required of us A Configuration to all his vertuous and holy life here many singular patterns of which are set down before a Configuration to his sufferings and death Phil. 3. 10. as it is first in our Baptism and for sins after Baptism ought to be in the painful fruits of repentance abstaining from worldly pleasures using the body hardly c. which are therefore called mortifications A Configuration to his resurrection and life after it In having our conversation in Heaven Phil. 3. 20. living to God only no more to affections of this life ever worshipping praising loving admiring glorifying offering up and dedicating our selves to God For so Saints live that are dead See Rev. 4. 8. c. -5. 9 12. c. -7. 9. c. Quicquid gestum est in sepultura resurrectione c. ita gestum est ut configuretur vita humana quae hic geritur For our participation of Christs merits is only by being his members they can be communicated to none else and our being members necessarily implies conformity in actions suffering c. to the Head For that one should suffer and not the other is quite contrary to the nature of members 1 Cor. 12. 26. and argues schism in the body Should any member therefore so presume on the obedience or sufferings of the head as that himself now needs nor suffer nor obey such a one without bearing its part and proportion therein Col. 1. 24. either never was or is ceased to be a true member Christ did nothing for our salvation which we are not for it in some sense to do also our selves Gal. 6. 14. -9. 19 20. CHAP. VII Jesus Christ the Melchizedechical Holy Priest passed into the Heavens and making Intercession c. for ever for us with God GOD being of infinite Holiness and purity to shew his hatred against sin would not admit the approach of sinners into his Sanctuary and presence nor accept immediately of their praiers and service offered to him which if any after Discipline was settled should have presumed to do they were no less then to dy for it See Lev. 3. 10. 1 Sam. 6. 7. Numb 4. 15. -16. chap. Job 9. 31. -42. 8. But yet being of infinite mercy too not to shut out sinners thus from all commerce with his goodness he selected from the beginning some singular persons taken from the rest of men no man taking this honor to himself but he that was called of God Heb. 5. 1 4. and being first anointed consecrated and sanctified after an extraordinary manner and cleansed with great Ceremony after the more express delivering of his pleasure in the promulgation of the law see Exod. 29. chap. Lev. 8. 12. who should be ordained for men in things pertaining to God Heb. 5. 1. -2. 17. who should have the administration of holy things and nearer access to Gods presence should bring unto the Lord the peoples gifts and offerings Heb. 5. 1. make attonement and reconciliation for their sins and errors c. Heb. 2. 17. Heb. 5. 2. Amongst which ministers of the Sanctuary some were kept at a greater distance as the Levite who had the charge of the Tabernacle and the vessels thereof and was to minister to the Priest but might not come nigh the vessels of the Sanctuary or the Altar that they dy not Numb 18. 3. Some approached nearer as the Priest confined to Aaron and his seed who had the charge of the Sanctuary and of the Altar who were to preserve themselves continually undefiled Lev. 21. 1. c. and amongst them all such to be excluded from attendance as had any corporal blemish tho but a squint eye or a flat nose or a dwarf Lev. 21. 18. c. The same perfection being required for the sacrificer that was for the Sacrifice Lev. 22. 20. to whom only it belonged to offer the daily morning and even Sacrifice and all other the peoples offerings upon it and to make attonements for them to sound with Trumpets which none else might use over the burnt and peace-offerings that they might be for a memorial to the people before the Lord. Numb 10. 10. In sin-offerings to carry some of the blood into the outer Sanctuary and to sprinkle part thereof before the Lord before the Veil and to put also of it on the horns of the Altar of Incense before the Lord Morning and Evening at the time of the sacrifice to burn incense before the Veil upon the Altar of the Sanctuary to dress the Lamps morning and evening and every Sabbath to renew the shew-bread before the Lord to discern between clean and unclean holy and unholy At the coming out of the Sanctuary lifting up their hands towards the people and putting Gods name upon them solemnly in a set form Numb 6. 6 24. c. 2 Chron. 30. 27. Ecclus. 50. 5 19. c. 1 Chron. 23. 13. to give the sacerdotal benediction And as solemnly to bless so also to curse Deut. 27. 14. This for the Priest But the High Priest approached yet nearer to the Lord much distinguished from the rest in his typical garments who once yearly on the grand day of Expiation was to enter within the Veil into the Sanctum Sanctorum before the glory of the Lord appearing between the Cherubims he first making a cloud of Incense and there to present and sprinkle with his finger 7 times upon the mercy-seat it self and seven times on the floor before it Lev. 16. 14. the blood of the sacrifice made for the Priest and the people before the Lord and to make attonement with it for the Priests and for all the people and not only for them but also for all the holy things the Tabernacle the Holy Sanctuary the Altar it self to purge and resanctify and as if God was also displeased with these for sin to reconcile them Lev. 16. 20. with blood to hallow them saith the Lord from the uncleannesses and transgressions of the children of Israel in the midst of whom they remained Such a contagion is our sin to the whole creation See Levit. 16. 16 19. and when he went in he was to bear the names of the children of Israel engraven and upon his two shoulders and again engraven like the engraving of a Signet upon the brestplate of judgment upon his heart for a memorial of them before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 12 21 29. He was also to have engraven upon the front of his Miter in Gold Holiness unto the Lord. And it shall be upon Aarons forehead that he may bear the iniquity of the Holy things of the children of Israel See Numb 18. 1. Lev. 16. 16. And it shall be alway upon his forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. Exod. 28. 38. And besides these Urim and Thummim were likewise to be upon his heart and in any thing doubtful the people were to repair unto him and he by Urim was to ask counsel for them before
