39. III. In that Christ is the true Noah all the true members of Christ who are carefull to prepare them an Arke and to get within the Arke of the Church have solid and strong comfort For 1. He is ready to receive all that come unto him who calls all the weary as Noah readily received all that offered themselves unto him Let not thy sinne discourage thee bee thou never so uncleane get once into the Arke and thou art safe 2. As Noah himselfe entred into the Arke and abode there all the time of danger and tossing by the waters So our Lord still abides in the same ship of the Church with us he is so much the more compassionate to us as hee is acquainted with our sorrowes and though the danger and feare bee never so much wee shall fare no worse then himselfe will who in all our troubles is troubled with us and for us 3. As Noah pitched the Arke within and without and so fenced it against the waues and raging billowes and surges of a world of seas So doth our true Noah strengthen his Arke and Church partly with his promise partly with his prayers that their faith faile not as with pitch within and without so firme and sure as let this little Arke of the Church be tossed upon the waters of affliction and tried by never so many temptations and persecutions in this sea of the world it is so fenced and pitched that it shall never miscarry Noahs Arke indeed by tossing and beating of the waters may bee weakened and made worse but Christs Arke the Church is made better and stronger by trialls and afflictions Psal. 119. 71. It is good for mee that I have beene afflicted that I may learne thy statutes Noahs Arke at last shall putrifie and perish but Christs Arke shall never perish but at last bee more perfect and glorious 4. As Gods Covenant with Noah was his safety in the Arke for looke upon the Arke floating above water laden with heavy burthen fenced against the waters with a little pitch perhaps not very skilfully that being the first vessell that ever was made for the water without Anchor mast sterne Pylot or Master to governe it for Noah was shut in by God how should it be but carried by winds and waves upon rockes or hills or sands or trees or buildings and so in an instant split all too pieces but that the Lord was Stearsman in all that voyage So the safety of the Church is that it hath so faithfull a Pylot whose Covenant made in his Church is the wall and defence of his people more stable then the foundation of the earth Which made David to glory Though the earth bee mooved and the mountains tumbled into the sea yet the Church may glory in the salvation of her God In our lesser trials stormes oppositions looke to God our safety be within the Arke God will provide for thy safety 5. The Arke had a time to be freed from the deluge of waters So the Church hath a time for her deliverance Rev. 7. 14. Psal 55. 22. 6. When the flood of waters bated the Arke rested on a mountaine of Ararat Gen. 8. 4. So when the waters of affliction are dried up the Church hath her rest in the holy mountain of God Ps. 15. CHAP. IV. 3. Melchizedek a type of Christ. HEbrews 7. 3. Hee was likened to the Sonne of God Wee must search wherein and how Christ was the truth of that figure I. In the notation of his name Melchizedek signifieth King of righteousnesse Our Saviour was indeed properly King of righteousnesse Heb. 7. 2. Isai. 11. 4. Psal. 45. 6 7. thy kingdome is a scepter of righteousnesse thou lovest righteousnesse Mal. 4. 2. Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse shall arise From him all have righteousnesse as from a fountaine II. In his Office 1. Hee was King of Salem of peace So Christ is called the Prince of peace Isa. 9. 6. not of a corner but of all the world and of Salem that is of Ierusalem Psal. 2. 6. I have set my King on Sion On his shoulders was the governement laid Of whom Zach. 9. 9. O Ierusalem behold thy King commeth unto thee hee is just and saved himselfe poore and riding upon an asse But with this difference Melchizedek brings peace earthly temporall but Christ is our peace Ephes. â— 14. by whom we have peace with God hee guides our feete into the way of peace and leades us to peace eternall So he was true king of true peace so was not Melchizedek 2. Melchizedek was not onely a King but Priest of the high God Gen. 14. 18. So Christ was both King and Priest King Revel 1. 5. Prince of all the kings of the earth Priest Heb. 4. 14. Our great high Priest This was not usuall in the Iewes Policy or progeny of David to whom onely the kingdome was promised neither would God admit the mingling of these Offices among them as in Vzziah 2. Chron. 26. But as this dignity was reserved unto Christ so was it dispensed with in his speciall figure to bee both a great King and Priest III. In his originall Without father or mother genealogy beginning or end of dayes without kindred that is none of these mentioned in Scripture or in the story of his life Although he had both father mother kindred birth death yet the Lord of set purpose would have all these concealed in Scripture that hee might be a more expresse type of Iesus Christ who was truely without father as man Luke 1 35. that holy thing which shall bee borne of thee shall bee called the Sonne of God without mother as God without kindred according to his Deity in respect of his divine nature without generation for who can declare his generation Isai. 53. 8.
