it from the spirituall servitude of sinne death the devill and damnation 2. It shadowed herein its successor in the new Testament for the Sacrament of the Supper was therefore instituted to keep in remembrance the death of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 11. 26. As often as yee shall eat this bread and drink this cup yee shew the Lords death till he come 3. To be a rule for all Sacraments wherein it is necessary that the word be joyned to the Element I mean the word of Institution and if it may be conveniently of exhortation that the seal may goe with the Charter as even in these shadowes the Lord himself straitly enjoyned these were the Lawes prescribed for the Anniversary Passeover both in Exod. 12. 14. and Numb 9. in neither of which is any mention of any of the former Laws proper to the first Passeover The last condition in eating concerned the measure The Lambe must be whole eaten signifying 1. Our perfect communion with Christ who are as nearly united unto Christ as the meat we eat which is turned into our own substance 2. That nothing in Christ is unprofitable 3. That Christ must be received wholly without dividing of his natures or destroying any of his offices Arrius divides the Lambe in denying his Godhead Manichees impugned his humanity Neither eat the whole Lambe The Papists destroy all his Offices Whosoever deny any fundamentall Article of Religion they divide the Lambe To eat the whole Lamb is to believe whole Christ according to the rule Faith is but one yet a copulative Deny one overthrow all Hitherto served that Injunction that no part of the Lambe must be reserved till the morrow but if any remained it must be burnt with fire verse 10. The Lord in his infinite wisdome would prevent all the occasions of idolatry which is easily admitted in the reservations of holy things As in Popery what a deal of idolatry is crept into the Church by reserving superstitious relicks and especially their consecrated or conjured bread as if this condition did not condemn expresly that Popish reservation of the hoast or breaden god Add hereunto that the Jewes requiring the body of Christ on the Crosse to be taken away that night before the Sabbath Joh. 19. 31. fulfilled against their knowledge this Prophecy Nothing of the Paschall Lambe must be left till the morning Sect. V. V. The Paschall Lambe is an expresse type of Christ in respect of the fruit and use of it which is security and safety from Gods revenge ver 23. For as by the sprinkling of the bloud and eating of the flesh the Jewes were defended from the revenging Angel and the destroyer passed over the house where he espied the bloud sprinkled So the bloud of Christ applied to the conscience causeth the wrath of God to passe by those that are so sprinkled And as they could sit in the house safe and not fear the stroke of the destroyer because of the bloud sprinkled so whosoever by true faith feeds upon Jesus Christ and are died with his bloud rest secure and fear not the destruction and revenge due to wicked men Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience 1. As the Jewes dwelling in Egypt were in great danger of the revenging Angel who was to passe through the land So all the Israel ot God dwelling in the midst of the Egypt of the world and too too much tainted with the fashions of it have no small cause to fear the judgements and revenge of God which must pursue the sinnes of it and also to use meanes for their own safety in the night of trouble and revenge as the Israelites did Quest. What meanes Answ. The same that Israel did We must 1. Sprinkle the house of our hearts with the bloud of the Lambe Heb. 10. 22. sprinkled in our hearts c. Whosoever were sprinkled with the bloud of the Lambe were safe Was there so much power in the bloud of the type and not much more in the bloud of the truth 2. Get into the house of the Church and fellowship of the faithfull for such as are true members of the Church which is the house of Saints are secure from the plagues of wicked men Isai. 27. 3. I the Lord doe keep the vineyard I will water it every momâ—nt lest any assaile it I will keep it night and day and â—sai 37. â—8 My people shall dwell in the Tabernacle of peace and in sure dwellings and in safe resting places Noah can be safe no where in the deluge but in the Ark And out of the Church is no salvation or safety 3. Thou must abide in the house all night and goe not forth Except the Israelites abide in the house they cannot be safe except thou abidest in the ship of the Church thou canst not be safe no more than any of Noahs company if they had stepped out of the Ark. We must adhere constantly to the true Church and not forsake the fellowship or depart from it by Apostacy or revolt which brings certain shipwrack of faith Consider Heb. 10. 25. 4. Patiently wait for the morning even the bright rising and appearing of Jesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse coming again to our deliverance whether publikely to generall judgement or personally in speciall to our selves For he shall bring health under his wings Mal. 4. 2. II. In the whole precedent discourse is a fruitfull direction for Christians for their holy use of the Sacrament of the Supper which is come in place of the Passeover 1. As he must be circumcised that must eat the Passeover so must he be baptized that must be admitted to the Supper that is a reverent professed Christian. For holy things must not be cast to dogs Mat. 7. 6. The Word and Sacraments are childrens bread and must not be cast to dogs that is obstinate enemies scorners blasphemers to men of uncircumcised lips and eares who wilfully repell the meanes of their cleansing So much the more pity is it that all sorts of notorious evill men thrust into the presence chamber of the great King yea sit down at the Lords Table and like swine swill in his cup without controul or any rebuke in many places Open blasphemers common-drunkards scoffing Ishmaels noted adulterers obstinate sinners And where is the care to preserve the holythings of God from pollution contempt and prophanation Would a man spread a table for dogs or swine If the shadows of these holy things might not be cast to dogs is it nothing to expose to them the body and substance it self 1 Cor. 11. 30. for this cause many are weak and sick among you and many sleep 2. As the Lamb was taken in the tenth day but was not slain till the fourteenth that it might be before their eyes all the four dayes before for the helping of their meditation and due
