which set thee on worke will hasten thy deliverance CHAP. VI. 5. Ioseph a type of Christ 4. wayes I. IN regard of his person 1. Ioseph was the first borne of the beloved Rahel as Christ was the first borne of the freely beloved Mary 2. Best beloved of his father Genes 37. 3. figuring Christ who was declared the welbeloved in whom his Father delighted Matth. 3. 17. 3. Hee was very beautifull Gen. 39. 6. and his internall beauty was more then his externall Christ was more beautifull then the sonnes of men and making us beautifull in his beauty 4. Ioseph was endued with such a measure of wisedome and understanding as none was like him in whom Gods Spirit was For which cause hee was called Zaphnath-paaneah verse 45. that is an expounder of secrets figuring Christ in whom were treasures of wisedome and the Spirit beyond all measure who is therefore called the great Counseller and the Lambe onely worthy to open the booke who onely hath the key of David to open the secret mysteries of salvation 5. In Iacobs last Testament Ioseph is called a fruitfull bough whose branches runne upon the wall because out of him branched two tribes Ephraim and Manasseh therein hee was a type of Christ who is not a fruitfull bough onely but a root from whom all the tribes of God branch out and flourish And whereas those tribes are come to nothing Christ shall see his seed and prolong his dayes II. In his actions 1. Ioseph was sent by his father to visite his brethren in the wildernesse So was Christ sent to seeke his brethren wandring in the wildernesse he was sent to the lost sheepe of Israel 2. As at thirty yeares Ioseph was preferred to his Office by Pharaoh So at thirty yeares Christ entred his Office 3. As by Pharaoh a virgin was given Ioseph to wife verse 45 So in the Church as a pure Virgin given by the Father to Jesus Christ as his Spouse to sanctifie and save All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out 4. As Ioseph out of Pharaohs garners feeds all Egypt all his fathers house and the nations whence in Gen. 49. 24. he is called the feeder of Israel and a stone that is a rocke or refuge to his brethren So Jesus Christ is the feeder of Israel and of all the family of God in all Nations of the earth not with temporall food onely but with the Manna from heaven the Word and Sacraments and his owne flesh and blood the incorruptible and indeficient bread and water of life 5. As Ioseph in his lowest estate was both a Lord in the prison and a comforter of the prisoners assuring the Butler of his life and recovery of his place So Jesus Christ at his lowest abasement was Lord over death and the grave having command of them and his last breath on the Crosse all most comforted the poore thiefe promising him both life and glory 6. As Ioseph doth all the good he can for his brethren that had ill deserved it For 1. Hee teacheth them how to live together and commends brotherly love and concord fall not out by the way 2. Teacheth them how to speake to Pharaoh and what to demand 3. Goes to Pharaoh and speaks and obtaines for them whatsoever he would and placeth them in Goshen the far of the land till they come to Canaan So Jesus Christ above all lessons commended to us the new Commandement of love a badge of his disciples teacheth us how to pray and what in the Lords prayer himselfe intercedes for us and obtaineth all that good is and provides for us in earth till we come to Canaan III. In his sufferings and passions 1. The archers grieved him Gen 49. 23. that is not his Mistris onely and Master but his brethren also conspire against him although sent from his father in love and comes in love to see how they doe and to know their wants yet they scorn him behold yonder dreamer comes they consult to kill him let us kill him and see what will become of his dreames So Jesus Christ came among his owne sent from his Father in love pitying the wandrings and wants of men but the Jews scorne him for a deceiver plot to kill him conspire against his life 2. As his brethren sold him for twenty pieces stript him naked cast him into a pit sent him as a slave into Egypt where hee being indeed free became a servant So Jesus Christ in his infancy was sent into Egypt sold by the Jews for thirty pieces stript naked of his apparrell and in the forme of a servant cast into the pit of death and the grave whence they thought never to have heard more of him as Iosephs brethren did 3. As in this service Ioseph was tempted to whoredome by his wanton Mistris when they were alone and that often and dayly but by strength of grace stoutly resisted yea conquered her and himselfe So was Jesus Christ in the entrance of his Ministery strongly assailed by Satan to spirituall whoredome when he was alone in the wildernesse and that often set upon yet by the power of the Spirit overcame and conquered so as the evill one found nothing in him 4. As in this service notwithstanding his faithfulnesse and innocency Ioseph was falsely accused condemned cast into prison with the Butler and Baker So was Jesus Christ notwithstanding all his innocency falsely accused they lay things to his charge he never knew as falsely condemned bound yea fastened to the Crosse betweene the thieves and cast into the grave as into a prison till the time of his deliverance came that he was taken out from prison and judgement as Isai. 53. 