be a prayer of faith that is available Jam. 5. 15. If to good works and good life it must be a life of faith led by faith for the just must live by his faith If to the Church of God he must be of the houshold of faith else he shall be but as Judas among the Disciples Faith must be every where diffused to walk by faith live by faith and die in faith as the Saints in former ages have done for our imitation 3. We must hold on this expectation on our Serpent as the Israelites did till they were perfectly cured And because we can never be perfectly cured in this life but onely in part we must still look up to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. till we be fully and perfectly healed Hence it is that the Lord will never have this Brazen Serpent taken down as the other was after a short time but hath appointed the Ministery to lift him up and hold him perpetually before our eyes so long as we are here below and enjoyned us the constant use of it all the while we are in this wildernesse which were needlesse if we had once attained our perfect cure This is a strong motive to hold our eyes fast fixed upon Jesus Christ till we come to enjoy him as he is when all Ministery shall cease and the Lamb shall be all in all Sect. VIII From this so excellent a figure ariseth a bright Sun of light and comfort for all the faithful 1. The Israelite that could look to the Serpent if his eye were never so tender weak or dim yet was cured Thou that art the weakest believer be comforted thy weak faith shall save thee thy smoaking flax shall not be quenched but cleared to farther brightnesse Thy weak hand shall be able to receive and hold the gift of righteousnesse and eternal life It is not the greatnesse of thy faith that saves thee but the truth of it Yet with this caution If it be true it will strive to encrease And if there be so much comfort in weak faith how much is there in strong 2. The Israelite stung never so often if so often he did look on the Serpent so often he was cured Oh singular comfort Thou that renewest thy sins every day and every day goest over the same frailties renew also thy faith daily and thy repentance and thou art safe That brazen Serpent lost his vertue of healing but our Brazen Serpent never loseth his If thou sinnest seventy times seven and so many times returnest by faith in Christ and say It repents me by this looking upon the brazen Serpents all those wounds shall be cured Yet with this caution That as he had been a mad Israelite who because there was a Serpent set up to cure him would therefore run of purpose among Serpents to be stung by them So is he no lesse witlesse a Christian who therefore willingly makes his sin abound because grace hath abounded A mad man he is that will therefore break his head or wound his members because he hath a soveraign plaister by him 3. The Israelites stung never so deadly never so desperately never so long wounded yet looking on the Serpent were cured If thy sins be as red as scarlet and never so great if in thy sense some one of them deserve a thousand hells and the guilt of it or them rings continually in the eares of thy conscience frighted with feares of hell and death if thy sins be festered and of long continuance Now come to the Brazen Serpent Never was any Israelite that could look on the Serpent sent away uncured But there is ten thousand times more vertue in Jesus Christ than in ten millions of brazen Serpents onely look on this Serpent by the eye of faith turn from all thy sins and be saved 4. The Israelites looking on the Serpent brought present cure and ease and they went away rejoycing If thou believest in Jesus Christ thou art perfectly cured As Christ was wont to say to his Patients so I say to thee Goe in peace Thy faith hath made thee whole Onely this grace can quiet the heart distressed and can keep it from sinking as once it did Peter Mat. 14. 29. In this is the beginning and accomplishment of thy happinesse The converted Gaolor went away rejoycing that he and his house believed Act. 16. 34. Now if one sight of faith in this our absence from Christ be so joyful a thing what shall the sight of fruition doe in his presence 5. The Israelites having once the brazen Serpent cared not for the fiery Serpents They might sting them now but not much hurt them they might now poyson them but not kill them So the believer looking to the true Brazen Serpent may triumph over the old Serpent and all the serpentine seed and say as the Apostle teacheth 1 Cor. 15. 55. Oh sin where is thy sting Oh hell where is thy victory Nay Thanks be to God who hath given us victory by our Lord Jesus Christ. Great was the power of the Israelites looking upon that Serpent for when the fiery Serpents were present it made them powerlesse and not hurtful Greater is the power of faith in the Lord Jesus which though our sinnes in themselves are most venomous and poysonful stings and such as we cannot be rid of them yet it so blunts them and makes them so powerlesse that they kill us not nay that they hurt us not nay more that they help us and make us better more humble more wise more watchful Thus our good God who out of the most infinite curse of Christ his Son on the Crosse brought forth to us the most infinite blessing which fills heaven and earth doth out of our cursed sins bring forth his own glory joyned with our greatest good For which as for all other his unspeakable mercies unto us be praise given in all Churches and from henceforth to all eternities Amen FINIS J. Lambert Martyr Epist. ad Romanos 1. 2. Rom. 10. 4. Cont. Jul. 9. De cibis Jud. c. 5. Cont. Faust. Advers Jud. Heb. 13. 8 John 14. 6. Heb. 11. 2. Eph. 4. 5. M. Min. Fel. Octav. Rom. 11. 26. Ludov. Coeretus 1553. Christ the truth of legall shadows Introduction to this Treatise 1. 2. 3. 4. Sacramenta sunt mutata non sides August 5. God appointed a multitude of ceremonies to the Iewes for 5. reasons 1. Velata sunt ista doneâ— aspiraret dies removerentur umbrae Aug. 2. Grace in the new Testament specially how Ceremonies called shadows for 4. reaseus 3. Non ex opereoperato 4. Use of them to the Iews 5. Gods wisdome in appointing them The generall division of this Treatise Adam a type of Christ in four things 1. Uterque ad imaginem Dei conditus uterque Deo charissimus 2 Primus ecclesiae doctor audiens immediate a Deo quae ecclesiae erant proponenda ita et Christus 3. 4. Use
