the people of God O Sirs study the girdle of your High Priest Jesus Christ do you doubt of Justification do you doubt of Sanctification do you doubt of deliverance from Sin Satan the wrath of God the malice of Devils and wicked men O look up to the girdle of resolution about the High Priests loins and wait patiently upon him for he is resolved to get all this for you in a time of need Secondly As the girding of the loins do imply the strength which God doth afford his servants in the work he imploys them in or about so is this abundantly made good in Christ our great High Priest our Saviour had a very great work to do and a weighty burthen to bear therefore it was necessary he should be filled with infinite strength First The work he was to do would have discouraged all the men in the world and Angels in heaven had they been put together to have engaged in it for he was to conflict with four enemies the least of which hath driven the whole world before it These are Satan Sin the World with all its temptations and the justice of God for the breach of his royal Law what power force or strength was there ever in the world that could bear up against one of these enemies besides Christ was to deal with death it self what strong Samson or valiant Alexander in the world could grable with this one enemy yet did our Saviour bring this enemy at his feet with case therefore saith the Apostle speaking of Christ Acts 2. 24. He hath loosed the bands of death because it was not possible he should be holden by it Secondly There must needs be infinite strength in Christ if we consider the weight of that burthen he was to bear upon his shoulders And that was all the sins of all the Elect in the world a weight which makes the whole earth to groan under the burthen of it as the Apostle speaks in Rom 8. 22. For all our sins were laid upon and charged on Jesus Christ Isa 53. 6. The Lord hath laid the iniquities of us all upon him so St. Peter speaking of Christ saith 1 Pet. 2 24. Who his owâ— self bear our sins in his own body on the tree Samson did never carry away the gates of the City with more ease then Christ did our sins upon his shoulders Therefore is Christ called a Rock Deut. 32. 31. And the Rock of strength and refuge Psal 62 7. Now all this was Christ as he was and is our High Priest for this lieth in the girdle of Christ which girdle he weared as our High Priest therefore you are to look upon all this as yours upon believing Christ needed not this himself but this strength was put into him for believers 1. To do the great work of saving of them out of the hands of their enemies 2. That as their Head he might give it down to them to help them out in all their duties whether they be Active or Passive Use 6. This should inform us then where our strength lieth it s not in our selves but in our High Priest he is our Treasury and Store-house of it and to him we must come for it and in coming we shall have it saith David Psal 18. 2. The Lord is my Rock and my Fortness and my Deliverer my God my Sâ—rength in whom I will trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower In this Use I would commend two things to thee for thy peace and comfort wouldst thou see all thy spiritual enemies conquered and brought down at thy feet then look to Christ and he hath done it for thee and in thy room and the glory of the conquest he imputes to thee as Ioshua in the wilderness did who was a Type of Christ in this thing he fought Israels battels for them and conquered all their enemies for them and when done gives the glory of the conquest to the Israelites for he causeth the chief of the enemies to be brought before him and makes them lie down and bids the Jews to set their feet upon their necks Ioshua 10. 24. So hath Christ done for believers 2. If thou wouldst get the mastery over the remainders of corruption within thee and the Devil and World without thee then look up to Christ thy High Priest and draw out strength from him for he is girded about with strength on purpose to give it out to thee saith S. Paul I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me Phil. 4. 13. 3. Lastly the girdle in the High Priest denotes his faithfulness and sincerity in the work he undertakes to do for so we shewed you did the girding of the loins implyed so much as this is applied to Jesus Christ who is our Gospel High Priest Isa 11. 5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins and faithfulness the girdle of his reins so saith the Apostle speaking of the faithfulness of Christ saith Heb. 3. 5 6. And Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken afterward but Christ as a Son in his own house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm to the end Observe these two things in the words First Moses his faithfulness was a testimony of those things which should be spoken hereafter Now what were these things which should be spoken after Moses his time it is what all the Prophets and Apostles have written about the faithfulness of Christ to his Church and people as he is their High Priest 1. That he would certainly become bond to the justice of God as their surety to give full satisfaction for all the wrong they have done the justice of God so saith David Psal 40 6 7 8. 2. That he would stand in the room of his people and take upon him every part and parcel of their guilt this wrote Isa of him Isa 53. 6. 3. That he would as certainly bear every part of that punishment which justice would have else poured forth upon the Elect I say he would bear this himself as really as he did their guilts so writes Isa also ver 5. 4. That he would certainly call home to himself by the means of the Ministry of the word and spirit every elected soul to the embracement of him this writes Luke of him Luke 14. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 So Iohn writes Iohn 10. 16. 5. And that there shall never be wanting to the ages of man a sufficiency of means in order to the bringing in the Elect of God in every age Mat. 28. 19 20. 6. That as by his bloud and righteousness he hath taken care to get them justified before God so as certainly will he give out with his sanctifying grace the testimony of this in his time into their consciences so writes St. Paul of him Rom. 5. 1. Isa 26. 3.
