this mantle wee are a sweet savour to God who now speaks of us as Isaac of Iacob covered in his elder brothers garments My sonne is as the savour of a field which the Lord hath blessed Gen. 27. 27. 3. This garment hath a sweet sound as of golden Bells which to heare were most delectable because the garment of Christs righteousnesse brings grace to us no otherwise then by the sound of the Gospel For faith by which wee put on Christ is wrought by hearing the sweet sound and golden Bell of the Gospel Whence some have thought that by this part of the Priests Attire is shadowed the Propheticall Office of Christ. Sweet is the Proclamation of the Gospel of peace 4. The use That by these Bells the Priests must bee heard when hee goeth into the Sanctuary signifying the power of Christ our high Priests perpetuall intercession being entred into the Sanctuary of heaven for his elect and chosen The fourth peculiar garment was the Miter or bonnet upon his head verse 36. 1. Made of blue silke and fine linnen verse 39. like as it seemes to an halfe coronet 2. Beautified with a golden plate on which was written Holinesse to the Lord. 3. The use Aaron must ever have it on his forehead while he beares the iniquity of their offerings to make the people acceptable before the Lord verse 38. 1. The miter and crowne on the Priests head signified 1. The Deity of Christ our head which as a crowne or circle wants beginning and end 2. The Kingly Office of Christ with all that honour and crowne of glory set on the head of our Redeemer to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth And according to his power is his name for God hath exalted him and given him a Name above all names Phil. 2. 9. His stile is not onely King of Saints Revel 15. 3 But King of kings and Lord of lords Chap. 19. 16. 2. The golden plate in which was written Holinesse to the Lord did not onely distinguish it from the miters of the ordinary Priests which wanted such a plate but specially typified Iesus Christ our head in whom was most conspicuous as in a mans forehead a most divine and perfect holinesse purer then the gold of that plate Who was not holy onely as other sanctified persons but holinesse it selfe Holinesse in his person holinesse in his nature holinesse in all his actions and passions holinesse in the fountaine and originall whence all streames of holinesse issue forth to his elect members So Ioh. 17. 19. I sanctifie my selfe that they may be sanctified Never was there so pure a plate such shining holinesse so deeply ingraved as nothing can raze it out for ever 3. The use was significant that as the high Priest having on this plate with this inscription got the iniquities of the people pardoned which he bare before the Lord So our high Priest Jesus Christ presenting before his Father his most absolute holinesse gets a pardon for all our sinnes which he beares upon himselfe And as their sinnes were pardoned in respect of the high Priest who represented Christ So both theirs and ours are indeed and truth pardoned for the true and eternall high Priest who is Christ himselfe The fifth peculiar garment was the embroydered Coate of fine linnen verse 39. which was a beautifull costly and large garment reaching downe to his feet covering most of his body curiously wrought with most precious matter and cunning workmanship which noted the dignity of the person and office of the high Priest For in old time long white garments appertained to men of high place and excellent in wisedome As in Iosephs advancement Gen. 41. 42. hee was clothed with white fine linnen when he was to bee Vice-roy and next in authority to the King See Ester 6. 8. how Merdecai was apparalled by the Kings command This garment was most proper to our high Priest of the new Testament Jesus Christ who is by it described Revel 1. 13. clothed with a robe downe to his feet Noting 1. The excellencie of his person who is Prince of peace Isai. 9. 6 For so long white garments ever betokened peace both within the Church and without 2. That hee excelled in wisedome and counsell being the great Counseller and the spirit of counsell and understanding resting in his brest Isai. 11. 2 For to such also these garments belonged Dan. 5. 7 16. 3. The lovely and beautifull connexion and conjunction of his Propheticall Priestly and Princely Offices sincerely and perfectly fulfilling them and appearing before God in them as in a most costly embroydered garment consisting of many pieces and many colours fitly couched and laid together And this garment hee ware not onely in earth as the Priests did but now after his ascension he continues to performe the Offices of the high Priest for his Church in the same embroydered garment presenting before God the merit of his onely sacrifice and making intercession to the Father for it The sixth garment is the girdle of needle worke verse 39. Of diverse matter linnen blue silke purple and scarlet and of diverse colours Chap. 39. 29. The use of it was to fasten the Priests garments unto him that they might not hang loose upon him in his Ministration And specially points out unto us our high Priest Jesus Christ described after his ascension Revel 1. 13. to bee girded about the paps with a golden girdle Noting in Christ foure things 1. The truth and constancy in accomplishing all the gracious promises of the Gospel seeing our high Priest is girt about with the girdle of verity 2. His justice integrity pure and uncorrupt judgement as gold Isai. 11. 5. Iustice shall be the girdle of his loynes and faithfulnesse the girdle of his reines 3. His readinesse to doe the office of a Mediatour Girding of the attire hath ever beene a signe of readinesse and diligence in businesse undertaken So Luke 12. 35. Let your loines be girded about 4. His mindfulnesse and care in performing his office For as not girding is a signe of carelessenesse and negligence So girding of care and industry So our Lord and high Priest never carelessely cast off any poore and penitent sinner But in the dayes of his flesh minded their misery and now in heaven keeps on his girdle casts not off the care of his Church but perpetually accomplisheth whatsoever is needfull for her salvation Sect. IIII. I. In these garments some things necessary for Ministers some things for the people 1. All about the Priest must bee gold silver precious stones curious colours signifying that no vile or base thing must be in the Ministers cariage or behaviour But as the Priests costly garments covered the frailty of their bodies and graced them in their office so the graces of their mindes must not onely hide their weaknesse but adorne and beautifie them for the honour and prosperity of their function And
that our principall mourning may be for our sinnes and binde up our affections for outward and naturall losses and crosses so as wee may have them loosed in spirituall This law tells us that sorow for our onely sonne or brother or the deare wife that lieth in our bosome ought to be no sorow in comparison of sorow for sinne Which 1. separates from God 2. makes Christ absent and stand aloofe 3. grieves the Spirit and makes him heavy towards us 4. seperates soule from body yea without repentance soule and body from heaven and happinesse Let us who have beene excessive in worldly sorow turne the streame against our sinnes and in all crosses set our heavinesse rather upon some sinne in our selves which might cause the crosse then on the crosse it selfe Sect. VII Now it followeth that we shew how the Priests figured Christ in their ministeriall actions Of these kinde of actions some were common to inferiour Priests some proper to the high Priest I. Common actions were six 1. The Priest must kill the sacrifices and none but he signifying Jesus Christ his voluntary action in laying downe his life for beleevers none could take away his life from him And hee was to be aswell the Priest as the sacrifice Iohn 10. 18. I have power to lay downe my life 2. The priests offred the blood of the sacrifices to God and sprinkled it on the Altar for they were ordained for men in things of God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes No man might offer his owne sacrifice but hee must bring it to the Priest there was no comming to God but by the priest Figuring out Iesus Christ who offers up himselfe a sacrifice for the sinnes of the world upon the Altar of his Deity which gives both vertue and merit unto it No other can offer to God bloody or unbloody sacrifice upon this Altar but himselfe Iohn 17. 19. I sanctifie my selfe for them even as the Altar sanctifieth the gift 3. The Priests prepared the body of the sacrifice Lev. 1. 6. flayed it divided it into severall parts washed the intrailes put fire unto the burnt offering consumed the fat cast the filth and dung into the place of ashes Signifying that Christ himselfe alone did the whole worke of redemption He suffered the heate of Gods wrath and justice he puts away all our filth and covers it in his owne ashes he burnes up our fat that is the senselessenesse of our sin and all that savoureth of the flesh by the fire of his Spirit and inwardly purgeth and wholly washeth us in the fountaine of his owne blood 4. The Priest must teach the people His lippes must preserve knowledge and the people must depend on his mouth signifying the action of this great teacher of the Church who brought to us from the bosome of his father the whole counsell of God concerning the redemption of mankinde which could never have entred into the heart of man but by the teaching of this great Prophet Deut. 18. 15. He hath the learned tongue and Grace is poured into his lippes Hee therefore having the words of eternall life we must depend on him and heare him 5. The Priest must pray for the people and blesse them A forme of blessing is prescribed for Aaron and his sonnes laying their hands on the children of Israel signifying the strong prayers and intercessions of Iesus Christ for his Church who was heard in all things as himselfe witnesseth Iohn 11. 42. Father I knowâ— thou hearest me alwaies And accomplished not only in his holy intercession upon earth and now in heaven but manifestly in that blessing of his disciples by laying his hands upon them which was his last action upon earth Luke 24. 50. 6. The Priests were to preserve the Oyle for lights and the incense and for the daily meat offering and the anointing oyle And the oversight of the whole Tabernacle and all in the Sanctuary and all the instruments belonged to their care for the safety in moving carying standing c. signifying Iesus Christ the preserver of all grace in his Church He onely watcheth for the safety of his Church for the upholding of his holy ministery and all holy constitutions which else would quickly be broken up He plants the Ministery and he removes it at his pleasure He hath the seven stars in his right hand Hee is the great Archbishop of soules to the whole Church and no other in this kinde but hee So much of common actions ministeriall II. Actions more peculiar to the high priest were 1. daily 2. weekely 3. yearely 4. continually I. Hee must daily 1. dresse the holy lamps and lights morning and evening before the Lord Lev. 24. 2 3. to preserve the lights from going out Shadowing Christ the true light by whom the light of true doctrine must ever shine in the Church and never goe out by which the true beleevers shall bee delivered from darkenesse and death This was formerly figured by Goshen there was light when three dayes darknesse was over all Aegypt And this was figured by the pillar of fire that never failed till they came to Canaan 2. he must daily burne incense before the Lord upon the Altar of sweet perfume signifying Christ our high Priest daily offering up 1. our duties and services done by his appointment and which through him smell as a sweete incense acceptable to God 2. our prayers called odours of the Saints and a sweet incense And as no incense pleased God but that which was offered upon that golden Altar so no duty or prayer of ours is farther accepted then offered up by him and from him whose golden purity gives merit and worth unto them And as the incense must be offered up by the high Priest morning and evening so the continuall vertue of Christs merit ascendeth daily before God and perfumeth all the Sanctuary neither is there any other way to the father but by him II. He must weekly make the shewbread and set it before the Lord continually Exod. 25. 30. And more expresly Levit. 24. 5 6. Every Sabbath he must set on the table twelve loaves according to the twelve tribes and take the old away to the maintaining of his family for which use they might well suffice every loafe weighing about seven or eight pounds Here was a figure of Christ the true bread of life who sets himselfe in the preaching of the Gospell and administration of the Sacraments before the face of God that is in the assemblies gathered together every Sabbath the most sufficient food and refreshing of the Church to continue it in life strength and good estate from Sabbath to Sabbath till that eternall Sabbath come III. He must yearely once and that in the day of expiation goe into the Holy of Holies Exod. 30. 10. and Lev. 16. 2. and 34. to make an attonement for himselfe for all his
