ashes of that ashes a certaine water was to be made which being sprinckled on them that were uncleane by the touching of a dead body c. it did sanctifie them and made them capable of the Tabernacle being purified by that water they might goe with the rest of the people into the place of Gods worship This Cow was a type of Christ. 1. As shee was Red So was hee dyed red in his owne bloud 2. As she was without spot or scab or any disease So Christ was without the spot of sin 3. As shee was never used to the yoke no more was Christ to the yoke and servitude of sin 4. As she dyed so Christ. Therefore if the water made of her ashes was precious much more the bloud of Christ sprinckled on our consciences In the proofe of this hee doth not insist because it was confessed by the Iewes So I thinke holy water may sanctifie touching the purity of the flesh If a man have dirt on his face when he is about to enter into the Church their holy water may take it away but it cannot helpe for any spirituall thing to scare away Devills or to put away veniall sins VERSE 14. THerefore he proceeds to the Apodosis Where 1. The sacrifice of Christ. 2. The end of it Not equally but much more Then the bloud of a beast The which he illustrateth by diverse circumstances 1. By the Person that offered this bloud he was Sacerdos victima 2. By the Party or power by the which he offered it Some by the eternall Spirit understand the Holy Ghost as by him he was conceived in the Virgins wombe by him lead into the wildernesse to bee tempted Mat. 4.1 So through his assistance he offered up himselfe but by the eternall Spirit is rather meant the eternall deity of our Saviour Christ 1 Pet. 3.18 19. As hee was man consisting of flesh and bloud So he was also God an eternall and incomprehensible spirit From this his infinite and unspeakeable deity the bloud of CHRIST received a power to make satisfaction for our sinnes Whereupon it is called the bloud of God Acts 20.28 The bloud of none that was a meere man could doe it if CHRIST 's bloud had not beene offered up by his eternall spirit it could not have purchased our redemption The bloud of Martyrs was offered up by the assistance of the HOLY GHOST yet it was not meritorious it was not that but the power of the deity that made Christ's bloud meritorious 3. By the thing offered not any brute Creature not a man an Angell but Himselfe 4. By the quality of the thing offered even in respect of his humanity and for that cause his bloud was more forcible 5. To whom to God As a full satisfaction for the sins of the world Then he comes to the efficacy of the bloud of Christ deduced out of the former the bloud of Goats and Bulls did purge the flesh and outward man this the conscience and inward man In some Greeke copies it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our consciences All stand in need of purging We have a double benefit by the bloud of Christ justification and sanctification from dead workes that is sins Now from these dead workes that lay as an heavy loade on our consciences the bloud of Christ purgeth us Sinnes are called dead workes 1. Because they come from dead men 1 Tim. 5. Verse 6. Eph. 2. Verse 1. 2. Because they engender death Rom. 6. ult The bloud of CHRIST purgeth our consciences from all sinnes so as our consciences cannot accuse and condemne us for sinne because it is washed away in the bloud of CHRIST Hebr. 10.2 Rom. 8.1 The second fruit issuing from the former is our sanctification that being thus justified wee may be sanctified in soule and body to serve the living God Luk. 1.74 He is stiled the living God 1. Because he lives of himselfe and that for ever 2. Because hee makes us by his spirit to live a spirituall life in this world 3. Because hee will raise us up from a corporall death at the latter day and cause us to live with him for ever in the world to come 1. Grievous is the sting of Conscience This chest worme gnaweth sore this made Iudas to cry out I have sinned in betraying innocent bloud This made Iosephs brethren to condemne themselves when no man laid any thing to their charge verily wee have sinned in that wee saw the anguish of his soule when hee besought us and wee would not heare This made those Iohn 8. that seemed holy men to the eye of the world to depart out of the Temple one by one being convicted of their owne consciences This was truly said to be mille testes Now how shall wee stoppe the mouth of these thousand witnesses We are all miserable sinners our consciences accuse us of innumerable sinnes but here is our comfort the bloud of Christ sprinkled on our consciences purgeth us from all sinne being justified by faith wee have peace with God Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God 's Elect it is CHRIST that hath dyed yea rather that is risen againe that with his owne bloud hath entred into the holy place and hath made an eternall expiation of our sinnes Let us all entreat the Lord to apply the force of this bloud to our consciences dayly more and more 2. There bee living workes a reverent using of the name of GOD a cheerefull and reverent hearing of his word temperance chastitie sobriety liberality c. these come from us when wee live by faith in the Sonne of GOD there bee also dead workes blasphemie swearing lying covetousnesse pride oppression envie hatred malice and these are to bee abhorred of us all 1. Dead things stincke If wee meete with a dead carkasse by the way wee hold our noses even so sinnes blasphemie prophanations pride envie hatred malice covetousnesse these stincke in the nostrills of God Almighty therefore let them be detested by us 2. Dead men are forgotten I am as a dead man out of minde So let not our mindes run on these dead workes on the profits of the world the pleasures of the flesh let these dead things bee no more remembred 3. That which is dead must be buryed give me a place to bury my dead out of my sight as Abraham said to the sons of Heth Gen. 23.4 Idolatry blasphemy all sins are dead things therefore let them be buryed 4. Dead things are abhorred of us We shun dead things by the way we will not come neere them so let these dead workes be abhorred of us Wee decline those things that bee deadly wee will drinke no poyson because it will kill us we will not goe where the plague is least wee dye All sins are deadly they will bring us to everlasting death therefore beware of them If wee meet with a dead body by the way wee decline it yet the savour that comes from it can but
Priest in the time of the Gospell 1. For number they were many for their office they stood ministring every day 3. For the sacrifices they offered alwayes the same and that often 4. For the inability or insufficiency of them they could not take away sinne The manner of our Priest 1. He is but one whereas they were many analysis 12 2. His sacrifice was but one and that once offered Verse 10. 3. His was propitiatory for sinnes whereas theirs were not 4. Hee sitteth as Lord he stands not as a servant as they did and hee sits not on an altar on earth but at the right hand of God in heaven The which glorious sitting of his is first amplified by an effect an expectation of his friends to come to him for whom he dyed analysis 15 and the overthrow of his enemies Then it is ratified by a reason taken from the power and vertue analysis 14 of his sacrifice If by that one offering which hee made on earth before his Ascension into heaven he hath perfected his for ever then he may well continue in heaven still at the right hand of GOD but c. Ergo. analysis 15 This opposition is confirmed by a divine testimony out of the Prophet Ieremie Where 1. An allegation of it 2. A ratiocination or reasoning thereupon In the allegation 1. The Author analysis 16 17. Then the matter analysis 18 From whence he deduces this reason concluding the efficacy of Christ's Priest-hood and sacrifice If remission of sins be fully procured and obtained by the one sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament once offered then there is no more oblation for sin but c. as appeareth by the testimony afore cited ergo the latter An exhortation to holinesse of life is deduced upon the former doctrine The former part of the Epistle hath beene doctrinall delivering many excellent poynts of doctrine concerning the person and offices of our Saviour Christ. In his Priest-hood he hath beene more ample because greatest controversies were moved about it The latter part of the Epistle is morall shewing what use we are to make of the former doctrine to Verse 20. cap. 13. In this exhortation 1. A generall proposition comprehending summarily in it all things belonging to a Christian à 19. to 32. 2. A particular unfolding of it In the generall proposition 1. The substance of the exhortation to 26. 2. The necessity of it à 26. to 32. In the substance 1. The foundation whereupon it is built 19.20 21. 