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 bear them on his heart continually for a remembrance before the Lord when he goeth into the holy place vers 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 brest or heart so cannot Christ forget the Church he hath taken into his heart Isai 49. 15. Can a woman forget her childe and not have compassion on the sonne of her womb though they should forget yet will I not 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 Israel 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 Joh. 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 brest-plate of Judgement vers 30. Of which Rabbi David a Jew saith It is unknown 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 workmanship 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 Thummin 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 Joh. 9. 5. Which enlightneth every one that commeth into the world Joh. 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-fold wisdome And without him is nothing but darknesse sinne death inner darknesse and utter Joh. 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 we 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 bloudinesse of them as some Jewes but the Lord answered by voice 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 known He is the Lamb with seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God Rev. 5. 6. Onely worthy to open the booke vers 9. because of his abundant grace and wisedome signified by the seven spirits 2. Who makes known and continually reveales to his Church and members as their need requires whatsoever is meet 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 and 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 own Sonne Heb. 1. 2. Wouldest thou have God answer thee goe to the Urim 1. Frequent his ordinance God then answered when the Priest consulted 2. Pray for wisdome If any man want wisdome let him aske of God and it shall be given him Jam. 1. 5. 3. Feare God Psal. 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him 4. Follow and obey the voice Joh. 14. 21. If any love me and obey my commandements I will love him and reveale my self unto him Joh. 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 fastned 1. The Pomegranates 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 juyce and liquor 2. Bells of gold between them round about a golden Bell and a Pomegranate the use of which was that his sound might he heard round about when he 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 juyce and vertue to qualifie and abate the raging heat of Gods displeasure as the juyce 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 this mantle we are a sweet savour to God who now speakes 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 hear were most delectable because the garment of Christs righteousnesse brings grace to us no otherwise than by the sound of the Gospell For Faith by which we put on Christ is wrought by hearing the sweet sound and golden Bell of the Gospell 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 be heard when he 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 vers 36. 1. Made of blew silke and fine linnen vers 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. First The Miter and crowne on the Priests head signified 1. The Deity of Christ our head which as a crown or circle wants beginning and end 2. The Kingly Office of Christ with all that honour and crown 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. Secondly The golden plate in which was written Holiness to the Lord did not onely distinguish it from the miters of the ordinary Priests which wanted such a plate but specially typified Jesus Christ our head in whom was most conspicuous as in a mans forehead a most divine and perfect holinesse purer than 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 Joh. 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 Thirdly 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 him selfe 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 5. peculiar garment was the embroydered Coat of fine linnen vers 39. which was a beautiful costly and large garment reaching down to his feet covering most of his boby 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. he was clothed with white fine linnen when he was to be Viceroy and next in authority to the King See Ester 6. 8. how Mordecai was apparelled by the Kings command This garment was most proper to our high Priest of the new Testament Jesus Christ who is by it described Rev. 1. 13. clothed with a robe down to his feet Noting 1. The excellency of his person who is Prince of peace Isa. 9 6. For so long white garments ever betokened peace both within the Church and without 2. That he excelled in wisedome and counsell being the great Counseller and the spirit of counsell and understanding resting in his breast 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 Officers 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 layd together And this grament he 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 needleworke ver 39. Of diverse matter linnen blue silke purple and scarlet and of divers 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 be girded about the paps with a golden girdle Noting in Christ four things 1. The truth and constancy in accomplishing all the gracious promises of the Gospell 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 do the office of a Mediatour Girding of the attire hath ever been 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 sign of carelessenesse and negligence So girding of care and industry So our Lord and high Priest never carelessely cast off any poor 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. IV. I. In the garments some