fellowship of a Kings Court such as Pharaohs in riot feasting drinking gaming is hatefull to a sound minde in comparison of the society of the miserable and persecuted Saints though a fleshly eye cannot see it 3. That it will be no great comfort to beleeve the Communion of Saints and not enjoy it 4. That they which despise it here shall never enjoy it in heaven 4. In the type and truth wee have a sure argument of our resurrection Moses dead body hid in the valley of Moab none knew where appeared glorious on the hill Thabor in Christs transfiguration Christs body hid in the grave comes forth glorious and ascends glorious on mount Olivet Both teach that our bodies are not lost but laid up and as sure as laid downe in basenesse shall rise in glory CHAP. VIII 7. IOSHVA A type of our true Ioshua another Moses I. BOth Saviours For Ioshua under the very same name is propounded a type of Christ. Both had the name Jesus both saved their people therefore Ioshua is called Iesus Heb. 4. 8. the type from temporall and externall enemies the truth from spirituall and eternall II. In his calling 1. Both succeeded Moses who makes way to both 2. Both guides going before Gods people The type to the earthly Canaan the truth to the heavenly 3. Both led them into the land Ioshua led the people not onely toward the land but into the promised land What was denied to Moses was granted to Ioshua Moses might not enter nor those that had disobeyed but Ioshua entreth and taketh possession for himselfe and for all the people So our Ioshua hath taken possession and led us into the possession of our heavenly Canaan What Moses Law could not doe for our infirmity Christ by his Gospel hath done for us That may shew us the way but this brings us to the wayes end and gives us all our promised expectation Thus our Ioshua carries us through from this wildernesse to our rest 4. Both divided the land and allotted to every man his portion Ioshua having entred Canaan assignes every one his portion Iosh. 14. 1. Christ ascended into heaven prepares for every beleever a place Ioh. 14. 2. III. Both confirmed their calling with many miracles 1. Ioshua being to passe over Iordan divides the waters and they gave way unto him Christ in the same Iordan divides the heavens Matth. 3. 16. and they testifie unto him verse 17. Ioshua divides waters but he ascribes it to the power of the Lord of all the world Chap. 3. 13. But our true Ioshua being that Lord and God of all the world by his owne power commanded the seas and they obeyed him 2. Ioshua becompassing the walls of Iericho and the long blast of rammes hornes overthrew the walls of it Chap. 6. 5. Our Ioshua by as weake and vile meanes in the eye of flesh even by the sound and blast of the Gospel shakes downe dayly the high and thick walls of the Devill and Antichrists kingdome and of the Iericho of this world which resists the people of God in their passage to Canaan By the preaching of the Gospel typified by the sound of the Trumpets our Ioshua overthrowes the wisedome power seeming sanctity and whatsoever strength of flesh is opposed to the power of the Gospel 3. Whilst Ioshua was destroying the enemies of God the Sunne in the heavens at his word stood still and stayed his course as a willing spectatour of that businesse and deferred the night lest hee should want day to smite his enemies in Chap. 10. 12. So our Ioshua whilst on the Crosse hee was spoiling principalities and powers and opening the way to Canaan commanded the Sunne to stopp his course and hide his face to witnesse to all the world the great worke in hand that day Of both these dayes may be verified Iosh. 10. 14. there was never before day like nor after it shall be IV. In his fortitude victory triumphs Both of them mightily miraculous miraculously triumphant 1. Ioshua was the Judge and Captaine of Gods people the leader of his Armies the mighty conquerour of all the enemies that rose up and resisted them Hee subdued both princes and people of the Canaanites Hee set his foot on the necks of five kings at once and slew them Chap. 10. 24. nay made his men of warre set their feete on their necks and trample them as dung and went on and in small time had slaine one and thirty Kings with their Armies Chap. 12. 10. Never had Israel so many enemies in their passage to Canaan as Gods people have unto that heavenly Canaan their countrey and rest typified by that Even all the gates of hell the rage of Satan the power of sinne the allurements of the world whole armies of temptations a troupe of pleasures honours profits on one hand a whole band of crosses and discouragements on the other a legion of lusts within our selves But our Ioshua the mighty Captaine not onely of the Lords hosts but who is the Lord of hosts is described to sit on a white horse whose name is called Faithfull and true and hee judgeth and fighteth righteously Revel 19. 11. Hee hath valiantly triumphed over all enemies spoyled principalities and powers set his foot on their necks troden Satan under his feet and made us tread him under our feet too If Ioshua have slaine one and thirty Kings Our Ioshua hath slaine so many thousand commanders 2. By meanes of Ioshuas faithfulnesse and fortitude not one word failed of all the good things which the Lord had said unto Israel but all came to passe Chap. 21. 45. and 23. 14. So by meanes of our Ioshua all the promises of God concerning heaven and happinesse are accomplished which are all in him Yea and Amen Heaven and earth may faile but not one jote of Gods promise but this Ioshua will see it accomplished V. In sundry actions 1. Ioshua saved Rahabs house that had the red cord hung out at the window because they had saved the Spies Chap. 6 So Christ saves every penitent sinner that expresseth faith in his blood and love to the true Israel of God especially his Ministers and Seers 2. Hee graciously accepted the Gibeonites when they humbly sued and intreated peace of him So a broken and a contrite heart our true Ioshua never despised Hee that offers repentant sinners grace before they seeke it when they seeke it will not deny it 3. When God by Ioshua had wrought that great miracle of stopping up the river Iordan till they passed over Chap. 4. 2. Ioshua commmanded twelve men of Israel to gather twelve stones out of Iordan and set them up memorialls of Gods great acts to all posteritie So our Ioshua having wrought many mighty miracles for the confirmation of his holy doctrine commanded twelve men his twelve disciples by the preaching of the Gospel to erect through all the world a monument and memory of the
David had a traine 1. Of poore men and received such to him as were in debt 1. Sam. 22. 2. The Sonne of David had a poore traine and not receiveth onely but calleth all unto him that are heavy laden with the burthen of sinnes called debts promising he will ease them 2. Afterwards David had his thirty seven Worthies that valiantly fought his battells 2. Sam. 23. and by their strength carried wonderfull victories So had the Sonne of David his twelve Apostles and seventy two disciples who as worthy and stout Champions fought the Lords spirituall battells and mightily subdued the world under the government of Jesus Christ in whose place are succeeded pastors and teachers to the end 2. His enemies 1. Open and manifest not onely Goliah that defied all Israel but Saul that casts a speare at him that hunts him as a Partridge that sends out for him to bring him to death and the house of Saul Shimei rayling on him and cursing him with an horrible curse besides Amalekites Philistims c. So our Lord Jesus had open hostility against the great Goliah of hell and encountered him hand to hand and conquers him in the wildernesse But Herod hunts his life every where the Pharisees revile him for a deceiver and Demoniack send out for him to take away his life and the people of the Jews pursuing him with all open hatred and hostility even to the death and all the wicked tyrants and enemies as so many Amalekites and Philistims 2. Secret and underhand enemies that should have beene loyall and loving to him even his owne people that flattered him with their mouths but imagined mischiefe against him Psa. 41. 9. Such as Doeg Achitophel Nay he which eat bread with him at his table his familiar that went up to the house of God with him And more then all this he that came out of his owne loynes his owne son Absalom besides the sonnes of his father 1 Sam. 17. 28. So our true David had not onely his owne Jewes and brethren hating him with an horrible hatred and calling his blood upon themselves but his owne Disciple that had beene so familiar with him that went to the house of God often with him that knew all his haunts and waies betraying him and delivering him to bee crucified And thus Christ himselfe expounds that in Psalme 41. 9. of himselfe and Iudas Luk. 22. 21. And therefore Interpretors expound such execrations as Psa. 59. 13. Consume them that they be no more not so much litterally against Saul and other enemies of David as against the Jewes and enemies of Christ shadowed by them and so conceive them as they be Propheticall predictions of Jerusalem and the Jewes forty yeares after Christs ascension and of the present wrath upon the hardened Jewes whose hatred against Christ liveth at this day as the curse liveth on them 3. His deliverances and victories with many of which the Lord honoured him As 1. Saul layes wait every where to take him and pursues him from place to place but Davids feet were made like Hinds feet in expedition to avoid his enemy whether Saul or Absalom who chased him as hunters the silly hare and he escapes them all though narrowly and strangely Christ Jesus was often sought after and laid for by his enemies no kind of snare was undevised to take him in his talke in his doctrine in his life and conversation no meanes unattempted to take his person but hee escaped their hands strangely Sometimes he went through the midst of them all who having strong purpose yet had no power to take him till the time waâ— come that he delivered himselfe 2. Saul having wearied himselfe in pursuit of David sent messengers to take him three severall times 1 Sam. 19. 20. but they among a company of Prophets began to prophecy the spirit of the Lord comming upon them and they went without him So the Pharisees sent messengers to apprehend Christ and bring him before them but comming to him as Sauls messengers to David and hearing his gracious words had no power to take him but went away preaching and proclaiming as they prophecying never man spake like this man Ioh. 7. 46. 3. In the comparison between Saul and David David having slaine Goliah was sung Saul hath slaine his thousand but David his ten thousand 1. Sam. 18. 10. But there is no comparison betweene the victories of David and of this sonne of David who hath slaine the great Goliah the Devill who defied all the host of Israel and not destroyed the devill onely but overcame death hell the grave and chased before him all the armies of sinnes and bands of temptations which come out against the Israel of God 4. in that noble victory David cuts off Goliahs head with his owne sword So in the wildernesse the devill the great Goliah used Scripture against Christ and Christ overthrowes him and cuts off his head by the same sword of the Spirit the word of God And now daily he convinceth the wicked enemies by the testimony of their owne conscience Rom. 2. 15. He needeth no other sword or weapon against them then their owne IV. David was a type of Christ in his Kingdome first in respect of the entrance secondly of the administration thirdly of the continuance or eternity 1. David entred not without strong opposition much contempt and disdaine so our David For of both it was verified the stone which the builders refused is become chiefe stone of the corner No man was more despised of Sauls courtiers then David who was thought farre enough from the Kingdome so no man so much despised and rejected of the Scribes Pharisees chiefe Priests and people as Christ. Barrabas an honest man to him and yet was mightily and unexpectedly invested into his Kingdome by his glorious rising from the dead 2. In his administration David will judge uprightly and sing mercy and judgement he will endure no hatefull person in his presence But our David is the just and righteous Judge of all the world and most sincerely disspenceth mercy to the penitent sinner but feedes the impenitent with judgement 3. In the continuance or eternity God promised mercy to David and his seed for ever which promises are not to be extended to his carnall succession for the princely dignity is taken from them Their glory was eclipsed in the captivity and where be now any of Davids race according to the flesh But the everlasting seed of David is to bee meant 1. Christ himselfe in whom his kingdome is perpetuated 2. The true Israel as well of Gentiles as of Jewes by faith ingrafted into the Messiah in respect of whom shal be no end of his Kingdome Thus in all those speeches wherein David professeth he will praise the Lord among the Gentiles David must be taken as a type of Christ who by his Spirit set forth the praise and true worship of God among
In the building 1. Salomon according to the wisdome and large heart which God gave him built God an house wherein he dwelt at Jerusalem for God kept house and fire in Sion Isa. 31. 9. and Salomon set him up a standing house Our true Salomon builds an house for God even for the blessed Trinity to dwel in Not a materiall house of stones or of gold silver wood marble but a spiritual house of living stones And as the house is spirituall so are the meanes and instruments he useth His rule is the word of God Psa. 19. 4. Their line is gone forth through all the earth and their words into the ends of the world The hammer by which he hewes and polisheth these rugged stones is the same word or doctrine of the Law The cement by which he couples them to the head is faith and to the members is love and charity 2. Salomon being to build his Temple could not find matter enough for his building in his owne country of Judea but sent abroad to Hiram a Gentile and to Pervaim now Peru as some thinke and to other farre and remote parts for supply So our Salomon for his spirituall building gathers matter not onely out of Judea his owne ancient people but contracts friendship with the Gentiles and these come in out of the most remote parts of all the world to set forward that building therefore the Church is now Catholike 3. Salomon prepared great stones to lay in the foundation of the house 1. King 5. 17. but as great and costly as they were they could not uphold that house but it must fall to ruine and destruction Our true Salomon by inimitable art layes himselfe a foundation in Sion an elect precious and chiefe corner stone Vpon which firme foundation he so aptly layes and knits every living stone that is every beleever that all the gates of hell cannot prevaile against any one of them Mat. 16. 18. 4. Salomon in that building prepared and hewed stones in Mount Lebanon 1. King 6. 7. and being so squared and fit not an axe or hammer nor any toole of Iron was heard while the house was a building Our Salomon admits no stone into his building which is not first prepared and initiated by the word and Sacraments and being fitted layes them on the foundation without any more shaking by hammer or hatchet and knits them to the other stones by the durable cement of Christian love and charity so as now the noyse of contention nor blowes of bitternesse and hatred are heard among them any more 2. In dedication of the Temple 1. Salomon consecrated that house to the service of God by solemne prayer imploring his eye of protection upon it and his presence with it upon all occasions and necessâ—ties 1. King 8. 14. Our Salomon hath also dedicated his house and by solemne prayer commended it to the care and custody of his heavenly father Nothing needfull for his Church hath hee forgotten to procure for it not onely by that most effectuall and meritorious prayer but also by his continuall intercession now in heaven for it 2. In that dedication Salomon framed a most excellent prayer the forme of which is registred in Scripture but our Salomon hath delivered us a forme and patterne of prayer which is a great part of the riches of the new Testament above the old 3. In ordering the Temple that is in the constitution of Gods true and publike worship in that Temple in appointing the severall offices and officers of it A type of Jesus Christ who ascending on high appointed the officers of his Church some Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the building up of the body of Christ Eph. 4. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 5 there are many administrations but the same Lord. VI. Salomon was a type of Christ in wise dispensing and administring justice 1. in respect of gifts 2. of execution or manifesting them 1. For the gifts they are notably signified in Salomons Throne which was exalted above all the Thrones of all Princes described 1. King 10. 18. 1. The matter was Ivory and gold wherewith it shined Signifying the sincere and upright disposition of Salomon to justice and equity shunning all corruption and by-respects which make men pervert Justice And as these vertues made Salomons throne to shine so the royall throne of Christ is a throne of Justice a great white Throne Rev. 20. 11. Nothing but sincerity and purity proceeds thence Hee justifies no wicked person or cause nor takes the ungodly by the hand 2. The state of it The King ascended to it by sixe stayres signifying that the King riseth above all his subjects many degrees in practise of many vertues wisdome prudence justice fortitude piety So Christs Throne is infinitely exalted above all Princes above men Angels dominations principalities thrones and set at the right hand of God and himselfe as infinitely transcendeth all creatures in practice of all graces in perfection of all holinesse 3. The figure was round signifying the perfection and simplicity of the minde in the Judge discerning causes who could not abide any deceitfull fraudulent or hypocriticall courses or corners Such is the Throne of Christ in whom was never found guile nor deceit neither can he abet or not hate it in any 4. There were two pillers or barres to beare up the armes of Salomon signifying the rewards and defence of good men and the punishment and repressing of evill men by the power of his arme whereby Kings and kingdomes are sustained So our Lord Jesus upholds his kingdome by reward and punishment and in the last day shall set the sheepe at his right hand and the goats on his left 5. Two Lyons of gold standing by the stayes noting the power and fortitude of the King whose strength is as the strength of Lyons against enemies and to put in execution wise and soveraigne counsells But Salomons strength was weakenesse to the strength of Christ who as a couragious Lyon of the tribe of Judah shall teare and spoyle his enemies and none shall rescue Hos. 5. 14. 6. The foote stoole of it was of gold 2. Chr. 9. 18. to note the freedome of the King from covetousnesse that he ought to have his wealth under his feet and so master them as they neither overcome nor corrupt him So Christ the Judge of the world most perfectly despised the world and at his appearing shall set it under his feet and burne it 2. For administring according to those gifts Salomon did with such admirable wisdome judge betweene the two harlots for the living child as all Israel hearing the judgement feared the King for they saw that the wisdome of God was in him to doe justice 1. King 3. 28. But our Salomon is the just Judge of all the world who shall passe a righteous sentence betweene the godly and the wicked in that great