other in a cloud to speak with Moses the other to David 1 Chron. 28. 19. in a design Of which heavenly Sanctuary we may have a divine sight a far-off from the several visions and apparitions of Gods glory both those in the old Testament see Esai 6. 1. Ezech. 1. 4. -10. 1. c. and those in the new to St. John For 't is worth the noting that not only Gods glory on the Mount to Moses Ps. 68. 17. but in the heavens to St. John appeared still as in a Temple or Sanctuary see Rev. 6. 9. -7. 15. -8. 3. -9. 13. -11. 1 19. -13. 8. -14. 15 18. -4. 5 4. where is mention of the Court of the Altar of burnt-offerings Rev. 11. 1. and 6. 9. of the Altar of Incense upon which were offered Incense together with the Saints prayers see Luk. 1. 9 10. comp Rev. 8. 3. of the Ark of the Covenant upon the top or covering of which was the Mercy-Seat or propitiatory or throne of grace For the Ark Cherubims c. did alwaies represent a Throne or triumphant Charet which besides the Cherubims winged for flying and footed in such a manner for running had wheels also for which see besides Ezek. 1. chap. in whose visions were oftentimes removals of this Charet or Throne from place to place and Dan. 7. 9. 1 Chron. 28. 18. where the Ark is called the Charet of the Cherubims The Cherubims the 4 Beasts the same with Ezekiels and Esaiahs by whom Gods Throne was supported of all Creatures his nearest and most vigilant Rev. 4. 6. Ezek. 1. 10. attendants who gave out Gods orders to the rest of the Angels Rev. 15. 7. of the Candlestick with 7 Lamps of fire burning before the Throne the representation of the Holy Ghost as appears by Rev. 1. 4. -5. 6. Ezek. 4. 2 10. comp with 6. Act. 1. 3. And which never appeared in the former visions of the old Testament of a Lamb that was slain before the Throne and about the Throne on either side of it of 24 Presbyters in a Semicircle sitting on seats representing the Church Triumphant and the Session of the President and the Elders in the Jewish Synagogue or Consistory and afterward of the Bishop and his Presbyters in the Christian Churches these encircled with a guard of millions of Angels Rev. 7. 11. Rev. 5. 11. Habited all like Priests as also our Savior himself was in another vision Rev. 1. 13. Exod 28. 40. in linnen garments to the foot white and resplendent and girt about the paps Crowns on their heads See Exod. 28. 40. like those of the Priests for ornament and for glory Bearing his name on their foreheads Rev. 22. 4. as the High Priest did holiness unto the Lord Palms and Instruments of Musick and Vials full of Incense in their hands celebrating divine service in this Temple praising God and the Lamb and offering to him as the Clergy here do the praiers of the Saints Praising the Lamb for the redemption of themselves and of mankind Rev. 5. 9 10. comp with 1. 6. Ready to comfort John about the power of the Lamb Rev. 5. 5. and to instruct him concerning his suffering Brethren Rev. 7. 13. see Rev. 4. 4. -6. 11. -7. 9. -15. 6. Having thus made a description of the place the heavenly Sanctuary and the propiatory or throne of grace there over the Ark compassed with 4 Cherubims c. according as the Lord Jesus was pleased to represent it to St. John Here first now let us imagine to enter and present himself this great High Priest soon after his work finisht upon the Altar of the Cross such as he is described Heb. 7. 26. Holy unharmable undefiled separate from sinners needing no washing first as the Legal did arrayed with all the truth and substance of those things which were typified by the ornaments of the legal High Priest bearing our names upon his shoulders Esai 53. 6. -9. 6. Esai 63. 9. and again engraven as a Signet upon his heart according to Cantic 8. 6. Hagg. 2. 23. for a memorial of us before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 12 21. Having engraven upon his Miter Holiness pure and never stained unto the Lord that so his holiness may bear the iniquities of our holy things and we in and by it may be accepted before the Lord he being made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption Numb 18. 1. Exod. 28. 38. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 5. 19. appearing again a Priest with the restord Urim and Thummim Ezra 2. 63. upon his heart light and perfection perfect wisdom and perfect righteousness opening the book of all Gods secrets and shewing them as he pleaseth to his Brethren Rev. 5. 5. -1. 1. Numb 27. 21. by the Holy Ghost Jo. 16. 13 14. as it first hears and receives from him thus passing thro the outer Sanctuary of the heavens Heb. 9. 11. whilst it is proclaim'd before him Behold the Lamb of God c. my servant whom I have chosen my Beloved in whom my soul is well pleased Let us imagine him I say in such equipage to appear in this Sanctum Sanctorum before that Mercy-Seat that throne of grace and to appear in the presence of God there not for himself but for us saith the Apostle Heb. 9. 24. -8. 1. for himself had that glory there with his Father before the world was and came down out of his bosom for this purpose for he that would ascend thus must be such a one that descended first that he might return thither with these new engagements upon him with a great many names besides his own new relations and new kindred entring in thither now for his poor Brethren Thus entred first into this Sanctuary he carries with him not only the blood but the whole sacrifice being restored unto him after he had offered it as an entire Holocaust and poured out all the blood thereof at the foot of the Altar to offer it here a second time to the acceptation of his Father See Heb. 8. 3. comp 9. 7. carries it with all the wounds and piercings made in it as honourable marks of his sufferings and remembrances thereof to his Father which 't is probable that his glorified body still retains appearing in his Father sight a Lamb as it had been slain See Rev. 5. 6. as also he appeared before for confirming the faith of his Disciples Jo. 20. 27. to which the Apostle alludes Gal. 6. 17. and likely shall appear at the last day to the everlasting reproach of his enemies See Rev. 1. 7. In memory whereof also the very Altar the Cross is imagined to be that which is called the sign of the son of man Matt. 24. 30. and which shall appear in the heavens and be carried before as his royal Ensign in his procession to the last judgment Which Sacrifice since he appoints here in the consecrated elements to be shewed forth by his Priests in our Sanctuaries before God in