2. The matter whereunto wee are exhorted The foundation whereupon it is built is the consideration of many singular benefits which wee reape by CHRIST they are in number three analysis 19 1. The opening of the Sanctuary of heaven to us which is illustrated 1. By the key whereby it is opened the bloud of Iesus 2. By the manner of entring into it not with feare and trembling quaking and shaking but with boldnesse 2. By the way that leadeth to that Sanctuary the sacred body analysis 20 of our Saviour Christ wherein he made satisfaction to the wrath of God for our sins Which is described 1. By a similitude 2. By the author and consecrator of that way 3. By the qualities of the way 3. It is illustrated by the guide and leader to conduct us in that way which is set forth by his office by his greatnesse by his superiority and authority The matter of the exhortation which is a generall drawing neere to God amplified by the manner of it not so much with the analysis 22 outward man as with the hid man of the heart not with a false but with a true heart 2. The particular duties or vertues wherewith we must draw neere to him which are foure 1. Faith 2. Hope 3. Love 4. Christian exercises for the preservation of love Of these he entreateth afterwards Of Faith Chap. 11. Of Hope Chap. 12. Of Love with the exercises thereof Chap. 13. Faith is illustrated 1. By the propriety thereof which is a full assurance 2. By an effect which it engendreth which is the comfort of a good conscience as they in the time of the Law were sprinckled with the bloud of beasts Exod. 24.8 So being justified by faith our hearts are sprinckled with the bloud of Christ whereby being purged from all our sins we are delivered from an evill accusing conscience and have peace with God The second vertue is hope the profession whereof is stoutly to analysis 23 be kept and maintained by us The which keeping is 1. Amplified by the efficient cause thereof which is the washing of us with the pure water of the Spirit whereby we are made fit to make and hold this profession 2. By the manner how it is to be kept without wavering 3. By a reason to excite us to the keeping of it taken from the nature of God the pillar on whom our hope leaneth If God bee faithfull that hath promised eternall life to us which wee hope for then let us keepe the profession of it but God is faithfull that hath promised eternall life to us which we hope for ergo let us keepe the profession of it The third is love whereunto we are to provoke one another 1. Love is commended to us 2. A breake-necke of love is removed analysis 24 V. 25. The vertue of love is amplified 1. By an antecedent that must goe before it the considering one of another and by a consequent that necessarily followeth love which is good workes The exercises for the preservation of love are two 1. A reverend estimation of Christian assemblies a notable analysis 25 nurse of love which is set forth by the contrary And from that he dissuadeth us by the example of some in his time which is to be avoided by us 2. A mutuall exhorting one of another whereunto he spurreth us by a consideration of the neerenesse of the day of judgment confirmed by their owne testimony If the day of Iudgement bee at hand wherein wee must give account how wee have behaved our selves in this present life what soules we have wonne by our diligent exhorting one of anothor and what we have lost by the neglect of that duty then let us carefully exhort one another But the first is true as you all see therefore let the latter be practised by us analysis 26 The necessity of the exhortation depending upon the wofull destruction of them that contemne it If they that despise this exhortation forsaking the fellowship of the faithfull and setting light by the blessed sacrifice of our High-Priest shall drinke deepely of the Cup of Gods vengeance then it behooveth us all to regard it but they c. Ergo. In this we have two things 1. A demonstration of their lamentable end Ver. 26.27 2. A confirmation of it In the demonstration of their lamentable end 1. Their sinne then their punishment Their sin is set forth 1. By the nature of it it is a willing sinning 2. By the time when
things Abraham gave tithe of all things to Melchizedec so ought yee to doe howsoever you flatter your selves to the contrary Our best workes are too often defiled with sinne many strange by-thoughts creepe into our minds while we are a praying we pray not with sighes and groanes of the spirit as wee ought to doe we preach not with such wisedome love zeale and power as we should we give not our almes so sincerely as becommeth us we receive not the Communion so penitently and thankfully as we should we heare not the word with such reverence and attention as becommeth us every one of us may knocke on our breasts after the best action we have done with the Publican and say Oh God be mercifull to mee a sinner I have no righteousnesse of mine owne to appeare before thee withall cloath us with the righteousnesse of thy deere Sonne the King of righteousnesse that wee may bee found in him to the everlasting joy and comfort of us all Let the Papists trust to the broken staffe of their inherent righteousnesse scoffing at the imputed righteousnesse of Christ but let us desire this righteousnesse By nature there is Warre betweene GOD and us hee is our enemie and wee his the flagge of defiance is displayed betweene us both Then in what a wofull case are we are we able to encounter with the GOD of heaven and earth that hath all creatures at his becke we must needs goe by the worst he can arme heaven earth and hell against us but here is our comfort IESUS CHRIST is our peace hee hath set at peace by the bloud of his crosse all things in heaven and earth This is the true peace indeed without the which wee can have no sound comfort there is no peace saith God to the wicked What peace said Iehu to Iehoram when as the adulteries of thy mother Iesabel are yet in great number Though a man have the world at will faire houses large lands ample possessions great bagges of silver and gold yet if his adulteries oppressions and other sinnes lye as an heavy loade on his conscience alas what peace can hee have hee is as the raging Sea that cannot bee quiet Achitophel had wealth enough yet because he was not at peace with God by Christ tooke a rope and hanged himselfe Iudas had money enough being the purse bearer and having lately received â—hirtie pieces of silver from the Scribes and Pharisees but alas his sinne vexing his conscience he could have no rest but became his owne butcher Therefore let us all desire God to give us an assurance in our hearts and consciences that wee are subjects appertaining to the King of peace and that Christ Iesus is our Peace It is a singular blessing to have outward peace to sit quietly under our vines and figtrees to have no leading into Captivity no complaining in our streets God hath beene wonderfull gracious to England these many yeares together and that for the admirable peace which it enjoyed we are to praise God that there be no tumults insurrections nor massacres that there is no sword of the enemies to devoure in the land but if in the meane season wee bee not at peace with God by Christ we are most miserable Therefore let us pray especially for this peace that we may be perswaded of the remission of all our sinnes in the bloud of Christ. This is most livelily represented to us in the Lords Supper The breaking of the bread sets before our eyes the breaking of Christs body for our sins the powring out of the Wine represents to us the gushing out of the bloud of Christ out of his Holy side for our iniquities therefore let us come to this heavenly banquet with broken hearts and contrite spirits with a true and lively faith in Christ Iesus the true King of peace that wee may be assured that Christ is ours so that whensoever death shall come we may say with Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy salvation This is that peace which passeth all understanding the God of peace give it to us all VERSE 3. THe thing concealed by Moses is the eternity of Melchizedec not in deed but in respect of Moses History Hee is introduced by him on the suddaine as if he came then presently from heaven and returned thither againe for Moses never spake of him before nor after His father and mother were not onely not knowne but they were not at all namely in the History of the bible Cujus neque pater neque mater scribuntur in generationibus Syr. otherwise he could not have beene a fit type of our Saviour Christ. He doth not say of yeeres but not so much as of dayes dayes goe before yeeres Melchizedec was without beginning of dayes quia hoc scriptum non est Christus quia non habet initium Chrys. Theoph. Nor end of life Not that he was translated as Enoch but because his end is not mentioned So Christ had no father in respect of his humanity no mother in respect of his deity He had kindred according to the flesh but not as God without beginning and ending as God Ioh. 12.34 This he applyeth Likened they are not the same but the one like to the other As the picture of the King is like the King so Melchizedec was as a picture of our Saviour Christ. Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nothing can overthrow it An immoveable Priest-hood a permanent Priest so was not Aaron and his posteritie Some have affirmed from hence that Melchizedec was not a man but something greater then a man Origen as Ierome testifieth of him Epist. 126. said hee was an Angell others that hee was the HOLY GHOST others that he was the great power of GOD yea greater then Christ because Christ is said to bee a Priest after his order Epiphan l. 2. cont haereses haeresi 55. Aug. de haeresibus c. 34. The same did Theodotus the Heretike avouch and that hee was the mediatour of the Angels praying for them as CHRIST doth for men Tertul. de praescrip adversus haereticos in fine Some have taken upon them to set downe his fathers and mothers name that his fathers name was Eracla his mothers name Astareth or Asteria Vide Epiphanium All these are confuted by the text 1. Hee is said to bee likened to the Sonne of God but nullum simile est idem 2. Hee is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not because hee had no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stocke or kinred but because there is no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no mention no commemoration of his kinred in the Scripture from whence ariseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verse 6. So Horace lib. 2. Satyr 5. sayes of one that he was sine gente because his nation was not knowne qui quamvis perjurus erat sine
of Holies even as it is termed Hakodesh Levit. 16.2 Loe say some heaven was not opened in the time of the Law till the passion of our Saviour Christ therfore the Patriarchs and others that dyed then went not to heaven but were in place of rest distinct from heaven this is their limbus patrum which they have forged But quickly to stop their mouthes it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Gate in the Kings Pallace may be opened though not knowne The way to the Holiest of all that is to heaven prefigured by their Sanctum Sanctorum was not yet manifested it was obscured under Types and figures darkely revealed to them Not all the people but one man entred into the Holy of Holies a type of heaven and hee but once a yeare The way to heaven was not so cleerely manifested then as it is now when Christ Iesus our fore-runner is gone into it before us and for us The faithfull then knew the way to heaven and immediately after death went to heaven but they had not such a cleare knowledge of it as wee have This is probable The first Tabernacle as yet having his standing whereby he doth not meane the first part of the Tabernacle as hee did before but the whole Tabernacle for indeed it was but one though divided into two parts while the Tabernacle of the Iewes with all the rites and ceremonies belonging to it was yet standing It is called the first in respect of Christ's body which was the second Tabernacle It is the Holy Ghost that speaketh in the Scripture 2 Pet. 1. ult 2 Tim. 3.16 Iacob said of Bethel the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it So the Holy Ghost is in the Scripture and we are not aware of it The Holy Ghost speaks in Genesis Exodus Leviticus in the Psalmes in the Prophets he speakes in the Gospels in the Epistles of St. Paul and St. Peter therefore when the Scripture is read let us heare with all reverence because God Almighty speaketh in them No place of holy Scripture is idle no not the framing of the Tabernacle the Holy Ghost therby doth signifie to us many holy mysteries in it therefore let no portion of Scripture be lightly regarded by us Wee know the way to heaven better than they did therefore wee should walke more carefully and conscionably in it then they did our Lord and Saviour our Head and Husband Christ Iesus is gone into heaven to prepare a place for us blessed are the eyes that see which we see Therefore if we tread not in this way but rather take the way to hell our condemnation shall bee the greater at the latter day As God in mercy hath opened the way to heaven more cleerly to us then to them So let us be carefull to take this way to the everlasting joy and comfort of us all VERSE 9. THis signification hee doth further prosecute 1. Shewing the use of that Tabernacle 2. The inabilitie of the service of it For the use it was a figure a parable Which signifies both a dark speech Mat. 13.10 and a figurative speech a similitude or likenes Take a similitude from the fig-tree that tabernacle was a similitude of a more excellent tabernacle to come namely of the body of Christ V. 11. that is illustrated by the time and the manner It was to bee a similitude but for the time present during the ceremoniall Law till the fulnes of time came that Christ shold come and be made of a woman The manner how it did prefigurate Christ by certaine gifts and sacrifices that were then offered Which were only figurativa not exhibitiva they did only figure out Christ by whom we are made holy and perfect but they could not make us holy Concerning the flesh and the outward man they might purifie them but they could not purifie the soule and conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the which time Are offered Peradventure that Temple stood when he wrote this Epistle therefore hee uses the present tense or hee speakes according to the custome of the time when they were used Make holy or perfect the word signifies both Him that worshipped God by them that by them performed divine service to God Hebr. 7.19 These did only point at Christ by whom we are made holy and perfect justified and sanctified by him so as our consciences be at peace with God Hebr. 10.2 by the meere offering up of a Calfe a Lamb c. Their consciences could not bee freed from the guilt and punishment of sin our consciences are pacified only by the sacrifice of Christ on the Crosse applyed to us by faith which was prefigured by those sacrificers Rom. 5.1 Conscience is a register that keeperh a note of all our sins Some times he may be a sleepe and say nothing but at one time or other he will awake and bring all our sins to our remembrance then what shall we doe whither shall we flie Where shall we find comfort As the sacrifices in the time of the Law could not pacifie the conscience So it is not the hearing of a thousand masses the going in Pilgrimage to the holy land it is not the building of Churches the giving of almes though these be excellent things if they flow from a true faith it is not the cogitation of our workes simply in themselves without Christ Iesus that can quiet our consciences Saint Paul in this sense disclaimed his workes I desire to be found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith It is only Christ Iesus and the application of his sacrifice to us by a lively faith that can secure our consciences and stay the rage of them being justified by faith wee have peace with God the bloud of Christ purgeth us from all sinne Therefore let us entreat the Lord to assure our consciences upon good grounds that Christ is ours that hee hath dyed for all our sinnes and that his righteousnesse is ours then shall we have comfort of conscience in all calamities yea in death it selfe in this present life and shall triumph with Christ in the life to come VERSE 10. THat they could not purge the Conscience he evinceth by the nature and quality of them No carnall fleshly or outward thing can cleanse the heart or conscience these are only Carnall rites and outward ceremonies a carnall commandement Hebr. 7.16 consisting of meates drinkes c. therefore they cannot pacifie the conscience that is only the bloud of Christ that purgeth us from all sin These are illustrated by the time of their continuance Imposed as an heavy loade and importable burthen Act. 15.10 whereof we are now eased by Christ. There is some question about the grammaticall construction because the participle is of the accusative case plurall and
