that obey him And is called of God from the time of his Resurrestion or exaltation an high Priest after the order of Melchisedech CHAP. 10. Wherein the Priesthood of Melchisedech did differ from the Priesthood of Aaron That Melchisedech did not offer any sacrifice of bread and wine unto God when he blessed Abraham THe office of Aaron and of his Sonnes wee have described Deuteron 10. 8. At that time the Lord separated the Tribe of Levi to beare the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister unto him and to blesse in his name unto this day And againe Deut. 18. 3. This shall be the Priests duty c. For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy Tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord him and his Sonnes for ever ver 5. Could Melchisedech's office be greater or his patent ampler especially for duration For sacrifice prayer and blessing are the trinall dimensions of the Priesthood howsoever taken This difficultie perhaps did occasion a foule error in the Romish Church or encourage her followers to maintaine this error brought forth it may be upon other occasions to wit that the office of Melchisedech should properly consist herein especially differ from the Priesthood of AaroÌ„ For that when he met Abraham he offered up bread wine by way of proper sacrifice unto God as a type or pledge of the unbloody sacrifice of the masse unto which the Romanists for the most part restraine the exercise of Christ's Priesthood after the order of Melchisedech 2 To omit their chymicall conceits who labour in vaine to extract some act of sacrificing out of the originall word hotsi Maldonate the most zealous and laborious pleader in this argument because Calvin had held the monkish allegorizars to the literall and gramaticall sense of Scriptures holds it no sin to put a trick of Grammar so they would admit it upon Calvin's followers upon the very text it self For whereas the Romish Interpreters who went before him admit the vulgar edition Et erat Sacerdos Dei altissimi This Critick to despite Calvin will correct Magnificat and renders it thus Et erat sacrificans Deo altissimo His reason for this innovation is because the hebrew Cohen is for it's form a participle of the present tense but surely he was better read in his Gramar then in his Lexicon although better read in that then in the Hebrew Text for although the Hebbrew Cohen be usually taken for a Priest yet to sacrifice is no part of the proper formal signification of the radicall verb Cahan That directly imports no more then ministravit or Sacerdotem egit Whence though it be most true that every Sacrificer is a CoheÌ„ is a Priest or Minister of God yet is not this truth simply convertible that is Every Cohen Priest or Minister of God is a Sacrificer specially if we speak of times before the Law was given or since it expired much lesse will it follow that every act or function which the Minister of God performs should be a sacrifice So that albeit we should give the Criticall Iesuit leave to degrade the Hebrew Cohen and turne it out of a noun in which form and habit it was taken by all his Predecessors into the nature and value of a Participle the Grammaticall sense will amount to no more then this Et erat Ministrans or Sacerdotio fungens Deo altissimo and all this Melchisedech might doe and this he verily did in blessing Abraham not in bringing forth or offering bread and wine The letter of the Text runnes thus And Melchisedech King of Salem brought forth bread and wine and hee was a Priest of the most high God Suppose a man should here interrupt the Reader or relater of this History thus What if hee were a Priest of the most high God To what purpose is this clause inserted The holy Ghost in the next words clears the doubt or rather prevents the Question And he blessed Abraham In what forme or sort Blessed be Abraham of the most high God! So then Melchisedech is instiled a Priest of the most high God to shew his warrant to blesse in the name of the most high God And for this interpretation I have the warrant or confirmation from Cyril of Alexandria 3 As for his bread and wine hee offered these to Abraham and not to God as Philo Iudaeus a competent witnesse in this Controversie hath informed us For this good Author opposeth Melchisedech's hospitalitie towards Abraham unto Amalech's niggardly and uncharitable disposition towards Israel comming out of the house of affliction Amalech saith hee was excluded from the congregation of the Lord because hee met not Israel with bread and water whereas Melchisedech had met our father Abraham laden with the spoâ—â—es of his enemies with bread and wine He hath not in my opinion erred much in taking the symboles or elements of bread and wine for emblemes of that true pabulum animae which consists in contemplation of heavenly things And yet I am perswaded hee had no expresse knowledge of the true object of such contemplation to wit the body and blood of Christ or of the benefit conveyed to us from them since they were offered in sacrifice unto God by the elements of bread and wine not as mere signes but as undoubted pledges of his body and blood to be communicated to us 4 And although Suidas in his second Paragraph on the word Melchisedech will have our Saviours Priesthood after the order of Melchisedech to take beginning from the night before his passion wherein he tooke bread and wine and blessed them yet in his third Paragraph upon the same word he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melchisedech brought forth bread and wine unto Abraham But let us suppose what the Text will not support that Melchisedech did offer up a sacrifice of bread and wine to the most high God thus much being granted wee may draw that net which the Romanist sets for others upon himselfe for our next interrogatory should be this Of what sacrifice may we by any analogie of faith imagine this supposed sacrifice of Melchisedech to be the type of the dayly reiterated sacrifice of the masse or of the one only sacrifice of the Sonne of God Surely if Melchisedech be a true type of the everlasting Priest his sacrifice must be a type of this Priest's everlasting sacrifice Now as we read not though Maldonate's reading of the former pâ—â—â—e were true that Melchisedech did offer any sacrifice besides this supposed sacrifice of bread and wine so wee must undoubtedly beleeve that the Sonne of God did offer no more sacrifices then one and that one never to be reiterated because the value of it being truly infinite the efficacy of it must needs be absolutely everlasting If otherwise wee should with the Romanists admit of a sacrifice by succession or multiplication as everlasting as this transitory
prefigured or fore-shadowed either by Zerubbabel the Prince of Iudah or by his associate Iesus the high Priest in conducting Gods people from the land of their captivity into the land of promise Yes there is not one title or attribute mentioned in either prophecy but it is fore-shadowed either joyntly both by Zerubbabel Iesus the high Priest or severally by one of them 4 As he is the Branch of David fore-prophecied by Esaiah Chap. 11. 1. where to both these prophecies of Ieremiah and Zachary have reference hee is more exquisitely prefigured by Zerubbabel then by David himselfe or any other Prince of David's Line The Branch which God had promised to raise up unto David almost an 110 yeares before Ieremiah had uttered his prophecies was to grow up out of the stemme or roote of Iesse as it is Esay 11. 1. that is he was to be a man of meaner parentage then Iesse the Father of David was a man more unlikely to become a Prince or Ruler of God's people then David was when hee kept his Father's sheepe Of David's linage many after the captivity were poore and of as meane ability as Iesse David's Father was Zerubbabel was borne unto Salathiel in captivity and Salathiel himselfe the sonne of Ieconiah a poore captive Prince but whâ—-Salathiel was the sonne of Ieconiah's body or rather his sonne by adoption I have no more to say then was said before Whether this way or that way hee were his sonne if wee consider the potency of the Chaldean Empire when he was borne or the Chaldeans generall aversnesse from the Iewes or their jealousie of the royall race it was more unlikely that any of David's line should be released from captivity or be suffered to returne from Babylon unto their native land then that Israel should be delivered from the Egyptian thraldome by Moses But the same God which had shewed his mighty power in the overthrow of Pharaoh and his powerfull host did as miraculously shew both his power and wisdome in the suddaine surprisall of Babylon and overthrowing the Babylonian Empire by Cyrus Of these two wonderfull deliverances of his people the later in the Prophet Ieremy his esteeme is the greater therefore he saith Ierem. 16. 14. 15. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that it shall no more be said the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but the Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel from the land of the North and from all the lands whither hee had driven them and I will bring them againe into their land that I gave unto their Fathers The like you may read Ierem. 23. 7. 8. Cyrus after his strange conquest of Babylon sets Gods people free and authorizeth Zerubbabel the next heire then left unto the Crown of Iudah to conduct them unto Ierusalem there to serve their God as he in his Lawes had prescribed But after their safe arrivall there they are molested by their malicious enemies the building of the City and Temple is after Cyrus his death for divers yeares hindred untill Zerubbabel by his favour and potency with Cyrus his successors procures the revivall of the charter which Cyrus granted and frees himselfe and God's people from further molestation by their enemies as you may read it at large in the Booke of Ezra So that part of Ieremiah's prophecy is verified of him for in his dayes and by his meanes under God Iudah was saved and Israel did dwell securely Though hee were not in name or title a Saviour yet is hee indeed the Saviour of his people from present distresse and danger And thus farre this poore revived Branch of David is a true and lively Type of that Branch of David in whom all the promises of God made unto Abraham and David were fulfilled who was to be a Saviour not in realty only but in name or title and called especially Iesus because hee was to save his people not from bodily distresse or captivity but from their sinnes And as he is in this sensea Saviour Iesus the Sonne of Iehosadech is the lively Type or shadow of him as well in office or function as in expresse name or title for hee being their high Priest and Aaron's successor did make legall attonement for their sinnes did sanctify the Temple Altar and their offerings and performed all legall righteousnesse for theâ— insigne of greater righteousnesse and salvation by that high Priest which was to come whose supreame title was the Lord our righteousnesse 5 But did either Zerubbabel or this Iesus the high Priest and his associates prefigure or fore shadow our high Priest in this royall name or title of being the Lord our righteousnesse Certaine it is that Zerubbabel did not for neither his owne name nor his Fathers nor any of his Progenitors names since Iehosaphat's dayes had any reference to this title nor import the thing signified by it in their grammaticall significations But the Father of this Iâ—shua or Iesus the high Priest was named Iehosadech which signifies as much as the righteousnesse of the Lord or the righteous Lord. 6 But here wee must consider that names are of two sorts Some names agree to the things named substantially and directly Others accidentally or in obliquâ— The former fort expresse the condition and nature of the thing named As the name of Adam which God imposed upon the first man did expresse his nature or substance to wit the red earth out of the which he was framed So the name which Adam gave unto the first woman did truly expresse the nature and condition of the Sex to wit that she was made of man that shee was of his flesh and of his bones so likewise is the name of Eveh a true expression of her nature for she was the Mother and Fonntaine of life unto all posteritie 7 Names otherwhiles though solemnely given expresse or import some circumstance or relation unto the nature or thing it selfe which they primarily and properly signifie So Gideon was called Ierub-baal not that ever he did plead for Baal but in remembrance of his fathers answer unto them which had expostulated with him for cutting downe Baal's grove 8 So Moses called the Altar which he erected Exod. 17. 14. Iehovah-Nissi the Lord my banner Not thereby intending to occasion us to think that the Altar so named was either Iehovah or his defence but only to import or signifie that in that place wherein hee built the Altar and at the time of this inscription Iehovah his God had been the defender and protectour of Israel in miraculous manner against the Amalekites So likewise when our Saviour called Simon Cephas or Petros the name imports not that he was either the rocke it selfe or Corner-stone whereon Christ's Church is founded But only that he had some speciall reference or relation unto the rock or foundation Stone which God had laid in Sion or which is all one that hee was the first which
so truly and sincerely Episcopari nolo as hee did or pray so earnestly that the charge of his Consecration might be mitigated whilst hee was in his agony But how deare soever his Consecration cost him the costs and charges of it though altogether unknown to us were recompenced by the purchase which he gained by it For as it followeth being thus consecrated he became the Author of everlasting salvation to all that obey him and their salvation was and is as pleasant to him as his sufferings whereby he was consecrated were for the present distastfull CHAP. 4. The Consecration of the Sonne of God was not finisht immediately after his Agony in the Garden nor was he then or at the time of his sufferings upon the Crosse an actuall or compleat high Priest after the Order of Melchisedech BVt was his Consecration finished immediately after hee had beene anointed with his owne blood in the Garden or assoone as his prayers and supplications which hee offered up with strong cryes and teares were heard No whatsoever else was required for his Qualification there could be no true and perfect Consecration to his Priesthood without a Sacrifice without a bloody Sacrifice This was one principall part of Aarons Consecration to his legall Priesthood and so of his Successors But here the Iew who is for the most part lesse learned then perverse and captious will in this particular shrewdly object if not thus insult over the negligence of many Christian teachers When your crucified God was convented by the high Priests and Elders when he was arraign'd before Pontius Pilate when he was sentenced to the death of the Crosse tell us plainly whether in any of these points of time mentioned he were truly a Priest or no Priest If no Priest at all what had hee to doe to offer any Sacrifice especially a bloody one For this was a service so peculiar to the legall Priests which were the sonnes of Aaron that it was sacriledge for the sonnes of David For the greatest Kings of Iudah to attempt it If you will say then he was a Priest you must acknowledge him either to have beene a Priest after the order of Melchisedech or after the order of Aaron If you say hee was a Priest after the order of Aaron you plainly contradict this Apostle whom you acknowledge to be the great Teacher of you Gentiles for he saith Chap. 7. v. 14. of this Epistle It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Iudah concerning which Tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the Priesthood And againe Chap. 8. v. 4. hee saith Hee were not a Priest if hee were earth seeing there are Priests which according to the Law offer gifts Now if he could be no Priest were he now on earth then certainly he could be no Priest after the order of Aaron nor did he offer any legall or bloody sacrifice whilst he lived as sometimes he did here on earth 2 Was he then whilst hee lived here on earth a Priest after the order of Melchisedech and by this title authorized to offer sacrifice This I presume you dare not avouch For Melchisedech was a Priest according to endlesse life his Priesthood was an immortall everlasting Priesthood Now although every man be not an high Priest yet every high Priest must be a man and a man taken from amongst ordinary men to offer gifts and sacrifices for sinne The Priesthood is an accident the humanitie or manhood is the subject or substance which supports it Dare you then say that a mortall man whilst he was such could possibly be an everlasting Priest or a Priest according to an endlesse life when he was to dye a miserable and ignominious death the very same day Durum esset hoc affirmare This indeed is a hard saying a point of Doctrine whose intimation did cause the Iews such as were in part our Saviours Disciples or very inclinable to his service to question the truth of his calling and of his sayings Iohn 12. v. 32. c. And I if I were lift up from the earth will draw all men unto me Now this he said saith S. Iohn signifying what death he should dye to wit the death of the Crosse And so his Auditors conceived his meaning and for this reason the people answered him We have heard out of the Law that the Christ abideth for ever and how sayest thou the sonne of man must be lift up Who is that son of man v. 34. This people at that time had a cleare prenotion or received opinion that their promised Messias or the Christ should be a Priest after the order of Melchisedech that is a Priest to endure for ever for the Lord had confirmed thus much by oath Psalme 110. And out of this common prenotion whether first conceived out of that place of David The Lord hath sworne and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech or from some other Scripture the people in the fore-cited place questioned whether it were possible hee should be the Christ seeing by his owne confession he was shortly after to dye the death of the Crosse 3 These objections I confesse could hardly be answered if wee should grant what many moderne Divines out of incogitancy have taught or taken upon trust without further examination to wit that the eternall Sonne of God our Lord and Saviour was an high Priest from eternitie or an high Priest from his birth as man or from his Baptisme when hee was anointed by the holy Ghost unto his Propheticall function or whilst he was upon the Crosse But not granting this as wee have no reason to admit any branch of it the answer to the former objection is clear and easie Betwixt a Priest compleat or actually consecrated and no Priest at all datur medium participationis there is a meane or third estate or condition to wit a Priest in fieri though not in facto or a Priest inter consecrandum that is in the interims of his Consecration before hee be actually and compleatly consecrated Such a man or rather such a Priest was Aaron during the first sixe or seven dayes of his Consecration yet dare no Iew avouch that after the first or second day of his separation from common men he was no more then an ordinary man no Priest at all nor that on the seaventh day he was a Priest actually consecrated but as yet in his Consecration He was not till the eight day qualified to offer up Sacrifices unto God but had peculiar Sacrifices offered for his Consecration by Moses 4 Briefly then the Sacrifice of the Sonne of God upon the Crosse whether we consider it as of fered by himselfe or by his Father as it is sometimes said in Scripture to be offered by both was the absolute accomplishment of all legall Sacrifices or services Aaronicall And yet but an intermediate though an especiall part of his Consecration to the Priesthood after the order of Melchisedech not the ultimum