this mantle wee are a sweet savour to God who now speaks of us as Isaac of Iacob covered in his elder brothers garments My sonne is as the savour of a field which the Lord hath blessed Gen. 27. 27. 3. This garment hath a sweet sound as of golden Bells which to heare were most delectable because the garment of Christs righteousnesse brings grace to us no otherwise then by the sound of the Gospel For faith by which wee put on Christ is wrought by hearing the sweet sound and golden Bell of the Gospel Whence some have thought that by this part of the Priests Attire is shadowed the Propheticall Office of Christ. Sweet is the Proclamation of the Gospel of peace 4. The use That by these Bells the Priests must bee heard when hee goeth into the Sanctuary signifying the power of Christ our high Priests perpetuall intercession being entred into the Sanctuary of heaven for his elect and chosen The fourth peculiar garment was the Miter or bonnet upon his head verse 36. 1. Made of blue silke and fine linnen verse 39. like as it seemes to an halfe coronet 2. Beautified with a golden plate on which was written Holinesse to the Lord. 3. The use Aaron must ever have it on his forehead while he beares the iniquity of their offerings to make the people acceptable before the Lord verse 38. 1. The miter and crowne on the Priests head signified 1. The Deity of Christ our head which as a crowne or circle wants beginning and end 2. The Kingly Office of Christ with all that honour and crowne of glory set on the head of our Redeemer to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth And according to his power is his name for God hath exalted him and given him a Name above all names Phil. 2. 9. His stile is not onely King of Saints Revel 15. 3 But King of kings and Lord of lords Chap. 19. 16. 2. The golden plate in which was written Holinesse to the Lord did not onely distinguish it from the miters of the ordinary Priests which wanted such a plate but specially typified Iesus Christ our head in whom was most conspicuous as in a mans forehead a most divine and perfect holinesse purer then the gold of that plate Who was not holy onely as other sanctified persons but holinesse it selfe Holinesse in his person holinesse in his nature holinesse in all his actions and passions holinesse in the fountaine and originall whence all streames of holinesse issue forth to his elect members So Ioh. 17. 19. I sanctifie my selfe that they may be sanctified Never was there so pure a plate such shining holinesse so deeply ingraved as nothing can raze it out for ever 3. The use was significant that as the high Priest having on this plate with this inscription got the iniquities of the people pardoned which he bare before the Lord So our high Priest Jesus Christ presenting before his Father his most absolute holinesse gets a pardon for all our sinnes which he beares upon himselfe And as their sinnes were pardoned in respect of the high Priest who represented Christ So both theirs and ours are indeed and truth pardoned for the true and eternall high Priest who is Christ himselfe The fifth peculiar garment was the embroydered Coate of fine linnen verse 39. which was a beautifull costly and large garment reaching downe to his feet covering most of his body curiously wrought with most precious matter and cunning workmanship which noted the dignity of the person and office of the high Priest For in old time long white garments appertained to men of high place and excellent in wisedome As in Iosephs advancement Gen. 41. 42. hee was clothed with white fine linnen when he was to bee Vice-roy and next in authority to the King See Ester 6. 8. how Merdecai was apparalled by the Kings command This garment was most proper to our high Priest of the new Testament Jesus Christ who is by it described Revel 1. 13. clothed with a robe downe to his feet Noting 1. The excellencie of his person who is Prince of peace Isai. 9. 6 For so long white garments ever betokened peace both within the Church and without 2. That hee excelled in wisedome and counsell being the great Counseller and the spirit of counsell and understanding resting in his brest Isai. 11. 2 For to such also these garments belonged Dan. 5. 