thy pleasures And for all his Kingdom-glory here below in all the plenty and fatness of it yet upon the account of these tastes which he had had of the far exceeding fatness and richness and sweetness he found in the Pomgranate truths of the house of God he doth protest in the Psal 84. 10. That one day in the Courts of the Lord were better then a thousand and that he had rather be a Door-keeper in the house of God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness There was likewise a glorious girdle made for the Priest which was wrought with Purple Blue and Scarlet fine twined Linen this the Priest was to wear about his loins Exod. 39. 5. with Exod. 29. 5. This girdle of the High Priest doth hold forth these things to our consideration the girding up of the loins doth import these things to us 1. It denotes the resolution of the will to action Jer. 1. 17. Thou therefore gird up thy loins and arise and speak unto them all that I command thee be not dismayed at their faces least I confound thee before them 2. Sometimes it denotes the strength which God gives to his servants by which means they are enabled to perform that work he imploys them about Psal 18. 39. For thou girdest me with strength unto the battel thou subduest under me those that rose up against me 3. Sometimes it s put down in Scripture to denote the sincerity and faithfulness of the mind in the work a man sets about Eph. 6. 14. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth Now all these considerations about the girding of the loins do all agree unto and meet together in the Golden girdle of our Gospel High Priest But first let me shew you that Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest is set forth to you as the Anti type of the legal High Priest with respect to the garments which the High Priest was to wear and amongst which this of the Golden girdle is not omitted in Dan. 10. 5. 6. Then I lifted up mine eyes and looked and behold a certain man clothed in linen whose loins were girded about with a Golden girdle his body also was like the Beryl and his face as the appearance of lightning his eyes as lamps of fire and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished Brass and the voice of his words like unto the voice of a multude So Rev 1. 13. And in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks one like unto the Son of man clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a Golden girdle Now both Daniel and John had their Revelation from Jesus Christ and they both speak of him as the person who with his own hands gave it out to them And that it was he appears by the garb and dress in which they set him forth to you he was clothed in linen saith Daniel and clothed with a garment down to the foot saith Iohn which was as the High Priest did use to wear of which Christ was the Anti-type Now it can be none but Christ can be intended here by these two Prophets and that it was Christ it farther appears by Iohn who gives him the Title of the Son of man which Title was proper to Jesus Christ Besides both Daniel and Iohn tells you that the same person w ch gave out the prophesie to them which was clothed in linen and a garment down to the foot he was girt about the loins with a golden girdle Thus you see that Christ is set forth to you as a High Priest with respect to the garments which the High Priest did wear of which the girdle as you see was a part 2. I am to shew you that all the former considerations about the girding about of the Priests loins did all meet together in the Golden girdle of our Gospel High Priest First of all it denotes the resolution which was in Christ to the work of mans Salvation and Redemption Oh nothing could hinder the Lord Jesus from undertaking the thing although sin Satan the Curse of the Law the wrath of God Grave Death and Hell stood in the way yet he goes through all and makes his way thorow the highest difficulties that he might accomplish the thing he adventures soul and body glory happiness and all that was near and dear to him in order to the effecting it Luke 12. 50. I have a Baptism to be baptized with and oh how am I straitned untill it be accomplished which Baptism was not the Baptism with Water for in that sense he was baptized before Math. 3. 16. But it was the Baptism of his sufferings which he had so much a desire to finish and a resolution to go through Secondly He hath as great a resolution to bring forth sanctifying grace in the Saints by his Spirit as he had to bring forth justifying grace by his Death Zack 3. 4. And he answered and said unto those that stood before him take away the filthy garments from him and unto him he said behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass away from thee and I will cloth thee with change of garments This was spoken by Christ concerning his Church ver 1 2. But mark the resolution of Christ to the procuring of sanctifying garments which is that inward grace and holiness he fills them with which he sees his people stands in need of saith Christ I will do it It must and shall be so I am resolved as I have procured justifying grace for them so they shall be made holy I will give them sanctifying grace nothing shall cross my will in this matter Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. Then will I sprinkle you with clean water and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you a new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Mark the resolution of Christ to the sanctifying of his people he will do it take notice of the many Repetitions of his will there are in this place Thirdly So for the saying of his Church out of danger when begirt about with trouble Christ is resolved upon the business though sometimes the Devil and wicked men may think to make their Market upon the Saints that the gates of Hell shall never prevail against his Church and people saith Christ Psal 12. 5. For the oppression of the poor and for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith Christ and I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Mark how much the will and resolution of Christ lieth in this work of saving and delivering his Church out of the hands of men and Devils Use 5. O then how should this comfort and encourage
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
the soul to question his condition many times saying surely if I did belong to God why is it thus with me O if I had true grace my corruptions could never be so strong in me as they are O soul remember thou art in thy Wildernesse condition and that affords great enemies and tall Anakins and cursing Balaams which will very often afright thee with their raging blasphemy How often doth the soul find within him not only an opposing warring fighting Og within him but also a cursing dreadful blasphemous Balaam as it were daily cursing the holy seed of God within the soul which often times makes the soul to despair of ever getting home to his â—anaan of rest and peace Thus it was with David Psal 39. 4. All my iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me Psal 65 3. Iniquities prevail against me Thus it was with St. Paul how sensible was he of the wildernesse-assaulting Og and the Amalekites like corruption which very often rose up against him in his travelling through his spiritual wildernesse which made him to cry out in Rom. 7. 24. O wretchedman that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Which leads me to the next particular of the souls condition while on this side his Canaan of everlasting rest and true peace which is this The Wilderness of old was a place of discouragements for there the false spies brought up that discouraging report about the good Land and so weakened the hope and confidence of the people which put them upon chusing a captain to go back again to Egypt How much of this kinde of experience do poor souls meet in their way to their spiritual and eternal Canaan what sad discouraging reports doth the Devil and his agents bring up upon the good Land of Canaan to this very day and hour First The Devil how often doth he tell the soul that he were as good go back again from the good wayes of God as to go on any further in them for all the souls duties shall be as rewardless as they are worthless and that God taketh no notice of him and as for his sins they are too great for God to pardon them and therefore let the soul never think saith Satan to get out of my kingdom and power of darkness for doest thou believe saith the Devil that if God could pardon thy sinnes that ever he would look on such a worthless vile sinful poluted wretch as thou art who doest all things in hopocrisie of heart no no do not deceive thy self thou shalt finde it otherwise and therefore thou wert as good go back again to thy old conversation and live as thou didst before Besides saith Satan doest thou ever think to enter so strait a gate as leadeth to heaven doest thou not know that the Anakims both great and tall are in the way doest thou not know that if thou goest this way any farther thou wilt lose the favour of all thy friends and relations doest not thou see what a gazing stock thou wilt make thy self to all thy neighbours and acquaintance round about thee dost not thou see the taunts flouts scoffs and jeers which they will fling daily after thee besides thou art now pretty well to live in the world and hast things full and whole about thee but by those fines and sequestrations which