onely a purifying of the flesh this of the Spirit and conscience 4. That cleansed from legall and bodily pollution this from morall called dead works 1. Because they proceeded from death of sinne 2. Because they lead to eternall death For the explaining of this ordinance consider four things 1. Whence the Cow must be 2. The properties or qualities 3. The actions about her 4. The use and end of it I. All the congregation must bring an heifer to Moses out of the heard 1. All the congregation for not one in the congregation but needs a meanes of purging 2. This meanes must be a Cow not an Oxe or Bull. The imbecillity of the sexe noteth the great humillity of our Lord Jesus who being the mighty Lyon of the tribe of Judah would so abase and weaken himselfe for our sakes 3. They must take her from the heard so our cleanser must be taken from among our selves being true and perfect man taking our nature and our flesh yea our infirmities as the weak sexe importeth in all things save sinne like unto us II. The properties required in this Cow are four 1. She must be an heifer in her youth and strength Christ offers himself and must be taken for a sacrifice in the flower of his strength at three and thirty yeares He offers his best gifts and dies in his strength and so his offering was more free and acceptable And we also should offer up our youth strength best times and gifts to Jesus Christ who offered himselfe in his best strength to death for us 2. The Cow must be red Signifying 1. The truth of Christs humane nature being of the same red earth that the first Adams body was 2. The grievousnesse of sinne which he was to undertake and the scarlet staine of it 3. The bitter and bloudy passion of Christ and his cruell death The red skin of the Cow resembled the red garments of Christ all besprinkled 1. With his own bloud 2. With the bloud of his conquered enemies 3. Presented unto his father like the coat of Joseph all stained with bloud 3. The Cow must be without spot or blemish to signifie the purity of our Lord Jesus in whom was never any spot or staine of sinne Though he was contented to be counted a sinner yet he was no sinner And though he had sinne on himselfe he had none in himselfe as the Cow was slaine for sinne not being sinful Christ was ruddy through his passion yet most white and spotlesse by his most perfect and absolute righteousnesse 4. She must be without yoke on which never yoke came Signifying 1. That Christ not necessarily but voluntarily took our nature that he might free us from our yoke 2. His absolute freedome from all the yoke of sinne farther than he voluntarily undertook the burthen of it 3. That he was never subject to the yoke of humane precepts and commandements being the Law-giver to prescribe Lawes to all not to receive Lawes from any 4. That none could compell him to suffer for sinne but his whole obedience active and passive was a free-will offering he having power to lay down his life and to take it up againe 5. He was more free from the yoke than any red heifer could be She indeed must be free in her selfe He not onely free in himselfe but he must free all believers from the yoke whom the sonne sets free they are free indeed III. The actions about the Cow were five ver 5. 1. Action 1. The Congregation must deliver the Cow to be slaine so was Christ delivered to be slaine by the whole body of the Jewes 2. She must not be delivered to Aaron but to Eleazer his successor signifying that the death of Christ serveth all the successions and ages of the Church and must be taught by the Ministers of all ages 2. Action She must be led out of the Camp and there burnt whole to ashes her skin flesh bloud and dung ver 5. Signifying 1. That Christ must be led out of the gate of Jerusalem to suffer Heb. 13. and there 2. must be crucified by which he was made a whole burnt offering 3. That whole Christ is our comfort his flesh our meat his bloud our drink yea the very base dung of those contumelies cast upon him were a part of his sacrifice offered up in the fire of his passion for us to sweeten and sanctifie ours 3. Action Eleazer must take of the bloud with his finger and sprinkle towards the foreside of the Tabernacle of the assembly seven times vers 4. Signifying 1. The purging of us by the bloud of Christ sprinkled on the Conscience 2. That Christs death profits none to whom it is not specially applied for the Cowes bloud must be not shed onely but sprinkled 3. That onely the people and Congregation of God have benefit of the death and bloud of Christ for it was sprinkled directly before the tabernacle 4. The seven times sprinkling noteth 1. That that one oblation hath virtue and merit enough 2. The perfection of justification 3. The need of often application of Christs death 4. The duration of it to all ages 4. Action She must be burnt with Cedar wood scarlet lace and hysope all which must be cast into the fire with her vers 6. Signifying 1. Three things in Christ. 1. The Cedar of uncorrupt life 2. The scarlet of fervent love to mankind 3. The hysop of savoury obedience in all things to his father all which were in all his sufferings and fire of his passion sweetning it 2. They noted three things arising from Christs sufferings 1. Immortality signified by the Cedar which is not subject to putrefaction 2. The scarlet the merit of his bloud applyed to justification 3. The hysope of mortification healing our corruptions aâ— hysope hath a healing quality All these three properly arise from the passion of Christ. 5. Action A clean person must gather the ashes of the heifer and lay them without the Camp in a clean place vers 9. Signifying 1. The buriall of Christ in a cleane and new tombe wherein never man lay a clean place never used before 2. That the merit of Christs death is ever laid before God in the highest and holiest heavens 3. The Christians account of Christs merit and passion who layeth them up as his chiefe treasure in the clean place of a pure heart and conscience an onely fit closet to keep the mystery of faith in IV. The use and end of these ashes was twofold vers 9. 1. They must be kept for the Congregation Signifying that there shall never want supply of grace and merit from the death of Christ to any believer that sees his need of them 2. Of them was made a water of separation thus A clean person took of the ashes of the red Cow burnt and put pure water into a vessell and taking hysope dipped it and sprinkled it upon the tent the persons and vessels and