full issue or product of all three dimensions we shall be everlastingly blessed in him For the first we may not so much as beg any blessing or good thing at God's hand but for his sake Hence it is that all our prayers are conceived in this forme either expressely or implicitely propter merita Iesu Christi Secondly of those blessings which it pleaseth God to grant for his sake wee may not entreat no not expect their conveyance should be made unto us by any other person or meanes then by him and the vertue of his sufferings And for this reason it is that we usually conclude our prayers Per Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum through Iesus Christ our Lord not propter Iesum Christum That is alway expressed or implyed in the body or beginning of the prayer It was the intention of the Ancients to instruct us by those two usuall clauses of our solemn prayers that whatsoever we aske for Christ's sake wee cannot otherwise obtaine then through him And though the Father be the first granter yet the Sonne immediately bestowes all blessings upon us as the places of Scripture late alleaged testify God's blessings descend to us only by him that they may draw us unto him in whom only we are blessed For that everlasting happinesse of the life to come formally consists in our union with him and cannot be manifested or imparted to us but by the participation of his blessed presence 6 Will yee have a more particular map in what manner the blessing of Abraham descends upon us by this our high Priest Then call to mind in what termes Melchisedech blessed Abraham They were these Blessed be Abraham of the most high God Possessor of heaven and earth Melchisedech if the same be Shem had by vertue of his Father Noah's blessings a manifest right unto the land of Canaan and had some part of it in possession and this right and title hee be queaths to Abraham The chiefe matter of his blessing is that Abrahams posteritie should be Kings and Priests in that land And albeit he were a Priest of the most high God yet his Kingdome was of this world and in this world though a type of the heavenly Kingdome But our Saviour's Kingdome was not of this world for since his Resurrection he hath taken possession of heaven as he is man but in the right and title of the eternall Sonne of God God the Father made all things by God the Sonne whom hee hath made Heire of all things as man which were made by him as God not as an heire in his nonage but as joynt Lord with his Father at whose right hand he is placed so that as man he hath more full and more immediate authoritie to dispose of heaven than Melchisedech had to dispose of Canaan for hee bestowed that upon Abraham by way of prayer as became a Priest of the most high God But this our high Priest who is also the most high God shall dispose of heaven to his servants by royall sentence and authoritie as King Then shall the King say unto them that sit on his right hand Venite benedicti patris mei possidete vobis paratum regnum à constitutione mundi Come ye blessed of my Father possesse yee the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world This is the accomplishment of that blessing which Melchisedech bestowed upon Abraham and the second part of his benediction must be the everlasting song of such as are blessed in Abraham's seed Blessed be the most high God who hath delivered our enemies into our hands who hath enabled us to overcome the world the Divell and the flesh And though Christ our high Priest were the Sonne of David and of Abraham as man according to the flesh yet as man hee is the first begotten from the dead and Father of the world to come Melchisedech himselfe in respect of the everlasting blessing is his Sonne and must have his portion in it at the last day For if all Nations if every one of any Nation that is truly blessed be blessed in Abraham's seed Melchisedech himselfe must be blessed in him not only by him And therefore hee is that most high God Possessor of heaven and earth in whose name Melchisedech blessed Abraham 7 But to return to our Apostles next passage He. 7. 11. c. If therefore perfection were by the Leviticall Priesthood for under it the people received the Law what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedech and not be called after the order of Aaron For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessitie a change also of the Law The full discussion of this twelfth verse because it containes matter of Controversie amongst us Christians and betweene severall profest members of reformed Churches as whether Christ were a Law giver or wherein the Law which hee gave did differ from or excell the Law of Moses whether Leviticall or Morall must be referred to another Treatise The Law saith our Apostle made no thing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did So our later English reads the Text yet proffers to us another reading in the margine which in mine opinion is more consonant to our Apostle's meaning to wit That the Law was an introduction of a better hope by which we draw neare to God And this drawing neare to God is that perfection which the Law could not effect But the principall point whereon our Apostle pitcheth forevincing the priesthood of Christ to be farre more excellent then the Leviticall Priesthood was was reserved to the last place and pathetically though briefly avouched v. 20. And in asmuch as not without an oath for those Priests to wit after the order of Aaron were made without an oath but this to wit Christ with an oath by him that said unto him The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech By so much was Iesus made the surety of a better Covenant And they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death But this man because hee continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Wherefore hee is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing hee ever liveth to make intercession for them And againe v. 28. For the Law maketh men high Priests which have infirmities but the word of the oath which was since the Law maketh the Sonne who is consecrated for evermore These two last passages require a fuller discussion of a Point often touched upon in some printed Treatises and diverse Sermons A point much neglected by many good Divines and carped at by others through their ignorance in true antiquitie videlicet What the interposition of God's speciall oath doth import more then his largest promises without an oath SECT 3. Of the calling or destination of the Seede of Abraham and Sonne of
returned safe from Babylon was the type of Christ as King In respect of their deliverance from Babel or safe conduct in the way Zerubbabel had the precedency of Iesus the high Priest as Moses had the precedency of Iesus the sonne of Nun in respect of the peoples deliverance from Egypt But as Iesus the sonne of Nun was God's principall instrument in planting this people in the land of promise so Iesus the high Priest the sonne of Iehosadeck is the principall Saviour of this people after their safe returne from Babel into their native land the principall type or shadow of Iesus Christ our Saviour as he is consecrated by God to be the Author of everlasting salvation Zerubbabel the chiefe Prince of Iudah and Iesus the sonne of Iehosadech the high Priest and for his time the sole successor of Aaron in his office joyne both together the one a lively type of Christ Iesus the sonne of David as he was King the other a lively Type of Christ Iesus as hee was ordained to be our high Priest in the building of the materiall Altar which was to be erected unto the Lord in the City of Ierusalem after their returne from Babylon But whether of these two to wit Zerubbabel the sonne of David or Iesus the sonne of Iehosedech Aaron's successor had precedency in this great worke of erecting the Altar unto God the first worke of difficulty or moment to be undertaken by God's Servants upon their returne unto Ierusalem the City of God were hard to determine by any rule of sacred heraldry Ezra the scribe and sacred historian of this businesse gives Iesus the Sonne of Iehosedeck the precedency in stile Ezra 3. 2. Then stood up leshua the son of Iozadak and his brethren the Priests and Zerubbabel the sonne of Shealtiel and his brethren and builded the Altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offrings thereon as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God But in the second of Haggai verse 4. Zerubbabel the sonne of David hath the like precedency of stile Now be strong ô Zerubbabel saith the Lord and be strong ô Ieshua the sonne of Iosedech the high Priest and be strong all yee people of the land saith the Lord and work for I am with you saith the Lord of hoasts 4 Yet that Iesus the Sonne of Iosedech was the more illustrious and principall Type of Iesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer as he is the builder and founder of God's spirituall Temple Gods holy Catholique Church is most apparent from the prophecies of Zachary a Prophet in those times extraordinarily rais'd up by God to encourage lesus the high Priest and his fellow-Priests to goe forward in building the materiall Temple in Ierusalem specially if we compare Zachary the third and part of Zachary the sixt with the Prophecies of Ieremy Chap. 23. verse 33. To begin with Zachary Chap. 3. Iesus the Sonne of Iosedesk by progeny the sonne of Aaron is solemnly enthronized as deputy or Proxie for the sonne of David the promised and long-expected high Priest after the order of Melchisedech This story or true legend of the installment or enthronization of Iesus the Sonne of Iosedech as in the right and interest of Iesus Christ the Sole Founder and Builder of the holy Catholique Church whereof the visible and materiall Temple of Ierusalem was but a type or shadow is very remarkably set out unto us as in a Map Zach. 3. The whole Chapter as also the 2. Chap. from the 6. verse unto the end is worth our perusall as most pertinent to this argument First Sathan that is the adversary of Iesus the high Priest waxed bold to resist him in the building of the materiall Temple being encouraged thereunto partly because the remnant of ludah then returning from captivity was but as a brand pluck't out of the fire the light whereof in the eyes of Sathan their adversary might easily have been extinguished unlesse the Lord had rebuked Sathan as the Lord there by his Angell doth and his rebuke was an Authentique prohibition Secondly Sathan was the bolder to resist this worke because Iesus the high Priest appointed by God and encouraged by his Prophets for accomplishing of it was for his bodily presence but weake and would quickely have beene daunted by his potent adversary unlesse the Lord by his Angell had rebuked and prohibited him Thus Sathan himselfe in person resisted our Lord and Saviour after his baptisme when hee first begun to lay the foundation of his Church and to erect the Kingdome of God being thereto emboldened by the weaknesse of his bodily presence and appearance in the fashion of man and forme of a servant untill the Lord himselfe rebuked him as the Angell in the name of the Lord did the adversary of of Ieshua saying avoid Sathan for 't is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve And upon this rebuke Sathan immediately left him and the Angels came and ministred unto him Math. 4. This is the Evangelicall accomplishment of the vision which Zachary saw as in the type or map Zach. 3. v. 1. 2. But here it will bee demanded whether the verses following v. 3. 4. which were literally historically meant of Iesus the Son of Iehosedech can be applied to Iesus our high Priest either according to the literall or mysticall sense Iesus saith the Text was cloathed with filthy garments and stood before the Angel and hee answered and spake unto those that stood before him saying take away the filthy garments from him and unto him he said Behold I have caused thine iniquity to passe from thee and I will cloath thee with change of rayment v. 4. Iesus his outward habit or rayment was sordid and unsightly Qualem decet exulis esse Such as well became a man as yet retainer to the house of mourning not fully absolved from the house of his prison or not yet admitted unto the house of his freedome 5 This Iesus in this habit was a true picture of Iesus our high Priest whilst hee continued in the forme and conditiion of a servant or whilst arraigned before the high Priests or Pontius Pilat and although in this estate he knew no sin yet as the Apostle saith 2. Cor. Chap. 5. v. last He was made sinne for us that we might be made the rigteousnesse of God in him Hee is said to be made sinne for us because hee bare the punishment due to our sinnes And this sinne or iniquity God did truly cause to passe from him because our sinnes were never inherent in him but made his by imputation only The punishment likewise due unto our sinnes did passe from him at his departure out of this world unto his Father The new rayments wherewith Iesus the high Priest was cloathed are emblemes or shadowes of that glory and immortality wherewith Iesus our high Priest since his Resurrection is invested The faire Mitre which was put upon Iesus
the Sonne of Iehozadeck's head was the modell of the Crowne of David which was to flourish upon Iesus the Sonne of David's head as it is Psalme 132. v. 18. But upon himselfe shall his Crowne flourish 6 Briefly the protestation which the Angell in the verses following makes to Iesus the Son of Iosedech is but a renewing or repetition of the promise which God had made unto Abraham and David concerning their seede The tenour of God's promise here renewed or repeated unto Iesus the high Priest is the same And the Angell of the Lord protested unto Ieshua saying thus saith the Lord of boasts if thou wilt walke in my wayes and if thou wilt keepe my charge then thou shalt also judge my house and shalt also keepe my Courts and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by These words containe as ample a patent for the temporall or legall Priesthood unto Iesus the Sonne of Iosedech and his posteritie as David had for continuation of the temporall Kingdome in his race or progeny both the promises and patents were conditionall But that there should arise an everlasting Priest as well as an everlasting King one in whom God's promises should not be conditionall but yea and amen that is absolute and irrefragable the Prophet Zachary addes Heare now O Ieshua the high Priest thou and thy fellowes that sit before thee for they are what are they monstrous persons saith our former English or men wondred at saith the later Viri portendentes saith the vulgar The Prophets meaning is that they are men set for types or signes of great matters to come The word in the originall is the same Ezech. 12. 11. Say I am your signe like as I have done so shall it be done unto them that is to the Princes of Ierusalem and house of Israel they shall remove and goe into captivity As Ezechiel his digging through the wall in the peoples sight and carrying forth his stuffe upon his shoulders in twilight with his face covered that hee should not see the ground was a signe or prognostication of Zedechiah's stealth or flight from the Chaldeans army which besieged him So Ieshua the high Priest and all his fellowes in all this action or solemnity specially in laying the foundation of the Altar and Temple were prognosticke signes or prefigurations of Iesus the everlasting high Priest and of the spirituall Temple the holy Catholique Church which he was to build by the ministry of the Apostles So it followeth for behold I will bring forth my servant the branch For behold the stone that I have laid before Ieshua upon one stone shall be seven eyes behold I will engrave the graving thereof saith the Lord of hoasts and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day CHAP. 22. Of the harmony betweene the Prophet Ieremy and the Prophet Zachary concerning the man whose name is the branch How his growth or springing up was prefigured by Zerubbabel the sonne of David His name and title as our high Priest fore-pictured by the name and title of Iesus the Sonne of Iosedech That he was as truly the Son of God before all time as the sonne of David in time THat this man whose name was the Branch was to build the Temple of the Lord that he was to take his investiture unto his priestly dignity by Iesus the Sonne of Iehosadech as by his proxie is apparent from the sixt Chapter of the Prophet Zachary 11. Take silver and gold and make Crownes and set them upon the head of Ieshua the Sonne of Iosedech the high Priest and speake unto him saying thus speaketh the Lord of hasts saying Behold the man whose name is the Branch and hee shall grow up out of his place hee shall build the Temple of the Lord even hee shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall beare the glory and shall sit and rule upon his throne and he shall be a Priest upon his Throne and the counsell of peace shall be betweene them both 2 This place and the former are pregnant that the Servant of the Lord whose name was Zemah the Branch whose office was to build up the Temple of God should be a Priest and should sit upon his Throne as Priest But it cannot from either place be gathered it is not so much as intimated that hee should either be a Priest after the order of Aaron or of Melchisedech or of the seede of Aaron as Iesus or Ioshua the Sonne of Iehosedech was But as the Prophet affirmeth not that hee was to be Priest after the order of Aaron or Melchisedech so neither in plaine termes doth hee deny it true but as every Prophet of God speakes nothing but the truth so neither doth one of them speake all the truth or all that is requisite for us to believe concerning Iesus our Saviour That the man whose name was the Branch the same party of whom Zachary here speakes should not be of the seed of Aaron or a Priest after the order of Aaron is evident from the prophecy of Ieremiah Ier. 23. 5. uttered more then seventy yeares before Zachary began to prophecy Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall raigne and prosper and shall execute judgment and justice upon the earth In his dayes Iudah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called the Lord our righteousnesse It is plaine then out of the fore cited prophecy of Zachary that God's servant the righteous Branch was to be a Priest It is evident againe out of Ieremiah that he was to spring out of the seede of David and to raigne as King over Iudah and Israel as David had done And these two put together will directly conclude that this Branch of David was to be that sonne of David concerning whom the Lord had sworne and would not repent that hee should be a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech who was both King and Priest and by interpretation the King of righteousnesse and King of peace both which titles are expressely given to this Servant of God and Branch of David the one by the Prophet Zachary the other by the Prophet Ieremiah 3 But is it intimated or fore-told by either of them that he should be as truly David's Lord as David's Sonne Yes Ieremy implies this in fuller termes then David himselfe doth Psalm 110. for David saith the Lord said unto my Lord Adonai not Iehovah whereas the Prophet Ieremy tells us that the supreame style or title of this Branch of David should be not Adonai Tzadkenu but Iehova Tzadkenu Iehovah our righteousnesse So that hee whom David in spirit calleth his Lord was to be as essentially Lord and God as he that said unto him sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot stoole But was he according unto this name or title
