he being made to us Wisdom and Righteousness and Holiness and Redemption we may according as it is written glory always and all of us in the Lord and triumph in Christ Jesus against all charges and condemnations and against all our fears discouragements and unworthinesses 1 Cor. 1. 29 30 31. 2 Cor. 2. 14. And girt about the Paps with a Golden Girdle The High-priest in former times when he put on and wore his Garments for Beauty and Glory had also and was girded with the curious Girdle of Ephod which was made of Gold c. And herein it did differ from the other Priests Girdles and from the High-priests other Girdle Lev. 16. 4. Exod. 28. 4 8. And the use of this Girdle was to bind all together and make them sure that the names of the Children of Israel might be presented upon the Shoulders of the Ephod before the LORD and to gird the Brest-plate upon his Brest that the names of the Children of Israel might lye near to his heart and to bear their Judgment c. The use of it is expressed Moses put upon Aaron the Coat and girded him with the Girdle and clothed him with the Robe and put the Ephod upon him and he girded him with the curious Girdle of the Ephod and bound it unto him therewith Lev. 8. 7. Exod. 29. 5. So our High-priest is girded also with a curious Girdle with fine Gold of Vphaz Dan. 10. 5. And this signifieth to us his Righteousness and Faithfulness according to that Righteousness shall be the Girdle of his Loyns and Faithfulness the Girdle of his Reins Isay 11. 1 5. And as a Girdle was for Ornament in former times when it was made of rich and curious matter thus when God declares the comeliness he put upon Jerusalem this was part of it that he girded her about Ezek 16. 10. Thus when he speaketh of the lovers of Jerusalem and that which rendred them desirable of her and comely in her Eye amongst other things he saith they were girded with Girdles upon their Loins Ezek. 23. 12 15. Isay 3. 24. And thus also the High-priest's Girdle in our Types was for Beauty and Glory Exod. 28. 2 4. So the Righteousness and Faithfulness of the Son of Man is the curious Girdle where with he is girded adorned and beautified Isay 61. 10. He is thereby beautiful and glorious in the Eyes of the LORD He was faithful and loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity therefore God his God hath anointed him with the Oyl of gladness above his Fellows because he loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity more than his Fellows Heb. 1. 8 9. with Exod. 29. 5 7. Isay 49. 3 4 5. Of him God saith my righteous Servant when he speaketh of his great sorrows and sufferings which he endured and abasement whereto he was abased for us according to the will and commandment of his Father Isay 53. 1 5 10 11. And on this account he is glorious and beautiful in himself and to them that believe the Testimony of Jesus he is precious 1 Pet. 2 6 7. And they are instructed to consider the High-priest of their Profession who was faithful to him that appointed him even unto the Death who was not rebellious neither turned away back but for the Joy set before him endured the Cross despising the shame c. And who will therefore be undoubtedly faithful for the future Heb. 3. 1 2. Isay 40. 5 10. Heb. 12. 2. Moses verily was faithful as a Servant but Christ who was faithful to him that appointed him will still be so as a Son over his own house Heb. 3. 1 6. Their Advocate with the Father is Jesus Christ the righteous 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. One who will appear on their behalf plead and maintain their cause their righteous cause Ps 140. 12. with Righteousness shall he judge the Poor and reprove with Equity for the meek of the Earth Isay 11. 4 5. He is one who hath compleated and brought in everlasting Righteousness in being delivered for our offences and in his Resurrection c. And is and will be true and faithful to the interest of his Churches in whatsoever appertaineth to him or concerneth him to do In what he hath suffered and undergone he is the faithful and true Witness of his everlasting faithfulness to his Candlesticks and People Rev. 1. 5. And ch 3. 14. and sendeth this to all the Churches and would that every one that hath an ear should hear this That he who hath the Key of the house of David is he that is holy he that is true Rev. 3. 7 10 13. with this girdle of Righteousness and faithfulness his raiment is girded and made sure and stedfast so as he will not fail so as he will not fail to bear them up and present his Israel's Names and Persons upon his shoulders to his Father and present them in his righteousness righteous as he righteous 1 Joh. 3. 