the world though the number be great which have eaten of Christ yet there is enough in Christ to satisfie all that are to come therefore is Christ called a fountain set open for sinne and for uncleannesse Zach. 13. 1 2. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David c. 2. It shews the benefit we have by eating the Lamb Christ for we are by it made partaker of families right and order every soul by Christ may say now I am through grace of the Family of Heaven and I shall have a childes portion with the rest of the true Israelites though it goes hard with me in this life though I am poor and low in the world yet it s enough that I am of the houshold of Faith my name is listed in heaven for my daily allowance both for me and mine in this life and I shall have my full portion of glory with the rest of my Brethren hereafter I shall have that inheritance that fadeth not away O to be an adopted Son of God what a priviledge is this O how should this bear up the heart under all discouragements to have a right to all the excellency of glory and glorious attendance that there is laid up for the heirs of it as Paul saith That which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for those which love him Thus much is to be observed by the Jews eating the roasted Lamb apart by particular families One thing more is worth our noting which is that the Lamb was to be eaten that night nothing of the Lamb was to be left until the morning Exodus 12. 10. Which shews us thus much that delayes are dangerous in this case for a soul to put off any thing of Christ after he is convinced of the need of him though it be but for the morrow the soul may never have the proffer more read that place in Hebrews 3. 7 8. In which place a soul is called upon to take Christ to day meaning at the first offer or else you may never see a Christ more in mercy for ever read Isaiah 55. 6. Therefore the exhortation is for men to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is near men will know that God will not alwayes be found and if any are like to finde it so they are such souls as put by Christ until to morrow they have not time to minde the thing there is yet something of more weight to be minded some worldly interest which must be set on wards farther first before they can attend this matter Read the danger of setting Christ aside until to morrow or of setting something more necessary as such think before Jesus Christ read Luke 14. 16 17 18. 19 20. with 24. Therefore take this along with thee soul remember the Jews were to eat the Lamb at the first offer that which they set aside until the morrow they were not to eat but to burn with fire not to eat it again read Exod. 12. 10. O Christian have a care thou doest not undo thy soul this way by setting aside some of Christ in a dish until to morrow crying out you are too young yet or you would sport your selves a little longer with your corruptions or your merry companions I say take heed of that CHAP. 5. The occasion of eating the Lamb. I Now come to speak something about the occasion of the Lamb which was this because of the destroying Angel which was to pass over Egypt on purpose to destroy their first-born for the safety of the Israelites God in mercy to them ordered them to take a Lamb and kill him the blood of which they were to take and strike the door posts of their houses which was for a sign to the destroying Angel that in his passing through the land where ever he should see that blood on the door of the house he might pass over that without doing the least injury to it and so from thence to the next house where the blood was not on the doors there the Angel was to do his work of execution Exod. 12. 7. with 12 13 and 22. verses This thing shews us the great reason why God the Father sent Christ into the world it was that sinful mankinde might not perish by the destroying Angel of his Justice which will certainly pass through the Egppt of this world and eternally slay all those that shall be found in their sins Christ shall come in flames of fire rendring vengeance on those that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 8. 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Now to prevent this mischief and the execution of this plague upon miserable men and women the Lord sent in a Lamb into the world which was his Son Jesus Christ that so men might be delivered from wrath through him John 3. 16. Acts 4. 12. But this must be done the Blood of this Lamb Christ must be taken and by the hysop of Faith dipped in the Bason of Gospel Ordinances striking the door posts of the heart therewith this done the destroying Angel of Gods Justice looking upon it cometh to be satisfied and hurteth not that soul and becomes that souls friend Therefore saith John Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world John 1. 29. But not a bare looking upon the Lamb will content the Justice of God but the taking of his Blood out of the bason of the Gospel or dipping therein the hysop of believing and applying of it to the heart and conscience so to do contents the Justice of God therefore saith the same Apostle The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 7. Meaning the guilt of our sins To this agreeth the words of the Apostle Heb 9. 13 14. For if the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Jesus Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Thus have I shewed you the mystery of Egppt and of the Lamb eaten by the Jews there likewise you have seen the manner of eating the Lamb together with the bread and sauce with which the Jews were to eat the Lamb also you have seen the mystery of their striking the door posts of their houses with the blood of the Lamb as also the mystery of the destroying Angel you have seen opened together with the sweet harmony it makes to the work of God upon the hearts of his people which when well considered will make a soul cry out with the Psalmist Psal 77. 19 20. Thy
those that come to God by him Heb. 7. And to be a propitiation in his bloud for the sins of the whole world John 1. 2 2. That is there was so much Incense given this Angel by the Lord or so much vertue put into the death of Christ that although it was never intended for all the world yet there is a vertue or a sufficiency in his death able to save all the world at once And it s said the Angel offered Incense that is the Lord Jesus Christ was interceding at the Throne of grace for the Saints Now pray observe all this was done with the prayers of all Saints so that the Saints are set forth as a praying people as well as Christ is set forth as an interceding High Priest Christs prayers and his peoples prayers going up together before the Lord make up the great cloud of Incense which went up from the Altar Thus you see the point cleared that Christs interceding in Heaven at his Fathers right hand for Believers doth not give any liberty to the least neglect in prayer here on earth therefore doth our High Priest himself enjoyn prayer to be made by the Saints that live under his Priesthood Matth. 26 41. And farther says that men ought to pray always Luke 18. 1. So likewise the Apostles of Christ they tell you that the subjects of this Gospel Priesthood must pray James 5. 13. and that they must pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. and that without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17 and that men should continue instant in it Rom. 12. 22. and that men should pray always night and day Eph 6. 18. Thes 2. 3 10. and for one another James 5. 16. with this advice that it must be in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. likewise this hath been made the Character of a good man Acts 9. 11 and on the contrary a prayerless heart is looked upon in Scripture to be a wicked heart Job 27. 10. Thirdly and lastly I come to speak of the end or main purpose of the work of the Incense Altar or of the work of Christs Intercession which he driveth on in Heaven for Believes Now the purpose of this glorious work of Christs Intercession it was to make Reconciliation for sin or amongst many other things one mainâ— thing was this viz. the keeping up a constant peace between God and the Soul therefore it was called the office for atonement Exod. 30. 10. And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of the Incense Altar once a year with the bloud of the sin offering of atonements once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your Generations its most holy to the Lord. This the Apostle applies to Jesus Christ Heb. 2 17. where you have the Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ as our Gospel High Priest succeeding Aaron of old the Apostle hath this saying about it in Verse 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God and that he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people Note here That he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people or an atonement which is all one so that this was the end or purpose of the High Priests atonement it was to keep peace between God and the people under the Law this you may see read Numb 16. 