upon the unclean person the third and seventh day and so he washing his clothes and flesh with water was clean at even ver 18 19. Signifying 1. That the bloud of Christ is the onely water of separation for persons separate to separate them from their uncleannesse The water made of the ashes of Christs death and bloud-shed sprinkled upon the unclean can onely purge the conscience from dead works 2. That this bloud of Christ must be sprinkled with hysope of faith and mortification For hysope hath a cleansing quality and is put sometimes for that which onely and properly cleanseth purge me with hysope that is with the bloud of that eternall sacrifice figured by that which is sprinkled with hysope 3. That this bloud of Christ must be often applied the third day and the seventh day The death and merit of Christ must be often meditated and applied to the heart For it is a perpetuall and eternall purging and sprinkling water in the Church and we must have daily recourse unto it I. That the Lord hath appointed meanes for cleansing all kind of impurity 1. That his people and we might know that by no infirmity and frailty we shall fall quite out of the grace of God 2. That the Lord takes not the forfeit of all the scapes and foule falles of his children utterly to forsake them seeing the Jew that was legally polluted seventy times seven times was as often received in againe as he was cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary 3. That we should not despaire nor the weak Christian be quite dejected in the sence of the multitude of his frailties and foule touches seeing the Gospel affordes us the remedy and meanes to cleanse all morall uncleannesse no lesse certainely and fully than the Law to the Jews to purge their legall II. As the Jew was no sooner defiled by touching a dead man or bone or grave or tent or any thing about him but he must presently repaire to the meanes of legall cleansing So every Christian defiled by the least touch of any dead work must have recourse to the remedy appointed in the Gospel The Law appointed the water of the ashes of a red Cow but the Gospell appoints the red bloud of Jesus Christ sprinkled and applied by faith as by hysope upon the conscience Consider 1. The necessity The person defiled not having this sprinkling upon him shall be cut off from Israel vers 13. So whosoever hath not the bloud of Christ sprinkled upon his soule shall be cut off from the number and inheritance of the Saints Mar. 16. 16. he that believeth not shall be damned 2. Every sin is a separation from God who being a God of pure eyes cannot abide the filth of it and therefore we had need continually to have this water of separation for the washing of our hearts daily and often every day because it is gathering some uncleannesse every hour yea every moment 3. An unclean creature or vessell could not be of any service to man for he must not touch it till it be cleansed So a sinner so long as he is unclean and impenitent cannot be of any good use nor present any acceptable service to God And therefore the Prophet Isa. 〈◊〉 Wash you and cleanse you and then come No man dare present any thing to a King with a foule hand the Lord will accept no such present 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. touch no unclean thing and I will receive you and be a father unto you Implying that the Lord will not receive him that any way communicates with sinne if obstinate and impenitent 4. Nothing else can recover our beauty and first estate of holynesse and happinesse but this laver A cloth once soiled never recovers the beauty and whitenesse but by washing This laver onely brings back a white and unspotted innocency All the holy water in the Sea of Rome cannot wash one sinne for that hath no commandement no institution no promise Besides all legall Ceremonies are dead which in their life time could not cleanse by the meer deed done as they say theirs doth 5. How vaine is it to see men and women curious and carefull in washing their bodies and clothes they will not suffer the least spot on them but wash them weekly and yet go on year by year in the soule defilements of sinne and never desire to be washed and rinsed in the water of separation nay nothing more troubles them than to be called to reformation A cleanly man will have his clothes washed weekly but his hands and face every day A cleanly Christian will not be lesse carefull of his heart III. Seeing there was so much businesse in legall cleansing of the least foulenesse how carefull were the Jewes to avoid those foulnesse and how much more should Christians be to avoid the morall 1. In themselves A good heart will be affected with the least touch of sinne as David to cut Sauls lappet and to avoid the least appearance as well as evill it selfe 2. From others For the Jew might be impured from others as well as by himselfe We must not communicate in other mens sinnes 1 Tim. 5. 22. The just man bewareth not onely sinne it selfe but even the contagion and infection of sinne Watch thy selfe as privie to thine own weaknesse and thy adversaries subtletie and strength Watch against other sinnes as being beset with snares Resolve with good Jacob Gen. 49. 6. Into their secret my soul shall not come This strict watching is counted commonly foolish precisenesse nicety hatefull purity but God esteemes it otherwise It is an apparant losse of mens favour preferments and worldly helps but he onely findes the favour of God and the happinesse to see God Sect. VII The oblation for unclean issues leading us to Christ is appointed Lev. 15. 14 15. In this 1. What foules must be prepared for the offering Two Turtles or two young Pigeons and so for the womans vers 29. Of the clean kind of birds signifying and resembling the purity of Christs humane nature Besides his innocency simplicity meeknesse chastity charity fruitfulnesse of all which virtues these Doves were expresse Emblems 2. What was the use of these foules 1. They must bring them to the Priest No man must offer his own sacrifices but must present them to God by Christ the onely high Priest 2. They must bring them to the doore of the Tabernacle for publick service must not be privately performed and figured our entrance by Christ the doore 3. One must be made a sinne offering the other a burnt offering The sacrifices were types of that onely sacrifice of the Sonne of God our Redeemer performed upon the Altar of his Crosse for the expiating the sinnes and foule issues of the whole world In them both 1. What they were 2. What were the ceremonies about them 1. The sinne offering was a sacrifice in which the whole beast or bird was not
all mankind to the bottome of hell had not Christ endured it 3. Wholly roasted to signifie that Christ endured the whole wrath of God which is a consuming fire both in soul and body as that bitter agony in the garden witnesseth which made him sweat drops of water and bloud and complaine that his soule was heavie unto the death VI. Observation Though the lamb must be wholly drest yet a bone of it shall not be broken Noting that wonderfull accident in the passion of Christ that when the souldiers came purposely to break his legs as they had done the others that were crucified with him yet by Gods secret providence they were restrained so as the antitype might exactly answer to the type as the Evangelist applieth it Joh. 19. 36. This lamb by dying when he would hindered the breaking of his bones For 1. His body was most holy and must not be prophaned and torne ignominiously as if it were the body of a thiefe or malefactor 2. His Fathers care that keeps the bones of the Saints that not one of them is broken Psal. 34. 