and that was but once offered nor ought it to be often offered In the Priesthood of the old Testament the high Priest entred once every year into the most holy place that was made with hands but the high Priest of the new Testament entred not into the holy place made with hands but into heaven it self and there He appears continually for us In the Priesthood of the old Testament the Priest was one thing and the sacrifice another thing But in the new Testament the priest and the sacrifice are indeed one and the same for Jesus Christ is the high Priest and He is the sacrifice it self for he offered himself to his Father for the remission of sins But what needs many words for the scripture it self makes this a difference between the high Priest of the old and of the new Testament that the high Priest of the old Testament had successors but Christ hath no successor As the Apostle tells us Heb. 7.23 They were many because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death but this man because he continues for ever Vers 24. hath an unchangeable Priesthood Christ and the high Priest Hear St. Austin The high Priest went alone into the Holy of Holies Summus sacerdos solus intrabat in sanctū sanctorum populus foris stabat Sicut Christus nunc in secreta coelorum intravit ut pro nobis interpellet populus autem cujus ille sacerdos est foris gemit To. 7. part 1. contr epist Par. l. 2. c. 7. while the people stood without as now Christ is entered into the secret place of Heaven to make intercession for us while the people whose Priest he is sighs without Weemse makes the high Priest a Type of Christ in five things in his person in his annoynting Christ Synag l. 1. c. 6. s 3. in his apparel in his marriage in his death 1. In his person there must be no blemish in him so neither was there in Christ. 2. In his Anointing the high priest was anointed with the holy oyl and so was Christ Psal 45. God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladnesse c. 3. In his garments his crown signified his Kingly Office his Urim and Thummim signified his Priestly Office and his Bells his Prophetical Office 4. In his marriage It was not lawful for the high Priest to marry a widow because he had not her first love nor a divorced woman because he had not her just love nor an whore because he could not have her whole love he might onely marry a Virgin so Christ requires of his Church her first love just love and her onely love 5. In his death He that kild a man negligently fled to the City of Refuge and stayed there till the death of the high Priest and then he was free so Jesus Christ by his death frees us and sets us at liberty Dr. Gouge also makes the comparison between Christ and the high Priest in sundry particulars Exod. 30.30 Psal 133.2 Psal 45.7 1. The high Priest was annointed and this ointment ran down from his head to the skirts of his garment this was an outward sign of his Calling and Gifts Heb. 5.5 Joh. 3.34 Joh. 1.16 so Christ was annointed He was Called and had Gifts to fit him for the execution of his Offices and of his fulnesse we all receive and Grace for Grace Exod. 28. 2. The high Priest was arrayed with rich and glorious apparel which is described by Moses So Christ is arrayed with Immortallity Incorruption Purity Majesty and all manner of glory fit for his place Exod. 28.30 3. Among other things wrought by the Art of man the high Priest had in his breast plate two things Vrim and Thummim Col. 2.3 which according to the notation of the words signifie Light and Integrity And Christ the true high Priest hath in him all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge and his purity is set out by the Apostle to the ful Heb. 8.26 Exod. 28.9.10 4 The high Priest carryed before him on his breast-plate the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel And Christ hath the names of the whole Church in continual remembrance and presents them to his Father to be gratiously accepted by him 5. On the high Priests Mitre in a plate of gold was ingraven Holinesse to the Lord. Two reasons are rendred hereof one that he might bear and so take away the imperfections of their best works the other that he might make the people acceptable to the Lord In Christ were truly and properly accomplished those things which onely were typified in and by the Priest 6. There were Bels of Gold on the skirts of the high Priests Ephod which with the least motion of his body sounded So Christ by his intercession makes a continual pleasant sound in the ears of God CHAP. X. Christ and Joshua HEar St. Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Jesus etiam ille dicitur qui post Mosem populum in terram promissionis introduxit Vides figuram respice veritatem I lle in terram re promissionis introduxit hic autem scil Christus in coelum ea quae sunt in coelis bona Ille postquam Moses mortuus est iste postquam lex per Mosem lata cessavit Ille ducis dignitate pollens iste autem Regis majestate praefulgens In Matth. hom 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ipse scil Josue populum introduxit in terram promissionis sicut Jesus in coelum non lex sicut nec Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non potest lex introducere sed gratia In hebr hom 27. Nec Moses nec Aaron introducunt Israel in terram promissam uterque enim moritur priusquam intrarent Israelitae sed Josue hujus rei mysterium datur intelligi Quod nec sacerdotium quod prius institutum erat cujus personam gerebat Aaron nec Lex cujus personam gerebat Moses in terram haereditatis aeternae populum Dei introducunt sed Josue in quo erat typus Christi i. e. gratia per fidem Et Aaron quidem ante defunctus est quam Israel in aliquam partem terrae promissionis intraret Mose autem vivente capta est possessa terra Amorrhaeorum sed Jordanem non est permissus transire Ex aliqua enim parte observatur Lex in fide Christiana ibi enim sunt praecepta quae hodie jubemur observare Christiani Sacerdotium autem illud sacrificia nullam partem tenent in die fidei Christianae nisi quod in umbris futurorum acta transacta sunt To. 4. quaest super Numer q. 53. He was called Jesus who after Moses did bring the people into the Land of Promise but Christ into heaven and the good things that be in heaven Joshua after Moses was dead Christ after the Law given by Moses ceased Joshua had the dignity of a Duke or Captain Christ hath the Majesty of a King
unto God by the blood of Christ Rev. 5.8 9 10 Rev. 5.11 Psal 45.5 Act. 9.15 and so distinguished from Heavenly Angels These with heavenly affections looking into the Law and Christ the Mercy-seat are such as on whom he also rides by the preaching of the Gospel But the chief signification of the Cherubs here respecteth Christ himself the Mercy-seat And to this glorious seat where Gods presence with his Church was manifested the throne of God is answerable in the Christian Church in the presence of which throne his people are and serve him day and night in his Temple 3. A little after he addes This here being as was foreshewed a figure of Christ the protecting Cherubs may signifie his Kingdom the Mercy-seat which they covered his Priesthood and the voice which spake from the same his Prophesie CHAP. XX. Christ and the Red Heifer Num. 19. ST Austin makes this parallel to hold thus To. 4. Quaest sup Numer q. 33. The red Heifer saies he signifies the flesh of Christ It s the female sex in regard of the infirmity of the flesh It is red Juvenca rufa carnem Christi significat Sexus foemineus est propter infirmitatem carnis Rufa est propter ipsam cruentam passionem Et juvenca haec sine vitio quia caro Christi erat in similitudine carnis peccati at non erat peccati caro nec habet in se vitium haec juvenca quia in se non habuit vitium caro Christi in aliis autem habet qui sunt ejus membra Et non est suppositum ei jugum non enim subjugata iniquitati cui subjugatos in veniens liberabat Et dabis cam ad Eleazarem non ad Aaronem ostendens non ad tempus quod tunc erat sed ad posteros passionem Domini perventuram Et ejicient eam extra castra sic ejectus est Christus passurus extra civitatem Et accident eum in conspectu ejus occisa est caro Christi in sconpectu corum qui jam futuri erant in novo Test sacerdotes Domini Et asperget sanguinem ejus testificans Christum secundum scripturas sanguinem fudisse in remissionem peccatorum Et cremabunt eam haec concrematio pertinet ad signum resurrectionis Natura quippe ignis est ut in superna feratur Idque in conspectu ejus scil sacerdotis quia illis apparuit resurrectio Christi qui futuri erant regale sacerdotium Et pellis ejus caro sanguis cum stercore ejus comburetur significans quod non solum substantia corporis Christi sed contumelia abjectio populi stercoris nomine significata converteretur in gloriam quam combustionis flamma significat Et accipiet sacerdos c. Vers 6. signum cedrinum spes est quae debet in supernis firmiter habitare hyssopus fides est quae cum sit humilis herba radicibus haeret in petra coccinum charitas est quod fervorem spiritus igneo colore testatur Haec tria mittere debemus in resurrectionem Christi tantum in medium combustionis illius ut cum illo abscondita sit vita nostra Et lavabit c. Vers 7. lavatio vestimentorum corporis quid est aliud quam mundatio interiorum exteriorum Et qui comburet c. Vers 8. In eo qui comburit eos figuratos arbitror qui Christi carnem sepelierunt resurrectioni eum tanquam conflagrationi mandantes Et congregavit c. Vers 9. Quid juvencae cinis reliquiae scil illius combustionis nisi fama quae consecuta est passionem resurrectionem Christi cinis inerat quia velut mortuus condemnabatur ab infidelibus tamen mundabat quia resurrexisse creditur à fidelibus Et quia haec fama maxime claruit apud eos qui in caeteris Gentibus erant non erant de consortio Judaeorum ideo dicitur homo mundus congregabit mundus scil ab interfectione Christi quae Judaeos reos fecerat Et reponet c. i. e. honorabiliter tractabit extra castra quia extra celebrationem Judaicae consuetudinis honor Evangelicus claruit Et erit Synagoge c Plenius declarat quomodo ex cinere isto fiebat aqua aspersionis qua mundabantur à contactu