46 47 48. And Moses said to Aaron take the Censer and put fire therein off the Altar and put on Incense and go quickly unto the Congregation and make an atonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the Lord the Plague is begun And Aaron took as Moses commanded him and ran into the midst of the Congregation and behold the Plague was begun among the people and he put on Incense and made an atonement for the people and he stood between the dead and the living and the Plague was stayed Thus you see clearly what the purpose and end of the Priests interceding or making atonement for the people amounts unto it is to interpose between Gods wrath and the people or to keep God at peace with the people which is the proper work of Jesus Christ now in glory to make peace for the Saints and to interpose by his Intercession between the anger of God and their sinning souls who labours by those strong cries sighs and groans with many tears which cannot be uttered to prevail with God that he would be pleased for his own death and righteousness sake to pass by those many sins failings and infirmities which his people are apt to commit And as in the like case we read of Moses Exod. 32. 11 12 13. So doth Christ of whom in the work of Intercession Moses was the Type cast himself at the feet of God praying begging intreating that he would be pleased to pass by the sins and daily infirmities of his people and not remember their iniquities against them but that he would extend his Love Favour and Grace to their souls as afore-time and would lead them and conduct them by his special grace to the good land of Canaan the land of promise which was purchased for them by his own bloud upon the Cross at Jerusalem and begs his Father that he would be pleased to look more upon his bloud and righteousness for them and less upon their sins And doth confess as Moses did that the people are and ever have been a stiff-necked and rebellious people ever since he knew them but yet still crys good Father put up all the injuries done against thy glory by this people and let not thy wrath wax hot against the sheep of thy pasture O remember the promises which thou hast made to me concerning this people That a seed should serve me a Generation of men should call me blessed Psal 22. 30. and Psal 72. 17. And that I should see of the travel of my soul and be satisfied Isa 53. 11. and therefore prays that the Father would consider what loss it would be to him who was his Son should the people miscarry how all his sufferings would be lost the end of his coming in the flesh would be lost the fruit of all his Sermons works of Miracles and works of Righteousness would be lost therefore in John 17. 24. Prays saying Father I will that they whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold â—y glory which thou hast given me for thou hase loved me before the Foundation of the world Use 4. O then soul thou seest where to fly under the guilt of sin O what comfort wlll this afford a poor doubting soul that shall well digest this truth into his soul that Jesus Christ is interceding for him now in Heaven how will the knowledge of this feed the hearts of Gods people in times of doubts O let not the Wolves catch any comfort from hence this is what belongs to the true
Gospel brazen Laver they are now all accounted priests as well as kings to God Use I. Let it serve for information first concerning those which have not yet washed themselves by believing in the Blood of this spiritual brazen Laver. O Sirs how do you think to be accepted with the Lord either in your persons or performances O you that contend so much about Religion alas to what purpose is it when you your selves were never washed from your uncleanness in the Laver of Christs Blood through believing O my friends that I could perswade you to read and well consider that Scripture Isa 1. 11. 12 13 14. and so on To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me saith the Lord I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts and I delight not in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he goats when you come to appear before me who hath required this at your hands to tread in my Courts bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomination to me the calling of Assemblâ—es with your new Moons and Sabbaths I cannot away with it it is iniquity even your solemn meetings your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my soul hateth they are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them and when you spread your hands forth I will hide mine eyes from you yea when you make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of bloud wash you make you clean put away the evil of your doings cease to do evil learn to do well so Verse 18. Then come and let us reason together Thus you see what you must be a people washed and cleansed from your Pollutions through faith in Christs bloud ere ever you can come near God in Worship do not think that God will draw near the Swearing Blasphemer the Whoring Ranter the Sabbath Prophaner the Unjust Oppressour the Justice Wrester the Christian Persecutor I tell thee no no do not deceive thy self be thou never so great or honourabe in this world yet while thou remainest in this condition God regards thy service in his Worship no more then he values the cutting off of a dogs neck Isa 66. 3. So likewise your Worship is abominable in Gods sight you hear God accounts it so let it be put forth in never so glorious a dress or done in never so Princely a Chappel or dished up upon never so good a Velvet Carpet you hear what God accounts of it untill you have washed your soul in the bloud of Jesus Christ by Faith O Sirs labour to draw near to Christ and get your selves washed by his bloud Oh break off from your vile hellish and prophane lives or God will never draw near your Worships while you live you may assure your selves of it the pure God can never commune with such impure souls as you are in his sight you may make your selves as merry as you can when you are in your Worships but you may assure your selves while you remain unwashed with the blould of Christ the great God will be far enough from coming amongst you to cast in any true mirth in the midst of you Use 2. It shews you the danger that will necessarily follow our presumption in daring to meddle with any thing of the holy Ordinances of the Gospel without being washed in the bloud of Christ our spiritual brazen Laver you see if the Priests the Sons of Aaron should do it they should die for it Certainly then if God in his Justice should smite with death all these Priests in England which never yet were washed in the Laver of Christs bloud we should have more Pulpits empty then we should find Priests to supply them in England And how God should make use of such unwashen ignorant fellows to wash the unclean of the times when so many sanctified cleansed Ministers of his own must be thrust out of that work and must stand by as useless the mean while to me it is a great mystery Use 3. If it be threatned with death for any to meddle with the holy things of God without being washed in the blould of the Lord Jesus Oh how should we tremble then to think how many deaths men bring on their heads this day in the world Oh was there ever more medling with the holy things of the Altar by unsanctified men and unwashen Priests then in this day Oh how do the holy Ordinances groan under this intollerable burthen that the Childrens bread must become meat for every Swine Use 4. Lastly Oh you that are the Priests of the Lord indeed I mean Believers Ministers and People would you be accepted in what you do for God would the Minister of Christ be useful in his place to the people what great need have such ere ever they come into the plce of Worship First by the lifting up of an eye of faith through prayer to cast themselves into the brazen Laver of Christs bloud ere ever they cast them-into the Pulpit And you the people would you have the Blessing and miss the Curse which doth or may attend the Ordinance Oh then look up yea get up to the brazen Laver every time you come to the Ordinances of God remember the Priests the Sons of Aaroâ— were to wash every time they were to meddle with such things Now ye are the Sons of Aaron and of the Royal Priesthood Oh labour to come in dropping wet to the Ordinance with the bloud of Christ and that is the way to go out dropping wet with the blessings of God CHAP. 26. Of the anointing of the Tabernacle with with the Vessels therein THus having ended with the several particulars in the Tabernacle I now come to speak of the anointing of the Tabernacle For we find that when Moses had finished the Tabernacle with the several Vessels thereof all this was to be anointed all over with Oil Exod. 40. 9 10. Now the Vessels that were in the Tabernacle as they had reference to Christ as hath been shewed you so also do they refer to the Individuals of the Church of God this you may see in Zach. 14. 20 21. In that day shall there be upon the Bells of the Horses holiness to the Lord and the Pots in the Lords house shall be like the bouls before the Altar for every Pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the Lord That is every true servant of the Lord shall be under a great spirit of holiness in the latter Ages of the world Use 1. It serves to inform us of these two things First that the least member in the Church of God is appointed for some use you know there were several Vessels and Instruments in the Tabernacle as the Pots the Caldrons the Flesh-hooks the Fire-pans the Snuffers and the like now though these did differ in glory the one from the other for all had not alike measure of glory upon them neither were they all alike employed