Christ himself by the Spirit so as never man spake yet both were despised and the Spirit resisted whereby they spake So now godly Ministers must not think much to be despised in their Ministery for as it was in the days of Noah and of Christ So Christ hath told us it must be 3. Prophanenesse of the Ministery and generall malice against sincerity As in the dayes of Noah many Wrights and workmen were busie to prepare an Ark for others but themselves neither entred into the same nor saved by the same And as in the dayes of Christ the Scribes and Pharisees professed themselves chiefe builders but refused the corner stone and neither entred themselves nor suffered others but envy Christ they could So shall it be in the dayes of the Sonne of man 4. In the common-state and men apostacy security sensuality men eat drinke marry but know nothing of judgement that is will not know So shall the comming of the Sonne of man be Mat. 24. 39. III. In that Christ is the true Noah all the true members of Christ who are carefull to prepare them an Arke and to get within the Arke of the Church have solid and strong comfort For 1. He is ready to receive all that come unto him who calls all the weary as Noah readily received all that offered themselves unto him Let not thy sinne discourage thee be thou never so uncleane get once into the Arke and thou art safe 2. As Noah himself entered into the Arke and abode there all the time of danger and tossing by the waters so our Lord abides still in the same ship of the Church with us he is so much the more compassionate to us as he is acquainted with our sorrowes and though the danger and fear be never so much we shall fare no worse than himself will who in all our troubles is troubled with us and for us 3. As Noah pitched the Ark within and without and so fenced it against the waves and raging billowes and surges of a world of seas So doth our true Noah strengthen his Arke and Church partly with his promise partly with his prayers that their faith faile not as with pitch within and without so firme and sure as let this little Arke of the Church be tossed upon the waters of affliction and tried by never so many temptations and persecutions in this sea of the world it is so fenced pitched that it shall never miscarry Noahs Arke indeed by tossing beating of the waters may be weakned and made worsei but Christs Arke the Church is made better and stronger by trials and afflictions It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn thy statutes Noahs Arke at last shall putrifie and perish but Christs Arke shall never perish but at last be more perfect and glorious 4. As Gods Covenant with Noah was his safety in the Arke for looke upon the Arke floating above water laden with heavie burthen fenced against the waters with a little pitch perhaps not very skilfully that being the first vessell that ever was made for the water without Anchor mast sterne Pilot or Master to govern it for Noah was shut in by God how should it be but carried by windes and waves upon rocks or hils or sands or trees or buildings and so in an instant split all to pieces but that the Lord was Stearsman of all that voyage So the safety of the Church is that it hath so faithfull a Pilot whose Covenant made in his Church is the wall and defence of his People more stable than the foundation of the earth Which made David to glory Though the earth be moved and the mountains tumbled into the sea yet the Church may glory in the salvation of her God In our lesser trials stormes oppositions look to God our safety be within the Arke God will provide for thy safety 5. The Arke had a time to be freed from the deluge of waters So the Church hath a time for her deliverance Rev. 7. 14. Psal. 55. 22. 6. When the flood of waters bated the Arke rested on the mountaine of Ararat Gen. 8. 4. So when the waters of affliction are dried up the Church hath her rest in the holy mountaine of God Psal. 15. CHAP. IV. 3. Melchizedek a type of Christ. HEbrews 7. 3. He was likened to the Sonne of God We must search wherein and how Christ was the truth of that figure I. In the notation of his name Melchizedek signifieth King of righteousnesse Our Saviour was indeed properly King of righteousnesse Heb. 7. 2. Isai. 11. 4. Psal. 45. 6 7. thy kingdome is a scepter of righteousnesse thou lovest righteousnesse Mal. 4 2. Christ the Sonne of righteousnesse shall arise From him all have righteousnesse as from a fountaine II In his Office 1 He was King of Salem of peace So Christ is called the Prince of peace Isa. 9. 6. not of a corner but of all the world and of Salem that is of Jerusalem Psal. 2. 6. I have set my King on Sion On his shoulders was the government laid Of whom Zach. 9. 9. O Jerusalem behold thy King commeth unto thee he is just and saved himself poor and riding upon an asse but with this difference Melchizedek brings peace earthly temporall but Christ is our peace Ephes. 2. 