with the Altar which was overlaid with Brass upon which the slain sacrifices were offered up to God in sacrifice Secondly That which in the Verse relates to the Incense Altar overlaid with Gold you have in the latter part of the Verse in these words for a sweet smelling savour Both of which Uses of the Altars the Apostle makes to agree to and in our Lord Jesus Christ a Believers spiritual Altar But here a question may be asked me why the Incense Altar should be overlaid with Gold and the Altar appointed for slain sacrifices only with Brass To which I answer by this difference in the two Altars we may observe this note for our Instruction That as Gold is more excellent then Brass so was the work of the Incense Altar more excellent in the sight of God then that work of slaying the sacrifices on the Altar which was overlaid with Brass And as these Altars were both Types of our Lord Jesus Christ with reference to the twofold work he was to administer for the Elect which was first to offer himself a sacrifice and secondly to make continual Intercession to God for them I say it plainly shews us thus much that although the work which our Saviour did in dying the bitter death on the Cross in order to the satisfying of the justice of God wherein he was a sacrifice to take away sin I say though this was a very glorious and transcendent work yet the work of Christs Intercession is much more glorious This will appear if we consider these two things First the Apostles words in Rom. 8. 34. who puts the term Rather upon the Intercession of Christ a work proper to the Incense Altar which term is not put upon the sufferings of Christ Verse 34 Who is he that shall condemn it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who is even at the right hand of God to make Intercession for us giving you to understand that the greater excellency of the two lay in the work of Christs Intercession rather then in the work of Christs sufferings farther it will more appear in that the Apostle in this 34. Verse tells you that for this work sake of Christs Intercession he sitteth at Gods right hand as if the Apostle should say though the work of Christs sufferings was a very glorious work yet that of his Intercession was yea is much more glorious in Gods sight because the act of Christs Intercession declares the former act of his sufferings to be wholly done and compleated therefore must Christ sit down at his Fathers right hand This you may farther see held out to you in the Type it self Exod. 37. 26. where you may observe that the Incense Altar had his Crown of Gold placed upon it which the other Altar had not which shews us as hath been said that this work of Christs Intercession Crowns all the former But secondly it will yet more appear if we consider the estate and condition our Saviour was in when suffering upon the Cross and that was a guilty state and condition he was under at that time when he was upon the Cross the highest guilt that ever was man in this world not any of his own for there was never guile found in his mouth but it was our guilt which he took upon him Isa 53. 6. For it pleased the Lord to lay upon him the iniquity of us all But in the work of Intercession he is fully justified from all that sin and guilt which he took on him for us by the offering up of himself to God as a sacrifice and the justice of God hath nothing now to say against Christ so that Christ takes his place in Heaven without controul or objection at the right hand of God who sits there making Intercession for us And Christ taking his place there at the Incense Altar doth cause a sweet smell to arise up to God from every other act of Christ done before upon the sacrifice Altar overlaid with Brass because now he acts not as a nocent person but as an innocent person therefore saith the Apostle Phil. 2. 8 9. speaking of Christ saith And being found in fashion like a man he humbled himself and became obedient to deaâ—h even the death of the Cross wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name Thus you see why the Altar of Incense was overlaid with Gold but the other only with Brass Use O then this should teach Believers where to run for sound solid comfort in doubting seasons let it be at the Altar of Incense where Christ sitteth at Gods right hand to make Intercession for us It s true I have in my former Discourse about the Altar of satisfaction which was overlaid with Brass advised souls to make at that Altar in doubting seasons and so I say still for Christ could not have sate down at the right hand of God to have made Intercession for us if he had not first suffered Phil. 2. 8 9. But the sufferings of Christ on the Altar of Brass do not yield a soul such full matter of triumph over Sin the Law and the Devil as the interceeding work of Christ doth My Reason for it is this because that although Christ in love to his people did go so far as to die for them even the bitter death of the Cross that so he might justifie them before God and although he went so far as to pour out his soul unto death that by it he might redeem them to God yet he might have miscarryed in the work he might not have been able to have given justice its full satisfaction and so he might have been held under the power of sin and the grave himself and so all the Elect have as really perished in him their second Adam as they had done before in the first Adam not that any thing of this nature could have been but the supposition may be made for the farther clearing of our matter in hand But now if the people of God will look to the Incense Altar there they shall see their surety Christ standing at Gods right hand Ministring for them before the Lord which clearly sheweth thus much for our comfort that as our Saviour took all our sins upon him and became guilty with them before the justice of God so now it s most certain he is got clear off from them and is pronounced a justified person and we in him fully as well as freely justified also otherwayes Christ had never sate down at the right hand of God Now this is that which fills up the comfort of Believers that Christ is translated from the Altar overlaid with Brass to the Altar of Incense overlaid with Gold which shews that he hath done the work which he came to do for Believers Hence it is that S. Paul triumphs so over Hell Sin Satan the curse of the Law and death it self not so much from what Christ did at the Brazen Altar