7. and he will gird them close to his heart and bear their names upon it in delightful and Cordial love he will set and preserve them as a seal upon his heart and will bear their judgment and be a perfect light unto them in their darkness that look unto him Micha 7. 8 9. and will bear and take away their iniquities in all their holy things he ever liveth to this purpose and for their sakes he sanctifieth himself that they may be sanctified Heb. 7. 25. Joh. 17. 18. yea he will performe all things for them and perfect whatever concerneth them Ps 138. 8. he is â—aithful who will confirm them unto the end that they may be blameless in his day 1 Cor. 8. 2. he is true to them yea he is the truth it self and is girded with truth as with a girdle Eph. 6. 14. And he is girt about the Paps with this Golden Girdle To signify to us that he is and will be faithful to them in giving to them and nourishing them with the sincere Milk of the Word that they may grow thereby that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of himself and in all Heavenly and Divine vertues he will faithfully nourish and cherish them And though a Woman may forget her sucking Child so as she hath not such compassion on the Son of her Womb as to draw out the Brest to it yet he will not forget them that come unto and follow him his girdle of faithfulness is placed about his papps 1 Pet. 2. 2 3. Isay 49. 14. here they may and shall undoubtedly have Milk that encline their ear and come unto him without Money and without Price Isay 55. 1 2 3. And in all their tribulations and trialls he will faithfully comfort them with the milk of his consolations and they may suck and be satisfied with his brests as one whom his Mother comforteth so will he comfort them Isay 66. 10. 13. he will not leave them comfortless but as their tribulations and sufferings abound so also
outward Garment only which might be put off and then the names are laid aside also which are only so engraven but even upon his heart As the Apostle saith I have you in my heart for God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ In and with such bowels as were begot by and like unto Christs bowels towards them Phil. 1. 7 8. as if he would thereby signifie to us that Christ's bowels and bowelly affection was so towards them that he indeed had them in his heart he carries them in his bosom Isay 30. 11. he loveth them with peculiar manner of love who from his first love known and believed do love him Indeed he loveth all Men while it is called to day and is not willing that any Man should perish but that all should come to repentance as he hath brightly manifested in tasting Death for every Man and as may be seen in his being a light to them in due time that he might be for Salvation to them that thorow him they might be saved and in being the mediatour between God and them making intercession for them and procuring long suffering which is and is to be accounted Salvation 1 Joh. 3. 16. 1 Tim. 2. 4 6. 2 Pet. 3. 9. 15. But he loveth them that love him because he first loved them with another manner of love with a delightful well-pleased love all his delight is in the Saints that are in the earth and in the excellent ones Prov. 8. 17 Ps 16. 2 3. as the Father hath loved him so he loveth them Joh. 15. 9 13. and ch 14. 21 23. he loveth them and beareth them on his heart and breast when and that is always he appeareth before God and on his breast-plate which is righteousness Isay 59. 17. Eph. 6. 14 he forgiveth them and clotheth and adorneth them and hath bowelly affection and hearty love to them They are engraven upon his heart which is the seat of love as is also intimated in that earnest desire of the spouse Set me as a seal upon thine heart engrave me thereon for love is strong as death Cant. 8. 6. 7. and all these who are loved with this distinguishing and delightful love of Christ are also accepted unto the father in him and the Father loveth and will love them Eph. 1. 6. Joh. 16. 27. And they being thus in and on the heart of Christ they are and shall be in his mouth also for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Mat. 12. 34. they are in his mouth Rev. 3. 16. their sorrows indeed shall be multiplied that hasten after another or give gifts unto another High-priest and mediatour Their drink-offerings of blood will he not offer nor take up their names into his lips but because his delight is in the saints that are in the earth he will offer and render acceptable their sacrifices and take up their names into his lips Ps 16. 2 4. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Heb. 7. 25. and ch 9. 15. Joh. 17. 9 20. c. And because they are in his heart he will impart his mind to them 1 Cor. 2. 16. Judg. 16. 15. The secret of the Lord is with them and he will shew them his covenant Ps 25. 10 14. he will manifest himself and the mysteries of his Kingdom to them which he will not do unto the World Joh. 41. 