interest in the death of Christ as also that Christ did not onely deliver himselfe to death for us as this Ram but also giveth himselfe to feed us to eternall life Iohn 6. 55. My flesh is meate indeed 3. It must be heaved up before the Lord aud shaken too and fro every way ver 26. Signifying 1. The lifting up and heaving of Christ upon the Crosse. 2. The heaving up of our hearts in thankfulnesse to God for so great benefits 3. That the merits of Christ our true sacrifice and benefits of his death should by the preaching and publication of the Gospell be spred abroad into all corners of the world as that sacrifice was shaken every way East West North and South 4. This sacrifice must alwayes be offered up with cakes of unleavened bread tempred with oyle ver 23. Signifying 1. the most perfect purity of Christs life and doctrine without all leaven of sinne 2. That Priest and people must in service to God lay aside all leaven of maliciousnesse 3. The oyle notes the soft and loving kindnesse of God and Iesus Christ chearing and suppling the conscience by the sweet meditation of it as also how joyfully and gladly we ought to serve the Lord and with cheerefulnesse present before him all the parts of his worship Note hence as the eare hands and feete of the high Priest must be touched with blood before he attempt any part of his office so our care must be that all our parts all our actions and affections bee touched and purged with the blood of Christ. So David Psal. 51. 2. Wash me throughly Reason 2. Because sinne hath defiled the whole man all his parts all his actions all within him all without him 2. This foulenesse sticks so fast as it is no easie matter to bee cleansed Nothing in the world can fetch out this soile but the blood of Christ. Not all the water in the sea nor all the holy water in the Sea of Rome can wash away one sinne 3. All thou doest or performest depends upon the merit of this blood and dignity of this person and passion for acceptance The knowledge of thy duty must be sprinkled with this blood for that is signified by the eare The undertaking of duty by the hand The progresse and perseverance in it by the foot All must bee presented in him and by him and finde grace and acceptance If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Qu. How may I know that the blood of Christ hath touched and purged me Ans. 1. It is not enough that Christs blood be shed but it must also be sprinkled If thou contentest not thy selfe that Christ hath died for all but seest how necessary it is to apply it to thy self 2 If thou hast an hand to lay hold on Christs blood and besprinkle thy selfe with it A man washeth his face with his hand This hand is faith which takes up the blood of Christ and applyes it to ones selfe as did Paul who dyed for me 3. If it wash the whole man within and without which no other blood could do The blood of sacrifices under the Law could not sanctifie the conscience but onely the outside Heb. 9. 9. but this can and must purge the conscience from dead workes ver 14. And under conscience is contained the whole innerman purged by the merit of his satisfying blood and by his spirit renewing our nature And for the outward man 1. If thy right eare bee touched thou hast the hearing eare rightly to heare the word of God Thou hearest to learne for to hearken is better then the fat of Rammes 2. If thy right hand be touched that thou art an active Christian not an hearer onely of the word but a doer and unto knowledge of the doctrine of faith joynest obedience of faith thou keepest the faith working as knowing that obedience is better then sacrifice thou darest not doe what seemes good to thy selfe or is right in thy owne eyes but what is rightly ruled by Gods word for that is the right hand touched 3. If thy right foot be touched that thou walkest in the right way with a right foot not making crooked pathes to thy feet but ordering thy conversation aright And all this with right ends and affections the feet of the soule laying aside all sinister ends and intentions in all thy obedience and directing all to the honour of the true Aaron and high Priest Jesus Christ. 4. If thou findest the effects of Christs blood sprinckled 1. Pacification of conscience for this blood speakes better things then Abels for us and in us for us to God by intercession in us by perswasion that the Lord looking on the blood of Christ rests wholly on it as a full satisfaction for all our sinnes for this is the end of shedding remission of sinnes Mat. 26. 28 therefore of sprinkling 2. Daily sanctification through this sprinckling 1 Pet. 1. 2. For out of the side of Christ issues water as wel as blood the one redeeming from condemnation the other froÌ„ vaine conversation the one purgeth froÌ„ the death of works the other from dead works themselves The sprinkling of this blood admits not security or idlenesse and carelesnesse nor suffers a man to sinne against this blood by impenitency unbeleefe despising of grace horrible swearing and foule lusts But makes the Christian truely noble as one now descended of the blood of Christ scorning the base and foule courses he formerly affected Find these markes and comfort thy selfe thou art sprinkled with Christs blood Thy whole course is sanctified all thy hearing all thy obedience be it never so weake in it selfe bee thy unworthinesse never so great it shall bee no barre to thine acceptance with God for every thing sprinkled with this precious blood is sweetned and accepted Sect. III. III. The third thing in the deputation of the Priest to his office is his apparrell appointed by God and called holy garments glorious and beautifull farre differing from all other mens And they signified 1. The function to be glorious and excellent 2. The fitnesse of their persons to that office 3. The glory of the true high Priest Jesus Christ of whom Aaron was but a figure For all the glistering shew of these Priestly garments set forth the more the Angelicall brightnesse of all the vertues which should shine in Jesus Christ. The Priestly garments appointed by God were tenne in number of which â—oure belonged to the inferiour Priests Exod. 28. 40. 42. 1. A linnen garment Which signified the white garment of CHRISTS righteousnesse and innocency which they were to appeare in before the Lord if they would be acceptable in their persons or duties Noting to us by the way that every godly Minister weares a white linnen garment not woven and made by men but by God not without him but within him not a shadow or ceremony but the substance and truth to which all
shadowes give place Nay there is no private man that is godly but he must weare this white linnen garment having put it on in the laver of regeneration as Gal. 3. 27. whosoever are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 2. A girdle vers 40. which signifies constancy and stability in the truth both in our high Priest Jesus Christ who was not a reed shaken but a firme rocke as also in his members who are commanded to stand fast their lines girt with verity Eph. 6. 14. Hence followes That the Ministers word must not be yea and nay his course must be constantly gracious and watchfull And for private Christians Heb. 13. 9. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart bee stablished with grace 3. A bonnet vers 40. A symbole and signe to them of Gods protection still covering them in their faithfull service signifying to us the Lords cover and faithfull protection both over our head and over his members for his sake So as every faithfull Minister hath a bonnet Christ carries him as a starre in his right hand and covers him from the rage of Satan and the world else should he not stand a minute And every faithfull member of Christ is so covered as an haire cannot fal much lesse the head without the will of his heavenly father 4. The breeches ver 42. putting more comelinesse upon the uncomely parts Signifying to them and us 1. What reverence we ought to use in the service of God farre remooving thence every uncomely thing 2. Shadowing out the true and perfect holinesse with which Christs humanity was cloathed and not onely with that but with the Majesty of his deity which highly graced and honoured the despised and fraile humanity which had no forme nor beauty Isa. 53. 2. 3. Not darkely representing that care and respect which our Lord and Saviour Christ hath of his inferiour base and despised both Ministers and members through the world Isa. 41. 14 feare not worme Iacob I will helpe thee To the high Priest belonged sixe peculiar garments First the Ephod ver 4. In which 1. The matter it was not wooll or silke but linnen which riseth out of the earth Ezech. 44. 17. Signifying that holy flesh of Christ which vayled his deity as a garment and that it was taken not from heaven but from his mother on earth as the matter of that garment grew immediately out of earth 2. The forme it was a long white garment signifying the long white garment of Christs absolute righteousnesse white innocent and unspotted and long to cover all our nakednesse without eeking or patching of merits 3. The ornament of it In it were set two Onyx stones and in them the names of the twelve tribes of Israel ingraven which Aaron carryed upon his shoulders signifying 1. That the names of the godly are not lightly written but fast ingraven in the love and memory of Christ as those names were ingraven in very hard stones 2. That Christ doth still carry his Church on his shoulders lifting them up out of dust and misery and bearing them upon the shoulders of his power and providence as on Eagles wings Deut. 32. 11. Or as the good shepheard brings home the sheepe on his shoulders Luke 15. 5. According to his gracious promise Isa. 46. 4 I have made you I will also beare you and I will carry you and deliver you 4. The use of it The high Priest in this garment carryed on his shoulders the names of Israel into the Sanctuary before God so our high Priest in the garment of his righteousnesse presents his Church shadowed by the twelve tribes without spot or wrinckle or any such thing and carries into heaven on his shoulders even into the true Sanctuary not made with hands those whose names are written in the booke of life 5. Distinction As the high Priest carryed the names in severall precious stones and severally ingraven so our high Priest takes speciall notice of every particular member of the Church neglects not the meanest but knowes them by name as the head can name every member of the body and contemnes not the meanest Rev. 3. 4 the Church of Sardi had a few names that is godly persons so well knowne to Christ as men by their names 6. The propriety of it It was not lawfull for any but Aaron and the high Priest to use this garment nor might any imitate it for it was the fall of Gideons house Iudg. 8. 26 27 for making an Ephod like that of the Sanctuary It is true there were ordinary Ephods holy garments common to inferiour Priests as Saul put to the sword foure score and five Priests that wore an Ephod 1 Sam. 22. 18. And used by the Levits as Samuel very young ministred in an Ephod 1 Sam. 2. 18. And it may be there were some garments called Ephods which great men did weare and no holy garment as 2 Sam. 6. 14. David danced before the Arke girt with a linnen Ephod But this Ephod was peculiar to the high Priest and in no garment else might he present the names of the twelve tribes signifying that no garment of righteousnesse may be expected or imitated in which God can behold his Church but this of Jesus Christ. And whosoever seeke elsewhere are abolished from Christ to their destruction Gal. 5. 2. 4. Oh the fearefull case of Papists that seeke to have their names written in another Ephod of their owne weaving and making The second garment peculiar to the high Priest was called the brestplate of judgement ver 15 the most precious part of all his garments I. In respect of the twelve costly and glistering stones which were set in foure rowes according to the number of the tribes ver 17. to the 22. In which 1. The shining of these stones signified the shining purity and innocency of Jesus Christ both in himselfe and in his members If they be pure as the sun faire as the Moone what is he 2. Their price of great value and worth signifying what a price the Lord Jesus valued his Church at He accounteth not beleevers as common and base stones but more precious then his owne life How vile and despicable soever they seeme to men and troden under foot heere below as common pebles yet Jesus Christ sets another price on them 3. Their place or situation They are set in the pectorall and Aaron must carry them on his heart signifying that Christ hath as much care of his Church as if it were inclosed in his heart le ts out his blood to make roome in his heart for them 4. Their number Twelve according to all the tribes noting that there is a roome in the heart of Christ for every one of the elect None can anticipate or prevent other With him is plentifull redemption The former without the latter shall not