7 16. 3. The lovely and beautifull connexion and conjunction of his Propheticall Priestly and Princely Offices sincerely and perfectly fulfilling them and appearing before God in them as in a most costly embroydered garment consisting of many pieces and many colours fitly couched and laid together And this garment hee ware not onely in earth as the Priests did but now after his ascension he continues to performe the Offices of the high Priest for his Church in the same embroydered garment presenting before God the merit of his onely sacrifice and making intercession to the Father for it The sixth garment is the girdle of needle worke verse 39. Of diverse matter linnen blue silke purple and scarlet and of diverse colours Chap. 39. 29. The use of it was to fasten the Priests garments unto him that they might not hang loose upon him in his Ministration And specially points out unto us our high Priest Jesus Christ described after his ascension Revel 1. 13. to bee girded about the paps with a golden girdle Noting in Christ foure things 1. The truth and constancy in accomplishing all the gracious promises of the Gospel seeing our high Priest is girt about with the girdle of verity 2. His justice integrity pure and uncorrupt judgement as gold Isai. 11. 5. Iustice shall be the girdle of his loynes and faithfulnesse the girdle of his reines 3. His readinesse to doe the office of a Mediatour Girding of the attire hath ever beene a signe of readinesse and diligence in businesse undertaken So Luke 12. 35. Let your loines be girded about 4. His mindfulnesse and care in performing his office For as not girding is a signe of carelessenesse and negligence So girding of care and industry So our Lord and high Priest never carelessely cast off any poore and penitent sinner But in the dayes of his flesh minded their misery and now in heaven keeps on his girdle casts not off the care of his Church but perpetually accomplisheth whatsoever is needfull for her salvation Sect. IIII. I. In these garments some things necessary for Ministers some things for the people 1. All about the Priest must bee gold silver precious stones curious colours signifying that no vile or base thing must be in the Ministers cariage or behaviour But as the Priests costly garments covered the frailty of their bodies and graced them in their office so the graces of their mindes must not onely hide their weaknesse but adorne and beautifie them for the honour and prosperity of their function And
stuffe out of earth but ours are spirituall and heavenly What the glorious robes of the Church are see Isa. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord for he hath clothed me with garments of salvation and covered me with a robe of righteousnesse and decked me as a bride with Iewels What is gold silver silke pearles to righteousnesse holinesse life immortality and glory 3. Those were corruptible and soone cast off but these never weare not teare For all the sonnes and daughters of God are clad with incorruption and immortality and are heires of eternity Now it were no small comfort that we being so naked and foule wallowing in our blood and filthinesse or covered with filthy clouts and raggs of sinne and the apparell of death should have these taken away Zach. 3. 4. But to be thus arrayed and covered yea decked and adorned with such beautie and glory is more cause of joy and comfort II. In their parts they assure our happinesse and seale up our comfort I. The Pectorall shews how God esteemes of beleevers that they are the precious parts of the earth signified by the twelve precious stones 1. For price A great summe of money will not buy one of these precious stones For wee are not redeemed with gold silver or corruptible things but with precious blood Hee must bee some great King that must buy an Vnion but hee must bee the great God that can purchase one of these precious stones Act. 20. 2. For shining and beauty If a man were clothed with the Sunne he must needs shine gloriously The meanest beleever is clothed with the Sunne Revel 12. 1 and shineth in the firmament of the Church with the beames of Christs righteousnesse as the Sunne in his strength 3. For hidden vertues and secret operation The godly have not a shine and shew but the true substance of many vertues and graces secretly laid up in their hearts and working mightily in them the stones out of common Quarry that is common men have not such things 4. For rarenesse It is an hard thing to find a godly man these are rarer then most precious stones Elias could not see one in the world besides himselfe though there were many 5. For their estimation and the reckoning of them with God and good men Although the world out of ignorance and malice scorne this pearle and as swine tread them under foot