20. will much more keep safe the bones of his onely Sonne 3. His bones were to be whole buried because he was to rise againe with his whole body and so the faith of believers in the article of his resurrection was more easily confirmed We must cast our eyes upon Jesus Christ the true Paschall lamb in all the worship of the old Testament For further than Christ was found and seen in it it was then but as an empty shell without a kernell and how much more now The Jews at this day celebrate the Passeover kill the Lamb sprinkle the bloud eat the flesh observe the rites but refusing Jesus Christ what sweetnesse can be in that feast What do they else than cast away the kernell to gnaw upon the shell or as a mad man who casts away the graine and choakes himselfe with the husks Oh how is the wrath of God come upon them to the uttermost who think that they have done a good service when they have slain a number of lambs taken from earth rejecting the Lamb of God who came from heaven from the bosome of his Father infinitely surpassing them all For their madnesse 1. What sence or what spirituall worship is it to feed their bodies with the flesh of lambs and to refuse Christ the lamb of God separated from all the flock for the food and refreshing of the soule 2. What weak and cold comfort to eat a number of lambs in memory of their deliverance out of Egypt and the thraldome of Pharaoh and yet not endure to hear of much lesse to taste of that lamb that hath wrought a more powerfull deliverance from the Pharaoh of Hell from sinne from damnation and all their heaviest burthens 3. All that sprinkling of bloud in their houses so long as they despise the bloud of Jesus Christ shall never get them protection from the revenging Angel We must pray that God would please at length to remove their vaile from their hearts that they may submit themselves to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 3. that so all Israel may be saved by acknowledging the deliverer out of Zion of whom was prophecied Isai. 59. 20. That he shall turne away the ungodlinesse from Jacob. Sect. III. III. The Paschall lamb directly aimed at Christ our true Passeover in respect of the bloud and actions about it which were three 1. The bloud of the Lamb must be saved in a Basen vers 22. It must not be shed upon the ground to be troden under foot signifying the preciousnesse of the bloud of Christ. 1. In respect of God 2. Of Christ. 3. Of the Church For 1. God the Father highly prizeth this bloud and saves it in a golden vessell that it may be ever before him and that the streames of it may pacifie his displeasure and confirme the Covenant of grace with his Church Whence it is called the bloud of the Covenant Heb. 9. 18. 2. It was precious in regard of Jesus Christ seeing every drop of it was the bloud not of an innocent man onely but of one that was God as well as man Act. 20. 28. God with his own bloud purchased the Church and therefore it was a bloud of infinite vertue and infinite merit 3. Every true member of the Church doth most highly esteem it as the most precious thing in all the world and with great care and reverence receives it into the vessell of precious and saving faith and there keeps it safely as men do their most precious commodities 2. The bloud of the Lamb must be sprinkled upon the lintle and side posts of the doores of the Israelites vers 22. 1. In that it must be sprinkled it signified that the bloud of Christ must be applied unto us for our righteousnesse stands not in the shedding of Christs bloud but in sprinkling and application of Christs bloud shed and sprinkled upon our soules and consciences to purge them from dead works 2. It must be sprinkled upon the posts and doores so as the Israelites could neither go out of doores nor in but they must see on all sides the bloud of the lamb signifying that they and we should both at home and abroad going forth and comming in and on all occasions have the passion of Jesus Christ before our eyes in the holy meditation and deep contemplation of it 3. It was not enough for the Jew that the lamb was slain the bloud shed within the house but it must be sprinkled without doores that every man might see it and signified that if Christs bloud and the merit of it be shed in the houses of our hearts for justification and righteousnesse the sprinkling of it will appear and be seen without in holy life and practise of sanctification 3. This bloud of the lamb must not be sprinkled with the bare hands but with a bunch of hyssope dipt in the bloud vers 22. which signifyed that every one which puts forth his hand is not sprinkled with Christs bloud unlesse he have provided this bunch of hyssope Hyssope is Faith and Faith resembles this herbe in four things 1. It is a ground herbe low and weake so Faith in it selfe and in us is weak fraile feeble and of most despised Neither hath every man that hath hysope in his garden this bunch of hysope in his heart 2. Rooting in a rocke for so it used among the Jewes whence some thought it to be Pellitory of the wall Faith roots it selfe upon the rock Jesus Christ and cannot grow or prosper in any other soile Other hysope roots in earth this in heaven 3. It is an herb cleansing and curing Faith onely is an herbe of soveraigne virtue both to purifie the heart Act. 15. 9. and to heal all the wounds of conscience Act. 16. 31. the Goaler wounded and pricked in heart must believe in the
all corners of the world as that sacrifice was shaken every way East West North and South 4. This sacrifice must alwaies be offered up with cakes of unleavened bread tempered with oyle vers 23. Signifying 1. The most perfect purity of Christs life and doctrine without all leaven of sin 2. That Priest and people must in service to God lay aside all leaven of maliciousness 3. The oyle notes the soft and loving kindness of God Jesus Christ chearing suppling the conscience by the sweet meditation of it as also how joyfully gladly we ought to serve the Lord and with cheerefullness present before him all the parts of his worship Note hence as the eare hands and feet of the high Priest must be touched with bloud before he attempt any part of his office so our care must be that all our parts all our actions and affections be touched and purged with the bloud of Christ. So David Psal. 51. 2. Wash me throughly Reason 1. Because sinne hath defiled the whole man all his parts all his actions all within him all without him 2. This foulnesse sticks so fast as it is no easie matter to be cleansed Nothing in the world can fetch out this soile but the bloud of Christ. Not all the water in the sea nor all the holy water in the Sea of Rome can wash away one sinne 3. All thou doest or performest depends upon the merit of this bloud and dignity of this person and passion for acceptance The knowledge of thy duty must be sprinkled with this bloud for that is signified by the eare The undertaking of duty by the hand The progresse and perseverance in it by the foot All must be presented in him and by him and find grace and acceptance If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Qu. How may I know that the bloud of Christ hath touched and purged me Answ. 1. It is not enough that Christs bloud be shed but it must also be sprinkled If thou contentest not thy selfe that Christ hath died for all but seest how necessary it is to apply it to thy self 2. If thou hast an hand to lay hold on Christs bloud and besprinkle thy self with it A man washeth his face with his hand This hand is faith which takes up the bloud of Christ and applies it to ones selfe as did Paul who dyed for me 3. If it wash the whole man within and without which no others bloud could do The bloud of sacrifices under the Law could not sanctisie the conscience but onely the outside Heb. 9. 