as Christian Rechabites Jer. 35. esteem themselves strangers content themselves to dwell in tents ever ready to remove not distracting themselves in building houses or planting vineyards or seeking great things for themselves Hence was that commendable admonition of the ancient Church in the time of the Sacrament used in our Liturgy Lift up your hearts 2. We must eat the Lamb hastily hastning unto Christ the true Passeover and not insist in these Sacraments of ours which are still but as shadows of good things to come yet serving us through this our strange Countrey and speeding us into our own Canaan and Countrey and that with all expedition seeing that to be dissolved hence and to be with Christ is best of all Phil. 2. 23. 3. We must celebrate our Passeover with staves in our hands that is the doctrine of the Law and Gospel held in our hearts as a staffe to defend our selves in the right track and path of holy doctrine and holy conversation to repulse our adversaries that come out against us for it is the sword of the Spirit and to lean upon as a staffe in our weaknesse and wearinesse This staffe must not lie by us in our books but be held by us in our hands and hearts and be not in possession onely but in our daily use He hath no comfort of this Sacrament that hath not this staffe in his hand VI. As the Jewes in eating the Passeover must repeat and recite the memory of that great deliverance out of Egypt by a mighty and miraculous power so must we in our Sacrament commemorate and remember our great deliverance from hell and that spirituall Pharaoh wrought by the bloud of our Paschall lamb 1 Cor. 11. 26. so often as ye shall eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew the Lords death till he come And therefore it is very fit the Word and Sacrament should go together as the seal together with the deed and Indenture Hence those that are so devout at the Sacrament and neglect or despise the Word are meer hypocrites and ignorants their folly is like his that makes much of a seale but teares the Indenture all to pieces which onely can convey his inheritance unto him VII As the Jewes came together to eat the whole lamb so must we to receive whole Christ. Quest. When do we receive whole Christ Answ. First when we reverently receive the signes appointed by Christ according to his own institution Secondly when we receive faithfully the thing signified which is Christ and all his merits I. For the former 1. As it had been a great sinne for the Jewes to divide the lamb which God commanded to be eaten whole no lesse grievous a sinne is it in Popery to administer the bread without the cup of which Christ hath said expressely Drink ye all of this 2. As the Lamb was appointed to no other use by Moses but to be eaten so was the bread and wine in the Sacrament ordained to no other end by Christ but to be eat and drank all other holy use of them out of the action of the Sacrament is Idolatrous superstitious and unlawfull 3. As it had been a grievous sinne to reserve any of the lamb till the morning against so expresse a commandement appointing it to be wholly eaten so grievous a sinne is it to reserve the consecrated host as they foolishly call it either to boxe up or to hang up or to worship and adore it or pray unto it or carry it in procession or lift it up with both hands above the Priests head that it may be worshipped with divine and Idolatrous worship or yet if it be possible with more blasphemy to offer it upon an Altar as an unbloudy sacrifice for the sinnes of the quicke and dead which abolisheth at once the whole Priesthood of Christ. All which the Lord would prevent in this constitution that no part of the lamb must be reserved but if any were left it must be burnt with fire II. We eat the whole lamb when with the signes we receive the thing signified which is Christ and all his merits We must feed upon and digest whole Christ that is be united so straitly and undividedly to Jesus Christ as the meat which is changed into the same substance with our bodies and this by the faith of our hearts which so streightly knits us to Christ as a marriage bonde and he becomes a perfect nourishment to us unto eternall life Neither could our Lord fitlier expresse this straite union than by feeding and eating seeing there cannot be astraiter union in nature than between the thing nourishing and nourished Question What may I doe thus to receive the whole Lamb Answ. 1. Come hungry in sence of the want of faith and desire of supply 2. Labour to feele the sweetnesse of Christ take heed of despising this sweet Manna Let not the hunger of the Onyons garlick and flesh-pots of Egypt thrust down the desire of this Manna which comes down from heaven to which the other Mannah was not halfe so sweet 3. Thinke it not enough to eat the flesh of Christ Sacramentally if not spiritually Conceive what a fearfull delusion it is to eat the Sacrament of the flesh of Christ in the Supper and not eat the flesh of Christ by the Sacrament Thou hast been at the Supper of the Lord but hast not tasted of his Supper CHAP. XX. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire a type OF the ordinary Sacraments of the Jewes pointing at Christ we have spoken Now of the extraordinary Of these some are answerable to the Jewes circumcision and our Baptisme As 1. the Pillar of Cloud 2. The red Sea Some to the Jewes Passeover and our Supper As 1. Mannah from Heaven 2. Water out of the rock The ground of this distinction we have in 1 Cor. 10. 2 3. where the Apostle leads us by the hand to the distinct consideration of these Sacraments First of the Pillar of Cloud and fire under which the Fathers of the old Testament were baptised When the Lord in his wise providence appointed to lead the children of Israel for the space of fourty years through a drie uncouth and terrible wildernesse himselfe undertooke to be their guide and for their certaine direction in their way appointed them this visible signe of his presence for their motion or station by night or by day through all their pilgrimage concerning this Cloud let us enquire 1. Of the kind 2. Of the difference between it and other clouds 3. Of the use of this cloudy Pillar 4. How a type of Christ. 1. Quest. What kind of Cloud was this Answ. Not naturall but supernaturall and miraculous yea one of the four great miracles that the Lord continued all the while of their Journey which was fourty yeares Those four great miracles were 1. The not swelling of their feet Deut. 8. 4. 2. Their aparrells not wearing or not waxing old Deut. 8.