did solemnely confesse and acknowledg Christ Iesus to be as truly God as man The matter or object directly signified by these words is the only true and reall Foundation of faith as Christian of the Catholique Church it selfe Of this ranke or sort of names is the name Iehosadech as it was given unto the Father of Iesus the high Priest but this doth no way import that he was either Iehovah or a man more righteous thē other high Priests had beene and yet so called not by chance or out of vain ostentation of his parents but by divine instinct or appointment of God Or whatsoever intent his parēts might have in giving him this name God did so direct their intentiōs as he did Caiphas his speech to be a kind of prophecy of what was to come We may say of Iehosadech as the Angell said of Iesus and his fellow-Priests that hee was vir portendens his very name and office did portend or bode that Iehovah himselfe the righseous Lord should become our high Priest And in as much as the Sonne of Iehosadech was the first high Priest the first of all the sonnes of Aaron that was called Iesus that is a Saviour this likewise did portend or fore-shadow that the Saviour of God's people the high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech should be the son not of David only but of Iebovah the righteous Lord or Lord of righteousnesse And if he were to be as truly the Sonne of Iehovah the righteous Lord as he was to be the sonne of David then questionlesse hee was to be as truely Iehovah that is as truly and essentially God as hee is truly and essentially man For the relation betwixt the Father and the Sonne is much more strict in the Divine nature then it can be amongst men 9 Amongst men it will follow that if the Father be a man the Sonne must be a man if the Father be mortall the Sonne must be mortall but it will not follow that if the Father be a righteous or potent man the Sonne likewise must be a righteous or potent man The reason is because they are divided in substance But in as much as the Sonne of God is of the same substance or essence with his Father it will directly follow not only that if the Father be God the Sonne is God but also that if the Father be Lord of righteousnesse the Sonne also must be Lord of righteousnesse Yet in as much as not Iehosadech the Father but Iesus the Sonne became legall righteousnesse or a temporall Saviour to God's people in captivity this truly fore-shadoweth this truth unto us that although God the Father be as truly the Lord of righteousnesse as God the Sonne both being of one substance yet is Iehovah become our righteousnesse and our salvation not in the person of the Father but in the person of the Son CHAP. 23. The obiection of the Iewes against the interpretation of the former Prophecy Ierem. 23. answered In what sense Iudah is truly said to be saved and Israel to dwell in safety by Iesus the Sonne of God and Sonne of David YEt here the Iew will object that this prophecy is not yet fulfilled because Iudah is not fully saved nor Israel planted in their owne land But the Apostle hath fully answered this objection if wee could as rightly apply his solution All saith he are not Israel that are called Israel Rom. 9. 6. Yet many are true Israelites indeed which are not so in name Nor is he a Iew that is one outwardly but that is one inwardly The Apostle in the same place gives us to understand that many are Iewes or of Iudah inwardly which are not of Iudah outwardly or so called by name Whosoever is inwardly or in heart that which the name of Iudah importeth he is truly of Iudah though not the seede of Iudah or of Abraham concerning the flesh Now the name of Iudah or Iew importeth as much as a confessor or true professor of Abraham's faith and every one is a true Israelite that is so qualified as Nathaniel was one in whose spirit there is no guile unto all such and only unto such the Lord imputeth no sinne and all they unto whom the Lord imputeth no sinne all such as truly confesse Christ to be the Sonne of God and promised Branch of David are saved by him whether they be the somes of Iacob or of Abraham or Gentiles according to the flesh So that in conclusion all ludah and all Israel according to the full extent of this prophecy are saved by this Iesus for all of them dwell in safety they are not become afraid of themselves but possesse their soules with patience To become Iewes or Israelites in this sense is the first degree of salvation and this degree they likewise have from Iesus through whom and in whom they are to expect the accomplishment of their salvation Christ then first saves us from our sins that are inherent in us or as the Apostle speaks hee first sets us free from the Law of sinne by the spirit of life which is in him and finally exempts us from the wages of sinne which is everlasting death And thus much is contained in that fore-cited promise Ierem. 16. and in the close and conclusion of that prophecie Ierem. 23. concerning the saving of Iudah and Israel by the branch of David whose name or title is The Lord our righteousnesse Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that they shall no more say the Lord liveth which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but the Lord liveth which brought up and which led the seede of the house of Israel out of the North country The Hebrew phrase Meeretz zaponah according to the usuall and ordinary rate of that language signifies indeed from the North-land yet the originall of this signification or importance of these words was from a conceit which the Iews or such as had their habitation neere unto the Aequinoctiall line had That those parts of the world which were more remote from the Aequinoctiall or Southerne climes were hidden from the sun and were at least in respect of their Country lands of obscurity and darknesse The very prime and native signification of the originall words in the Prophet rendred by our English from the North land or Country is verbatim from the land of obscurity or darknesse And whatsoever the land of Chaldea whereof Babylon was the chiefe City or Metropolis was unto others it was unto the captive Iewes a country of darknesse a land of obscurity the very shadow of death And their deliverance from it was a true type or shadow of our deliverance from the region or land of darknesse it selfe The full importance of the Evangellicall mystery included in the fore-cited passage of the Prophet Ieremy according to the most proper and most exquisite literall sense is expounded unto us by our Apostle S. Paul Coloss 1. 12. 13. God the
accomplish the legall priesthood and sacrifices by his bloody sacrifice upon the Crosse the Iew may object that however his satisfaction might be full for substance yet it failed in congruity of circumstances and in particular for the circumstance of time O pus diei decenter fit in die suo Every worke is then well done then better done then otherwise it could be when it is done in its owne time or proper day If then Christ made full attonement for all our sinnes by his owne sacrifice upon the Crosse this sacrifice had been offered in better season upon the day of attonement which was the tenth day of the seventh month or September then on that day wherein hee offered it which was the fourteenth day of the first month a day as farr different in time from the day of attonement as one festivall day or solemnitie can be from another The answer first in generall is that seeing our high priest was to offer but one bloody sacrifice and that one not oftner then once for as his death so his sacrifice was never to be reiterated it was impossible hee should offer this one sacrifice by which all legall sacrifices and services were to be accomplished upon the same day wherein all the sacrifices which did fore shadow it were offered or performed As impossible it was that this his only sacrifice should be offered at severall times as in severall places Although most in the Romish Church seeme to avouch both parts of this impossibility yet they avouch it with this distinction or limitation that his bloody sacrifice was but once offered and that but in one place at one and the same time But of this if God permit hereafter His bloody sacrifice that Church doth grant was to be offered but once and therefore but upon a speciall day or solemne feast which did fore-shadow it by the proper sacrifice of that day Now not only the annuall but all the dayly sacrifices did fore-shadow this his bloody `` sacrifice once offered for all and all of them were `` accomplished by it Reason from these premisses `` may instruct us how requisite it was that he should offer this sacrifice at that time or upon that day on which the principall sacrifices of the Law which most exquisitely or most lively fore-shadowed it were offered The services or sacrifices of other feasts were to attend or conjoyne themselves to this Now as Ierusalem was the Metropolis of the Iewish Nation the place wherein all the seede of Iacob wheresoever they dwelt were to present themselves and to performe the solemnities and services of their principall feasts so the Passeover was the Metropolis of their solemne feasts all other feasts had speciall reference unto it It did point out the time as Ierusalem did the place wherein all other legal solemnities were to be accomplished Seeing then our high Priest was to accomplish as well the sacrifices of the paâ—chall Lambe as the services of the attonement it was more requisite that the services usuall upon that day of attonement should yeeld unto the feast of the Passeover for circumstance of time then the feast of the Passeover should yeeld unto it specially seeing our high Priest had already punctually accomplished the principall solemnitie used in the feast of attonement in die suo upon the very feast day of attonnement which as is before said was the day of our Saviour's Baptisme the day of his consecration to his prophetical function Albeit divers bloody sacrifices were offered upon the feast of attonement yet the principall and most publike solemnitie was the leading of the scape-goat into the wildernesse Levit. 16. v. 20. 21. And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place and the tabernacle of the congregation and the Alâ—ar hee shall bring the live goat and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and consesse over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sinnes putting them upon the head of the goat and shall send them away by the hand of a fit man into the wildernesse To accomplish the mystery of this service our Saviour was led by the Spirit into the wildernesse immediately after his Baptisme bearing the iniquity of this people even all the sinnes which had been confessed by Ierusalem and Iudah at Iohn's baptisme And though he himselfe needed not to be washed and baptized as being all cleane yet as heesaith himselfe it became him to be consecrated by baptisme to this service to fulfill all righteousnesse and by fulfilling this part of righteousnesse in bearing the sinnes which this people had confessed into the wildernesse hee made a fuller attonement for Ierusalem Iudah then any high Priest before had made That curse wherewith Malachy had threatned the Lord would smite the earth or land of Iewry was for this time averted by this his bloody service 6 But as our Saviour at the time of his baptisme which was upon the day of attonement had fulfilled the mystery of the scape-goat so hee was to accomplish the mystery fore-shadowed by the bloody sacrifice of the paschall Lambe To this purpose Iohn the Baptist upon his returne from the wildernesse had prophecied behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1. 29. Hee had borne the iniquity of Ierusalem and Iudah by his journey unto by his fasting and watching in the wildernesse and from this Iohn fore-saw he was to take away or beare for so the originall may import the iniquites or sinnes of the world He is called by Iohn and others the Lambe of God for his innocent and spotlesse life yet not so much if at all with reference to the Lambes offered in the dayly sacrifices which were altogether without spot or blemish as with reference to the paschal Lambe which was to be the choisest and fayrest of the flock and for this reason God in his wisdome would have him sacrificed at that feast or very time wherein the paschall Lamb was stain id est upon the fourteenth of the first month inter duas vesperas betwixt the two evenings Some think betwixt three of the clock and the day-going or starre-rising Out Saviour died a litle after three and was brought in peace into his grave about the sun-setting and by rest or reposall in it hath hallowed the houses of death as the paschall Lambe did the houses of the Israelites wherein it was slain and purchased our safety from the destroying Angell even whilst our bodies lodge within the land of darknesse or region of death The congruity of time and other circumstances between the sacrifice of the paschall Lambe and the sacrifice of our high Priest are so manifest and so well known as they need no further comment 7 The mystery fore-shadowed by Israel's deliverance out of Egypt which first occasioned the institution of the Passeover was so great that the Lord in memory of it did
Apostle Hebr. 7. 26. 27. For such an high Priest became us who is holy harmelesse undefiled seperate from sinners and made higher then the heavens who needeth not dayly as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples For this hee did once when hee offered up himselfe 2 So farre was our high Priest from standing in need of any sinne-offring or sacrifice for himselfe that hee himselfe became the full and perfect attonement for the sinnes of the whole world even the sinne-offring for the high Priests themselves which yearly made attonement for the people Againe 't was a defect or imperfection in the sacrifices by which Aaron was consecrated in that they were more then one or of diverse kinds for of bloody sacrifices there were three a bullock for a sinne-offring and two Rammes the one for a fire-offring or sacrifice of rest the other the Ramme of Consecration or of filling the hand It argues againe a greater defect in all these sacrifices whether you take them coniunctim or divisim in that they were to be often offered And this defect or imperfection in the substance of these sacrifices or in the sacrificer or his service the Lord sought to recompence or supply by the perfection of the number of severall times or solemnities in which they were offered For these sacrifices were to be offered seven times Aaron and his sonnes were to fill their hands seven dayes together before their Consecration was accomplished Our high Priest as he had no sacrifice but one to wit the sacrifice of himselfe so was he to offer this sacrifice or this sacrifice was to be offered but once either for his owne or for our Consecration And by this once offring of this one sacrifice hee did fully and absolutely accomplish whatsoever was fore-shadowed by the full number of the legall sacrifices or solemnities which were used at the Consecration of Aaron For the number of seven is a full number yea a number full of mysteries and wherein the Spirit of God seemes to delight Herein then as hath been intimated before the high Priest of the New Testament and the high Priest of the Old exactly agree that as the Consecration of the one so the Consecration of the other was to last seven dayes Aaron and his sonnes as you may read Exod. 29. were commanded to attend at the doore of the tabernacle seven dayes together Our Saviour after his entrance into Ierusalem did attend the Temple five dayes together teaching and instructing the people and in curing the blind and lame which were brought unto him Hee was more frequent and diligent in performing those and the like acts of mercy then Aaron and his sonnes were in offering sacrifices or performing other legall services And having purged the materiall Temple from brothery and merchandizing restoring it to the use of prayer which the high Priests of the Law had turned or suffered to be turned into a denne of theeves having thus purged the Temple on the first or second day of his Consecration and afterwards hallowed it by his Doctrine by his presence and exercise of holinesse in it hee went the sixth day into his heavenly Sanctuary into Paradise it selfe to purifie and sanctifie it with his owne blood to consecrate it for us as Moses at Aaron's Consecration did purifie and consecrate the materiall Sanctuary and the Altar with the blood of Bullocks and of Rammes Yet was not this Consecration as yet fully accomplished the period or accomplishing of it is from the moment of his Resurrection or Reunition of his soule and body As Aaron first so every high Priest of the Law after him was to continue seven dayes in his Consecration that the seventh day or Sabbath might passe over him because no man as they conceive can be a compleat Priest untill a Sabbath have gone over his head But the Sabbath of the Lord did never so exactly passe over any high Priest in his Consecratton as it did over the high Priest of the New Testament However it were of Aaron's it was the last day of his Consecration it was to him indeed a Day of rest after six dayes of labour of watching praying fasting and after hee had accomplished the workes which his Father had sent him to doe◠by the torments of his bloody sactifice and whatsoever paines he suffered upon the Crosse But after he had said consūmatum est which was in the end of the sixth day in that day whereon God first had made man and the Son of God had now redeemed man his Consecration was not yet consummate his body was to rest the Seventh day in the grave And his soule in blisse all the Sabbath or Seventh day and after the heavenly Sanctuary had been thus hallowed by the rest and presence of his blessed soule in it on the Seventh day his soule and body were reunited upon the first day in the morning at that time when the light begū to be distinguished from darknesse And this was the time of the accomplishment of his Consecration or of his admission to the Priesthood after the order of Melchisedech 3 So then to be seven dayes in Consecration was no imperfection in Aaron and his Priesthood but rather a mystery to be accomplished in the Consecration of the Sonne of God That Aaron should have his hands filled seven dayes together by Moses with the sacrifices which were offered for him was an argument as well of his owne personall imperfections as of the imperfections of his sacrifices Howbe it the mystery or morall implyed by the filling of the hand was no point of imperfection and for this reason was as exactly fulfilled in the Consecration of ou◠high Priest as in the Consecration of Aaron The morall implied by the filling of the hand was to signifie that Aaron did not usurp the dignity of Priesthood or take it up as we say at his owne hand but was hereunto lawfully and solemnly called by God from whom hee had received whatsoever he had The inference hence made by our Apostle is this Heb. 5. 4. 5. No man taketh this honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron So also Christ glorified not himselfe to be made an high Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Sonne to day have I begotten thee Hee that had thus said unto him did likewise prepare or fit a body to him for his sacrifice hee did not fill his hand with sacrifices or burnt offrings 4. It was an imperfection likewise in Aaron's person or his sacrifices or in both his Consecration it selfe was imperfect in that his Consecration did not serve for the Consecration of his sonnes or his Successors all of them were to have their severall sacrifices or other solemne rites of Consecration The perfection which this foil sets forth in our high Priest and his Consecration is this that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Iesus