be perfected Heb. 11. 40. 5. Their order They stand in foure rowes in a comely quadrangle signifying the comely order that Christ hath stablished in the Church some in higher place some in lower some of one ranke and vertues some of another as those stones but all stand seemely and fitly And this order wee must maintaine keepe our rankes as they did 6. The figure The foure square ver 16 signifying the stability and firmenesse of the Church as a foure square turne it any way is firme Satan and all deceivers shall not pick one stone out of Christs Pectorall The gates of hell shall not prevaile against him that is fixed in that rocke and stone of Israel 7. Their use That Aaron who before bare the names of Israel on his shoulders before the Lord might now beare them on his heart continually for a remembrance before the Lord when he goeth into the holy place ver 29 signifying 1. The ardent love of Jesus Christ towards his Church who beares it not onely on his shoulders as a shepheard nor onely in his armes as a nurse but upon his heart and in his heart never to forget our good If Aaron may forget the names he carries upon his shoulders he cannot the names upon his breast or heart so cannot Christ forget the Church he hath taken into his heart Isa. 49. 15 Can a woman forget her child and not have compassion on the sonne of her wombe though they should forget yet will not I forget thee 2. Bearing of the names continually before the Lord on his heart signifieth the continuall mindfulnesse and intercession of Jesus Christ for his Church in that heavenly sanctuary Heb. 7. 25. By vertue of which all our prayers get audience and acceptance 8. The quantity As all the names of Israell were gathered into a narrow compasse so Jesus Christ our Mediator shall gather together into one all the despersed sonnes of God and present them before God as the most beautifull and precious parts of the world Ioh. 11. 52. He shall make a short account in the earth in comparison of the wicked who will take up more roome II. In respect of the Urim and Thummim which were put in the brestplate of Judgement ver 30. Of which Rabbi David a Jew saith It is unknowne to us what these signifie And what this precious monument was put by Gods appointment into the fold of the Pectorall no man living can tell I take it to be no workemanship of man but a sacred monument immediately received from God But expresly they signified Jesus Christ 1 in their names 2 in their use 1. Their names Urim and Thummim Urim signifieth lights in the plurall number Note that there were not lights and shining before in the Pectorall by the many precious stones but here is a glorious light shining above them all to which their light is obscurity Plainly signifying Jesus Christ in whom are hid treasures of wisdome and knowledge Col. 2. 3. He is the light of the world Ioh. 9. 5. Which enlighteneth every one that commeth into the world Ioh. 1. 9. There are many lights as stones and stars in the world but he is the sun nay he is lights With him is many-folded wisdome And without him is nothing but darkenesse sinne death inner darkenesse and utter Ioh. 8. 12. Thummim signifieth perfections And to whom can this point us but unto Christ in whom alone are all perfections of holinesse and graces There is illumination in the twelve stones the Church but not any perfection there is some purity in the stones but farre from perfection of it In Christ is perfection in all parts and from him alone wee must expect our perfection II. The use of them was to receive by them answer from God when the high Priest consulted with him vers 30. For when the Priest asked counsell of God God is said to answer by Urim that is not by the colour of the stones nor the changing of colour by brightnesse blacknesse or bloodinesse of them as some Jews but the Lord answered by voyce Numb 7. 89. And therefore it is called the Urim of Judgement not because it selfe gave judgement or decided causes but because the Lord answered when the Priest applyed the Urim and Thummim This directly looked at Christ as to whom 1. all secrets and Mysteries are perfectly knowne He is the Lamb with seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God Rev. 5. 6. Onely worthy to open the booke ver 9. because of his abundant grace and wisdome signified by the seven spirits 2. Who makes knowne and continually reveales to his Church and members as their need requires whatsoever is meete for them to know by such meanes as himselfe hath sanctified Now although this was a great priviledge of the first Temple and the second did want it that they might not be kept from desire expectation of the true Urim and Thummim yet we in the new Testament are farre beyond them For as the Oracle by Urim was certaine for direction so Christ is the most perfect rule and direction shadowed by that As the Urim answered by voice so Christ by his word preached As God spake then by Urim to the Priest So now by his owne sonne Heb. 1. 2. Wouldst thou have God answer thee goe to the Urim 1. Frequent his ordinance God then answered when the Priest consulted 2. Pray for wisedome If any want wisedome let him aske of God and it shall be given him Iam. 1. 5. 3. Feare God Psal. 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that feare him 4. Follow and obey the voice Iohn 14. 21. If any love me and obey my commandements I will love him and reveale my selfe unto him Iohn 7. 17. If any man doe the will of God he shall know the doctrine whether it be of God The third peculiar garment of the high Priest was the robe of the Ephod Exod. 28. 5 31 On the skirts of which were fastened 1. The Pomegranats of blue silke and purple and skarlet round about This fruit hath a most pleasant smell sweet in it selfe and sweetning other things round about it and is full of precious iuyce and liquor 2. Bells of gold between them round about a golden Bell and a Pomegranat the use of which was that his sound might be heard round about when hee went into the Sanctuary and holy of Holies The whole garment signified the righteousnesse of Christs humane nature which is 1. Most sweet it selfe having a most pleasant savour as the Pomegranate 2. Full of most precious iuyce and vertue to qualifie and abate the raging heat of Gods displeasure as the iuyce of Pomegranats doth allay the burning heat of an ague that would shake the body to pieces 3. Casts upon us a sweet savour being wrapped in it For wee by nature stinking in our sinnes and rottennesse are loathsome to the Lord but once covered with
to see any challenge it but the high Priest our Lord Jesus And hence for ever detest the wicked and abominable Masse with those sacrilegious Priests who usurpe these garments of Iesus Christ and tell us they offer propitiatory sacrifices for the sinnes of the quick and dead The theeves that spoiled Christ of his garments and divided them among themselves did him no such despite as these theeves doe who rob him and disrobe him of all his glory II. Every Christian is made a priest unto God by participation Rev. 5. 10. But not legall and externall for they were dated by the priesthood of Christ but Evangelicall improper and spirituall Neither to offer reall and externall sensible sacrifices which all had end by Christs onely sacrifice upon the Crosse but spirituall sacrifices such as Calves of the lips Heb. 13. 15. The sacrifice of a broken heart Psal. 51. 17. Of almes with which God is well pleased Heb. 13. 16. Of mortification Rom. 12. 1. and of good works and duties of all sorts Of prayer Psal. 141. 2. Now before any of these sacrifices can finde acceptance we must all put on holy and spirituall garments Never was any priest or performance pleasing without his garments the use of which was to cover and adorne Quest. What garments must we put on Answ. Iacob before he could get his fathers blessing must put on his elder brothers garment Gen. 27. 15. so must we put on the Lord Iesus Christ. Rom. 13. 14. Quest. How Answ. Put on whole Christ as the Priest all his garments 1. By making him our owne we must weare our owne garments Speciall faith unites to Christ and marieth us to him that he is ours and we his 2. Cover thy selfe with the sacrifice of his death Adam having sinned covered his nakednesse with skins of dead beasts signifying that all his sinfull posterity must cover themselves with the sacrifice of Christ dead the righteousnesse and perfection of which is the linnen Ephod in which thou being wrapped must offer up thy sacrifice 3. Array thy selfe with his vertues to adorne and decke thee This is the broidered coat which thou must weare of manifold vertues and graces which as jewels and ornaments must shine in thy life as the many glistering stones did in the breastplate So the Apostle Ephes. 4. 24. Put on the new man created after God in righteousnesse and holinesse 4. Put on Christ by Christian profession Our apparell is seene and makes us knowne to others Servants make themselves knowne by their cloth they weare whose they are The Priest must put on the Plate on his forehead and we are commanded to cary the name of God and the Lambe in our foreheads Rev. 14. 1. that men may never see our faces but therein reade the holinesse and innocency of our conversation 5. Put on the girdle Have thy loines girded Luke 12. 35. Stand in a readinesse 1. To all duties of Christianity 2. To all acceptable sacrifices of faith repentance prayer praises obedience 3. To offer up our selves by life or death to the glory and praise of God We had need bee thus begitt that we may stand to the confession and profession of the truth not knowing when or what tryalls will come besides that the world nor pleasure nor lusts seldome finde us unprepared And can he be a good subject who is alwayes unprepared for his Princes service but ever ready to serve his enemy III. From the being arrayed with these garments the poore members of the Church have a ground of much comfort in respect 1. of their head so arrayed 2. of themselves and in respect of themselves considering those garments 1. in the generall 2. in the particulars First in respect of our high Priest Jesus Christ thus gloriously arrayed 1. In the Ephod we see his mighty power who caries his Church upon his shoulders of power and protection Alas I where should wee lie if our Lord did not lift us up and beare us up But now we never need to discourage our selves by casting what shall become of the Church or religion if such and such projects prevaile for so long as we are on Christs shoulders we are safe 2. In the Pectorall behold the ardent and surpassing love of Jesus Christ to his Church For as he caries us on his shoulders by his power so he caries our names on his heart by his love This our true high Priest cannot forget his Saints when he seemes to turne his backe on them but still hath their names before his eye And this is the happinesse of the Church in which she may well rest her selfe that according to her prayer Cant. 8. 6. Christ setteth her as a seale on his heart and as a signet on his arme How is it possible to forget that which is sealed on the heart How can the eye look off the signet on the arme For a signet because it is most precious is most carefully kept and being upon the arm of Christ what arme can pull us off from him Object Oh that I might know my happinesse to bee set on Christs heart Sol. If thou wouldst be set as a signet on the Lords arme become the Lords servant and be faithfull in this service See Hag. 2. 23. O Zerubbabel my servant I will set thee as a signet 3. In his Miter wee see our high Priest crowned with honour and glory above all men and Angels And all the Church must say as Psal. 132. 18. On him let his Crowne flourish And if the dignity of the head be the honour of the members and the power of the head the safety of the members then from hence we have no small consolation 4. In his Plate wee see holinesse ingraven on his forehead that all our senses and thoughts must be fixed in the forehead of our onely high Priest from whom all holinesse floweth to his Church Oh what matter of joy is it to see that we in our selves so foule every way in our nature in our course shut out of heaven where no unclean thing commeth have in him a fountaine of holinesse set open for us For he is made to us of God wisdome sanctification c. Secondly in respect of themselves by meanes of Jesus Christ the members of the Church thus arrayed enjoy sure and stable consolation For 1. In generall they all afford us this comfort that through Christ our high Priest we are beautifull and glorious yea our beauty is made perfect through his beauty Psal. 45. 9. The Queen stands in most royall and costly garments Never had Solomons Queen in all her royalty such sweet perfumed and precious garmēts as hath the spouse of our true Solomon For 1. Those were provided by Solomon Kings daughters in thy precious garments but these provided by Christ out of his wardrobe and will not endure any other garment or ornament brought or procured elsewhere 2. Those were materiall gold silver and precious
house and for all the people but not without blood Signifying that Christ by one alone sacrifice of himselfe hath opened the Sanctuary of heaven and by his ascension hath made entrance into it on our behalfe and there appeares before God once for all to make intercession for us See Heb. 10. 12 19. And as he must goe alone without all attendants so Christ must tread the winepresse alone No friend no disciple stands with him no fellow no companion goes with him to make attonement but all feare and flye that we might cast our eye on no other Mediatour but him 1 Tim. 2. 5. IV. He must continually decide the highest controversies he must judge betweene the cleane and unclean he must excommunicate the one out of the congregation and receive in the other when he was legally cleansed Signifying Christ who in the Church and Scriptures is the supreame Judge of all controversies It is his word alone can binde or loose justifie or condemne According to his direction obstinate persons are to be cast out and penitent offendors received in As Pharaoh to Ioseph so God to Christ Without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Aegypt Gen 41. 44. I. Ministers of the new Testament must learne hence to attend diligently on their charges and know that the substance of all these duties lyeth as heavy on their shoulders as upon those Priests of the old Testament Every conscionable Minister is bound 1. To prepare sacrifices to the Lord. In the old Law the Priest presented dead sacrifices but we must offer living ones They dead beasts but we living men quickened by faith alive by the Spirit of God holy and acceptable They externall and unreasonable we reasonable and spirituall such as God who is a Spirit may accept and delight in They must first kill and then sacrifice so we can never present any man an acceptable sacrifice without killing his sin As the poore beast must be killed and cut in pieces and then offered so we must by the sharpe knife of the Law urging repentance and mortification cut asunder the heart-strings of sinne mangle the body of sinne and let out the life-blood of mans lusts and corruptions And as they having slaine the beast must wash the entraile burne the fat cast the filth and dung into the place of ashes so the Minister after his labour in mortifying sinne must bring men to the lavour of sanctification separate them from their foulenesse and bring them to full holinesse in the feare of God 2. The Priest must preserve knowledge his lips must feed many hee must stand in the counsell of God and bee as his mouth And as Jesus Christ brought the whole will and counsell of God from the bosome of his Father So must his Minister declare that whole counsell to the Church and keepe nothing backe 3. The Minister must daily dresse the holy lampes and lights morning and evening and preserve the light from going out he must prouide oile for the continuall feeding of the lights that is by painefull and diligent study of the Scriptures and meditation hee must furnish himselfe to the worke of the Ministery that the light of holy doctrine may shine by him on all occasions that having the tongue of the learned he may be alwayes ready to speake a word to him that is weary and never want words of comfort which may bee as oile to the distressed soule 4. He must daily burne incense before the Lord upon the Altar of sweete perfume that is offer daily prayers as sweet odours in the Name of Christ who is the Altar of sweet perfume both for himselfe and his people He must pray also for the people and blesse them as Samuel God forbid I should sinne against God and not pray for you For his office is to stand betweene God and his people Every man must bee his owne mouth to God but hee must bee the mouth of every man 5. He must weekly set the Shew-bread before the Lord that is propound Jesus Christ the true bread of life the Manna that came downe from heaven the continuall strength and nourishment of the Church of God both in the ministery of the Word and Sacraments which the ancient Church did weekely celebrate as the Priest did weekly set these loaves Nay hee must not onely set them before others but himselfe must feed on them as the Priests did on the Shew bread all the weeke and yeare long lest it befall him as that Prince 2. King 7. 