writing by his Apostles The Testatour is Christ the thing bequeathed is an inheritance the legataries are the faithfull the witnesses to it are his Apostles Act. 1.8 The seales are the Sacraments the exequutor is the HOLY GHOST Ioh. 14.16 which is CHRIST 's Vicar on the earth a faithfull exequutor that will give us our legacies to the full and deprive us of nothing Our SAVIOUR is dead therefore his Testament is of force Object If CHRIST 's Testament was of no force till his death then how could they in the time of the Law have remission of sinnes and eternall life Sol. In seeing the day of Christ by the eye of faith as Abraham did it was not in force complemento till Christ dyed acceptatione it was This eternall inheritance could not have come to us without the death of our Saviour Christ. If hee had not dyed wee could never have had possession of this inheritance therefore how are wee to love the Lord Iesus that hath ratified this inheritance to us by his bloud Let the consideration of the death of Christ worke a death to sinne in us all that as he hath dyed for us to procure this inheritance so we may dye to sin daily more and more Seeing the Testatour is dead we may assure our selves of this inheritance bequeathed to us by his will It is a rule in Law debts must be payd before legacies and oft-times under the colour of paying debts the legataries goe long without their legacies It cannot be so here our Saviour Christ left no debts to pay he ought nothing he departed cleere with all men therefore we may be sure of our legacie All the devils in the world cannot keepe us from it VERSE 18. DEdicated to God by certaine Solemne rites and ceremonies Hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feast of dedication Ioh. 10.22 Much lesse should the latter bee ordained without bloud VERSE 19. TO the Law as God required Exod. 24.8 Every precept being spoken by Moses Some thinke that all the people are said to be sprinkled because the twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel were sprinckled Others thinke that some few of the elders were sprinckled instead of all the rest Or all may be put for a great part In a manner all of them were sprinckled VERSE 20. YEt it was the bloud of heifers or of Goates but it is called the bloud of the testament because by it was signified Christ his bloud which is the maker of the Testament to this did our Saviour allude Matth. 26.28 this is the bloud of the New Testament which was shed for you Beza translates it that God hath commanded to you as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but rather expound it which God hath commanded subaudi to be carryed to you The bloud of Calves and goates sprinckled on the people in the time of the Law was a figure of Christ's bloud sprinckled on our consciences Object Here wee may learne say the Rhemists that the Scripture containes not all necessary truths when neither the place to the which the Apostle alludeth nor any other doth mention halfe these ceremonies but he had them by tradition Sol. I but all these are contained in the Scripture The booke was sprinckled on the Altar or at least with the respersion that was cast on the people For the purple wooll and hysop Levit. 14.51 there is the water too Ribera sayes all these are necessarily collected for there could be no sprinckling without them Vnder the peace offerings Exod. 24.5 are comprehended Goates appointed to peace offerings as wee may see Levit. 3.12 The meaning of these words is nothing else but this is a significant token of the bloud of the New Testament that is to bee shed for your sins This bloud sprinckled on the people was a significant type and figure of the bloud of our Saviour Christ whereby the New Testament is confirmed to us That was the bloud of Goates and Heifers this of Christ the immaculate Lamb of God 2. Moses was the sprinckler of that bloud the Holy Ghost is the sprinckler of this 3. That was sprinckled on the face or garments of the people this on our hearts and consciences 4. The aspertorium the sprinckling sticke there was made of purple wooll and hysop the aspertorium here is faith With that doth the Spirit or God sprinckle on us the bloud of Christ. 5. That sprinckling did but sanctifie the outward man this the hid man of the heart 6. The force and power of that sprinckling lasted but a while the efficacy of this sprinckling continueth for ever Therefore let us all be desirous of this sprinckling As the Woman of Samaria said Lord give me of that water So let us say LORD sprinckle us with the bloud of CHRIST continually It is a comfortable thing for a man to bee sprinckled with sweet water it is a sweet smell and refreshes him but nothing so sweete as the bloud of CHRIST sprinckled on our soules and consciences by faith Let us desire the Lord to sprinckle this bloud on us dayly more and more that being washed with it wee may bee made fitt for the Holy Hierusalem and remaine with Christ for ever and ever Hebrewes 9.21 NOw followes an application of the rites and ceremonies belonging to the Tabernacle 1. A narration of them Verse 21.22 2. An accommodation of them The rites are two 1. The rite of consecration or sanctification Lev. 16.14 16. 8 15 18. 2. The rite of purification some by fire some by water Num. 31.23 In all things are comprehended also all persons An accommodation is made of these rites by the way of an antithesis or opposition whereof there be foure members 1. An application of the things Verse 23. 2. Of the place Verse 24. 3. Of the actions Verse 25.26 4. Of the use Verse 27.28 The things are applyed by way of opposition It was necessary that the types of heavenly things should be purified with such externall things for the purification of the flesh or outward man But c. The sacrifice of Christ is termed sacrifices in the plurall number and yet is but one because the fruit and efficacy of it is derived unto many So the wisedome of Christ is set forth by seven eyes his power by seven hornes Apoc. 5.6 The Holy Ghost being but one spirit it is called seven spirits Apoc. 1.4 The place is applyed by way of opposition 1. In respect of the nature that was made with hands this without 2. Of the use or end there the High-Priest did appeare before the Arke and Mercy-seate which were figures of Gods presence here our High-Priest appeares before GOD immediately without figures for us The third is an application of the action or service the dissimilitude whereof consisteth in three things 1. There the High-Priest went often into the holy place here our High-Priest went into heaven but once 2. He went with other bloud ours
shall we passe through it Christ himselfe will be our leader in it As hee is both the sacrifice and the Priest so he is the way and the guide the way Hee doth not say an High-Priest but simply a Priest because there is no other sacrificing Priest save CHRIST in the New Testament Not a small one but a great one great in person being God and man great in power for heaven and earth are his great in goodnesse and mercy that will have compassion on our weaknesse and if we happen to faint he will support us by the way For his superiority and preheminence over the house of God that is the Church 1 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 3.6 Moses was over the house of God yet as a servant Hebr. 3.5 Christ as the Lord and King the commander in the house he over a part of Gods house in Iudea Christ over the whole house dispersed over all the earth All Ministers in some sort are over the house of God Who is a faithfull servant that his Lord may make rule over his house that bee over you in the Lord 1 Thes. 5.12 So Moses was over the house Yet a great difference betweene them and Christ. A noble man is over his house and his steward is over his house Christ as the Lord and owner of the house wee as his stewards to give you your meat in due season A singular comfort to all that be of this house that such a one as Christ is over it Some houses have tyrannicall governours which scrape all to themselves and have no care of them in the house Christ is not such a one he hath a loving and fatherly care of all in the house Some householders would provide for their house and cannot they want ability Christ Iesus that is over this house is both able and willing to provide all things necessary for us Therfore let us be of good comfort we shall not want the thing that is good The Church is God's house All England is the Kings dominion White-Hall is his Chappell so all the world is Gods empire but the Church is his house therefore let us behave our selves wisely and religiously in the house of God Will any make the Kings house and Ale-house to quaffe and swill in A brothel-house to commit adultery in and shall we that be in the Church the house of God be drunkards adulterers wicked and lascivious livers As wee bee in Gods house so let us demeane our selves accordingly VERSE 22. HAving such a wise loving and mighty Priest let us come unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely to God by him by the invocation of his name asking boldly all things necessary for this life and the life to come as also let us draw neere to him by an holy life and blamelesse conversation They that make an outward profession and deny him in their lives are farre from him the others are neere and walke with God as Enoch Some interpret it Let us draw neere to that heavenly Sanctuary which is opened to us whereunto we draw neere with a true heart But especially this is to be understood of prayer This drawing neere is not so much with the feete of our bodies as with the feete of our soules The way whereunto is chalked out to us and wherein our High-Priest directeth us for it must have relation to all that went before Now we draw neere to heaven by prayer and an holy life A true heart voyd of hypocrisie and dissimulation