Christ once for all Hebr. 10. 10. Every Priest standeth dayly ministring and offering oftimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sinnes but this man or rather this Priest after he had once offered one sacrifice for sinnes for ever sate downe on the right hand of God and henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool For by one offering he hath consecrated for ever them that are sanctified ver 11. 12. 13. 5 As many as have reaped or hereafter shall reape any benefit either from Gods's Oath to Abraham concerning his seede in whom all the Nations of the earth were to be blessed or from the Renewing of this Oath to David concerning his son which was to be the Dispenser of this blessing and to be made a Priest after the order of Melchisedech who blessed Abraham all and every one of them are consecrated to the patticipation of this blessing by the Consecration of this our high Priest the Sonne of God The Law saith the Apostle makes men high Priests which have infirmity but the word of the Oath which was since the Law maketh the Sonne high Priest who is consecrated for evermore and by this his Consecration wee even all the Israel of God are consecrated by an everlasting Consecration So saith the Apostle Revel 1. 5. Iesus Christ the first begotten of the dead and Prince of the Kings of the earth hath washed us from our sins in his owne Blood and hath made us Kings and Priests that is Priests after the order of Melchisedech unto God and his Father By this his Consecration likewise to his everlasting Priesthood we are hallowed and consecrated as Temples to our God so saith S. Peter 1. Pet. 2. v. 4. 5. To whom comming as to a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious yee also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up a spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 5 But to take the severall bloody sacrifices which were offered at the Consecration of Aaron and his sonnes into more particular consideration Albeit these sacrifices were all imperfect not only absolutely or in respect of our high Priest's everlasting sacrifice but even in respect of these spirituall sacrifices mentioned by S. Peter which wee are to offer unto God yet were they all in their kind most perfect The best and chiefest in the whole ranke of legall or Aaronicall sacrifices they are as so many lineaments pourtraying in part or fore-shadowing that body or accomplishment not of them only but of all other sacrifices All meet in it as so many lines in their Center The first bloody sacrifice that was offered at the Consecration of Aaron was a Bullock The Priests might offer no other sacrifice then this for their owne sinne-offering because this was of all other the best and yet in comparison of this saith the Psalmist in the Person of this our high Priest in his affliction I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnifie him with thanksgiving this alâ—o shall please the Lord better then a bullock which hath hornes and hoofes that is beginning to spread the horne and hoofe for at that time they were most fit for sacrifice Psal 69. ver 30. 31. His meaning was that this sacrifice of thanksgiving should be more acceptable unto God then the very best sacrifice of the Law and so it was especially whilst offered by our high Priest even when he offered his bloody sacrifice upon the Crosse and after his enemies had given him vineger in his thirst to drink For after he had uttered that pittifull Song of the Psalmist Psal 22. whether only out of his griefe or anguish or upon other respects and intentions My God my God why hast Thou for saken Me he finally commends his soule his spirit unto his Father in the words of the Psalmists Song Ps 35. Father into thy hands I coÌ„mend my spirit The uttering of both these Songs in this anguish of soule argues hee lov'd his God and our God his Father and our Father with all his soule with all his heart with all his strength and his performance of this great Commandement as the Scribe which approved his answer to the Pharisees to the Herodians and the Sadduces had a litle before confest upon his answer to his Question was more then all whole burnt offrings and sacrifices Mat. 12. from v. 12. to 34. CHAP. 26. In what respects the Bullock offered at the Consecration of Aaron c. and the rites of offering â—â— did prefigure the bloody sacrifice of the Sonne of God especially the circumstances of the place wherein it was offered BVt you will aske wherein did the Sacrifice of the Bullock which was offered for a sinne-offering or Attonement at Aaron's Consecration or the circumstances in offering it punctually fore-shadow the bloody Sacrifice which our high Priest offered at his Consecration or the manner or circumstance of his offering it It did in circumstance at least prefigure the Sacrifice of our high Priest after the same manner or in respect of the same circumstance that the annuall sacrifices of Attonement did prefiure it of which hereafter Inasmuch as the head and flesh c. of the Bullock for sinne-offering or Attonement for Aaron at his Consecation was to be offered or burnt without the campe not to be burnt upon the Altar It fell under the same Law and undergoes the same considerations which the annuall-Sacrifices in the feast of Attonement did For so it is expressely commanded Exod. 29. 14. That the flesh of the Bullock and his skinne should be burnt without the Camp because it was a sin-offering Now it was an universall and peremptory Law that no flesh of any Sacrifice whose Blood was brought into the Sanctuary to make Attonement should be eaten by the Priests in the Sanctuary 2 It was againe a Law as peremptory that the Priests especially the high Priests might that is had power to eat the flesh of any Sacrifice whose Blood was not brought into the Sanctuary For to this purpose Moses Levit. 10. 17. expostulateth with Aaron's sonnes which were left after the death of Nadab and Abihu Wherefore have yee not eaten the sinne-offering in the holy place for it is the holy of holies and it vz. the flesh of the sin-offring he hath given to you to beare the iniquity of the Congregation to make Attonement for them before the Lord Behold the Blood of it was not brought in behold indeed you should have eaten it in the holy place as I commanded you Aaron in his Apologie for his sonnes against this accusation of Moses in no case questions the truth or extent of this commandement but rather excuseth himselfe and his sonnes for not observing the purport of the Law as the case stood with them his two sonnes Nadab and Abihu being lately consumed with fire issuing out from before the Lord for offering strange fire which
he had not commanded them upon his Altar And seeing that although they had put off all the respect of the obedience of his sonnes yet could he not put off the affection of a loving Father towards them or suddenly cease to mourne for their untimely death whereas to have eaten the Sacrifices in the holy place with a sad countenance or heavy heare had been to pollute it So that this sad and ivofull accident made the eating of the sinne-offring in the holy place unlawfull or unexpedient to him and his sonnes which ordinarily or in case no such accident had befallen them had not only been lawfull but necessary But seeing the blood of the Bullock offered for Aaron's sinne-offering at his CoÌ„secration had not been brought into the Sanctuary and seeing no such wofull accident or legall impediment had at this time befallen Aaron and his sonnes it may justly be questioned what was the reason they did not eate the flesh of this their sinne-offring or Attonement It was a sufficient warrant unto them not to eat it because the Lord had forbidden it Exod. 29. 14. But if it be demanded what was the reason or intent of this Law or rather of this particular exception from the generall Law by which they were commanded to eate it Some make answer that Aaron and his sonnes were not as yet compleat Priests or Priests already consecrated but in their Consecration only and therefore were not comprehended under the generall Law which commanded the Priest forbidding all others to eate the flesh of the sinne-offering whose blood was not brought into the Sanctuary But this reason concludes only in probability against Aaron and his sonnes who did now attend their Consecration it no waies concludes against Moses who did consecrate them who was not only permitted but commanded by God to eate of all the Sacrifices or offrings which Aaron's sonnes or Successors might lawfully eate yet did not Moses eate any part of the Bullock offered at Aaron's Consecration for a sinne-offring or Attonement for God had expressely commanded it to be burnt without the Campe. Their answer therefore to that former demand is more pertinent who say that no high Priest whether ordinarily called or extraordinarily as Moses was for the Consecration of Aaron and his sonnes might eate of any sacrifice which was offered for a sinne-offring or Attonement for the Priests themselves although the Blood of it were not brought into the Sanctuary Of the Sinne-offrings for the people whose Blood was not brought into the Sanctuary the Priests might eate they were to eate 2. This commandement for them to eate of the peoples sinne-offring argues the sinnes of the people were to be borne or taken away by the Priest The prohibition for the Priests to eat the Sinne-offrings made for themselves argues the sinnes of the Priest could not be borne or taken away by the Priests of the Law or their sacrifices but were to expect a better sacrifice of a better high Priest The legall sacrifices in the meane time were to be offered in a place prefiguring the place wherein this better Sacrifice was to be offered a place without the gates of Ierusalem Whiles the people wandred in the wildernesse without any setled habitation or City to dwell in the Sacrifice or substance of the Sinne-offring was to be consumed with fire without the trenches or bounds wheresoever they did encampe as Souldiers doe in the open field neere unto the Arke of the Testament But after the Arke had found a setled habitation or resting place in the Temple which Salomon built the City of Ierusalem in which the Temple stood became the Campe of Israel And this and other like sodeiâ—â—ties and services which were commanded to be performed without the Campe whiles the people wandred in the wildernesse were to be performed without the gates of Ierusalem albeit the Sacrifice was to be offered in the Temple whence seeing our Saviour's Body was the offring for sinne or the Sacrifice of Attonement by which the mysteries imported by all other Sacrifices were fulfilled it was to be consumed or brought into the dust of death in Mount Calvary or Golgotha or some place without the City So that the Apostle's argument Heb. 13. drawne from the annuall Sacrifices of Attonement concludes as punctually for this Sacrifice of Aâ—â—onement or Sinne-offring at Aaron's Consecration We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eate which serve at the Tabernacle for the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Sanctuary by the high Priest for sinne as also of those beasts which were offered for the Priests Sin-offring at the Consecration albeit their Blood were not brought into the Sanctuary are burnt without the Campe. Wherefore Iesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his owne Blood suffered without the gate Now this sanctification of God's people by Christ's Blood was their Consecration with him to be Kings and Priests as he was now made King and Priest that is a Priest after the order of Melchisedech and as he himselfe saith Iohn 17. 29. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that is I undergoe the rites of Consecration prefigured by the Law that they also may be sanctified through the truth or truly sanctified that is after a better manner then they could be sanctified or consecrated by the legall Sacrifices ceremonies or services of the Law 3 The second sort of bloody Sacrifices offered by Moses at the Consecration of Aaron and his sons were two Rammes the one for a burnt offring to the Lord for a sweet Savour and offring made by fire unto the Lord. Exod. 29. 18. The mystery hereby fore-signified at our Saviour's Confecration is expressed by the Apostle Ephes 5. 1. 2. Be yee therefore followers of God as deare Children and walke in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himselfe for us an offring and a Sacrifice to God for a sweete smelling savour The other Ramme was to be offered as a peace offring and is called by Moses Exod. 29. the Ramme of Aaron's Consecration ver 26. because Aaron and his sonnes were to be annointed with the Blood of it CHAP. 27. In what respects the Ramme of the Consecration and the Ramme which God did provide for a burnt offring instead of Isanck did prefigure the sacrifice of the Son of God Of other speciall rites wherein Aaron at his Consecration and in the function of his Priesthood did prefigure the Consecration and Priest hood of the Son of God NOw if we consider the speciall references of the Aaronicall Priesthood there could no fitter Sacrifice be offered for Aaron and his sonnes at their Consecration then the Sacrifice of Rammes no other Sacrifices used in the Law could be so fit an embleme or representation of our high Priest's Sacrifice at his Consecration The points whereto the Aaronicall Priesthood whether during the time of their Consecration or after Aaron and his sonnes were consecrated Priests had peculiar reference
upon the tip of the right eare of Aaron and upon the tip of the right eares of his sonnes and upon the thumbe of their right hand and upon the great toe of their right foot and sprinkle the blood c. This ceremony or service was literally and punctually fulfilled in the Consecration of our high Priest The high Priest of the Law was consecrated with forreigne blood with the blood of Rammes The high Priest of the New Testament was consecrated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his owne blood and in this blood not only his hands his feet or eares were sprinkled or annointed but his whole body was annointed or bathed For though he was alwaies internally sanctified and though this his internall sanctification was most absolute and perfect from the wombe yet would the Lord have him thus visibly and externally consecrated with his owne blood that we by the same blood might be sanctified and consecrated after a better manner then Aaron was by the blood of the Ramme of Consecration The morall implyed in sprinkling of Aaron's right eare the thumbe of his right hand and the great toe of his right foot is this Our eares which are the sense of discipline and the gate by which faith entreth into our hearts must be consecrated and hallowed by the blood of our high Priest that wee may know God's will our hands and feet likewise which are the instruments of service are hallowed and sanctified by his blood that we may walke in his wayes and doe his will Finally as both our bodyes and soules have beene redeemed by his blood so both must be consecrated in it and enabled by it unto his service 7 Another ceremony or service at Aaron's Consecration was the offering up of one loaf of bread one cake of oyled bread and one wafer wherewith Aaron's and his sonnes hands were first to be filled and afterwards to be burnt upon the Altar for a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord. Exod. 29. ver 23. 25. The mystery signified by this and the other bloody sacrifice may best be gathered from that which hath afore been said concerning the circumcision of Isaack and of Abraham's seed or concerning God's demanding Isaac for a burnt offering which was then observed out of Rupertus an ancient Writer God did demand at Abraham's hands that he might thereby tye himselfe to give his own sonne unto Abraham and his seed To which may now be added the testimony of S. Chrysostome in his comments upon our Saviours words to the Woman of Samarin Da mihi bibore give mee to drink The Fountaine of life sitting besides the Fountaine calls for drink not that he was desirous to take but rather to give drink Give me to drink saith he that I may make thee drink the water of immortality I thirst after the salvation of mens soules not that I might drink but that I may give them salvation to drink I imitate my Father who said to Abraham offer me up thy Sonne thy only Sonne Isaac whom thou lovest for a burnt offering this he said not as if he had desired to accept Abraham's sonne but that he determined to give his owne Sonne for the sinnes of the world as S. Iohn saith Chap. 3. ver 16. In like manner God required the flesh and blood of Bullocks and of Rammes with unleavened bread to be offered up in sacrifice unto him at the Consecration of Aaron not that he stood in need to eate the flesh of Bulls or bread of wheat or drink the blood of Rammes but that he then purposed to consecrate for us and to give unto us his only Sonne whose flesh is meat indeed whose blood is drink indeed whose body is the bread of life which commeth downe from heaven which who so eateth shall live for ever for he that truly eateth is consecrated by it to be a King and Priest for ever unto God the Father CHAP. 28. A briefe Recapitulation of what hath been said in this parallel between the Consecration of Aaron and the Consecration of the Sonne of God the conclusion of the whole Treatise concerning it TO recapitulate what hath been said before The beginning of the everlasting Priesthood according to the order of Melchisedch is the determining of the Aaronicall Priesthood unlesse we shall say as perhaps we ought that this Priesthood with the legall rites and sacrifices did expire with the last mortall breath of him who is now immortall 2 The everlasting sacrifice whereby he is consecrated an everlasting Priest was then accomplished and the cessation of the Aaronicall Priesthood proclaimed when hee said consummatum est and commended his spirit unto God Yet is it not probable that his Consecration or the Consecration of the everlasting Sanctuary were at the same instant accomplished His sacred soule perfumed with the fresh odour and fragrancy of his sweet smelling sacrifice annointed with his most precious blood into whatsoever other place it afterwards went instantly repaired into the Holiest of Holies into Paradise it selfe This is the accomplishment of our Attonement prefigured by the high Priest's entring into the holy place with blood and the period of all sacrifices for his owne or our Consecration 3 That the vale through which the high Priest after the order of Aaron did enter into the most holy place should rend asunder at the very instant wherein the soule and spirit of this our high Priest did passe through the vale of his flesh rent and torne into his coelestiall Sanctuary was a lively embleme to all observant spectators that hee was no intruder but called by God And reason they had to observe this signe or accident in that hee had promised to one of them that were crucified with him Hedie mecum erit in Paradiso 4 The publike solemnitie of Consecration hath ever been a speciall testimony or adjunct of lawfull calling and Christ's Consecration was more solemne and publique then Aaron's was Such it was as flesh and blood could not affect such as nothing but filiall obedience to his heavenly Father could have moved this our high Priest to admit because it was to be accomplished by a lingring and a bloody death Moses at the Consecration of Aaron is commanded to gather all the congregation together unto the doore of the tabernacle Levit. 8. Ad tria voluit Dominus populum congregart Primum ut pro eo sacerdos offerret eumque expearet Secundum ad instituendum sacerdotem ut sciret populus Aaron filios ejus praefici sibi in sacerdotes mediatores de caeterâ— commendavit se illi Tertione esset inter eos aliquis qui postea sacerdotium ambiret postquam omnes sciebant Aarâ—nem à Deo sacerdotem institutum Oleaster 5 For the like reasons God would have the Consecration of his Son accomplished at the Passeover that is as a Father speakes at the Metropolis of Iewish feasts the most solemne publique and universall meeâ—ing that any one People or Nation in