14. by whom we have peace with God he guides our feet into the way of peace and leades us to peace eternall So he was true king of true peace so was not Melchizedek 2. Melchizedek was not onely a King but Priest of the most high God Gen. 14. 18. So Christ was both King and Priest King Revel 1. 5. Prince of all the kings of the earth Priest Heb. 4. 14. Our great high Priest This was not usuall in the Jewes Policy or progeny of David to whom onely the kingdome was promised neither would God admit the mingling of these Offices among them as in Uzziah 2 Chron. 26. But as this dignity was reserved unto Christ so was it dispenced with in his speciall figure to be both a great King and Priest III. In his originall Without Father or Mother genealogy beginning or end of dayes without kindred that is none of these mentioned in Scripture or in the story of his life Although he had both father mother kindred birth death yet the Lord of set purpose would have all these concealed in scripture that he might be a more expresse type of Jesus Christ who was truely without father as man That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God without mother as God without kindred according to his Deity in respect of his Divine nature without generation for who can declare his generation Isa. 53. 8. seeing he was before all worlds eternally begotten of his Father And whereas Melchizedek onely had no beginning or end of life expressed Christ is onely truly without beginning neither shall
have any end for he is the beginning and the ending And although his humanity had genealogie beginning and ending of life yet as he was the word he had none And although as the Soâ—â—e he was from the Father yet as God he was from none but as the word was of himself Here also is a difference Melchizedek was without genealogy according to Scripture Christ according to nature IV. In the excellency of his 1. Person 2. Priesthood 1. For excellency of Person 1. Melchizedek was greater than Abraham for he blessed Abraham and the greater blessith the lesser Heb. 7. 7. signifying Christ the fountain and originall of all blessing in heavenly and earthly things Ephes. 1. 3. 2. Melchizedek refreshed Abraham and his Army returning weary from the battell and journey with bread and wine Here Abraham was a receiver Melchizedek a giver a manifest type of Jesus Christ refreshing and comforting all his followers and members of his militant Church in their journey and wearinesse with his word and Sacraments Matthew 11. 28. I will refresh you 3. Melchizedek was man onely and sinfull Christ God and man without sinne Melchizedekas the sonne of God Christ indeed the Sonne of God 2. For the excellency of his Sacrifice or his Priesthood which was greater than Aarons For 1. Levi and Aaron paid tythes in Abrahams loines to Melchizedek Heb. 7. 9. and the inferiour payes tythes to the Superiour Such is the Priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek not of Aaron 2. In regard of the entrance Melchizedek was not annointed with materiall oyle as Aaron nor received his Priesthood from any other but onely so declared by the mouth of God So Christ succeeded none received his Priesthood from none but annointed by the Spirit of God Luke 4. 18. and made a Priest by the Oath of God Psal. 110. 4. The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek 3. In regard of the continuance of his Priesthood For as he receives it from none so he passeth it not to any other nor any can succeed him but he endureth ever having an everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. The Leviticall Priesthood ended particularly in the death of every high Priest and universally and finally in the death of our high Priest But Christ is eternall who died but rose again figured in Melchizedek I. If Christ be the true Melchizedek then must he needs be greater than Abraham though the Jewes vainly gainsay it Joh. 8. 53. To him all our tythes and offerings due from Abraham to Melchizedek He is blessed and Prince onely the King of kings and Lord of lords unto him be honour and power everlasting 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. So the four and twenty Elders Revel 11. 15 17. And Angels Beasts Elders and all creatures Revel 5. 11 12 13. II. For the comfort of the Church that Christ is the true Melchizedek both a Priest and a King 1. As he is a Priest we are assured of a perfect reconciliation by his all-sufficient Sacrifice 2. Of sound instruction for the Priest must teach the Law his lips must present knowledge Joh. 4. 25. When the Messiah is come he will tell us all things We detest the blasphemy therefore that tells us that he hath left an imperfect doctrine that must be eeked with traditions 3. Of his blessed intercession which is meritorious and acceptable Samuel out of his love to the people 1 Sam. 12. 23. saith thus God forbid that I should sinne and cease to pray for you but I will teach you the good way Christs love to the Church is no lesse therefore he will both teach and pray 4. Of powerfull protection and safety For he is not our Priest onely but our King not our Doctor onely but our Defendor not a Priest onely to pray but a King to obtain for us and bestow on us what he prayes for What if he had never so much power in teaching if he were impotent in defending But he is King of peace in himself and unto us We have a powerfull advocate in heaven They never tasted the sweetnesse of this doctrine that seek after any other Mediator III. Hence is the happinesse of the Church As Melchizedek blessed Abraham So Christ our Melchizedek hath blessed all the faithfull posterity of Abraham Ephes. 1. 3. with all spirituall blessings in Christ Jesus But with difference Melchizedek onely pronouncing blessing Gen 14. 