the world will lay upon thee this will quickly be gone from thee and thou and thine forced to perish in a miserable condition Moreover doest thou not see before thine eyes how some are whipt others imprisoned and at last hanged up by the neck assure thy self this will be thy portion if thou goest any farther this way Come come sayes the Devil I will shew you a better way be advised by me come turn back again save your self and what you have you do but dream of building Tabernacles in the air assure your self by going the way you are a going you do but wade through impossibilities and all shall fail you in the end therefore get thee back again to the Land of Egypt the old carnal condition from whence thou hast been travelling a while and fed upon onyons leeks the garlick and cucumbers which thou hast been a planting for many years and eat the fat of thy flesh pots and take thy pleasure here for there is nothing better under the Sun then that a man should rejoyce in his own works for that is his portion for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him Thus the poor soul hangs in doubt and is oftentimes put to a stand not knowing what to do nor which hand to take whether it be best to go back or forth in the wayes of God because of his discouragements Secondly Satan will not leave the soul thus but labours to set before the eyes of the soul the apostasie of back-sliding professours who have both their principles and practises in the wayes of God from whose conversation he labours to argue the soul into the same practice of leaving the good wayes of God and tells the soul that in so doing or in going back to Egypt he doth no more then others have done before his face persons of greater parts and gifts then ever he yet had and surely such knew well enough what they did and in doing what they have done they have testified themselves to be persons that were acted by a wise prudent spirit such who make provision for their families according to Gods holy ordinance Thirdly If Satan the old Serpent cannot prevail with these secret whisperings upon the soul then he will send in his agents to deal farther with the soul as Father Mother Husband Wife Children and servants too which cry out as Peter did once to Christ Good master save your self And if all these cannot discourage the soul then will Satan adde to all the rest one or two apostatizing professours who with the rest hang all together about the soul crying out Sir what mean you to do what have you a minde to ruine your self and all your family do not you see that the Law of the Nation will not endure your Religion nor those wayes of Worship which you set up and walk in Have not you had warning enough in others who have lost all they had and themselves in prison to desist your work and retreat your ground and come back again Then in comes the prudent apostate not that he is such but he and such as he is thinks themselves so and he undertakes to give the soul arguments from Scripture to save himself his Wife and Children and all his family by telling him that he ought to be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake and that if he be commanded either to do or not to do which conscience at any time cannot let down yet however he may satisfie himself with this consideration that its the Magistrates sin in commanding the thing
by it we might hold God to his promise or bargain that so heaven might be good to believers in law for you know in Law a penny given upon bargain or sale as an earnest of that bargain gives strength to the bargain as that the party cannot start from it but in Law is tied by it to make good the same therefore in 2 Coâ— 1 22. the Holy Spirit of God is called the earnest sent down into our hearts yet notwithstanding as Israel could not believe they should come to the good land although God sent them the grapes of the Countrey as the assuring earnest of it so is it likewise with the Lords people in this life notwithstanding they receive from God those many secret witnessings of the Spirit and many blessed refreshings which have been sealed home upon the heart by the blessed Spirit of God Yet how hard a matter doth the soul finde it to bear up with God in a way of believing how doth the Devil labour daily to make the soul to call in question his greatest enjoyments of the Spirit of God thus it was with the good man in the Psalms Psalm 73. 25. My flesh and my heart faileth me so Paul though he could say sometimes he was full of the blessings of the Gospel of God and that he had been caught up into the third heavens where his enjoyments of the Spirit were so large as that he hardly knew whether he were in the body or no yet at another time under the sentence of death in his own esteem even as deep as hell 1 Cor. 2 9. Therefore soul if it be so with thee remember that its the condition which is proper to the Wilderness state in which thou art and though thou canst not alwayes believe Yet God abideth faithful and cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. And that the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth who are his ver 19. And for those men and women which do not experience these ebbings and flowings inwardly of the Holy Spirit of Faith and Comfort upon their souls but boast of the constant sound abiding comfort which they have of heaven and of the love of God in the fence of it upon their souls as some have done in my hearing let them profess what they will yet to me the soudness of their conditions is highly to be questioned I do except some strict close walking humble souls CHAP. 14. I come now to speak of those Types which were handed out to the Jews in the time of their being in the Wilderness THe first was the cloud which alwayes led them up and down in the Wilderness Exod. 40. 3 4. with 36 37 38. verses Now this Cloud was undoubtedly a Type of Jesus Christ in these two respects First In that the cloud guided the people from place to place up and down in the Wilderness so the Lord Jesus Christ he it is that leadeth the Church up and down in the present Wilderness of this World 1 Cor. 10 2. And as the Jews were not to move any way until the Cloud went before them so it should teach all Christians not to move any way in what condition soever they be in until they can say the Lord Jesus Christ their spiritual Cloud goes before them and leads their way for them that soul loseth the honey of the condition he is in that wanted patience to tarry for Christs leadings as in the case of King Saul 1 Sam. 13. 9 10 11. Therefore the advice and councel of the Lord to all his people is this Isa 52. 12. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight for the Lord will go before you and the God of Israâ—l will be your reward so Isa 28. 16. And he that believeth shall not make haste Secondly The Cloud was a Figure or Type of Christ for its protecting and sheltering use which it afforded the Church in the Wilderness of old by which means they were hid from danger so is Jesus Christ such a cloud of protection to his Church and people in their wilderness condition in this life as that though Satan the world and the flesh set upon the Church with a purpose to overthrow and devour them at once yet they cannot overcome them Hence it is that David calls Christ a defence and a refuge to his people saith David Psalm 58. 16. I will sing of thy power yea I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning for thou hast been my defence and refuge in time of trouble so Psalm 94. 22. But the Lord is my defence my God is the rock of my refuge so saith the Church in Isa 12. 2 Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song he is also become my salvation Therefore doth Paul make it to appear that the Cloud in the Wilderness was a Type of Christs great care of and protection over his Church 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. For we were all Baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink of the same spiritual rock that followed them which Rock was â—hriist Thus you see not I onely but the Apostle also applies the Wilderness Cloud to Jesus Christ which must hold out and intend the great safety which Christ doth daily administer to his Church as the Saviour of it Use 1. Then this should teach thee soul when ever thou art assaulted by temptation arising either from the Devil the World or thine own corrupt heart then to get in under this Could and there to shelter thy self here wilt thou be covered in the day of battle and thou needest not fear what men or Devils can do against thee Psalm 26. 3. 5. Though an host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though war should arise against me yet in this will be confident for in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me upon a rock Thus you see how confident David was and thought himself to be under this covering and cloud of defence O soul so will it be with thee if thou fliest to the Lord Jesus Christ and art careful to make him thy covering and protecting hiding cloud thou shalt then be far from trouble no evil shall come nigh thy tabernacles Job 11. 17. 18 19. Thine age shall be clearer then the noon day thou shalt shine forth thou shalt be as the morning thou shalt be secure because there is hope yea thou shalt dig about thee and thou shalt take thy rest in safety also thou shalt lie down and none shall make thee afraid yea many shall make suit unto thee But if on the other hand thou shalt neglect to get under the spiritual cloud and covering what ever covering else thou shalt hide thy self under it will