20. that saw plenty of food with his eyes but tasted not of it for being troden under foot he died II. Every Christian as a Priest unto God must 1. Daily labour in his owne mortification Every day kill some beast or other some lust or other that as wilde beasts are untamed and dangerous to the soule 2. Morning and evening dresse his lights and looke to the clearing of his lamps setting himselfe a taske of daily reading the Scriptures for the clearing of his judgement and the informing of his minde and for the reforming of his heart and life that hee may shine every day more clearly then other in holy conversation 3. Every day burne incense before the Lord upon the Altar of sweet perfume both morning and evening Every Christian morning and evening must offer up dayly prayers and praises as a sweet smell unto God That as the smoke of sweet incense goeth upward and disperseth it selfe abroad in the aire so the incense of prayer ascending may disperse it selfe abroad for the benefit of the person family Church at home and abroad What else calls the Apostle for saying Pray continually in all things give thanks but that the Lord should smell the sweet odours of our morning and evening prayer especially when wee rise and goe to rest How this duty is neglected and with manifest contempt and losse every mans conscience can tell him Now in offering this incense 1. See no strange incense be offered that is no prayer without faith 2. None but upon the Altar of incense none but in the Name of Christ. 4. Every weeke on the Sabbath day as the Priests in the Law provide himselfe of shew-bread to serve for his provision all the weeke that is make such conscionable use of the holy Ministery as hee may preserve life of grace and strength of grace which falls to consumption in the soule except it be continually repayred even as the body wasteth without naturall food 5. Every yeare set apart a day of expiation to make an atonement for himselfe for his house and all the people This proportion shewes it not amisse once a yeare to set apart a day of humiliation in serious fasting and prayer to make atonement for our owne and others sinnes The equity of which seemes not onely grounded in that Law Levit. 16. 29. which enjoines the Jew a yearly standing fast wherein once a yeare every
soule should humble it selfe with fasting before the Lord in one of the great assemblies and Chap. 23. 27. bindes all unto it But also in good reason seeing a yeares space might bring about many just occasions 1. Many sinnes might bee committed to provoke the Lord 2. Many judgements let in or to bee let in for those sinnes 3. Many mercies wanting which by ours and others sinnes wee are worthily deprived of And although we ought continually to humble our selves for our sinnes yet to helpe our infirmities and to doe it throughly it shall availe us much to set a speciall time apart for it as such who out of sound judgement esteeme we have sufficient cause once a yeare thus deepely to humble our selves For howsoever the Jews had daily expiatory sacrifices yet the Lord held it not superfluous to appoint them besides one set and solemne day of expiation So is it no lesse needfull for any Christian notwithstanding his daily humiliation to helpe himselfe in his repentance by one day in a yeare at lest of more solemne expiation CHAP. XV. Nazarites types of Christ. THe third order or ranke of holy persons types of Christ are the Nazarites who were sanctified by vow or speciall profession and not obscurely shadowing Jesus Christ the onely true and perfect Nazarite For I. The name Nazarite by which Christ must bee according to the ancient prophecies called Matt. 2. 23. and in contempt was by the Jewes so stiled in the superscription of the Crosse signifieth one separated and set apart from others and is ascribed to three sorts of men usually set above others 1. To such as are set apart for singular sanctimony as the high Priest whose crowne of sanctification on his head is called Nezer Exod. 29. 6. 2. To such as in dignity and authority are separated from others as Kings whose royall crowne or diademe is called Nezer 2. Sam. 1. 10. I tooke the crowne that was upon his head 3. To such as were separated by some religious vow as to this order of the Nazarites whose haire increasing on their heads as an externall signe of their vow was called Nezer Numb 6. 18. By which order the Lord would have the eminent sanctity of Jesus Christ to bee typified as well as his sacrifice and kingly Office by Priests and Kings Hee was indeed the onely true Nazarite separated from sinners holy harmelesse and undefiled Heb. 7. 26. For 1. His profession was I am not of this world Ioh. 8. 23. 2. He is called Dan. 9. 24. the holy of holies or the most Holy a title never ascribed to the most holy persons on earth by resemblance For as the holy of holies a type of Christ was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle and Temple and excelled both the outer and inner Court in holinesse So Jesus Christ surpassed not onely common men but the holiest of men as farre as the sanctum sanctorum excelled both the sanctum and atrium His divine holinesse farre excelled the most pure Nazarites who yet are said Lam. 4. 7. to bee purer then the snow and whiter then the milke 3. He was not of unholy made holy as they but hee was alwayes holy and without all staine of sinne from the first moment for ever That holy thing which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost Matt. 1. 20. 4. His holinesse was not from any other but of and from himselfe whereas whosoever else have any holinesse it is from him 5. His holinesse was essentiall not accidentall as he was God and as hee was man by the union of the manhood with his divine nature was bestowed upon him in full measure yea beyond measure and therefore is called fulnesse of grace and holinesse Ioh 1. But in the most holy men this holinesse is a received quality by communicating of his spirit and that imperfectly and in small measure 6. They might be holy in part for themselves but could not impart that holinesse to others But Christ is not onely holy in himselfe but sanctifieth them and the whole Church hee being the originall and fountaine of all holinesse They might be legally cleane in some actions but he was morally cleane in all observations They in some passages of their life but hee in his nature in his disposition and in the fulfilling of all righteousnesse II. Nazarites by the Law Numb 6. 2 3. must abstaine from wine and strong drinke and all that commeth of the grape 1. Because they were to study the Law of God and the Lord will not have them meddle with any thing that might trouble their braine or unfit them to so holy studies 2. Hee would have them paterns of sobriety and temperance and restraine them from whatsoever might stirre up lust or occasion intemperance In which what else did they but shadow our Saviour Christ Who was a true Nazarite not in the letter and ceremony for he did drinke wine and miraculously provided it for others yea ordained wine an element in the Supper that every Christian might drinke it but in the morality and truth of the thing hee was the onely perfect Nazarite Never was any so intent in study invocation preaching acting and suffering all things for our sake as he was Neither was any creature so abstinent and temperate as he was he fasted fourty dayes and fourty nights and after that being hungry hee would eate nothing till all his temptations in the wildernesse were ended As of all other vertues so he was an unfailing patterne in this of holy abstinence and unviolated temperance III. The Nazarites were enjoyned to let their haire grow and no razor must come on their heads all the time of their vow and seperation Numb 6. 5. By which ceremony the Lord intended two things 1. He would have them most unlike and contrary to the religious orders of the heathen Idolaters who usually nourished their haire to offer in sacrifice to their gods as in many examples I could shew But these must not diminish their haire all the time and when they cut it off they must burne it with fire 2. To be a meanes to avoid finenesse and delicacy in curious trimming of the head and care of the flesh which is a great enemy to religious thoughts and exercises So the Apostle implyes the more care of the flesh the lesse of putting on Christ Iesus 3. Long haire in men is a signe of strength as in Sampson And by this law the Lord would put them in mind that as they were to avoid esseminate softnesse and delicacy so to be manly strong and couragious in performing duties and resisting stoutly all the temptations and baits that might allure them from the duty undertaken As for our Saviour whom they shadowed it is not likely he nourished his haire because the Apostle saith it was in that age uncomely for men to have long haire If a man have long haire it is a shame unto him And then are
all the Romish paynters quite out who paint him with his haire lying round about his shoulders but Painters and Poets may lye by authority It was enough for him that he was a Nazarite in the truth and substance of that Law although not in the letter and outward ceremony of it In which respect how did he neglect himselfe who being the Lord of all denyed himselfe of all rights and comforts He was so farre from all delicacy that with an utter refusall of all delights of flesh his whole intention was set on his function and office submitting himselfe to sorrow curse c. Besides what courage and fortitude did hee expresse through his whole function and office in overcomming sinne death Satan the Crosse Hell and all adversaries Sampson the strongest of all Nazarites was but a weakeling to him his adversaries flesh not spirit his power faint and fayling yea changed into weakenesse IV. Nazarites must not come neere the dead to touch them nor defile themselves by them nor meddle with the funerals of father mother brother sister or any of their kinred though they might pretēd never so much piety affection or good nature By which Law the Lord would teach them two things 1. That no changes of this life nor losse of their dearest friends should turne them aside from their duty or from the observation of the Law of their profession 2. To teach them constancy patience and magnanimity of spirit in the greatest outward afflictions and not to shew a weaknesse or passion in open or excessive lamentation Our Lord although he did touch the dead and was at funeralls and wept at the raysing of Lazarus and so observed not the ceremony of Nazarites because hee was no Legall Nazarite but was called a Nazarite as being the truth and substance of all the Legall Nazarites as in all other things so in this For he onely was the Master and had the true command of all his affections never exceeded measure in any thing never was defiled by any person dead in sinne never by any dead worke never touched or came neere any such defilement which Legall Nazarites could not avoid V. These Nazarites must be absolved and released from their Vow by comming to the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with their offering Num. 6. 13. plainly by that figure leading us unto Christ the only doore by which we enter and have liberty to come into the presence of God and obtaine freedome from the sinne and weakenesse of any duty wee performe before him Now for application I. Acknowledge Christ the true Nazarite Upon his head let his Crowne flourish As it was said of Ioseph Gen. 49. 26 he was seperate from his brethren so was Jesus Christ seperated from all other men and Angels 1. In holinesse and purity being advanced in holinesse above all creatures He alone in propriety and perfection is a Nazarite purer then snow and whiter then milke yea his measure runs over to his Church Eph. 5. 26. 2. In excellence and perfection of all vertues and graces hee is that Netser Isa. 11. 1 the branch or flower which alwaies flourished in all kinds and perfections of vertue and graces and casts from him farre and neere a most sweet smell sweet and acceptable to God and men 3. In power and authority The Kingdome is his and power and glory all power is given him in heaven and in earth He hath power 1. to do us good 2. to withstand our evill 3. to tread downe Satan sinne death 4. to rescue his Church to confound Antichrist and all enemies 5. to finish the grace and glory of his Saints Why must Christ be so pure a Nazarite 1. Because his passion could not have beene acceptable if his person had not beene as pure as the sunne 2. Hee was to be not onely righteousnesse in himselfe as other Nazarites or righteousnesse in part but he must be a perfect righteousnesse to many Object But how could he be so pure comming of Adam as they did Sol. He came of Adam not by Adam as they did that is he came not by naturall propagation from Adam but was conceived by the holy Ghost and so all originall impurity was stopped in the very first moment of his holy conception Object But did not he take the same infirmities comming of Adam as they did Answ. No he tooke such infirmities as he pleased to fit him for a mercifull high Priest not to hinder him and therefore he tooke such infirmities from Adam as were miserable but not damnable and so remained a pure Nazarite without all sinfull frailty II. Christ the true Nazarite being come all shadowes must fly away and therefore this order of Nazarites gives no colour or approbation to any order of Popish votaries or monasticall persons now in the new Testament Besides that white is not more contrary to black then monasticall vowes to this For 1. The Nazarites were appointed by God himselfe their 's devised by themselves 2. Their vowes were of things possible in their power and temporary these are of things impossible without their power and during life be the party never so unable to endure it 3. Their vowes though appointed by God were not able to merit remission of sinne and eternall life but these say that they merit for themselves and others that their vowes are parts of Gods worship which never came in his mind or booke and a state of great perfection Whereas a Nazarite was not more righteous then others but better fitted for his duty 4. Nazarites might not cut their haire their order stands in cutting and shaving that they may still looke neate and effeminate 5. Nazarites drink no wine nor strong drinke and are very temperate in their dyet these belly gods eat up the fat and poure in the sweet till they be monsters that the very fasts of Friers for the delicacy and abundance is become a proverbe 6. Nazarites might not come at funeralls these follow them as flyes do fat meat and suck out thence their greatest profit and sweetest morsells 7. Nazarites notwithstanding their vow lived in holy wedlock but Popish votaries abhorre marriage not lust or whoredome Yet from this order they would establish their disordered orders as contrary as darkenesse to light III. The shadow of the Law is vanished away and the truth of the Gospell is broken forth as the light saith the Canon Law Every Christian must be a Nazarite not by vow of seperation but by imitation and resemblance of Christ the true Nazarite For I. He must be seperate from others 1. He must see that he be seperate from ungodly ones as one advanced to an happy estate in Christ. 2. That now his mind affections speeches and whole course be contrary to the course of the world and so as Ioseph seperate himselfe from the evill behaviour and manners of his brethren yea complaine of them to his