their use was for this purpose that if any man had committed murder accedentally yet if he did immediately repair to any one of these Cities before the officer that was appointed for execution did overtake him then he was not to die provided he did not get out of the City untill the death of the present High Priest Numb 35. 11 12 13 14. These Cities as to the use of them they were all types of Jesus Christ with respect to the safety Christ administers to poor guilty sinners in a way of protecting of them from the wrath of God Look as the avenger of blood did pursue the murâ—herer in open field so doth the Justice of God the sinner every day Psalm 7. 11. God is angry with the wicked every day so ver 12 13. If he turn not he will whâ—t his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the instruments of death he hath ordained his arrows against the persecutors But if the soul can make to Christ before the justice of God hath overtaken him he will be safe fot Christ is the great City of refuge there is no kinde of evil can enter the gates of this City saith Solomon Prov. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run thereat and are safe therefore it is said in Isaiah where the prophet is speaking of Christ Isa 25. 4. For thou hast been a strength to the poor a strength to the needy in his distress a refuge from the storm a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible one is as a storm against the wall Therefore soul if thou wouldst be protected from the blast of the terrible one from the stroke of Gods justice maste haste to the City of refuge which is Christ get into him and thou wilt be safe CHAP. 38. Of the scape-Goat offered to God for the People THere was likewise a live Goat which that the Priest was to take upon the head of which he was to lay his hands and there to make a publick confession to God of all the peoples sins and when so done the Priest was to lay all the sins of the people upon the head of the Goat then was the Goat to be sent away into the Wilderness never to return with them more Leviticus 26. 7 8. 9. with 21 22. verses This Type as well as the rest was to set forth the wonderful grace of God in Christ to sinners who hath prepared a scape Goat for them to carry away their sin upon his own head which scape Goat is Christ his onely Son O this is wondeâ—ful love saith the Spirit John 3. 16. God so loved the world as that he sent forth his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life O look to Christ he is this scape Goat he bears all the sinnes of his people they are confessed over Christs head and translated upon Christs head Isa 53. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 24. And so made his sins not ours and he hath carryed them into the wilderness of forgetfulness where they shall never come into mind more Jer. 31. 34. From the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember the sin no more Christ will leave all the sin and guilt which he took upon him behind him in the Wilderness saith God I will cast away their iniquity behind my back And assure your selves when ever Christ comes again he will come without sin to Salvation Heb. 9 28. CHAP 39. Of the other smaller Sacrifices in use amongst the people THere were other Sacrifices which they offered to God besides what have been mentioned all holding forth something of a Christ to come now these sacrifices were of two sorts First Of things solid Secondly Of things liquid or moist Those solid things which they offered to God in sacrifice they were likewise of two sorts First Of things living Secondly Of things dead Now the living sacrifices or the sacrifices of those things that were living They were either Bullocks Levit. 16. 11. Goats Levit. 16. 15. Rams Levit. 16. 3. Lambs Exod. 12. 3. And young Pigeons Levit. 1 14. Now all these living sacrifices were to be put to death which answers to the death of Christ pointed out to them as the Apostle speaketh Heb. 9. 26. That Christ towards the latter end of the world should appear to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself And these sacrifices were not only to be put to death but their bloud was to be shed forth that so an atonement might be made to God by it Levit. 1. 14. Levit. 16. 15 16. Which answers to that of the Apostle touching Jesus Christ Heb. 9. 13 14. And where as well these sacrifices were to be without spot or blemish Levit. 3. 6. This answers to the Apostles pure nature of our Gospel-sacrifice Christ as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 9. 14. Secondly As for these sacrifices which were of things sollid but of a dead matter it was Meal or Flower and this was to be bruised or broken which answers to that of Christ which the Prophet speaks of him in Isa 53. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him and to put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin As for these sacrifices which were liquid they were either of Oil Wine or Water and this was to be poured out upon the ground Exod. 29 40. Which answereth to that of Christ which the Prophet speaks in Isa 53. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the greaâ— and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death Thus soul I have spoken my thoughts of these great mysteries of the Gospel and I hope that I was not wholly left to my own spirit in the thing I found much of the presence of the Lord going along with me in the work the foundation of which was laid in prison when I was shut up for Jesus Christ Jâ—has Isle of Patmos brought him in his great Revelations from God and I hope that my impisonment was attended with somethng of a Patmos blessing if thou receivest any benefit by it give God the glory and say the Lord hath brought whom light to thee out of the midst of ignorance it self and thou hast met with instruction from the mouth of a mere Babe But what 's there too hard for the Lord who when he will work who shall let him who brings to nought the things that are by the things that are not and by foolishness to confound the wise and prudent My desire is that as I have laboured in the strength of God to bring this forth for thy spiritual profit and advantage thou wouldst not content thy self only with the keeping of this piece in thy house and the letting of it stand upon thy shielf or to let it lie in thy window but be much in the reading and meditation of it things no farther profit us then we are diligent in the use of them Remember that Timothies spiritual profit came in by much reading and meditation on the word 1 Tim. 4. 13. with ver 15â— Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages world without End Amen FINIS THese are to inform the Reader That whereas the Covenant mentioned amongst the TYPES is left out and nothing spoken of it the reason is the Author intends to publish it in another Treatise By reason of the Authors Remoteness from the Press there are several Mistakes in this Book Wherefore the Reader is desired to compare such places as are doubtful with this following ERRATA Pag. line  3 14 FOr such read they 8 8 for strength r. streight 11 4 for executioner r. execution 17 14 leave out so no some 27 10 leave out of 32 4 add is 36 10 leave out the 69 6 leave out never inherited 73 26 leave out who have 76 20 for shall r. that 78 19 for imagining r. ingaging 84 17 for loose r. leave 87 32 for meanest r. means 90 33 for that r. the 96 3 add it 109 30 for Church r. Gentile 120 26 leave out thoughts 121 3 for mind r. wind 134 11 for work r. word 137 11 add were 142 25 add an 144 29 add eace 147 29 add not 180 9 leave out pride 187 36 add what with 189 30 leave out comma at with an instance 202 27 for times r. sometimes and at the last line of page 202 add for his people in all ages Therefore 207 10 for tears r. words 209 6 leave out all 216 32 for sacrifice r. house 220 21 for his r. this 223 32 add may 228 17 for neither r. either 233 6 for will r. doth 245 35 r. who hath despised c. 266 31 for careful r. fearful 270 26 for laudable r. audible 273 2 for laudable r. audible 274 29 for me r. them 300 32 for he r. here 301 8 add not  9 for whom r. home 304 18 r. a view of him as 307 28 for mark r. word 317 last for administration r. admiration 325 9 leave out well