yet the Jeweller knows them our high Priest placeth them upon his breast And a wise Merchant knowes that a pearle troden under foot is a pearle and in it selfe a pearle lying in the quarry or sands unknowen or trampled in the dirt or myrâ— is as good at when it is taken out Thou that art an enemy to good men 1. See how farre thou art from Gods judgement 2. If thou knewest their worth where now thou tramplest them thou wouldest take them into thy heart 3. One day thou shalt desire their glory but too late II. The robe of the Ephod hath comfort for the poore despised members of Christ whose estate is figured by the Pomegranats Which 1. In themselves have no great beauty without or on the outside 2. Their place is below and they hang in the skirt of the garment But within 1. They carry the colour of blood are washed in the blood of Christ. 2. They are full of excellent juyce and liquor of grace and pietie 3. They cast a sweet smell from them and leave a pleasant savour behind them And therefore Christ fastens them to himselfe inseparably as the Pomegranats were fastened to the high Priests garment Be thou a fruitfull Christian no matter what place thou art in or in what account among men Our high Priest hath use of thee and must not goe into the Sanctuary of heaven without thee though thou hangest in the skirt of his garment III. The Miter or crowne of our high Priest assureth us that we by his anointing shall attaine the like crowne For hee hath troden all our enemies not onely under his feet but under ours also Rom. 16. 20. Let us not cast downe our hopes and hearts our high Priest is stronger then all the enemies that can rise up against the Church And we may couragiously combat against sinne errours hereticks being sure of victory through the Crowne and Miter of Jesus Christ. This Miter of Christ shall fetch downe the Miter of Antichrist for us This Crowne of our high Priest shall shake downe his tripple Crowne and hath already blasted him And though these Babylonians begin to wriggle as a snake deadly wounded with hope to raigne in these Churches as sometime they did and for the sinnes of the land they may recover power by their craftinesse to surprize some ignorant silly and unstable persons yet shall they prevaile against none whose names are written in the booke of life but by the power of our Captaine wee shall tread downe both Satans and Antichrists kingdome and prevaile against all that riseth up against the power of Christ. Sect. VI. Priests types in the execution of their Office Having declared how the high Priest and priests of the old Testament resembled our high Priest of the new Testament Jesus Christ in respect of his solemne inauguration and investiture into his Office Now wee are to shew how he farther typified our Lord in respect of his administration and execution of iâ— Many are the speciall Lawes which the Lord gave to the Priests concerning their carefull cariage of themselves above others and these may be reduced to two heads 1. As concerning their common actions 2. As concerning their actions ministeriall Concerninig his common actions hee was prohibited diverse things which were lawfull in other men I will mention three I. The Priests must keepe an holy abstinence from wine and strong drinke for the time they entred into the Tabernacle Levit. 10. 9. a Law was made for all the Priests upon occasion of Nadabs and Abihues punishment who being as it seeme drunke offered strange fire and were burnt by fire before the Lord. And the Lord gives a reason of this law lest their mindes or sences might be distracted or disturbed so as they could not rightly discerne or execute the things pertaining to God and things pertaining to men Heb. 5. The use of the Law was 1. Typicall shadowing out the most holy and sober course of our high Priest Jesus Christ who was never unready or unfit for any part of his Office but in all perfection of judgement and understanding faithfully performed and fulfilled all righteousnesse 2. Perpetuall carrying in it a perpetuall equity for all Christian Pastors and Ministers who must use such creatures and liberties sparingly as they helpe their naturall infirmities by them and helpe themselves forward in the exercise of prayer study preaching and other Ministeriall duties but not to dull or to make themselves grosse or distempered by them And hence is the same law