the world ever had besides the concurse and confluence of strangers at the time of our Saviour's Passion The manner of whose death and the signes and wonders then exhibited made the heathen Centurion a man altogether ignorant of these sacred mysteries to confesse that this Iesus whom he had seene crucified was the Sonne of God But the time the manner and consequence of his Resurrection most directly proves as well his Priesthood as his calling to it to have been from God both more excellent then Aaron's was 6 Wee see it experienced Numb 16. 17. that notwithstanding the publique solemnitie of Aaron's Consecration by Moses there wanted not such rebellious spirits then as the world is full of now which thought themselves altogether as holy and as â—it to be high Priests as he After the earth had swallowed up the principals in this conspiracy the â—eaâ—â—â—eâ—â—e multitude though â—eâ—â—â—â—ed for a while with the fearefull disaster of their ring-leaders conspire aâ—â—esh against Moses and Aaron and had utterly perished in this rebellion had not Aaron runne into the midst of the congregation which sought his life and stood with his center as with a shield of defence betwixt them and death But seeing neither the fearefull examples shewed upon Coreh Dathan and Abiram nor Aaron's late compassion towards them when wrath was gone out from the Lord against them and the plague was kindled amongst them were able to quell their jealousies or appease their murmurings the Lord lastly made the Rodde of Levy alone inscribed with Aarons name amongst all the roddes of the Tribes of Israel to bring forth branch leafe blossome and fruit in one night and thus beautified with flowre and fruit which were not to fade in so many yeares as they had been houres inspringing to be laid up in the Arke of the testimony to stay the murmurings of the children of Israel and to be as a witnesse against them whensoever they should question Aaron's calling 7 The Tribes of Israel were never so maliciously and stubbornly bent against Moses and Aaron as the Tribe of Levi and Aaron's successors with their complices were against the sonne of David to whom the Lord destinated the Priesthood after the order of Melchisedech by solemn oath Though the earth did quake and the rocks rent in sunder though the graves did open and give up their dead more desirous to swallow up these rebellious miscreants quick then to swallow up Coreh Dathan and Abiram as doubtlesse they had done unlesse this Priest of the most high God had made an Attonement for them saying Father forgive them for they know not what they doe yet their murmurings cease not with his life their malice pursues him into his grave 8 The last and peremptory signe reserved by the wisdome of God either to stay their murmurings or to condemne them with Coreh with Dathan and Abiram unto the everlasting pit was the causing of this Rodde of â—esse this branch of David whom these cruell and mercilesse men had quite stript of flower of leafe of branch bereft of sappe and as it were scorcht and beaked in the fire of affliction to recover sappe and leafe and flower againe to bring forth the fruit which never shall â—â—de now consecrated to be the tree of life to all the Nations enthronized in the heavenly tabernacle and planted at the right hand of God untill his enemies by the rodde of his power be made his footstoole We have seene in part how fitly that testimony of the Psalmist Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee beeing understood of Christ raised from the dead is avouched by our Apostle to prove Christs calling his Consecration and advancement to the Priesthood here mentioned to have been from God and from the event answering to the Psalmist's prophecy and from that other testimony of Psalme 110. often mentioned doth S. Peter cause the murmuring of the people of Israel to cease For from the two premises Act. 2. ver 36. he thus concludes Therefore let all the house of Israell know assuredly that God hath made the same Iesus whom yee have crucified both Lord and Christ that is as much as if he had said both King and Priest by these declarations he gained three thousand soules which otherwise had perished in their murmurings 9 So then the day of his Resurrection is the day wherein the dignity of everlasting Priesthood is actually collated upon him and as he himselfe testifieth All power is given unto mee both in heaven and earth And if all power then as well the power of Priesthood as the power royall And as high Priest he gives Commission to his Disciples to teach and baptize The day of his Ascension or placing at the right hand of God is the day of his solemne enthronization and immediately upon this hee sent forth the Rodde of his strength out of Sion For by this rodde fore-told by the Psalmist Psal 110. we are to understand that power wherewith his Disciples were to be endued from above which they were to expect in Ierusalem at the feast of Pentecost The effusion of the holy spirit and emplanting the Law of the Gospell in their hearts upon that day or the day following wherein the Law of Moses was proclaimed was as a proclamation to all the world that the Priesthood was translated or changed by this manifest translation or change of the Law SICT. 5. Of the Resurraction of the Sonne of God By what Prophets it was fore-told By what Persons or legall Rites it was fore-pictured or fore-shadowed CHAP. 29 In what high esteeme S. Paul did hold the Article of our Saviour's Resurrection and Ascension c. That the want of explicite beliefe to this grand Article of the Resurrection did argue rather a dulnesse or slownesse to believe the Scriptures then any infidelity or incredulity even in such as had seene his miracles and had heard him fore-tell his death and rising againe untill the event did manifest unto them the truth of his former Doctrine and predictions WHen the Doctor of the Gentiles saith He esteemed to know nothing amongst the great Masters of knowledge save Iesus Christ and him crucified this exception no way excludes the knowledge of his Resurrection from the dead or implies that he had not the knowledge of the Article in equall esteeme with the knowledge of his Crosse How highly soever he did esteeme both mysteries it doth not argue that hee did rate the knowledge of his Ascention into heaven his session at the right hand of God or his comming thence to judge the quick and the dead one mite lower The greatest blessing which hee could either praise God for or pray unto him for whether for himselfe or for his beloved Ephesians was the knowledge as he termes it of these grand mysteries Wherefore I also after I had heard of your faith in the Lord Iesus and love unto all the Saints cease not to give thankes for you making mention of you
him a name which is above every name that at the name of Iesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Philip. 2. verses 9. 10. 11. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee have crucified both Lord and Christ Act. 2. 36. CHAP. 31. Shewing the concludency of the allegations used by the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul to prove the truth of Christ's Resurrection and in particular of the Testimony Psal 2. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee NOt to repeat other Types or propheticall testimonies of Christ's entrance into immortall glory by the sufferings of death of which the Reader may find plenty as well in Postillers as Commentators nor to dilate upon such generall testimonies whether meerly typical or propheticall or typically propheticall as have been heretofore handled in the seventh and eighth Booke of these Comments upon the Creed as that of Psal 82. c. I make no question but those testimonies out of the Psalmes or Prophets which are avouch'd to this purpose by the Apostles themselves specially by S. Peter and S. Paul were expounded by our Saviour himselfe unto the two fore-mentioned Disciples which did accompany him unto Emmaus 2 Now the testimonies most insisted upon by the Apostles as well for convincing the Gentiles as the Iewes are specially three that of Psal the 2. Thou art my Sonne this day have I begotten thee and Psal the 6. Thou wilt not leave my soule in hell nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption the third The Lord hath sworne and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech or which is much what the same The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstoole The extraordinary successe of all these allegations abundantly testifies that they were most concludent for many thousand soules at two severall times besides others were converted by them The testimony out of Psal 2. is prest home by S. Peter Act. 2. v. 6. to the 37. to the Iewes specially and by S. Paul both upon Iews and Gentiles Act. 13. Though with better successe upon the Gentiles The force and strength of this testimonie and likewise how farre it was meant of David and fulfilled in Christ hath been at large discust before The point at which these present endeavours aime is to declare how these two testimonies 1. Thou art my Sonne this day have I begotten thee and 2. Thou art a Priest after the order of Melchisedech doe concludently and irrefragably inferre the Resurrection of Christ that Iesus whom the Iewes had crucified being both the Sonne of God and sonne of David and his Consecration to his everlasting Priesthood for unto this later point both testimonies are drawne by our Apostle Heb. 5. v. 5. and 6. But how close they reach this point whether jointly or severally is not so cleerly set forth by most interpreters as that the Reader unlesse his understanding farre surpasse mine will easily collect The generall meaning of our Apostle hath been declared in the first Section and in the close of the fourth of this Booke it is punctually thus Seeing Aaron's calling to the dignity of Priesthood was publiquely manifested to be from God no man after might take upon him to erect a new Priesthood no not to the temporall prejudice of Aaron and his successors much lesse to abolish this Priesthood which God had erected unlesse he could manifest to man and Angels that his Commission for thus doing was immediately from God and authentique being sealed by oath and solemnely executed And seeing no man might therefore Christ though God and man did not glorifie himselfe as the Apostle addes to be made an high Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Sonne this day have I begotten thee did put this dignity upon him Many Interpreters have stretcht their wits to make the literall sense of this Psalmist's words reach home to our Apostle's purpose Others so slight it as if they would give us to understand or cause to suspect our Apostle himselfe did not much stand upon it but only passe by it unto the second testimony Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech Albeit in my opinion the later testimony proves his fiat or Commission the former his ordination or execution of his Commission I will not wrong the judicious Reader 's patience with profering variety of such expositors unto his choise as his wisdome cannot approve Cajetan hath Ribera's approbation and of all the expositors which went before him drawes the Psalmist's Oracle Thou art my Sonne this day have I begotten thee neerest to the point in question So farre I am from carping at any thing which those two expositors have said to the point now in question that I will endeavour to explicate and extend their meaning in the best sort I can The Priesthood saith Cajetan as Ribera expounds him before the Law given was annexed as a prerogative to the first borne and descended from Abraham to Isaac and by speciall dispensation to Iacob Now the whole dignity of the first borne being lost by Ruben was divided amongst three of his Brethren The Soveraignty or Principallity fell to Iudah the Priesthood to Levi and the double Portion to Ephraim And in Aaron the sonne of Levi was the Priesthood established long before the Kingdome was established in David the sonne of Iudah and to the Priesthood so established David's sons had as litle right as Aaron's sonnes had to the Crowne or Diadem God's peremptory decree for thus dividing these two prerogatives Azariah is not afraid to plead unto King Vzziah's face Chron. 2. 26. And his speech did take impression for hee had no sooner made an end of speaking but the leprosie begunne to appeare in King Vzziah's face and for his usurpation of the Priest's office and intrusion into the house of God he is utterly excluded from his pallace and enforced to resigne the government unto his Sonne But inasmuch as he of whom the Psalmist speakes is solemnely registred and by him declared to be the first borne and Sonne of God it is not lawfull only but expedient but very necessary that all the branches of the first borne's prerogative which Ruben had scattered should be reunited in his Person Againe in that he is the promised seed hee is the compleat heire of all the blessings bequeathed to Abraham and out of whatsoever tribe this promised seed was to spring the honour of Priesthood was as due unto him as the Kingdome Levi and Aaron were but as foefes in trust for conveying the Priesthood as Iudah and David were for making over the Kingdome unto him 3 All those suppositions and others perhaps more then Cajetan or Ribera though
was to come Yet their bodies were to inherite their Father Adam's curse Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt returne Subject they were to to corruption altogether incapable of incorruption or immortalitie untill their expected Messias became their first fruits for them Christ saith our Apostle 1. Cor. 15. 20. is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleepe for since by man came death by man came also the Resurrection of the dead So generally true is that of the Apostle that which sanctifieth and that which is sanctified are both of one that is both of one kind Heb. 2. And in this sense that saying of S. Ambrose which some in later ages have much quarrelled is most true When thou hadst overcome the sharpnesse of death thou didst open the Kingdome of heaven to all believers The body of no Saint was capable of entrance into the Kingdome of heaven before this time None could be consecrated unto this service before the Consecration of the high Priest himselfe which was not accomplished till he was begotten from the dead and made the first fruits of them that sleepe 5 Briefly to mould up the scattered or dispersed notions in this and some other former treatises how the fulnesse of all things which were fore-shadowed in the feast of the Passeover with its rites did as our Apostle saith dwel in Christ or how in all things he the preheminence First he is in the literall and most exquisite sense the Israel of God the Son of God which was to passe out of this world unto his Father Secondly hee was the true Paschall Lambe which was slaine for our deliverance from the destroyer and for our safety in this our passage from this world into a better Thirdly he is the reall Moses that must conduct us for he was conductor unto Moses Fourthly he is the first borne of every creature which by his sacrifice did sanctifie all the rest and make them acceptable unto God Fiftly he is the first-borne or first begotten from the dead the first fruits of them that sleepe that is he by whom such as sleepe in death and inhabite darknesse shall be made meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light as well in their bodies as in their soules SECT 6. He Ascended into Heaven CHAP. 35. How the Ascension of the Son of God was presigured by the translation of Enoch and by the taking up of Elias And foretold by the Psalmist Psal 15. and Psal 24. THE Son of God in the day of his sufferings as he was man did ascend in soule into that Paradise into which the soules of Patriarchs of Prophets with the soules of holy and just men that dyed immediately after him or at the same time with him were admitted And on that day at least before the dawning of the next which was the Sabbath he consecrated the celestiall Sanctuary or Paradise with his owne blood But his Ascension into Paradise what part soever of Heaven that were on that day is not the Ascension mentioned in our Creed For when it is said HE ASCENDED into Heaven this must be understood of his Ascention thither in body which was forty dayes after his Resurrection from the dead And into Heaven or that part of Heaven mentioned in our Creede hee did not then ascend only as an high Priest but also as King of Heaven and earth The Day of his Ascension as was mentioned before was the day of his solemne enthronization 2 The manner of his Ascension is punctually related specially by the Evangelist S. Luke in the last Chapter of his Gospell and in the first of the sacred history of the Acts of the Apostles The speciall quaerees concerning his or other Evangelicall or Apostolicall avouchments of his Ascension are but two The first how that which they historically relate or avouch was fore-pictured The second how or by what Prophets fore-told in the sacred Writings of the Old Testament And these two quaeries must be discust not by dichotomy or by way of opposition but either severally or promiscuously as the Texts of the Old Testament shall minister occasion 3 The Ascension of this just and holy one of the great Prophet promised by Moses was first prefigured by the translation of Enoch which was long before the Law was given long before Moses was borne But of Enoch's translation litle can be said upon sure grounds or by just warrant of Scripture Only this we know from authentique testimonies that hee was an holy man and one that pleased God A man both in life and in his translation from this life unto a better who did truly fore-shadow him in whom alone God was and is and ever will be best pleased 4 The manner of Eliah's Ascension or rather of his being taken up from earth into heaven or to a farre better place then earth was more visible and more conspicuous and the time of his taking up more publiquely knowne then the time or manner of Enoch's translation was He was taken or caried up out of Elishah's sight who with many others did expect the time and day of his translation in a fiery Chariot a fit embleme of Eliah's propheticall spirit alwaies burning with zeale towards the service of God even to the destruction of the enemies of it or disturbers of the peace of Israel Our Saviour did rather ascend in a Cloud then was taken up by it albeit taken by it out of their sight which saw him ascend from earth to heaven The cloud it selfe in which he did ascend being an embleme of his sweet and milde spirit of those gracious lips which did alwaies distill words of mercy and love allaying the terrible heat and fervency of Eliah's and other Prophets spirits which had fore-told his first comming into and his going out of this world and his second comming to judge it 5 Two illustrious predictions of his Ascension we have Psal 15. Psal 24. but whether the one or both of these Psalmes which illustrate or confirme the truth of the Evangelicall story be meerly propheticall or typically propheticall or mixt id est thus literally verified in the Psalmists themselves or Pen-men of these hymnes and afterward mystically fulfilled in Christ is more then I dare peremptorily either affirme or deny Most probable it is that the Author of the 15 th Psal which doubtlesse was David himselfe did pen his owne part and exercise his hopes and interest in the future Ascension of his Son and Lord of which he had a present pledge or token by his late restitution into the tabernacle of the Lord from which he had sometimes been excluded not for any crime or demerite nor by any Ecclesiasticall censure of excommunication or suspension but by secular violence of hostile persecution During the time of his exile from the tabernacle hee or the sonnes of Chorah for him uttered those patheticall complaints How amiable are thy tabernacles thou Lord of hosts
