for the glory of his name he would come quickly and fight against these evil ones if this Angel and Church repented not otherwise in their repenting this occasion would be removed Yea and if they repented not he would fight against these Balaamites and Nicolaitans and so vindicate the honour of his name for the good and conviction of the professed heathen amongst whom they were that they might know he is one that loveth righteousness and hateth iniquity that so they might seek and worship him with his people whereas if his people did reject and cast off these evil workers and so had their conversation honest amongst the Gentiles this would cause them to glorify God in the day of their visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. And Christ would not upon that account quickly fight against these false teachers with the Sword of his mouth 4. If this Angel and Church did not as here they are counselled unto repent his fighting against those false teachers would be a powerful means to awaken them to repent and to occasion and provoke them to wash their feet in the blood of the wicked Ps 58. 9 10. so when he was punishing the enemies of his people he said surely thou wilt fear me thou wilt receive instruction c. Zeph. 3. 5 7. or if they did not repent they should hereby know he would punish them also As he saith in his Epistle to Thyatira I will cast her Jezabel the false Prophetess into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation except they repent of their deeds and I will kill her Children with death and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts and I will give unto every one of you according to your works Rev. 2. 22 23. Ps 94. 10. By all which we may in some Measure see that they are most uncharitable to evil and corrupt teachers as well as to their own Souls who have and countenance them For by so doing they provoke Christ more immediately to fight against them Quest 2. It might be further queried whether Christ's fighting against these false teachers would be also a testimony of displeasure unto this Angel and Church for so it appears to be in that he saith and threatneth I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them c. Ans To this we may say yes certainly it would be so however in the sight of the heathen that could not distinguish between persons and things that differ Ezek. 5. 8. 14. with ch 9. 4 5. Verse 17. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches see the notes before on v. 7. To him that overcometh see the notes before on v. 7. and on ch 3. v. 5. will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no Man knoweth saving he that receeiveth it In the latter part of this verse we have a gracious promise and encouragement propounded to us I will give to eat of the hidden manna c. wherein consider we for our usefulness 1. What is this hidden Manna here spoken of 2. In what respect or consideration it is said to be hidden 3. How will he give to him that overcometh to eat thereof 1. What is this hidden Manna here spoken of And to that we may say our Lord Jesus Christ sheweth unto us what is meant thereby to wit himself In that when the Capernaites say unto him Our Fathers did eat manna in the desert as it is written He gave them bread from heaven to eat Then Jesus saith unto them verily verily I say unto you Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven but my Father giveth you the true bread from Heaven For the bread of God is he that cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World And again Jesus saith unto them I am the bread of life c. Joh. 6. 30 35. the Lord himself is the true bread Isay 55. 2 3 6. And himself as he hath partaken of our nature and been delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification the bread that he will give the true manna is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 48. 51 58 63. he is indeed the meat which God hath prepared for us to â—eed upon Ps 22. title and v. 26. Joh. 6. 27 35. and he may be called and compared to Manna 1. Because as Manna was provided for and promised to them when they were very evil and behaved themselves unworthy Exod. 16 2 4. So Jesus Christ was fore-ordained and given when we were sinful and pollutted ones and had by our sin deserved to have perished for ever Gen. 3. 15. while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5 6 8. Christ once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit 1 Pet. 3. 18. 2. Manna was given without any labour or work of theirs without any plowing or sowing of theirs as is signified to us in what the Lord said unto Moses Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you It came down as the rain or showers upon the grass that tarrieth not for Man nor waiteth for the Sons of Men Exod. 16. 4. with Mica 5. 7. So also it is true of this heavenly and spiritual bread even Jesus Christ It was not of mens providing or preparing but God prepared himself this lamb for a burnt-offering Gen. 22. 8 14. he found out this ransom Job 33. 24. while we were yet without strength and ungodly ones Christ died for us Rom. 5. 6. my Father saith our Saviour giveth you the true bread from Heaven All things are of God Joh. 6. 32. and ch 3. 14 16. 2 Cor. 5. 18. with Joh. 1. 13. Job 28. 12 20 27. 3. Manna was ground in a mill or beaten in a morter and baked Numb 11. 18. so Jesus Christ was broken for us that he might become good food for us to feed on that he might be bread of life for us 1 Cor. 11. 24. he was tormented for our transgressions bruised like bread-corn Isay 28. 28 for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him It pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief Isay 53. 4 6 10. This corn of wheat fell into the ground and died God brought him into the dust of death and he gave his flesh for the life of the world and so is become living quickning bread for us to feed on Joh. 6. 51. with ch 12. 23. he was made the curse of God for us that he might redeem us from the