wickedness My brethren where can you go into what Land Countrey County City Town or Family but you may blush to see the common prophaneness of it to your great grief what swearing lying couzening theeving brawling fighting and revelling is there abounding amongst men how do the most men tumble and wallow in the filth of uncleanness how are some buried up head and ears in their pride how do others glory in their oppression O how are others drowned in their malice how like swines do others reel up and down in their drunkenness what treachery and deceit and falshood dwells there in the mindes of men one against another as the Prophet speaks Micah 7. 4 5 6. The best of them is as a briar and the most upright of them sharper then a thorn-hedge Trust ye not in a friend put ye no confidence in a guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom for the son dishonoureth the father the daughter riseth up against the mother in law a mans enemies are the men of his own house To this agreeth the words of Paul to the Ephesians chap 2. 2 3 Where in times past you walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience among whom ye had your conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desire of the minde and of the flesh and were by nature the children of wrath even as others Therefore it is that David when he was forced to flie into Gath among the Philistines because of the prophaneness of the people cryed out Woe is me that I dwell in Mesech and am constrained to live in the tents of ungodliness Secondly As this agreeth with Egppt for prophaneness so for false worship It is natural for men in a carnal concondition to worship God in a wrong manner as a good man said once every man is born with a little Pope in his belly To set up a false worship is the first thing a carnal man puts himself forth in This is the reason that the greatest part of the world lieth drowned in false worship and ante-christianisme it is because they are carnal and blinde and so want the light of God his holy Spirit to guide them into the truth Where will you expect to finde fish but in the water where would you see birds but in the air where would you expect to finde four footed beasts but upon the earth so where would you finde poor blinde carnal men and women worshipping but in their false forms pictures images and rejected ceremonies you may see how stiff the Pharisees stuck unto these things Matth. 15. 1 2. but you may see our Saviours answer Ver. 3. with 8 9. You know Paul the Apostle telleth the Saints in his day that they had been worshippers of stocks and stones dumb idols to this agreeth our Saviours words John 4 22 speaking to the poor carnal woman of Samaria You worship you know not what This is is most certain that the world for want of sight erre in every thing So that you see how well the natural estate of mankinde doth agree with the Land of Egypt for false worship or for worshipping God in a false manner Again Egypt was a place of hard bondage and cruel burthens a place that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. besides the officers of the place would often beat the people if they failed of ought of their work ver 14. they would also refuse to hear the peoples cryes ver 16 17. This answers unto the covenant of works which every carnal man and woman in the world is bound unto by nature and lives under This covenant even to fulfil it in the exactest measure thereof This covenant was made with us in the state of innocency which requires perfect obedience in thought word and deed and not onely perfect obedience but constant continual obedience to the last breath Deut. 6. 5. with Gal. 3. 10. So that if a man fails but in one point of the Law of Works he is guilty of the breach of the whole Iames 2. 10. Now this Covenant of works doth not onely reach the outward actions of the body as some think but the inward motions intentions and purposes of the minde for so our Saviour expounds this Covenant Mat. 5. 20 21 22 with 27 28. verses Now as the case stands with the creature with respect to his fall this covenant of works may well be compared unto Pharaohs task-masters and those that yet live under it to the Jews in Egypt who were under the power of those Task-masters Exodus 5. 10 11 12 13. 14 15 16 17. verses For first of all they required of the Jews brick to be made without straw ver 10 11. so doth the Law require full and perfect obedience of the soul both in body and spirit as ever it did Saith the Law Bring me forth the full tale of obedience according to my commands let not ought of the works be deminished which ye should do in soul and body I will not abate one jot of it bring forth the full tale of your duties let not one be neglected if there be you shall dye the death and perform them in such a manner as I have required or expect death without mercy what you do see it be perfectly holy without the least stain of sin in it in thy prayings in thy fastings in thy mournings in thy hearings in thy almes in thy works of mercy in all that thou doest see that there be not the least vain thought in it nor the least stain of hypocrisie in it if there be thou shalt be damned to eternity Likewise see that it be constantly so with thee from thy birth to thy death If in all thy life thou shalt but miscarry in a word or thought I will pour out all my plagues and curses upon thee Matth. 12. 36. with Gal. 2. 10. I will not regard any thing that thou hast done in my service before though thou hast served me to the last hour of thy life with all thy strength and with all thy power yet if at last thou shalt offend in one word or deed thou shalt dye the death a death eternal of soul as well as body Ezek. 18. 24. Deut 27. ver 26. Now when the soul comes to be awakened to the voice of the Law how is it overwhelmed with amazement and horrour like the Jews under their task-masters how bitterly doth the soul bewail his condition crying out with Paul Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from so cruel a bondage as this Thus the soul falling down flat on the ground cryeth out of his condition because of the hard usage it hath from the Law that it should require the full tale of brick and yet deny straw O saith the soul
above and his people under the Altar Christ so that by all hath been spoken it appears that the Altars in the Tabernacle did intend Christ which was then to come in the flesh Secondly I shall shew you in the next place how the two Altars being of two differing uses did signifie the two great works which Christ was to perform to God for believers I shall begin with the Altar that was overlaid with Brass This Altar signified Christ in the work of making or giving satisfaction to the justice of God for sin for upon this Altar in the Tabernacle were the bodies of those beasts offered which were slain for sin and they were offered to God in hot flaming fire therefore called the burnt offering so was Jesus Christ an Altar to bear the indignation of God for the Elect upon Christs back as upon the Altar did stand both the sins and the burning hot wrath of Gods justice together which like mighty flashes of lightning came upon the soul of our dear and precious Saviour which made the bloudy sweats upon him in the Garden Luke 22. 44. Therefore in Isa 53. The Holy Ghost shews you the Elects sins and Gods wrath both together standing at one and the self same time upon the back of Christ Isa 53. 6 7. We all like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid the iniquities of us all upon him he was oppressed he was afflicted so ver 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him and to put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin so ver 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and was numbred with the transgressour and did bear the sins of many so 1 Pet. 1 18 19. with chap. 2. 24. For ye know that ye were not redeemed with Silver or Gold but by the precious bloud of Jesus Christ as a Lamb without blemish and without spot who in his own body bear our sins upon the Tree But notable is that place of the Apostle in Heb. 13. 11 12. For the bodiess of those beasts whose bloud is brought into the sanctuary by the High Priest for sin are burnt without the Camp wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate so Eph. 5. 2. saith S. Paul speaking of Christ He gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour Thus you see how Christ in his sufferings makes good what the Altar of Brass with the sacrifice upon it did signifie and hold out to the beholders where indeed our Saviour was both the Altar and the Sacrifice too By which offering up of himself as the Altar and Sacrifice to God he hath purchased eternal Redemption for us and hath for ever perfected those which are sanctified as the Apostle speaks Heb. 10. 10 12 14. verses Use 1. O then this should teach all true Believers to rejoyce and sing aloud for joy of soul O Saints lift up your heads and with your voice bless the Lord take with you these words and sing with the Psalmist Psal 118. 20 21. 22 23. I will praise the Lord for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation for the stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner this is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes this is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it That the soul that was once so far from God as hell is from heaven should have an Altar of satisfaction provided for him yea and a sacrifice to in order to his full justification before the everlasting burnings O saith David Psal 66. 16. Come hither and I will tell you what God hath done for my soul Why what 's the matter David what is it that God hath done for you O I that was a poor sinful wretch and accursed miserable creature a condemned Malefactor before God for the breach of his royal law and could never possibly have redeemed my self by all that ever I could do of my self or in my own strength O I was one who was under the guilt of sin and a slave to Satan an heir of Hell a childe of darkness a fire-brand of the bottomless pit a son of perdition a lost perishing soul in my self for ever Oh I that was alien to the promise a stranger to the Covenants and Commonwealth of Israel and without hope of God in the world am now again made nigh by the Blood of Christ and thereby taken again into the reconciled love and favour of God through this altar of grace and satisfaction which the Father in mercy hath set up for my soul upon which all my sins are laid past present and to come Isâ— 53. 6. So that through the rich mercy of God I can say I am delivered from the law wherein I was held through the satisfaction and full payment the Father received from my Altar Christ Rom. 7. 6. And although before I had any interest in this Altar Christ I feared death and hell every day before yet now I can say there is therefore now no condemnation to me who am resolved not to walk after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8. 1. Now can I come with boldness to the throne of grace to ask grace and mercy to help in time of need Heb. 4. 16. O this Altar Christ by his sufferings hath opened a new and living way to the Father for me a way consecrated through the vail of his flesh Heb. 10. 18 19 20. By which means although I durst not look up to the Father before I can come into his blessed presence as a childe and call him Father and I can come to him upon the account of purchase and demand my adopted rights and purchased priviledges at my Fathers hands and that upon the account of altar attonement which was made and done by my Altar Christ when he offered up himself a sacrifice to God without spot and blemish for me Eph. 5. 2. And although I was as black as hell and as full of spots as the Leopard in Gods sight yet now shall I be found of God compleat in Jesus Christ not having spot or wrincle Col. 2. 10 Ephes 5. 27. O thus may every true Believer say and sing with David for the weakest and least of the Children of God hath as large and as full and as ample a satisfaction laid down for him to God as David and his priviledges by this Altar and his right unto this Altar Christ is as large and altogether as full as David's was so saith Paul Rom. 10. 12. The same Lord over all is rich unto of that call upon him for he is no respecter of persons Use 2. Let this teach Christians to have great recourse
things to the comers read Jeremiah 3. 33 34. with Ezekiel 26. 27. Read Proverbs 1. 22. 23. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and scorners delight in scorning and fools haâ—e knowledge turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my spirit upon you and I will make known my words unto you Therefore soul let not the father of lyes keep thee any longer from Jesus Christ thy Gospel Altar but come with the greatest freedom and do not dispute so much thy unworthiness as the Lord Chtists sufficiency in point of righteousness for whatever thy life hath been though never so notoriously wicked yet in the name of God and by special commission from Christ we are to tell thee that neither the number of thy sins nor yet the greatness of thy sinnes can hurt thee but thy coming â—o the Altar of satisfaction where attonement is to be made for sinne this is it that will prove thy soul-destroying sinne for ever if thou take not heed of it Hence it is that David made the greatnesse of sin the onely ground of coming to the Altar Psal 25. 11. Lord pardon my Iniquity for my sinne is wondrous great Thirdly A third season when a Christian should have regard to the Altar of satisfaction is in corruption-prevailing seasons when the heart is overcome with the strength of corruption then is it a fit time for the soul to have much recourse to ths Altar corruption can never live if thou bring it to this place that altar upon which Christ died for sin will of all places in the world yield thee the greatest death to sin this is the sword of Goliah which hath none like it Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin But worthy of note is that place of the Apostle in the 1 John 3. 8. For this purpose was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the work of the Devil As if the Apostle should say for this purpose was the Son of God manifested or for this purpose was the Altar of satisfaction erected and set up that poor souls might as well get sin and corruption mortified and subdued in them as to have the guilt of sin removed out of their souls O this is the tree of Life which standeth in the Paradise of God the leaves whereof will heal the Nations O therefore soul wouldst get down the power of sin in thy soul as well as to get out the guilt of sin from thy soul O then when ever corruption gets head be sure to bring thy soul to the Altar of satisfaction and atonement and there lay thy soul down at the feet of the Altar and beg of Jesus Christ that he would yield forth the blessed effects of his death upon thy soul that as he died upon the Cross to remove out of the way the guilt of thy sins so likewise he would be pleased out of his infinite mercy and love to drop something of his sufferings some vertue of his death into thy soul which might kill sin in thy mortal body Now this being done adding faith to the work thou needst not doubt but a blessed issue in time will proceed to the great joy and comfort of thy soul only labour for a waiting frame of spirit give God his own time to effect this work in thy soul for in time thou shalt Reap if thou faint not Objection But doth not the Apostle say in Hebrewes 13. 