Creator both of sea and land The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof the World and they that dwell therein for he hath founded it upon the seas that is in such a sense as wee say townes and cities are situated upon the rivers on whose bankes they stand and established it upon the flood ver 1. 2. Yet may we not deny that this Psalme may literally referre to the bringing in of the Arke into the hill of Sion and to the exhortation of the Psalmist to admit and entertaine it as the feat of the King of Glory God blessed for ever But this literall sense doth no way prejudice but rather strengthen the force of their argument who hence conclude the deity of the Son of God then admitted in triumph into the hill of Sion or the Tabernacle pitched in it according to his divine nature only this triumphant admission being a sure pledge or earnest of his future admission into his heavenly Sanctuary the place of his everlasting residency as Lord and Christ in our nature No man who acknowledgeth or rightly esteemeth the authority of the Psalmist unlesse abundance of wit hath besplitted his understanding can imagine that the King of Glory whom the Psalmist here mentioneth should be any other party or person besides the Son of God Christ Iesus whom the Iewes when he came to the materiall Temple or Tabernacle wherein his divine nature did in peculiar manner reside did not entertaine in such manner as David enjoyned their fore-Fathers to entertaine the Arke of his presence They would not acknowledge him to be their Messias because they knew him not nor the Scriptures which did foretell this his comming For as our Apostle with speciall reference to the words of this Psalmist teâ—s us had they knowne him to be that Lord of Glory unto whose honour David consecrated this hymne they would not have crucified him But by crucifying or rather by his humiliation of himselfe unto the death of the Crosse he was consecrated as man unto his everlasting Priesthood and made both Lord and King of Glory CHAP. 36. At what time and upon what occasions th 68 Psalme was composed What reference it hath in the generall unto our Saviour's Ascension ANother Psalme there is appointed by the wisedome of the ancient and continued by the discretion of the English Church even since the first reformation to be read or sung as a proper hymne to the festivall of our Saviour's Asoension A Psalme full of mysteries and divine raptures apt to enkindle our hearts with zeal and admiration could we find out or rightly seeke after either the historicall occasions which ministred the matter or ditty of this divine song or the severall parts of Scripture unto which most passages in it according to the literall or historicall sense doe respectively referre The occasion of composing the Psalme to wit 68. Some Iewish Rabbins conjecture to have been that glorious victory which Ezekiah or rather the Lord of hosts in Ezekiah's daies got over Senacherib and his mighty army But the most of the more judicious Christian Commentators with greater probability or discretion referre the occasion of composing this Psalme to that solemne translation of the Arke of God from Kyriath Iearim into Mount Sion at large described 2. Sam. 6. David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel thirty thousand And David arose and went with all the people that were with him from Baal of Iudah to bring up from thence the Arke of God whose name is called by the Lord of hosts that dwelleth betweene the Cherubbims or at which the name even the name of the Lord of hosts was called upon 2 This later opinion is in it selfe perswasible or rather deserves full credanee from the first words of the Psalme Let God arisâ— let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flee before him ver 1. These were verba solemnia the accustomed solemne forme of prayer used so often as the Arke of the Covenant which was to this people the most authentique pledge of God's peculiar presence and protection and for this reason called by his name did remove from one place to another during their pilgrimage in the wildernesse And they departed from the Mount of the Lord three daies journey And the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord went before them in the three daies journey to search out a resting place for them and the Cloud of the Lord was upon them by day when they went out of the Campe. And it came to passe when the Arke set forward that Moses said rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee And when it rested hee said Returne O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel Numb 10. ver 33. 34. 35. 36. Moses prayed conceptis verbis that God would arise and take part with his people David out of the fresh experience of God's mighty protection over him his subjects and allies so long as they worshipped him in truth and syncerity in this symbole of his presence seemes to utter Moses song rather by way of congratulation for victories already gotten then by way of instant prayer for present assistance A great part of this most divine most sublime ditty is a recapitulation of the glorious victories which the God of Israel had purchased for his people and upon their deliverance out of Egypt and their other peculiar protections or succours which private men or women in their distresse had found when they were helplesse in the sight of men or oppressed by their neighbours Sing unto God sing praises to his name extoll him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Iah and reioyce before him A Father of the fatherlesse and a Iudge of the widowes is God in his holy Habitation God setteth the solitary in families he bringeth out those that are bound in chaines but the rebellious dwell in a dry land ver 4. 5. 6. The verses following referre to the publique deliverance out of Egypt and the majesticke apparitions about Mount Sinai O God when thou wentest forth before thy people when thou didst march through the wildernesse the earth shooke the heavens also dropped before the Lord even Sinai it selfe was moved at the presence of God the God of Israel c. 7. 8. Some good Interpreters here observe that the Arke itselfe is called Iehovah or the Lord God of Israel by the same forme of speech that the sacrament all pledges are called the one the Body the other the Blood of Christ 3 Now the sweet singer of Israel was confident that the God of their Fathers would be as gracious to himselfe to his people and their successors after he came to dwell in Mount Sinai as he had been to Moses and Ioshun in the wildernesse â—or unto Samuel while the Taber nacle was in Shiloh or elsewhere either in motion or pitched Hence sprung those encomiasticall expressions throughout the Psalme of the
glory of Mount Sion not so much for its native situation though that were glorious as for that it was now become the pedestall to the Arke wherein Iehovah or Iah kept his residence The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan an high hill as the hill of Bashan Why leape yee yee high hills This is the hill which God desireth to dwell in yea the Lord will dwell in it for ever ver 15. 16. Yet all these glorious hopes or hoped promises prophesied of in this Psalme are to be interpreted according to the rules before observed upon Psal 89. Many of the blessings hoped for and fore-prophesied were meant according to the literall sense of David himselfe and his posterity yet but conditionally true of them absolutely irreversibly and everlastingly true only of David's son or seede 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of that God and Lord who in the fulnesse of time was to be enclosed in the Virgines wombe and to have his everlasting habitation in the fruit of her body after a more admirable and peculiar manner then he resided in the Ark when David brought it unto the hill of Sion Hee is often said indeed to dwell in the Arke and in the Temple but never so did dwell in them in such a sense as our Apostle describes his habitation in the man Christ Iesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily or as Chemnitius renders it by personall residence 4 For the encomiasticall part of the 68. Psal sofarre as it concernes mount Sion Ierusalem or Iudah the Reader may find a paraphrasticall exposition to it Psal 48. which was composed after this and as it is most probable in the dayes of Iehosaphat For any paraphrase or Comment upon that Psalme I leave the learned Reader to his owne choice I would only commend one passage of Calvin's Comments upon it which an ingenuous censurer of this great Dr when hee treads awry or speakes harshly but a more friendly encomiast of him when he goes aright hath commended to me upon the close of that Psalme Walke about Sionand goâ— round about her tell the towers thereof ver 12. c. Argutum simul soliduÌ„ est diligenter notâ—ndum quod hic â—alvinus auguratur interpretatur de excidio urbis Templi ut splendoreÌ„ Templi narrent posteritati Non opus erat auditu narratione â—i visibus humanis semper pâ—tuisset Narrantur posteritati quâ— non exhibentur veluti quotidiâ—â—â—â—â—â—cula spectacula â—op in v. 14. This commendable observation upon the 48. Ps makes a speech of this same Calviâ— upon the principall passages of the 68. Psalm more harsh and distastful to this ingeâ—â—oâ—s censurer and to others which have their senses exercised in the interpretation of prophecies especialy such as are alleaged by the Apostles or Evangelists So was the 19 v. of this Psalme urged by S. Paul to prove our Saviours Ascension Ephes 4. Calvinus ait Paulus locum hunc subtilius ad Christum deflectit mallem dicere divinius ad Christum transfert accommodat 5 But this ingenious Writer and accurate Latinist useth this word accommodat in another sense then Iansenius Suarez or Maldonat or other literalists doe which oftentimes though not alwaies oppose the word accommodation or allusion to concludent proofe for of all the prophesies which point directly to the Article of Christ's Ascension this 19. ver alleaged by S. Paul to this purpose is most concludent if we could rightly parallel the literall or historicall passages which are well deciphered by Calvin with the mysticall or principally intended sense or actuall accomplishment of David's words The historicall occasion from which the spirit of prophecy in David tooke its rise to proclaime this grand mystery of the Gospell was the often mentioned triumphant introduction of the Arke of God or in equivalent sense the God of Israel which dwelt in the Arke into the hill of Sion which from this time and occasion was instiled the place of God's rest because the Arke of God as was presumed was there to reside without wandring as in the place which God had chosen for it To this purpose Psal 78. He smote his enemies in the hinder parts hee put them to a perpetuall repreach Moreover he refused the Tabernacle of Ioseph and chose not the Tribe of Ephraim but chose the Tribe of Iudah the Mount Sian which he loved And he built his Sanctuary like high pallaces like the earth which he hath est ablished for ever ver 66. 67. 68. 69. From this designation of the Arke to reside in Ierusalem David haply who knew best the tenour of God's promise concerning this businesse would not suffer it to goe along with him when he fled from Ierusalem as being in danger of suprisall by his son Absolon CHAP. 37. Of the concludency of the Apostle's Allegation Ephes 4. 7. 8. Out of the 18. ver of the 68. Psal BVt to set forth the parallel betwixt the Prophet and our Apostle The custome among the Romans and other Nations was to bestow congiaries or largesses upon their friends or natives when they led their enemies captive in solemne triumph Whether David led any enemies of which hee had conquered many in such triumph or whether he did meerly as a Prophet or sacred Poet display his former victories gotten over the enemies of God and his Church by the manner of the Nations triumphs over their enemies is not in my observation evident This is certaine hee dispersed not painted or poeticall but reall largesses unto the people in gratefull memory of the former victories which God had given to him his Predecessors the former Champions for the people of Israel And more then probable it is that David in this hymne had speciall reference to the victories and triumphs of Barach and his associates over Sisera most divinely expressed by Deborah in her song Iudg. 5. My heart is toward the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people Blesse yee the Lord. ver 9. Awake awake Deborah awake awake utter a song Arise Barach and lead captivity captive thou son of Abinoam Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the Nobles among the people The Lord made mee have dominion over the mighty v. 12. 13. Whether David when hee composed the 68. Psalm did imitate the triumph of Barach and Deborah over Sisera Generall of Iabin's host by matter of fact as by leading his captives in triumph which is most probable or only seeke to exceed Deborah in his song by more full expressions of his thankfulnesse towards God who had given him greater victories over greater enemies is not manifest But it is more then matter of opinion or pious credulity that both the victories of Barach and David over the visible enemies of God's people or whatsoever other historicall occasions Deborah or Barach or David had to utter their songs were but types or ominous or lucky prenotions of that great victory
things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affections on things above not on things on earth For yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall yee also appeare with him in glory Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanenesse inordinate affection evill concupiscence and covetousnesse which is idolatry for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience But if these workes of the flesh be mortified by the spirit the spirit of God having gotten possession of our hearts doth organize them and frame a true model of the heavenly Sanctuary within our breasts albeit we cannot expresse our affectionate conceits or experimentall representations unto others Christ is present with us or in us by this renovation of our mind or by imprinting these heavenly affections in our soules by following love gentlenesse meeknesse temperance patience c. Christ is really fashioned in us not by converting any substance into his substance or by reall converting his substance into ours but by conversion of our earthly affections into the similitude of his heavenly affections Our affections being thus converted Christ hath his Throne and Habitation in our hearts so answering to his heavenly Throne as the light of the sun gathered in some round body apt to reflect his beames or to be penetrated by them doth resemble the sun which really penetrates and enlightens them For effecting this reall conversion of our affections into the similitude of his affections no other presence of Christ is either necessary or expedient besides the presence of his spirit by which ten dayes after his Ascension he enabled his Disciples to conceive aright of these heavenly mysteries and to convert others unto the truth of his Gospel 4 That Christ's body should descend from heaven unto us or be bodily present by trasubstantiation or some other manner as some conceive we have no reason to hope nor warrant to believe to lift up our bodies unto heaven we have no possibility but to lift up our hearts and spirits unto our Lord now placed in his heavenly Throne we have have peremptory precepts many But how shall wee lift them up or what power have we to lift them up Not so much I confesse as we have to cast our selves downe before his Throne but casting our selves downe before him which we cannot performe without his preventing and assisting grace we have a sure promise that he will lift us up Wee are no where to my remembrance commanded to pray to God that he would cast us downe and yet bound to pray that he would give us grace to cast our selves downe As often then as wee meditate upon this Article of Christ's Ascension or sitting at the right hand of God let us beseech God and him that the Priests may truly exhort their charge his people to lift up their hearts and that the people may as truly answer we lift them up unto the Lord And that we may all joyntly sing that hymne in reverence and true devotion With Angels and Arch-Angels and with all the company of heaven we laud thy glorious name O Christ evermore praising thee and saying holy holy holy Lord God of hosts heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high AMEN CHAP. 40. How the time of our Saviour's Ascension into heaven upon the fortieth day after his Resurrection from the grave was prefigured by the signe of the Prophet Ionas with the exposition of that signe given by our Saviour Mat. 12. 39. 40. ONe thing more I should have said in the former treatise but now must commend it to the Reader 's observation And 't is this that many of those propheticall passages specially in the Psalmes of bringing great things to passe by the right hand of the Lord have been are and sahll be most punctually fulfill'd of and in the Son of God incarnate since he was placed at the right hand of God the Father That his placing there includes an extraordinary eminency of power more then hath been formerly manifested the Lutheran I am sure doth not and I hope others cannot deny Two speciall manifestations of the power of the right hand of God were exhibited not long after his Ascension The first spirituall as the descending of the holy Ghost from which time the holy Catholique Church bare date or began to be in esse The other was the destruction of Ierusalem and the dispersion of the rejected reliques of Abraham's seed throughout the Nations 2 The circumstance of the time wherein he ascended which is the only point left to be discust is plainely set downe by the Evangelist S. Luke Act. 13. The Queries upon it are two The first how it was prefigured The second what it did portend 3 For the resolution of both these Queries there can be no firmer ground then the explication of a sacred text uttered by our Saviour himselfe Math. 12. v. 38. 39. c. Then certaine of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying Master wee would see a signe from thee But he answered and said to them an evill and adulterous generation seeketh after a signe and there shall no signe be given to it but the signe of the Prophet Ionas For as Ionas was three daies and three nights in the whales belly so shall the son of man be three daies and three nights in the heart of the earth 4 But yet for any helpe we have from most Interpreters the explication of this Text is in it selfe more difficult then most of the former alleaged for our Saviour's Resurrection and Ascension Who so will read as many ancient or moderne expositors as Maldonat had done will haply subscribe to his censure of such as he hath read So farre was any of them from cleering this passage that not one besides Hilarius did in his judgment touch the principall difficulty contained in it And he that shall read this learned Writer's Comments upon this place will perhaps not condemnemy opinion of him delivered in former meditations But my desire is rather to explicate his and other Interpreters meaning whom he dislikes then contradict them and to rectifie the parallels intended by them betweene Types or Figures of the Old Testament and their accomplishment in the New 5 The principall dissiculties in our Saviour's parallel are first what manner of signe it was which the adulterous generation sought for The second to what purpose he gave them such a signe as they did not seeke after Our Saviour before and his Disciples after this time had given the Iewes one and other many miraculous signes How then doth hee say that no signe shall be given them besides the signe of the Prophet Ionas Some are of opinion that these Scribes and Pharisees desired some such glorious signe from heaven as Elias and Samuell had shewed