figuring Christ who was declared the well-beloved in whom his Father delighted Matth. 3. 17. 3. He was very beautifull Gen. 39. 6. and his internall beauty was more than his externall Christ was more beautifull than the sons of men and making us beautifull in his beauty 4. Joseph was endued with such a measure of wisedome and understanding as none was like him in whom Gods Spirit was For which cause he was called Zaphnathpaaneah verse 45. that is an expounder of secrets figuring Christ in whom were treasures of wisedome and the Spirit beyond all measure who is therefore called the great Counseller and the Lambe onely worthy to open the book who onely hath the key of David to open the secret mysteries of salvation 5. In Jacobs last Testament Joseph is called a fruitful bough whose branches runne upon the wall because out of him branched two tribes Ephraim and Manasseh therein he was a type of Christ who is not a fruitfull bough onely but a root from whom all the tribes of God branch out and flourish And whereas those tribes are come to nothing Christ shall see his seed and prolong his dayes II. In his actions 1. Joseph was sent by his father to visite his brethren in the wildernesse So was Christ sent to seek his brethren wandering in the wildernesse he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel 2. As at thirty years Joseph was preferred to his Office by Phanaoh so at thirty years Christ entered his Office 3. As by Pharaoh a virgin was given Joseph to wife verse 45. So is the Church as a pure Virgin given by the Father to Jesus Christ as his spouse to sanctifie and save All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out 4. As Joseph out of Pharaohs garners feeds all Egypt all his fathers house and the nations whence in Gen. 49. 24. he is called the feeder of Israel and a stone that is a rocke or refuge to his brethren So Jesus Christ is the feeder of Israel and of all the family of God in all Nations of the earth not with temporall food onely but with the Manna from heaven the word and Sacraments and his owne flesh and bloud the incorruptible and indeficient bread and water of life 5. As Joseph in his lowest estate was both a Lord in the prison and a comforter of the prisoners assuring the Butler of his life and recovery of his place So Jesus Christ at his lowest abasement was Lord over death and the grave having command of them and his last breath on the Crosse almost comforted the poor thiefe promising him both life and glory 6. As Joseph doth all the good he can for his brethren that had ill deserved it For 1. He teacheth them how to live together and commends brotherly love and concord fall not out by the way 2. Teacheth them how to speake to Pharaoh and what to demand 3. Goes to Pharaoh and speaks and obtaines for them whatsoever he would and placeth them in Goshen the fat of the land till they come to Canaan So Jesus Christ above all lessons commended to us the new Commandement of love a badge of his disciples teacheth us how to pray and what in the Lords prayer himselfe intercedes for us and obtaineth all that good is and provides for us in earth till we come to Canaan III. In his sufferings and passions 1. The archers grieved him Gen. 49. 23. that is not his Mistris onely and Master but his brethren also conspire against him although sent from his father in love and comes in love to see how they do and to know their wants yet they scorne him behold yonder dreamer comes they consult to kill him let us kill him and see what will become of his dreams So Jesus Christ came among his own sent from his Father in love pitying the wanderings and wants of men but the Jewes scorn him for a deceiver plot to kill him conspire against his life 2. As his brethren sold him for twenty pieces stript him naked and cast him into a pit sent hin as a slave into Egypt where he being indeed free became a servant So Jesus Christ in his infancy was sent into Egypt sold by the Jewes for thirty pieces stript naked of his apparrel and in the form of a servant cast into the pit of death and the grave whence they thought never to have heard more of him as Josephs brethren did 3. As in this service Joseph was tempted to whoredome by his wanton Mistris when they were alone and that often and daily but by strength of grace stoutly resisted yea conquered her and himself So was Jesus Christ in the enterance of his Ministery strongly assailed by Satan to spiritual whoredome when he was alone in the wildernesse and that often set upon yet by the power of the Spirit overcame and conquered so as the evill one found nothing in him 4. As in this service notwithstanding his faithfulnesse and innocency Joseph was falsely accused condemned cast into prison with the Butler and Baker So was Jesus Christ notwithstanding all his innocency falsely accused they lay things to his charge he never knew as falsly condemned bound yea fastned to the crosse between the theeves and cast into the grave as into a prison till the time of his deliverance came that he was taken out from prison and judgement as Isai. 53. 8. IV. In his advancement and preferment For 1. As Joseph was separate from his brethren Gen. 49. 26. that is advanced by God to honour above them all So Christ was separate and advanced in glory above men and Angels Heb. 1. 4. hath obtained a farre more excellent name than the Angels 2. Though Joseph was shot at by the archers yet his arme was strengthened the bonds and fetters were loosed and he not onely brought out of prison but advanced to be Lord over the whole Land and next unto Pharaoh having all administration delivered unto him So Jesus Christ although he was a But or signe of contradiction yet his arme was strengthened to raise himselfe out of the grave to loose all chaines of sinne to loose all sorrowes of death and being risen againe was advanced and exalted above all creatures all power given him in heaven and earth his throne set next unto his Fathers the Lord of his Church and ruler of the whole earth to him is committed the government and his bounds are the utmost hills Psal. 2. yea the whole Church in heaven and earth is his to whom all power belongs 3. As Pharaoh every way honoured Joseph As 1. He richly decks and attires him puts a golden chaine on his neck Gen. 41. 42. 2. They must cry before him Abrech that is every man must bow to him 3. Every man must depend on his word Gen. 41. 55. Goe to Joseph saith Pharaoh and what he saith to you do yee