I want strength to perform the least service or duty O Law saith the soul what no mercy no pity consider my weaknes how unable I am in my self to perform the least duty as I ought O Law I pray thee accept of what I can do no saith the Law I take no notice of what thou art not able to do but what thou art bound to do Luke 17. 10. I require no more then is my due if you cannot give it me look you unto that for my part I will have my full tale of perfect and constant obedience here in this life or you shall give me satisfaction in hell to all eternity Do not tell me you want strength or ability to perform go get you that where you can look you out the straw your selves I shall give you none but let not me misse of my tale of brick Gal. 2 10. with Ezek. 18. 24. Thus you see how parallel the language of the old covenant runs with the voice of the Egyptian task-masters to the Israelites under them Besides in Exod. 14. we finde thâ—t Pharaohs task-masters did beat and abuse the Israelites very much in their work This very well suits with the old covenant of works O what lashes and blows does it give those that live under it First In the conscience within O what thunder claps have some men had within them from the Law O how hath it made some men to roar and to cry out at midnight upon their beds for their breach of it How dreadfully did it lash the conscience of Cain and how did it dog Judas until it dogged his neck into a halter therefore doth the Scripture pitty those that are under it crying out a wounded conscience who can bear those that have been under the lash of the Lâ—w in the conscience can say never was poor man in Turkey in the like misery they would have exchanged conditions with the veriest slave in all the world night and day terrified with dreadful sounds of the wrath of God and the judgement day to come shewing the soul his portion in everlasting burnings where he shall seek for death but death shall be far from him Although the soul runneth to his duties and doth what he can to pacifie the Law but alas all to no purpose for the Law quarrels with him about every duty so that here is the Dilemma the Law hath all his in they shall suffer one way or other if they do not live holy and strict in their lives then he comes upon them with his curses and plagues If they do live holy and as unblameable as they can yet the Law curseth them that way because it is an obedience full of spots and defilements Luke 17. 10. Secondly The Law lasheth men externally as well as internally in the conscience O what plagues and punishments upon body estate and relations hath it brought home on some men for their disobeying of it You may see a whole file of curses plagues punishments judgments and afflictious hang up upon the bar of the Law against its offenders Deut. 28. from ver 15. to 38. Lastly The officers of Egypt would not hear the bitter cryes of the poor Jews under their burthens ver 16 17. how well doth this agree with the old covenant of works what little mercy doth that shew any that are under it how little is it affected with their cries and tears could men cry to it for mercy as loud as ever heaven thundered it would be to no purpose could men weep so much blood out of their eyes as there is water in the Sea the Law would not take any notice of it Ezek. 18. 24. This Esau tried Heb. 12. 16 17. For after he had sold his birth-right he found no repentance although he sought it carefully with tears Alas friends the Law knows no repentance repentance is a fruit of the new covenant of grace not of the old Thus you see both how the Land of Egypt with its task-masters together with their carriages towards the Israelites doth agree as the type with the state of nature in which carnel men are in together with the old covenant and his carriage toward those that live under him CHAP. 3. I next come to speak of the eating of the Lamb together with the circumstances belonging thereunto which agreeth very well with the Ante-type as we shall shew you in the next place IN which there are these three things to be considered First The occasion of the Lamb. Secondly The manner of eating it Thirdly The benefits the people had by eating the Lamb. First The occasion of the Lamb which was to save the people from that generall judgement which was to passe over the whole Land of Egypt This shews the exceeding love and mercy of God to the whole world who by Adams Garden transgression and their own actual sins all are lyable to the destroying Angel of Gods Justice which will certainly pass over the whole earth with a flaming sword of God vengeance to execute it on offenders Rom. 1. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who with-hold the truth in unrighteousness Heb. 10. 36. For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversary so Jude 14. 15. The Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him 2 Thes 1. 7. 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flames of fire rendring vengeance on those that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Thus you see the whole world lyeth open to the destroying Angel of the justice of God which will pour it self forth to the scorching of the earthly minded with the most dreadfullest of fires 2 Pet. 3. 10. Now that men might escape this dreadful storm which the heavens look black with over the heads of sinners God in mercy hath provided poor sinners which are in their Egyptian state of sin and uncleanness I say he in mercy hath provided them a Lamb to eat which Lamb is his Son Jesus Christ upon eating of which they really escape the hands of the Justice of God John 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his onely begoteen Son that whosoever believeth in him should have everlasting life and not perish which Sonne of God is else-where called the Lamb of God John 1. 36. the which whosoever takes and receiveth and eateth in as their food by believing shall live by him and so be free from the destroying Angel John 6. 54. Secondly As to the manner of eating the Lamb we may note
way is in the sea and thy path in the great waters and thy foot-steps are not known thou leadest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron CHAP. 6. The Israelites passing into the Red Sea a Type of Christ I Now come to the second Type which was Gods leading the Israelites through the red Sea Exod. 14. which was done just after their eating of the Lamb and coming forth of Egypt In the which are these things to be noted 1. The peoples great distress ver 10. 11. 2. The cause of their distress which was Pharaohs Army marching behinde them with an intent to destroy them verse 10 3. We may take notice of their Leaders which was the Angel and Moses Exod. 14. 19. with 21. Which Angel without doubt was Christ for as Moses guided the people so did the Angel guide Moses 4. Moses stretched out his hand and the waters were divided ver 21. 5. The people go through the waters and by that means were delivered ver 22. 6. The same waters which were waters of salvation to the Israelites became waters of destruction to the Egyptians ver 27. 28. But first we finde the children of Israel greatly distressed this answers to the condition that the soul is in under the conviction of sin full of trouble and despairing thoughts about his condition how often is the heart overwhelmed and drowned in horrour not knowing what to do nor where to go to find any comfort what secret gnawings and pangs of inward travel are there roving to and fro in the soul of one under the conviction for sin night and day it banisheth all comfort from him all his best of outward comforts are imbittered to him no comfort in wife in children in friends estate or treasure he cannot finde any place to rest the sole of his foot upon with ease every moment looking out for the executioner to overtake him if abroad he is afraid the heavens will fall upon him he dreadeth every tree he passeth by every wall he goes along by he leapeth off it fearing it will fall upon him if at home then he dreads every hole in his house expecting a devil in every corner of his house some of which distress you may see upon the hearts of the converted Jews Acts 2. 37. Which made them cry out to the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do Likewise you may see it hot upon the Jaylors heart Acts 16. 29 30. Who came forth trembling to the Apostles crying out Sirs what shall I do to be saved David was acquainted very much with this kinde of trouble Psalm 38. 2 3 4 5 6. For thine arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me full sore there is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin for mine iniquities are gone over my head as a heavy burthen they are too heavy for me my wounds stinck and are corrupt because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundness in my flesh Likewise you may read Acts 9. 6. that Paul had his part in this distress Paul trembled under it and being astonished cried out Lord what wilt thou have me to do I must acknowledge this work for the measure of it is not in all alike for it oftentimes falleth out in this thing much according to a persons rate of sinning before his conversion but for the kinde of this work if men and women cannot speak something of it in some measure it is little sign that there hath been a work wrought in truth on that soul you may see when the Scripture points you to the most clearest Gospel work of conversion that we read of in the whole Book of God it points it out by the great distresse that first it bringeth on the mindes of men and women Zech. 12. 