head Not dropped but powred signifying the abundance of gifts and graces most plentifully conferred upon Christ our head For as it was proper to the high Priest to bee anointed on the head whereas the common Priests were anointed but in their hands not on their heads So was Christ as the head anointed with oile above all his fellowes and received the spirit beyond measure signified by powring on the head 3. The communication of this oile It stayed not on Aarons head but ranne downe his beard even to the skirts of his garments signifying that the Spirit of grace distills from the head unto all the members of his mysticall body the Catholike Church First the Spirit descends and sits on Christs head then on the Apostles in likenesse of fiery tongues running downe as it were by Aarons beard and from them upon other inferiour persons beleeving their word as unto the skirts of his garment Now a threefold Application hereof I. In the anointing of the high Priest the eminency of Jesus Christ above all creatures whose very Name carrieth in it a note of principality being called the high Priest of our profession And in that this whole consecration of the high Priest in most solemne and stately manner was but a darke shadow of his solemne inauguration into his Office And by this anointing Christ is differenced from the most excellent Priests and Prophets that ever were Aaron Moses Elias Some of them had a most glorious vocation as Moses and in the entry of their callings graced with most divine and powerfull miracles but never any had the spirit sitting on his head but hee None of them by their anointing had all graces nor any grace in perfection but onely begunne and in small degree Moses a beleever wanted faith sometime as when he smote the Rocke which he should have spoken to and the meekest man in the world was sometimes to seeke of his meeknesse Aaron though the oyle was powred on his head was weake as in murmuring against Moses and in making the calfe But in our high Priest all graces and vertues were not inchoate onely but perfect In him knowledge of God was most perfect holinesse most perfect and all kinde of graces in highest degrees Grace sits in his lips not only to move the mind but to change it None of them by anointing could receive graces for others but for themselves onely but hee receives such a measure as runnes over to the sanctifying of the lowest and meanest of his members Hence 1. Ioh. 2. 27. the anointing which wee have of him dwells in you and teacheth you all things And 2. Cor. 1. 21 22. It is God that anointeth us in Christ and sealeth and giveth us the earnest of the Spirit Thus our Lord Jesus is advanced above all his oile shines brightest and swims aloft above all others II. In Aarons and Christs anointing and furnishing to their Office Ministers must labour for a greater measure of this ointment then others to runne downe from them to their skirts They must pray by the Spirit watch by the Spirit walke by the Spirit An unconverted Minister may doe another good but hee hath no promise of blessing nor doth any good to himselfe As the holy ointment was kept in the Sanctuary So Christ is the Sanctuary whence this oile comes The pipes are the word preached Sacraments prayer societies of the Saints and Gods people And such Ministers as contemptuously contemne the conduit-pipes through which this oile drops and flowes scorne to come to Sermons and joyne in holy exercises how doth their oile drie away Instead of this oyle that should fall from them a deale of pitch and slime froth and filthinesse falls on their skirts III. In the communication of this ointment unto us the skirts we learne that Christ is not for himselfe but for us And therefore 1. Examine if thou beest anointed This is to bee a Christian to bee anointed as Christ was Scornest thou this holy oile in thy selfe or others Know thou shalt one day wish the mountaines to fall on thee on whom this oile falls not 2. Hence draw strength in temptation Remember If sollicited to sinne Oh I have the anointing I am taken up and set apart to Gods use I am for God and his glory Neh. 6. 11. 3. Use meanes to attaine a farther measure and be liker Christ. Thou missest a Sermon or the Sacrament thou knowest not what drops of oile thou hast missed 4. Have a care to walke as such as are anointed smelling sweet every where in holy lives speaches prayers in all things edifying thy selfe and others Leave a sweet smell every where behinde thee Let it drop downe from us to others round about us The third thing in the high Priests consecration was sacrificing Exod. 29. 1 2. In which 1. Observe in generall that the Priests must be consecrated by offering all sorts of sacrifices for them and therefore they must take a calfe two rammes unleavened bread cakes and oile vers 1 2. 