mortuorum quod utique significat ab iniquitate hujus moribundae vitae Et qui congregat c. Vers 10. Quomodo erit ex hoc immundus qui mundus accesserat nisi quia qui sibi mundi videntur in fide Christiana se agnoscant quia omnes peccaverunt c. justificati gratis per sanguinem Christi Rom. 3.23 24. Hunc tamen vestimenta lavare dixit non etiam corpus credo quod illius cineris congregatione repositione in loco mundo vult intelligi jam intrinsecus mundatum sicut Cornelius audiens credens quod praedicaverat Petrus ita mundatus est ut ante visibilem baptismum cum suis qui aderant acciperet Spiritum Sanctum at nec contemni debet visibile Sacramentum ut extrinsecus ablutus lavaret vestimenta sua Et erit filiis Israel Proselytis c. Ver. 10. Quid aliud significatur nisi baptismum Christi quem significabat aqua aspersionis Judaeis Gentibus profuturum Quem autem non faciat intentum quod post ablutionem dicitur immundus erit usque ad vesperam ubi nescio utrum aliquid aliud intelligi possit nisi quod omnis homo post remissionem plenissimam peccatorum manendo in hac vita contrahit aliquid unde sit immundus usque ad ejusdem vitae finem ubi ei dies iste quodammodo clauditur quod significat vespera Quod autem dicit hyssopum aqua aspersionis aspergi qua herba fides significatur quid aliud occurrit nisi quod scriptum est fide mundans corda non enim prodest baptismus si desit fides A viro autem mundo hoc fieri dixit ubi significantur ministri portantes personam Domini sui qui vere mundus est Vers 18. in regard of his bloody Passion And the Heifer was without blemish because the flesh of Christ was in the similitude of sinful flesh but it was not sinful flesh nor had this Heifer any blemish in it self because the flesh of Christ had no sin in it self but he hath in others that are his members And no yoke was ever laid upon it for he was not subjugated to iniquity but set those free from it whom he found subjugated to it And thou shalt give it to Eleazar not to Aaron shewing that the Passion of Christ should not be in the time that then was but in the time of their posterity And they shall cast it out of the Campe so Christ being to suffer was carried out of the City And they shall kill it in his sight So the flesh of Christ was killed in the sight of them who in the times of the New Testament were
to be the Priests of the Lord. And he shall sprinkle her blood to testifie that Christ according to the Scriptures shed his blood for the remission of sins And they shall burn her This burning is a sign of the resurrection for its the nature of fire to move upward And that in his sight namely in the sight of the Priest because the resurrection of Christ was to be manifested to them who were to be the Royal Priesthood And her skin flesh and blood with her dung was to be burnt to signifie that not onely the substance of Christs body but also the contumelies and the reproaches of the people against him signified by the dung should be turned into glory which the flame of the burning doth signifie And the Priest shall take c. The Cedar-wood is Hope which ought to dwell firmly above Faith is the Hyssope which being a low-growing herb is yet firmely rooted in the rock Charity is the scarlet which by its fiery colour shews the fervor of spirit These three we are to cast into the Resurrection of Christ as into the middle of the burning that our life may be hid with him And he shall wash c. Vers 7. The washing of the cloathes and body what is it other then the cleansing of that which is within and that which is without And he that shall burn c. Vers 8. By him that burnes the Heifer I conceive them to be understood that buried the body of Christ commiting it to the Resurrection as to the burning And he shall gather the ashes together c. Ver. 9. What is the ashes of the Heifer namely the remainders of the burning other then the fame and report that followed the Passion and Resurrection of Christ There was ashes because Christ was condemned by the unbelievers as stark dead but yet had a power to cleanse because he is believed by the faithful to be risen again And because this report was more famous among the other nations and them that were not Jewes therefore it s said A man that is clean shall gather c. namely clean from the killing of Christ which had made the Jewes unclean And he shall lay them up in a clean place that is he shal handle them respectively yet without the Camp because the Gospel was most honoured by them that used not the Jewish Rites And it shall be kept for the Congregation c. He doth more fully declare that of the ashes of the Heifer should be made a water of separation to cleanse them from the touching of the dead that is from the sins of this dying life And he that shall gather the ashes c. Vers 10. How shall he by this action be unclean that came to it clean but because they that seem clean to themselves come by the Christian faith to acknowledge themselves that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his blood Rom. 3.23.24 Yet it is said that this man shall wash his clothes not