10 11 12 13 14 15. 2. The cause of the Israelites distresse it arised from the Egyptians marching behinde them with full purpose to ruine and destroy them Exod. 14 10. The ante-type of this Type sheweth the cause of the souls abovesaid distresse which is the letting in of the souls guilt of sin upon him which doth like a huge army pursue the soul day and night and like so many devouring Lions with open mouths standing ready to devour the soul which makes the soul as the Jews did oftentimes to cry out for a grave to bury his distressed body in judging death to be preferred before lâ—fe and the way to end these endlesse miseries is to lay violent hands on life but that proves but a leaping out of the frying-pan into the fire there is no trouble in the world like to this trouble a man had better stand in the field against all the Armies and Cannons in the world then to stand to behold a guilty conscience O the dreadful shreeks and doleful sounds which it makes in the breast of a man when awakened take an instance or two from the word of God Psalm 32. 3 4 5. When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me my moisture is turned into the drought of summer I acknowledge my sin unto thee and my iniquity have I not hid So Psalm 38. 2 3 4. For thine arrows stick fast in me and thine hand presseth me sore there is no soundness in my flesh because of thy anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin for mine iniquities are gone over my head and as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me so Psalm 40 12. For innumerable evils have taken hold on me and have compassed me round about so that I am not able to look up they are more then the hairs of my head so that my heart faileth me So Psalm 90. 7 8. For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath we are troubled thou hast set our iniquities before thy face our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Let the poor soul run where he will yet he shall not be able to avoid the thunderings of an awakened conscience but like so many swarms of Bees flying round his ears crying alwayes to him we are thy works and we will follow thee we will follow thee in the field and in thy house we will be with thee at thy table and at thy bed Job 20. 23 24. When he is about to fill his belly God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall rain it upon him while he is eating he shall flee from his iron weapon and the bowe of steel shall strike him through My friends the guilt of a mans sin it will go to the grave with him it will lie down with him in his Sepulchre and his grave shall cast it up again
therefore saith Job The heavens shall reveal his sin and the earth shall rise up against him Job 20. 27. Thus you see both the distress and the cause of it upon a poor soul under an awakened conscience and how it answers to the Jews distress at the red Sea 3. We may take notice of the next particular which is this That that means which proved a ground of relief to the Jews in their distress the peoyle were guided thereunto by Moses from whence we may note these things First That though man knows how to sin himself into trouble yet he knows not how to get himself out of it The Jews knew no way out of this trouble therefore begun to cry out for graves to bury themselves in the place so is it with the soul under the sence and sight of sin knows no way to escape out of that dreadful condition in which he seeth himself to be nothing but death on every hand wrath gone out from above against him hell beneath openeth its mouth to receive him and thus the soul is oftentimes put upon to seek out for his grave to bury himself in knows no other way to save himself but eternally to destroy himself both in soul and body like Judas Second If the soul have met with any relief in his distressed condition let him know it came not from himself but he was guided thereunto by a special hand of Christ The Jews were led to their means of refreshment by Moses who was a Type of Jesus Christ Hast thou met with comfort and refreshment from such a Sermon from such a Minister such a Christian Friend such a Meeting or in reading of such and such a Book consider thou wert led unto that means for comfort by the special hand of Christ and thou shouldst eye his hand in it that love and praise and obedience might be rendered him for it therefore saith Christ With loving kindeness have I drawn thee Jer 31. 3. Third If any soul wants relief in such a condition then let him make unto Jesus Christ for it for he is thy leader in this case as Moses was the Jews in the other Read Deut. 18. 15. A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from among your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear Now where were the Jews to go in a time of danger buâ— to Moses So soul if ever thou wouldst have ease and refreshment thou must go to Christ alone some run to creatures and think to finde comfort there others run to their duties and works of mercy and thinks to get it from thence again there be some that will send thee to thy inward quallifications or work of God within thee as they call it or the light within the soul I am not hereby undervaluing the works of grace as they are signs or evidences of our union with Christ but I send thee to thy true leader Christ who is at the right hand of God to make daily intercession for such as thou art Rom. 8. 24. O look out and look up to him by faith for this is the way to it Isaiah 45. 22. and chap. 44. 3 4. Fifthly The next particular is this Moses stretched out his hand over the waters and the waters divided Exod. 14. 21. This act in Moses leads to behold the necessariness of outward means contrary to the opinion of many in our dayes which because we read in the Scriptures of God his teachings within in the heart and of the holy anointing that shall teach them all things from hence they conclude against all outward teaching Question What was the reason that God had not caused the waters to go back without the stretching out of Moses hand Answer Not but that God could have done it but God thereby shews us thus much that it is his pleasure in the effecting of the greatest salvation and deliverance for his people ordinarily to bring it about to them by outward means Our Saviour was able to open the blinde mans eyes without clay and spittle a way more likely to put out a mans eyes then to recover any mans sight John 9. 6. But it is to shew his pleasure touching the use of outward means why could not God have thrown down the walls of Jericho without sounding of the Rams horn and why could not God have caused water to come out of the Rock without striking of it but to shew it is his pleasure ordinarily to use it in his administrations to the sons of men therefore it is our duty to wait upon God in it Now to the stretching out of Moses hand in this outward salvation answers the preaching of the Gospel by God his Ministers which is the outward means of the eternal salvation for therein is the arme of divine grace and love revealed and stretched out to poor sinners This Isaiah calleth the revealing of Gods arme Isaiah 53. 1. Lord who hath believed our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed So that whatsoever some men say to the contrary yet God hath had a special regard in all ages to the outward means of teaching the word If God had been minded onely to have left men to the inward teachings of his Spirit why did he take so much care to supply the ages of the world with Prophets and Apostles was he not as well able to teach the world by those inward teachings onely as now why doth the Apostle say in Ephes 4. 8. with 12. 13. that he gave both gifts and Apostles Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry until the Saints be perfected and come unto the measure of the fulness in Christ If God were not minded to teach his people that way why did God bid Philip joyn himself to the Eunuchs Chariot to instruct him Acts 8. 29. If God had been minded onely to have left men to the inward teachings was he not as well able to have taught the Eunuch by his Spirit onely Again could not God have taught Cornelius Acts 10. 3 4 5 6. onely by his Spirit and so have saved Peter a labour yet you see God would do nothing until Peter was come I do not plead for outward teaching without the inward but both must go together so that the stretching out of God his arme in the Gospel may well be compared to the stretching out of Moses hand over the red Sea for as the one was a means to let the Israeliâ—es through the red Sea for a temporal salvation so is the other a means to let a soul into the red Sea of Christs Blood for an eternal salvation which leadeth me to the next particular Fifthly The people go through the waters and are saved from their enemies Exodus 14 22. This leadeth us to the usefulness of the Blood of Jesus Christ through which all that are saved do pâ—ss by believing for as the Jews had perished without mercy by Pharaohs Army had they not passed through the