things necessary for Ministers some things for the People 1. All about the Priest must be gold silver pretious 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 minds must not onely hide their weakness but adorne and beautifie them for the honour and prosperity of their function And the rather because this corrupt age is bent to disgrace this holy profession care shall be had both of keeping out and thrusting out vile persons And those who are in this calling should labour to shine in godlinesse and vertue which is the onely apparell that will draw the eyes of good men to reverence them II. As the Priests had variety of holy garments so every minister must be clothed and adorned with many graces If every sheep of Christs fold must adde to his graces much more the Pastor of the flock If every child of God much more the Father in the faith begetting others to God He is not
communicated his whole will and counsell to his Sonne concerning the salvation of the Church Joh. 8. 26. 2. As Noah takes many trees at Gods commandement and strongly eloseth them together and pitcheth them within and without against the waters So doth Christ make choice of trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord and compacts them together by the bond of the Spirit glewes and fastens them together by the glew of Christian love and pitcheth them within and without fortifies and strengthens them against the waters of affliction temptation persecution that none shall drown or overwhelme them 3. As Noah prepared divers roomes in the Ark for divers creatures So Christ in his Ark appoints divers places and functions for beleevers here and prepares in his Fathers house many mansions for them hereafter Joh. 14. 2. And as Noah receives into the Ark clean and unclean creatures and persons a Sem and a Cham So the Lord Christ into his militant Church all sorts of Nations sexes persons conditions Jewes Gentiles men women noble ignoble beleevers and unbeleevers hypocrites and sound Christians On this floor is wheat and chaffe 4. As Noah made a window into his Ark to give light to the creatures within So Christ by the Gospel preached in the Church enlighteneth the mindes of those that are within without which light let in they should sit in everlasting darknesse 5. As Noah by the same direction makes a door to enter into the Ark and but one door for so very great a building So there is but one door to the great building of the Church dispersed farre and wide and this is Christ himself Joh. 10. 7 9. 6. As Noah the Master of the Ark enters into it and receives and saves all that enter in with him for which purpose he is contented to be tossed up and down by those most raging waters and had no more freedome from fear and danger than others in the Ark So Christ the Master of his Church to save his Church himself enters into it and is admitted into it by the waters of Baptism and was contented for the saving of others to be tossed with waves and billowes of affliction ignominy shame sinne curse yea the torments of hell That his Church might be in safety with him he will be in danger with her and every way to help her will be everyway like her in all things sinne excepted V. Both of them were repairers of the world From Noah descended all the inhabitants of the earth from Christ all the inhabitants of heaven The world again was re-peopled and replenished by Noahs posterity the Church and every member is Christs posterity Both of them were preservers and providers for all sorts of Creatures But Noah as a steward Christ as Lord and owner of them Noah for a few Christ for all Noah for a year and a little more Christ perpetually To both of them the creatures came in and were obedient to them Though never so fierce and savage out of the Ark yet in the Ark they were mild and tame So to Christ the windes seas devils obey and if Lyons and Cockatrices come into the Ark and Church they become as Lambs and little children putting off all fiercenesse Isa. 11. 6. VI. Both of them offered a sacrifice of rest and sweet savour to the Lord Noah Gen. 8. 21. As men are delighted with sweet savours so was Noahs sacrifice pleasing to God But his was a sacrifice but of testification witnessing his faith and thankfulnesse The sacrifice of Christ was a perfect satisfaction in which he offered not the bodies of clean beasts as Noah but his own body as a Lamb without spot not upon an Altar built by Noahs hand but upon the Altar of his Deity not ascending to heaven by ordinary fire but offered through his eternall spirit compar'd to fire Heb. 9. 14. And therefore must fully satisfie his Fathers justice appease his wrath and be most acceptable in it self and must bring Noahs and all other sacrifices into acceptance And from hence it was that with both of them God did make a covenant of grace for their posterities that he would never break out in such wrath against them confirming the same unto the posterity of Adam by the sign of the Rainbow and to the posterity of Christ by the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lords Supper VII Both of them sent a Dove out of the Ark. Noah when the waters asswaged and much of his fear and danger was past sends out the Dove who brought an Olive branch a sign of joy comfort and abating of the waters So Christ Jesus his sufferings and labours being ended sent his Spirit forth which had lighted as a Dove on him and brings joy and peace and comfort into the hearts of all beleevers bringing in a testimony that Gods wrath is appeased the waters are diminished his love and favour returned which is better than life I. In the type and truth learn If all the world about us be given to wickednesse and we be cast into never so wicked an age then to labour to shine in the middest of a naughty generation Phil 2. 