9. but this can and must purge the conscience from dead workes verse 14. And under conscience is contained the whole inner man purged by the merit of his satisfying bloud and by his spirit renewing our nature And for the outward man 1. If thy right eare be touched thou hast the hearing eare rightly to hear the word of God Thou hearest to learn for to harken is better than the fat of Rammes 2. If thy right hand be touched that thou art an active Christian not an hearer onely of the word but a doer and unto knowledge of the doctrine of faith joynest obedience of faith thou keepest the faith working as knowing that obedience is better than sacrifice thou darest not doe what seemes good to thy self or is right in thine owne eyes but what is rightly ruled by Gods word for that is the right hand touched 3. If thy right foot be touched that thou walkest in the right way with a right foot not making crooked pathes to thy feet but ordering thy conversation aright And all this with right ends and affections the feet of the soule laying aside all sinister ends and intentions in all thy obedience and directing all to the honour of the true Aaron and high Priest Jesus Christ. 4. If thou findest the effects of Christs bloud sprinkled 1. Pacification of conscience for this bloud speakes better things than Abels for us and in us for us to God by intercession in us by perswasion that the Lord looking on the bloud of Christ rests wholly in it as a full satisfaction for all our sinnes for this is the end of shedding remission of sinnes Matth. 26. 28. therefore of sprinkling 2. Daily sanctification through this sprinkling 1 Pet. 1. 2. For out of the side of Christ issues water as well as bloud the one redeeming from condemnation the other from vaine conversation the one purgeth from the death of works the other from dead workes themselves The sprinkling of this bloud admits not security or idleness and carelessnesse nor suffers a man to sinne against this bloud by impenitency unbeliefe despising of grace horrible swearing and foul lusts But makes the Christian truely noble as one now descended of the bloud of Christ scorning the base and foule courses he formerly affected Find these markes and comfort thy selfe thou art sprinkled with Christs bloud Thy whole course is sanctified all thy hearing all thy obedience be it never so weak in it self be thy unworthinesse never so great it shall be no barre to thine acceptance with God For every thing sprinkled with this precious bloud is sweetned and accepted Sect. III. III. The third thing in the deputation of the Priest to his office is his apparrell appointed by God and called holy garments glorious and beautifull farre differing from all other mens And they signified 1. The function to be glorious and excellent 2. The fitnesse of their persons to that office 3. The glory of the true high Priest Jesus Christ of whom Aaron was but a figure For all the glistering shew of these Priestly garments set forth the more Angelicall brightnesse of all the virtues which should shine in Jesus Christ. The Priestly garments appointed by God were ten in number of which four belonged to the inferiour Priests Exod. 28. 40 42. 1. A linnen garment Which signified the white garment of Christs righteousnesse and innocency which they were to appeare in before the Lord if they would be acceptable in their persons or duties Noting to us by the way that every godly Minister weares a white linnen garment not woven and made by men but by God not without him but within him not a shaddow oâ— ceremony but the substance and truth to which all shadowes give place Nay there is no private man that is godly but he must weare this white linnen garment having put it on in the laver of regeneration as Gal. 3. 27. Whosoever are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 2. A girdle verse 40. which signifies constancy and stability in the truth both in our high Priest Jesus Christ who was not a reed shaken but a firme rock as also in his members who are commanded to stand fast their loines girt with verity Ephes. 6. 14. Hence followes That the Ministers word must not be yea and nay his course must be constantly gracious and watchfull And for
Lev. 14. 8 9. Sect. V. I. The first meanes of purging Legall uncleanenesse is washing which shadowed out the washing of the sinner in the laver of Christs bloud all the water in the sea cannot wash away the least sinne that great work is appropriated to the bloud of Christ 1 Joh. 1. 7. the bloud of Jesus Christ his sonne cleanseth us from all sinne Rev. 1. 5. Who loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his bloud which bloud is opposed to all legall washings Heb. 9. 9. Object Levit. 11. 44. This washing is called a sanctification Answ. Sanctification is twofold 1. By the outward sign 2. By the inward truth They by washing symbolically and in outward profession by these rights sanctified themselves but thereby beleevers were led to the internall truth and the laver of the bloud of Christ. All this washing then leades us to the bloud of Christ by which is meant his whole passion and obedience by the merit whereof he hath procured both remission of our sinnes and mortification of them And herein is no small resemblance 1. Washing is an applying of water to foule parts so in the cleansing of sinne must be a speciall application of the bloud of Christ called Heb. 9. 14. the sprinkling of Christs bloud upon the conscience Which is nothing else on Gods part but the imputation of Christs sufferings to us and on our own part the application of them to our selves by the hand of faith 2. In Washing is a rumbling and scouring off of uncleannesse which will not easily off and in some foulenesse they must wash often for the surenesse of the work noting the paines and true indeavour of the repentant heart in mortification and afflicting it selfe It is well contented with any beating and wringing so he may fetch out the staine of sin which sticks as close as his flesh to his bones 3. The unclean party was to wash himselfe that is his whole man and every part which noteth totall sanctification in the whole man and all parts and members that the washing may be as large and general as the foulenesse is For whatsoever part is not washed by Christ hath no part in Christ which made Peter say not my feet onely Lord but mine hands and head 4. In the foulnesse of Leprosie he must wash againe and againe to note that after our justification by the death of Christ we must look to a second washing of sanctification by his spirit And because we have still washing work with us we must be still washing our selves by daily labour in our own reformation This was more lively signified in that other ceremony added to washing in the Leper that he must shave his haire againe and againe signifying the paring away of superfluities and lusts as fast as they grew and a voluntary departing from his own secret corruptions which were as many as the haires of his head and no lesse rooted in him that well he might shave and loppe them but he was out of hope quite to unroot them as long as he lived He must keep them under but cannot be ridde of them He must shave the first day and the seventh day and resist his lusts which daily grow upon him as haire cut quickly growes againe 5. The unclean person must wash his clothes as well as himselfe signifying that wee must part with all impurity even the least at least in endeavour cherishing none favouring none He must hate the very garment spotted by the