in law against the mother in law and a mans foes shall be they of his own house therefore saith Paul to Timothy He that will live godly in Christ Jesus must first suffer persecution Besides here is not onely persecution of the tongue which the soul doth pass under for the Lambs sake but persecution of the hand also imprisonment loss of goods banishment yea loss of life it self therefore saith our Saviour You shall be hated of all men for my names sake and they shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my names sake yea saith Christ the time shall come that he which killeth you shall thing he doth God service John 16. 2. therefore saith Peter 1 Pet. 4. 12. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial as if some strange thing had happened unto you No indeed we should not account it a strange thing to suffer for Jesus Christ and to be brought under trails and temptations for the Lamb Jesus it is but a drinking of the waters of Marah which runneth at the mouth or entrance into our wilderness condition which wilderness is our way to Canaan through which all our Fathers went and of which waters all our Fathers have drank of before us for he that will not drink of the waters of bitterness for Christ is never like to drink of the rivers of living pleasures which are at the right hand of Christ Psal 16. 11. Matth. 26. 29. Secondly Moses was to take a tree and cast it into the waters which done the waters became very sweet and pleasant This Tree cast into the waters of Marah types out to us Jesus Christ who is oftentimes compared to a tree Zach. 4 2 3. Rev. 2. 7. Jer. 23 5. It s this tree of life cast into the waters of affliction which makes the Marah waters so sweet to the souls of Gods people The Lord Jesus Christ hath himself dived into the bottoms of this pool of affliction therefore in Isa 53. 3 he is called a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs and saith the Apostle speaking of the Lord Jesus that he was in all points tempted as we are sin onely excepted Heb. 4. 15. That is to say there is no condition of affliction in which a Christian can be found but Christ the tree of life hath gone before him in the same condition of affliction to sweeten and sanctifie that very condition of affliction to that soul Are you troubled with inward fears violent assaults from the Devil so as to be hurried and driven by the violen winds of his temptation Truly in this very condition was Christ himself Mat. 4. 5. with 8. Is it to be tempted to make use of any unlawful means to escape the trouble which the soul may be in Christ himself was in this very condition Mat. 4 3. Are the people of God tempted to blaspheme the name of God his Word or Worship Christ was in this condition before you Mat. 4 9. Where he was tempted to fall down before the Devil and adore him as God what higher blasphemy can there be then this Are Gods people tempted to distrust and despair of the mercy goodness grace and bounty of God Christ was likewise in this very condition himself before you were read Mat. 4. 3. Doth the Devil tempt Gods people to destroy life and doth Satan put a man upon the laying violent hands upon himself and to become his own Butcher and the Author of his own murther You may see Christ himself as in this condition before you read Mat. 4. 5 6. Besides doth the Devil put a soul upon the questioning the love and favour of God to his soul and to call in questiâ—n the truth of his grace and his right to Adoption in the same condition â—as Jesus Christ Math. 4. 3. with ver 6. Twice Satan comes to our Saviour with an If in his mouth saying to Christ I thou be the Son of God Secondly So for outward Afflictions Christ hath gone through them all and had led the Van of all his travelling Army this way Is it to be derided and scorned for fearing God and keeping his Commandments in this condition was Christ himself Mat. 13 45 46 47. Do we loose a good name amongst men so did Christ he was called a Devil and Belzebub the Prince of Devils Is it Poverty Hunger Nakedness and Cold is it to be turned out of doors by friends and acquaintance is it to be hunted up and down the Country from place to place for our Lives is it Imprisonment Condemnation is it to be made to stand to the Bar of Justice amongst the Malefactors is it death it self In all and every of these conditions was Christ himself as the Tree cast into these Marah waters of Affliction that he might sanctifie them to us and sweeten them for our spiritual tasts relish and comfort Use 1. Then what need had the soul in all his Wilderness Trials and Temptations to fix a believing eye upon Christ and to have great dependency on this Tree of Life that can take out every Thorne out of his burthen of Afflictions that only can sweeten his bitter Cup to him and can sanctifie every condition to his soul It s reported of the Beasts in some Countries where the waters are subject to more Venome then ours are that when they come to the water to drink they all wait for the Unicorn that so he might first put in his Horn the vertue of which expels the venemous corruption which was in the water before and then they all drink of the same O so should the Lords people wait in the waters of Affliction upon Christ their spiritual Unicorn who putteth down his long Horn of grace and refreshment to sweeten these conditions of Affliction and Trouble to the soul saith the Apostle to the Hebrews 12. Chap. ver 2. 3. Set Christ before you as an example of suffering and consider him who endureth such contradictions of sinners least you faint and wax weary in your minds O how sweet and comfortable to the soul in all his Trials must it be when the soul considers that Jesus Christ went all along in all these things before him to sanctifie and sweeten them all to the soul Besides when the soul considers that Christ did not only travel through these conditions of Temptation and Affliction to sweeten them to the souls taste But he is the Tree that still lieth in these Marah waters as a Companion with the soul in all his Trials Isa 43. 2. 1. Christ is there with his power to support them Isa 41. 10. 2. Christ is there with his spirit to comfort the soul while in the affliction 2 Cor. 1. 4 5. John 14. and 16. Chap. To which truth I my self can set to my Seal who am at this time a Prisoner for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ I can say Christ is such a Tree in the bitter waters of Marah as that he
or forbidding the thing to be done by in the worship of God if the thing commanded or forbidden be in its self an evil but not the subjects in obeying the thing commanded or forbidden Thus you see how difficult the Devil labours to render the poor souls way to the good Land and how Satan fills the souls paths with discouragements and how much Satan is like to prevail without the infinite power of God be put forth to help and bear up the poor soul in his way to the good Land which leads me to the next particular which is this The wilderness of old might well be called the place of wonders because of the great miracles which the Lord did work for the Jews in their travels in that notwithstanding all the seeming deaths dangers the people past under in the Wilderness yet the Lord by a powerful hand brought them to their promised Land in safety So soul take this for thy comfort that whatever the opposition be that thou meetest with in the way to thy eternal Canaan yet bear up fear not for God will at last deliver thee out of the hands of all thy enemies and carry thee safely through to thy appointed rest of glory that thou mayest serve him in righteousness and true holiness in bliss to all eternity Luke 1. 74 75. O soul therefore hold up thy head the work is the Lords and although he suffers thee to tug with fearful difficulties and great oppositions yet know this that the battle is the Lords and he will fight it in thee for thee its true it may be as with Gideon thou art ready to cry out of thy own weaknes thy family is the smallest in Israel and thou the least in the family but let me speak to thee in the words of the Angel to Gideon Judges 6 12. Up for God is with thee thou mighty man of valour O soul the Lord is engaged to bring thee home to glory God hath sworn by his holiness that it shall be so therefore it must be so read Psalm 89. 33. 34 35 36 37. O therefore arise go out againâ—â— thy enemies fear them not but look them boldly in the face O look a corrupt proud lustful revengeful unbelieving worldly fearful dead backward heart in the face and look all the Devils in hell and wicked men in the world boldly in the face look all thy relations in the face look a wicked world in the face look â—ubtle inticing Apostates in the face O fear none of these things assure thy self there shall nothing of these prevail against thee for God will fight for thee and will be with thee in the battle he will do all thy works in thee and for thee Phil 2. 13. So that the gates of hell shall not prevail against thee O hearken to the voice of the Spirit of God in thy soul which will speak to thee as once Joshua and â—aleb did to the Israelites Numb 14 6 7 8. Fear not the Land which we passed over to search is an exceeding good Land if the Lord delight in us then he wiâ—â— bring us into this good Land a Land which floweth with milk and honey onely rebel nâ—t agaâ—nst the Lord neither fear ye the people of the Land for they are bread for us their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us ear them not therefore for a close to this particular take these two places of Scripture and the God of heaven make them of use to the fainting doubting dying soul Deut. 31. 