then to carry the wood only the instrument whereon he was to suffer and to have his arms tyed But this sacrifice was not only offered up but the Altar much changed from that of the sacrifices under the Law That he might undergo a more accursed and painful and publick and long mactation Hang'd in a common place of execution full of skulls Matt. 27. 33. by the Highway side ver 39. between two thieves stript naked and surely which never happened to any besides whilst he was suffering those acute pains whilst the Serpent and death were thrusting their stings into him instead of pitty which is then but humanity all the world deriding him Ps. 69. 20. He looked for some to take pitty but there was none mocked reviled by the chief Priests Scribes Elders vers 41. by the Soldiers with their bitter gall vers 34. Luk. 23. 35. by the passengers vers 39. and that nothing might be a wanting by those miserable creatures too that were executed with him whilst his acquaintance stood a far off See Psal. 88. 7 8. c. Thus therefore he as the Lamb of God slain from the beginning in the types of other Sacrifices bestowed Himself on us and was offered unto his Father by us and for us a Lamb without spot and without blemish the only sacrifice acceptable unto God of a sweet smelling savour Eph. 5. 2. being an oblation devoted and consecrated to the Lord not only in his death but in all his life Rom. 12. 1. which said of us is much more true of him Nor only in his sufferings see Esai 53. 5. by his stripes we are healed but in all his obedience and service not pleasing himself Rom. 15. 3. or doing his own will in any thing but his Fathers Therefore saith he sacrifice thou wouldst not have Then said I lo I come to do thy will Ps. 40. 9. And this to fulfil not only one but all those ends for which those spiritual sacrifices under the Law were ordained and which they only obumbrated the body being of Christ. Col. 2. 17. Thro which sacrifice now we do not only receive remission of his sins pardonable only thro him but present all our Devotions praises thanksgivings acceptable only through him and obtain readmission into amity and fellowship with God and receive all deliverances and blessings temporal and eternal from God only derivable unto us through Him To whom be glory for ever Amen 1. Then He was the real Expiatory sacrifice for the sins of the world Matt. 26. 28. 1 Jo. 3. 1. answering to and fulfilling the type of the Legal sin-offerings both of that slain and burnt without the Camp according to which he also suffered without the gate Heb. 13. 11 12. the blood of which was carried and sprinkled before the Lord into the innermost Sanctuary upon the solemn day of Expiation once a year Levit. 16. cap. and into the outer Sanctuary at all other times Levit. 4. and 5. cap. according to which His also is now presented in the Heavenly Sanctuary Heb. 10. 19. -9. 12. -8. 2. of which the other place was but a shaddow and type Heb. 8. 5. And of that other scape-sacrifice Levit. 16. 21 22. which after the Priest had laid his hands upon its Head and confessed over it all the iniquities of himself and of the people was let go into the wilderness the like to which was also done in purifying of bodily uncleanness in a scape-bird Lev. 14. 7. according to which He also is said to be the Lamb of God that took and carried away the sins of the world after God had laid on him the iniquities of us all Esai 53. 6. who died so as that he also was delivered from death and as he was resembled by the one sin-offering in his being slain so by the other in his being raised again In which respect also leaven and honey which hath the same nature with it suddenly fermenting altering and corrupting things were forbidden and contrarily salt preserving things commanded to be used in all Sacrifices being types doubtless of that which is said of and was fulfilled in the true sacrifice Ps. 16. 10. Thou wilt not leave my soul c. which resurrection to life was a sign of Gods accepting this offering made for us as the Angel ascending to Heaven in the flame of the Altar was unto Manoah Judg. 13. 20 23. of the acceptation of his 2. Again he was the Real answering to the typical sacrifice under the Law the purifying of corporal uncleanness See Lev. 14. and 15. cap. As the blood of Bulls and the ashes of an Heifer sanctified to the purifying of the flesh so the sprinkling of his blood offered without spot to God purging the conscience from dead works c. Heb. 9. 13 14. see Heb. 9. 21 23. comp with Eph. 1. 10. Col. 1. 20. with which blood also as with that other cleansing composition there was running down from the Cross a mixture of water Jo. 19. 34. He not suffering the ordinary punishment of other Malefactors but as on one side a bone of him was not broken which was usual to represent the paschal Lamb so on the other side his pericardium and his very heart was pierced contrary to custome that blood and water the compound of our purification might be drawn out of his sacred side one for the expiation of us from the guilt of punishment for our justification in respect of sins past and the other for washing out of us the stain of sin for our sanctification from living in sin for the time to come Blood signifying our redemption by the effusion of his life and water signifying our regeneration by his effusion of the Holy Spirit Act. 2. 33. Jo. 7. 39. Matt. 3. 11. Therefore this was he saith the Apostle 1 Jo. 5. 6. that came by water and blood not by water only but by water and blood and he that saw them bare record Jo. 19. 35. And these also bear record the two Sacraments of the new Testament water in Baptism and blood in the Lords supper by which Sacraments in vertue of his passion our sins are now also remitted and cleansed See Act. 2. 38. Matt. 26. 28. And these two together with the operations of the Spirit â—…oyned with them shall bear witness on earth and seal the effects of this Sacrifice unto us to the end of the world 1 Joh. 5. 8. see Eph. 5. 26 27. 3. He was the Real Holocaust fulfilling the type of the legal burnt-offering In burnt-offerings and sacrifice for sin thou hadst no pleasure then said I Lo I come Heb. 10. 4 5. His only sacrifice being of a sweet smelling Savor unto God Eph. 5. 2. comp with Lev. 19. Exod. 29. 41. which the sin-offering alone was not Lev. 5. 11. Mumb. 5. 15. and therefore might have no Frankincense nor Oil upon it Lev. 5. 11. Numb 5. 15. In which only the Father was well pleased Matt. 3. 17. -12.