Ioshua gives the land onely to him that overcommeth And he that perseveres to the end shall be saved CHAP. IX 8. Sampson a type of Christ. I. IN person and condition 1. His conception foretold by the Angel of God Judg. 13. 5. So was Christs His office foretold he must be a Saviour So Christ. Borne beyond strength of nature of a mother long before barren Iudg. 13. 3. So was Christ. His mother saluted by the Angel as Mary was that though she was barren she should conceive a sonne a saviour the one shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistims verse 5. the other must save his people from their sinnes And this promise confirmed by a signe to both the mothers Iudg. 13. 4. Luke 1. 30. 2. Both must be Nazarites Sampson by the Law of Nazarites Numb 6. 2. Christ by occasion of the place in which he was educated not by that law But as a Nazarite signified one that was separate and severed from the common course of men to a more holy profession of sanctity and to a stricter care to avoid all manner of impurity such a one the Prophets signified Christ should be not onely holy and seperate from sinners but the author of holinesse And as Sampson was sanctified from the womb So was Christ much more So the Angel The holy thing that is in thee is of the holy Ghost And herein beyond Sampson for in Christ are all sanctified 3. Sampson grew and the spirit waxed strong in him so as he became a Saviour of incomparable strength So Christ grew every way in stature in favour with God and man and the Spirit was so strong in him because it was not measured unto him as unto Sampson as he became a Saviour stronger than the strong armed man He was the true Sampson that overcame many enemies and slew heapes upon heapes And although Sampson the type was at last overcome by his enemies our true Sampson is invincible and hath gloriously triumphed over them all Both of them were great deliverers the one from great thraldome and temporall misery the other from a greater spirituall and eternall thraldome under sinne the Law Satan hell c. II. Sampson was a type of Christ in three especial actions 1. He found meat in the eater and from the strong sweetnesse and brought some of it to his parents Christ by his death which seemed to eat him up brings us meat the bread of life sweeter than honey and out of this dead Lyons mouth that is Christ dead comes sweetnesse Thence sprang whole flocks of Christians like so many swarmes of bees 2. Sampson loved strange women and went among the enemies of God for a wife which might seeme a sinne in him but that the text saith It came of God Iudg. 14 4. A type of Christs love to the Gentiles casting his love on her that was not beloved to make his despised and dispersed of the Gentiles his spouse and wife as Hosea 2. 23. I will have mercy on her c. Where the whole contract on both parties is set down at large 3. Sampson put forth his minde in parables and riddles So did Christ his doctrine to the Pharisees Matth. 13. 34. III. In passion and suffering they were very like in many passages 1. Both sold for money Sampson by Dalilah to the Princes of the Philistims Iudg. 16. 5 Christ for thirty pieces of silver unto the chiefe Priest Both betrayed by their most familiar the one to the Philistims the other to the Pharisees Both under pretence of love Sampson by Dalilah Iudg. 16. 15. Christ by Iudas with a kisse both apprehended by their enemies both led away both bound both brought forth at a great feast both blinded both scorned both fastened to a post the one of the house the other of the Crosse. 2. As Sampson offered himselfe freely unto death among wicked men as a most valiant Captaine being called to be a revenger of Gods enemies and therefore it it is said Heb. 11. he dyed not as a self-murtherer but in faith that is as a faithfull servant of God adventured his owne life for the destruction of the enemies of God and his Countrey as every good subject and souldier pressed to the field ought to do So Jesus Christ voluntarily offered himselfe to death and went out to meet the apprehendors and was content to dye among wicked men and to be hanged between two theeves that he might destroy and scatter the powers of the enemies of his Churches salvation IV. In victory and fortitude 1. His first stratagem which was as a praeludium to his calling in which he assayed his power was that he overcame a stout Lyon in the desert and slew him with his own hand Chap. 14. 6. and tare him as one should have rent a Kid So the first powerfull worke in which our Sampson shewed himselfe was the conquering of the devill that roaring Lyon hand to hand who assaulted him in the wildernesle by three horrible and hellish temptations 2. Sampson flew with his owne hand being alone above a thousand men at once having nothing but the jawbone of an Asse a weake base and insufficient weapon for so great a warre and victory and as it was unfit so it was an unclean weapon of an unclean beast by the Law which his strict profession of a Nazarite should not have touched had it been out of case of necessity So our true Sampson by as weake instruments and as contemptible in the eyes of flesh conquers thousands daily while by the foolishnesse of Preaching by the doctrine of the Crosse by weak earthen vessells he subdues whole countries and kingdomes unto him that the work may be knowne to be his own hand and power and not the instruments 3. Sampson slew more of Gods enemies at his death than in all his life Iudg. 16. 30. And this was the effect of the death of Christ when sinne Satan hell the grave and his enemies seemed to triumph over him and make themselves merry with the Philistims as having in their power their greatest enemy but suddenly he afflicted them more in his death than in all his life This death of Christ pulled Satans house over his head it was the death of death and squeasing of all enemies at once 4. Sampson being in the City Azzah and the Citizens nowlying in wait to kill him and to make an end of so furious an enemy whom they had sure within their gates he arose at midnight and tooke the doores of the gates of the City and the two posts and lift them away with the barres and layd them on his shoulders and departed Chap. 16. 3. So when satan and sinners had buried Christ laid a stone on him sealed it and watched him thinking they had him sure enough never to molest them more he like another mighty Sampson rose in his might carried away the gates and barres of death from