8. IV. In his advancement and preferment For 1. As Ioseph was separate from his brethren Gen. 49. 26. that is advanced by God to honour above them all So Christ was separate and advanced in glory above men and Angels Heb. 1. 4. hath obtained a farre more excellent name then the Angels 2. Though Ioseph was shot at by the archers yet his arme was strengthened the bonds and fetters were loosed and he not onely brought out of prison but advanced to bee Lord over the whole land and next unto Pharaoh having all administration delivered unto him So Jesus Christ although he was a But or signe of contradiction yet his arme was strengthened to raise himselfe out of the grave to loose all chaines of sin to loose all sorrowes of death and being risâ—n againe was advanced and exalted above all creatures all power given him in heaven and earth his throne set next unto his Fathers the Lord of his Church and ruler of the whole earth to him is committed the governement and his bounds are the utmost hills Psalm 2. yea the whole Church in heaven and earth is his to whom all power belongs 3. As Pharaoh every way
beasts for sacrifice to offer to the Lord. Plainly signifying that Christ was to bee an Israelite and within the fold of Gods owne people for he was to be of the seed of Abraham and salvation was of the Jewes Ioh. 4. 22. Yea and the Lords owne Law requires that the King should bee taken from among his brethren Deut. 17. 15 and much more the King of the Church being King of all Kings Sect. VII II. Iesus Christ was as evidently expressed in the preparation of the Paschall Lamb wherin the Iews were tyed to sixe observations I. Observation The Lambe must be severed from the flocke ver 6 to signify Iesus Christ seperated by God the Father to the office of Mediator and that two waies 1. by Gods eternall decree hee was a chosen servant of God to the most excellent service in heaven and earth Isa. 42. 1 My elect servant And thus is called a lambe seperated from before the foundation of the world 1. Pet. 1. 20. 2. In due time actually seperated from all the rest of the flocke by 1. a supernaturall conception by the holy Ghost whereby he became an high Priest seperated from sinners all the rest of mankinde remaining sinners 2. by a miraculous birth of a Virgin being the seed of the woman 3. by an unconceivable union of the two natures divine and humane in one person by which he became our Immanuell God with us 4. by a solemne and heavenly inauguration into his office at the brinke of â—ordaine by which he was openly proclaimed the chiefe Doctor and Prophet of his Church Thus it became this lambe of God to be actually seperated from all the rest of the flock because for all the rest he was to pay a greater ransome and price then any other that could be found amongst all mankinde II. Observation The lambe thus seperated must be reserved and kept alive foure daies even from the tenth day of the first month till the fourteenth day of the same month ver 6 Wherein was signified the very particles of time of Christs both Ministery and passion 1. for his Ministery Christ must not bee sacrificed presently so soone as he is borne nor so soone as he is baptised and seperated but after that seperation must live about foure yeares to preach the kingdome of God and then be offered up that his death might not be as a seale to a blancke but might confirme all that holy doctrine delivered by his owne mouth and Ministery to the world 2. For his passion The time of it depended not on the will of man for his enemies sought many a time before to slay him as Herod in his infancy Mat. 2. 16. the Jewes tooke up stones to stone him Ioh. 8. 59 the Nazarites would breake his necke from an hill Luk. 4. 29. And many other attempts were made against his life but his time was not then come the lambe must be reserved foure daies And this very moment of time was determined and registred in Gods most certaine and unchangeable computation Act 2. 23. being delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God Whose wisdome so ordered that 1. as the lambe was taken in the tenth day of the first month so Christ came into Ierusalem about the tenth day of the same month to suffer as appeares Ioh. 12. For upon the sixth day before his passion he came to Bethany ver 1. and the next day he went to Ierusalem which was the fifth day before his passion ver 12. 2. as the lambe must be slaine the fourteenth day of the first month which answereth to our March and at the full of the Moone So that no man might be deceived in our Paschall lambe he must be sacrificed at the Passeover the same day that the lambe must be slaine In the full Moone to note the fulnesse of time now come which was so long before appointed and in such a month as when light prevailes against darkenesse and every thing revives and springs to signifie that Christ by his suffering chaseth away our darkenesse and death and brings in light and life and a blessed spring of grace and glory III. Observation The Lambe must be slaine ver 6 signifying that Jesus Christ being as that Lambe of a yeare old in his vigour and strength who by reason of his age and strength might have lived longer must not onely dye but by a violent death and that by Israell Noting 1. that Christ must be put to death by the Jews 2. that the benefit and merit of his death redounds to his Church onely The Redeemer must come unto Zion Isa. 59. 