his body I believe because he would give us to understand that by the gathering and laying up of the ashes he is inwardly cleansed as Cornelius hearing and believing the things that were preached by Peter was so cleansed that even before the visible baptisme he with the rest that were present received the Holy Ghost Yet neither should the visible Sacrament be despised that being also outwardly cleansed he might also wash his clothes And it shall be to the children of Israel and to the stranger c. This shewes that the baptisme of Christ which it signified by the water of separation should profit both Jewes and Gentiles But who can forbear to observe that even after washing it s said that he shall be unclean until the evening by which I know not whether any other thing can be understood then that even after the most full remission of sins while a man remaines in this life he is prone to contract something by means of which he should be unclean until the end of this life where this day is shut up to him in a manner which the evening doth signifie But that which he saies Vers 18. The hyssope shall be dipped in the water by which herb faith is signified nothing else can be meant by it but that which is written purifying their Hearts by Faith Act. 15.9 Baptisme profits not if faith be wanting It s said finally that this is to be done by a man that is clean by whom are signified Ministers representing the person of their Lord who is truly clean In Num. 19. Ainsworth also notes this red Heifer to be a Type of Christ and that in many particulars 1. The Heifer was taken of the people saies he to shew the interest that they all had in it and by faith in that which it figured Christ And a little after he addes As other Sacrifices of beasts prefigured Christ so this in special figured him 1. The Heifer was red so Christ in his humane nature was red Isa 63.1 2. by the participation of our affliction Luk. 1.35 1 Pet. 2.22 2. The Heifer was perfect and without blemish so was Christ without blemish of sin both in his Person and Actions 3. Never yoke came on this Heifer so was Christ without yoke as being free from the bondage of sin and corruption and from servitude to men in the ordinances of men in religion and as doing voluntarily the things that pertained to our redemption 4. This Heifer was to be brought to E'eazar the Priest which figured that the work of our redemption and purification from sin belonged to Christs Priestly Office Heb. 9.9 13 14. He in performing the truth of this Type was both Priest and Sacrifice Heb. 13.11 12 5. This Heifer was carried without the Camp which figured Christs suffering without the gates of Jerusalem Lev. 14.14 so without the Camp malefactors were to suffer death 6. The Priest was to take of the blood with his finger figuring the Finger that is Heb. 9.22 23 24. 10.19 20 22 the Spirit of our Priest Christ Jesus whereby he hath sprinkled the way for us into Heaven and our Hearts from an evil Conscience that we may have access thither by his blood 7. The blood was to be sprinkled directly before the Tabernacle of the Congregation that is towards the fore part or door of the Tabernacle The Priest stood without the Camp where the Heifer was slain and there sprinkled towards the Tabernacle seven times which is a full and compleat number And that place being a figure of Heaven Heb. 9.24 this sprinkling thitherward typed out how Liberty should be procured for Gods People Heb. 10.19 20 to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus by the new and living Way which he hath consecrated for us 8. The Cedar Wood the Cedar being one of the greatest and tallest Trees and durable Wood that rotteth not figures the
are 2. A City hath Towers and the Towers of this City the Church are the Prophets for as from the Towers Darts are shot against all enemies so from the bookes of the Prophets examples of truth are set forth against the vain fables of the Heathen and against the wild and unsound disputes of Hereticks 3. A City hath gates And these gates of the Church are the Apostles because as by the gates men enter into the Cities so ' by the ministery of the Apostles the whole people namely of Jewes and Gentiles enters into the faith of Christ 4. A City hath Wals and these Wals are the Doctors of the Church of which the Prophet saies The Sons of strangers shall build thy Wals because being called from among the Gentiles they were made Priests or ministers and Governours of the Church for as the Wals of a City so these undergo the violence of Heathens and Hereticks who by frequent presecutions as by so many battering-rams batter the Clergy these Walls of this City the Church To which add 5. A City hath Priviledges and Immunities which are common to all and belong onely to them that are free of the City And no lesse hath the Church her Priviledges and Immunities which equally and alike belong to all the members of the Church Act. 10.34 be they Jewes or Gentiles high or low rich or poor male or female bond or free for God is no accepter of persons and are proper