19. Blessed art thou of God possessor of heaven and earth But our Melchizedek meriteth and bestoweth blessings of higher kind also than could Melchizedek For 1. Christ blesseth by meriting blessing through his most perfect sacrifice pacifying his Fathers wrath Melchizedek offered no such sacrifice to no such effect his was accepted by mercy not for merit not for his own sacrifice but for Christs 2. By actuall procuring the blessing of remission of sinnes and righteousnesse restored a more effectuall blessing than Melchizedek could procure His sacrifices could onely signifie these in the Messiah's not actually apply them 3. By gathering calling ruling and preserving in spirituall life his whole Church as members of his own body and by the donation of his spirit none of which blessings Melchizedek could give 4. By bestowing eternall life on beleevers here in the first fruits hereafter in the harvest whereof Melchizedek must be a receiver from him the fountain not a giver 5. By publishing and pronouncing on beleevers all this blessing in the preaching of the Gospel and sealing it to the hearts of the elect by the daily effectuall voyce of his spirit by the word which Melchizedek could not doe Therefore a greater than Melchizedek is here and a greater blessing than Abraham received from him Let the world curse wicked ones rage and revile against the Church and Members yet as Isaac said of Jacob Gen. 27. 33 I have blessed him and therefore he shall be blessed the same will Christ not say onely but accomplish to them IV. Hence is the stability and perpetuity of the Church and members That Christ is the true Melchizedek that is an eternall Priest the Church must be eternall For a Priest cannot be without a Church nor an eternall Priest without an eternall Church but of Christ it is said thou art a Priest for ever Therefore Tyrants shall not waste it time shall not out-last it death shall not hinder the being and happinesse of it no more than it could the eternity of the Priest himself who rose gloriously from the dead so shall the members How happy a thing is it to be of this houshhold V. The excellency of Christs Priesthood above the Leviticall This is the scope of the Apostle in describing Melchizedeks Priesthood so largely For the Leviticall Priests were homagers to this yea to the shadow of it in Melchizedek while they were in Abrahams loines 1. They were men onely of men Christ the Sonne
contented to be rejected of all sorts of men not enemies onely but of brethren So was David so Christ and the servant is not better than the Master It was ever the lot of truth to be rejected of the builders as was David as was Christ few nobles few wise nay many great Rabbies professing the key of knowledge were greatest enemies to the truth as the truth is in Christ that is to the sincere profession and practise of Christianity Nay the basest sort made mouthes and scorned them both And are there not now such as would scorne out the truth of grace were it possible 3. Though Christ the chiefe corner stone may be refused he cannot be removed David must be King against all the hearts of his enemies So Christ shall keep his place and headship against the gates of hell he is a king everlasting in his Church and of his kingdome shall be no end He is a King ever present in his Church Matth. 28. 20. and needs no Vicar nor hath put it off to his pretended Vicar who claimes to be King of Priests and Princes He is a King present in his Church not as Baal among his worshippers either a sleep or in his journey or otherwise taken up but ever intent for the safety of the Church watching ever to overturne the open power and private pollicy plotted and planted against his kingdome Let us with faith and hope ever lift our eyes up to his banner and stand close to our victorious Captaine For as Souldiers loosing the sight of their Ensigne are in extreame hazard of confusion so we if we suffer Christ to slippe out of our eyes and hearts hazard the losse of our salvation CHAP. XI 10. Salomon a type of Christ in 6. things I. IN person and condition Both Salomons both Jedidiahs that is beloved of God both Kings of Israel both Kings in Jerusalem both Preachers in Jerusalem both sonnes of David yea both sonnes of God To both agrees that 2 Sam. 7. 14. I will be his father and he shall be my son But with this difference Salomon was the sonne of God by adoption and grace the true Salomon by nature and eternall generation II. Salomon was a peace-maker full of peace 1 Chr. 22. 9. A sonne is borne to thee which shall be a man of peace and I will give him rest from his enemies therefore his name is Salomon and I will send peace and quietnesse on Israel in his dayes A notable type of our Salomon who himself is the Prince of peace whose Scepter is a Gospel of peace whose subjects are Sons of peace whose kingdome stands in righteousnesse joy peace c. at whose birth the Angels sang Peace on earth But with difference Salomon could preserve onely outward peace but Christ makes up our peace with God and all Creatures and brings sweet peace and upholds it in our consciences 1 Kings A. 25. Salomon procured that in his days all Israel and Iudah dwelt without fean every man under his Vine and fig-tree in respect of outward tranquility and security but our Salomon that every beleever is redeemed from enemies to serve God without fear of sin Satan hell damnation Salomon brought peace but could not establish it in his own dayes much lesse after him for presently after the kingdome was rent into pieces But our Salomon brings a peace which none shall take away III. Salomon excelled all other men in wisdome and knowledge 1 King 4. 