to the excellency of meanes but by weake and unlikely meanes effects his great works And therefore that which had no power of cure in it selfe must cure and heale that the worke may be knowen to be his and not the meanes 2. The lower and baser the meanes are the better may the Israelites be led through them and so beyond them It was not the will of God that they should rest in the brazen serpent which had no power of cure but through it bee led by faith vnto the Messiah who onely could cure them 3. Though it was of brasse yet it was strong and signified Jesus Christ how weake soever in mens eyes yet was hee first the mighty and strong God secondly powerfull and able to deliver his people thirdly most invincible and potent also against all his enemies he is a wall of brasse and his strength is as the strength of brasse Reuel 1. 15. 4. Being of brasse as it was strong so was it shining and bright signifying Christ in respect of his divine and eternall generation truely shining and glorious Hee was the brightnesse of his Father Heb. 1. 3. the very brightnesse of the glory of God excelling all the Angels in heaven in their clearest glory and brightnesse Revel 1. 16. 5. As that serpent so shined that the Israelites might look upon it and their eyes not dazled so this great glory was so vailed by his flesh and humility as we the Israel of God might behold it yea approch it and fetch our salvation and happinesse from it 2. It resembled Christ in the forme for the forme was of a serpent First a serpent is of an hatefull and contemptible shape and appearance so was Christ in his owne habite Isai. 53. a despised man a worme rather then a man men saw no beauty in him but hid their eyes Secondly the serpent was accursed of God So Christ lay under the curse of sinne for us Gal. 3. 13. Thirdly that was but like a serpent in the forme of a serpent not a serpent it had onely the shape not the life sting nor poison of a serpent So Jesus Christ was the similitude of sinfull flesh but no sinner No venim or poison of sinne was found in him neither in his nature nor actions Rom. 8. 3. hee was in the similitude of sinfull flesh as that of a serpent but without all sting or spot of sinne The third thing in the appointment is the end or use of the serpent It must bee lift up upon a pearch that all Israel might see it Which plainly noteth both the kind of death which Christ must suffer as also the proper end and vertue of it as in these particulars 1. Both must bee lifted up So Christs crucifying is called an exaltation from the earth Ioh. 12. 32. 2. Both must be exalted upon wood the Pole a type of the Crosse of Christ. 3. Both among the Jews out of the Church is no salvation 4. Both to be looked upon one with the eye of the body the other with the eye of faith 5. Both to recover health and life one of body the other of soule one frees from corporall death the other from spirituall and eternall II. The applying of this remedy was nothing but the looking upon the brazen serpent which signified the sinners beholding of Jesus Christ for his cure The meanes of application of the remedy was the eye of the Israelite So the instrument of applying the remedy by Jesus Christ is the eye of faith which is the eye of the soule So our Saviour Christ himselfe expoundeth it Ioh. 3. As the brasen Serpent was lift up so shall the son of man that whosoever beleeveth in him c. That which Moses calls looking on the type Christ calls beleeving in himselfe the truth Which if the Lord had not purposed to expresse he could as easily have remooved the Serpents as appointed the making of another and as easily have healed them by his word as by this signe but hereby affords them a double mercy and cure one of the body by the signe another of their soules by the thing and truth thereby signifyed III. From this application followes a saving effect The Israelite by looking lived and received present ease with freedome from paine and poyson So the beleever looking on Christ by the eye of faith hath an heavenly life restored present ease from the paine of a guilty and accusing conscience freedome from the poyson of sinne both the guilt and staine of it But herein the truth is advanced above the type 1. That brazen Serpent had not power in it selfe to cure this hath power in it selfe 2. Whereas they were cured to dye againe beleevers attaine a sound cure never to dye more Ioh. 11. 26. 3. Whereas that did not alwaies retaâ—â—e the vertue of curing our brazen Serpent doth ever retaiâ—e power and vertue for the salvation of beleevers looking towards him to the end of the world 4. Wheras this brasen Serpent now a remedy against poyson was after turned to poyson the Israelites in Hezekiahs time which made him stampe it to powder our brazen Serpent ever remaineth the soveraigne and healing God as unchangeable in his goodnesse as hee is in his most holy and divine nature 5. That remained a great while about seaven hundred and threescore yeares but after was defaced and destroyed Our brazen Serpent can never bee defaced or destroyed but abides the Saviour of sinners to all eternity Oh now what a sweet Sermon doth this one type containe of the whole summe and marrow of the Gospell what a