20. Object How was hee then a lambe slaine from the beginning of the World before the Iewes were in beeing Sol. Two waies 1. in regard of Gods decree whereof a promulgation was made in promises and types and an acceptation as if it had beene already done 2. in regard of man He was slaine onely one time as to the act but in all times as to the fruit because the perpetuall power and efficacy of Christs sacrifice was begunne with the world and extended to all beleevers of all ages who onely diversly apprehend it IV. Observ. The lamb must be slain between two evenings 1. to put them in remembrance of their deliverance in Aegypt which was in the evening 2. to note that our Paschall lambe should be slaine towards the evening of the world that is in the last times Heb. 9. 26. 3. that Christs sacrifice was to succeed in the same time of their evening sacrifices which were daily to be offered Exod. 29. 41. and so to put end to them Dan. 12. 4. to note the very houre as well as the day of Christs suffering on the Crosse. To understand which we must know that the Jewes distinguished their artificiall day into foure parts From sixe to nine from nine to twelve from twelve to three from three to sixe This last part was counted the evening of the day and the next three houres the evening of the night In this fourth part of the day used the Paschall lamb to be slaine and the rest of and all their heaviest burthens 3. All that sprinkling of blood in their houses so long as they despise the blood of Jesus Christ shall never get them protection from the revenging Angel We must pray that God would please at length to remove their vaile from their hearts that they may submit themselves to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 3 that so all Israel may bee saved by acknowledging the deliverer out of Zion of whom was prophecied Isai. 59. 20 That he shall turne away the ungodlinesse from Iacob Sect. III. III. The Paschall lamb directly aimed at Christ our true Passeover in respect of the blood and actions about it which were three 1. The blood of the lamb must be saved in a basen verse 22. It must not bee shed upon the ground to
supply enough of all grace without labour and gathering when Christ shall be all in all to all Israel gathered unto him Sect. II. Now wee are to consider this miraculous food both in the Jews gathering of it as also in their use of it I. In their gathering are three things the place the time the measure 1. The place where It was about the campe and tents of the Jews in the wildernesse signifying that Christ the heavenly Manna is given to us in this our wildernesse and while we are in this world wee must procure him to our selves or never And farther that his grace is rained downe in the Church and no where else is saving grace ordinarily to bee found Onely the Israel of God enjoy Christ in the meanes his abode is among the tents of shepherds 2. The time of gathering is 1. The weeke day the sixe dayes not the Sabbath for it came not on the Sabbath but as knowing and distinguishing times it would as feed them so teach them namely to rest on the Sabbath day as it did and signified that in that eternall Sabbath wee shall enjoy Manna without meanes and shall eate our fill of that hidden Manna laid up and prepared for the Saints Revel 2. 17. 2. Every day in the weeke to signifie that we must daily feed on Christ and his grace and that wee must daily renew the care of the salvation and sustenance of our soules 3. Every morning of every day early must they gather it the first thing they did To signifie that wee must embrace Christ speedily while the meanes last and offer themselves Christ is worth our first care and his commandement is first to seeke the kingdome of God The foolish virgins sought Oile and Manna too late 3. The measure 1. Every man hath a measure out of the common heape signifying that Christ is the same treasury to poore and rich small and great and every beleever and Israelite hath his portion and measure measured out unto him for he must live by his owne faith and a severed measure of knowledge and sanctification from others 2. Every man hath the same measure There was one measure for all a Gomer for every person So every Christian hath his Gomer and the same measure For although there is difference in the graces of sanctification some being in the higher formes of knowledge some in lower some of little faith some of great faith some whose zeale is as a smoaking flaxe in some a bright flame yet justification by Christ is equall to all and doth not admit a more or a lesse The youngling in grace is as truely and fully justified as the ancient beleever though not so fully sanctified 3. Every man hath a full Gomer a full measure to signifie that in Christ is no want but wee are compleat in him Col. 2. 