and peculiar to them If any be strangers from the Church they have nothing to do with any of these Priviledges Would any know what these Priviledges are Let him consult with the Apostles Creed and there shall he finde these recorded 1. Communion of Saints of holy men and Angels with God and of holy men and Angels mutually among themselves by vertue of our Communion with God we have liberty to Pray to God and by prayer to receive from God all needful blessings for soul and body in this life and no less by this Communion with God have we hope to live for ever with God in glory and happiness everlasting By vertue of our Communion with the Angels we share in the benefits of their ministration in all kindes in this life and hereafter we shall be like the Angels sharing with them in the glory of Heaven By vertue of our Communion with holy men we have an interest in their prayers and in all the abilities with which God hath furnisht them and shall live together with them in Heaven A rare priviledge 2. Remission of sins by which upon our unfeigned repentance we are freelie for Christs sake absolved and acquitted from the guilt and punishment of all our sins though never so many though never so great A rare Priviledge happy is he that hath it for so saies the Psalmist blessed is he Psal 32.1 whose iniquity is forgiven c. 3. Resurrection of the body and Life Everlasting Resurrection to Life Everlasting though the body falls in death yet it shall be raised again though in death the soul takes leave of the body for a time yet they shall meet again and be reunited And not onely so for this shall be common to all men the bodies of all shall be raised and in all there shall be a reunion of soul and body but whereas to some there shall be a Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5.29 to the Church it shall be a Resurrection to Life whereas some shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt all the true members of the Church shall awake to everlasting Life Dan. 12.2 Lastly it s observed here by the forenamed Author that this Citie is set upon an hill that is the Apostles Prophets and all other Doctors of and Faithful in the Church are built upon Christ who is the onely Foundation for Christ is that Mountain of which the Prophet saies Dan. 2.35 That it filled the whole Earth And this sense is pious But yet I conceive another thing rather to be intended by our blessed Saviour in this place namely that as a City built upon an Hill cannot be hid but is conspicuous and seen a farre off so neither can the Conversation and Actions of the Church and the members of it be so secretly carried but that it will come to the cognizance and knowledge of others so that if it be pious God shall be honoured by it and from any sinful and scandalous behaviour of the members of the Church it cannot be but that God shall be dishonoured by it as Saint Paul saies Through you is the name of God blasphemed among the Gentiles Rom. 2.24 See the high preferment of all Godly Christians in that they are made members of the Church and so free Denizons of this great City of God who counts it not a great matter to be a Freeman of some great City in the World so it was counted to be a Citizen of Rome they that were so gloried not a little in it they that were not so thought it not much to purchase it with a great summe of mony much more is it an honour to be members of the Church for what City in the World hath Priviledges and Immunities comparable to the Priviledges of the Church named before Blesse God for this high Honour and Preferment and as he hath honoured you so be ye careful to honour him and fearful to do any thing that may tend to His dishonour avoid all scandalous sins especially Phil 1.27 and Let your conversation be such as becomes the Gospel and as our Saviour enjoynes us Let your Lights so shine before men that they seeing your good Works Matth. 5.16 may glorifie your Father that is in Heaven CHAP. VII The Church and a Dove SO our Saviour speaks to his Church Open to me Cant. 5.2 my sister my love my Dove my undefiled So he speaks of her My Dove my undefiled is but one Cant. 6 9 she is the onely one of her Mother Saint Bernard observes two particulars in which the Church resembles a Dove The Church saies he Ecclesia columba est quia innocens est quia gemens est In Cant. ser 62. is a Dove 1. Because the Dove is innocent and harmless and indeed this to be eminent in the Dove appears by that passage of our Saviour Be innocent as Doves Matth. 10.16 which implies that the Dove is eminently innocent as the Serpent is the wisest of the beasts of the field Gen. 3.1 whom our Saviour wills his hearers to be like in wisdome so is the Church so are all godly Christians the members of the Church innocent and harmlesse they can finde in their hearts to suffer wrongs to put up injuries but they cannot with patience think of wronging others This is one thing by which David describes a member of the Church the question being Lord who shall enter into thy Tabernacle Psal 15.1 Vers 3. c. the answer is in