for God heareth not hypocrites though they make never so goodly a shew and have never so glorious words 2. An assured faith which purifieth our hearts Act. 15.9 there must be no doubting in faith Iac 1.6 Though thou beest as tall a man as Saul yet thou art not the neerer to heaven but if thou sendest many prayers to heaven and hast thy conversation in heaven then thou drawest neere to heaven Being sprinckled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to our hearts from an evill conscience There was a sprinckling water in the time of the Law made of the ashes of the red Cow wherewith the people were sprinckled Num. 19.9 their bodies were sprinckled with that but our soules must be sprinckled with the bloud of Christ. From an accusing conscience that our sins are washed away in the bloud of Christ. We should have no more conscience of sin Heb. 10.2 our consciences should no longer pricke us for sin because being justified by faith we have peace with God and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus This afterwards breedeth sanctification 1 Pet. 1.2 There be many false-hearted wretches in the world such as Iudas was that kissed Christ and betrayed him at the same time there bee many that pretend love to religion and yet have none in them such were those Ezek. 14.1 Such were the Pharisees whited tombes and painted Sepulchers such were the Sadduces that came with a notable glosse to our Saviour Christ and there is a number of Hypocrites at this day that maske under the Vizard of Religion He that made the heart knowes the heart and will one day discover them to their shame Therefore if we draw neere to God let it be with a true heart least hee say to us as to them this people draweth neere to mee with their lippes but their hearts are farre from me If wee be falsehearted men though we carry never so glorious a shew God cannot abide us but if we be true-hearted men though there be many weakenesses and infirmities in us he will accept us in Christ Iesus Behold a true Israelite said Christ of Nathaneel There bee true Israelites and false false cloathes glasses clockes c. Faith is like the Moone sometimes at the full sometimes in the wane But seeing Christ hath merited our salvation God hath promised for Christ's sake to bestow a kingdome on us therefore let us not doubt of it That is to doubt of the sufficiency of Christ's merit and of the Word of God How shall wee come to this full assurance If our hearts bee sprinkled from an evill conscience by the bloud of Christ. By nature have we all bad consciences accusing us for sinne In many things we sinne all All those sinnes lye as an heavy loade on our consciences and make us to cry out ô my sinnes they will not suffer mee to bee quiet day nor night but being sprinckled in our hearts with the bloud of CHRIST we shall no more be vexed with the sting of an evill conscience because Christ hath dyed for all our sins Happy are they that be thus sprinckled Our hearts being sprinckled from an evill conscience our bodies must be washed with pure water It is not enough to have a good soule to God-wards though that is the chiefe but our bodies also must be washed with the pure water of the HOLY GHOST Our eyes must be washed from unchast lookes our eares from rash receiving of reports one against another our
faith submitted themselves to his ordinance so must we with the hand of faith imbrace the Sacraments of the New Testament Some Atheist might object against them to what end is a little water laid on the forehead of the childe as Naaman said Are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel So say they is not the water in the pompe as good as the water in the Font Wherefore doe we receive a little Bread and Wine so solemnely in the Church at the celebration of the Lords Supper May we not have as good in every Taverne I but if we have faith wee receive them as pledges of the body and bloud of Christ with hearty thanksgiving to GOD yea as exhibiting the same The bloud of the Lambe on the doores of their houses did assure them of their deliverance from the plague and judgement of God that though never so many were slaine among the Egyptians yet none of their first-borne should lose their lives so the water in Baptisme must assure us of the washing away of our sins in the bloud of Christ. The Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper must assure us of the Body and Bloud of Christ that as we eate and drinke the one with our mouth so we eate and drinke the other with our hearts in so much as CHRIST is one with us and we with him Our reverent use of the Sacraments in the feare of God is a token of faith they that contemne the Sacraments that regard them not that care not though they come not at the Communion once in a yeere nay in five or ten yeeres they feele no want of it these declare to the world that they have no faith Moses keeping of the Passeover was a Touchstone of his faith and our usage of the Sacraments will bewray our faith The Paschall Lambe was a type of Christ whereupon he is called our Passeover 1 Cor. 5.7 He was the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Not a bone of the Paschall Lambe might be broken Exod. 12.46 So Not a bone of Christ could bee broken Iohn 19.36 This Passeover was an adumbration of Christ. And the Effusion of the bloud of the Lambe was a figure of the effusion of the bloud of Christ Heb. 12.24 As the bloud of the Lambe sprinkled on the doores of the Israelites kept away the Destroyer from them So the bloud of Christ sprinkled on our consciences 1 Pet. 1.2 keepes away the Devill from us Where this bloud is sprinkled by the sponge of faith there the Devill can have no entrance nor possession This no doubt they likewise saw by the eye of faith and let us desire to be sprinkled with this bloud more and more Whether it were a good or evill Angell is a question more curious than commodious for the most part Executioners among us are bad men the scum and off-scouring of the Countrey such as have no piety nor religion in them yet sometimes a good man may be a Kings executioner as Benaiah was to Salomon 1 Reg. 2. Punire malum non est malum sed facere malum malum est So it may please the High and Eternall GOD to use good Angels in the execution of his wrath They are as ready to be instruments of his justice as of his mercy It might be a good Angell that slew 70000. with the Pestilence in three dayes space that slew an hundred fourescore and five thousand in Senacheribs Campe in one night and it was a good Angel for ought we know that destroy'd the first-borne in Egypt it was an evill Angell that deceived Achab it was the Devill that afflicted Iob but it may be a good Angell that destroyed the first-borne of the Egyptians Whether it were or no it makes no great matter it doth not much concerne us If we feare God and serve him we need feare no Angels they be Traitors not loyall Subjects that feare the Kings Guard Feare not the rod but him that striketh with the rod. The rod cannot smart nay it cannot move without the striker Let us feare Almighty GOD that useth creatures as his rods at his will and pleasure and then we shall not need to feare any creature whatsoever Whom did the Angell destroy The first-borne which of all the children are deerest to the parents Men glory most of the first Apple the tree beareth loe this is the first Apple that my tree bore So the first fruit of our body is most joyfull and welcome to us Now the Lord being displeased with the Egyptians a stubborne and rebellious people he takes away their first-borne and this was the last arrow which he shot against them as the deadliest and heaviest of all If we love our children let us love GOD if we desire to keepe them let us keepe in with GOD he gave and hee can take away at his pleasure if we provoke him by our sins whom we ought to love most hee will bereave us of that which wee love most If wee have one childe deerer to us than another by one meanes or other he will deprive us of it the best way to keepe our children is to serve him who gave us our children The Lord will preserve his though the wicked bee destroyed 2 Pet. 2.9 Touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme A thousand shall fall on thy right hand c. but it shall not come neere thee No doubt thousands fell in Egypt being a populous Countrey yet the Israelites are not touched It cannot be denied but that sometimes the godly are involved in the same temporall plague with the ungodly Good Iosiah was slaine in the battell behold hee whom thou lovest is sick A good man may be sick yea sick of the plague yea dye of the plague too Iob was a singular good man yet his seven sonnes and three daughters were all touched the house fell on them altogether they were all slaine at one stroke Neverthelesse sometimes it pleaseth GOD to make a difference there was howling and crying among the Aegyptians my son is dead but not one dyed among the Israelites God sets a marke on his children that the Destroyer seeing it may not touch them If God for the sinnes of England should send a destroyer into England though there should be an intended massacre of Protestants by the Devillish and bloud-sucking Papists yet if God see it good he shall not touch any of his servants If he doe for in these outward things we must referre our selves to God yet the bloudy instruments of death shall prove golden keyes to open to us the doores of the kingdome of heaven VERSE 29. HEre 1. The miraculous preservation of Gods people 2. The fearefull destruction of their enemies Their preservation is illustrated by the instrumentall cause the place where and the manner how they were preserved They men women and children both Moses and all the Israelites It is