pregnant testimony and vaticinie is it alone of the death and passion of Jesus Christ as also of the vertue and merit of the same and consequently what a prop and stay of our faith what a goade and spurre to drive us to Jesus Christ in whose name alone wee can bee saved Sect. 3. I. Note What weake and contrary meanes the Lord useth to effect great things for his Church and in his Church Was there any sence or reason to be conceived in all this counsell and ordinance of God in healing thus his people 1. Could a Serpent of brasse a shape only more heale then hurt them 2. Could a dead Serpent prevaile against so many living and fiery Serpents 3. Shall not this shape and image of a Serpent be so much as touched or applyed to the wound but the sight of it onely a farre off cure a mortall wound really inflicted How inconceivable is this to humane reason which perhaps would count it foolish and ridiculous But the Lord though he might by many other more mighty and likely meanes will by no other meanes effect their deliverance He that brought in the Serpents could as easily have remooved them if not that yet he might have hindered them from biting them or hee might powerfully of the same poyson have made a remedy but he chooseth most unlikely meanes Qu.
head Not dropped but powred signifying the abundance of gifts and graces most plentifully conferred upon Christ our head For as it was proper to the high Priest to bee anointed on the head whereas the common Priests were anointed but in their hands not on their heads So was Christ as the head anointed with oile above all his fellowes and received the spirit beyond measure signified by powring on the head 3. The communication of this oile It stayed not on Aarons head but ranne downe his beard even to the skirts of his garments signifying that the Spirit of grace distills from the head unto all the members of his mysticall body the Catholike Church First the Spirit descends and sits on Christs head then on the Apostles in likenesse of fiery tongues running downe as it were by Aarons beard and from them upon other inferiour persons beleeving their word as unto the skirts of his garment Now a threefold Application hereof I. In the anointing of the high Priest the eminency of Jesus Christ above all creatures whose very Name carrieth in it a note of principality being called the high Priest of our profession And in that this whole consecration of the high Priest in most solemne and stately manner was but a darke shadow of his solemne inauguration into his Office And by this anointing Christ is differenced from the most excellent Priests and Prophets that ever were Aaron Moses Elias Some of them had a most glorious vocation as Moses and in the entry of their callings graced with most divine and powerfull miracles but never any had the spirit sitting on his head but hee None of them by their anointing had all graces nor any grace in perfection but onely begunne and in small degree Moses a beleever wanted faith sometime as when he smote the Rocke which he should have spoken to and the meekest man in the world was sometimes to seeke of his meeknesse Aaron though the oyle was powred on his head was weake as in murmuring against Moses and in making the calfe But in our high Priest all graces and vertues were not inchoate onely but perfect In him knowledge of God was most perfect holinesse most perfect and all kinde of graces in highest degrees Grace sits in his lips not only to move the mind but to change it None of them by anointing could receive graces for others but for themselves onely but hee receives such a measure as runnes over to the sanctifying of the lowest and meanest of his members Hence 1. Ioh. 2. 27. the anointing which wee have of him dwells in you and teacheth you all things And 2. Cor. 1. 21 22. It is God that anointeth us in Christ and sealeth and giveth us the earnest of the Spirit Thus our Lord Jesus is advanced above all his oile shines brightest and swims aloft above all others II. In Aarons and Christs anointing and furnishing to their Office Ministers must labour for a greater measure of this ointment then others to runne downe from them to their skirts They must pray by the Spirit watch by the Spirit walke by the Spirit An unconverted Minister may doe another good but hee hath no promise of blessing nor doth any good to himselfe As the holy ointment was kept in the Sanctuary So Christ is the Sanctuary whence this oile comes The pipes are the word preached Sacraments prayer societies of the Saints and Gods people And such Ministers as contemptuously contemne the conduit-pipes through which this oile drops and flowes scorne to come to Sermons and joyne in holy exercises how doth their oile drie away Instead of this oyle that should fall from them a deale of pitch and slime froth and filthinesse falls on their skirts III. In the communication of this ointment unto us the skirts we learne that Christ is not for himselfe but for us And therefore 1. Examine if thou beest anointed This is to bee a Christian to bee anointed as Christ was Scornest thou this holy oile in thy selfe or others Know thou shalt one day wish the mountaines to fall on thee on whom this oile falls not 2. Hence draw strength in temptation Remember If sollicited to sinne Oh I have the anointing I am taken up and set apart to Gods use I am for God and his glory Neh. 6. 