29 30. But Christ is the wisdome of the father far excells Salomon as in whom are hid all the treasurs of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. For 1. Salomon had wisdome by donation and gift Christs was native and proper 2. Salomon by all his wisdome knew not mens thoughts but Christ knew what was in man Joh. 2. 25. 3. Salomon though very wise in himselfe could not infuse his wisedome into others to make them so But Jesus Christ is made of God our wisdome 1 Cor. 1 30. because he is not onely our head as King but as Mediator unto whom we as members are mistically united 4. Salomon was not so wise in the beginning of his raigne nor in the end but our true Salomon was never destitute of the wisdome of God 5. Salomons wise sayings have commended his wisdome in all the Church of God the fame of his wise speeches and actions spread through the world But much more hath the fame of Christs doctrine and miracles Matth. 4. 24. John 7. 46. And never man spake like our Salomon by his adversaries confession therefore not Salomon IV. Salomon was a type of Christ in that he was a King of greatest royalty wealth and glory that ever was He so inriched his subjects that silver and gold were as common to them as stones in the streets 1 King 3. 13. no King on earth was like Salomon but Salomon was no King to Christ. Cant. 3. 11. Come forth ye daughters of Sion looke upon King Salomon with the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him c. That was no doubt royall and glorious to behold but we shall see all Salomons glory nothing to Christs For 1. Salomon had but one Crown but Christ hath many Crownes on his head Rev. 19. 12. 2. The maids of Sion admire Salomon for his and reverence him but all the Saints in earth and heaven honour and worship Christ with divine honour which is given to none but God 3. Salomon without wealth and abundance cannot enrich his subjects but Christ out of poverty enricheth his He being rich became poor to enrich us 4. Salomon enricheth his people with silver gold and earthly wealth Christ the true Salomon doth his with heavenly and spirituall wealth as of wisedome the price of which is above silver of faith much more precious than gold and all other graces to which all worldly wealth is but as stones in the street yea dung and drosse 5 Salomons throne was set above all the thrones of the Kings of the earth but Christs farre above Salmons He is the great King of glory exalted unto the right hand of God and ruleth not a small corner of the earth but hath all power in heaven and earth Neither doth Christs humility and abasement hinder his glory for when he was lowest he shewed greater glory in the least of his many miracles than Salomon in all his royalty Nay more he was more triumphant upon the Crosse and rode in more magnificence than ever Salomon did in all his golden Chariots V. Salomon was a type of Christ in 1. building 2. dedicating 3. ordering the Temple First in the building 1. Salomon according to the wisedom and large heart which God gave him built God an house wherein he dwelt at Jerusalem for God kept house and fire in Sion Isai. 31. 9. and Salomon set him up a standing house Our true Salomon builds an house for God even for the blessed Trinity to dwell in Not
with filthy clouts and raggs of sinne and the apparel of death should have these taken away Zach. 3. 4. But to be thus arrayed covered yea decked and adorned with such beauty and glory is more cause of joy and comfort II. In their parts they assure our happinesse and seale up our comfort I. The Pectorall shewes how God esteemes of believers that they are the precious parts of the earth signified by the twelve pretious stones 1. For price A great summe of money will not buy one of these precious stones For we are not redeemed with gold silver or corruptible things but with precious bloud He must be some great King that must buy an Union but he must be the great God that can purchase one of these precious stones Acts 20. 2. For shining and beauty If a man were clothed with the Sunne he must needs shine gloriously The meanest beleever is clothed with the Sunne Revel 12. 1. and shineth in the firmament of the Church with the beames of Christs righteousnesse as the Sunne in his strength 3. For hidden virtues and secret operation The godly have not a shine and shew but the true substance of many virtues and graces secretly layd up in their hearts and working mightily in them the stones out of common Quarries that is common men have not such things 4. For rarenesse It is an hard thing to find a godly man these are rarer than most pretious stones Elias could not see one in the world besides himselfe though there were many 5. For their estimation and the reckoning of them with God and good men Although the world out of ignorance and malice scorne this pearle and as swine tread them under foot yet the Jeweller knowes them our high Priest placeth them upon his breast And a wise merchant knowes that a pearle troden under foot is a pearle and in it selfe a pearle lying in the quarry or sands unknown or trampled in the dirt or myre is as good as when it is taken out Thou that art an enemy to good men 1. See how farre thou art from Gods judgement 2. If thou knewest their worth where now thou tramplest them thou wouldest take them into thy heart 3. One day thou shalt desire their glory but too late II. The robe of the Ephod hath comfort for the poor despised members of Christ whose estate is figured by the Pomegranates Which 1. In themselves have no great beauty without or on the outside 2. Their place is below and they hang in the skirt of the garment But within 1. They carry the colour of bloud are washed in the bloud of Christ. 