25. It is a singular praise to be a Lot in Sodom and in a corrupt age to be unlike sinners For light to shine and shew it self in darknesse is beautyfull and glorious Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven To shew our selves sonnes of God and children of light among enemies of God and light is a singular honour Noah fashioned not himself to those corrupt times nor Christ to the evill behaviour of that age Never had Christians more need among so many wicked fashions to be exhorted not to fashion themselves to the world If a Preacher hold on a preacher of righteousnesse in singlenesse and sincerity of heart not fashioning himself to the present temporizers and men-pleasers Let all the world scorn oppose traduce him If a private man hold forth the word of life and in blamelesse and pure conversation walk in a way which leadeth against the stream and common current of the corrupt age Both the one and the other have heer the type and the truth Noah and Christ presidents for the like actions precedents in the same way II. In them both learn That these are the days in which we must expect our Lord to judgement As it was in the days of Noah c. So shall the comming of the Sonne of man be As those sinnes in Noahs time brought the deluge of water the same sinnes now reigning shall bring and hasten the destruction by fire prophecyed 2 Pet. 3. The sinnes are these 1. The sonnes of God marry with the daughters of men that is the godly with the ungodly religious with the superstitious beleevers with infidels 2. Horrible contempt of the word As Noah preached by the power of the Spirit and
all corners of the world as that sacrifice was shaken every way East West North and South 4. This sacrifice must alwaies be offered up with cakes of unleavened bread tempered with oyle vers 23. Signifying 1. The most perfect purity of Christs life and doctrine without all leaven of sin 2. That Priest and people must in service to God lay aside all leaven of maliciousness 3. The oyle notes the soft and loving kindness of God Jesus Christ chearing suppling the conscience by the sweet meditation of it as also how joyfully gladly we ought to serve the Lord and with cheerefullness present before him all the parts of his worship Note hence as the eare hands and feet of the high Priest must be touched with bloud before he attempt any part of his office so our care must be that all our parts all our actions and affections be touched and purged with the bloud of Christ. So David Psal. 51. 2. Wash me throughly Reason 1. Because sinne hath defiled the whole man all his parts all his actions all within him all without him 2. This foulnesse sticks so fast as it is no easie matter to be cleansed Nothing in the world can fetch out this soile but the bloud 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 bloud and dignity of this person and passion for acceptance The knowledge of thy duty must be sprinkled with this bloud 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 be presented in him and by him and find grace and acceptance If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Qu. How may I know that the bloud of Christ hath touched and purged me Answ. 1. It is not enough that Christs bloud 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 bloud and besprinkle thy self with it A man washeth his face with his hand This hand is faith which takes up the bloud of Christ and applies it to ones selfe as did Paul who dyed for me 3. If it wash the whole man within and without which no others bloud could do The bloud of sacrifices under the Law could not sanctisie the conscience but onely the outside Heb. 9. 9. but this can and must purge the conscience from dead workes verse 14. And under conscience is contained the whole inner man purged by the merit of his satisfying bloud and by his spirit renewing our nature And for the outward man 1. If thy right eare be touched thou hast the hearing eare rightly to hear the word of God Thou hearest to learn for to harken is better than 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 than sacrifice thou darest not doe what seemes good to thy self or is right in thine 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 bloud sprinkled 1. Pacification of conscience for this bloud speakes better things than Abels for us and in us for us to God by intercession in us by perswasion that the Lord looking on the bloud of Christ rests wholly in it as a full satisfaction for all our sinnes for this is the end of shedding remission of sinnes Matth. 26. 28. therefore of sprinkling 2. Daily sanctification through this sprinkling 1 Pet. 1. 2. For out of the side of Christ issues water as well as bloud the one redeeming from condemnation the other from vaine conversation the one purgeth from the death of works the other from dead workes themselves The sprinkling of this bloud admits not security or idleness and carelessnesse nor suffers a man to sinne against this bloud by impenitency unbeliefe despising of grace horrible swearing and foul lusts But makes the Christian truely noble as one now descended of the bloud of Christ scorning the base and foule courses he formerly affected Find these markes and comfort thy selfe thou art sprinkled with Christs bloud Thy whole course is sanctified all thy hearing all thy obedience be it never so weak in it self be thy unworthinesse never so great it shall be no barre to thine acceptance with God For every thing sprinkled with this precious bloud 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 Angelicall brightnesse of all the virtues which should shine in Jesus Christ. The Priestly garments appointed by God were ten in number of which four 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 shaddow oâ— 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 verse 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 rock as also in his members who are commanded to stand fast their loines girt with verity Ephes. 6. 14. Hence followes That the Ministers word must not be yea and nay his course must be constantly gracious and watchfull And for