and take our flesh that by death he might destroy him that had the power of death 2. The scarlet cedar and hysope must be dipped also to shew that all the graces we receive from him must be dipped in his blood by which alone we have both accesse unto grace and acceptation into grace For by the dipping and union of this live bird and slaine we come into the grace and favour of God being united first to his humanity then to his divinity and so are knit to his whole person and by him we come to the father 3. The Priest must let the live bird goe into the broad field ver 7. signifying 1. Christs escape and deliverance from death and the power of the grave 2. His exaltation after he was once consecrated his ascending on high and being made higher then the heavens Heb. 7. 26. 3. The publication and manifestation of righteousnesse purchased by the death of Christ in the broad open field of the Church and this in the daily ministery of the Gospell Thirdly concerning the party to whom this cure must be applyed The Priest must sprinkle on him that is to be cleansed this blood seven times signifying 1. That only Christ Jesus doth sprinkle his blood on penitēt soules from whom only they must expect pardon purging from sins 2. That Christs blood must be particularly applyed to every beleever to every thing that is to be cleansed Partly by Gods imputation of Christ and his merits to the penitent sinner Partly by his Ministers in the publishing and speciall applying the particular promises to every soule that is weary 3. Seven times sprinkling noteth 1. Perfect justification by the blood of Christ the number of seven times perfect sprinkling he is able perfectly to save all that come unto him and needeth no other seeking of other merits to satisfie or justifie 2. To put the uncleane person in minde how hardly he parts from his foulenesse and us that it is no easie thing to be rid of sinne 3. How weakly and imperfectly our selves apply the blood of Christ that have need of so many sprinklings to humble us for our weaknesse of faith and slow progresse in sanctification Sect. IX I. All these ordinances and ceremonies in discerning and curing this disease in generall teach us two things I. That it is no small businesse to be rid of the leprosie of the soule and infection of sinne which was but shadowed in that as that was occasioned by this For whence is bodily leprosie but from leprosie of the soule Or what is it that strikes the body with such contagious sicknesse but the infection and sicknesse of the soule As in Gehezi Mariam Vzziah whose bodies were so fouly infected and deformed by the leprosie of the soule and corruption of heart And who sees not how the Lord would lead them and us to take speciall notice hereby of the soules leprosie by sinne in that hee committeth the knowledge and discerning of this disease of leprosie to the Priests sending them to the Physitians of their soules and not to the Physitians of their bodies whom one would thinke it more specially and properly concerned This should admonish us all that if there be so much adoe to get cleane bodies cleane faces cleane skins how great our care and businesse should be to get clean soules the soile of which cleaves not to the skin onely but sticks closer to us then our skin or bones and yet wee thinke every slight sigh or Lord have mercy or three words at our death sufficient to rid us of our sinnes and soules leprosie II. How carefull the Lord is to sever the cleane from uncleane for feare of generall infection Teaching 1. the Magistrate that as the Lord puts difference betweene him that sweareth and him that feareth an oath so should they to incourage and countenance the clean person that is the godly and faithfull David set his eyes on the godly in the land not to maligne or wrong them but to cherish their persons and help up religion and the feare of God in them As also to discountenance and terrifie the foule blasphemer the drunkard Sabbath breaker idle persons and gamesters that thrust themselves out of their calling all the week long But if a man by his course shuffle cleane and uncleane together nay runne with the uncleane and countenance gamesters swearers bibbers how doth he execute the judgements of God 2. A good minister then stands in the counsell of God when he severs the precious from the vile Ier. 15. 19. The Priest in the Law must pronounce him cleane that is so indeed He durst not pronounce a foule person to bee cleane nor a cleane person foule Then how dares a man that stands to judge between the Lord and his people scandalize or scorne such as endeavour most to be clean How comes it that we doe not heare drunkards adulterers theeves swearers blasphemours so rated and disgraced as them Or how dare men sell praises of religion to foule Atheists swearers haters and despisers of goodnesse as if men should gild rotten posts or wash dead bricks making them at their death seeme as white as lawne who all their life were white as Lepers Well let not the despised members of Christ be discouraged we know that the judgement of Christ shall passe righteously betweene the cleane and uncleane If thy heart be upright let all men cast the foule brand of an hypocrite on thee Jesus Christ shall pronounce thee cleane 3. Every good man must and will be glad of this separation rejoyce in that arbitrement that differenceth clean and uncleane as most savoury Wicked men can abide nothing lesse then this shedding differencing of men Whence are so many tumults Oh you are more holy then all other you are the pure ones you are all cleane c but because they have learned a trick to deceive themselves and to hide their foulenesse as they thinke by crowding all into one confusion Now is that doctrine onely intolerable that fetcheth them out of their holes and casts them out among their uncleane fellowes for whose company they be a great deale fitter then for the society of Saints and beleevers II. Note in speciall 1. In that the Leper must bee sent to the Priest to have his leprosie discerned we see that our Lord Jesus who was typified by the high Priest can discerne our leprosie Thou maist hide thy sinne from man but thou canst not deceive him no idle excuse or fig-leafe can cover thee If he see thee an adulterer a swearer an unjust person a covetous or proud person if he see thee an enemy a profane person he will judge thee a Leper Thou canst not sinne though never so secretly but thou art sure to be discerned and tryed by him whose eyes are as a flame of fire And if he judge thee a leper he will pronounce thee a leper and thou canst not appeale from but must
those antient promises and now preach salvation to all that beleeve in the name of Christ crucified dead buried raysed ascended and sitting at the right hand of his father as Ioh. 3. 16 This promise he confirmeth with two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper as speciall seales of his grace Thus is the Lord still like himselfe in all ages and provideth fully for our direction and consolation for our strength and assurance in the Covenant of grace and salvation But to come nearer our purpose The Sacraments of the old Testament were either before the fall or after Of the Sacraments in Paradise before the fall we are not to speake as the tree of knowledge and the tree of life Because 1. They sealed the Covenant of works not the Covenant of grace 2. They concerned the first Adam without any respect or reference to the second Adam There was no need of Christ and consequently no type of him Wee are onely to speake of Jewish Sacraments types of Jesus Christ and so reject them which never aymed at Christ but were before any distinction of Jew or Gentile These Jewish Sacraments were either 1. Ordinary or standing 2. Extraordinary and occasionall Ordinary were 1. Circumcision 2. Passeover Circumcision was the Sacrament of entrance and receiving the Jew into Gods covenant The Passeover was a Sacrament of continuance and growth in that Covenant Extraordinary which were in some resemblance both to them and the two Sacraments of the new Testament 1. To Circumcision and Baptisme answered the Sacraments of the Cloud and the red Sea 2. To the Passeover and the Lords Supper answered Mannah from heaven and water out of the Rock Of these wee must by Gods assistance speak in order not what we might for that were endlesse but what we must necessarily so far as they preach Christ unto us or may set us nearer unto him CHAP. XVIII Circumcision a Type Herein 1. What it is 2. How it figures Christ. 3. Observations I. CIrcumcision was a sacred rite ordained by God wherein by cutting off the foreskins of all the males of the Jewes in the eighth day the Covenant of God made to Abraham was sealed up to him and all his posterity 1. A sacred rite ordained by God God is the Author For 1. He onely that can promise and give the grace can seale the Covenant 2. Abraham received it of God Rom. 4. 11. therefore God gave it 3. the institution is in Gen. 17 where is the word of institution 1. in commanding 2. in promising 2. The subject of Circumcision were all the males of Israel descending of Abraham For these must be distinguished from all families of the earth Gen. 17. 4. Neither may we thinke that women were excluded out of the Covenant of grace for they were cōprehended under the Circumcision of males And God spared the weaker sexe because it was enough to bring them within the number of Abrahams posterity to be borne of the males circumcised Besides as the males carry a speciall type and resemblance of Christ as 1 Cor. 11. 3 in order to the female so was it fit they should have the thing and ceremony of Circumcision and the female onely the vertue and efficacy Junius 3. The part must bee the part generative Gen. 17. 13 My Covenant shall bee in your flesh and ver 11. Circumcise the foreskin of your flesh The very place shewes that Circumcision aymed to remedy the corruption and uncleannesse of mans nature whereof it admonished Abraham and his posterity For neither Abraham nor any of his were chosen into the Covenant because they were cleaner or holier then other but that they might be holier Gods election is free who makes choyce of them that need Circumcision as well as any other 4. The time the eight day Because 1. the Lord had a mercifull respect to the tendernesse of infants 2. not to distinguish but that those infants also were within the Covenant that dyed within that time 3. because whatsoever was borne of man or beast was Legally impure and in their blood till the eight day and therefore no beast must be offered to the Lord till the eight day Exod. 23. 19. and ch 34. 26. No nor men of other nations servants or other must be circumcised but upon the eight day from their comming in 4. this precise observation of the eight day was not without a mystery either poynting to the resurrection of Christ on the eighth day or leading beyond the weeke of this present life in which we cannot be perfectly circumcised unto that eight day in the life to come when all our corruption shall be cut away and perfectly and at once abolished 5. The end of Circumcision was to seale up Gods Covenant made with Abraham This Covenant had three clauses 1. of the multiplying of his seed in Christ 2. of the inheritance of the land of Canaan being a type of Heaven 3. of the blessed seed the Messiah that was to come of him typified in Isaac and so was Circumcision a seale of the righteousnesse of Faith Rom. 4. 11. II. Circumcision figures Christ I. As it was a Jewish Sacrament wherein Christ shined out clearely who was and is the substance of all Sacraments both Jewish and Christian for Christ is the substance of the whole Covenant and all the seales of it In this sence the Apostle calls it a seale of the righteousnesse of faith Namely 1. a seale of secrecy that locked up the Covenant onely to that people 2. a witnessing seale whereby as by a visible perpetuall and sensible signe in their flesh which they could never lay off the Lord would still hold in their sences his owne promise of grace made unto them in the promised Messiah and their promise of obedience made backe againe unto God to become his people Which promise of theirs howsoever they were to endeavour in yet could it not be fully performed for them but in the promised seed in whom their imperfect obedience and indeavours were to be covered and accepted And thus is every Sacrament a signe 1. of grace 2. of duty and a religious signe binding God to man and man to God 3. a strengthning and confirming seale by which the Lord pleased to ratifie the promise of grace and seale up to them the inward and invisible circumcision of the heart called the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2. 11. Because he only by his spirit can worke it Deut. 30. 6. II. Circumcision figures Christ as it was a signe 1. memorative of the Covenant of God made with Abraham and his seed Gen. 17. 11. which mercifull Covenant was founded in Christ Jesus out of whom God never contracts Covenant with any man He onely slayes hatred and makes God and man to walke together as friends 2. figurative or representative foreshewing 1. that the Messiah should bee borne of Abrahams seed and not of the uncircumcised nations who being to be