undefiled we are bought with a price and that a deere price even the bloud of the Sonne of GOD. Our swearing drunkennesse c. these cost the bloud of the Sonne of GOD we are washed from them in the bloud of Christ and shall we wallow in them is not this the water said David for the which three worthy men ventured their lives he would not drinke of it though very thirsty So when we are provoked to sinne to drunkennesse covetousnesse adultery let us reason with our selves Indeed the water of these sins is sweete but did it not cost the bloud of CHRIST therfore away with it we think sin to be nothing yet all the Martyrs on the earth all the Angels in heaven could not have freed us from sin The Son of God must shed his bloud for it therefore let the consideration hereof bee a perpetuall bridle to restraine us from sin CHRIST 's bloud is the price of our redemption he sweat drops of bloud when hee was in his agony in the garden at the commandement of Pilat hee was extreamely whipped so that the bloud came exceedingly out of his holy body he had a Crowne of thornes platted on his head that made the bloud runne about his eares being nailed hand and foote to the Crosse the bloud came out in great measure a Souldier thrust him through with a speare and out of his side came water and bloud So that this our High-Priest redeemed us not with the bloud of beasts but with his owne bloud How then are wee to love CHRIST IESUS that spared not his heart bloud for us There was no bloud almost left in this immaculate Lamb he spent all for our sake Wee will love them that give their money for us and shall wee not love CHRIST that gave his bloud for us yet the love of Christ is not so deepely fixed in us as it ought to bee We love the trash of the world the pleasures of the flesh above Christ. This love of Christ should constraine us to forsake our sinnes Wilt thou make much of the knife that cut the throate of thy friend or father Sinne was the knife that cut CHRIST 's throate therefore let us hurle it away but this bloud of CHRIST by the which we are washed from our sinnes is little regarded for all that wee wallow in the mire of our sinnes forgetting the LORD that bought us as Saint Peter speaketh Wee are redeemed from our drunkennesse covetousnesse pride c. by the bloud of CHRIST therefore let us have no fellowship with these sins 2. Heaven is an holy place there dwells the holy God there bee the holy Angels and holy Saints they that remaine unholy shall never enter into it dogs enchanters c. are without By nature we are all unholy borne in sin conceived in iniquity pulling sinne to us with Cartropes and iniquity with Cords of vanity but wee are made holy by the spirit of Sanctification Such were some of you drunkards c. but yee are washed but yee are sanctified but yee are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 They that continue in sin without repentance shall never set a foote into the kingdome of heaven Noah was once overtaken with Wine but he forsooke that sin David fell into adultery but hee washed it away with his teares Peter denyed Christ but he wept bitterly for it Manasseh left his idolatry Paul his persecuting of the Church of God Mary Magdalen her uncleannesse even so if through the corruption of our nature wee have beene carryed into any sin let us by repentance rise up out of it againe Let us strive to be holy in this world holy in heart in conversation that wee may enter into the holy Hierusalem in the world to come Follow peace and holinesse without which none can see God The wicked mocke at them that be holy I but except yee likewise be holy ye shall never reigne with Christ in the Holy Hierusalem 3. By CHRIST wee have a plenary redemption of soule and body out of the clawes of Satan As the Bird is in the fowlers net so were we in the Devills snare but we may say with them in the Psalme the net is broken and we are delivered yea wee are delivered eternally we shall never fall into that bondage againe The afflictions whereunto we are incident in this life are temporall but the redemption is eternall sicknesse poverty malevolent tongues imprisonment death it selfe is temporall our joy is eternall Let that comfort us in all the calamities of this life A burning agew the tooth-ach the stone lasts not alwayes but my joy in heaven shall be eternall here I may be in griefe for a time but there I shall reigne with Christ for ever Wee love them that obtaine a temporall redemption for us If a young man bee bound Prentise to an hard master for tenne or twelve yeeres and if one should buy out his apprentiseship and set him free would hee not take himselfe much beholding to him Wee were bound Prentises to Satan hee kept us in his snare at his will and pleasure being his bond men wee should have remained in hell fire world without end Now Christ Iesus hath redeemed us and made us the free men of God Cittizens of heaven how are we indebted to him If thou wert a Gallislave under the Turke and one should rid thee out of it wert thou not much obliged to him Christ hath brought us out of the gally of sinne and damnation therefore let us sound forth his praises all the dayes of our life Let us say with them in the Revelation worthy is the Lamb that was killed and hath obtained eternall redemption for us to receive all honour and glory and blessing for ever and ever VERSE 13. THat Christ by the shedding of his owne bloud hath obtained an eternall redemption for us is confirmed by an argument à pari à minore from the sacrifices of the Law to the sacrifice of Christ. 1. What they were 2. What was the fruit and effect of them If the bloud of Bulls and goates c. being an outward thing could sanctifie the flesh that was an outward thing then the bloud of Christ being a spirituall thing in force and power everlasting must needs sanctifie the conscience which is a spirituall and internall thing yea this rather than that for many respects as we shall see but the one ergo the other The Protasis is in this 13. Verse Because hee would enwrap the whole Ceremonial Law hee reckons up other sacrifices and rites then those which the High-Priest used when hee went into the Holy of Holies 1 Chron. 29. Verse 21. Among the rest he makes mention of one solemne ceremony whereunto the Iewes adscribed much Num. 19.1 A Red Cow was commanded to bee taken which was without spot and never accustomed to the yoke she was to be burnt to
kill our bodies the filthy stincke that issues out of these dead carkasses of sin will kill both body and soule therefore let them be detested by us These dead workes of sinne will poyson us all therefore have nothing to doe with them as wee love our life which is most deere to us all skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life so let us avoide these dead workes that deprive us of eternall life in the world to come 5. Dead things are heavy a dead man So these lye heavy on our consciences Caine Iudas they were not able to beare that intollerable burden Sins may very well be termed dead workes 1. Laedunt vitam naturae they make our naturall life more unpleasant to us in the end they cut the threed of it for the wages of sinne is death if we had never sinned against God we should never have dyed 2. Carent vita gratiae So long as we are dead in our sins we are out of the favour of God 3. Auferunt vitam gloriae they deprive us of the kingdome of heaven in the life to come therefore they are worthily termed dead workes Thirdly the end of our redemption is to serve God we are redeemed from our old conversation not to our old conversation we are bought with the bloud of Christ not to serve the Devill our selves the flesh the world we have served them too much already but from henceforth we must serve God And how must we serve him 1. Integraliter in soule and body not in body alone as hypocrites doe that draw neere to GOD with their lippes but their hearts are farre from him nor in soule alone as some fearefull Christians doe which say they have a good heart to God-ward and yet give their bodyes to the service of the Devill As God by Iesus Christ hath redeemed both soule and body so we must glorifie him with them both 2. Wee must serve God peculiariter him and him alone I am a jealous God Thou shalt have no other Gods besides me We must not make our belly our God as Epicures doe our money our God as covetous misers doe but wee must serve God alone hee must have all our service Matth. 