Lord Jesus Christ and be saved Our Lord himselfe was wont to say to distressed persons According to thy Faith be it unto thee 4. It was fitter than other herbes for the receiving and sprinkling of liquor so Faith although a low and weak plant is onely fit to receive the precious liquor of the bloud of Christ. Onely faith drawes virtue from Christ as in the poor woman that stood behind Christ Mark 5 31. And the want of this bunch of hyssope disables Christ from doing thee any good Christ could do nothing in Capernaum for their unbelief I. Note hence how we are to prize and magnifie the bloud of Christ. For if the shadow of this precious bloud must be so preserved so carefully saved in a costly vessel how much more ought the bloud it self Quest. How may I prize the bloud of Christ Answ. 1. Consider with the dignity of the person the infinite value of it That it is able to purchase the whole Church of God Act. 20. 28. which a thousand worlds of wealth could not do No wealth in heaven or earth besides this can redeem one soule And therefore the Apostle 1 Pet. 1. 19. sets this precious bloud against all corruptible things as gold and silver and things so much set by amongst men 2. Consider the precious things which it procures us both in earth and in heaven 1. Here below it procures us four things 1. Reconciliation and peace with God Rom. 3. 25. and Ephes. 2. 13. we which were farre off are made near by the bloud of Christ. 2. A sweet tranquility of mind peace of conscience which all worldly treasure caÌ„not purchase because now we are within the Covenant of God living in his love which is better than life and in this love is no lack but an abundant supply of all needfull things All which Covenant of grace is made and ratified by this bloud therefore called the bloud of the Covenant Heb. 9. 3. Victory against all the malignity of our spirituall enemies even the greatest Satan himself who is overcome by the bloud of the lamb Rev. 12. 11. 4. Immunity and safety from all the judgements and dangers threatned against our sinnes else had we died without mercy for despising Moses law Heb. 10. 28. For if there were such force in the bloud of the type that by the effusion of it the Israelites lay safe and untouched of the revenging Angel Heb. 11. 28. much more in this bloud of Jesus Christ to cover belieuers in his Name from the hand of Gods revenge due to our transgressions 2. This precious bloud now in heaven procures us the most needfull and excellent good things above all that we can imagine Especially two waies 1. By opening heaven for our prayers for this bloud pleades for us now in heaven and speaks better things for us than the bloud of Abel Heb. 12. 24. That called for vengeance against the sinner this intreateth for daily grace for daily sinnes and procures daily mercies for daily supplies 2. As to our prayers so this bloud openeth heaven to our persons This bloud onely rents the vaile asunder and makes a way into the holy of holies and gives entrance into the kingdome of heaven Heb. 10. 19. by the bloud of Jesus we are bold to enter into the holy place This bloud is the onely key that unlocks heaven for else the Lord dwels in light which no flesh can have accesse to 1 Tim. 6. 16. namely without Christ and the shedding of his bloud II. Is the bloud of Christ so precious take heed of prophaning this precious bloud take heed of sinning against it Consider of that sore punishment which he is worthy of that treads under foot the sonne of God and counteth the bloud of the Testament unholy Heb. 10. 29. He cannot expresse the greatnesse of the punishment in words but leaves it to all mens minds to consider of Quest. How may a man prophane this bloud Answ. 1. By undervaluing it as Papists who think it insufficient to ratifie the Covenant unto them without other additions and supplies from themselves and others yea ascribe as much to the bloud of Thomas Beckâ—t and other traytors as to this bloud 2. To be ashamed of Christ and his sufferings The Jewes must strike the lintels of their doors with the bloud of the Paschall Lambe that all might see they were Israelites signifying that we must openly professe Christ and not be ashamed of his death and ignominy which is the life of the world at which notwithstanding the greatest part of the world stumbleth at this day To shame at the profession of Christ is to contemn his bloud 3. To contemne it in the meanes in which the Lord would hold it before our eyes To reject or neglect the preaching of the word wherein Christ is crucified before our eyes as he was to the Galatians chap. 3. 1. To neglect and despise the Sacrament in which his bloud is after a sort poured out to the mind and senses Or unpreparedly to receive the Sacrament and in the unworthinesse of a guilty conscience is to make ones self guilty of the bloud of Christ as Pilate Judas and the Souldiers were 4. To despise and wrong the godly descended of the bloud of Christ redeemed with the bloud of Christ To hate the Church of God and abuse the members of Christ is to crucifie again the Son of God and despise the price of our purchase In that yee doe it to one of these little ones yee did it to me Thou canst not draw bloud of the Saints but thou sinnest against the bloud of Christ. 5. To prophane it in gracelesse swearing as those branded hell-hounds that swear commonly by wounds or bloud as if this precious bloud were to be engaged on every base occasion Well they carry wounds in their consciences and poure out the life bloud of their souls Sect. IV. IV. In eating the Paschall Lambe Jesus Christ was typified To this eating many conditions are required concerning 1. Time 2. Place 3. Persons 4. Manner 5. Measure The Time It must be eaten at the sametime and in one evening must all Israel eat the Passeover 1. In the evening to signifie our estate of darknesse and misery by sinne and death till Christ came and when Christ came to be our ransome 2. In one and the same evening to note the holy agreement and consent of the whole Church in the faith of Christs death and passion to which well agrees the constitution of our Church ordaining the Supper succeeding it in the same time so all superstition and formality be avoided The Place 1. Every particular Lambe must be eaten in one house to signifie the unity of the Church of God the house of the living God and the spirituall conjunction and agreement of all the faithfull in one bread and one body 1 Cor. 10. 17. 2. If one house sufficed not to eat up one Lambe