10. That we have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle then it seems all may not come with that boldnesse to the Altar of satisfaction as you say Answer The Apostle is not to be understood so much in treating about the guilt of sin as above the use of Ceremonies Now the dangerous condition of the Hebrewes was two-fold not only was their Case sad with respect to their distance from God upou the account of sinnes guilt But their danger did farther appear in this they having their Ceremonies for a Christ to rest upon this kept them from Christ indeed by which means they were deprived of the benefit of Christs Merits Bloud and Righteousnesse which only takes away the guilt of sin as the Apostle elsewhere saith Galatians 5 4. For Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are iustified by the Law you are faln from grace As if the Apostle should say certainly so long as you stick to your Ceremonies and Jewish Rights you are at a great distance with Christ Christ can profit you nothing for you have Converted the Tabernacle Service into a Christ and you rest here and you live upon the Shadow in the neglect of the true Substance Christ unto which these Types and Legal Shadows should lead you Therefore while you serve the Tabernacle in this sense you have no right to eat of the Altar Christ but otherwise let the souls condition be never so desperate by reason of sinne yet here is an open door for him to step into the Tabernacle and fall upon this Altar Christ with boldnesse according to that word of the Apostle in Hebrewes 9 13 14 14. So that there is no sinne how great soever makes the soul uncapable of partaking of the Altar Christ who hath a desire to make out after Christ but only the souls resting upon some thing else on this side Christ and shall make that and not Christ his bottom for Salvation CHAP. 24 Of the Grate of Network made to this Altar I Now come to speak about the Grate of Network which was made to the Altar and placed under the compass of the Altar which was about the midst of the Altar underneath Exod. 27. 4 5. The use of which was to let forth the Ashes through the small holes of the Grate when the Sacrifice or Burnt Offering should be offered before the Lord upon it Now the Ashes of any thing which is burnt we look on it as the Dross or Excrements of the thing burned so it is in this case therefore was the Grate prepared to convey the Ashes of the sacrifice under the Altar which was to be carried forth without the Camp This shews us this much First of all the exceeding rich usefulness of Jesus Christ every way for Believers First In point of Justification From hence Believers may assure themselves that when Christ became a Sacrifice to God for them in order to their Justification that God was well pleased with it which was for the great comfort of Believers publickly witnessed from Heaven Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased To this agreeth the words of S. Paul Ephes 5. 2. Christ gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour So much as this you may read in this blessed Type for there was nothing which was offered upon this Altar to
in prayer to God thy self in the greatest necessity thou mighst comfort thy self in this thy High Priest is praying for thee for saith the Apostle he ever liveth to make Intercession for us Heb. 7. 25. This is the ground why thy barrel of Meal wasteth not and thy Cruse of Oil spend not it self in time of Famine and why the Plague cometh not nigh thy dwelling place in pestilentious seasons Job 5. 17 18 to 23. Secondly The next thing we are to speak of is the time how long this is to last or how long this interceding work of Christ was to continue for Believers not only for the Saints under the Old Testament seasons but for the Saints under the New Testament seasons also even for us saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 34. And such a High Priest became us Heb. 7. 26. And this will further appear if you consider this work in the Type of it as it s held out to you Exod. 30. 8. And when Aaron lighted the lamps at even he shall burn Incense upon it a perpetual Incense before the Lord throughout your Generations Now observe it was perpetually to burn before the Lord throughout their Generations there was not a Generation but must have the benefit of this Altar of Incense so is Christ an Intercessour for the Elect in all Generations and not only for time either of the day or of the night but Christ is pouring out his interceding groans to the Father for his people Therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 25. He ever liveth to make Intercession for us Use 3. O soul then doubt not thy case goeth on in Heaven well enough there is alwayes prayer going up to God for thee to keep thee night and day from danger so long as Moses his hands were kept up by Aaron and Hur it went well enough with Israel Exod. 17. O but here are the hands of Christ lifted up for thee night and day to keep thee from the Arrow that flieth by day and the shaft which flieth by night Read that place Isa 27. 2 3. In that day sing ye a Vineyard of Red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment least any hurt it I will keep it night and day O Christ is interceding night and day for thee against all evils It may be thou fearest that sin and corruption will undo thy soul that the Devil and temptation will be thy ruine that wicked men will swallow thee up in the end O soul look up to Jesus Christ under all this eye him at the Throne of grace wrestling by his strong crys for thee O soul live upon this in doubting seasons O go on in the way of thy duty with chearfulness O remember the Lord is with thee his Spirit shall be with thee his Prayers with thee O fear not O saith David The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me O soul whatever thy danger be that shall beset thee whether it be from Hell or this World it can never seize thee while Christ is at prayer for thee but Christ as thou hast heard ever liveth to intercede on thy behalf Object But some may say then why are men so strict to enjoyn the people to pray is it not enough that Christ their High Priest prayeth for them in Heaven I answer It is true in point of prevailing with God for the Elect so Christ their High Priest prayeth enough for them And in this sense there is no need of Believers praying I mean so as if their prayers did give any strength to the Priestly work or office of Jesus Christ therefore that cursed Tenent of the Papist is to be abhorred by all true Christians which teacheth that the prayers of the Church meriteth or procureth the grace of God by its own strength or efficacy blindly mistaking that place James 5. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Now in this sense there is no need of Believers prayers for this will be to destroy the Mediator-ship of Christ and to render his Priestly office of no effect for in point of merit oâ— worth God only accepts of the prayers of Christ and of the Elects for his sake according to that word in Matth. 3. 17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased But secondly notwithstanding the Intercession of Jesus Christ yet in point of obedience to God it is a Christians duty to pray So much as this is handed out to you in the Priesthood of old Read Luke 1. 