4.10 3. Perseveranter not a while but continually to our lives end bee faithfull to the end and I will give thee the Crowne of life If wee persevere not in his service to our dying day wee shall loose our reward 4. Totaliter all the time of our whole life Wee must serve him not only when wee bee old drie and withered but in our fresh and flourishing yeeres wee must beare the yoke of the LORD when wee are young hee must have the first fruits of our service But alas though wee professe that wee are redeemed by CHRIST yet wee serve our owne lusts and affections wee serve not the living GOD as wee ought to doe Let us have a care to serve the living GOD in this short and transitory world that we may live eternally with this everliving GOD in the world to come There is no fishing to the Sea no service to the Kings nor no service to the King of Kings 1. Some Masters are poore and cannot reward their servants our master is rich heaven and earth are his Hester though a poore mayde yet because she served him he made her a Queene 2. Some masters are churlish and will not reward their servants as Nabal was wee have a kinde and loving master not the least service we doe if we give but a cup of cold water in his name but he will reward it 3. Earthly Masters give but earthly rewards they may give good wages while yee be with them and peradventure bestow a farme on you but our master will give us a kingdome 4. Earthly masters dye Gentlemen Knights Noblemen dye yea Kings themselves dye and then their servants seeke abroad but our master lives for ever Therefore let us serve him with all cheerefulnesse let us serve him in this life and we shall enter into the joy of our Master Will the Son of Iesse give you all Vineyards Our Master will give us all a kingdome We are servants here we shall bee Kings there have palmes in our hands and Crownes on our heads and raigne with him for ever VERSE 15. SEcondly the truth and substance of the Tabernacle is applyed to Christ as to a testatour Where 1. The constitution of the Testament Verse 15. 2. A confirmation of it In the constitution of it there be foure circumstances 1. The legatour 2. The death of the testatour that strengthens the Testament 3. The legatarie every believer 4. The legacie an eternall inheritance The instrumentall cause whereby wee attaine to our legacie was the death of Christ which hath a double use 1. To purchase redemption for us as a Priest we are redeemed by the bloud of Christ from the bonds of sins wherewith we were tyed by vertue of the former Testament 2. To ratifie the covenant and Testament to us as a Testatour he is a Priest in regard of God making an attonement for us with his bloud hee is a Testatour in respect of us bequeathing that to us which hee hath bought with his bloud It is ratified by the death of the Testatour Which is confirmed by two arguments 1. Iure humano Verses 16.17 2. Iure legali Where 1. A generall assertion Ver. 18. 2. A particular explication of it Verse 19.20 Here may seeme to be some contradictions 1. There it is said when Moses had read the booke here it is said when hee had spoken every precept that is appertaining to the booke of the covenant So that there is no jarre but a sweete harmony 2. There is mention only of the bloud of Beeves here of Calves and Goates they are by a Synecdoche comprehended in the other 3. There is nothing said of water wooll and hysop but there he speakes of sprinkling and these were used in all sprincklings 4. It is not said that the booke was sprinckled but that may well bee collected Verse 6. for having made an Altar and set the booke of the covenant on it with halfe of the bloud he sprinckled the Altar and the booke afterwards hee sprinckled the people too 5. There it is said this is the bloud of the Testament which God hath made with you Here which GOD commanded to bee brought to you This in sense is all one it was made according to the booke and being made was brought to them comprised in the booke Exod. 24.9 The force of the argument is this the former Testament was confirmed with bloud by the death of Calves Goats c. therefore it was requisite that the latter Testament should be ratified with bloud namely by the death of Christ the Testatour Because by his owne bloud hee hath purged our consciences which the bloud of beasts could not doe in the Law He by whose meanes and mediation the New
with his owne bloud And that he should goe but once with his owne bloud he proveth ab impossibili If he should often have offered himselfe he should often have suffered but he cannot dye or suffer often therefore hee cannot often offer up himselfe 3. There the High-Priest by his sacrifice did signifie the expiation of sins that was to be accomplished our High-Priest hath appeared to put away sin which is amplified by the time when and the instrument whereby The 4th is the application of the use The use of the Leviticall Priest-Hood was to shadow out our redemption to be wrought by Christ the use of Christ's Priest-Hood is to procure to us eternall happinesse Which is set forth by an antithesis betweene the common estate and condition of men and the grace we have by Christ. The common estate of men consisteth in two things 1. In death then in judgement These happen to all and cannot be avoyded Both members are applyed to Christ. 1. Death 2. The judgement where Christ's second comming is described To mans once dying is opposed Christ's once dying amplified by the finall cause To the fearefull judgement to come is opposed the second comming or appearing of our Saviour Christ amplified 1. By the persons to whom hee shall appeare with comfort 2. By the manner how hee shall appeare without sin not only in himselfe but in his members in his body the Church neither head nor body shall then have any sin in them 3. By the end VERSE 21. THe consecration of the Tabernacle was with bloud Where 1. The sprinckler 2. The things sprinckled 3. Wherewith The sprinckler was Moses which was Gods deputie the things sprinckled were the Tabernacle and the vessells of ministration that is wherewith they did publikely serve and minister that wherewith they were sprinkled was bloud At the first dedication of the Tabernacle it was annointed with oyle but afterwards Levit. 8. it was sprinckled with bloud The Altar and all other ministring vessells Aaron and his sons themselves were sprinckled with bloud All Christians are Gods Tabernacle hee dwells in us as in a Tabernacle and Temple we are likewise Gods ministring vessells to serve him Therefore wee must be sprinckled with the bloud of Christ Iesus or else we cannot be consecrated as an holy people to the Lord. Likewise as well as he did the people and the booke VERSE 22. THe second rite no purgation could be made without bloud Almost 1. A qualification 2. An asseveration Saint Chrysostome and Theophylact referre it to the verb all things are by the Law almost purged with bloud Not wholly but in part almost because the bloud of the beasts did but purge the flesh not the heart and conscience As Agrippa said to Paul almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian. But by the grammaticall construction it is rather to be referred to the noune 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Almost all things for there were some things purged by water some by fire Num. 31.23 But howsoever some things might be purified without bloud yet there is no remission namely of sins without bloud Where then is the unbloudy sacrifice of the Masse If there be no shedding of bloud in it as they affirme the bloudy sacrifice was on the Crosse this of the Masse is unbloudy then it cannot be propitiatory for sins as they contend Bellar. lib. 1. de Missa c. 27. hath three answers or rather three cavills against this place 1. The Apostle here speakes de sacrificijs veteris legis But 1. Then hee would have used a verbe of the time past rather than of the time present hee would have said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. He cannot speake of the sacrifices of the Old Law but he must needs have reference to CHRIST 's sacrifice prefigured by them Secondly sayes Bellarmine this is not to bee understood as if without actuall shedding of bloud there could bee no remission but absque virtute without the power of shedding of bloud there can be no remission Now the power of Christ's sacrifice on the Crosse is applyed to us in the Masse and so by it we have remission of sins I but First the sacrifice of the Masse doth rather abolish the power of Christ's Sacrifice on the Crosse then apply it to us for if that were a full and perfect sacrifice for sinne then there needs no other the sacrifice of the Masse is a blasphemous sacrifice robbing Christ of his