8. The Lord he is he that doth go before thee he will be with thee he will not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be afraid Deut. 33. 27. The eternal God is thy refuge underneath thee are the everlasting armes and he shall thrust out thine enemies before thee and shall say destroy thou them O therefore soul let me advise thee not to yield to thy temptations for assure thy self in time thou shalt reap if thou faint not Let the gates of Hell do what they can yet they shall go forth weeping bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again bringing their shears with them Psal 126. 56. And the raâ—sommed of the Lord shall return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads and they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flye away Isa 35. 10. CHAP. 13. The next thing that we are to take notice of is their bunch of Grapes which was brought them from the good Land by the hands of their Spies yet notwithstanding they could not believe THis bunch of Grapes which were brought out of Canaan by the Spies might lead us to the sheddings abroad of the Holy Spirit of God upon our hearts if we truly believe for the end why God sent the Grapes of Canaan to the Israelites while they were in the Wilderness it was to assure their hearts to the making good those promises which God before made to their Fathers concerning their certain arrival at the Land of promise and so it was to be an earnest or pledge to them which believed of their right to the Land of promise that assuredly as they did eat of that bunch of grapes which came from â—anaâ—n so assuredly if they would believe the Lord would bring them safe home to the full vintage Now of the same use is the Holy Ghost which God sends down into the hearts of the faithful You may call the breathings of the Spirit of God in the hearts of the godly the fore-running bunch of Grapes of the eternal Canaan which doth yield forth his blessed refreshing comforting chearing juyce into the hearts of the people of God God gives out the holy Spirit to assure the godly that the Land is a good Land unto which they are a travelling God gives his people the sweet sensible tastes of glory to come before-hand O how hath God drenched the souls of his people with draughts of this salvation sometimes when in an ordinance of God This made David prize so much the house of God Psalm 27 4. It was the coming down of those heavenly Grapes or spiritual Dews from the Spirit of God which did so much draw and atttact his heart thither-ward so much Psalm 36 8. For thou shalt abundantly satisfie them with the fatness of thy house and make us to drink of the Rivers of thy pleasures The work of which heavenly dews of the Spirit is to witness to and in our hearts about the great right we have by free Grace to the good Land of promise which is Heaven Rom. 8. 16 The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the people of God so 1 John 4. 13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us by his Spirit which he hath given us That is the Holy Spirit is given us to assure us of the right we have to heaven the Father gives it to his as the imagining pledge that
that God might love you and pardon sin in you and that he might give you an inheritance amongst them which are sanctified but because all this is freely procured by Jesus Christ for you already and is freely by the grace of God made over to the soul as his through sound believing Like 1. 74 75 That we being delivered mark that not that we might be delivered might serve him without fear in righteousness and holinesse all the dayes of our lives so Hebrewes 12. 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved mark that a Kingdom already received Let us have grace whereby we may serve God with reverence and godly fear so Titus 2. 11 12. The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men mark that which hath already appeared This teacketh them that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts should live soberly righteously and godlily in this present world So that a believer is so far from being set free by Christ from the Law or ten Commandments as that he is the more obliged to the strict observation of it Therefore saith Saint Paul Romans 3. 31. Do we then make void the Law through faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Romans 7. 12. Wherefore the Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good The form of the Old Covenant is taken away by Christ from a Believer but the matter still remains itceaseth to be a Law commanding for life to a Believer but it still requires obedience in all manner of Coversation at a Believers hands because he doth live and so it s a Rule to walk by as binding as ever Thus you may see if you will but consider the place where the Tables of the Law were placed they were placed in the Ark which Ark typed out Christ as you have heard before so that by Moses his placing the Tables of the moral Law in the Ark under the Mercy-seat both which places being types of Christ it is very clear that the moral Law or ten Commandments are become the Law of Christs mediatory Kingdom CHAP 19. I now come to speak of the Table for the Shew bread placed in the Tabernacle THis Table called the Shew-bread Table was placed by Moses in one side of the tabernacle Exod. 40. 22. The use of this Table was to hold the bread called the Shew-bread this bread was made into little loaves or cakes and set upon the Table and they were in number twelve which was proportionable to the number of their tribes The bread was set in two Rows upon the Table six on one side and six on the other side of the Table The bread was set new on the Table every Sabbath day and when the new was to be set on the Table the Priests were to eat the old as you may see in Lev. 24. 5 6 7 8 9. Now this bread was typical two ways and both held out Christ to the people First It figured forth Christ one who constantly abideth under the eye of God for the people or in the behalf of beliervers for as the Shew-bread was always to stand on the Table before the Lord therefore called the Shew-bread so Jesus Christ who is called The bread of life John 6. 35. Is never off the Fathers sight in the behalf of believers in whose humane nature the Father was fully satisfied and in whom he professeth himself to be well-pleased with us Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Christ is always in readiness to present his Father with the view of his Righteousness on the Altar of his sufferings presenting his Father with his nailed feet and hands with his pierced sides with his hanging down head upon the Cross with his drops of blood in the Garden with the pourings forth of his soul unto death that so the sight of these things might endear believers to the heart of God Use 1. It may be some soul may think that he is cast out of the sight of God and out of the favour and love of God O but thy Christ is not and so long it is well enough Remember and recover thy self with these thoughts Christ thy Shew-bread abideth in Gods eye for ever Christ is alwayes standing upon the Table of acceptation before God for thee so saith the Apostle Heb. 9. 24. Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands but into heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us And therefore soul if thou hast union with Christ thou needest not doubt of thy condition for if the Father do accept the head certainly he cannot reject the members Again whereas the Shew-bread was put into twelve loaves according to the Tribes of Israel as that there was not a loaf more or less This teacheth us that though the number of those that shall lay hold on Christ by real faith be many yea very many yet they need not doubt here is bread enough for them all here is a loaf for every Tribe a piece for every Christian O Christ is an inexhaustible treasure which will not be wasted a fountain which cannot be drawn dry a loaf that can never be eaten Although there hath been many a thousand that have been a feeding upon Christs Flesh and Blood throughout all generations of the world yet our Lord writes himself still Heb. 13. 8. Jesus Christ tke same yesterday to day and for ever Again This Shew-bread signified the great bounty and goodness of God to the Israelites in their wilderness condition in that he gave them to understand that he could and would provide for them a table in a barren Land where no corn was grown that from thence they might be led the more to admire God in his power love and grace manifested to them in that condition and that their hearts might be raised up to a pitch of thankfulness so likewise should it teach Believers to make the same use of Gods bounty and goodness to them in the gift of his Son Jesus Christ that such provision should be made for them that the Table of his grace and love should be so deckt with the flesh blood merits and righteousness of his own onely Son as you have it in the parable Luke 14. 16 17. A certain man made a great supper and bid many and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are ready Thus you see a great supper is provided much provision made a table furnished no want at all on Gods part all the want lieth on our parts we are not ready O how should this cause Christians to admire God in his wonderful acts of grace to their souls that as John speaks John 3. 16. He should so love the world as to send into it his onely begotten Son that whosoever seeth him and shall believe in him shall have everlasting life And with 1 John 3. 1. To break forth into a holy admiration and cry