18. For as he in our stead was made sin and an accursed thing and an offering that calling sin to remembrance suffered the extreme wrath of the Almighty due to sin so in himself and this for our sake too he was not only in his death being a voluntary and a free will-offering see Jo. 10. 15 17 18. comp with Jo. 19. 30 33. the other living longer for this my Father loveth me c. and so also loveth us for whom it is offered for his sake Eph. 1. 6. but all his life an Holocaust consumed with the fire of love towards man and zeal of the glory of his Father in a perfect devotement and resignation of his whole self to the will of God and in his perfect obedience and fulfilling of all his Commandements And then when he had done working Jo. 17. 4. finishing this Holocaust in suffering for the divine glory for the truth suffering till he was all spent and consumed with the zeal of his Fathers honor laid upon which whole burnt-offering all our imperfect sacrifices of obedience and resignation of sufferings and martyrdom of spending and being spent 2 Cor. 12. 15. Phil. 2. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 10. whereby God is made all in all and we nothing in our selves and so one with him do partake also of the sweet savor of this sacrifice and all our praiers and petitions for our selves or intercessions for others are accepted of God and the descent of all good things spiritual and temporal from him are procured Gen. 8. 21. Jo. 14. 13. Phil. 1. 12. 4. He was the grand Eucharistical sacrifice and peace-offering answering to those typical ones under the Law In which respect the memorial which we now celebrate of his passion is called the Eucharist and in which relation we are made partakers in the Communion and admitted to eat of this sacrifice see 1 Cor. 10. 16 20. of which as a burnt or sin-offering tho these it is also Heb. 13. 11 12. we might not eat for none might eat of his own sin-offering Now the peace-offerings had many several uses in all which the sacrifice of our Savior fulfilled them 1. They were a kind of federal oblation after remission of offences procured by the sin-offering which was still offered before not after the Peace-offerings by which the sinner was as it were readmitted into Gods favour and whereas he might not eat of the sin-offering by eating part of which sacrifice being Gods bread Lev. 21. 6. -22. 25. and partaking of these holy things he was entertained at the table and accepted into the fellowship of God c. Only none that was unclean or any stranger upon peril of death might eat thereof See Lev. 22. Secondly they were offerings of thanksgiving for all the Creatures all the blessings and good things first received from God Gen. 1. 29. -9. 3. Ps. 50. 10 11 12. and continued by his word Gen. 1. 22. Deut. 8. 3. Matt. 4. 4. of which therefore both of men and beasts and fruits the choicest and first were offered and sanctified unto the Lord as his portion and tribute Sanctifie unto me all the first born both of Man and of Beast and so also it was for the first Fruits It is mine Exod. 13. 15 2. And these accordingly they offered these or their price both to shew their gratitude and acknowledgment of Gods right as to these so to all the rest Deut. 8. 18. -28. 4 5 8 11 12. -26. 2 10. Lev. 25. 23. -19. 24. and also to receive his benediction through what was offered to him upon all the rest Ezech 44. 30. Lev. 23. 11 14. Rom. 11. 16. Now according to this type Christ the substance in whom all things are fulfilled and accepted for what careth God for Oxen or other Firstlings or first fruits not only the first born of his Mother but of every Creature and likewise the first fruits Col. 1. 15 18. Rom. 8. 29. 1 Cor. 15. 20 23. was not redeemed but offered in his own person offered unto God first by whom all others were redeemed from the like And secondly by and through which offering only all our praises and thanksgivings are accepted for all things Eph. 1. 6. -3. 21. Col. 3. 17. Heb. 13. 15. Phil. 1. 11. and the right to and lawful use of them procured unto us only by this offering Rom. 14. 14. Eph. 1. 3. -4. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rom. 8. 32. And again by it as a federal oblation is the Covenant of grace and our peace ratified To the eating and partaking of which Sacrifice also in the mystical Sacrament of his Body and blood we are admitted to the worlds end And 1. By the eating of which as the Jews and also Idolaters were to the eating of theirs we are accepted in partaking of this Table to the unity Communion and fellowship with God see 1 Cor. 10. 14. c. to the 22. Only concerning which it is also provided that no unclean person or stranger unadmitted by Baptism may approach to eat thereof 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. Secondly by eating and partaking of which sacrifice excelling the other under the law in as much as it is the Body and blood of the Son of God we are admitted to Communion with the Son and mystically incorporated into him made members of his body flesh of his flesh c. And that not in a Metaphor but in a great mystery saith the Apostle Eph. 5. 32. And then from being partakers of the body become also partakers of the Spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 17. And from partaking of his nature the body and the spirit of the Son of God become also Sons of God and heirs of eternal life 1 Cor. 12. 13. -6. 13 15 17. c. Eph. 5. 29. Jo. 17. 2 23. By eating and partaking of one and the same nourishment of this one Sacrifice of this one bread 1 Cor. 10. 17. we also become one Bread and have Communion with all the Saints of God as well those in Heaven as those upon earth partaking of all their glory praiers c. Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 3. 15. Eph. 2. 19. Col. 1. 20. 1 Jo. 5. 16. Job 42. 8. Gen. 20. 7 17. 2 Cor. 1. 〈◊〉 5. And hence with reference to this Sacrifice as also to the tree of life in Paradise and to the Manna and water flowing out of the Rock in the Wilderness which were types of Christ 1 Cor. 10. 2 3 4. -12. 13. Jo. 6. 32 35 49. Our Saviour is said to be the bread of life preserving him that eats the flesh of this Sacrifice so that he shall live for ever And he that eateth him shall live by him Jo. 6. 57. 6. Lastly he was the true Passover Christ our Passover is Sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. He the true paschal Lamb fulfilling that typical one of the Jews In relation to which also when this Lamb was slain it was taken care that a bone