8 9 10. Speaking of Zecharias the Priest While he was executing the Priests office before God in the order of his course according to the custom of the Priests office his lot was to burn Incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord and the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of the Incense Now Zecharias the Priest represents our Lord Jesus in the work of his Priestly interceding office for the Elect and you read that nowithstanding Zecharias was interceding at the Incense Altar within the Temple yet the people were to pray at the same time without strongly proving that although Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest still intercedes in Heaven for the Elect yet notwithstanding it is highly the duty of all the Elect while without the Temple of glory and remain yet in the body to pray This will farther appear if you consider that place in Rev. 8. 3 4. And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer in his hand and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne and the smoak of the Incense which came up with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand If you would know who this Angel was or is you may read Rev. 1. 13. and there you shall as I have said already find him to be Jesus Christ in all his Priestly Formalities as our High Priest And in this Chapter he is set forth to you in the performance of his work of Intercession for the Saints by having a Golden Censer in his hand which was what the High Priest under the Law did administer before the Lord withall Numb 16. 46 47. And the Angel had Incense given him to offer up to God in the Censer which was in his hand which Incense I understand to be meant the infinite worth of his bloud and righteousness which is continually pleaded by Christ as a ground of full satisfaction to God for the Elect It s said there was much Incense given to this Angel that is as the Apostle elsewhere saith in Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell which sheweth the abundant worth and efficacy that lay in the death and righteousness of Christ therefore he is able to save to the uttermost all
those that come to God by him Heb. 7. And to be a propitiation in his bloud for the sins of the whole world John 1. 2 2. That is there was so much Incense given this Angel by the Lord or so much vertue put into the death of Christ that although it was never intended for all the world yet there is a vertue or a sufficiency in his death able to save all the world at once And it s said the Angel offered Incense that is the Lord Jesus Christ was interceding at the Throne of grace for the Saints Now pray observe all this was done with the prayers of all Saints so that the Saints are set forth as a praying people as well as Christ is set forth as an interceding High Priest Christs prayers and his peoples prayers going up together before the Lord make up the great cloud of Incense which went up from the Altar Thus you see the point cleared that Christs interceding in Heaven at his Fathers right hand for Believers doth not give any liberty to the least neglect in prayer here on earth therefore doth our High Priest himself enjoyn prayer to be made by the Saints that live under his Priesthood Matth. 26 41. And farther says that men ought to pray always Luke 18. 1. So likewise the Apostles of Christ they tell you that the subjects of this Gospel Priesthood must pray James 5. 13. and that they must pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. and that without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17 and that men should continue instant in it Rom. 12. 22. and that men should pray always night and day Eph 6. 18. Thes 2. 3 10. and for one another James 5. 16. with this advice that it must be in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. likewise this hath been made the Character of a good man Acts 9. 11 and on the contrary a prayerless heart is looked upon in Scripture to be a wicked heart Job 27. 10. Thirdly and lastly I come to speak of the end or main purpose of the work of the Incense Altar or of the work of Christs Intercession which he driveth on in Heaven for Believes Now the purpose of this glorious work of Christs Intercession it was to make Reconciliation for sin or amongst many other things one mainâ— thing was this viz. the keeping up a constant peace between God and the Soul therefore it was called the office for atonement Exod. 30. 10. And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of the Incense Altar once a year with the bloud of the sin offering of atonements once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your Generations its most holy to the Lord. This the Apostle applies to Jesus Christ Heb. 2 17. where you have the Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ as our Gospel High Priest succeeding Aaron of old the Apostle hath this saying about it in Verse 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God and that he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people Note here That he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people or an atonement which is all one so that this was the end or purpose of the High Priests atonement it was to keep peace between God and the people under the Law this you may see read Numb 16. 46 47 48. And Moses said to Aaron take the Censer and put fire therein off the Altar and put on Incense and go quickly unto the Congregation and make an atonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the Lord the Plague is begun And Aaron took as Moses commanded him and ran into the midst of the Congregation and behold the Plague was begun among the people and he put on Incense and made an atonement for the people and he stood between the dead and the living and the Plague was stayed Thus you see clearly what the purpose and end of the Priests interceding or making atonement for the people amounts unto it is to interpose between Gods wrath and the people or to keep God at peace with the people which is the proper work of Jesus Christ now in glory to make peace for the Saints and to interpose by his Intercession between the anger of God and their sinning souls who labours by those strong cries sighs and groans with many tears which cannot be uttered to prevail with God that he would be pleased for his own death and righteousness sake to pass by those many sins failings and infirmities which his people are apt to commit And as in the like case we read of Moses Exod. 32. 11 12 13. So doth Christ of whom in the work of Intercession Moses was the Type cast himself at the feet of God praying begging intreating that he would be pleased to pass by the sins and daily infirmities of his people and not remember their iniquities against them but that he would extend his Love Favour and Grace to their souls as afore-time and would lead them and conduct them by his special grace to the good land of Canaan the land of promise which was purchased for them by his own bloud upon the Cross at Jerusalem and begs his Father that he would be pleased to look more upon his bloud and righteousness for them and less upon their sins And doth confess as Moses did that the people are and ever have been a stiff-necked and rebellious people ever since he knew them but yet still crys good Father put up all the injuries done against thy glory by this people and let not thy wrath wax hot against the sheep of thy pasture O remember the promises which thou hast made to me concerning this people That a seed should serve me a Generation of men should call me blessed Psal 22. 30. and Psal 72. 17. And that I should see of the travel of my soul and be satisfied Isa 53. 11. and therefore prays that the Father would consider what loss it would be to him who was his Son should the people miscarry how all his sufferings would be lost the end of his coming in the flesh would be lost the fruit of all his Sermons works of Miracles and works of Righteousness would be lost therefore in John 17. 24. Prays saying Father I will that they whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold â—y glory which thou hast given me for thou hase loved me before the Foundation of the world Use 4. O then soul thou seest where to fly under the guilt of sin O what comfort wlll this afford a poor doubting soul that shall well digest this truth into his soul that Jesus Christ is interceding for him now in Heaven how will the knowledge of this feed the hearts of Gods people in times of doubts O let not the Wolves catch any comfort from hence this is what belongs to the true