THE Types Unvailed OR The Gospel pick't out of the Legal Ceremonies whereby we may compare the Substance with the Shadow Written For the Information of the Ignorant for their help in reading of the OLD TESTAMENT By Tho. Worden Minister Christ is the end of the Law to every one which believeth Rom. 10 4. I came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Mat. 5. 17. The Law is good if a man use it lawfully 1 Tim. 1. 8. Wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3. 24. London Printed in the Year 1664. To his most endeared Friend Mrs. Mary Atkins Widdow Greeting My Christian Friend BEing bound by many Obligations and Ties of love and service to serve you as a Christian in what I am able I knew not wherein I could better express it wherein I might indeed be serviceable to you then in presenting you with this Piece the Lines of which have been in part the fruit of my Prison Meditations Wherein as in a Glass you may see to your great admiration the wonderful glory of Christ which lay hid under the ashes of those Jewish Types the which when duly read and inquired into shew you the blessed statue or representation of Christs Church together with the hidden work of Christ intrinsecally wrought by him in the minds of his dear Children upon their Conversion the thoughts of which hath made me deeply to bewail the loss that some weak Christians have sustained who out of ignorance and blind conceitedness of mind slight the reading of the Books of Moses because as they say it is the Law who judge that the Law in no sense hath any thing to do with them or they with it and as S. Paul said to Timothy 1 Tim. 1. 7. They in speaking of the Law understand not what they say neither indeed what they affirm I do not say the Ceremonial Law is any way binding to us I am so little either a Jew or Papist but I say it is instructive to us having the Gospel to compare therewith so saith S. Paul Gal. 3. 24. And the more we read it and peruse it the more we see into the Gospel by it and the more is our comfort raised thereby in the substance which is Christ I do confess I am the meanest of Christ his Servants to attempt such a work as this is but when I consider that he that had but his one talent was accursed for the Non-improvement of that and that out of weakness God brings the greatest strength sometimes and that out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings he sometimes brings out matter of praise to Jesus Christ Upon these considerations I was encouraged to send forth these Lines unto you hoping that God will make them both acceptable and profitable to you and it may be to other souls likewise I know men of greater parts and gifts have commented on these things already whose Volumes are answerable to their gifts and parts very large which every ordinary capacity could not fathom neither could every ordinary purse procure Therefore did I take the boldness for the profit of such to appear in Print in this Piece You must not expect it altogether free of Correction I hope-both you and any else that shall meet with it will overlook common Infirmity and make favourable construction of my honest Intention for the Lord knows my heart that if I had affected popularity more then singleness of heart to God and his people I should not have dared to put Pen to Paper in this work Therefore for an Apology for those errours and common infirmities that you or any other may meet with in this Tract I must tell you that I was onely left to my Bible and my Meditations which I had in Prison with me being denied the use of any other helps in this business as to that outward means which other men are attended with you your selves do partly know that my Library of Books which I did use to consult with lay for the most part in my Pocket the which I diligently searched in Prison which made my Task more then ordinary but I hope I was not left to my own wisdom alone in my labours in the Production of this Book And I likewise hope God will not leave you or any else that shall read this Piece to your bare reason in the reading of it but will accompany it with his holy Spirit That you may understand it to your great profit and comfort is the desire of him who subscribes himself yours and the Churches faithful Servant while I live in the body THO. WORDEN The Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ Gal. 3. 24. THat which I shall do in this Piece is to give you my Conceptions of the Mysterie of Grace which lieth hid under the Levitical Types and Shadows of the Law I shall first set down the Types as I find them in order set down in the Books of Moses directing you to the places of Scripture where to find each place for your better satisfaction TYPE I. I Shall begin with the Paschal Lamb which is spoken of in Exod. 12. 2. which was a great Type both to them and all generations since down all along to the coming of Christ which was called a Passover because it did preserve the Israelites from those several Plagues which passed through the land of Egypt the manner of it was thus That because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to serve the Lord after he had nine Plagues poured out upon him and his people the Lord sent him the Tenth Plague which was That a destroying Angel should pass through the land of Egypt in one night and should kill all the first born or eldest both of their children and cattel which were in every house in Egypt Now that the Israelites which were amongst them might not be touched with this Judgment the Lord ordered them that every Family should kill a Lamb the night before and strike the Door-posts of their houses with the blood of the Lamb which was to be a signe to the Angel that he was not to kâ—ll any one in that house but that he must pass over that house to the next where the blood of the Lamb was not sprinkled on the doors This you may read in Exod. 12. 2. and in verse 22 23. Besides there was another Type in the Passover of the Lamb for they were to Eat it and the manner of it was thus First The Lamb was to be without blemish and as to the manner of eating it they were to Rost it with fire 2. They were to eat all the Lamb at once they were not to leave any of it remaining until the morrow Head and Leggs with all the Appurtenances were to be eaten Exod. 12. 8 9 10. 3. The Sauce with which they were to eat the Lamb with was Bitter Herbs And the Bread with which they were to eat it was to be unlevened
is sacrificed for us where you see he gives Christ the very name that was given to the Paschal Lamb. So Peter in his Epistle when he is a treating about the price of mans redemption 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. verses saith Peter in the 18. verse We were not redeemed with silver and gold from our vain conversations received by traditions from our fathers but by the pretious blood of Christ as a lamb slain without spot or blemish verse 19. for so it was required of the Jews in offering of the paschal Lamb that it should be a Lamb without blemish Exod. 12. 5. So read Revel 6. This title of Lamb is given unto Jesus Christ Rev. 6. 15 16 17. The rich men and the great men and the chief Captains cryed to the hills fall on us and cover us from the presence of the Lamb for the great dâ—y of his wrath is come What is the reason think you here that Jesus Christ should be so much dreaded by the great men as well as the poor men at his next coming for these words have relation to his next coming I will not here undertake to determine whether this appearing here of Christ be at or before the general Judgement day as to that I shall refer you to abler judgements who have commented on the thing but without doubt the reason why our Lord is by John in that place set forth so dreadful to men under the metaphor of a Lamb is because the Lamb was a type of his Priestly Office which includeth the greatest of grace and offers of love to mankinde that can be Now for the men of the earth be they rich or poor yet if they shall live or dye abusing of and trampling upon this freely proffered grace and richly offered love this turns this grace and rich love and mercy into the dreadfullest of judgements against men Read Matth. 11. 21 22 23 24 with chap. 12. 42. and 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Thus you see that the Lamb in Exod. 12. was a type of Christ CHAP. 2. I now come to shew you how the action of the Jews in eating the Lamb together with the place time and manner of eating the Lamb doth agree to the work of God upon the souls of his people while on this side Heaven together with his various dealings with their conditions in this life which as in a glass those that are spiritual may see it answer face to face FIrst the place that the people were in when God provided this Lamb for them It was Egypt a Land of darkness abounding with all manner of idolatry and prophaneness a Land which knew not God Exod. 5. 2. a land of bondage of heavy burdens of cruel task-masters that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12. the officers of which place would often beat the people of the Jews ver 14. besides so cruel were the Task-masters to the poor Israelites that they would not hear the peoples cryes Exod. 5. 