the Lord and according to his word they were to do Lastly the benediction of the people was in a special manner conferred by him See Lev. 9. 22. Ecclus. 50. 5. c. Therefore in this Ceremony twice viz. after the ending of the Sacrifice and again after his coming out of the Sanctum Sanctorum He solemnly in Gods name blessed the people See Lev. 9. 22 23. Upon Aarons first solemn blessing them fire came out from before the Lord to abide on the Altar for ever vers 24. Now what was said before of the Levitical Sacrifice is here to be said again of the legal Priests They continuing sinners as well after as before their consecration and offering for their own faults as well as for the peoples Heb. 5. 3. a sinner for sinners were in themselves ineffectual Intercessors before God and as it was impossible for those sacrifices to take away sins so for such Priests being sinners and daily consorting with sinners and free from only some not all defilements to make any attonement but only in relation to and as types of the other Priest to come who only was without blemish holy undefiled and separate from sinners Heb. 7. 26. Add to this that the service they did in this office was very incompleat For they were not Intercessors before the Lord for all Nations but presented only the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel and for them they knew not every ones diverse confessions and requests nor were able to make particular recommendation of these Or if to recommend yet had no ability to help subnexed to their Intercession for them which we shall shew is a priviledge of the true Priesthood which is alwaies joined with Royalty and power They entred into the Divine presence but once a Year and presently came out again did not abide and wait and sit down there to be perpetual Advocates with God for the people And then the place they went into was not the true Sanctuary which the Lord pitched Heb. 8. 2. who tho he is every where in his essence yet is he only in Heaven as his dwelling place 1 King 8. 39. then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place The place of the appearance of his glory and Majesty of his Court and Attendants of his throne where he gives audience unto all his Creatures is there But their sanctuary served only unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things Heb. 8. 5. And the glory in it was but a shadow of his glory 2 Cor. 3. 10 11. Lastly the Requests they made in it were rather about temporal then eternal things about present and corporal not future and spiritual No new Canaans for us no new Jerusalems no new eternal places of rest prepared by them no conferring also on all the people their Brethren that sacerdâ—…tal Honor to wait for ever on God in his holy Temple which is the complement of all our felicity These benefits were reserved to crown the intercessions of another High Priest of an higher Order In the fulness of time therefore came the substance of whom these were types 1. As a Sacrifice without spot so a sacrifice without sin pure without all blemish not a bone of him broken unharmable undefiled separate from sinners not after a while decaying but continuing for ever at this day at this hour The same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 7. 24 26. -13. 8. 2. Tho thus perfect and perpetual yet which is strange 1. one of our selves a man as we raised up from the midst of us of our brethren Deut. 18. 15. For this was altogether necessary for such an office in which he was to be the Representative of his brethren Therefore the legal High Priest appeared before the Lord not only in his person like unto them but with all their names engraven upon his brest and this saith the Text for a memorial of them before the Lord continually Exod. 28. 12 21. and therefore the Apostle puts in the definition of an High Priest Heb. 5. 1. Taken from amongst men 2. Again one he was that was to be compassed with infirmity for a while at least that standing before the Lord he might have all compassion in him toward those for whom he officiated might be the more earnest the more constant and diligent and know how more tenderly to present to the Holy Majesty the temptations the miseries himself had experienced and they also might have more confidence to commend their suits unto him as being their brother and once as they straitned Therefore 't is a Rule Heb. 2. 11. He that sanctifieth and those who are sanctified are all of one and therefore this Priest for as much as the children were partakers of flesh and blood did also himself likewise take part of the same v. 14. not the nature of Angels but of man v. 16. and was not ashamed to call them Brethren ver 11. and to be made like unto them in all things v. 17. and that for the foresaid ends that he might be merciful be faithful unto them Heb. 2. 17 18. -5. 1 2. -4. 15. Besides Before Gods justice no intercession could be effectual without merit therefore mediation of sinners for sinners profits not nor no merit but in a condition and nature liable to temptations and sufferings at least such merit not serviceable in the behalf of men where his merits are not in the same kind as their demerits were and therefore there is the same reason of the humanity of our Savior for his being a Priest as for his being a sacrifice 3. Thus being man and man clothed with infirmity fitted for this office he was not appointed by himself but called as other Priests were to this office and anointed by God Heb. 5. 4 5. Heb. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 17. Act. 10. 38. But far more glorified and honored in it then any before him God now anointing a Priest once and for all Heb. 7. 28. and not to the same order of which the former were in many things as is shewed before deficient but to the very best that of Melchisedeck i. e. a Priesthood everlasting and royal and that had power joyned with Intercession and the honor of sitting down by him to whom he officiated For this man was counted worthy of more glory then any before as being the builder and afterward upon its ruin rebuilder of this house over which God thus made him Lord. Heb. 3. 3. Thus made a Priest now let us view the exact discharge of his office in the several parts thereof and first the Priests office for expiation of sin c. being first to offer the sacrifice and then to carry the blood thereof into the Sanctuary and there make an attonement and intercession with it for the offenders He therefore first offered the sacrifice a sin-offering upon the altar of the Cross such as never Priest offered before him neither for the worth of it