flesh all occasions and appearances of evill esteeming the least spot of sinne foule and filthy enough And all this is requisite in purifying of the soule I. Labour against the smallest sinnes Be not a mentall adulterer banish unchastity in the eye and mouth avoid wanton company as did Joseph that of his Mistris Thou art no drunkard or great swearer but art thou a companion of such not reproving them No Papist but a friend and patron as seeing no great harme in their superstition No Atheist but a scorner of the persons and doctrine of godly teachers what dost thou but foam out thy own shame If thou shouldest keep thy selfe never so pure but partakest in other mens sins thou art unclean This reproveth Magistrats who though they themselves come to Church yet suffer others in time of divine worship to lye in streets houses fields openly c. prophaning thus the day of the Lord which is to be kept holy to our God Or if they be ordinary abettors of idle persons and gamesters by example This brandeth Ministers openly pleading for durnkards and hatefull blasphemers This defileth masters parents husbands that suffer their families to run into prophaneness or ryot II. In all these touches goe to the fountaine opened Zach. 13. 1. Every Jew had his water-pots to keep water for daily purification Joh. 2. 6. but now the house of David and Jerusalem that is all the godly have a fountaine opened by the death of Christ. We must every day be washing and cleansing our selves in that fountaine from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit Sect. VI. II. The second meanes of purging legall uncleannesse is oblation or offering some attonement to the Lord this directly leads us to Christ. For howsoever an unclean person must wash himselfe and his clothes yet no Jew could make an attonement for himselfe but this was common to all uncleannesses legall the Priest must make an attonement for the unclean person For all uncleannesse in generall Lev. 16. 30. In speciall for uncleannesse in touchings Numb 19. 4. In issues Lev. 12. 8. and 15. 15. In leprosie Lev. 14. 53. Noting by the way that all that we can do cannot make attonement for the least spot of sinne Let us wash our selves as often as Naaman in Jordan yea let us take snow water to us and wash our hands most cleane yet our owne clothes will make us foule and God will plunge us in the pit if our Lord Jesus the high Priest of the new Covenant make not attonement for us A fit note against all humane satisfaction and merits The offering for the Legall uncleannesse by touching was done by the sacrifice of a red cow and the sprinkling water made of the ashes of that red Cow prescribed by God to this purpose Numbers 19. called water of expiation That all this ordinance typified Christ to the Jewes the Apostle expresleth Heb. 9. 13 14. when from the bloud of this red Cow he leads us to the bloud of Christ saying If the bloud of bulls and goates and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling them that are unclean sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the bloud of Christ purge our conscience from dead works wherein he not onely compareth but infinitely advanceth the truth above the type For 1. that was symbolicall and figurative this spirituall and substantiall 2. That was eternall and temporary this internall and eternall 3. That
it from the spirituall servitude of sinne death the devill and damnation 2. It shadowed herein its successor in the new Testament for the Sacrament of the Supper was therefore instituted to keep in remembrance the death of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 11. 26. As often as yee shall eat this bread and drink this cup yee shew the Lords death till he come 3. To be a rule for all Sacraments wherein it is necessary that the word be joyned to the Element I mean the word of Institution and if it may be conveniently of exhortation that the seal may goe with the Charter as even in these shadowes the Lord himself straitly enjoyned these were the Lawes prescribed for the Anniversary Passeover both in Exod. 12. 14. and Numb 9. in neither of which is any mention of any of the former Laws proper to the first Passeover The last condition in eating concerned the measure The Lambe must be whole eaten signifying 1. Our perfect communion with Christ who are as nearly united unto Christ as the meat we eat which is turned into our own substance 2. That nothing in Christ is unprofitable 3. That Christ must be received wholly without dividing of his natures or destroying any of his offices Arrius divides the Lambe in denying his Godhead Manichees impugned his humanity Neither eat the whole Lambe The Papists destroy all his Offices Whosoever deny any fundamentall Article of Religion they divide the Lambe To eat the whole Lamb is to believe whole Christ according to the rule Faith is but one yet a copulative Deny one overthrow all Hitherto served that Injunction that no part of the Lambe must be reserved till the morrow but if any remained it must be burnt with fire verse 10. The Lord in his infinite wisdome would prevent all the occasions of idolatry which is easily admitted in the reservations of holy things As in Popery what a deal of idolatry is crept into the Church by reserving superstitious relicks and especially their consecrated or conjured bread as if this condition did not condemn expresly that Popish reservation of the hoast or breaden god Add hereunto that the Jewes requiring the body of Christ on the Crosse to be taken away that night before the Sabbath Joh. 19. 31. fulfilled against their knowledge this Prophecy Nothing of the Paschall Lambe must be left till the morning Sect. V. V. The Paschall Lambe is an expresse type of Christ in respect of the fruit and use of it which is security and safety from Gods revenge ver 23. For as by the sprinkling of the bloud and eating of the flesh the Jewes were defended from the revenging Angel and the destroyer passed over the house where he espied the bloud sprinkled So the bloud of Christ applied to the conscience causeth the wrath of God to passe by those that are so sprinkled And as they could sit in the house safe and not fear the stroke of the destroyer because of the bloud sprinkled so whosoever by true faith feeds upon Jesus Christ and are died with his bloud rest secure and fear not the destruction and revenge due to wicked men Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience 1. As the Jewes dwelling in Egypt were in great danger of the revenging Angel who was to passe through the land So all the Israel ot God dwelling in the midst of the Egypt of the world and too too much tainted with the fashions of it have no small cause to fear the judgements and revenge of God which must pursue the sinnes of it and also to use meanes for their own safety in the night of trouble and revenge as the Israelites did Quest. What meanes Answ. The same that Israel did We must 1. Sprinkle the house of our hearts with the bloud of the Lambe Heb. 10. 22. sprinkled in our hearts c. Whosoever were sprinkled with the bloud of the Lambe were safe Was there so much power in the bloud of the type and not much more in the bloud of the truth 2. Get into the house of the Church and fellowship of the faithfull for such as are true members of the Church which is the house of Saints are secure from the plagues of wicked men Isai. 27. 