16 17. To this agreeth as in the ante-type the estate or condition that the creature is in before he comes to Jesus Christ which estate or condition we call natural or carnal which simbolizeth very well with the land of Egypt in which the children of Israel were when they did eat the Lamb. For first of all Egypt was a place of darkness so is the natural condition of mankinde it is full of darkness and ignorance it is wholly deprived of the saving knowledge of God and Christ A man by nature knows little of that blessed life light power which the true knowledge of God teacheth a soul he knoweth not what it is to have Christ dwelling in him by his spirit nor what it is for a man to live in Christ by believing much less doth he know that great and blessed mystery which Paul speaketh of 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Alas to tell a carnal man of living by believing what a mystery is this to him of worshipping God in the Spirit of praying in the Spirit of making the Blood and Flesh and Spirit and promises of Christ his daily food of eating the hidden Manna of having the white stone with a new name written in it that none can read but he that hath it Rev. 2. 17. Alas what a paradox is this to a carnal man to tell such a man of Christ within him and of a spiritual Kingdom within him and a light within him and so from hence to bid him turn to it and live obedient thereunto and to hearken to the teachings of it for salvation Alas one had as good stand over the grave of a dead man and bid him arise or one had as good speak to a blinde man and bid him see therefore I think that such a doctrine preached by many in our dayes is an empty doctrine to help blinde men to see or dead men to a state of spiritual life therefore saith Paul 1 Cor. 2. 14. The carnal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned also Paul tells you speaking of a carnal man that his understanding is darkened and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them through the blindeness of their heart Ephes 4. 18. therefore when the Scripture speaks of the bringing home of a soul to God it calls it a deliverance from the power of darkness Col. 1. 13. a state that affords no light no knowledge of God in Christ it giveth us no acquaintance with God as a reconciled God in Christ to a poor soul therefore it may well be compared to Egypt for the darkness of it that is the first particular Secondly Egypt abounded with all manner of prophaneness and false worship for they knew not God Exod. 5. 2. how well doth this agree with the state or the natural condition of fallen mankinde O what kennel so vile so noâ—some what jakes so foul what Goal so loathsome what hell so black as the hearts and lives of wicked men therefore when our Saviour gives a description of the inward parts of such men saith That out of their hearts proceedeth evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness and blasphemies Mat. 15. 19. and to this agreeth the 14. Psalm ver 2. 3 which saith The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good no not one the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God they are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one so saith John 1 John 5. 19. The whole world lieth in
40. 35. with Levit. 1. 11. Exod. 30 6. For thorow it God appeared to the people and out of which God gave the knowledge of his will and minde as the above Scriptures shew This answereth to the usefulness of Jesus Christ to the Elect of God or it shews us very much of the prophetical Office of Christ for it is Christ onely that can give out the knowledge of his Fathers will and pleasure to the Church of God All the manifestations of the love grace mercy favour and councel of God comes home to the Church through the humane nature of this blessed Tabernacle Christ Jesus therefore saith Christ John 14 24. The word which you hear is not minâ— but the Fathers which sent me John 15. 15. I call you friends for all the things which I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you John 12. 49 50. For I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me gave me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak and I know that his commandment is life everlasting whaâ—soever I speak therefore what the Father said unto me so I speak Hence is Christ called the wonderful councellour Isa 9. because of his revealing office by all which it appears that Christ is the way through which the Father reveals or maketh manifest himself to his people now as he did to the Israelites of old through the Tabernacle Use 3. O therefore soul if thou wouldst have more fatherly grace let out upon thy soul if thou wouldst have more of the knowledge of God more of the love of his Spirit of Light and assurance if thou wouldest know more of his will so as to obey it and live to it O then wait upon God at the door of this Tabernacle Christ for in him it is that the Father will speak with thee and no where else Matth. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased O wait upon him in the meanest of grace break through all discouragements and opposition and temptations to wait upon the ordinances of the Gospel if ever thou intendest to acquaint thy self with the saving knowledge of Gods presence of grace and favour to thy soul O stir not from prayer reading hearing the word meditation Christian conference and communion with the Lords people for thou waitest upon Christ in all these things and in waiting upon Christ thou waitest upon the Tabernacle through which God will discover himself to the people therefore be not discouraged to wait here though thou meetest but with little profit hitherto yet the promise is in Isa 30. 31. He that waiteth upon the Lord he shall mount up as on eagles wings they shall run and not be weary walk and not be faint But to be a little more particular about several things in the Taberuacle as they were many in number yet not a thing there without its special use and signification as they related to Christ and there is not one of these things but had a wonderful deal of glory and excellency laid up in them and were but the ignorant more acquainted with it then they are they would not slight the Books of the old Testament as they do CHAP. 17. I now come to speak of the several things in the Tabernacle and first I begin with the Ark. FIrst there was in the Tabernacle a very glorious thing called an Ark Exod. 37. 1 2. The signification of which we finde to be the Worship of God accompanied with his presence therefore in 1 Sam. 4. 21. when the Ark was taken by the Philistines it s said that the gâ—ory of God was departed from Israel meaning the Worship of God wherein God was in an especial manner present with his people so Ps 132 8. For indeed the worship of God is the glory of any Nation and when that is gone their true glory is gone although it may be they do not see it Use 1. Then how may we pitty those Nations that are without the true worship of God alas they are without true glory they have not excellency or beauty upon them they have not the worship of God whatever they may account of themselvs yet God and his word accounts them to be a base ignoble nation or people a whole nation of them not worth one single person of that people which have the worship of God amongst them read Isaiah where God is a speaking of these persons that had his worship kept up amongst them and do but observe how God values them in comparison of others which had not this true worship amongst them speaking to Israel saith thus Isa 43. 3 4. For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethiopia and Seba for thee since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee I will give men for thee and people for thy life Now Israel had the true Worship of God amongst them but Ethiopia Seba and Egypt had not and that is the reason that God prefers Israel above and beyond the other nations but when the God of this world hath wholly blinded the eyes of the nations of the earth as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. As that the light of the glorious Gospel cannot shine in upon their hearts It s no wonder if the nations of the earth findes not the want of this mercy Secondly O then what a sad thing is it for a Nation that once had the Gospel amongst them shining in its lustre and brightnesse round about their Tents and Tabernacles to be guilty of driving and forcing the Gospel away and the pure Worship of God away from them what worthless creatures are such and what a worthless Nation is such a Nation think you in Gods sight who shall in the face of God cry down and vote down and thrust out from amongst them the Ark of his Worship and Gospel as a thing not worthy to live or abide amongst them Certainly if the Gadarens Luke 8. 37. Did render themselves a vile people in Gods sight in putting Christ from their Country though done with a mild intreaty how much more vile hath that Nation or people rendred themselves in the sight of God who have not patience with the Gadarens to intereat him civilly to depart from them but wicked Pharaoh-like doth violently force him and drive him out of their Coasts Certainly I know not a blacker Character can hang over a people or Nation then this Character which do more strongly witnesse the Ruine of such a people then this doth read these places Prov. 1. 25 26 27. 2 Chron. 36. 16 17. Thes 1 2 15 16. You likewise know what became of Pharaoh and his whole Army together with all the glory of his Kingdom suddenly after he had contracted this kind of guilt upon him and his Nation and certainly the Lord favours this kind of sin no more