10. And as the gathering Israelite though he gathered lesse then some other had his Gomer full so hee that hath the weakest grace and weakest faith if true and sound shall attaine the same salvation which the stronger beleever attaines For the same precious faith attaines the same common salvation II. Wee must consider this Manna in the Jews use of it 1. In respect of the dressing It must be ground and baked before it could bee fit food for the Israelites signifying that Jesus Christ must first be ground and broken upon the Crosse and pounded with passion before hee could become a â—it food and Saviour of his Church Every graine of Manna must be ground and broken so must Christ bee broken and bruised in the wine presse of Gods wrath Every graine of Manna must bee baked in the Oven so must Christ bee parched and baked yea and dried up in the Oven of his Fathers displeasure And this was extraordinary and above nature in it that one heate namely of the Sunne melted it another heate namely of fire baked it very strange but significative of the same in Christ. The heat of his love to mankind melted him but the heat of his Fathers wrath as hot as fire baked him and fitted him for our spirituall food 2. The Manna being dressed must be eaten that is applied to their substance and digested for their nourishment signifying Jesus Christ who although like the Manna he must be gathered in common and must bee received whole as Manna must bee gathered whole yet he must be eaten in severall that is specially applied to every beleever for his food and strength by which application hee becomes food in our hunger and physicke in our weakâ—â—esse as the Manna was to them and other had they none 3. They must use it all and reserve none till the morning for if they did it putrified and wormes grew in it vers 19. 20 To signifie that not the profession of Christ profits any thing without faithfull applying of him Yea and as Manna reserved putrified so Christ becomes a scandall and a rocke of offence to the unbeleeving of the world that content themselves to heareof Christ and have the word among them but apply it not to their hearts and lives The sweetest Manna becomes a rottennesse and a favour of death to carnall professours Quest. But why did the Lord cause the Manna daily to putrifie if kept Answ. 1. He will have them daily depend upon his hands and provision that was no time nor place to shift covetously for themselves neither was there any need seeing every day supplied them with a new harvest 2. To signifie to them that man lived not by bread onely but by every word of God How could they thinke that such corruptible food could preserve them that it selfe could not be preserved above a few houres but by Gods institution 3. That they might acknowledge God a free and extraordinary worker in all his administration with them For even this Manna which kept an houre beyond a day suddenly rotted if God command to keep it two dayes every weeke for his worship sake it shall bee miraculously preserved sweet and savoury Yea if for a monument of his mercy he shall command to lay a sample of it in the Arke it shall last and bee kept in the Holy of holies many ages yea many hundreds of yeares sweet and savoury as at first And all this not without signification that although Jesus Christ was in his flesh and humane nature subject to sorrow death and passion yet even in that humanity now glorified he is set in the Holy of holies as the Manna in the golden pot before the Lord for ever Exod. 16. 33. and abides for ever in the heavens for all eternity not subject to corruption any more as that golden pot of Manna was Sect. III. II. Now let us see how Christ is infinitely preferred before this type or figure in sixe severall advancements 1. That Manna had no life in it selfe but this hath Ioh. 5. 26. As the Father hath life in himselfe so hath he
night but this carefull eye of God shall watch to supply thee As in three instances 1. The godly passing through this wildernesse of this world although they be in Covenant with God as Israel was yet often are cast into the night of sinne and in this night they often nod and slip into a sounder sleepe of sinne sometimes then they thinke off but then this eye watcheth them that they sleepe not in death and so fall into extreame ruine For they being written on the palme of the Lords hand being as a signet upon his finger as a jewell on his heart and which is neerer as the apple of his eye he watcheth a season to waken them to raise them and erect them in faith to watchfulnesse and salvation 2. Many times the godly fall into the night of affliction and are cast into the darke of many deadly dangers which they should never by themselves be wound out off Now while they are thus surprised with a dead and dangerous sleep the Lord watcheth to prepare some meanes of evasion which they never dreame off How did the Lord watch over Jonah while he slept under hatches not dreaming of so present a danger Nay when he seemes dead and buried in the Whales belly as in a grave of silence how miraculously did the Lord watch to bring him to dry land as sound and safe as if he had beene kept in a strong castle How did the Lord watch Mordecai while he slept Hest. 6. 