3. I the Lord doe keep the vineyard I will water it every momâ—nt lest any assaile it I will keep it night and day and â—sai 37. â—8 My people shall dwell in the Tabernacle of peace and in sure dwellings and in safe resting places Noah can be safe no where in the deluge but in the Ark And out of the Church is no salvation or safety 3. Thou must abide in the house all night and goe not forth Except the Israelites abide in the house they cannot be safe except thou abidest in the ship of the Church thou canst not be safe no more than any of Noahs company if they had stepped out of the Ark. We must adhere constantly to the true Church and not forsake the fellowship or depart from it by Apostacy or revolt which brings certain shipwrack of faith Consider Heb. 10. 25. 4. Patiently wait for the morning even the bright rising and appearing of Jesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse coming again to our deliverance whether publikely to generall judgement or personally in speciall to our selves For he shall bring health under his wings Mal. 4. 2. II. In the whole precedent discourse is a fruitfull direction for Christians for their holy use of the Sacrament of the Supper which is come in place of the Passeover 1. As he must be circumcised that must eat the Passeover so must he be baptized that must be admitted to the Supper that is a reverent professed Christian. For holy things must not be cast to dogs Mat. 7. 6. The Word and Sacraments are childrens bread and must not be cast to dogs that is obstinate enemies scorners blasphemers to men of uncircumcised lips and eares who wilfully repell the meanes of their cleansing So much the more pity is it that all sorts of notorious evill men thrust into the presence chamber of the great King yea sit down at the Lords Table and like swine swill in his cup without controul or any rebuke in many places Open blasphemers common-drunkards scoffing Ishmaels noted adulterers obstinate sinners And where is the care to preserve the holythings of God from pollution contempt and prophanation Would a man spread a table for dogs or swine If the shadows of these holy things might not be cast to dogs is it nothing to expose to them the body and substance it self 1 Cor. 11. 30. for this cause many are weak and sick among you and many sleep 2. As the Lamb was taken in the tenth day but was not slain till the fourteenth that it might be before their eyes all the four dayes before for the helping of their meditation and due
of God true God and man 2. They were sinfull men and must offer first for themselves and then for others Heb. 5. 3. But Christ was sinlesse he needed not offer for his own sinnes Heb. 7. 26 27. 3. For their office they were but ministers of holy things and of salvation propounded in them Christ because of this order was author of salvation to all that obey him Heb. 5. 9. 10. 4. They were many and all ministers of a temporary covenant but he is but one who hath obtained a more excellent office in that he is Mediator of a better testament established upon better promises Heb 8. 6. For the promises of the covenant of grace are more excellent than those of the Legall covenant 5. They offered often and the repetition of sacrifices argued their invalidity and imperfection but he offered but once and needed not doe it daily Heb. 7. 27. which argued the perfection Heb. 9. 28. 6. They offered the bloud of beasts which could not expiate sinne nor wash the conscience of the sinner farther than purifying the flesh but he not with bloud of bulls and goats but with his own bloud entred once into the holy place having obtained an eternall redemption Heb. 9. 12. and this bloud purgeth the conscience from dead works verse 14. 7. They served in an earthly fading Sanctuary made with hands and entred into an holy place which perished and failed according to that elementary and temporary worshipâ— but he is minister of the true Sanctuary and Tabernacle which the Lord pitcht and not man Heb. 8. 2. this tabernacle is his own blessed body in which he performed all his service called chap. 9. 11. a great and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands and verse 24 is now entred not into holy places made with hands but into the very Heaven to appear in the sight of God for us 8. They all ceased dyed one succeeded another as mutable was their whole service which also ceased and deceased and gave place to the truth of it when the fulnesse of time came but this true Melchizedek being without beginning or end of dayes hath an eternall Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. and therefore neither hath nor needeth any successor in earth Whence every repetition of his sacrifice bloudily or unbloudily in the Masse is an high and hatefull blasphemy a denyall of Christs person to be above the person of Melchizedek and of his sacrifice to be above Aarons or that it was offered by the eternall spirit of his Deity VI. The excellency of the person shewes the greatness of the Sacrifice the greatness of the sacrifice the greatness of the sinne Melchizedek because he was but likened to the Sonne of God Heb. 7. 3. could not offer a Sacrifice to take away sinne he must be the Sonne of God indeed and God himself that must doe that The least sinne which we account so light could never be expiated but by the bloud of him that is God as well as man All created strength cannot stand under the burthen of the least sinne Therefore in the worthiness of this person see the unworthiness of thy sinne to hate and abhorre it and thy self in dust and ashes for it An hainous and execrable offence were that which nothing could take away but the death of the Prince CHAP. V. 4. Isaac a type of Christ. I. IN his birth Isaac the sonne of Abraham the father of the faithfull a promised seed long before he was born in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed Yea so strange was his birth as that he was not to be born by the strength of nature but of Sarahs dead womb when it was not with her as with other women Insomuch as when the Angel fore-told it to her she thought it impossible Gen. 18. 12. So Christ the sonne of Abraham commonly so called the onely Sonne of God by nature who is the Father of all the faithfull who are taught to say Our father c. The onely true promised seed long before prophecied of and expected of beleevers before his manifestation about four thousand yeares Borne and incarnate not by the strength of nature but by the power of the holy Ghost after an unconceiveable manner so as when the Angell told his mother Mary of his miraculous manner of birth she thought it impossible and said How can this be Luk. 1. 34. And in him onely the whole spirituall seed of Abraham all Gods people of Jewes and Gentiles were blessed Psal. 72. 17. the Nations shall blesse him and be blessed in him Which Prophecy cannot be understood of Salomon for scarce his own nation was blessed in him who by his sinne lost tenne tribes of twelve from his own sonne and verse 5. they shall fear him so long as the Sunne and Moone endure from one generation to another verse 11. all Kings shall worship him and serve him and verse 17. his name shall be for ever all these are true in Christ onely Thus as Isaac was founder of a mighty state so Christ of all the Church of God in all nations onely blessed in him As Isaac was his fathers heire So Christ heire of all things Isaac hath goods onely II. In his suffering 1. Isaac was circumcised the eighth day so was Christ. Luk. 2. 