darknesse made the morning of the first natural day God faith Moses divided the light from the darknesse and called the light day and the darknesse he called night and the evening and the morning were the first day As was the condition of this visible world or form lesse earth before the Creation of light or the division betwixt it and darknesse such altogether was the condition or state of the intellectuall world before it was new made or redeemed by the Son of God The corrupted masse of mankind was overspread with darknesse and covered with the mantle of Death but this long darknesse became more palpable then that of Egypt during the time of the Son of God's surprizall and his inclosure in the region of Death These were the houres wherein it was permitted the powers of darknesse to domineere but these powers were conquered and the darknesse dispelled by his Resurrection from Death which was on the same day and at the same houre wherein God the Father by him did first divide darknesse from light From this houre of his Resurrection the night is gone and the day is come as many as believe in him raised from death and adore the Son of righteousnesse who as the Apostle saith having abolished death brought life and immortalitie to light they are the Sons of God Heires of Glory but such as love darknesse more then the light of his gospel they must remaine the sons of darknesse and of death All this and more is implied in the circumstance of the time and place which the day and houre of his Resurection had in that holy weeke being the first houre of the first day The other mystery is implied in the circumstance of the time and place which the day of his Resurrection held in that solemne feast of unleavened bread 3 So it fell out by the sweet disposition of God's speciall providence that the day of our Saviour's Resurrection should for that yeare fall upon the second day of the Feast of unleavened bread or the morrow after the Sabbath of that great solemnity Now on that precise day the Israelites were peremptorily bound by a strict Law to offer up the first fruits as eares and blades of corne unto the Lord Lev. 23. 10. 11. When yee become into the land which I give unto you and shall reap the harvest thereof then ye shall bring a sheafe of the first fruits of your harvest unto the Priest and he shall wave the sheafe before the Lord to be accepted for you on the morrow after the Sabbath the Priest shall wave it From this peculiar reference or parallel of the circumstance of time between the day of our Saviour's Resurrection and the day appointed for this legall feast of offering the eares of corne The analogy or parallel between the Type and the substance is thus As the use of the corne was not allowable to the people untill some eares or blades of the same kind were offered up in sacrifice by the Priest unto the Lord So neither could the seed of Adam or of Abraham or of any man else seeing all had been sowen in corruption be either holy or acceptable to the Lord or partakers of his Table or prefence or put on incorruption untill the high Priest of our soules the Son of God had offered a sacrifice of the same kind to wit a body subject to like mortality as ours are untill it was consecrated to glory and immortality by the sufferings of Death 4 All were sanctified all were reconciled to God by this one oblation of himselfe as the first fruits of them that sleepe Yet even such as were upon the day of his Resurrection really sanctified and actually reconciled unto God the very Apostles themselves were not made up or wrought into one body or loafetill fifty daies after not until that very day wherein the new reaped corne made into bread was solemnly offered and presented to the Lord. Lev. 23. 15. 16. 17. And yee shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath from the day that yee brought the sheafe of the wave offering seven daies shall be compleat even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall yee number fifty daies and yee shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord yee shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth deales they shall be of fine flowre they shall be baken with leaven they are the first fruits unto the Lord. The one holy Catholique Church and Communion of Saints which we professe in our Creed did not begin to be in esse as by God's helpe it shall appeare hereafter or heare true life untill the effusion of the holy Ghost which is the soule of the one holy Catholique Church or of the mystioall Body of Christ And that was upon the fiftieth day inclusively from the day whereon the eares of corne or sheafe of blades was offered unto the Lord. On that fiftieth day the holy Curch received the first fruits of the spirit it being likewise another solemne day appointed for the legall offering up of the first fruits 4 Thus much of the accomplishment of the Type of Ionas his imprisonment in the belly of the Whale and of the mysteries contained in those three speciall daies and nights or evenings and mornings wherein our Saviour was in the wombe of the earth and the time of his rising againe But the two former queries First what our Saviour's abode forty daies on the earth from his Resurrection to his Ascension or which is all one what the signe of Ionas did portend to this evill and adulterous generation of the Iewes Secondly how the space of his forty daies abode upon the earth after his Resurrection was prefigured are points worth the discussion and for ought I know will make the fittest Period of this long work concerning the knowledge of Christ and him crucified CHAP. 42. That the sentence proclaimed against Nineveh by the Prophet Ionas was in a full measure executed upon the adulterous Generation of the Iewes not believing or repenting at our Saviour's preaching THat a state so strong and mighty as Niniveh was then when Ionas was sent unto it should upon these or the like briefe Summons of a forrainer Yet fory daies and Niniveh shall be destroied be so deeply stricken on a suddaine with extreme feare of death and ruine Or that a Court so dissolute luxurious and proud as that Court was should so readily change their soft rayment into sackcloth and laying aside their perfumes and sweet odours as the Text saith the King himselfe did may well seeme a greater wonder to a Reader qui ad pauca respicit then God almost at any time had wrought in Israel But the strangenesse of the suddaine change perswades or rather assures me or any diligent Reader that the constant fame of Ionas his miraculous deliverance or escape out of the Whales belly had come before him into Niniveh and made way for the efficacy of
but as full Conquerors as it followeth ver 2. For I will gather all Nations against Ierusalem to battaile and the City shall be taken and the house rifled and the women ravished c. The contexture of this Chapter as the most learned Commentators upon it doe confesse is very perplext and yet in my opinion made so partly by the somnolency of translators and incogitancy of Interpreters or paraphrasticall Expositors of it Leaving the discussion of most particulars in it unto the learned Criticks of sacred Philologers I shall endeavour to unfold one perplexity or knot which hath been rather drawne closer or cast harder by most moderne Interpreters then Eusebius or the ancient Greek Writers did leave it The knot or rub is in v. 3. Then shall the Lord goe forth and fight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst or in the mid'st of the Nations ariseth from the ambiguous or various importance of the Hebrew particle or preposition beth which in composition admits as great a multiplicity of opposite or contrary senses as the Latine preposition in or the Greek particle alpha doth both which are sometimes privative or purely negative sometimes vehemently affirmative as in that or other like speech quod dixi indictum volo the word indictum is a meere negative and equivalent to non dictum and implies a revoking or repealing of what was said otherwhiles the same indictum implies a peremptory declaration or denunciation be it of warre or controversie c. The Greek alpha admits more variety sometimes it is 〈…〉 a privative or pure negative as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gifts no gifts sometime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an augmentative as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very thick wood or a wood full of trees sometimes againe more then so an augmentative or intensive implication of the contrary or that which it seemes to deny◠as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not only a Lawlesse man or one that knowes not the Law but one extremely opposite to all good Lawes the epitheton or synonymum to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greatest enemy of Christ or of his Lawes The Hebrew particle or preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sometimes equivalent to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contrary or against sometimes no more then cum in intra or infra with in or amongst as in that speech of Balaam Numb 23. v. 23. There is no enchantment bejacob most now render it against Israel though some heretofore have rendred it There is no enchantment to be found in Israel The sense in the vulgar Latine is ambiguous because it is uncertaine whether Israel be the accusative or ablative case if the accusative as some expresse it in Israelem it may be as much according to the Author of the vulgar Latines meaning as adversus Israelem against Israel which is the most probable sense of that place However the most usuall signisication of the same particle is no more then the Latine in or intra or other variations of it according to the nature of the subject wherein it is used The like variation of the Hebrew beth especially when it is prefixed to the infinitive mood ariseth from the different parts of time unto which it referres as in the title of the third Psalm intitled unto David 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is verbatim in ipso fugere vel fagiendo or dum fugeret in his flying or in his flight or as our English renders it when he fled from his son Absolon But in that petition of Naaman the Syrian for absolution from the Lord unto whose service he tyed himselfe by vow by the mouth of his Prophet the same particle though a prefixe to the infinitive mood hath another aspect neither to the time present or future but to the time past In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant bebea Adoni not when my Master goeth but in that when my Master hath gone into the house of Rimmon he hath leaned on my hand and I have bowed my selfe in the house of Rimmon that is I worshipped in the house of Rimmon the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing That this was a supplication for sinnes past not a dispensation for doing the like is apparent from the Prophets answer unto it goe in peace which was the solemne forme of absolution used by the Ancient Hebrewes and by our Saviour himselfe When the same particle beth denotes a place or person it is equivalent to the Latine Adverbe intus or in as bemidber is no more then in or within the wildernesse And so to trust baihovah or Laihovah is no more nor lesse then to trust in the Lord. The same particle beth in many other places is equivalent to the the particle le and in this sense it must both from the necessity of the matter from circumstances precedent and consequent be taken in this 3. v. I will fight in or amongst not against these Nations 2 As in the place of the Psalmist Psal 74. v. 14. Thou hast broken the head of Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the wildernesse The same particle le is as much as in or within for by the people in the wildernesse the Psalmist meanes such ravenous land-creatures as wolves foxes and the like or amphibious as use to prey upon the earkeises or bodies forsaken by the sea wherein they were drowned or cast upon the shoare as Pharaoh and his mighty host were whose death besides the strangenesse or suddennesse of it was disgracefull and terrible to all spectators For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is aequipollent to bemidber in its formall signification only the word denotes a more solitary and dry place then the wildernsse doth which perhaps was the reason why the septuagint translate this place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Aethiopian people whether by that they understood men or crocodiles or other like monsters of Aethiop or Africk is uncertain Arias Montanus renders it populis solitudinicolis which for ought I know may signifie men somewhat more monstrous then the Cannibals which fed upon mens flesh but whether on men cast upon the shore or no I cannot tell To omit other importances or significations of this Hebrew particle beth it must be taken in a sense equivalent to the particle le or to the Latine cum in or pro in this place of Zachary Chap. 14. v. 3. 3 And I cannot but wonder at the incogitancy or oversight of that most learned and ingenious Writer Ribera who having so faire hints and good directions as Eusebius and other Ancients alleaged by him for leavelling this passage made rugged by Latine Interpreters or Translators forsakes the dexter sense which the Greeks had given and embraceth the sinister sense of the Latines The seventy Interpreters had rendred the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee to wit the Lord will command in chiefe and order the battaile of the Nations which he had gathered against
Resurrection did portend 5 The second was how these forty daies of his abode here on earth after his Resurrection were fore-pictured or fore-told 6 This second querie is in part already answered in the explication of the signe of Ionas for as he expected forty daies what should become of Nineveh so our Saviour did respite the solemne declaration of Ierusalem's doome as many daies Nor can I mislike their opinion who think that the forty daies intervenient betwixt the houre of his Resurrection and Ascension were prefigured by his forty daies fasting in the wildernesse after his Baptisme as that questionlesse was by Moses fasting forty daies and forty nights in the Mount Moses did then beare as himselfe doth witnesse the iniquities of the people to wit as in the Type but our Saviour as well in that long fast after his Baptisme as in the forty daies after his Resurrection did beare their and our sinnes really and according to the mysticall and compleat meaning of Moses words 7 But if wee should descend unto more exact search of the particular cricumstances of time as it includes the day of his Resurrection and Ascension with the other thirty eight daies intervenient these were most punctually and admirably fore-shadowed and represented by the day of his first birth from the wombe and by the day of his blessed Mothers Purification and his Presentation in the Temple in Ierusalem 8 Inasmuch as all the first-borne are called holy unto the Lord and God requires them expressely of his people Exod. 22. 29. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto mee This did imply that there should be some one first-borne amongst them that were borne of women in whom the light and life of holinesse that holinesse it selfe of which all the legall titles of holinesse were but shadowes or glimmerings should reside or be incorporated as light in the body of the sun Now that Iesus the Son of Mary was this first-borne in whom the true and compleat holinesse did thus reside the holy Ghost did declare or proclaime by the mouth of Simeon at that very time wherein our Saviour according to the Law of the first-borne was to be presented unto the Lord in his Temple to wit the time of his Mothers Purification Simeon saith S. Luke came by the spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought in the child Iesus to doe for him after the custome of the Law then tooke he him up in his armes and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eies have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel And Ioseph and his Mother marvailed at those things which were spoken of him And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his Mother Behold this child is set for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel and for a signe which shall be spoken against 9 They good soules came not to the Temple with any such intent or expectation but to observe the Law of the first-borne male as S. Luke tels us Chap. 2. 22. 23. 24. And when the daies of her Purification were accomplished according to the Law of Moses they brought him to Ierusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the Law of the Lord every male that openeth the wombe shall be called holy to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord a paire of turtle doves or two young pigeons The ordinary offering which the Law in like case did require was a Lambe as you may read Levit. 12. 6. yet with this expresse dispensation that if the party were not able to offer a Lambe two turtle doves or two young pigeons should suffice The Blessed Virgin whether by reason of her husband's poverty or as I rather think by reason shee was delivered of her Son in a strange place without the Country or Province wherein she dwelt was content to use the benefit of this dispensation 10 But though our Saviour had this peculiar prerogative of the first-borne that he was most holy unto the Lord and although as he said at his baptisme it became him to fulfill all legall righteousnesse yet it is questionable whether hee were redeemed at other first-borne were The sacrifice mentioned by S. Luke was ordinary at every womans Purification whether the child brought forth were male or female As for our Saviour of all first borne he only needed no legal Redemption because he was destinated from his birth not to be redeemed but to be offered up in sacrifice for the Redemption of others And in this he did fulfill that legall rite or shadow of redeeming those usefull creatures which were by the Law uncleane by the sacrifice of such as by the Law were accounted cleane 11 But was he exempted by any more peculiar right from the Law of Redemption then the blessed Virgin his Mother was from the Law of Purification To this demand it might be answered that the blessed Virgin was not free from all taint of originall sinne as he was But this reply or answer being admitted it would be a foule heresie or worse then so to say that she was either legally or naturally uncleane during all or any part of the time of her separation from the Sanctuary or holy assembly for she was free from any actuall sinne in the time or manner of her conception and from all legall uncleanenesse either in her travaile or for forty daies after it Otherwise that holy one which was borne of her might have been conceived or brought forth or nourished by her milk in her uncleannesse which to avouch or conceive were foule blasphemy Was her observation then of the Law concerning Purification either a will-worship or affected worke of supererogation Rather an excellent patterne or exemplary rule of obedience unto all the sons and daughters of Adam that desire or intend to be the sons and daughters of Abraham The rule is that even such of either sexe as know themselves not to be conscious of the occasions nor much lyable to the temptations which publique Lawes or sacred Canons seeke to prevent or restraine from bursting out into matter of fact shall doe both wisely and religiously if they submit themselves to the observance of such decrees or injunctions as are usefull or needfull for most other men to observe For it well becomes and behoves the most strong and sound members of any body naturall or civill of Christ's mysticall body especially to sympathize thus farre at least with unsound or decaying parts of the same body as to restraine themselves from using that liberty which they for their owne parts might safely enjoy were the object or matter prohibited void of danger unto other members of the same society which have more forcible temptations to the contrary or want skill