2. They are full of excellent juyce and liquor of grace and piety 3. They cast a sweet smell from them and leave a pleasant savour behind them and therefore Christ fastens them to himselfe inseparably as the Pomegranates were fastened to the high Priests garment Be thou a fruitfull Christian no matter what place thou art in or in what account among men Our high Priest hath use of thee and must not go into the sanctuary of heaven without thee though thou hangest in the skirts of his garment III. The Miter or crown of our high Priest assureth us that we by his anointing shall attaine the like crown For he hath trodden all our enemies not onely under his feet but under ours also Rom. 16. 20. Let us not cast down our hopes and hearts our high Priest is stronger than all the enemies that can rise up against the Church And we may couragiously combate against sinne errours hereticks being sure of victory through the Crown and Miter of Jesus Christ. This Miter of Christ shall fetch down the Miter of Antichrist for us This Crown of our high Priest shall shake down his tripple Crown and hath already blasted him And though these Babylonians begin to wriggle as a snake deadly wounded with hope to raigne in these Churches as sometime they did and for the sinnes of the Land they may recover power by their craftinesse to surprize some ignorant silly and unstable persons yet shall they prevaile against none whose names are written in the book of life but by the power of our Captaine we shall tread down both Satans and Antichrists kingdome and prevaile against all that riseth up against the power of Christ. Sect. VI. Priests types in the execution of their Office Having declared how the high Priest and Priests of the old Testament resembled our high Priest of the new Testament Jesus Christ in respect of his solemne inauguration and investure into his Office Now we are to shew how he farther typified our Lord in respect of his administration and execution of it Many are the speciall Lawes which the Lord gave to the Priests concerning their careful carriage of themselves above others and these may be reduced to two heads 1. As concerning their common actions 2. As concerning their actions ministeriall Concerning his common actions he was prohibited diverse things which were lawfull in other men I will mention three I. The Priests must keep an holy abstinence from wine and strong drink for the time they entered into the Tabernacle Levit. 10. 9. a Law was made for all the Priests upon occasion of Nadabs and Abihues punishment who being as it seems drunk offered strange fire and were burnt by fire before the Lord. And the Lord gives a reason of this Law least their mindes or sences might be distracted or disturbed so as they could not rightly discerne or execute the thing pertaining to God and things pertaining to men Heb. 5. The use of the Law was 1. Typicall shadowing out the most holy and sober course of our high Priest Jesus Christ who was never unready or unfit for any part of his Office but in all perfection of judgement and understanding faithfully performed and fulfilled all righteousnesse 2. Perpetuall carrying in it a perpetual equity for all Christian Pastors and Ministers who must use such creatures and liberties sparingly as they help their naturall infirmities by them and help themselves forward in the exercise of prayer study preaching and other Ministeriall duties but not to dull or to make themselves grosse or distempered by them And hence is the same law repeated in the new Testament Tit. 1. 7. A Minister must not be a lover of wine Not inhibiting all use of wine and strong drink in case of necessity as in griefe of heart or for healths sake Prove 31. 6. Timothy may drink a little 1 Tim. 5. 23. yea and for honest delight at Feasts and Marriages may be a more liberall use of wine as Joh. 2. where Christ himselfe was present But he may not be a quaffer or wine-bibber one that sits at the wine or pot swilling in wine or strong drink because this is as great an hinderance to the faithfull performance of Ministeriall duties as may be For 1. It troubles the understanding Hos. 4. 11. wine
sorrow turne the streame against our sinnes and in all crosses set our heaviness rather upon some sinne in our selves which might cause the crosse than on the crosse it selfe Sect. VII Now it followeth that we shew how the Priests figured Christ in their ministeriall actions Of these kinds of actions some were common to inferiour Priests some proper to the high Priest I. Common actions were six 1. The Priests must kill the sacrifices and none but he signifying Jesus Christ his voluntary action in laying downe his life for beleevers none could take away his life from him And he was to be as well the Priest as the sacrifice Joh. 10. 18. I have power to lay down my life 2. The priest offered the bloud of the sacrifices to God and sprinkled it on the Altar for they were ordained for men in things of God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes Heb 5. 1. No man might offer his owne sacrifice but he must bring it to the Priest Levit. 7. 4. there was no comming to God but by the Priest Figuring out Jesus Christ who offers up himselfe a sacrifice for the sinnes of the world upon the Altar of his Deity which gives both vertue and merit unto it No other can offer to God bloudy or unbloudy sacrifice upon this Altar but himselfe Joh. 17. 19. I sanctifie my selfe for them even as the Altar sanctifieth the gift 3. The Priests prepared the body of the sacrifice Lev. 1. 