2. Isaac in his infancy was persecuted by Ishmael Gal 4. 29. So Christ by Herod Mat. 2. 3. Isaac carried the wood of the burnt offering upon his shoulders even to mount Moriah Gen. 22. 6. So Christ carryed the Crosse on which he was to be nayled even to Golgatha 4. Isaac was led away as a Lamb to the slaughter So Christ was lead away Joh. 19. 16. to death 5. Isaac without reply submitted himself to his father even to the death suffered himself to be bound on the wood and yeelds himself burnt offering unto the Lord Even so Christ without reply was obedient unto his father unto the death and was content to be bound not as Isaac for himselfe alone but for us and them and layd down his life a whole burnt offering and a ransome for many Joh. 16 28. Thus were both Lamb-like sufferers both bear their Crosse both without reply led away both bound and fastned on the wood both willingly obedient to the death III. In his offering 1. Both sonnes onely sonnes innocent beloved of their fathers Abraham did all at Gods Commandement and lifted up his hand So Christ by the determinate counsel of God was delivered by wicked hands Abraham offers his sonne freely God more freely offers his sonne out of his bosome 2. Abraham by Gods commission riseth early in the morning to sacrifice his sonne and Isaac riseth as early to obey his Father So the Jewes by Gods permission break their sleep and early in the morning proceed to the condemning of Christ who is called the Hinde of the morning Psal. 22. 1. compassed with dogges that hunted his life and Christ as another Isaac after
reasonable sacrifice to God Rom. 12. 1. willingly mortifying all the deeds of the flesh and denying and renouncing all fleshly lusts and affections which are as neat and as dear unto thee as the parts of the body So Col. 2. 11. it must be a putting off the sinnefull body implying not a suffering it onely to be violently taken and cut away but a voluntary putting away and parting with it Indeed in legall Circumcision the infant could not cut away the flesh of his body but in Evangelicall Circumcision thy selfe must put off this sinnefull body of flesh and be more than a meer patient 2. As there the whole body was wounded in one part so see the whole body of sinne be wounded in all parts not one member spared Col. 2. 11. put off the sinnefull body No sinne must raigne none unresisted And therefore 1. Labour for an heart circumcised There the Lord begins this work Deut. 30. 6. and Chap. 10. 16. there see thou hast begun See thy desires be sanctified that the thoughts of thy heart and inward affections be watched and guarded not suffered to be earthly wanton impious disordered or unfruitfull This purging of carnall affections and fastning them on the right object is a note of inward circumcision Deut. 30. 6. 2. See thine eare be circumcised Act. 7. 51. the Jewes are reproved for uncircumcised eares All sinnes of the eare must be circumcised and that is done in opening them to hear God and good instruction and shutting them against slanders false tales wicked counsels doctrines of liberty and the like 3. Circumcise thy lips which then are so when they are able to speak for God Moses in Exod. 6. 12. complaines that his lips were not enough circumcised All the sinnes of the tongue must be cut off This circumcision admits not a lie an oath a slander a deceitfull or filthy or unclean speech unmortified 4. All sinnes of the eye must be circumcised by making Covenant with this member not suffering the eye to be envious covetous wanton scornfull adulterous And so examine all the parts that no sinne be peaceably admitted without drawing bloud upon it as was in circumcision 3. As in that Circumcision was sence of much paine and griefe in the body as we see in the Shechemits Gen. 34. 25. So in this where ever it is is affliction of conscience pain of spirit pricking in the heart as in the Converts Act. 2. 37. which makes the circumcised mourn and cry out of himselfe judging himselfe and breaking his heart with godly sorrow for sinne The Priest could not take the knife and cut off the piece of flesh without paine and sorrow of the child Neither can the Minister take the sharpe weapon of the Law to wound and cut the body of flesh in any part but it will be painfull and sorrowfull to the child of God who will judge and condemne himselfe and dares not stand out the threats of the Law as many contemptuous rebels do An hard and secure heart is an uncircumcised heart good Josiah will tremble at the word but all Gods words and plagues stirre not Pharaoh 4. As that part cut off was never set to the body againe but was taken quite away for ever So in this circumcision of Christ is not a parting with sinne onely for a time but a ceasing of sinne that is a constant endeavour to forsake all sinnes inward outward secret open A parting from pleasing profitable deare and bosome sinnes saying to them as Ephraim to his idols Hos. 14. 9. get ye hence what have ye to do here with resolute purpose never to give them entrance or entertainment more Those that fall to their former sinnes as who forget they were washed like dogs and swine were never circumcised The skin once cut off died for ever such a dying to sinne must be in this circumcision 5. In that was a joyning to Gods people and a receiving of the party into the Church and family of God See if thou beest joyned to Gods people not in outward profession but in sincere affection embracing them that feare God delighting in their society giving them the right hand of fellowship and with the hand the heart separating from the fellowship of the uncircumcised and prophane as the Jewes medled not with the Samaritanes Doest thou professe circumcision and grace by Christ but oppose and pursue the professours of Christian religion as Ismael him that was born after the promise A plaine signe all thy circumcision was made with hands Thy body was washed with water of Baptisme but thy heart is unwashed untouched with any water of saving grace 6. In that was a joyning and admittance to the outward worship of God and externall communion in all holy things so here thou art become a true worshiper not outwardly in the letter and ceremony but inwardly in spirit and truth A Jew within Rom. 2. 29. Phil. 3. 3. We are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit He that worships formally for fashion for Law and in the mean time can contemne the power of godlinesse cannot away with inward watchfullnesse sincerity strictnesse though by Baptisme he be brought to the externall communion of the Church in holy things all is but in the letter without all circumcision of the heart 7. In that was much rejoycing as in a great priviledge and the Jew did much boast and beare himselfe upon this prerogative partly upon the externall worke partly on their distinction by it partly because it manifested them sonnes of Abraham according to the flesh and much was their praise among men But true circumcision rejoyceth not in Abraham but in Christ hath no confidence in the flesh but renounceth all outward things and settles his rejoycing in Christ alone and his merits counting all other things dross and dung in comparison of him Let the Jew trust in Circumcision by the work wrought as our Judaizing Papists do in their Sacraments Let him glory of Abraham his father Joh. 8. 33. that he is beloved because the seed of Abraham We are chosen in Christ not in Abraham In him we have atonement and become a beloved people and not in Abraham In him we come boldly to the Throne of grace and speed in our suits In him we glory all day long We trust not in good meanings as simple ignorant persons nor in merits as wilfull blinded Papists nor in any thing within us nor without us nor without Christ. All our joy and trust is in himselfe alone And this is the 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 be not renewed and faith and conversion wrought in the heart For as the Jewes being circumcised were chalenged to be uncircumcised though they had the fore-skinne of the flesh cut off and had the