curse of the law Joh. 12. 27 31. Gal. 3. 13. and ch 4. 4 5. Rom. 8. 32. 4. Manna was a sweet and pleasant food to eat delightful to the taste the taste of it was like wafers made with honey Exod 16. 31. So is Jesus Christ become thorow his personal abasement and sufferings in the vertue whereof he is raised again he is infinitely sweeter than honey and the honey-comb As the Lord signifies when he in viteth every thirster to come unto him hearken diligently unto me saith he and eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Isay 55. 1 3 5. I sate down saith the spouse under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste Cant. 2. 3. Oh taste and see that the Lord is gracious He is so in himself whether men taste and perceive it or no but they prove him so to be whoso hear and learn of the Father as to come unto and eat him Ps 34. 8. with 1 Pet. 2. 3 4. Joh. 6. 56 57. 5. Manna came down with the dew of heaven Exod. 16. 13 14. when the dew fell upon the camp in the night the manna fell upon it Numb 11. 9. so Christ in and by his Gospel and spirit cometh down and so cometh down that a Man any man may eat thereof and not dye Deut. 32. 2 3. with Joh. 6. 33 50 63. and hence our Saviour said unto his disciples when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel he that heareth you heareth me And he that receiveth you receiveth me c. Luke 10. 16. Mat. 10. 40. Joh. 14. 21 23. Eph. 3. 17. 6. Manna was too much sleighted undervalued and loathed by them in process of time though at the first they admired thereat and said what is this Exod. 16. 15. yet afterward they murmured thereat and were discontented and said Our Soul is dried away there is nothing at all be sides this manna before our eyes Numb 11. 6. and ch 21. 5 And therefore the Lord was angry with them and sent fiery serpents amongst them Numb 21. 6. So Jesus Christ though he be a wonderful gift of Gods grace and an everlasting witness and commendation of God's love to us is yet rejected and despised of Men Isay 53. 2 4. he is disallowed indeed of Men 1 Pet. 2. 4. and of the builders also v. 7. and too much and too often by such as have formerly tasted his graciousness Gal. 4. 15. Rev. 2. 5. and ch 3. 3. whereby God is greatly provoked to anger And how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation Heb. 2. 1 3. But we shall adde no more hereto because these things are more fully spoken to and may be seen in Mr. Thomas Moore seniour his uncovering of mysterious deceits Page 115 117. 2. We come next to shew why Christ is here called hidden manna and that is 1. Because he is the mystery of that former Manna the secret thereof that was a type or figure of Jesus Christ as he is the secret of the Tabernacle and temple so it is here Ps 27. 4 5. and indeed Christ was the secret or hidden thing typed forth by the shadows of the law generally they had a shadow of good things to come but the body is of Christ Col. 2. 16 17. Heb. 10. 1. so here particularly the former manna typified or shadowed forth Jesus Christ as the bread of life Joâ— 6. 32 35. and so Christ may be called the hidden Manna with reference to that manna in the Pot that was kept in the holiest Exod. 16. 33 34. Heb. 9. 4. which was a type of Christ who died for all yea rather is risen again and who is gone up into Heaven it self Acts 2. 30. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Luke 24. 51. with Mark 16. 16. 2. Hidden manna Christ may be called possibly to denoâ—e the excellency of this manna as those things which are most rich and excellent are called hidden things so we read of treasures hid in the sand Deut. 33. 19. and hid treasures Job 3. 21. Prov. 2. 4. so hidden wisdome is the most excellent wisdom 1 Cor. 2. 7. and the hidden Man the most excellent 1 Pet. 3. 4. So Jesus Christ is the Manna infinitely more excellent than the former Manna was As will appear if we consider 1. That was called Angels food as it is written Man did eat Angels food Ps 78. 25. But Christ is said to be and is the bread of God Joh. 6. 33. 2. That was typical bread But Christ is the truth thereof My Father saith he giveth you the true bread from Heaven Joh. 6. 32. and as far as the truth exceedeth the type and the substance the shadow so far doth Christ excel and go beyond that manna 3. That was dead bread If it were kept long it would putrify and corrupt as it is said some of them kept of it until the morning and it bred worms and stank Exod 16. 20. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. his blood is incorruptible blood 1 Pet. 1. 10. And he is raised again now no more to return to corruption Acts 13. 32 34. And is and abides for ever the true God and eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 20. and that manna was dead bread also in this respect it would not give life unto or quicken such as were dead But Christ is the bread of life for he cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world the dead World Joh. 6. 33 35. He causeth the dead to hear his voice and they that hear shall live Joh. 5. 24 25. he is the life Joh. 14. 6. 4. Though that came down from heaven yet it seems not from the highest Heaven but from the clouds as it is said He commanded the clouds from above and rained manna Ps 78. 24 25. and our Saviour saith Moses gave you not that bread from Heaven Joh. 6. 32. But Christ's Father giveth him who is the true bread from Heaven the highest Heaven and he came and cometh down therefrom Joh. 6. 32 33 38 42 50 51 58. 5. That would not preserve the eater from death but as our Saviour saith your Fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead Joh. 6. 49 58. But Christ is the living bread that came down from Heaven If any Man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever whoso eateth his flesh and drinketh his blood hath eternal life and he wil raise him up at the last day he that eateth of this bread shall live Joh. 6. 50 51 53. 58 6. That manna was not prepared for all the World but for Israel and â—he mixed multitude that were with them in the wilderness Numb 11. 4 6. But Christ the bread of life is the Saviour of the World Joh. 4. 42. and the bread which he will give is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the World Joh. 6. 51. and he