on no other Mediatour but him 1 Tim. 2. 5. IV. He must continually decide the highest controversies he must judge between the clean 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 Joseph so God to Christ Without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt Gen. 41. 44. I. Ministers of the new Testament must learn 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 quickned 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-bloud of mans lusts and corruptions And as they having slaine the beast must wash the intraile 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 labour of sanctification separate them from their foulenesse and bring them to the full holinesse in the feare of God 2. The Priest must preserve knowledge his lips must feed many he must stand in the counsell of God and be 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 keep nothing back 3. The Minister must daily dresse the holy lamps and lights morning and evening and preserve the light from going out he must provide oyle for the continuall feeding of the lights that is by painfull and diligent study of the Scriptures and meditation he must furnish himselfe to the work 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 alwaies ready to speak a word to him that is weary and never want words of comfort which may be as oyle to the distressed soule 4. He must daily burne incense before the Lord upon the Altar of sweet 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 between God and his people Every man must be his own mouth to God but he must be 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 down from heaven the continuall strength nourishmēt of the Church of God both in the ministery of the Word Sacramēts which the ancient Church did weekly celebrate as the Priest did weekly set these loaves Nay he must not onely set them before others but himselfe must feed on them as the Priests did on the Shew-bread all the week and year long least it befal 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 wild beasts are untamed and dangerous to the soule 2. Morning and evening dresse his lights and look to the clearing of his lamps setting himselfe a task 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 he may shine every day more clearly than 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 daily prayers and praises as a sweet smell unto God That as the smoke of sweet incense goeth upwards and disperseth it selfe abroad in the ayre 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 evening prayer especially when we rise and go 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 week on the Sabbath day as the Priest in the Law provides himself of shew-bread to serve for his provision all the week that is make such conscionable use of the holy Ministery as he 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 attonement 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 attonement for our own and others sinnes The equity of which seemes not onely grounded in that Law Lev. 16. 29. which enjoynes the Jew a yearly standing fast wherein once a year 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 be committed to provoke the Lord 2. Many judgements let in or to be let in for those sinnes 3. many mercies wanting which by ours and others sinnes we are worthily deprived of And although we ought continually to humble our selves for our sinnes yet to help our infirmities and to do it throughly it shall availe us
much to set a special time apart for it as such who out of sound judgement esteem we have sufficient cause once a year thus deeply to humble our selves For however the Jewes 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 help himselfe in his repentance by one in a year at least day 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 be according to the ancient prophecies called Matth. 2. 23. and in contempt was by the Jewes so stiled in the superscription of the Cross 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 crown of sanctification on his head is called Nezer Ezod 29. 6. 2. To such as in dignity and authority are separated from others as Kings whose royall Crown or diadem 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 hair 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 be typified as well as his sacrifice and kingly office by Priests and Kings He 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 the world Joh. 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 holynesse So Jesus Christ surpassed not onely common men but the holiest of men as far 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 be purer than the snow and whiter than the milk 3. He was not of unholy made holy as they but he was alwaies 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 Matth. 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 he 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 fullnesse of grace and holiness Joh. 