a Candlestick to maintain and hold up the light of his holy truth in the world is by pouring forth upon their hearts the grace of his Spirit that so they might be enabled to suffer for it The Saints suffering for truth doth wonderfully tend to the confirming of truth in the earth and to the making of it acceptable amongst men in this world insomuch that in the first three hundred years after Christ the Churches sufferings for the truth occasioned this proverb That the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church Hence it is that the suffering Saints are called Gods witnesses therefore St. Paul tells you that the truth got great ground by his sufferings Phil. 1. 14. Use 1. O then how should this teach the Lords people to bestir themselves in the way of their duty O remember ye are God Candlestick and appointed by God for this purpose to keep up truth in the world O then how should this encourage the Lords people to appear in the defence of that glorious light of truth which God hath put into your hands and not to suffer it to be trodden down with so much ease as it is now in the world I do not mean nor say that the Lords people should betake themselves to any weapon besides faith tears prayers and sound arguments together with a bold standing up in the visible practice of the wayes and truths of God against all that is contrary to this truth These be the weapons that I mean and this is the contending that I plead for and as to this way of contending for the Faith what cause hath God to complain of his people as once he did of Israel of old No man is valiant for the truth O what little contending is there amongst Saints for the faith that was once delivered to them O what silly heartless dove-like spirits are the Lords people surprized withal who can sit and hear the truths of the Gospel rended in pieces before their eyes and in their hearing and not a word spoken for it or in the defence of it but instead thereof they out of a slavish fear do but too much comply with the wicked in it O brethren the precious truths of Sion are more worth then so more worth then not to have one word spoken for them O remember the Church is to contend for the faith and know that God will deeply charge home the neglect of this duty one day close upon your souls O therefore as you would avoid that judgement spoken of in the third of the Revelations ver 16. I beseech you brethren to labour to give up your selves to a holy contending for the faith O earnestly contend for the faith there is great reason so to do for the name of God is upon the Faith the Blood of Christ was shed for this faith the blood of all the Martyrs in all ages in the world hath been shed for this faith O the faith that was once delivered to the Saints is worth the contending for O that God would stir up your hearts to an earnest contending for the faith O set a work a praying spirit and a believing spirit O set on work your parts your pens your purses every way as you are able if the way be warrantable do you contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. Thirdly This Candlestick was made of pure gold this was to teach the Saints what they should and ought to be namely pure gold that is very sincere to God ward void of a heart full of guile and hypocrisie therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5. 48. â—e ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Fourthly This Candlestick was made of beaten gold which was to shew or set forth the glory and the excellency of the Church for as gold exceeds for glory and excellency Iron Lead Tinne or Brass so do the Saints all other men and women in the world Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 16. 3. The Saints are the excellent of the Earth Though the blind world see no worth or excellency in the Saints in this life yet they shall know as Solomon once said that the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12. 26. First The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour for grace Secondly For their attendance for not gilded creatures but glorious Angels are the Saints servants Heb. 1. 14. Thirdly For the Saints food on which they live in respect of which all the dainties in the world or which the world lives upon are but husks and swines meat for the Saints live upon the Bloud and Flesh Word Spirit and promises of Christ John 6. 55. Fourthly The Saints are more excellent then others in point of inheritance for it s not an earthly Dunghil but an inheritance which is pure and undefiled which fadeth not away is the Saints birthright Pet. 1. 1 4. Fisthly The Saints are more excellent then others because they only can prevail upon the heart of God in prayer Prov. 15. 29. Sixthly It s so because its only amongst the Saints God delights to dwel 2 Cor. 6. 16. Psal 132 13 14. Use 1. O then what excellent Conversation should the Saints lead in this world what an engagement should this put upon the Saints to a strict holy walking that they should through grace be made of Gods pure golden Candlestick O therefore soul think with thy self when the Devil would at any time intice thee to sin against God or would draw away thy heart at any time from the Lord O say this to thy temptation O Satan I am one that belongs to Gods pure Candlesticks how should I dare to bespot my self with the least of impurities as Joseph answered his Mistress Gen. 39. 9. So do thou thy temptation How shall I do such a wickedness and sin against God Again As the Candlestick had three Bouls and Knops with their flowers upon it This was for Ornament to adorn the Candlestick that so it might the more appear in its glory and beauty to the beholder all which was to set forth the glory and beauty of the Church of God which by the righteousnesse of Christ and the Divine Graces of his Spirit is made more glorious then the gold of Ophir read Psal 45. 13 14. Isa 54. 11 12. Rev. 12. 1. The Churches glory is only discerned by an eye of believing a carnal understanding knows very little of this saith John 1. 3 1. The world knows us not certainly were not the glory of the Saints a hidden veiled up glory from the world its impossible but the Saints would be better intreated at the worlds hands then they are but however thou farest at the worlds hands let me advise thee to these two things First If the world shew thee and the rest of the Saints no favour yet pity them because they are held so much in a condition of darknesse as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of
had very little or no beauty in it there was nothing in it to delight the eye of the beholder at all the materials of it are so mean and contemptible for they did consist of Goats hair and Rams skins dyed red Exod. 36. 14. with 19. which was so fastned together by loops and tacks being coupled round about that when the Tabernacle was carried from place to place there was nothing of the inside beauty or glory to be seen at all That which of the Tabernacle was discernable to the eyes of the beholders was matter of offence and scorn rather then any way taking to men Just so it is with the Church of God which is Gods Tabernacle for so in the New Testament is the Church of God stiled Rev. 11. 1. Measure the Temple of God and them that worship therein so Rev. 21. 3. A Temple or Tabernacle for the use of both was alike and therefore it had been all one if the Spirit had said Measure the Tabernacle and the Altar and them that Worship therein I say look how it was with the Tabernacle in the wilderness so it is with the Church of God for the one was a Figure or Type of the other With what little out-side glory doth God cloath his Church in this world the Church comes with little of observation she is not cloathed with the Pomp Glory Excellency and worldly Felicities of this life the great pomp of this world belongs to the Church of Anti-christ not to Christs Church the great Titles of Honour great Places and also to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi dwells in the Cup of Fornication which Mystery Babylon hath who is termed the Mother of Harlots Rev. 17. 