they might call in their neighbours to a competent number which might be about a dozen as in our Saviours family to signifie 1. That the Gentiles in time by the voice of the Gospel should be called in to the participation of Christ the Lambe of God and to the fruition and feeding of the same Lambe with the Israelites 2. No number is assigned because the Lord onely knowes who are his 3. Because there were many Lambes to be slain they must be eaten in many houses so as no man must abstain from the Passeover in pain of death signifying the speciall application of the same Christ to severall persons families and houses that every one might taste the sweetnesse of Christ in his own heart and no man expect to be helped or saved by another mans cating that is by the faith and devotions of others without his own This is contrary to Romish doctrine The Persons 1. Onely Israelites no stranger from the Covenant For what have they to doe with the seales that are excluded the writing To signifie that none without the bounds of the true Church have any part of the redemption of Christ neither are capable of the priviledges of Gods people This Lambe gives his life for his sheep onely the merit of his death is childrens bread onely 2. No uncircumcised person might eat the Passeover signifying that no unsanctified person can truly partake of Christ and his merits and that none is fit to come to the Lords table our Evangelicall Passeover that is not first baptised which Sacrament is come in the room of Circumcision 3. Yet a stranger Proselite if he would be Circumcised and joyn himself to the people of God might eat the Passeover as a Jew to signifie both the calling in of the Gentiles of whom divers came in still as Jethro Rabab Ruth the Queen of Saba Job as first fruits of them as also that the Lord is no accepter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him is accepted of him Acts 10. 34 35. Gal. 3. 27 28. The Manner which was twofold 1. Proper to the first Passeover in AEgypt 2. Common to that and all other that followed I. Proper to the first Passeover in four things 1. They must eat it standing now on the suddain departing out of Egypt This was a law of the first Passeover for Christ and his Disciples sate and stood not in celebrating the Passeover and yet broke no law as all the Evangelists observe to signifie that Christians must stand before God as prest and intent upon his service but especially at the time of our departure out of this AEgypt See we be in a readinesse to receive our full deliveries from the servitude of sin Satan and all their present oppressions of which theirs was but a type 2. They must eat it in haste To admonish them not to stay or dwell any longer in that AEgypt And to teach us 1. To hasten out of our spirituall AEgypt quickly least we partake of her plagues and 2. To hasten to our Canaan and Countrey even that heavenly Countrey as they must to their earthly 3. They must eat it like Pilgrims with their loynes girt staves in their hands and shooes on their feet ver 11. signifying how we must eat and enjoy Christ our Paschall Lambe esteeming our selves strangers and pilgrims here in the AEgypt of the world to stand with our loynes girt with verity and truth Eph. 6. 14. alluding to this very occasion with the shooes of the preparation of the Gospel on our feet and with the staffe of Gods heavenly Word in our hands both to strengthen us in our way to defend our selves in our right and propulse whatsoever is in doctrine or manners contrary to heavenly doctrine Thus must Christians acknowledge their condition on earth and frame themselves to it as the Rechabites Jer. 35. 7. not forgetting the commandement of our Father This was the third condition proper to the first Passeover of which we read nothing in Christ and his Apostles 4. They must not goe forth of the house all night till the morning nor ever mingle themselves again with the AEgyptians ver 22 23. This was also proper to that Passeover for our Saviour Christ after the Passeover went out into the garden This signified 1. Our perseverance and continuance in the family of Christ the Church of God not going out any more in action or affection to the AEgypt of this world 2. That we can lie hid and safe onely under the bloud of Christ and in the house of Christ the Church of God whereon and wherein that bloud is sprinkled the revenging Angel is abroad and out of the Church is no salvation 3. In the night of errors heresies afflictions and persecutions for the truth when God revengeth the worlds contempt of his grace if we would be safe we must keep our selves within the Church not departing from the particular house or Church in which we are to joyn to Idolatry or errors least Gods revenge overtake us as the waters overwhelmed all that were without the Arke II. The manner prescribed to all Passeovers ensuing stood in three observations 1. They must eat it with unleavened bread signifying that if we would feed on Christ our Passeover we must purge out all old leven and become a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7. This old leaven is the fusty swelling and spreading corruption of our own wicked nature the leaven of sinne false doctrine heresie corruption of manners soure and tart affections that will not stand with the receiving of Christ and his benefits All this we must purge out and study for sincerity and truth in judgement in affection in action 2. They must eat the Passeover with soure hearbs as sauce signifying 1. True repentance and godly sorrow of heart to be inseparable with the true apprehender of Jesus Christ 2. That Christ and his Crosse are inseparable and that afflictions as soure hearbs are the most wholsome sauce of Christianity Soure indeed and unpleasing to the flesh but profitable 1. To prepare and provoke the appetite with more chearfulnesse and ardency to all godly duties of Prayer Hearing Sacraments Mercy Patience Hope c. Rom. 5. 3 4. 2. To whet and provoke to the practise of all Christian duties of mercy and love 3. To excite the desire to be fully fed with that sweet tree of life and that blessed Mannah in which is no sourenesse in the kingdome of glory Rev. 2. 17. 3. They must alwayes in eating repeat and conferre of their deliverance out of AEgypt and in memory of that benefit provoke their thankfulnesse to God ver 26 27. adding as it were to the Sacrament a word of instruction signifying 1. That we should alwayes remember the death and passion of Christ with due thankfulnesse for so great a deliverance by it if they must still speak of their temporall deliverance much more we of so great and eternall deliverance by