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 himself but sanctifieth them the whole Chruch he being the originall and fountaine of all holiness They might be legally cleane in some actions but he was morally clean in all observations They in some passages of their life but he 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 drink 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. He would have them patterns 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 drink wine and miraculously provided it for others yea ordained wine an element in the Supper that every Christian might drink it but in the morality and truth of the thing he 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 daies and fourty nights and after that being hungry he would eat nothing till all his temptations in the wilderness were ended As of all other virtues so he was an unfailing pattern 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 separation 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 avoide 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 implies the more care of the flesh the lesse of putting on Christ Jesus 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 effeminate softnesse and delicacy so to be manly strong and couragious in performing duties and resisting stoutly all the temptations and baites that might allure them from the duty undertaken As for our Saviour whom they shadowed it is not likely he nourished his hair 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 1 Cor. 11. 14. And then are all the Romish Painters quite out who paint him with his haire lying round about his shoulders but Painters and Poets may lie 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 denied 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
as Christian Rechabites Jer. 35. esteem themselves strangers content themselves to dwell in tents ever ready to remove not distracting themselves in building houses or planting vineyards or seeking great things for themselves Hence was that commendable admonition of the ancient Church in the time of the Sacrament used in our Liturgy Lift up your hearts 2. We must eat the Lamb hastily hastning unto Christ the true Passeover and not insist in these Sacraments of ours which are still but as shadows of good things to come yet serving us through this our strange Countrey and speeding us into our own Canaan and Countrey and that with all expedition seeing that to be dissolved hence and to be with Christ is best of all Phil. 2. 23. 3. We must celebrate our Passeover with staves in our hands that is the doctrine of the Law and Gospel held in our hearts as a staffe to defend our selves in the right track and path of holy doctrine and holy conversation to repulse our adversaries that come out against us for it is the sword of the Spirit and to lean upon as a staffe in our weaknesse and wearinesse This staffe must not lie by us in our books but be held by us in our hands and hearts and be not in possession onely but in our daily use He hath no comfort of this Sacrament that hath not this staffe in his hand VI. As the Jewes in eating the Passeover must repeat and recite the memory of that great deliverance out of Egypt by a mighty and miraculous power so must we in our Sacrament commemorate and remember our great deliverance from hell and that spirituall Pharaoh wrought by the bloud of our Paschall lamb 1 Cor. 11. 26. so often as ye shall eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew the Lords death till he come And therefore it is very fit the Word and Sacrament should go together as the seal together with the deed and Indenture Hence those that are so devout at the Sacrament and neglect or despise the Word are meer hypocrites and ignorants their folly is like his that makes much of a seale but teares the Indenture all to pieces which onely can convey his inheritance unto him VII As the Jewes came together to eat the whole lamb so must we to receive whole Christ. Quest. When do we receive whole Christ Answ. First when we reverently receive the signes appointed by Christ according to his own institution Secondly when we receive faithfully the thing signified which is Christ and all his merits I. For the former 1. As it had been a great sinne for the Jewes to divide the lamb which God commanded to be eaten whole no lesse grievous a sinne is it in Popery to administer the bread without the cup of which Christ hath said expressely Drink ye all of this 2. As the Lamb was appointed to no other use by Moses but to be eaten so was the bread and wine in the Sacrament ordained to no other end by Christ but to be eat and drank all other holy use of them out of the action of the Sacrament is Idolatrous superstitious and unlawfull 3. As it had been a grievous sinne to reserve any of the lamb till the morning against so expresse a commandement appointing it to be wholly eaten so grievous a sinne is it to reserve the consecrated host as they foolishly call it either to boxe up or to hang up or to worship and adore it or pray unto it or carry it in procession or lift it up with both hands above the Priests head that it may be worshipped with divine and Idolatrous worship or yet if it be possible with more blasphemy to offer it upon an Altar as an unbloudy sacrifice for the sinnes of the quicke and dead which abolisheth at once the whole Priesthood of Christ. All which the Lord would prevent in this constitution that no part of the lamb must be reserved but if any were left it must be burnt with fire II. We eat the whole lamb when with the signes we receive the thing signified which is Christ and all his merits We must feed upon and digest whole Christ that is be united so straitly and undividedly to Jesus Christ as the meat which is changed into the same substance with our bodies and this by the faith of our hearts which so streightly knits us to Christ as a marriage bonde and he becomes a perfect nourishment to us unto eternall life Neither could our Lord fitlier expresse this straite union than by feeding and eating seeing there cannot be astraiter union in nature than between the thing nourishing and nourished Question What may I doe thus to receive the whole Lamb Answ. 1. Come hungry in sence of the want of faith and desire of supply 2. Labour to feele the sweetnesse of Christ take heed of despising this sweet Manna Let not the hunger of the Onyons garlick and flesh-pots of Egypt thrust down the desire of this Manna which comes down from heaven to which the other Mannah was not halfe so sweet 3. Thinke it not enough to eat the flesh of Christ Sacramentally if not spiritually Conceive what a fearfull delusion it is to eat the Sacrament of the flesh of Christ in the Supper and not eat the flesh of Christ by the Sacrament Thou hast been at the Supper of the Lord but hast not tasted of his Supper CHAP. XX. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire a type OF the ordinary Sacraments of the Jewes pointing at Christ we have spoken Now of the extraordinary Of these some are answerable to the Jewes circumcision and our Baptisme As 1. the Pillar of Cloud 2. The red Sea Some to the Jewes Passeover and our Supper As 1. Mannah from Heaven 2. Water out of the rock The ground of this distinction we have in 1 Cor. 10. 2 3. where the Apostle leads us by the hand to the distinct consideration of these Sacraments First of the Pillar of Cloud and fire under which the Fathers of the old Testament were baptised When the Lord in his wise providence appointed to lead the children of Israel for the space of fourty years through a drie uncouth and terrible wildernesse himselfe undertooke to be their guide and for their certaine direction in their way appointed them this visible signe of his presence for their motion or station by night or by day through all their pilgrimage concerning this Cloud let us enquire 1. Of the kind 2. Of the difference between it and other clouds 3. Of the use of this cloudy Pillar 4. How a type of Christ. 1. Quest. What kind of Cloud was this Answ. Not naturall but supernaturall and miraculous yea one of the four great miracles that the Lord continued all the while of their Journey which was fourty yeares Those four great miracles were 1. The not swelling of their feet Deut. 8. 4. 2. Their aparrells not wearing or not waxing old Deut. 8.
crucified to my self Answ. 1. The right application of Christ crucified is not to know that Christ was crucified but when we are crucified with him Gal. 2. 19 as Elisha 2 Kings 4 applyed his eyes face and hands to the dead child that it might quicken 2. So much as thou truly beleevest so much thou eatest of Christ saith August Look how much strength thou gettest by the Word so much nourishment thou receivest from Christ. And so much as thou refusest contemnest or neglectest that so much thou refusest Christ himself V. We must beware of being weary of this Manna The Jewes esteemed Manna sweet at first and went out cheerfully 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 We must take heed of this ficklenesse in goodnesse which hath ever bewrayed it self in most forward people At the first building of the Tabernacle men brought too much but after took it away as fast again John was a burning and shining light Joh. 5. 35. 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 Angel but soon revolted from him What flocking and thronging was there after Christs doctrine and miracles that the kingdome of God suffered violence but soon they had enough of him and in short time did tumult as fast against him The like was observed in our own land at the first falling of this Manna and beginnings of the Gospel men were earnest glad joyful forward then was a sweet time of the happy welcome of this Manna happy was he could get his Gomer first and fullest But now what voices hear we other than 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 Egypt before all this preaching And whereas our fathers would have ridden far to a Sermon we their lazie off-spring will scarce step 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 a sweet as ever though we see not our own need which if we did see we would be no more weary of Gods Word were it daily preached then we are of our bread we daily eat VI. We must be so farre from wearinesse as that we must highly esteem 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 keep a pot of Manna which was preserved so long as the Temple stood for many hundred yeares And that we might not forget this mercy in the true Manna he 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 becometh the just to be thankfull 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 Rock After the Lord had brought Israel through the dangerous Sea he brings them to Elim a sweet and fruitful place where were twelve fountaines of water and seventy Palm 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 exclaim 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 he had done their famine and hunger He commands Moses to take his rod and speak 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 we may not think 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 spiritual Rock 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 spiritual 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 spiritual drink is the same with theirs and that is the bloud of Christ resembled by theirs The difference is onely in the manner of drinking 3. Including this water of the Rock the Apostle saith they are all types to admonish us and are written for us verse 6. and 11. 4. Most plainly he affirmeth verse 4. and that Rock was Christ not in substance but in signification saith Aquinas Now we having as much to doe with Christ as they we must farther enquire into this type 1. To parellel it with the truth by comparing them 2. By applying it in some fruitful 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 distil water out of a flint or Rock must be miraculous Even so Jesus Christ was for outward form and appearance in the world most unlikely of all men to afford any such waters of grace and salvation Isai. 53. 2 3. He was as a dry root without form or beauty as an