1. he slept but the King shall not sleepe till he have advanced Mordecai How did he watch over Peter Act. 12. 7. whilst he slept so fast in the night as scarce an Angell could waken him and brought him through the sleepie watch Our experience can tell us every morning how the Lord keepes our houses our selves without feare against robbers fires dangers in the night he makes us sleepe in safety and while we are helplesse naked sencelesse becomes a wall of protection round about us 3. In the night of death he gives not over his watch but watcheth the very bones of the Saints that in the morning of the resurrection they may mory fully enjoy Christ the true Manna and attaine a full measure and gomer and a perfect satiety and fulnesse of this sweet bread of life Psa. 17. 15. David calls it a satisfying with Gods Image when he shall awake Sect. V. III. See in this gift Gods bountifulnesse and freenesse to his Church in three things 1. He offers Israel Mannah without the asking seeking or buying it costs them nothing but gathering even so he offers us salvation by Jesus Christ while wee aske not after him He is found of them that seeke him not The first Adam runs away from Gods presence the second Adam runnes after him to seeke and recall him out of his bushes Now what desert or merit could there bee in the first Adam to be followed with grace in his flying from it And if there be none in him how come wee his posterity to more possibility to merit any thing but death more then he No here is no merit no buying of Mannah but onely a faithfull and thankfull acceptance of it 2. He raines it downe in abundance his hand is not short he opened the windowes of heaven and rained downe manna to eate Psal. 78. 24. For 1. It is for the honour of God to be bountifull and rich in mercies and to powre down his blessings upon his people 2. Israel needed daily abundance and store of mannah which need he is carefull to supply But oh what great goodnesse hath God stored for them that love him In his Sonne Jesus Christ he hath rayned downe bread of life the greatest arme and streame that ever flowed from that Ocean A mercy covering all the tents of beleevers A mercy that lets the true Mannah fall enough for a whole world of beleevers not on one Nation of Israel onely but on all the Nations of the world For he did not so then to any other Nation but now to all Nay in this mannah is a mercy not only covering the earth but a mountaine of mercy reaching to heaven 3. His hand is not weary but every morning le ts fall enough to feed and fill so many hundred thousands of mouths and bellies so the grace of God in Christ is an unweariable grace At he gave more mannah then all the Israelites were able to gather so he is more infinitely able to give then all beleevers are able to receive Hence wee may with David stirre up our selves to blesse the Lord that lodeth us with blessings daily IV. The wisdome of God in administring his mercy to his Church 1. In that he gives them Manna from heaven not from earth they cannot now expect an annuall harvest of corne from the earth but must expect every day an heavenly showre to bee fed by because the Lord will not have them fixe their eyes and sēces on earth but know they were now to live of Gods allowance and for their whole meanes depend on his hand Let it teach us Christians to lift up our eyes and sences from earth and earthly desires and affect that manna which is from heaven every day desire to be fed with some heavenly shower for the nourishment of the soule and preserving the life of grace in it Let it teach us to acknowledge the hand of our heavenly father in the gathering of the mannah and good things for our temporall life Hee is the father of lights from whom descendeth every good and perfect gift The Israelite must looke to heaven for every morsell of bread that hee puts in his mouth and shall the Christian as the swine eate up the mast and never looke up to the tree whence it falls II. In that hee gives them manna every day Hee might have given them an harvest of it once a yeere or hee might have rained it once a month but hee gives it daily To shew 1. that hee had undertaken for their daily maintenance whose continuall supplyes challenged the continuall dependance upon his providence 2. that they must bee content with daily bread 3. that it should bee a part of their calling and exercise in the wildernesse where other temporall businesse had they none Let us hence learn 1. to acknowledge Gods wisdome if he give us earthly manna and meanes but from hand to mouth he knows to supply it with true manna He allowes us to pray but for daily bread and if we have food and rayment we must be content 1 Tim. 6. 8. 2. to confine our cares within the day not so solicitous to lay up for many yeeres as the rich glutton Care not for to morrow that is inordinatly distrustfully 3. to take notice of our daily need of the true mannah whereof seeing God hath given us daily meanes wee must not erosse Gods wisdome to thinke the reading of Gods word once in a yeare or month or weeke