In the spirituall worship of believers both in the old and new Testament 5. In the blessed Incarnation and appearance of the truth it self who rose as a glorious sun of righteousnesse but as it were at midnight when the world lay in such palpable darknesse as was thicker than the darknesse of Egypt as Manna fell in the night and was readier for them every morning than they were for it Apply this observation for thy particular comfort If thou beest an Israelite no night shall befall thee nor sleep in any night but this carefull eye of God shall watch to supply thee As in three instances 1. The godly passing through this wildernesse of this world although they be in Covenant with God as Israel was yet often are cast into the night of sin and in this night they often nod and slip into a sounder sleep of sinne sometimes than they think of but then this eye watcheth them that they sleep not in death and so fall into extream ruine For they being written on the palm of the Lords hand being as a signet upon his finger as a jewel on his heart and which is nearer as the apple of his eye he watcheth a season to waken them to raise them and erect them in faith to watchfulnesse and salvation 2. Many times the godly fall into the night of affliction and are cast into the dark of many deadly dangers which they should never by themselves be won'd out of Now while they are thus surprised with a dead and dangerous sleep the Lord watcheth to prepare some meanes of evasion which they never dream of How did the Lord watch over Jonah while he slept under hatches not dreaming of so present a danger Nay when he seemes dead and buried in the Whales belly as in a grave of silence how miraculously did the Lord watch to bring him to dry land as sound and safe as if he had been kept in a strong Castle How did the Lord watch Mordecai while he slept Hest. 6. 1. he slept but the King shall not sleep till he have advanced Mordecai How did he warth over Peter Acts 12. 7. whilst he slept so fast in the night as scarce an Angel could waken him and brought him through the sleepie watch Our experience can tell us every morning how the Lord keepes our houses our selves without fear against robbers fires dangers in the night he makes us sleep in safety and while we are helplesse naked sencelesse becomes a wall of protection round about us 3. In the night of death he gives not over his watch but watcheth the very bones of the Saints that in the morning of the resurrection they may more fully enjoy Christ the true Manna and attain a full measure and Gomer and a perfect satiety and fulnesse of this sweet bread of life Psal. 17. 15. David calls it a satisfying with Gods Image when he shall awake Sect. V. III. See in this gift Gods bountifulnesse and freenesse to his Church in three things 1. He offers Israel Manna without the asking seeking or buying it costs them nothing but gathering even so he offers us salvation by Jesus Christ while we ask not after him He is found of them that seek him not The first Adam runs away from Gods presence the second Adam runs after him to seek and recall him out of his bushes Now what desert or merit could there be in the first Adam to be followed with grace in his flying from it And if there be none in him how come we his posterity to more possibility to merit any thing but death more than he No here is no merit no buying of Manna but onely a faithfull and thankful acceptance of it 2. He raines it down in abundance his hand is not short he opened the windows of heaven and rained down Manna to eat Psal. 78. 14. For 1. It is for the honour of God to be bountiful and rich in mercies and to pour down his blessings upon his people 2. Israel needed daily abundance and store of Manna which need he is careful to supply But oh what great goodnesse hath God stored for them that love him In his Son Jesus Christ he hath rained down bread of life the greatest arme and stream that ever flowed from that Ocean A mercy covering all the tents of believers A mercy that lets the true Manna fall enough for a whole world of believers not on one Nation of Israel onely but on all the Nations of the world For he did not so then to any other Nation but now to all Nay in this Manna is a mercy not onely covering the earth but a mountain of mercy reaching to heaven 3. His hand is not weary but every morning le ts fall enough to feed and fill so many hundred thousands of mouths and bellies so the grace of God in Christ is an unweariable grace As he gave more Manna than all the Israelites were able to gatherâ— so he is more infinitely able to give than all believers are able to receive Hence we may with David stir up our selves to blesse the Lord that loadeth us with blessings daily IV. The wisdome of God in administring his mercy to his Church 1. In that he gives them Manna from heaven not from earth they cannot now expect an annuall harvest of corne from the earth but must expect every day an heavenly showre to be fed by because the Lord will not have them fix their eyes and sences on earth but know they were now to live of Gods allowance and for their whole means depend on his hand Let it teach us Christians to lift up our eyes and sences from earth and earthly desires and affect that Manna which is from heaven every day desire to be fed with some heavenly shower for the nourishment of the soul and preserving the life of grace in it Let it teach us to acknowledge the hand of our heavenly father in the gathering of the Manna and good things for our temporall life He is the Father of lights from whom descendeth every good and perfect gift The Israelite must look to heaven for every morsell of bread that he puts in his mouth shall the Christian like swine eat up the mast and never look up to the Tree from whence it falls II. In that he gives them Manna every day He might have given them an harvest of it once a year or he might have rained it once a moneth but he gives it daily To shew 1. that he had undertaken for their daily maintenance whose continuall supplies challenged the continuall dependance upon his providence 2. that they must be content with daily bread 3. that it should be a part of their calling and exercise in the wilderness where other temporall business had they none Let us hence learn 1. To acknowledge Gods wisdome if he give us earthly Manna and meanes but from hand to mouth he knows how to supply it with true