sins in his own bloud and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world Sixthly The Priest was to interpose between Gods wrath and the people in a time of sin and by his intercession to endeavour to pacifie God again read Numb 16 46 47 48. This is proper to Christ also and it did but Type out Jesus Christ in the great work of reconciling God to the creature together with his present interceding work whereby he standeth to this hour between the Father and the Church this saith St. Paul of our Saviour to Timothy 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is but one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus Therefore when ever sin and satan presents the with an angry God for sin labour to affect thy heart with the thoughts of it repent and be humbled about but be not out of hope look up to thy High Priest and there thou maist see him interposing between Gods anger and thy soul in order to pacification CHAP. 35. About the standing Sacrifice of the Lamb. THere was likewise an Ordinance of God instituted amongst the Jews which was this a standing sacrifice of two Lambs which were to be offered to the Lord Morning and Evening the one in the Morning and the other at Evening every day throughout the year Exod. 29. 38 39. This was to be done whether the people could be there at the sacrifice yea or no which teacheth these two things First The continual ground which God still hath in his eye for the continuing his reconciling love to the Church and that is the death of his Son which is called the Lamb of God John 1 29. Christ is called a Lamb as he was a sacrifice to God for him This sacrifice which did at first fully give the Father satisfaction for sin is always in the eye of God Christ presents himself to the Father under that consideration always Therefore is it said the mercy-seat was sprinkled wiâ—h the bloud of the sacrifice Levit. 16. 14 15. That when ever the Father had any thing to do with the mercy-seat there should he always see the bloud of the Lamb Christ which speaketh better things then that of Abel Heb 12. 24. Secondly It teacheth us this much family-duty is to be kept up and maintained as an ordinance of God by all professing Souls This standing sacrifice had a double respect First As it respected our Lord Jesus so it Typed out the constant voice of the bloud of Christ in the ears of God for everlasting Reconciliation with the Elect that as they were always sinning so here are two Lambs always sacrificing before God for them But secondly as it respected the people so it was as the performance of family-duty by them for they were as it were but one family and they had one head to it which was Moses but at morning and at evening this practice of the sacrificing of the Lambs must be kept up and performed throughout the year O so much is it a duty for families to offer God the Evening and Morning sacrifice at this day as it was then O methinks to consider how little God is honoured in this respect by the families of the earth it is a matter most lamentable Certainly mens not performing family-duty is a shutting out of God from being King in that family for God is known amongst the families of the Earth by prayer for God upon himself as having a special part of his Prerogative denied him in that family which denies him family prayer therefore is God styled a God of prayer and the God hearing prayer and one unto whom all flesh shall come and indeed the contrary is threatned with a dreadful stroke I mean the omission of the duty read Ier. 10. 25 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen and the families which call not upon thy name Men little know what secret mischiefs they heap upon themselves and their families who live in the open neglect of this duty saith God in Deut. 32. 23. I will heap up mischiefs upon their heads I will spend mine arrows upon them And who so likely to be the persons upon whom God will heap mischief as prayerless persons if you compare this of Deut. 32. 23. with Ier. 10. 22. Into what flames have God turned some mens houses in one night over their heads turning them and theirs into ashes before the morning which judgment might have been prevented had they performed this duty the night before O think upon this you prayerless souls for fear least God rush out upon you and tear you in pieces and there be found none to deliver you out of his hands CHAP. 36. Of the good land of Canaan which the people were to enter into after their forty years travels in the Wilderness THis land was by St. Paul called their rest Heb. 3. 11. This land was the end of all their sore travels and weary journyings and great temptations a land of delights a land full of fatness abounding with all manner of ease and plenty a land flowing with milk and honey where there was not any want of any good thing Deut. 8. 7 8 9. This doth St. Paul in Heb. 3 11. express as a type of that Gospel Kingdom of rest and peace which all the true Israelites shall certainly rest and Centre in at last as the Psalmist speaketh Psal 58. 11. So that men shall say Verily there is a reward for the righteous so my Brethren there is a Canaan more glorious then Israels was for believers to enter into of which Canaan of old was the type and as all things typical under the Law did fall short in glory of the substance of that thing which it typed forth so also will it be in this case The Canaan in the Anti-type will infinitely excel for glory and brightness the Canaan in the type These two Canaans typed out one another for these things or in these respects First For place Secondly For condition upon which the Subjects were to enter each place Thirdly For the priviledges of it First For the place it self where this Canaan shall be into which all the faithful shall enter which St. Paul calls the people of Gods rest or a rest for the people of God and that is in this world upon this earth for so was Canaan of old it was in this world upon this earth I do not say that there is no other Canaan of glory for the Saints to enter but do believe there is and my hope is towards it but I say that rest spoken by St. Paul in Heb. 3. 11. which he makes to agree to Canaan of old as the Anti-type of it must be a rest in this world upon this earth and not any where else And this will appear if we consider the conditions upon which each Canaan is promised or tendred that of old and this by the Apostle in Heb. 3. And that was upon a faithful following of the Lord believingly in