21 22. Rev. 1. 11. and ch 2. 7 11 17 29 c. and ch 22. 16. And they being engraven on his heart his arme is engaged for them to bear them and to deliver them from evil and from the fear of evil in their hearkening unto him and they are in and engraven in his hand so as he will not forget them but whatever he openeth his hand to do so he will behold them and have such respect to them that shall work together for good to them that love him and none shall pluck them out of his hand Cant. 8. 6. Isay 49. 15 16. John 10. 27 28. Rom 8. 28 39. Yea he is a son and shield and will give grace and glory and no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly Ps 84. 10 12. Joh. 14. 12 14. And in the brest-plate of judgment and on the heart of the High-priest in our types of old he did bear the judgment of the Children of Israel before the Lord continually either to figure out that our Jesus our great High-priest doth sympathize with his people in all their judgments and occasions of sorrow and sadness In all their afflictions he was afflâ—cted he knoweth how to have compassion on them and to pity and succour them in all their temptations and trials Isay 63. 9. Heb. 2. 17 18. Or rather as Moses the Mediatour of the first Testament was by the appointment of God to put in the Brest-plate of judgment which was upon Aaron's heart the Vrim and the Thummim which signify lights and perfections And therein he was to bear the judgment of the Children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually which Vrim and Thummim gave a most perfect light in any difficult matter to him that enquired thereat and without which they would not determine in those things which were doubtful and difficult Ezra 2. 63. Neh. 7. 65. Hereby it seems God revealed his mind and counsel in former times and when they enquired thereat the Person enquiring was to stand before the High-priest with his face towards the Brest-plate of judgment and as is observed by some a most perfect light shone upon the letters that were all upon the Breast-plate in order one after another whereby the mind of God was made known and revealed and the enquirer had thereby judgment and discerning given to him Numb 27. 21. Exod. 28. 30. Levit. 8. 8. 1 Sam. 28. 6. and hereby in general was signified that the High priest then by the Vrim and Thummim was to teach Jacob God's Laws and Israel his judgments Deut. 33. 8 9 10. So now our High-priest is he that hath the Vrim and the Thummim upon his Breast plate of Righteousness that in looking thereupon on the Righteousness he hath brought in and compleated and the means whereby he hath so done to wit his abasement sufferings and death and his resurrection from the dead as these things are declared to us in the Gospel or word of the Beginning of Christ we might be guided into all truth and have an understanding in all things and so be fitted to go on to perfection They who are dull of hearing and unacquainted with these first things and unskilful in the word of his righteousness are babes and cannot discern both good and evil but they who are skilful herein are fitted for the receiving the knowledge of all things needful to be now known by them 1 Cor. 1. 18 23. 2 Tim. 2. 7 8. Heb. 5. 11 14. and ch 6. 1. He is the light of the World a most
Tribe of Levi nor of every house or family of Levi but only of the house of Aaron But now the Priesthood and the Law of the Priesthood is changed and according to Gods promise he hath taken of the Gentiles for Priests and for Levites Isa 66. 19-21 The Gentiles believing with the heart on him whom God hath sent are fellow-citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of faith and are an â—oly Priesthood whether they be male or female bond or free Barbarian Sâ—ythian or Edomite c. Ephes 2. 17-19 20. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Gal. 3. 26-28 Col. 3. 10 11. Rev. 1. 4 6. And whatever tongue they are of and though they cannot speak Latine Greek or Hebrew yet in being redeemed from their vain conversation by the precious blood of Christ this dignity is also vouchsafed unto and graciously conferred upon them He hath made them Priests And this he hath done 1. By a birâ—h from himself they are the children whom God hath given to him who is the everlasting Father and only High-Priest and begetter of spiritual Priests Heb. 2. 13. Isa 9. 6. And as in former times those only that were born of and descended from Aaron the Typical High-Priests were Priests unto God Exod. 28. 1. 40. 41. Lev. 1. 5. 8. 11. Numb 16. 1-40 And it is said of some These sought their register among thâ—se that were reckoned by Genealogy but it was not found therefore were they as polluted put from the Priesthood Neh. 7. 