Lord Jesus Christ and be saved Our Lord himselfe was wont to say to distressed persons According to thy Faith be it unto thee 4. It was fitter than other herbes for the receiving and sprinkling of liquor so Faith although a low and weak plant is onely fit to receive the precious liquor of the bloud of Christ. Onely faith drawes virtue from Christ as in the poor woman that stood behind Christ Mark 5 31. And the want of this bunch of hyssope disables Christ from doing thee any good Christ could do nothing in Capernaum for their unbelief I. Note hence how we are to prize and magnifie the bloud of Christ. For if the shadow of this precious bloud must be so preserved so carefully saved in a costly vessel how much more ought the bloud it self Quest. How may I prize the bloud of Christ Answ. 1. Consider with the dignity of the person the infinite value of it That it is able to purchase the whole Church of God Act. 20. 28. which a thousand worlds of wealth could not do No wealth in heaven or earth besides this can redeem one soule And therefore the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 19. sets this precious bloud against all corruptible things as gold and silver and things so much set by amongst men 2. Consider the precious things which it procures us both in earth and in heaven 1. Here below it procures us four things 1. Reconciliation and peace with God Rom. 3. 25. and Ephes. 2. 13. we which were farre off are made near by the bloud of Christ. 2. A sweet tranquility of mind peace of conscience which all worldly treasure caÌ„not purchase because now we are within the Covenant of God living in his love which is better than life and in this love is no lack but an abundant supply of all needfull things All which Covenant of grace is made and ratified by this bloud therefore called the bloud of the Covenant Heb. 9. 3. Victory against all the malignity of our spirituall enemies even the greatest Satan himself who is overcome by the bloud of the lamb Rev. 12. 11. 4. Immunity and safety from all the judgements and dangers threatned against our sinnes else had we died without mercy for despising Moses law Heb. 10. 28. For if there were such force in the bloud of the type that by the effusion of it the Israelites lay safe and untouched of the revenging Angel Heb. 11. 28. much more in this bloud of Jesus Christ to cover belieuers in his Name from the hand of Gods revenge due to our transgressions 2. This precious bloud now in heaven procures us the most needfull and excellent good things above all that we can imagine Especially two waies 1. By opening heaven for our prayers for this bloud pleades for us now in heaven and speaks better things for us than the bloud of Abel Heb. 12. 24. That called for vengeance against the sinner this intreateth for daily grace for daily sinnes and procures daily mercies for daily supplies 2. As to our prayers so this bloud openeth heaven to our persons This bloud onely rents the vaile asunder and makes a way into the holy of holies and gives entrance into the kingdome of heaven Heb. 10. 19. by the bloud of Jesus we are bold to enter into the holy place This bloud is the onely key that unlocks heaven for else the Lord dwels in light which no flesh can have accesse to 1 Tim. 6. 16. namely without Christ and the shedding of his bloud II. Is the bloud of Christ so precious take heed of prophaning this precious bloud take heed of sinning against it Consider of that sore punishment which he is worthy of that treads under foot the sonne of God and counteth the bloud of the Testament unholy Heb. 10. 29. He cannot expresse the greatnesse of the punishment in words but leaves it to all mens minds to consider of Quest. How may a man prophane this bloud Answ. 1. By undervaluing it as Papists who think it insufficient to ratifie the Covenant unto them without other additions and supplies from themselves and others yea ascribe as much to the bloud of Thomas Beckâ—t and other traytors as to this bloud 2. To be ashamed of Christ and his sufferings The Jewes must strike the lintels of their doors with the bloud of the Paschall Lambe that all might see they were Israelites signifying that we must openly professe Christ and not be ashamed of his death and ignominy which is the life of the world at which notwithstanding the greatest part of the world stumbleth at this day To shame at the profession of Christ is to contemn his bloud 3. To contemne it in the meanes in which the Lord would hold it before our eyes To reject or neglect the preaching of the word wherein Christ is crucified before our eyes as he was to the Galatians chap. 3. 1. To neglect and despise the Sacrament in which his bloud is after a sort poured out to the mind and senses Or unpreparedly to receive the Sacrament and in the unworthinesse of a guilty conscience is to make ones self guilty of the bloud of Christ as Pilate Judas and the Souldiers were 4. To despise and wrong the godly descended of the bloud of Christ redeemed with the bloud of Christ To hate the Church of God and abuse the members of Christ is to crucifie again the Son of God and despise the price of our purchase In that yee doe it to one of these little ones yee did it to me Thou canst not draw bloud of the Saints but thou sinnest against the bloud of Christ. 5. To prophane it in gracelesse swearing as those branded hell-hounds that swear commonly by wounds or bloud as if this precious bloud were to be engaged on every base occasion Well they carry wounds in their consciences and poure out the life bloud of their souls Sect. IV. IV. In eating the Paschall Lambe Jesus Christ was typified To this eating many conditions are required concerning 1. Time 2. Place 3. Persons 4. Manner 5. Measure The Time It must be eaten at the sametime and in one evening must all Israel eat the Passeover 1. In the evening to signifie our estate of darknesse and misery by sinne and death till Christ came and when Christ came to be our ransome 2. In one and the same evening to note the holy agreement and consent of the whole Church in the faith of Christs death and passion to which well agrees the constitution of our Church ordaining the Supper succeeding it in the same time so all superstition and formality be avoided The Place 1. Every particular Lambe must be eaten in one house to signifie the unity of the Church of God the house of the living God and the spirituall conjunction and agreement of all the faithfull in one bread and one body 1 Cor. 10. 17. 2. If one house sufficed not to eat up one Lambe