Aegyptian to drowne an Israelite I. To note the mighty power of God who can still and over-master the mighty raging of the sea which we see here in that its water dry land sands and shoare observe the providence of God and serve for his peoples safety Israel saw the mighty power of God herein Exo. 14. 31. Let us also behold the glory of God herein and feare before him as they did Let not us be more senselesse than the senselesse creatures but heare his voice runne out of our owne nature to observe his voice sounding in the Scriptures and Ministery of the Gospell II. To see and consider the state of the Church and people of God Canaan whither they goe is a fine and fertile country but the way is asperous and dangerous They are still as it were in the bottome of the sea enemies implacable at their heeles in infinite numbers seas of waters dreadfull to behold on both hands yea rising over their heads as mountaines threatning to fall over them and after a deepe sea a terrible wildernesse takes them in which is no meanes for meat drinke nor cloath A man would thinke no man could deale so with his children and yet Gods wisedome sees this the fittest way to Canaan He sees how 1. Every small content glewes us to our Aegypt 2. What sluggs we are in the way farther then we are chased out 3. How little we care for dependance on himselfe when we are full of naturall comforts 4. That Canaan is so rich a land as is worthy all our labour and suffering Apply this note to awake thee out of thy ease and carnall slumber If thy way be so easie and pleasing to flesh sure it leads not to Canaan suspect it The Israelites going into Aegypt had no enemies nor troubles meeting them but going into Canaan they had nothing else Strait is the way that leads to life and all the way to heaven is strowed with crosses Apply it also to secure thee in thy troubles Art thou in a deepe danger or sorrow like the bottome of the sea It is no worse with thee then with the rest of the people of God No affliction overtakes thee but the same hath befalne the Saints in the world Hold on to Canaan and all is safe Canaan is worth all Happy thou if thou canst get to Canaan though thy passage be through the bottome of the sea III. To observe what a many comforts this great worke of God will load us withall that are willing to carry them away For I. The Lord in strange and unwonted dangers can worke new and unwonted remedies for his children As we heard before that fire shall not burne them so here the sea at his word of restraint shall not drowne them He can make a wall of water more strong for them than a wall of Adamant yea himselfe according to their need will be to them either a wall of fire or water II. What danger can prevaile against the Church if all these dangers on all hands above them below them afore them behind them at once cannot sinke them No All the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it Every maine affliction is like a maine Red sea which threatens to swallow us up but it shall in the issue onely preserve the Church What we have most cause to feare the Lord maketh most helpfull and soveraigne The very raging sea rather then they shall perish shall open her lappe as a tender mother to receive them from the rage of Pharaoh and his pursuing army Nay the land of Goshen shall not be halfe so bountifull to them as these waters which gave them freedome victory and the spoiles and riches remaining upon the dead bodies of their enemies III. How unweariably the Lord sets himselfe to overcome all difficulties for his servants What had it beene to have passed the oppressors of Aegypt and to have beene swallowed up of the sea Therefore hee makes a new way where never any way lay before in the bottome of the sea Afterwards he makes a dry and barren wildernesse comfortable to them dryes up Jordan as strangely for their passage gives them a daily harvest of Mannah from heaven breaks a rock to give them water and happily in time finisheth their long and tedious journey Even so the godly going out of Aegypt departing from the kingdome of the devill and hastning out of the world towards heaven come presently into a deepe sea not pursued onely by the fury of tyrants and enemies but every where threatned with dangers wants and death it selfe yet the Lord breakes for them one toyle after another and happily guides them through a deepe sea of miseries and never leaves them till they recover the shoare and arrive safely at the haven of salvation where their songs shall be louder then their cryes were and a mighty deliverance shall swallow up all their danger IV. Here is comfort against the feare of enemies 1. Spirituall enemies For here we have both a confirmation and resemblance of the eternall delivery of the Church from the tyranny of the hellish Pharaoh which in spight of him is led through a sea of tribulation every where ready to overwhelme it into the promised rest of everlasting life Againe wee see here our sinnes also cast into and drowned in the bottome of the Red sea Mic. 7. 19. These are the strongest and fiercest enemies that pursued us to death but these our furious sinnes as so many Aegyptians are drowned in the sea of Christs blood and extinct in the waters of Baptisme Aug Psal. 113. 2. Temporall enemies How can the Aegyptians hope to stand before Israell to whom the waters give way so strangely The enemy shall find the same sea a wall and a well a safety and a death Let enemies looke here as the heathen did and let their hearts saint as theirs to see God make the sea a wall a lane yea a lappe for his people Let them behold the ordinary worke of God who commonly joynes the salvation of his Church with the destruction of the enemies So for Mordecaies advancement and the Churches deliverance Haman must be hanged and his posterity destroyed as in a ballance if one scoale goe up downe goes the other IV. The godly to partake of these comforts must learne 1. To labour for increase of faith for by faith they passed through the Red sea Heb. 11. 29. So must thou get faith for thy vessell to passe thee through Faith in tryall is a great victory in the bottome of the sea in deepest afflictions it is most glorious It is nothing to beleeve in prosperity but in desperation to beleeve in the bottome of the sea to stand still yea in the bottome of hel to hope for heaven there is faith 2. To joyne to Gods people Let not the Aegyptian thinke the way is made for him Except thou goest out with Israell as Exod. 12. 38. the sea will know thee for an
thou refusest Christ himselfe V. We must beware of being weary of this manna The Jewes esteemed manna sweet at first and went out cheerefully to gather it yea the Sabbath and all which was a prohibited time so greedy were they of it but within a little while although it retained the sweetnesse they waxed weary of it Wee must take heed of this ficklenesse in goodnesse which hath ever bewrayed it selfe in most forward people At the first building of the Tabernacle men brought too much but after tooke it away as fast againe Iohn was a burning and shining light and they rejoyced in his light but it was but for a season and few shining lights but find it so The Galatians at first received Paul as an Angell but soone revolted from him What flocking and thronging was there after Christs doctrine and miracles that the kingdome of God suffered violence but soone they had enough of him and in short time did tumult as fast against him The like was observed in our owne land at the first falling of this manna and beginnings of the Gospell men were earnest glad joyfull forward then was a sweet time of the happy welcome of this Manna happy was hee could get his Gomer first and fullest But now what voices heare wee other then of the ungracious Israelites Oh our soules are dryed up with this manna here is nothing but manna so much preaching so many Sermons and it was better with the world in Aegypt before all this preaching And whereas our fathers would have ridden far to a Sermon wee their lazie off-spring will scarce steppe over our thresholds Let us consider here for our incitement 1. how hard it is to begin well but harder to hold out and not holding out we lose all our labour 2. that manna is as sweet as ever though wee see not our owne neede which if we did see wee would be no more weary of Gods word were it daily preached then wee are of our bread we daily eate VI. We must be so far from wearinesse as that we must highly esteeme this true Manna as the sweetest gift that ever God gave from heaven and never forget so miraculous a mercy That Israel might not forget Gods extraordinary mercy in this type they must for ever keepe a pot of Manna which was preserved so long as the Temple stood for many hundred yeeres And that wee might not forget this mercy in the true manna hee hath and doth for ever preserve his word preached and instituted Sacraments in which he perpetually holdeth this mercy before the eyes of the Church Let us raise monuments of Gods mercies to our selves and not forget lesser favours if we would not forfeit them But such a mercy as this is in Jesus Christ the true Manna let it live in our hearts in our memories sences affections actions in walking worthy of it for thus it becommeth the just to be thankefull CHAP. XXIII Water out of the Rock a type THe second extraordinary Sacrament sealing up to Israel their nourishment and strength in the Covenant was the water out of the Rocke After the Lord had brought Israel through the dangerous Sea hee brings them to Elim a sweet and fruitfull place where were twelve fountaines of water and seventy Palme trees there they camped and breathed Exod. 15. 27. Not long after they must come into the dry desart of Sin where they want both bread and patience for they murmure against God and exclaime against Moses and Aaron At this time the Lord feeds their bellies and fills them with miracles of which Manna was full Thence at Gods commandement must they come unto Rephidim Exod. 17. 1. Here have they bread from heaven but no water Now contend they as fast with Moses for water as before for bread And as thirst is the more eager appetite so it ineagers their affections that Moses complaines to God they are ready to kill him God sees their rebellion and puts it up and instead of revenge of their horrible obstinacy and ingratitude satisfies their thirst as miraculously as formerly hee had done their famine and hunger Hee commands Moses to take his rod and speake to the Rock and then should issue waters in abundance to satisfie all the Campe both man and beasts and so he did Exod. 17. 6. Now wee may not thinke that this fact concerned onely Israel in the wildernesse but even all the Church and Israel of God passing through the wildernesse of this world And that for these reasons 1. The Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 4. calleth it a spirituall rocke both for being miraculous in effects and for being a type of what was to come It was both miraculous and significant and therefore called spirituall 2. The same water which they drank we also drink as in the same Chap. and ver because in the holy Supper of the Lord the matter of our spirituall drink is the same with theirs and that is the blood of Christ resembled by theirs The difference is onely in the maner of drinking 3. Including this water of the Rock the Apostle saith they are all types to admonish us and are written for vs vers 6. 11. 4. Most plainly he affirmeth vers 4 and that Rock was Christ not in substance but in signification saith Aquinas Now wee having as much to doe with Christ as they wee must farther enquire into this type 1. To parallel it with the truth by comparing them 2. By applying it in some fruitfull observations to our selves The Rock was a type of Christ three wayes 1. As it was a Rock 2. As out of it issued water 3. In the manner of obtaining I. As a Rock it elegantly typed out Jesus Christ fitly compared to a Rock in five resemblances 1. For the despicable appearance The Rock is in appearance dry and barren the most unlikely thing in all the world to afford water so as it was incredible to Moses and Aaron themselves to fetch water out of a Rock If God had commanded them to have beaten fire out of a flinty rock it had not been so unlikely but to distill water out of a flint or rock must be miraculous Even so Jesus Christ was for outward forme and appearance in the world most unlikely of all men to afford any such waters of grace and salvation Isai. 53. 2 3. hee was as a dry root without forme or beauty as an hard barren and despised rock the most abject of men the refuse of the world a worme and no man of whom when the Prophets preached they could finde none almost that would beleeve their report 2. A Rock for exaltation and advancement A Rock is a promontory lifted up above the earth Such a Rock was Christ advanced above the earth yea and the heavens advanced above all men and creatures 1. In holinesse and purity 2. In power and authority 3. In place and dignity So Ioh. 3. 31
thirst no more Lord faith she give mee this water that I may no more thirst nor come hither to draw Ioh. 4. 15. So let it stir up our desires after it also that wee may get within the well that springeth up to eternall life 3. What meanes may we use for the attaining of water out of this rock Answ. 1. Be an Israelite That rock was smitten onely for them This rock is laid in Sion not in Aegypt No Aegyptian no Canaanite no Romish Aegyptian that drinkes of that Popish puddle no profane worldlings taste of these waters swill and draffe is good enough for such swine 2. Come to the place Israel must goe out of their houses as well to fetch water out of the rock as to gather Manna The place whence the rock sends water is the threshold of the Sanctuary Ezech. 47. If wee will not stirre out of our dores wee may justly starve 3. Avoid letts and hindrances that damme up these waters As 1. Ignorance of their worth and of thy owne neede Ioh. 4. 10. If thou knewest the gift of God thou wouldest have asked c. Good reason thou want it who thinkest it a thing thou mayst best want Many among us like Tantalus in the midst of water die for thirst 2. Hardnesse of heart which keepes the soule dry and barren and abiding in the naturall hardnesse of a rock all the waters of this spirituall rock are lost upon it 3. A quenching and grieving of the spirit this turns the stream another way that it finds another channell Greeve not the spirit but grieve rather that thy selfe art so strait-necked a vessell 4. Secure neglect of meanes A man that will be rich followes the meanes so he that meaneth to be rich in grace whereas he that meaneth to die a begger casts up all and makes holy day at his pleasure 4. Provide 1. the bucket of faith to draw for the well is deepe and without this bucket thou gettest none Ioh. 4. 11. 2. Find a fit vessell to put these waters in As 1. a cleane vessell of a pure heart Who would put Aquavitae or Balme water in a fusty and stinking bottle 2. a whole vessell that it leake not out againe This whole vessell is a whole and sincere heart but broken all to pieces No vessel here can hold but a broken and contrite heart God fils the humble the haughty and proud are sent away empty CHAP. XXIV The Brazen Serpent a Type THe History of the Brazen Serpent is in Numb 21. 6 7 8. where are two things I. The disease II The remedy The disease is set downe 1. in the occasion ver 5. 2. in the kind by fiery Serpents sent by God to sting them 3. in the effect many dyed In all which Story wee must not stick in the letter or barke but breake through to the kernell and truth The rather because our Lord Jesus an interpreter beyond all exception brings us hereby to himselfe and to the consideration both of our disease and of the remedy and the application of it Ioh 3. 14. 15. As Moses lift up the serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of man be lift up that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have eternall life It will be now both pleasant and profitable to looke a little while upon the apt resemblance of the type with the truth both in the disease and remedy and first of the occasion of the disease Sect. I. I. The occasion of the disease was the peccant humor of ingratitude and murmuring against the grace of God miraculously manifested in the wildernesse Never had any people upon the face of the earth the like mercies from God the like experience of God Never any fed and feasted with so many miracles as it were in ordinary They have water following them every where out of a rock They have read from heaven delicate even to a miracle but this Angels food is too light and no bread will serve them but from earth God gave them abundance of it for the gathering he rained it most bountifully round about their tents but their unthankfull souls loathe it and tread it under foot And therefore rising up against God and tempting him they were destroyed of Serpents 1. Cor. 10. 