63 64 65. So now those and those only who come unto and are born of Jesus Christ who is the only High-Priest and who hath an unchangeable Priesthood which passeth not from himself unto any other are made a spiritual house and an holy Priesthood They are a chosen generation a royal Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people c. Heb. 7. 21-24 25. with 1 Pet. â— 4 5-9 And that they may stand before and minister unto the Lord therefore 2. He washes them from their sins in his own blood and redeems them out of every kindred c. Rev. 1. 5 6. and 5. 9 10. Cloathes them and anoints them as answering to our types in former times Exod. 28. 40 41. and 29. 4 5. and 40. 12-16 Rev. 7. 14 15. and 11. 4. 3. And thus fiâ—ted and prepared continually they are Priests to minister unto God and to offer sacrifice not any propitiatory sacrifice for purging away their sinâ— or make satisfaction to Gods justice for them this they neither can do nor need to do This was the only work of our High-Priest who gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savour Ephes 5. 2. He himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree And by one offering even that of his own body offered once for all hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified and obtained eternal redemption even the forgiveness of sins Now whâ—re remissioâ— of these is there is no more offering for sin 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 10. 5-10-14 18. and 9. 12 14. with Col. 1. 14. Nor are they to offer bodily sacrifices such as the Priests in former times did not the blood of bulls calves and goats c. but they are to offer the sacrifices of righteousness Psal 4. 5. spiritual sacrifices 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. that is to say they are to offer unto him broken and contrite hearts The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Psal 51. 17. An heart broken for its sins and Idols and broken off from them and from all confidence in the flesh and rejoicings and gloryings in its own doings and works of righteousness and given up unto and devoted to God to love fear worship trust in and expect all from him and to rejoice and glory in the Cross of Christ Mat. 5. 3. this is that he calls for Prov. 23. 26. And thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15 16. and Chap. 66. 1 2 3. Phil. 3. 1-3-9 Gal. 6. 14. They are also to offer and present their bodies unto him a living sacrifice holy and acceptable which is their reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. and so both spirit and body are to be offered unto him Some there are indeed who draw nigh to God with their moâ—ths and honour him with their lips but their hearts mean time are far removed from him and therefore their worship is vain Mat. 15. 7-9 others pretend to worship God with their spirits and to give him their hearts while they offer their bodies to sin and satan and are servants of unrighteousness there with But surely the whole man is to be given unto him and we are to glorifie him both in our body and spirit which are his 1 Câ—r 6. 19 20. We are to yield up and offer our selves our whole selves unto God as those alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousness unto God Rom. 6. 13-16 with Rom. 12. 1-3 They are also to pâ—ay unto him even for all men and to pour out their hearts as a drink-offering before him as here vers 8. Psal 62. 8. and 141. 2. with 1 Tim. 2. 1-8 Rev. 8. 3-5 And to offer up the sacrifices of thanks-giving unto God continually which are the calves or fruits of their lips and thus they are to do always when they pray unto him as it is said Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Psal 50. 14. and 107. 22. Heb. 13. 15. Phil. 4. 6. This sacrifice also shall please the Lord better than a Bullock that hath borns and â—â—ofs Psal 69. 30 31. Ephes 5. 18-20 As also they are to render his praise glorious unto others They are a royal Priesthood that they should shew forth the praises and vertues of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9-12 Heb. 13. 15. Psal â—05 1-3 And whoso offereth praise glorifieth him and to him that disposeth his way he will shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. And they are not to forget to do good and to communicate for with such sacrifices being offered by Christ God is well pleased Heb. 13. 15 16. He will have mercy and not sacrifice Hos 6. 6. And hath instructed and exhorted us to honour the Lord with our substance and with the first fruits of our increase Prov. 3. 9. with Isa 43. 23. And it is an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing unto God when we communicate unto others more especially to them that are of the houshold of faith and most especially unto them who serve him