4. This is the reason that there be so many of the Learned Clergy of the Nations run into her so often as they have done all along and have left the Tabernacle and Altar viz. the Church of Christ and worship of Christ who in the very face of their Convictions to the contrary have struck in with the vanities of the Earth Alas the reason is clear the Tabernacle coverings are poor comtemptible things made of nothing but Goats hair and Rams skins dyed red here is nothing that will take with the Learned wise-man I confess were the outward covering of the Tabernacle the Church deckt with Gold precious Stones Velvet Hangings dyed in Scarled carried up and down in a Chariot and could it accommodate its Priests with Coaches and settle each of them in four hundred a year and set them far from oppression and make them the Lords and Rulers of the Earth here might be something done But in stead of that nothing but affliction contempt and persecution attends the Tabernacle loss of Goods Bloud and Fire Rams skins dyed red a colour which doth very well fit the Church of God in this life which is always in a persecuted condition dyed red with showers of Martyrian bloud hurryed up and down from place to place banished from Country to Country as the Apostle speaks we have no continuing City here but we seek one to come from hence men and women take offence at the Tabernacle and think it a sad uncomely thing the very troubler of the Nations of the Earth the Devil hath blinded the eyes of men as that they cannot see into the inside glory of the Church of God for if the Devil lets them see any part of the Church of God it shall be but to stumble them and set them at a further distance from it then before they shall only see the out-side of the Church of God in her Goats hair covering shews them the meanness of the Saints and the mechanickness or servileness of the Ministers and Servants of the Church of Christ many of them not Learned but illiterate men many hardly ever saw Oxford or Cambridge in their lives not a Doctor to be found one amongst twenty silly Fellows can hardly speak sense many of them nothing but a little Goats hair and the coverings of the Tabernacle are of Rams skins dyed red who can delight in it flesh and bloud can never embrace the Tabernacle or the Church of Christ because they are always in bloud nothing but ruine atends it from age to age Thus the Devil shews his Kingdom what an uncomely thing the Church is what a sad covering it is covered withall and tells souls that they judge of the inside by the out-side of it when alas all the beauty and glory of the Church of Christ lieth within The Kings Daughter is all glorious within saith the Psalmist Psal 45. 13. And if ever God comes to open the Tabernacle glory to the soul and gives the soul spiritual discerning to see into it O then the soul will quickly utter the words of David Psal 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Use 3. O then let this consideration abundantly quiet the minds of Gods people under the undervaluings you meet with from the world doth the world slight you doth the world despise you alas trouble not your selves about it the world doth not see your glory remember the Tabernacle was very uncomely in the out-side of it nothing of any beauty in the Church this is the reason the world crys rase her down rase her down to the ground Alas they do not think the Church worth the standing Alas say they what is there to be seen to take a wise-mans heart nothing but a little Goats hair and Rams skins dyed red not worth the looking upon it much less the standing of such a deformed piece in the world therefore let our eye look upon Sion and let her be defiled but let not this discourage the godly but rather bless God that you see farther into things then they do for Godliness is a Mystery saith Paul and all the things of God as to his Church and Worship are Mysteries and Riddles to the world is what is veiled up and hiâ—den from the most of men saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2. 14. The carnal man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned God must first give the man a spiritual seeing eye before he can discern a glory in the Church and people of God so as to close with them delight in them earnestly to desire after them and heartily to resolve with purpose of heart to cleave to them to give up all and suffer with them to live and die in the midst of them but blessed be the Lord that opened your eyes to behold the Tabernacle glory which is hid from men you have infinite cause to bless God that hath ravished you with those inside glorious sights of the Tabernacle Oh how often have you been refreshed in your souls
in the opening of it in the Ordinances how have you been made to cry out with Peter Matth. 17. 4. Master it is good to be here what blessed heart-affecting discoveries doth there come out of the Tabernacle sometimes therefore doth David so much prize the Tabernacle or House and Church of God Psal 84. 1 2 4. Oh how amiable are thy Tabernables O Lord of hosts my soul longeth yea fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God blessed are all they that dwell in thy house for they will be still praising thee Why should those that live in the Tabernacle or house of God so much praise God Answer amongst many reasons so to do this is not a small one because of the exceeding glory God discovers to them in the Church Oh what glorious gifts are there what glorious Ordinances what glorious Ministers are there what a glorious Gospel what glorious discoveries are there made of this Gospel in the Church what a glorious Spirit is there in the Tabernacle of the Church Oh what glorious graces do there live in the hearts of the Materials of this Tabernacle besides the glorious name of God lives there and all this covered over with Rams skins dyed red and coverings made of Goats hair But however let Believers comfort themselves God will have a time to remove the covering made of Rams skins and Goats hair and then the world shall see and know the worth anâ— glory of the Tabernacle or Church There are many precious promises in the word of God about the removing of the Rams skin covering from the Church of God take a few for all one is in Psal 45. That where the Church of God because of her deformity on the out side hath been the scorn of the Earth yet the time shall come when God shall remove her Rams skin and Goats hair covering that the rich men of the Earth shall entreat the Churches favour as ver 12. of that 45. Psalm And the Daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour Isa 60. 15. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternal excellency a joy of many Generations So Verse 14. The Sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and they shall call thee the City of the Lord the Zion of the holy one of Israel Verse 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee the Fir-tree the Pine-tree and the Box together to beautifie the place of my Sanctuary for I will make the place of my feet glorious So Verse 12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted So Verse 3. For the Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising So Isa 54. 11 12. Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy Stones with fair colours and lay thy Foundation with Saphires I will make thy windows of Aggates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant Stones So Verse 13. 14. All thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Children in righteousness shalt thou be established thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear and from terrour for it shall not come near thee But the Question wiâ—l be when shall these Prophesies be made good I Answer When Israel shall come to his good land then it shall be then shall God take away the Tabernacle covering made of Rams skins and Goats hair which was upon the Tabernacle all the while of its being in the wilderness and then will God shew the glory of the Tabernacle his Church to all the world Isa 60. 3. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising Is a Metaphor taken from the rising Sun as that when the Sun riseth upon the earth all the earth is filled with the beams of its glorious light so shall the world with the glory of the Tabernacle You know this covering upon the Tabernacle lasted but during their abode in the wilderness for when they came into the land of promise and rest the covering was taken away in a great measure and the glory of it suffered more to appear then formerly as you may perceive when Solomon turned the Tabernacle into a most Magnificent Temple Now this land of rest or the end of the wilderness journey I find to be two ways held out in Scripture either for the ultimate glory above or for that Kingdom of glory which Christ calls his Kingdom as he is the Son of man which he so often promiseth his people as the reward of their sufferings for him for our Saviour makes a clear difference between the Kingdom of ultimate glory above and the Kingdom of glory which Christ hath promised to give his people for their Faith Love and Constancy to him in suffering-times pray read well and consider that passage of our Saviour Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my Throne even as I have overcome and am set down with my Father on his Throne Mark that there is the Fathers Throne of glory and there is the Sons Throne of glory mine saith Christ and my Fathers now one of these Thrones or Kingdoms of glory hath Christ made the proper reward of the Saints sufferings and that is what he calls his Kingdom a Kingdom distinct from the Fathers Rev. 3. 21. I will grant him to sit with me upon my Throne which is promised the Saints so often in the word of truth Math. 19. 28. Rev. 2. 26 27. Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 21. 2 3. Now all these Scriptures relate to the Kingdom of Christ this none will deny Secondly That this Kingdom is held out to the Saints and promised them as the reward of their sufferings it must also be granted Thirdly That this Kingdom thus promised to the Saints as the reward of their sufferings cannot be applyed to the ultimate glory will appear if we look into each Scripture neither can men read these Scriptures so without being guilty of putting meer Nonsense upon the face of Scipture Pray let us look into these places Math. 19. 28. And Jesus said unto them Verily Verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory ye also shall sit upon 12. thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Now this very promise is again handed out by our Saviour after his Ascension to John the Divine in the Isle of Patmos Rev. 3. 2. To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me on my throne Look into Rev. 20 4.