9. Note here by the way 1. The Justice of God Hee that brought Manna from heaven to feed them for contempt of his grace now brings serpents out of the earth to revenge and destroy them Rom. 2. 4. 5. The despising of Gods bountifulnesse treasureth up wrath See the same Justice on our selves How lightly did wee in our first parents regard that upheaped measure of bounty and grace conferred by God in our Creation and innoceny And how justly were we stung to death by the old serpent for it The unthankfull person is the greatest robber that is 2. See the equity of this Justice on the Israelites They not contented to murmur against the Lord set also upon Moses and Aaron his servants Why have ye brought us into the wildernesse to die Now their punishment is answerable to their sinne They transgresse in hot and fiery tongues and are punished by hot and fiery stings Venemous words against God and his servants are revenged by the mouthes of poysoned and venemous serpents Doe thou at thy perill sting God and his servants with bitter words God will have some serpent or other to sting thee I am out of doubt that many great plagues have lingred and doe amongst us in this land for the poysoned and reviling speeches cast against God and his servants every where We sting his holy profession and servants incessantly and he stings us with the scorpions of his Judgements 3. Beware of being weary of manna Never did man complaine of plenty of manna but was justly stung with want of it Doe thou complaine without cause and thou shalt have cause to complaine Israel that complaines of too much manna shall shortly change their note and cry out of too many serpents II. The kind of the disease The Lord sent fiery serpents to sting them Where 1. why serpents 2. why fiery 3. why stinging 1. This disease by serpents lively resembles our disease of soule which is no other then the fiery sting of the old serpent which is the devill Rev. 12. 9. Our spirituall disease is hence noted to come from that old serpent at first Now satan is aptly compared to a serpent in five respects First because he covered himselfe with a serpent when he first stung and deceived mankind Secondly he is more subtle then any serpent crafty to insinuate and deceive 2 Cor. 11. 3. 14. Thirdly as a serpent dwels and lies among thornes bushes bryars and feeds upon dust so the devill raignes in the thickets and bushes of worldly cares and lusts and feeds upon worldlings exercising his chiefe power against them Fourthly as a serpent casts out of his mouth venime
religious persons when times do else not To avoid pernicious and dangerous sinnes which law revengeth as murder adultery theft but not covetousnesse not usury not swearing not uncleane lusts Herod will not part with his Herodias Ahab hath no reason to respect Micah when he prophecies evill to him 3. Trades men oppresse cosen lye deceive c because they have reason to make the best of their owne What reason but they may serve a Customer upon the Sabbath so they come to Church They have reason to slip all opportunities of grace all the weeke because they must walke diligently in their callings the sixe dayes Thus reason steps in and thrusts aside the practise of that which men in judgement hold not for good and necessary and like Evah still longing after forbidden fruit Thus of the second observation Sect. VI. III. Seeing all of us in this wildernesse are stung with the old Serpent what are we to doe to be cured Answ. we are to doe five things 1. We must feele our selves stung with our sinnes and confesse our selves stung for so must the Israelite before he could be cured We must feele the poyson and paine of sinne and First that this poyson hath not seated it selfe in one place but hath crept and diffused it selfe through all our parts For therefore it is called venenum quod per venas eat And as the vaynes and blood runne through every part of the body so sinne through every part of the man Secondly as poyson never rests till it come to the heart and there strikes and corrupts the fountaine of life So our sinne hath mortally wounded our very hearts and strikes at the life of grace in the soule Thirdly as poyson inflames the party with an incredible thirst having overcome naturall moysture and eaten up the spirits so sinne in the soule workes an utter defect and dryes up all waters of grace and makes the sinner insatiable in drinking up iniquity like water Fourthly as poyson not prevented brings speedy and certaine death but not without extreame paine and intolerable torture so the poyson of sinne unconquered brings certaine and eternall death attended with horrour of conscience desperate feares and torments most exquisite Thus must we labour to feele the sting of our sin in all parts far more mortall then the most venemous stings of most direfull Serpents 2. When this people felt themselves stung so deadly they come to Moses for counsell so must thou depend upon the Minister for direction as they upon Moses Never was man sensible of this sting but he would runne to the Ministers Act. 2. 37 when they were pricked in their hearts they said to Peter and the rest Men and brethren what shall we doe Act. 16. 30 the poore Jaylor being stung and sensible of his paine came trembling and humbling himselfe to Paul and Silas prisoners saying Sirs what must I doe to bee saved A conscience truely wounded will seeke to God to his word and Ministers for it knowes that God woundeth and healeth The feet of him that brings good tidings are beautifull to an humbled heart even as an experienced Physitian to a sicke party who else were sure to be lost for want of meanes What marveile if a soule truely sensible of his sting and paine can runne to Gods Ministers when a counterfeit humiliation can make as hard hearted a King as Pharaoh runne to Moses and Aaron and beg prayers of them A marveilous thing then that of so many thousands stung so deadly so few are sensible that so few trouble Moses or the Ministers with questions concerning their estates Some stung and guilty consciences not supported by faith in touch of sinne and sence of paine like a Doe shot with an arrow runne every way but the right for ease Some with Asa send to the Physitian to purge away melancholy Some with Saul send for musick esteeming soules sicknesse but a sottish lumpishnesse Some runne into the house of laughter and wicked playhouses to see and heare the Lords Sampsons and worthies derided not without haynous blasphemy Others fall a building with Cain or set upon other imployments perhaps it is but an idle fancy Some runne perhaps to the Witch of Endor in the meane time send away Paul as Felix or runne against Moses and his Ministers But comfort can they have none but from God and his word had not thy word saith David beene my comfort I had perished in my trouble All the Physitians in the world all the Musitians and Magicians put together nor any other meanes could helpe a stunge Israelite he must come to Moses when hee had done all hee could All other by-comforts are worme eaten and as cold water to cure a dropsie or as a cold draught to cure a poyson Some few there are that come unto us who we are sure had never sought to us more then others had they had so little sence of their sting as other have as the Israelites had never come at Moses had they not beene slung Let them be comforted in that they have gone the right way to fetch their comforts which is from God and his word and not from carnall men or councels The Lord in mercy hath brought them light out of darkenesse for pittie had it beene they had wanted the sting of affliction that hath driven them to God and to his word and servants 3. Comming to Moses wherein do they imploy them what questions move they to him Numb 21. 7. Oh their sinne troubles them which they confesse in generall we have sinned and in particular wee have spoken against the Lord and against thee and then pray him to helpe them in removing the Serpents So thou being stung when thou comest to Gods Ministers wilt be conversant in fruitfull and edifiable questions thou must be free in confession of such sinnes as are the likely cause of thy trouble and intent and busie how to be rid of the Serpents and the sting and poyson of thy sinnes Thou will be carefull to know how to get ease of heart and quietnesse of conscience from the paine and sting of sinne So the converts Act. 2 and so the Jaylor What shall I do to be saved The fault of many is when they have meanes of counsell and cōfort present with them to waste their time in trifling and curious questions and impertinent to the cure of the sting of the Serpent Questions which are like Crafishes in which is more picking then meat Questions meerely idle the resolution of which helps them no whit to ease or to heaven An humbled heart will not so lose his time nor dwell in toyes and unnecessaries to thrust out things more profitable A wise heart will not for a shadow forgoe the substance but will be much in that question of the young man Mr. what may I doe to inherit eternall life what may I doe to be saved what may I doe to be rid of this Serpent and
of that of this sinne and of that How may I doe to get mastery of my corruptions In going to Gods Ministers let thy errand bee the same with the Israelites in their going to Moses how to be rid of the Serpents 4. Moses directs them to the brazen Serpent erected for their cure for Moses himselfe cannot helpe them Moses law cannot cure them that rather sharpens the sting and thrusts it deeper into the flesh and spirit He directs them to no merits or works of their owne to cure them for their merits brought in those poysoned stings among them but he sends them quite out of themselves to Gods ordinance which was the brasen Serpent Thou art never in the way of cure till thou art sent out of thy selfe out of the Law and works of it which now cannot justifie till thou commest to the Evangelicall brazen Serpent there is no hope of cure As the Israelite could never be cured till hee acknowledged the brazen Serpent the onely meanes so no more canst thou till thou acknowledge JESUS CHRIST the onely healing God and that there is no other name in heaven or earth to be saved by but the name JESUS Onely Christ onely Christ said that Martyr for he onely can give a perfect righteousnesse he onely can cover our imperfection hee onely being no sinner could conquer sinne he onely by dying could conquer death he onely by entring into the grave could sweeten it he onely by sustaining the sorrowes of hell could shut hell for all beleevers Had Moses sent the Israelites any whither but to the brazen Serpent he had deluded them and they had lost all their labour Who now is so void of judgement that cannot discerne whether our religion or the Roman be the ancient and true religion of Moses and the people of God If a man stung with the serpent come to us for counsell and cure as they to Moses we send him as Moses out of himselfe to Christ onely the true brazen Serpent Our doctrine leads him out of himselfe out of his owne merits out of externall works and ceremonies unto Christ who is our peace and left his peace unto beleevers and by this meanes through Gods blessing the patient attaines true tranquillity of mind and inward peace of conscience and rejoyceth with an unspeakable and glorious joy for his recovery as the Israelites did in theirs But let a man stung in conscience goe to a Roman teacher hee leads him any way but the right any whither so not to Christ. In stead of Gods certaine direction in the words of the Prophets and Apostles which testifie of Christ the onely brazen serpent they send him to unsound and uncertaine speculations fables traditions equall say they to Scripture and some of them say farre better In stead of Christs satisfaction and merit they send him home to his owne merits and satisfactions by which say they he may apply the satisfaction and merit of Christ. But in case he be so bad as he have no merits of his owne the Church hath a Treasury of other mens merits to dispense by taile so he will come to the price So he may buy oyle enough to fill his lampe out of the Popes Exchequer or Burse filled to the top with workes of supererogation But if he make some scruple of this least the wise virgins have not enough for themselves and others then they may have the sacrifice of the Masse not to faile but never apply that one and only sacrifice upon the Crosse it selfe Now whether of us agree with Moses 5. As the Israelite must looke up to the Serpent lifted up so must thou looke up and behold Christ lifted up This must thou doe two waies First on the wood of the Crosse secondly on the throne of the Kingdome both of grace and glory Behold Christ lifted up not in his abasement onely but in his advancement First in the Kingdome of grace as hee is lifted up in the word and Sacraments In which Christ is mightily declared the Son of God and preached the Saviour of the world Gal. 3. 1 among whom Christ was crucified Secondly in his kingdome of glory raysed from the dead ascended into heaven and exalted at the right hand of God above all principalities and powers Phil. 2. 9 God hath given him a name which is above every name Now the looking on Christ thus lifted up is the act of faith not a bare intuition sight or vision as to beleeve that Christ was thus exalted on the Crosse and in his Kingdom but it is apprehensive and applicatory and to beleeve in CHRIST crucified and glorified This looking hath three things in it 1. To beleeve that hee was the Sonne of God and sonne of man our Immanuel 2. That he being so was lift up for the salvation of beleevers 3. That my selfe assuredly trust and depend on him alone as the onely author meritour and bestower of salvation This is Evangelicall looking on the Serpent Now because this looking is the principall thing in the cure we will consider 1. How this looking cures us 2. How wee know wee are cured by our looking 3. Motives to stirre us up still to looke on our Serpent Sect VII I. When the Israelite comes to Moses and asketh Oh what shall I doe to be saved from death being so deadly stung A full answer to this question was goe looke upon the brazen Serpent thou shalt be whole So if an humble soule suppose the Jaylor shall come to the Minister as Paul or Silas Sirs what may I doe to be saved the direct answer to this question is Beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and yee are saved by faith and Thy faith hath made thee whole Quest. But how doth faith save us Answ. Not as it is an excellent grace nor as any work of ours We are not saved and cured for beleeving but by beleeving 1. Because faith is the condition of the Covenant and of our cure as looking was the condition of the cure of the Israelite For it was not the having of a Brazen Serpent nor the lifting it up could cure but the Israelites looking upō it so it is not the hearing of Christ nor the lifting of him up in the Ministery nor knowledge of his merits can save unlesse they be received by faith A potion never so vertuous is fruitlesse if not taken As meat uneaten so is Christ not digested and applied by faith 2. Faith cannot cure considered simply in it selfe as a quality or vertue or gift or habit but considered relatively with his object which is Jesus Christ the Lord our righteousnesse for faith is the eye of the soule But as it was not the eye of the Israelite but the eye set upon the brazen serpent that cured him so here faith upon his object cureth because onely faith draweth vertue from Christ as in the Syrophoenician who touched Christ and was cured but