commemoration of him how much more in that above is it solemnized for us by himself our High Priest That as the bow was set in the Cloud that God looking upon it might remember his Covenant and forbear to bring a second deluge upon the earth Gen. 9. 16. and the blood of the Paschal Lamb was stricken on the door posts that the Lord seeing it there might pass over them with his plague So when he beholds these wounds given our Savior for our sin displaid before him he may forbear to revenge sin any more upon his Brethren And if Pilate shewing that our suffering Savior with an Ecce Homo thought the beholding such a pitiful and cruel spectacle was enough to have melted the hardhearted Jews his malicious enemies into some mercy and compassion so as to prosecute his death no further How much more will such a pale and wanner sight as was seen afterward upon the Cross of an only Son voluntarily undergoing all this for our sin move a pitiful and merciful father no further to prosecute the vengeance thereof upon his brethren upon his own members A second Action there is sprinkling of his blood upon and before the Mercy-Seat not 7 nor 77 times but continually and note that all blood-shed when it comes before the Lord hath a loud cry See the blood of the Saints Rev. 6. 10. And Abels Gen. 4. 10. And the Apostle compares the sprinkling of our Saviors blood for its speaking and crying unto the sprinkling of Abel's tho His cried not the same way for it pleaded for mercy as the other for vengeance For we receive a true attonement are sanctified are purifyed as many of us as serve the Lord by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus See 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 12. 24. -13. 12. Not that our Savior there really sprinkled his blood for us let none grossly imagine this for flesh and blood enter not into heaven 1 Cor. 15. but that he now by it poured out by him on the Cross in the heavenly Sanctuary procures all the effects obumbrated by the former sprinkling of the blood of the legal Sacrifices Therefore t is observed that the Apostle saith he entred by it not with it Heb. 9. 12 23. Who is therefore called for this Celestial ceremony before the propitiatory or throne of grace our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propitiation 1 Jo. 2. 2. and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propitiatory Rom. 3. 25. Thus he sprinkled his blood to make attonement for and to sanctify us but as we read that the legal High Priest purified also the Sanctuary it self and reconciled the Holy place said to be defiled by being in the midst of the peoples uncleanness See Lev. 18. 25 28. the Apostle makes this also run parallel for our Savior Heb. 9. 23. by which as is signifyed the purifying of all the Creatures and particularly of all our imperfect holy services unto us so perhaps something more may yet be gathered from Col. 1. 16 20. -2. 10. Job 15. 15. -4. 18. -25. 5. 2 Pet. 3. 7 12. Rom. 8. 22. well considered for all Principalities and Thrones i. e. Angels were made by him at first and for him and by him they now consist and of them also he is the head and by him they are said to be reconciled thro him they are now confirm'd in grace and perhaps at the last day thro him shall be advanced in glory And perhaps the upper regions of the world may be said in some sense to be contaminated as the earth by mans or the faln Angels sin to which heavenly things also the vanity bondage groaning of the Creatures mentioned Rom. 8. may extend which also are said by Peter to be reserved and that they shall be dissolved and as it were purified by fire But abscondita Domino Deo nostro manifesta nobis 3. After this appearing there with this Sacrifice and sprinkling of his blood follows his Intercession also there for us Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Esai 53. 12. -59. 16. another office of the Priest for the People whose making attonement was not without praier since this also is called making attonement Exod. 32. 30. and so where we translate making attonement the vulgar renders it praying for c. See Lev. 16. 7 34 17. Quando Pontifex sanctuarium ingreditur ut roget prose pro universo coetu Israel see Job 42. 8. Gen. 20. 7. which appears also by the continual practise of the Priests and Prophets praying foâ—… the people Jer. 7. 16. -27. 18. Ezra 10. 4. Joel 1. 13 14. -2. 17. 2 Chron. 30. 27. 1. And this first in presenting continually his own praiers to the Father for us in which respect he is called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Advocate with the Father as well as the Holy Ghost is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Advocate to the Father here on earth with or in us As the spirit is also stiled by his title of Intercessor here as he there Rom. 8. 26 27. and therefore what office in prayer when any one sins or suffers this Advocate doth here on earth residing with us 1 Jo. 5. 7 8. see Rom. 8. 26. the other Advocate doth the same in heaven residing with the Father and with the same unexpressible zeal The better to conceive which imagine Aaron Numb 16. 47. when wrath was gone out from the Lord standing with his Censer in his hand between the living and the dead and staying the plague or Moses that great type of him Deut. 18. 15. like unto me his pathetical intercessions and deprecations so many times for the sinning Israelites continuing 40 daies at a time with the Lord in supplication for them and for their Priest see Exod. 32. comp with Deut. 9. 18 20. Numb 14. 13. c. and proceeding even to wishing himself accuâ—…ed in their stead as also did St. Paul but our Savior only was he that really became also a curse for others and then be sure our High Priest now makes the same nay far greater as much more concerned in our safety being Master over the house in which Moses tho a faithful yet was but a servant The exact matter and manner of whose intercessions above tho it is not manifested unto us yet what esteem of it and confidence in it may we not have therefore our Mother the Church thinks fit to finish all her prayers in it if we consider first that infinite love wherewith he now loveth us How can it be silent Eph. 3. 19. from which neither things present nor things to come neither heights nor depths c. can ever separate us Rom. 8. 38 35. comp with 34. 2. The promises which he made in that last comforting Sermon immediately before his death and departure from hence the summ of which is to assure his Disciples and consequently all believers see Jo. 17. 20. of the great care he would take for them in heaven where also he particularly