And upon this account we are bid to glorifie God with our bodies as well as with our souls 1 Cor. 6. 20. And we are exhorted to present God with our whole bodies as well as our souls in the Worship of God as living sacrifices which is but our resonable service Rom. 12. 1. Therefore saith David My tongue shall be as the Pen of a ready Writer Ps 45. 1. He would make use of his tongue in the Worship of God to praise him withall So Psal 71. 24. My tongue shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long Psal 27. 7. Ps 28 2. Obj. But some will say the Scripture saith that bodily exercise profiteth little I answer not bodily exercise used in the worship of God excluded but bodily exercise when the soul is excluded out of the worship of God this signisies but little in Gods account else why did the Apostle exhort the Romans to give up the body as well as the soul to God in his service Romans 12. 1. But secondly the gingling of Aarons Bells did signifie the laudable sound that the Priests Doctrine was to make in the ears of the people he was not to be a dumb silent Minister but to make his Doctrine to ring for God in the ears of the people you may see the Charge which is given in this case to Ministers Isa 58. 1. Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Iacob their sins Use 3. O how few Aaronites can we see or hear now in the world how seldom can the poor people hear the ringing of the Bells of sound Doctrine in their ears in some Parishes not above once a moneth in so much that the poor people have almost forgot that kind of Musick and as for others when they do ring the Aaronite Bells of Doctrine to the people it s so much confounded with the sound of other mixt Bells which they have added to them that when the Minister rings them the people can hardly tell whether they be rung in England or in Rome Lastly The Bells of Aarons garment did signifie the readiness forwardness and aptness which there should be in the Priest to the work which God called him unto he was not to be hauld and dragged to his work he was to act readily from a principle of willingness you may conceive the Bells at the end of the long Robe would gingle with every little motion of the body so should Ministers readily freely and willingly give out the mind of God to the dark blind world this is so in a great measure found upon the Ministers of Christ that have the Aaronite Bells upon their garments read that noble passage of the Apostle in Acts 3. 6. Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have give I thee in the name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk Therefore saith our Saviour to his Disciples when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel to the world Math. 10. 8. Freely have you received therefore freely give God abhors a lazie idle Preacher they are the worst plants that stands in his Vineyard an idle Minister will quickly grow an ignorant Minister for so the Lord puts them together Isa 56. 10. His watch-men are blind they are all ignorant they are all dumb dogs they cannot bark sleeping lying down loving to slumber Therefore when the Apostle would give a true Character of an Aaronite indeed one that carryeth the Aaronite Bells to the hem of his garment he tells you in 2 Tim. 2 24. He should be apt to teach that is ready willing or forward in his work one that need not be puld to it with Cart-ropes that acts from a principle of love to and delight in his work saith St. Paul A Dispensation is committed to me and woâ—am I if I preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9 16. Our Saviour tells you that the Gospel shall flow so freely from them that are his Ministers as water from a fountain Iohn 7 38. Use 4. Of Lamentation O how few of such Ministers do the Earth abound with at this time that are apt to teach the Gospel to the poor world yea they are so far from being apt to this work themselves that they labour to stop up the way against others who out of Conscience to their duty though at a low rate would do the work themselves but must stand by as useless and can do nothing The good Lord Judge between party and party in this matter if it be thy blessed will how many poor souls lies now a perishing through this dreadful evil is notorious known to many Countries though not so much laid to heart and bewailed before the Lord as the matter requireth Again There were Pomgranates likewise mixed with the Bells at the hem of the long Robe Now the Pomgranates with the Bells did set forth the glory of the doctrine of the Gospel for the colour of the Pomgranates was very glorious as you may see if you read their complexion in Exo. 28. 33. for they were to be made of sky colour Purple and of Scarlet but the Pomgranate alone did set forth to us the fatness and nourishment which the Gospel doth afford the souls of Believers that live upon the Gospel for so is the Pomgranate set forth in the Scripture to be a very pleasant feeding fruit Canticles 4 13. O so is the Gospel its fatness it self is called a feast of marrow and fat things of Wine well refined upon the Lees as you have it in Isa 25. 6. O this is the refreshing satisfying fatning good in the world O the Gospel what a choice thing is it to the souls of the Lords people which makes them cry out bread and the Gospel is good fare A gracious soul knows no such feasting as preaching no such fatness as the word of God brings forth to them the love of which have made some to throw up all their Estates and good things in this life to purchase it This made the Apostle kick up their fishing Trade and this made Matthew to leave his great place in the Custom-Office and Zacheus to throw up the half of his Estate to the poor O they saw by an eye of faith a better glory in the colour of the Pomgranate truth of the Tabernacle they had heard better Musick in the Bells of the Priesthood and had tasted more fatness in the juice of the Pomgranate Doctrine of grace and Reconciliation with the Father by the blood of Christ then in all the pleasant Musicks glories or rarest feeding dainties which this world could afford them could it give me ten thousand times as much again as its able O saith David whose Court abounded with all worldly pleasures and delights the greatest fatness lieth in the house of God Psal 36. 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of
all pains of body or decrepidness of limbs Isa 35. 5 6. Revel 21. 4. Revel 22. 3. Lastly And that which will crown all will be this they shall be under the constant shinings of Gods face of glorious love and mercy which will never admit of any withdrawings more Rev. 22. 4 5. Object But some may say doth not our Saviour say That my kingdom is not of this world 1 John 18. 36. and that the kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation Luke 17. 20. and that the kingdom of God is within you ver 21. How is it which you say the kingdom of Christ shall be on earth in this world To which I answer That there is a three-fold kingdom which is attributed to Jesus Christ 1. A kingdom of providence or his providential kingdom 2. And a kingdom of grace 3. A kingdom of glory here on earth As for his providential kingdom of that I shall say but little But there is his kingdom of grace in the heart This Kingdom cometh not with observation indeed and this is not of this world for nothing in the world can procure or effect it in the heart of any creature The strongest Caesar or wisest Philosopher or richest Nabal in the world should they put all their strength and parts and riches together can do nothing in this case without the mighty power of God This kingdom of grace is within in the heart indeed and it affords no signs or fore-running tokens of it in the least but as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is the spirits coming upon a soul at the time of its conversion you hear the sound of it but know not from whence it is so saith our Saviour John 3. 7 8. But thiâ—dly There is his glorious Kingdom or Kingdom of Glory and that is what is of this world and that which cometh with signs and tokens of observation that Christ is to have a Kingdom in this world a Kingdom of external glory hath been the business which we have proved already but for better satisfaction take this Scripture Revel 11. 15. And there were voices in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lords and of his Christs And that the coming of this kingdom is with observation that is it s attended with its fore-running signes and tokens there is nothing more clear read Mat. 24. from the 1. ver to the 30. You shall meet with little else but matter of observation touching the coming of this kingdome into the world ver 30. So that Christ saying My kingdom is not in this world and my kingdom cometh not with observation and my kingdom is within you doth not in the least fight against this truth if we consider the various administrations of the Kingdom I grant all this to be properly applied to the kingdom of his Grace but not to the Kingdom of his Glory which he shall have here as he is the Son of man Further Now the Jews Canaan was an inheritance which God gave the people freely Deut. 19. 