give the month wherein that deliverance was wrought the preheminence of all the months in the year whereas before that time the month of September in which the feast of Attonement was celebrated was for order of time or accompt the first as being the season according to the tradition of the Hebrewes and in all probability of reason wherein the world was first created And after the month of Abib had by God's appointment got the preeminence of all other months yet the month Tisri or September still retaines the precedency in the civill accompt of the Hebrewes for matters temporall or secular The accompt of their yeares in matters of contract or bargaine as of morgage or purchase was alwaies to be taken from Iubile to Iubile or from one Sabbaticall or seventh yeare to another And the yeare of Iubile or Sabbaticall yeare did alwaies begin and end in the month of September And as wee of this land have two accompts the one from the yeare of the Lord the other from the raigne of the King so had the Hebrewes two accompts of the yeare more distinct and certaine then ours are The one for matters civill or secular according to which accompt September was the first month and March the seventh month The other for matters Ecclesiasticall or spirituall and according to this accompt the month of Abib or March was the first month and September the seventh month And because matters spirituall or belonging to the service of God or state of his Church were the matters which God did principally respect in the institution of his Law therefore the month Abib or March after this peoples deliverance from Egypt though not before was to be accompted the prime and principall month 8 So then albeit the feast of Attonement and the feast of the Passeover differ as much in respect of the distance of time as any two feasts in the yeare can doe as having just halfe a yeare betwixt them yet for identity of season or congruity of other circumstances they agree the best Both of them are in their kinds the first months light and darknesse hold the same proportion in both Both of them distribute day and night by equall ballance to all the inhabitants of the earth Iohn Baptist's conception fell upon the feast of Attonement and the solemnity of this feast was in diverse respects accomplished by our Saviour at his Baptisme or Consecration to his propheticall function Our Saviour's owne conception was about the feast of the Passeover and fitting it was for congruity of time that hee should finish the course of his mortall life and accomplish all the legall sacrifices by the bloody sacrifice of himselfe upon that day at that time wherein hee had received the first beginning of life as man fitting it was that he should be conceived to life immortall in the wombe of the earth upon the same day or at that time wherein he had first been conceived in the Virgins wombe to the miseries and fraile estate of mortality Briefly then in the alienation of preheminence or precedency from September to March the translation of the Attonement or Expiation from the one month or the other was included and foreshadowed The month Abib was by God's appointment made the first and principall month of the whole yeare with reference to this great worke of finall Attonement or Expiation which was to be wrought in it by the bloody sacrifice of the high Priest in which all other sacrifices and solemnities had their end and finall accomplishment There was no legall feast of Attonement to be celebrated after it 9 Againe for circumstance of time it was most fitting and congiuous that the second tabernacle should be erected at the same time and season wherein the first tabernacle was erected that the high Priest of the new testament or everlasting tabernacle should be consecrated at the same season wherein the high Priest of the Old Testament or earthly tabernacle was consecrated Now the first tabernacle was erected and Aaron the high Priest thereof consecrated in the first month Abib as is apparent from Exod. 40. v. 2. The tabernacle was begun to be set up upon the first day of that month and was twelve daies in erection Aaron was seven daies in his Consecration but whether he was consecrated in the first seven daies of the month or whether his Consecration begun from the eighth day and lasted to the fifteenth is all one for congruity of circumstance between the Consecration of Aaron and the Cōsecration of our high Priest Sometimes it so falls out that the Evangelicall misteries begin where the legall shadowes doe end and are as it were ushered in by them some-times againe the misteries fulfilled upon the same day wherein the legall services or solemnities which fore-shadowed them were or ought to have been celebrated But it is more then probable from many circumstances Levit. 8. that Aaron's Consecration did not begin till the seventh or eighth day of the month Abid and ended the fourteenth or fifteenth CHAP. 25. In what respects the Consecration of Aaron and of his sonnes did especially prefigure the Consecration of the Sonne of God and in what respects they specially differ That the Consecration of Aaron did in diverse respects serve as a foile to set forth the excellencie of the Consecration of the Sonne of God COncerning the Consecration of Aaron and his sonnes you may read at large Exod 29. Levit. 8. Their Consecration consisted partly in the sacrifices offered by Moses for them partly in other services or solemnities either performed by them or done unto them The Priests of the Law even Aaron the first high Priest himselfe was to be consecrated by Moses the man of God The high Priest of the New Testament was to be consecrated by God the Father by him that had sworne to make him a Priest after the order of Melchisedech Wee are not to parallel the Sonne of God and Aaron according to every part or solemnitie of their Consecration at least we are not to compare every part or particular in kind For in Aarons Consecration there be many circumstances which necessarily imply presuppose or argue such imperfections and defects either in Aaron's person or in the sacrifices or rites by which he was consecrated as may not so much as be imagined in our high Priest in his sacrifice or any part of his service But rather these imperfections in Aaron's person in his sacrifice or Priesthood doe serve as foiles to set forth the excellent and absolute perfection of our high Priests person of his sacrifice and of his Priesthood First it was a defect or imperfection in Aaron's person that hee should stand in neede of a sinne-offring or of an offring of Attonement to make him capable of the dignity of legall Priesthood or of his Consecration to it This dissimilitude betweene the Person of the high Priest of the Old Testament and the high Priest of the New is exprest by our
fore-shadowed by David concerning the manner of our Saviour's Ascension or propagation of his Kingdome was more clearly fore-seen by Daniel and as punctually foreshadowed by matter of fact in Mosaicall histories To begin with the testimony of Daniel which was meerly propheticall a pure vision And I beheld invisions by night behold one like the son of man came in the clouds of heaven and approached unto the ancient of daies and they brought him before him And he gave him dominion and honour and a Kingdome that all people Nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall never be taken away and his Kingdome shall never be destroyed In that he saith he was like unto the Son of man this doth not import that hee was not truly man or only like to man but that more glory was due unto him then to any meere sonne of man and that he was the true sonne of that ancient of dayes unto whom hee was brought And as our Apostle saith that being in the forme of God and equall unto God yet he was found in the liknesse and shape of man that is as essentially like to man as like to God The Prophet describes his presentation to his Father by the Angels and coelestiall powers attending him which our Evangelist relateth not because haply this could not be seen by waking and mortall eyes but only by vision or rapture of spirit The same Prophet likewise describes the manner of his Ascension as exactly as if he had been a waking spectator of it with the Apostles and Disciples 2 But to resume the Prophets words Behold saith the Prophet one like the sonne of man came in the clouds of heaven and approached unto the ancient of daies hee doth not say hee was brought up in the clouds of heaven for the motion was his owne Hee was the agent or mover as well as the party moved in this Ascension So the Evangelist saith Act. 1. 9. And when hee had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up for a cloud tooke him out of their sight and whilst they looked stedfastly towards heaven as he went Behold two men stood by them in white apparrell which also said yee men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven Emphasim habent verba hee videntibus illis It was remarkably said that hee was taken up his Disciples looking on for this imports as some of the ancients observe that Christ did ascend by litle and litle as it were by certaine steps that hee might feed the eyes and refresh the soules of his Disciples He was not raught up as Elias was who had but one witnesse nor as S. Paul who had no witnesse besides himselfe scarce himselfe a witnesse of his rapture for whether hee were taken up in the body or out of the body God knowes saith he I cannot tell But our Saviour went by the power of his omnipotency he descended when hee would and when he would ascended appointing what spectators or witnesses it pleased him with the place the time the very day and houre 3 As S. Luke's description of our Saviour's Ascension is a compleat explanation of Daniel's vision so is that vision of the mysticall sense of Mosaicall or other histories concerning the Arke or Tabernacle For the unfolding of this point we are to take the fore-mentioned prenotion for our rule to wit that the Arke of the Covenant wherein God was said to dwell was but a Type or shadow of the humane nature of Christ in which the God-head dwelleth bodily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other branch of this prenotion is as cleare that the Tabernacle which Moses erected in the wildernesse in which he placed the Arke was but a petty modle of that celestiall Tabernacle into which Christ is entred of which the Temple built by Salomon was somewhat a fairer draught yet no more then a litle mappe Now immediately after Moses had finished the worke of the Tabernacle A cloud covered the Tent of the congregation and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle Exod. 40. ver 34. c. More expressly Numb 9. v. 15. And on the day that the Tabernacle was reared up a cloud covered the Tabernacle namely the tent of the testimony and at even there was upon the Tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire untill the morning The most memorable history to this purpose is 1. King 1. v. When Salomon had assembled all the Elders of Israel and heads of the Tribes to bring up the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord out of the City of David to the Temple ver 1. And it came to passe when the Priests were gone out of the holy place that the cloud filled the house of the Lord so that the Priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud for the Glory of the Lord had filled the House of the Lord. v. 11. The Son of God in whose breast as he is the Son of David the Covenant made with mankind is registred most exactly and kept safer then the Tables of the first Covenant were in the Arke when it was brought into the Temple had his Throne and Sanctuary prepared of old or to use our Apostle's dialect non erat hujus structurae they were not thrones or Sanctuaries made with hands yet to be consecrated by the blood of our high Priest and being thus prepared a cloud did cover this living Arke of God and high Priest upon the day that hee was to enter into the holy place After the cloud tooke him from his Disciples sight hee filled the everlasting Tabernacle with his Glory being more reverently adored by all the host of heaven then he had been either by Salomon or the Elders of Israel when they brought the Arke of his Covenant into the Temple or by his Apostles after his Resurrection 4 At the same time wherein the Arke was brought by the Priest into the most holy place Salomon kneeling before the Altar of the Lord first blessed God and consecrated the Temple by that divine prayer never to be forgotten by good Christians And as soone as he had ended his prayer he rose up and blessed the congregation of Israel with a loud voice saying Blessed be the Lord that hath given rest unto his people Israel according to all that he promised there hath not failed one word of all his good promises which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant 1. King 8. v. 56. c. His praiers to God and blessing of the people are more then parallel'd by our Saviour's prayers for his owne Consecration and the spirituall blessings thence to be derived upon his Apostles Ioh. 4. 14. c. One part of Salomons praier when he blessed the people was this Let these my words wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night that he maintaine the cause of his servant and the cause of his people
Israel at all times as the matter shall require v. 49. That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is none else ver 60. This part is rather accomplished then parallel'd by our Saviour Ioh. 17. I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine ver 9. And for their sakes I sanctify my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall beleeve on mee through their word that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us That the world may believe that thou hast sent me v. 19. 20. 21. CHAP. 39. Into what place or part of heaven our Saviour did ascend or in what manner he sitteth at the right hand of God are points not so fit to be particularly inquired after nor so apt to be proved or determined by Scripture as the other Articles of our Creed BVt however Hee whose prayers were alwaies heard did thus pray for his followers a litle before his agony and bloody Passion and bestow his solemn blessing upon them immediately after his Resurrection and before his Ascension Yet the extraordinary blessings which hee prayed for and promised in his Fathers name were not really conferred untill he was actually enthronized but shortly after showred downe in abundance upon his Apostles and those that beleeved through their report So he fore-told them when he was ready to ascend Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you But tarry ye in the City of Ierusalem untill yee be endued with power from on high Luk. 24. 49. The exhibition of the blessings here promised was Act. 2. ver 32. 33. 34. This Iesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and heare For David is not ascended into the heavens but hee saith himselfe the Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand untill I make thy foes thy footstoole When he saith David is not ascended into heaven this must be understood of his Ascension thither in body and this negative he had strongproved before But whether David's soule had ascended or was carried into heaven before this time this place doth neither warrant us to affirme or deny David's soule before this was in a place of blisse in heaven it selfe not in limbe But whether in that heaven or that part of heaven into which our Saviour did now in body ascend is more questionable then determinable Some good Writers with great probabilitie and equall modesty affirme that Christ did now ascend in body farre higher then the mansions of blisse appointed for the Saints Prophets Apostles c. or for Angels of the highest ranke And to this purpose is that of our Apostle alleaged by them Ephes 4. 10. Hee that descended is the same also that ascended up farre above all heavens that hee might fill all things other like places wherein he is said to be exalted above all powers and principalities Some grave Postillers or discreet Preachers would perswade us that Christ's Throne of Majesty was pitched in luce inaccessâ in that region of light and blisse which is inaccessable to any meere creature man or Angell as being reserved for the peculiar mansion of the invisible God and Father of lights and for his Son both God and man enthronized as as King and Priest on his right hand But whether the exaltation of the Son of God unto the right hand of his Father farre above all Powers Dominions and Principalities doe include a superiority not of soveraignty or dominion only but withall of place according to locall distance or a supereminent Throne of Majesty if the Lutherane will not be too cholerick or Maldonat's associates too censorious may be in fitter place soberly debated 2 But however the one or other of these may be affected the best is we need not be too curious in these points especially with men apt to quarrell about phrases or expressions Other Articles concerning Christ we are bound to beleeve distinctly and explicitely according to the plaine literall or grammaticall sense of the words wherin the Evangelists and Apostles have expressed them without the vail of any rhetoricall trope or allegory And strange it is not if our beliefe of other Articles or knowledge of them be literally required seeing the matter contained in them is sensible and comprehensible to reason sanctified by grace As his conception although it were wrought immediately by a supernaturall cause albeit the manner of it were miraculous yet for substance it was univocally the same with our conception He was as truly and properly conceived as wee are conceived Hee was as truly made of the substance of his Mother as we are made of the substance of our Parents or as Adam was made of the earth Hee was as truly and as properly borne as we are borne He was really and as properly circumcised as any other child of Abraham was He suffered truly and as properly as any man can suffer Hee was as truly and as properly crucified dead and buried and rose againe as any man ever was crucified dead and buried or can rise againe But for the place whither he ascended or for the manner of his sitting at the right hand of God these cannot be so distinctly conceived by us because they are not in such proper termes exprest by the holy Ghost but are wrapt up in a vaile of legall shadowes or representations Concerning the place whither he ascended wee know in generall that it was a place of joy of blisse and glory but which place the Apostle himselfe could not better represent unto us then by the sanctum sanctorum or the most holy place in the Tabernacle or Temple This hope wee have Heb. 6. 19. as an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth within the vaile whither the forerunner is for us entred made an high Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech So S. Iohn emblazons the glory of Christ by the Pontificall attire and robes of Aaron as likewise he doth the beauty of Christ's Kingdome by the feast of Tabernacles 3 The best and safest meanes for conceiving aright at least for not conceiving amisse of these two heavenly mysteries is not by criticall scanning the literall sense or importance of the Prophet's words in their descriptions of them but by sincere practise of those knowne duties whereto our beliefe of these unknowne mysteries bind us The most generall and necessary duty wherto wee are bound by beliefe of our Saviour's Resurection and Ascension into heaven is that of our Apostle Goll 3. ver 1. 2. 3. 4. If yee then be risen with Christ seeke those