powerful in working according to the promise Jo. 14. 20. after his departure 2. Of the manner of their conveyance which will much advance our confidence if we consider our near relation For we receive them not by his procurement only from the Father but even from his own hand Every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father c. Jam. 1. 17. but thro and by immediate donation of the Son and by the same way as all our praiers and sacrifices ascend and enter in blessings come forth of this Sanctâ—…ary Upon his asking all things are given him Psal. 2. 8. whom the Father alwaies hears and at his own pleasure he dispenseth them Act. 2. 33. â—…ph 1. 3. And this the having in his own power the gift of all things from whose hands we may be sure we shall want nothing belongs peculiarly to the tenure of his Priesthood being Melchisedechial and joyned with Kingship Sacerdotium Regale or Sacerdotale regnum i. e. having royalty and power joyned with it as before the law these two were joyned in the Princes of families so after the law they are united in Christ a King over all but Him whom as a Priest he serves Therefore we find him sitting at the right hand and the promise of having his enemies made his footstool so frequently joined with his Priesthood and intercession for to shew the everlasting power of his Priesthood See Heb. 8. 1. Rom. 8. 34. Ps. 110. 1. comp with 4. Act. 2. 33. Ps. 2. 8. Therefore since he ever liveth to make intercession he is able to save saith the Apostle not willing only Heb. 7. 25. Able to succour Heb. 2. 18. see Jo. 17. 2 24. Father I will that c. Jo. 14. 13 14. If ye shall ask any think in my name his asking or our asking in his name is all to one effect as is shewed before I will do it where he shews both his dependance on his Father as a Priest and power over all things else as a King Besides this officiating as an Intercessor in Heaven as a Sanctuary as he is High Priest wherein he is compared to Aaron Our Savior by the same Apostle in his treatise of his Priesthood is called the Captain of our Salvation bringing many sons of God unto glory Heb. 2. 10. Lord of the houshold of God and conducter of them into a promised place of rest and forerunner entred before them into Heaven as it is the land of promise and this as he is a regal High Priest wherein he is compared to Moses and Joshua his successor conducters of Israel towards Canaan See Heb. 2. 10. -3. 1 2 6. -4. 8 9 14. -6. 20. comp with Heb. 12. 1 2 18 22 25. -11. 14 16. We being in this world after our deliverance from Egypt the dominion of Satan and sin and passing thro the Red Sea of Baptism 1 Cor. 10. 2. yet as in the Wilderness a dry and thirsty land where no water is as the Psalmist spiritually complains of it see Psal. 63. 1. -39. 12. -119. 19. whoever take it for any thing else much mistake it now under Christ I speak of him according to his manhood our Conductor as they were under Moses and Joshua and all things that were done there were examples 1 Cor. 10. 6 11. First therefore as Moses when the mount of God burnt with fire nothing but blackness and darkness and tempest nothing but wrath and judgment towards us and fear least the fire of the Lord should break forth upon us having all sinned as Israel had and none durst draw near to speak for us Behold him coming forth out of the midst of us the true Mediator and going for us into the Mount and there like Moses Exod. 32. 30. making an attonement for us And tho there is yet to come another shaking of all things shaking heaven and earth and all in pieces under this second Moses Heb. 12. 26. far more terrible then that under the first wherein he shall come in judgment to destroy his enemies from which then there shall be no Mediator to hinder him as Exod. 32. 10 11. yet then to those that obey him this Mount Sinai shall be changed into Mount Sion and the city of the living God c. see Heb. 12. 22. c. where are such and such glorious company And thither shall he also carry up his Brethren after the remainder of the 40 daies or 6 weeks of his abode there are expired Meanwhile from thence not from an higher place of the earth but from the highest heaven into which he is gone up he continually speaks unto us not with that terror as the Angels from Mount Sinai gave the law but with the soft voice of his spirit the ministration of which by him is opposed to that of the law by Moses 2 Cor. 3. 8 9. And wo be to all them that refuse to hear him far beyond those that refused to hear Moses Heb. 12. 25. -10. 29. 2. And then as resembled by Joshua or Jesus called so as a type of him he is the Conductor also of the people of God into the true land of promise Heb. 4. 8. the place of rest the rest of God Heb. 4. 5. Into which God hath sworn no unbelievers shall enter And into this our blessed Savior is entred already before us and set down the posture of resting at the right hand of God entred not only as a forerunner Heb. 6. 20. or leader to give an example that we should follow him thither the Anchor of our hope being already cast within the veil by the taking possession of this our forerunner Heb. 6. 19 20. But also a forerunner or Harbinger as Joshua his type also was to view that good land as it were and there to prepare a place for us Jo. 14. 2 3. in that house where are many mansions the heavens that we see being but a center to it from whence God looks down upon them as they upon the earth Ps. 113. not any therefore but an honourable a choice place there see Rev. 4. 4. where the Church-men were sitting on either side of Gods Throne in the midst of all the glorious train of Heaven and the Angels standing in a circle about them Rev. 5. 11. -7. 11. Father I will that those be with me where I am to behold my Glory c. Jo. 17. 24. not in the same region but in the same place of it where his glorious body is not in the Country only but of the Court following and waiting on the Lamb there where ever he goeth which is named as some special honour Rev. 16. 4. -7. 15. -3. 4. And from thence after this place prepared for us and us for it he hath promised to come again and accompany us thither in person Thus is he a forerunner to all the faithful in respect of their bodies entring into that celestial Canaan he being the first-born from the dead but