1. So is it in this case to have a right to this Kingdom or Gospel Canaan of rest and peace it is the free gift of God without any desert on our part at all take the kingdom as it is of grace here in the heart or of glory in the Nations or of ultimate glory above to have a portion in it it s of free gift therefore saith Christ Luke 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdome Likewise Canaan it was an inheritance which was divided to the children of Israel proportionably to every one by lot Numb 26 54 55 56. So is it in this case of the Gospel Canaan every true Israelite shall have his portion of grace and glory in this kingdom none shall say then that his field shall yield no meat or that his flock be cut off the fold no no but rather with David to cry out Psalm 16. 5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot the lines are fallen in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Again The Jews were to march in an armed state to their Canaan of old so should all the Saints get on about them their spiritual armour as the Apostle speaks in Ephes 6. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Wherefore take on thr whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and when you have done all to stand stand therefore having your loins girt about with â—ruth and having on the brest plate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace above all things take on the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be abâ—e to quench the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying alwayes with supplâ—cation in the spirit watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Without this armour on about you never think to march safe to this good Land take it either for the kingdom of glory here on earth or the kingdom of glory above with the Father Your enemies are worse then those which stood in Israels way to their Canaan saith Paul Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but agaâ—nst principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spirital wickedness got into high places Likewise the Jews were to fight for the good Land they were not onely to put on their armour but they were to use it Deut. 7. 19 20 21 22 23 24 So must Christians not onely put on their spiritual armour but they must use it against the Devil sin and temptation Armour signifies but little if a man make no use of it therefore saith Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 12. Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called Lastly They were to fight under their captain Joshua So this sheweth Christians under whose banner they should fight and who they should engage with them in the quarrel their spiritual Joshua in whose strength alone they are more then conquerors Rom. 8. 37. Nay in all these things we are more then conquerors through him that loved us Saints your enemies are great and politick and truly they contend with you for things of a very great concernment it s for your souls things of more worth then the world and in your selves you are poor weak things but Christ is the power of God yea the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be sure if you intend to overcome and prevail get under the shadow of Christs wing set Christ before you make him the captain and he will fight your battle for you and make the necks of your stout enemies to lie under your feet CHAP. 37. Of their Cities of Refuge THese Cities were six in number
in the same kind of work yet the least Instrument or Vessel in the Tabernacle was employed and was of use even to the Tongs and Fire-pan both which were to right up the Coals on the Altar and to carry forth the Ashes of the Sacrifice Oh so it is in the Church of God there is not one there in that Body or Tabernacle but was appointed for use in the Church though their work may differ and their gifts may differ yet there is work to employ all so saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Where the Apostle tells you that there be given to the Church a diversity of gifts and operations for every man to profit withall in Verse 10. To one is given the working of Miracles to another divers kinds of Prophecy to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpretation of Tongues but all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will So that you see every one in the Church of God is of some use or other for every one hath his proper gift every Christian in his place must do something in his Generation to help forward the glory of God Object But some will say their gifts are small and their graces small and they can do but little Answ It s true where God giveth but little he doth not require much but yet requireth the well-improvement of that little the unjust Steward though he had but one tallent yet he was cast into hell for the non-improvement of that what soul though thou canst not preach for Christ yet canst not pray to Christ for the Church and Gospel and Ministers and Ordinances of Christ what if thou wantest gifts to pray canst not shed some tears for a slain Christ a dying Gospel a starving perishing Ministry and an imprisoned company of Saints and banished Saints and what if thou hast no tears hast thou no sighs and inward groans for these things what if thou hast none of all this for Christ in his people what hast not a good word for them and what if thou durst not afford them a good word what hast thou not a piece of bread to send them or secretly â—o convey to them in their sufferings and what if thou wantest that to give them hast thou not a little dish to dip up a little water as thou passest by a prison door for them Matt. 25. 35 36 37 38 39. Oh let not the weakest Christian set himself aside to say I can do no work for God I want these gifts and parts which some have and therefore I can do little O soul though thou art but the fire-pan in the Church yet here is work to be done for thee though it be but to rid out the dung of the Sanctuary I mean by thy crying and sighing and praying to God that he would cast out that filth and dung out of his Church and Sanctuary that is of late crept into it Secondly It may inform us what the Children of God are and ought to be the holy sanctified ones of the times You read what God commanded Moses to do to the vessels in the Tabernacle when they were framed and fiâ—ted he was to anoint them all with holy oyl Oh so hath the Father anointed every true Believer with the oyl of Grace which came down from Christ so saith John 1. 16. And of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Hence is that of Peter speaking of the Saints 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ There is not one in the body of Christ but is sanctified and fitted by grace for the work God appoints him to do 1 Pet 2. 5. You are built up a spiritual sacrifice to God and set apart for holy uses to God as the things of the tabernacle were Psalm 4. 3. The Lord setteth apart the man that is godly for himself O therefore Sirs ye that are the Tabernacle vessels O labour to answer the end for which you were dedicated to God at the time of your Conversion and Calling remember the reason why you were caught out of the power of darkness it was for this purpose that you might be a holy people to God and might bring him home the fruits of righteousness in your lives for ever Titus 2. 14. CHAP. 27. Of the Tabernacle coverings I Come now to speak of the out-side coverings of the Tanacle which comprehended all the rest Now the coverings were of two sorts which we may call the inward or the outward coverings First the inward covering and that was very glorious Secondly the outward covering and that was as mean and uncomely As for the inward covering you may read what is said of that Exod. 36. 8. And every wise-hearted man amongst them that wrought the work of the Tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue purple and scarlet with Cherubims of cunning work made he them you may likewise see the outward coverings of the Tabernacle which seems to be as uncomely as the other are comely and glorious Ver. 14. with 19. And he made curtains of Goats hair for the tent over the Tabernacle ver 19 And he made a covering for the tent of Rams skins dyed red and a covering of Badgers skins above that Suitable to which coverings is the state and condition of the Church of God is it relates either to God or this world First as it relates to God so the covering that is upon the Church is very beautiful glorious which answereth to the coverings about the Tabernacle made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet with Cherubims of cunning work Exod. 36. 8. Which holds out to us the Righteousness of Jesus Christ with which the Church is cloathed withall which covering makes the Church truly beautiful and glorious in the eyes of God when this blessed covering of Christs Righteousness is put upon and hanged about the Church then doth the Church look fair in Gods account so saith the Apostle Col. 2. 10. And yea are complete in him who is the head of all Principalities and Powers That is when the Church is cloathed upon with this covering of Christs Righteousness then are you complete who are of that Church in Gods sight not else 2. Besides the Tabernacle covering agrees to the Righteousness of Christ I mean the Inner of the two coverings if we consider the obscurity of the Tabernacle covering it was not what was to be seen by every beholder for this covering was hid from the beholder by reason of another covering which was made of Rams skins and cast over it Read Exod 36. 14. with ver 19. So it is in the case of the Churches greatest glory in this life the Churches greatest glory and beauty doth consist of a being cloathed with