whom it is not removed by Jesus Christ. 4. The Rock was smitten but it was not so much the striking on the Rock but the Lords standing upon it that gets water for Israel Exod 17. 6. There was no vertue in the stroak but all depended on Gods commandement and precept and presence even so it is not the death of Christ nor the abundance of price and merit of his bloud nor the striking on this Rock before mens eyes in the ministery of the Word and Sacraments that can bring one drop of true water of comfort but by the presence and word of Gods blessing The efficacy of grace depends not on any meanes or work wrought but it is Gods word and presence that doth all in them Object Then we may give up the use of all meanes and pray at home for grace Sol. Not so for meanes must be used Moses must speak to the Rock God appoints no meanes in vain but we must not insist and dwell in them but look beyond them to Gods blessing and successe Moses must use the Rod though a word without the rod might have done it so we must use the meanes as being tyed to them though God be not but not stick in them seeing the abuse of them may make them hurtful not helpful The people of Moses the Jewes struck this Rock pearced him with thornes and speares saw with their eyes the precious fountain opened in his side a priviledge in which they were beyond all people of the earth but partly ignorant what they did partly malitious treading this pretious bloud under foot not attending not believing the Word this real striking of this Rock was unprofitable yea and damnable unto them 5. The waters of the Rock smitten followed the Israelites 1. Noting the abundance of water not onely for their present supply but also for future so in Christ and his bloud 〈◊〉 abundant and plentiful redemption and consolation 2. The Rock following them that is following or satisfying their desires It followed them every where where they desired followed their necessities followed their desires So Christ Jesus is to the faithful heart all it can desire He followes them with all sweet and needful desires He is above all that heart can think alwayes present with us through our wildernesse especially in most needful times 3. It followed them in signifying the truth which was to follow It signified plainly that Christ was to follow it as the truth the tppe and so it followed them with instruction and admonition so Christ the true Rock followes the Church with instruction His whole life ministery miracles actions passion and speeches was a real instruction And now by his Ministery he followes us with daily directions 4. It followed them through the wildernesse even unto Canaan All the drynesse of that dry and barren wildernesse could not dry it up So the waters of grace streaming from the Rock Jesus Christ follow the believing Israel of God through the wildernesse of the world to the heavenly Canaan All the persecutions and parching heats and droughts in the world can never dry it up Let all the wildernesse besides want water in Israels Campe is enough Where God begins with a man in sound and saving grace here it will carry him into the land of promise True grace must end in glory Hence arise observations twofold I. In respect of God to confirme our faith in the assurance of his 1. Presence 2. Power 3. Mercy to the Church I. His Presence He that before was present in the Pillar of the Cloud and Fire for their safety and in the Manna for their sustenance is now present in the Rock for their satiety in their extreme thirst The presence of Christ is all in all to the Church his presence is a present supply of all wants His eye is alwayes present for although it goe over all the world yet it is alwayes fixed on the Church His ear is present they cannot call to Moses for bread or water but he heares and supplies His hand is ever present with and for his Church and is not shortned Himself is ever present with his in life in death and after for good for grace and glory Onely keep thou these conditions 1. Be with him 2 Chron. 15. 2. that is walk with him as Henoch 2. Keep in thy wayes for so long he hath promised his comfortable presence 3. Rejoyce in his presence in the presence of his spirit in the signes and meanes of his presence And then fear not want sicknesse nor to walk in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death for God is with thee Psal. 23. 4. He will also prepare a table for thee in the sight of the adversarie ver 5. II. Here is a testimony of such mighty and miraculous power in God for his people that even Moses himself staggered and could scarce conceive a work of such power from God Here is a work of omnipotency in cleaving the hard Rock Psal. 78. 15. To shew 1. That he is a free worker not tied to second causes but at his pleasure can hinder alter or change the power of nature Psal. 115. 3. 2. That he can work by contraries and out of most unlikely yea contrary meanes effect his own pleasure Luke 1. 37. Is any thing impossible to God 3. That we should cast our eyes on this power Psal. 62. 11. Once have I heard it yea twice that power belongeth to God And hence learn 1. Not to limit the holy one that made heaven and earth of nothing 2. Faithfully to depend on this power when we see no meanes of safety or supply but all the meanes contrary For the Rock shall yield water rather than thou shalt want what he seeth good for thee 3. In thy fainting and wearinesse when thy weaknesse tells thee thou art not able to goe on in this wildernesse for want of water of comfort and consolation nay art hopelesse in thy self or any meanes thou canst make now hope above hope Gods power is sufficient in thy weaknesse Sampson shall get both victory and water by a jaw-bone the most unlikely thing in the world for either And though this power now worketh not miracles ordinarily yet before thou that waitest on him shalt miscarry he will miraculously sustain thee III. Here is a testimony of Gods admirable mercy to his people Israel deserved to be smitten for their murmuring and rebellion but the Rock is smitten for them The Rock is not smitten for itself but for Israel In stead of a revenging power which they might have expected they find a gracious power which they could not expect Even so all mankind was to be smitten by the Law but the Rock must be smitten for us Our Rock suffered nothing for his own sinnes who was purer in his nature and actions than all the Angels of God but all the stroke he suffered was for the Israel of God that they