honour 2. Here it is said without bloud shedding no remission not without the power of bloud shedding Bellar. saw hee should bee driven to this therefore hee hath a third refuge In the Masse there is shedding bloud 1. Mystically by a mysticall signification 2. Really for as the body of Christ is broken subspecie panis so under the forme of Wine is his bloud shed But if CHRIST 's bloud bee really shed so often as a Masse is said or sung then CHRIST suffers often Certainely a man suffers when his bloud is shed but Verse 26. therefore in the Masse no shedding of bloud and for that cause no remission of sins for the same 2. Vnder the Vizzard sub specie they may cover any thing In the Masse there is no propitiatory sacrifice offered up that 's most certaine That doth plainely signifie to us that if CHRIST 's bloud had not been shed for us we could never have had remission of sins Then how are we beholden to the Lord Iesus There is a base fellow in the land that hath committed high treason he must needs dye unlesse the Kings Son shed his bloud for him We were vile wretches dust and ashes Traitors and rebels against God If the Son of God had not powred forth his bloud for us we should have beene tormented in hell for ever CHRIST hath bought us with his owne bloud O the wonderfull love of CHRIST remember sayes Saint Peter yee are redeemed from your old conversation not with silver and gold but with the precious bloud of Christ. O that the consideration of this deere price were deepely imprinted in our hearts Being washed from sinne in the bloud of CHRIST shall wee tumble in the mire of sinne Thou art washed from thy covetousnesse pride uncleannesse drunkennesse with the bloud of CHRIST and yet wilt thou wallow still in them We are bought with a price we are not our owne wee are CHRIST 's hee hath deerely payd for us therefore let us glorifie him in our spirits and bodies which be his VERSE 23. IT was therefore necessarie 1. because God commanded it to be so 2. Because it was meete they should by these ceremonies be consecrated to God 3. That they might the better signifie the things that were to come Patternes such as did lively set before their eyes as by certaine examples the things to come Of things in the heavens that is of the Church in the time of the Gospell that is called heaven because the
people I have beene ample in this text heretofore I will now bury it in silence But Christ is the Mediatour of the Gospell the which hee hath established with his owne bloud The Heretiques called Melchisideciani made Melchizedec our Mediatour Epiphan contr haeret l. 2. tom 1. Some Papists will have all the Angels and Saints in heaven to bee our Mediatours together with Christ. Aquin. p. 3. q. 26. art 1. He freely confesseth that Christ is our Mediatour simpliciter perfectivè yet the Angels and Saints also must bee our Mediatours dispositivè ministerialiter They are much beholden to this distinction of principall and ministeriall some unskilfull physitions give one drinke or one medicine for all diseases so these men apply this distinction of principall and ministeriall to salve up all soares among them Christ is the Chiefe Head of the Church the Pope is a ministeriall head under him So Christ is the principall Mediatour Angels and Saints are ministeriall Yet if a woman should heare she had a Chiefe husband and a ministeriall husband she could hardly indure it 1 Tim. 2.5 One God one Mediatour they might as well say there is one Principall God but many ministeriall Gods under him as to say there is one Chiefe Mediatour and many ministeriall and he tels us who it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is of the feminine gender 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee alone and no other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Mediatour betweene God and man must be both God and man hee must have aliquid simile Deo aliquid simile hominibus sayes Saint Aug. confess l. 10. c. 42. That hee may mediate betweene them both If he were onely man hee could not goe to GOD if hee were onely GOD he could not goe to man As for Angels they be neither God nor men therefore they cannot be our Mediatours As for the Saints in heaven they bee halfe men they have soules but as yet they have no bodies and they are not God therefore they cannot bee our Mediatours Nay properly to speake the Holy Ghost the third Person in the glorious Trinitie cannot be our Mediatour for though hee be God yet hee is not man much lesse can the Angels and Saints bee our Mediatours There is but one Mediatour of the new Covenant and that is Christ Iesus who being GOD above all blessed for ever vouchsafed likewise for our sakes to become man The Mediatour of the new Covenant hath established the Covenant with his blood It is Christ alone that by the bloud of hit Crosse hath set at peace all things in heaven and in earth Col. 1. Therefore hee is the onely Mediatour of the New Testament No Testament is of force without the death of the Testatour Let them proove that any dyed for us besides Christ and then wee will acknowledge other Mediatours As hee trode the wine presse alone so hee is Mediatour alone it is sacriledge to adjoyne others to him Therefore as he tooke the paines alone so let him have the honour alone Heaven indeed is opened by Christ but wee are sinners we shall not be admitted into it Yes for our sinnes are washed away in the bloud of Christ. Where 1. Sanguinis larga effusio 2. Effusi excellens utilitas The bloud that speaketh better then that of Abel Oecum 1. In the Greeke it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Erasmus reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so doth Oecum referre it to Abel not to his bloud 2 Hebr. 11.4 hee is said Yet to speake It comes all to one reckoning Saint Chrys. reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 melius but it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plurall number The bloud of Abel spake well in his kinde it is meete that sin should be avenged but this speakes better in his kinde to the joy and comfort of us all 1. Abel spake on earth this in heaven 2. That spake against Cain and Elias made request against Israel Rom. 11.2 This speakes for us all 3. That was the bloud of a meere man this is the bloud of him that was both God and man 4. That cryed murder murder my brother hath murdered mee this cries I have beene murthered and killed for my brethren 5. That did Tsagmah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clamare send forth an hideous cry this doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speake sweetly to us that did cry after a terrible manner this doth speake after a more joyfull manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more splendid more significant more sweete and comfortable A cry is fearefull and lamentable so is not a voice 6. Abels bloud had no power of cleansing this hath it washeth us from our sinnes This Saint Ambrose paints out in most lively colours Ille vindictam clamavit hic indulgentiam Ille peccatum fratris accusat hic peccatum mundi remisit Ille prodidit crimen hic texit as it is written Beati quorum tecta sunt peccata Ambr. de fuga saeculi c. 5. Blessed are they that are come to the sprinkling of his bloud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vulgar reads it as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adsanguinis aspersionem Hebr. 10.22 v. 19. Hebr. 9.13 Exod. 12.22 As the bloud of the lambe was sprinckled with a bunch of hysop on the doore posts of the Israelites and they escaped the destroying Angel so Christs bloud sprinkled on our consciences the devill that Abaddon hath nothing to doe with us Let the Papists glory of the bloud of Saint Thomas By the bloud of Saint Thomas which hee for thee did spend grant we may goe whither Thomas did ascend Let them magnifie the bloud of Saint Peter Saint Paul Saint Iames. Nay Let them magnifie the bloud of their Pseudomartyrs yet we will rejoyce onely in the bloud of Iesus wherewith we are washed from our sinnes By which we have an entrance into the most holy place O sweet Iesus that would dye for us The Master for the servant the Creator for the creature he that knew no sin for miserable sinners O the unmatchable love of Iesus that sheddest thy bloud for thine enemies Many and grievous are our sins moe in number than the hayres of our head as red as crimson and skarlet but Lord Iesus wash them away in the bloud of thy sprinkling and then I shall be found whiter than the snow that I may stand without trembling before thee at the dreadfull day of judgement Generosus animus magis ducitur quà m trahitur a good nature will sooner be moved with loving perswasions than drawne with threatnings GOD hath beene more gracious to us than to them They had the tart vinegar of Gods judgements we have the sweet oyle of his mercy they came to Moses that terrified them with the curse and malediction of the Law we are come to Iesus