eye on the beauty of God the Original of all that is called fair in that Sanctuary is struck infinitely in love therewith and enamoured cries out whom have I in heaven c. Ps. 73. 25. the vehement longing after which 't is supposed drew those expressions from the High Priest himself in this his exile from it How am I straitned Luk. 12. 50. and with desire have I desired Luk. 22. 15. and from his servant St. Paul I am in a strait cupiens dissolvi c. Phil. 1. 23. And then this love to the Deity of the Temple will naturally produce the service of it In his Temple doth every man speak of his glory Ps. 29. 9. eternal singing of praise and giving of glory unto him even like those inflamed Cherubims that rest not night nor day nor no more do the Saints Rev. 7. 15. crying one to another alternately Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Rev. 4. 8. Esai 6. 3. whose imploiment we envy not only because we love not God grant that we may not slothfully or heavily perform that duty here which must be our eternal imploiment hereafter unless we be eternally miserable To conclude the last act of our Savior as High Priest is coming again out of the Sanctuary For as the people waited without praying Luk. 1. until the Legal High Priest having made a full attonement came forth again and blessed them from the Lord. Numb 6. 23. Lev. 9. 22. So unto them that look for him shall Christ who was once offered to bear the sins of many appear a second time here without sin i. e. bringing us full remission hereof unto our final salvation Heb. 9. 28. For tho before it was noted how he staying there blessed us from the Sanctuary yet 't is not a compleat blessing till his return when coming forth with his face shineing like Moses from the glory of him before whom he stands he shall also glorifie us not only in soul but in body like himself and take and carry us in with him into the Sanctuary to see his glory and his Fathers glory Jo. 17. 24. and to be for ever with them 1 Thess. 4. 7. Which coming forth and glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior therefore all the Saints as the Israelites did of old are said by the Apostle to love to look for and patiently to wait for 1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 2 Thess. 3. 5. Tit. 2. 13. Who yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 17. Amen CHAP. VIII Jesus Christ the Lord and King governing protecting the Church GOD in the beginning made the world by his Son the second Person of the Trinity Jo. 1. 3. Heb. 1. 2 10. God the Father working by interior purpose or decree the Son in exterior production of the effect The Holy Ghost by an internal virtue residing as it were in the thing that is produced God the Father in or thro the Son doth all things by the spirit The Father resolves the Son commands the Holy Ghost works The first the Agent the second the wisdom the third the power See 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. the three persons And by him sustained and conserved it into its being Heb. 1. 3. Col. 1. 17. And by him governed it in all its motions and changes The divine eternal relations of the Son to the Father must needs conclude this since he is the word Jo. 1. 1. the wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 24. of the Father without which none will say the world was made or is governed See Prov. 8. 22. But yet in a more special manner by him in all ages governed the Church of which God the Son was alwaies the Head Eph. 1. 22. and the careful Conductor amongst all its enemies even from the Creation as it were in a preludium of its redemption by him And the Holy Spirit that guided the Prophets as now so then was sent from him by which he alwaies preached the will of his Father unto men 1 Pet. 3. 19. and he was alwaies in the world tho the world knew him not and alwaies the light of men that enlightned every one coming into the world See 1 Pet. 1. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 3. 19. comp 2 Pet. 2. 4 5. Jude 14. 2 Sam. 23. 2. Jo. 8. 56 58. where note that St. John every where much vindicating for in his time it received some opposition the eternal divine nature of our Savior whence in honorem he was stiled Theologus John the Divine speaks frequently of his operations not only as come in the flesh but also as the eternal Son of God and as working all things with the Father before incarnate Jo. 12. 41. 1 Cor. 10. 9. Heb. 11. 26. Exod. 23. 20 21. comp 33. 3 14. 1 Cor. 10. 9. By which it appears our Savior was the Conductor of the Church in the wilderness refusing afterward upon their sin to go with them himself least his holiness and hatred to wickedness should consume them c. Exod. 33. 2 3. and deputing another Angel for this office but deprecated by Moses vers 12 14. Deut. 4. 34. Esai 63. 9. and reassuming their conduct c. see Act. 7. 38 39. Eph. 2. 20. He called the Corner stone and foundation of the Prophets as well as Apostles Gen. 32. 24 28. and Hos. 12. 3 4. Anciently assuming many times an human shape as a fore-personating of his Incarnation See Josh. 5. 13 14 15. comp Exod. 3. 5. and Rev. 19. 10. -22. 9. Head of the Army of God Judg. 2. 1 5. Exod. 14. 10. comp 13. 21. Judg. 6. 12 14. c. And as by him all things were thus made and governed c. so being the eternal Son of God the Father he was alwaies the Heyr of all things Heb. 1. 2. -3. 3 4 6. and for him they were made Col. 1. 16. Thus was our Savior before his Incarnation enthroned in the bosom of the Father Jo. 1. 18. and the most High in his glory before the world was Jo. 17. 5. And all power and government and judgment committed to him from the beginning and in a particular manner the protection and Headship of the Church In which office he gave his spirit as since to the Apostles so also of old to the Prophets and when he came into the world is said to have come to his own and to be born King c. Jo. 1. 10 11. Yet this he did first out of an infinite desire of his Fathers greater glory and to If I may so say recover his kingdom and reduce it into peace first by the rebellion of the Angels and then the revolt and falling away and enmity to him of man also by the instigations of the Prince of the air much troubled as it were and diminished from what at first it was Not that all things forced by his overuling power do not still yield subjection unto God for who hath