out O what manner of love is this that we should be called the Sons of God CHAP. 19. I shall in the next place speak of the Candlestick which was placed in the Tabernacle IN this Tabernacle there was placed a Candlestick which was made of pure Gold and the fashion of it was thus It parted from a foot high in the stem into six branches three of the branches going one way and three of the branches going another way there were three bowls made like unto three almonds with their knobs and their flowers to every branch but in the stem of the Cnadlestick below their parting were four bowls with their knobs and their flowers Exod. 27. 17. Exod 37. 18 19 20. By the Candlestick in this place we are to understand to be meant the Church of God which Church is made up of true Believers which truly and sincerely profess and own Christ and his Worship being redeemed by his Blood from all the earth Rev. 7. 14. This is the signification of the Candlestick the truth of which you may read Rev. 1. 20. where the seven Churches are compared to seven golden Candlesticks which answereth to the Candlestick in the Tabernacle for that was made of pure beaten Gold Ex. 27. 17. Now the Church of God may be compared to a Candlestick several manner of wayes First As a Candlestick is made to mount or hold up the light that all in a time of darkness may see so doth the Church and people of God they hold up the light of truth and the bright shinings of the word and Gospel that all that are in the dark world who sit in the Region and shadow of death might behold the face of God in Jesus Christ shining through the Saints gifts graces and holy conversations in upon their souls Isaiah 2. 3. The Law shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem by which means Isa 9. 2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light and they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined Though this latter prophesie doth principally belong to Christ yet it is to be applied to his Church also for it s through them Christ shineth upon the dark world therefore saith our Saviour to his Dissciples Matth. 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world meaning they were the Candlestick prepared of God to hold up and hold out the light of truth to the dark blinde miserable world Use 1. This informs then what a deal of duty lieth upon the Church both Ministers as well as others First For Ministers what care should they take and what pains should they expose themselves unto in order to the keeping up and holding forth the light and word of the Gospel to the dark nations of the earth what care did Paul take to fulfil his ministry and to discharge his duty this way Acts 20. 24. He counted not his life dear unto himself so that he could fulfil his ministry with you which ministration he had received from the Lord Jesus and that he might be useful this way you may take notice of Pauls practice Acts 20. 20. I have kept back nothing which was profitable to you but have shewed you and taught you openly and throughout every house But O good God how few such house preaching lights doth the eart afford us in this our age but contrariwise instead of men that should make it their business with Paul and the rest of the Apostles to go from house to house to enlighten the dark famiâ—ies of the earth in the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ they rather bend their forces parts wits and purses to darken and put out the light of truth and the knowledge of God in all the families they meet withal where they go like unto those teachers of old spoken of in Ezek. 34. 18 19. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures and to have drunk of the deep waters but you must foul the residue with your feet and as for my flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet How far these or such as these are from being of the true Candlestick appointed to hold up and hold out the light of truth in the world let the reader judge But again this should teach all the Saints for they are a part of the Candlestick also to endeavour in their several places and callings to promote the glory of God in their generations to study godliness and which way they may be useful with their gifts and graces amongst their relations and neighbours and in their families in order to the bringing in of their souls to Jesus Christ therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5 16. Let pour light so shine before men that they seeing your good works might glorifie your Father which is in heaven To this agreeth the words of Paul Phil. 2 16. with ch 15. ver 15. He exhorts all true Christians that they would labour to hold forth the word of life and that they would labour to live unblameable in their lives and spotless in their conversations and that they would keep themselves without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation amongst whom they were to shine as lights so verse 16. The reason of the former exhortation is given you viz. because they are to hold forth the word of life even as a Candlestick they are to hold up or hold forth the light of truth Secondly A candlestick is appointed to hold fast as wel as to hold up the light that it fall not down because the fall of which many times puts out the light so is the Church of God prepared and fitted to succour and keep up the light of Gods holy truth in the earth that it might not be thrown down by the malice of the devil and wicked men who labour night and day to put it out in the world There be two wayes by which God fitteth the Church as a Candlestick to keep up the light of truth in the world The first is by pouring forth upon them the gifts of the Spirit by vertue of which they are enabled to discover detect and finde out all errour and whatsoever may be contrary to sound doctrine as in Rev. 2. 2. Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars Hence it is that the adversaries of truth are said not to be able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which St. Stephen spake Acts 6. 10. The reason you may perceive lay in this the Church of which Stephen was a member had a very great measure of the gifts of the Spirit which came upon them but a little before read Acts 2. 1 2 3 4. Secondly God fits his Church as
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
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
the Body united to the Head and so he is to be understood as our interceeding High Priest praying to God for us against the evil of death So ver 10. This was done as he was called of God according to the Order of Melchisedeck That is as he is a High Priest for so was Melchisedeck Heb. 7. 1. whose work was to bless Abraham a Member of this Priesthood grace and mercy Gen. 14. therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them therefore saith the Apostle ver 26. Such an High Priest became us And as Christ did pour out his crys and supplications with tears here on earth it was to give Believers a comfortable view and sight of what he is ever doing for them in heaven of which they may assure themselves to the utmost Therefore doth S. Paul so much comfort Believers against all fear of a total miscarriage for it cannot be because Christ as our great High Priest did not only interceed against it on earth by pouring out strong crys and supplications with tears Heb. 5. 7. but he is doing of the same work now he is in heaven with as much fervency of Spirit for us Rom. 8. ver 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again and sitteth at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Now that the Intecession Christ makes is a work of prayer which he poureth forth for his people to God evermore as that which the Golden Altar for Incense was a Type of will appear if we consider that place in Rev. 8. 2 3 4. 5. with chap. 1. 13. And I saw the seven Angels which stood before God and to them were given seven Trumpets and another Angel came and stood at the Altar which Angel was Christ 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 ascending up before God out of the Angels hand Now look into Rev. 1. 13. and you may see who this Angel was And in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks one like unto the Son of men clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle Here you have the Son of man representing himself to John after he ascends up into Glory standing in the garb of the High Priest for so the legal High Priest was attired when he was to administer before the Lord. That so we might understand for our great comfort that he is doing the great work of the Priesthood now in Heaven for his people that are yet without the Tabernacle as to their being in this life even for those that are not entred within the veil of blessed glory and immortality So that you see that Christ is an interceeding High Priest now in heaven pouring out his prevailing prayers to God for his And this is the matter of the work of Intercession Use 1. O then what cause have Believers to bless God for his mercy that there is an Intercessour provided for them that can and will prevaile on their behalf if loud crys and strong supplications attended with many tears will do it O my Brethren this is an inestimable blessed privilege to Believers that they have such an interceeding High Priest as Jesus is who is heard in all things and denied in nothing that he shall request the Father for on the behalf of Believers We use to say that man is happy that hath a Friend in Court to speak if need be on his behalf O but how much more happy are Believers that have a Christ a High Priest in heaven to agitate all their matters and concernments for them there Hence it is that the Psalmist doth affirm that there can be no want to them which fear God Psal 34. 