6. fleyed it divided it into severall parts washed the intrailles put fire unto the burnt offering consumed the fat cast the filth and dung into the place of ashes Sgnifying that Christ himselfe alone did the whole worke of redemption He suffered the heat of Gods wrath and justice he puts away all our filth and covers it in his owne ashes he burnes up our fat that is the senselessenesse of our sinne and all that savoureth of the flesh by the fire of his Spirit and inwardly purgeth and wholy washeth us in the fountaine of his own bloud 4. The Priest must teach the people His lipps must preserve knowledge Mal. 2. 7. and the people must depend on his mouth Signifying the action of this great teacher of the Church who brought to us from the bosome of his father the whole counsell of God concerning the redemption of mankind which could never have entered into the heart of man but by the teaching of this great Prophet Deut. 18. 15. He hath the learned tongue and Grace is powred into his lippes He therefore having the words of eternall life we must depend on him and hear him 5. The Priest must pray for the people and blesse them A forme of blessing is prescribed for Aaron and his sonnes laying their hands on the childeren of Israel fignifying the strong prayers and intercessions of Jesus Christ for his Church who was heard in all things Hebr. 5. 7. as himselfe witnesseth Joh. 11. 42. Father I know thou hearest me alwaies And accomplished not onely in his holy intercession upon earth and now in heaven but manifestly in that blessing of his disciples by laying his hands upon them which was his last action upon earth Luke 24. 50. 6. The Priests were to preserve the Oyle for lights and the incense and for the daily meat-offering and the anointing oyle And the over-sight of the whole Tabernacle and all in the Sanctuary and all the instruments belonged to their care for the safety in moving carrying standing c. Signifying Jesus Christ the preserver of all grace in his Church He onely watcheth for the safety of his Church for the upholding of his holy ministery and all holy constitutions which else would quickly be broken up He plants the Ministery and he removes it at his pleasure He hath the seven stars in his right hand He is the great Arch-bishop of soules to the whole Church and no other in this kind but he So much of common actions ministeriall II. Actions more peculiar to the High priest were 1. daily 2. weekly 3. yearly 4. continually I. He must daily 1. dresse the holy lamps and lights morning and evening before the Lord Lev 24. 2 3. to preserve the lights from going out Shadowing Christ the true light by whom the light of true doctrine must ever shine in the Church and never go out by which the true believers shall be delivered from darknesse and death This was formerly figured by Goshen there was light when three days darknesse was over all Egypt And this was figured by the pillar of fire that never failed till they came to Canaan 2. He must daily burne incense before the Lord upon the Altar of sweet perfume Signifying Christ our high Priest daily offering up 1. Our duties and services done by his appointment and which through him smell as a sweet incense acceptable to God 2. Our prayers called odours of the Saints and a sweet incense Rev. 5. 8. And as no incense pleased God but that which was offered upon that golden Altar so no duty or prayer of ours is farther accepted than offered up by him and from him whose golden purity gives merit and worth unto them And as the incense must be offered up by the high Priest morning and evening so the continuall virtue of Christs merit ascendeth daily before God and perfumeth all the Sanctuary neither is there any other way to the father but by him II. He must weekly make the shew-bread and set it before the Lord continually Exod 25. 30. And more expressely Lev. 24. 5 6. Every Sabbath he must set on the table twelve loaves according to the twelve tribes take the old away to the maintaining of his family for which use they might well suffice every loafe weighing about seven or eight pounds Here was a figure of Christ the true bread of Life who sets himself in the preaching of the Gospel and administration of the Sacraments before the face of God that is in the assemblies gathered together every Sabbath the most sufficient food and refreshing of the Church to continue it in life strength and good estate from Sabbath to Sabbath till that eternall Sabbath come III. He must yearly once and that in the day of expiation go into the Holy of Holies Exo. 30. 10. and Lev. 16. 2 24. to make an attonement for himselfe for all his house and for all the people but not without bloud Signifying that Christ by one alone sacrifice of himselfe hath opened the Sanctuary of heaven and by his ascension hath made enterance into it on our behalfe and there appeares before God once for all to make intercession for us See Heb. 10. 12 19. And as he must goe alone without all attendants so Christ must tread the wine presse alone Isai. 63. 3. No friend no disciple stands with him no fellow no companion goes with him to make attonement but all feare and flye that we might cast our eye