his Brother But he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Psal 49 6 7. with Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. And he hath redeemed all the saints and holy Ones unto God out of every kindred and tongue c. Rev. 5. 9. And Job signifies his Redeemer was God Job 19. 25 27. 3. By his upholding all things as after the Apostle had been saying By Christ God made the worlds he presently adds He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1 2 3. The earth and all the Inhabitants thereof were dissolved he bears up the pillars thereof Psal 75. 2 3. He is before all things and by him all things consist and stand together in that good and comely order in which they are Câ—l 1. 16 17. 4. By his Providence and providential ordering and governing of all things Vnto us a child is born saith the Prophet unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and he shall be called Wonderful Counseller the mighty God c. Isa 9. 6 7. The Father henceforth judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the son that all men should honour the son c. Joh. 5. 22 23. with ver 19. Matth. 28. 18. 5. By his work of Resurrection that is the work of the Omnipotent God which no mere creature hath power to effect it is God that raiseth the dead 2 Cor. 1. 9. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead It is impossible for any mere creature to do it indeed and it may justly therefore be thought incredible that any of them should do it but nothing is too hard for God Act. 22. 8. Now this work of Omnipotency hath been and shall be wrought and effected by Christ He raised his own body John 2. 19 21. And all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth John 5. 28 29. He is the resurrection and the life John 11. 25. 2 Cor. 4. 14. 6. By his eternally judging all which is the work of God as it is said And to God the judg of all Heb. 12. 23. But he shall judg all by Jesus Christ whom he hath ordained the judg of quick and dead Rom. 2. 16. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. He shall sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he will give to every one according as his work shall be to those on his right hand eternal life and salvation of which he is the Author and those on his left hand shall be destroyed with everlasting destruction from his presence Matth. 25. 31-46 Rev. 22. 12. Act. 3. 15. Heb. 5. 9. 2 Thes 1. 6-9 and that he is the true God will also and further appear by the religious worship that is and ought to be given to him to which after Only here we may briefly say In that the lamb is the true God 1. This shews unto us how infinitely precious his personal abasement and sufferings are his blood is the blood of God Act. 20. 28. It is the precious blood of Christ who is over all God blessed for ever 1 Pet. 1. 19. with Rom. 9. 5. and therefore it is infinitely and eternally precious in it self and precious with his Father Prov. 17. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 4. Phil. 2. 6. 9. and unto them that believe 1 Pet. 2. 7. therefore we have good cause to glory only and always in his cross Gal. 6. 14. and to eat his flesh and drink his blood or otherwise we have no life in â—s his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed being the flesh and blood of him who came down from Heaven and who is the Son of God by divine and eternal generation John 6. 32-35-42-51-53-58 2. It shews unto us his wonderful love in being so greatly abased for sinful fallen mankind Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though â—e was rich yet for our sakes he became poor that we thorow his poverty might be enriched 2 Cor. 8. 9. Herein perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us 1 John 3. 16. He could propose no real advantage or increase of glory or happiness to himself for â—e was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal to God yet made himself of no reputation c. Phil. 2. 5-8 Here was greatness and freeness of love and charity indeed He sought not his own things 1 Cor. 13. 5. John 17. 4 5. 3. It shews unto us what a great High-priest we have even Jesus the Son of God who is mighty to save able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him neither is there salvation in any other He is a just God and a Saviour and there is none beside him Oh let us then look unto him and â—e saved and come with boldness to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need He is the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Isa 45. 21 24. with Phil. 2. 6-10 Isa 63. 1. with Act. 4. 12. Heb. 4. 14. 16. and chap. 7. 25 28. Tit. 2. 13. 4. It may admonish and warn us to take heed we despise not nor reject this mighty one Exod. 23. 21. If they escaped not who refused him that sâ—â—ke on earth much more shall not we escape if we refâ—se him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 12. 25-29 As he is able to save so also to destroy Jam. 4. 12. Psal 2. 6-8-12 Rev. 6. 16 17. 5. Let it move and prevail with us all to kiss submit unto reverence and love him Psal 2. 12. To â—ow down unto and worship him Matth. 21. 37. Joh. â— 22 2â— And this leads us to the next particular viz. 2. Because he is very God God by nature he is and ought to be religiously worshipped and adored as these holy Ones here do Before we come to speak particularly hereto or demonstrate the truth hereof we may a little speak to this phrase before the Lamb which is in the Scripture-use and acception all one as to say they fell down to the Lamb or they worshipped the Lamb so the phrase is used as with respect to a false object of worship so it is said of Amaziah He set up the Gods of the children of Seir to be his Gods and bowed down himself before them c. 2 Chron. 25. 14. see Ezek. 14. 3 4 7. So the words of Satan to our Saviour are thus exprest by one Evangelist If thou wilt fall down and worship me By another thus If thou wilt fall down before me Compare Matth. 4. 9. with Luk. 4. 7. to signifie the falling down before any object religiously is to worship that object Compare also Rev. 19. 10. with chap. 22. 8. It is indeed Idolaâ—ry to fall down before a false object