10. And S. Peter wonders who can harm such as be followers of that which is good Pet. 1. 3. 13. And saith S. Paul who can lay any thing to the charge of such and who can condemn such or can separte such from the love of God Rom. 8. 33 34 35. the Reason of all is given you in the 34. ver For we have a High Priest at Gods right hand making Intercession for us Use 2. O then let this blessed Doctrine administer comfort to the people of God at all times in all conditions that they have a High Priest in Heaven interceding for them at Gods right hand O Brethren of whom should Believers be afraid that have such an interceding Priest as Christ is what if all the Tyrants in the world and Devils in hell should set themselves together against the poor Lambs of Christ O fear them not there cannot a hair of your heads fall to the ground O you Saints lift up your heads and be not so fearful of your Adversaries it is your High Priests work in heaven to pray you down deliverance from the hands of Men and Devils Read that comfortable place Exod. 17. 8 9 10 11 12. When Amaleck came out to fight against Israel it s said that all the while that Moses lifted up his hands to God in a way of Prayer and Intercession for Israel Israel prevailed over Amaleck O then shall the liftings up of the hands of a Moses so much prevail for Gods Israel in a time of danger and yet Moses was but a servant Heb. 3. 5 and shall we think that the lifting up of the interceding hands of Christ who is the Son shall not prevail over these Amalekites which Believers stand in doubt of here O Brethren do not dishonour the interceding Office of Jesus Christ your High Priest in giving way so much to your fears Remember what our Saviour spake in his own case the same he can and will do in the case of his people so far as it shall stand with his glory and a Believers good Matth. 26. 53. Think you not and I can pray to my Father and he can give me more then twelve Legions of Angels What work did that Angel make which Christ prayed down for the relief of his Church in the time of their distress Isa 37. 36. How did the Angel scatter in one night that proud Blasphemous Army and shall we think that Christs Prayers have lost their Efficacy through length of time No no he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. And so in all other exigencies and straits whether in Famine Plague Pestilence or what ever the providence be which may occasion fear Here is a sufficient Balm for the soul in these conditions yea in a word if thou wert brought so low with thy distress as that thou couldst not put up one word
his own blood will not comply with their Canons they violently run upon them with ruine and destruction both to them and theirs without the least dram of mercy shewed them Should a Subject deal thus with his Prince who would advocate such a ones case at the Bar but how much Christ thinks himself bound to these men for this piece of service both to himself and his people let the world judge Again whereas 't is said that the Crown was set upon the Mitre it is to shew Believers how sweet the Kingly Office Power and Authority of Christ is sweetned to them by the Priestly Office of Christ It s the Priestly Mitre makes the Kingly Crown so sweet and lovely to men The grace which flows from Christ as Priest makes the Law which flows from Christ as King so delightful and precious What strange prejudicated opinions have men of the Law of the Crown of Christ when they look on it apart from the Mitre of Christs Priest-hood how formidable and cruel doth the Law look to them how do men shun it and avoid it as death it self it s an unreasonable Law it requires impossibilities such things as can never be obtained or performed by me it affords me no assistance no strength let me do what I can it damns me at last This the soul instead of subjecting to it fights with it as his worst of enemies so saith Paul Rom. 8 7. The carnal minded man is not subject to the Law of God neither indeâ—d can be But when the soul is brought in to close with Jesus Christ as his High Priest and hath tasted of the grace of the Priesthood and is made to see the Mitre under the Crown which it did not see before and understands that all the terrour of the Crowns Law is suckt in by the Mitres grace O then the soul comes to have other thoughts of the Law of God then ever it had before O saith the soul how miserably was my understanding darkened that I should so wickedly conclude of it as an unreasonable Law and a cruel Law a Law which required brick to be made without straw O but now I see it was my mistake and great ignorance O it requires no more then it will help in the doing it s a Law which hath the spirit of life in it Rom. 8. 2. That will quicken to its own performances a Law flowing from the Crown but it s a Crown upon the Mitre which is so far from killing of me that it giveth me spiritual life and frees me from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8. 2. Therefore saith Paul Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner man so saith David Psalm 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better then ten thousands of gold or silver So Psalm 19. 10. More to be desired is thy law then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey comb O every part of the work and worship of Christ is sweet now when the soul sees its the Law of a reconciler the work of an advocate the worship of a blessed High Priest which he is imployed in and about O it s the Law of one who hath shed his dearest blood for me to satisfie Justice it s the work of a High Priest which presents me in himself without spot to God and hath clothed me with the Robe of his Righteousness and made me an heir of Glory a childe of God a citizen of the new Jerusalem O this makes the work of Christs Kingdom delightful work to the soul now CHAP. 32. I now come to speak of the fourth general which is the manner of the Consecrating of the Priest which is as followeth THe High Priest being thus attired then was Moses to take a young Bullock and two Rams without blemish and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes tempered with oyl and offer this with the two Bullocks and tvvo Rams unto God for the Priest Exodus 29. 1 2. with 19. 20. Then was Moses to take a vessel of oyl and pour it on the Priests head and anoint him ver 7. In which consecration we may note two things 1. Something which related to the Type it self 2. What related to the Ante-type Jesus Christ First What of this consecration related to the Type or High Priest himself and what was this the materials made use of about his Consecration did highly testifie that he himself was but a poor weak frail man and that although he were called to so great an Office as to interpose between God and the people to make reconciliation for them yet he vvas no farther efficacious then as he vvas the Type of him that onely could take avvay sin vvhich vvas Jesus Christ held forth in him Thus much both himself and the people likevvise might inform themselves in the manner of his conseeration for there vvere tvvo Rams and a young Bullock must be slain and offered to God in sacrifice for him before be could stand in Gods presence to administer for the people Some sacrifices of pacification and attonement must be offered to God for the Priest himself as well as for the people vvhich taught both the Priest and People that there vvas no reconciliation vvith God to be had by the High Priests means any further then both Priest and people had an eye of Faith upon Jesus Christ held out by him so reasons the Apostle in Heb. 7. 26 27. For such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher theâ— the heavens who needeth not daily as those High Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the people So that you see the legal Priest stood in need of a sacrifice for himself and he was to offer a sacrifice for himself as well as for the people there salvation and reconciliation could not be wrought out by the Priest but by another which was only Christ 2. As the thing related to Jesus Christ it shews us thus much that whatever our Lord Jesus Christ hath done doth do or yet shall do in heaven as our great High Priest it takes its rise from the Death and Passion of himself You see the High Priest under the Law could not be a High Priest without he were consecrated so in the death of something which must be slain as a sacrifice to God So did Christ lay down his life as a sacrifice to God here upon the Cross before he could act as our great High Priest in Heaven before ever he could perform the work of Intercession within the Tabernacle he must first offer himself up a slain sacrifice to God for pacification without the camp Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Quest But why was Moses to take a young Bullock to make a sacrifice for the Priests consecration Answ Because any thing when its
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