11. 3. Use meanes to attaine a farther measure and be liker Christ. Thou missest a Sermon or the Sacrament thou knowest not what drops of oile thou hast missed 4. Have a care to walke as such as are anointed smelling sweet every where in holy lives speaches prayers in all things edifying thy selfe and others Leave a sweet smell every where behinde thee Let it drop downe from us to others round about us The third thing in the high Priests consecration was sacrificing Exod. 29. 1 2. In which 1. Observe in generall that the Priests must be consecrated by offering all sorts of sacrifices for them and therefore they must take a calfe two rammes unleavened bread cakes and oile vers 1 2. 1. Because of the speciall holinesse and honour of their calling who are to come so neere unto God who will bee specially sanctified in all that come neere him 2. Because sinne in them is more hatefull then in any other and in expiating their sinnes as much is required as for the sinnes of all the Congregation 3. Because they were to offer unto God all the gifts and sacrifices of all the people of all sorts and therefore for them must be offered all sorts to sanctifie them not onely in generall but to their speciall services betweene God and his people 2. In particular The first of these sacrifices must be a sinne offering verse 10. For which they must 1. Take a calfe and offer him for the expiation of sinne verse 14. This yong calfe was a type of Christ who onely by his owne oblation expiated our sinne which otherwise made our selves and duties most hatefull 2. This calfe must be presented before the Lord and his Congregation signifying the willingnesse of Christ to offer up himselfe for the sinnes of men Iohn 19. 11. 3. Aaron and his sonnes must put their hands on the head of the calfe verse 10 not onely to confesse they were worthy to die for their own sinnes but to professe also that the death which they deserved was by the death of the Messiah the high Priest of the new Testament removed off them and transferred upon the beast And not onely the imputation of our sinnes upon Christ but also is signified that wee must lay our hand by a true faith upon Christ our head if we expect any comfort from his death and passion 4. The calfe must be killed before the Lord at the doore of the Tabernacle ver 11 signifying both the death and crucifying of Christ as also the fruit of it by the place That by his death as by a doore an entry is made for us into the Church both
militant and triumphant Heb. 10. 20. 5. The blood of that sinne-offering for the Priest must be put on the hornes of the Altar and the rest powred at the foot of the Altar vers 12 signifying 1. The sufficiency of Christs death to purge and reconcile us to God 2. The plenty of grace and merit in it for many more then are saved by it For being sufficient for all it is not helpfull to all nor to any that tread under foot this precious blood the extent of the benefit is to all the elect 3. The large spreading and preaching of the Gospel of salvation by Christs blood through all the coasts and corners of the earth as the blood sprinckled on the foure corners and that by the finger hand and ministery of men 6. The fat must bee offered unto God but the flesh skinne and dung must be burnt with fire without the host signifying 1. That Christ offered himselfe and the best parts he had suffering in soule and body 2. That hee must suffer without the host without the gate of Jerusalem Heb. 13. 12. and carried out our sinnes out of Gods sight 3. That nothing but blood comes on the Altar For onely the blood of Christ his Sonne cleanseth us from all sinne Note hence that the Priests in the Law must bee put in mind that they were sinners and needed a sacrifice for themselves By which they were to take notice of a difference betweene themselves and our high Priest 1. There was no perfection in their persons for they must offer and lay their hands on the head of the sacrifice confessing guiltinesse 2. Nor in their Ministery in which the high Priest need offer for his owne sins 3. Nor in all their Consecration they could offer no sacrifice to wash away any sinne their owne nor others onely they did point at the sacrifice of Christ but by his consecration he could offer himselfe a meritorious and sufficient sacrifice for the sinnes of his elect Thus is our high Priest advanced above them all The second of these sacrifices in the Consecration of the high Priest was to be a burnt offering or Holocaust The use of which was to signifie the dedication of himselfe and all that he had to be purified by the Spirit as by fire to the use of God in his service as that Holocaust was ver 15 and 19. Most things in this were common with the former 1. The blood must be sprinkled on the Altar round about signifying the full remission of sinnes purchased by the blood of Christ and the communication of all his benefits and the vertue of his whole passion to be applyed to the whole Church for sprinkling still betokens application 2. The inwards and legs must be washed in water ver 17. signifying that Christ should bring no uncleane thing in his offering but he should be absolutely pure within and without in his minde thoughts affections signified by the inwards and in his conversation motions and walkings signified by the legs 3. The burning of the offering wholly ver 18. signified 1. the ardent love of Iesus Christ who was all consumed as it were with the fire of love and zeale towards mankinde upon the Crosse. 2. The bitternesse of his passion in his whole man who was as it were consumed wholly with the fire of his fathers wrath due to the sinnes of man 4. As the burnt offering ascended up to heaven in fire So Iesus Christ having offered himselfe a whole burnt offering ascended up into heaven so obtained an everlasting redemption for his Church From whence also he sends the fire of his Spirit as on the Apostles so on all beleevers in their measure Iohn 14. Note from this sacrifice for the high Priest that first he must offer the sinne-offering and then the other sacrifices for consecration This burnt offering nor the others following could never have been acceptable if the sinne-offering had not gone before and sinne by it expiated Learne hence that so long as we are in our sinnes all our sacrifices and service are abominable Sinne unremoved lyes in the way of thy prayer The blinde man could say God heares not sinners And David If I have delight to sinne God will not heare my prayer Sinne unrepented and unpardoned makes thee hatefull in the house of God thy hearing doth but more harden thee the sacraments become poyson unto thee for thou by thy sinne castest poyson into the Lords Cup and so eatest and drinkest thy owne damnation Let this be our wisdome first to offer our sinne-offering It is the Lords owne counsell Isa. 1. Wash you cleanse you and then come and let us reason And as our Lord advised us in case of reconciliation with man wee must much more practice in case of our recōciliation with God If thou hast brought thy gift to the Altar and thou remembrest that God hath ought against thee first reconcile thy selfe to God and then to man and so bring thy gift There be two graces which we must bring before God in all our services in which we would finde acceptance The former of preparation that is repentance which prepareth aright to the performance of good duties The latter of disposition and that is faith which disposeth the party aright in the whole cariage of them for this purifieth the heart exciteth the will sees the weaknesse seekes a cover and findes acceptance The third sacrifice in the consecration of the high Priest was the peace-offering or the Eucharisticall sacrifice the use of which was both that Aaron should shew his thankfulnesse to God who had advanced him to so high an office as also to obtaine of God by prayer such high and excellent gifts as were needfull for the execution of the same and this pointeth directly at Jesus Christ. 1. The blood of this Lambe was to be put on the lap of Aarons eare upon the thumbe of his right hand and on the great toe of his right foot Signifying 1. That all the actions of Christ his hands feet and parts were red with his passion Psal. 22. 16. they pierced my hands and feet 2. The whole obedience of Jesus Christ to his father even to the death called a piercing or boaring of the eare 3. That it is Christ who sanctifieth the eares hands and feet of the Priest and people The eare to heare divine Oracles the Priests must first learne then teach The hands to worke the actions of grace and holinesse The feet to direct and lead into all holy motions and conversation all must be washed by the blood of Christ that we may be wholly cleane As both our Saviour teacheth by the washing of the disciples feet Iohn 13. 5 6. As also in Peters request Lord not my feet onely but my hands and head Iohn 13. 9. 2. A part of this sacrifice went to the Priest part to the offerer signifying that both Priest and people have part and