fire but is not consumed Exod. 3. 2. The members of this Church are not chaffe and stubble but pure metall the longer in the fire the better tryed and the purer 3. There is no Pillar of fire in the Church without the pillar of cloud God mingleth his corrections with consolations and in judgement remembreth mercy 4. Nature must run out of her self to doe homage to her Creator Fire must câ—ase to burn at his word Dan. 3. 27. The fire burnt onely the bonds of the three children but not their bodies it not onely saves their lives but sets them at liberty being cast in bound 5. The power of God makes all the creatures serviceable to his Church the love of God to his Church makes them comfortable and the presence of God with his Church makes them profitable as the presence of the Angell in the bush the presence of a fourth like the Sonne of God in the furnace Dan. 3. and the Pillar of fire was a sign of the presence of God in it who made a pillar of dreadfull and unmercifull fire a great mercy to his people yea and most beneficiall 6. The wisdome of God can put understanding into these senselesse creatures to distinguish between an Israelite and an Egyptian The fire shall give light to the Israelites and deny it to the Egyptians The sea shall give way to Israel but shut up the way to Egypt The cloud shall hide cover and comfort the Israelites but deny it to the Egyptians The fire shall come out and destroy the Captains and their fifties and send them to hell but a Chariot of fire shall hoyse Eliah to heaven Make use of this observation for the present in the greatest dangers remembring that gracious promise Isai. 43. 2. When thou passest through the fire I will be with thee and it shall not burn thee no more than the Pillar did the Israelites Doe the enemies come out against us as strong as pillars as furious and fiery as fire it self Never was there so not a Pillar of fire but there was a cooling and covering Cloud as near us The Cloud that makes the Red sea give way can conquer Canaanites too and all the furious enemies that come out against us Were it not for this Cloud of Gods gracious protection there were no standing against the heat and rage of such fiery enemies Lay up this meditation for time to come Time shall be when our Lord Jesus shall appear in flaming fire 2 Thess. 1. Heb. 10. 7. he comes with a violent fire Psal. 50. 3. a fire shall devour before him This shall burn up the studs of heaven and earth and now how shall any man be able to stand before these great burnings Now know 1. That that dreadfull fire shall attend Christ the head as a servant for the finall salvation of his members 2. It shall be commanded to be comfortable to the elect as most dreadfull to the wicked driving them to their wits end even as this Pillar of fire was And as the waters of the deluge which while they drowned the world of the ungodly lifted up the Ark and saved that from drowning III. Who they he that may expect to partake of all these comforts from this Pillar Answ. The Cloud is not the same to all But the same Cloud that lightned Israel cast darknesse on the Egyptians so Christ is not the same to all not sweet not comfortable to all But to such as are 1. Of mount Sion Isai. 4. 5. true members of the Church sonnes of the Church known by eleaving to the Assemblies Upon Sion and the Assemblies thereof shall be a cloud in Sion shall be deliverance And as the hills compass Jerusalem so doth the Lords protection his people 2. Such as be in the Lords wayes gotten out of the Egypt of their darkness and earthliness and moving still towards Canaan for so did the Israelites so Psal. â—1 11. they shall keep thee in all thy wayes All the while Israel was in Egypt they had no Pillar of Cloud and Fire and when they came into Canaan they had none nor needed any but while they were walking in the wilderness in unknown wayes in danger of enemies We are without protection while we are in the state of nature not called out of our Egypt and when we shall come into our Canaan we shall need none because we shall be set quite beyond danger and enemies But now in our moving towards heaven in so many dangerous wayes among so many mortall enemies we need the Cloud and the Lord supplies our need 3. Such as life up their eyes to this Cloud and Pillar for direction Had Israel refused to move according to the motion of it it would not have sheltred and comforted but revenged them Such onely shall obtain the mercy of God in Christ who obediently follow Christ and submit themselves to his direction If thou waitest upon him for duty thou mayest wait upon him for mercy for such onely shall attain it Gal. 6. 16. Psal. 121. 1. I will lift mine eyes up to the mountains and then verse 6. the Sun shall not smite thee by day nor the Moon by night alluding to this place in which the Cloud abates the heat of the Sun by day and the fire the coldness of the Moon by night 4. Such as persevere and goe on forward in grace For therefore was the Pillar light in the night to Israel that they might goe forward day and night And therefore was it a dark cloud to the AEgyptians that they might not hinder the Israelites in their way Gods favour and protection belongs to such as desire to prosper and profit in grace and get every day nearer their happiness Object But this seems to be the way to lose all peace and joy of our lives seeing none are more assailed by Satan and wicked men than godly men sonnes of the Church that walk in Gods wayes that take Gods directions and desire to proceed and persevere in godliness how then are all these promises accomplished Answ. 1. All promises of temporall good things are made with exception of the cross this exception impeacheth not the promise 2. It is a common condition of good and bad to sustain many evils and undergo many difficulties but with this difference that the wicked have no Pillar to sustain them no Cloud no refuge or hiding place but the godly hath God for his refuge his Pillar and Cloud 3. The Pillar still stands over the Tabernacle and saves the Army of Israel the whole Church is ever saved by Gods protection though some souldiers may fall in the battell as Martyrs who receive not alwayes corporall deliverance to receive a better resurrection 4. If this Pillar put not off some evils it ever supplies some greater good If it deliver not from death it delivers by death If our state seem not so good it will turn it to good Rom. 8. It led the Israelites to Marah a
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