1. Because of the speciall holinesse and honour of their calling who are to come so neere unto God who will bee specially sanctified in all that come neere him 2. Because sinne in them is more hatefull then in any other and in expiating their sinnes as much is required as for the sinnes of all the Congregation 3. Because they were to offer unto God all the gifts and sacrifices of all the people of all sorts and therefore for them must be offered all sorts to sanctifie them not onely in generall but to their speciall services betweene God and his people 2. In particular The first of these sacrifices must be a sinne offering verse 10. For which they must 1. Take a calfe and offer him for the expiation of sinne verse 14. This yong calfe was a type of Christ who onely by his owne oblation expiated our sinne which otherwise made our selves and duties most hatefull 2. This calfe must be presented before the Lord and his Congregation signifying the willingnesse of Christ to offer up himselfe for the sinnes of men Iohn 19. 11. 3. Aaron and his sonnes must put their hands on the head of the calfe verse 10 not onely to confesse they were worthy to die for their own sinnes but to professe also that the death which they deserved was by the death of the Messiah the high Priest of the new Testament removed off them and transferred upon the beast And not onely the imputation of our sinnes upon Christ but also is signified that wee must lay our hand by a true faith upon Christ our head if we expect any comfort from his death and passion 4. The calfe must be killed before the Lord at the doore of the Tabernacle ver 11 signifying both the death and crucifying of Christ as also the fruit of it by the place That by his death as by a doore an entry is made for us into the Church both
seeing he was before all worlds eternally begotten of his Father And whereas Melchizedek onely had no beginning or end of life expressed Christ is onely truely without beginning neither shall have any end for hee is the beginning and the ending And although his humanity had genealogie beginning and ending of life yet as he was the word hee had none And although as the Sonne he was from the father yet as God hee was from none but as the word was of himselfe Here also is a difference Melchizedek was without genealogy according to Scripture Christ according to nature IV. In the excellency of his 1. Person 2. Priesthood 1. For excellency of Person 1. Melchizedek was greater then Abraham for he blessed Abraham and the greater blesseth the lesser Heb. 7. 7. signifying Christ the fountaine and originall of all blessing in heavenly and earthly things Ephes. 1. 3. 2. Melchizedek refreshed Abraham and his Army returning weary from the battell and journey with bread and wine Here Abraham was a receiver Melchizedek a giver a manifest type of Iesus Christ refreshing and comforting all his followers and members of his militant Church in their journey and wearinesse with his word and Sacraments Matthew 11. 28. I will refresh you 3. Melchizedek was man onely and sinfull Christ God and man without sinne Melchizedek as the sonne of God Christ indeed the Sonne of God 2. For the excellency of his Sacrifice or his Priesthood which was greater then Aarons For 1. Levi and Aaron paid tythes in Abrahams loines to Melchizedek Heb. 7. 9. and the inferiour payes tythes to the Superiour Such is the Priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek not of Aaron 2. In regard of the entrance Melchizedek was not anointed with materiall oile as Aaron nor received his Priesthood from any other but onely so declared by the mouth of God So Christ succeeded none received his Priesthood from none but anointed by the Spirit of God Luke 4. 18. and made a Priest by the Oath of God Psal. 110. 4. The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek 3. In regard of the continuance of his Priesthood For as hee receives it from none so hee passeth it not to any other nor any can succeed him but hee endureth ever having an everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. The Leviticall Priesthood ended particularly in the death of every high Priest and universally and finally in the death of our high Priest But Christ is eternall who died but rose againe figured in Melchizedek I. If Christ bee the true Melchizedek then must he needs bee greater then Abraham though the Jewes vainely gainesay it Ioh. 8. 53. To him all our tythes and offerings our sacrifice of praises are due as tythes and offerings due from Abraham to Melchizedek Hee is blessed and Prince onely the King of kings and Lord of lords unto him be honour and power everlasting 1. Tim. 6. 15 16. So the foure and twenty Elders Revel 11. 15 17. And Angels Beasts Elders and all creatures Revel 5. 11 12 13. II. For the comfort of the Church that Christ is the true Melchizedek both a Priest and a King 1. As he is a Priest wee are assured of a perfect reconciliation by his all-sufficient Sacrifice 2. Of sound instruction for the Priest must teach the Law his lips must present knowledge Ioh. 4. 25. When the Messiah is come hee will tell us all things Wee detest the blasphemy therefore that tells us that he hath left an imperfect doctrine that must bee eeked with traditions 3. Of his blessed intercession which is meritorious and acceptable Samuel out of his love to the people 1. Sam. 12. 23. saith thus God forbid that I should sinne and cease to pray for you but I will teach you the good way Christs love to the Church is no lesse therefore he will both teach and pray 4. Of powerfull protection and safety For he is not our Priest onely but our King not our Doctor onely but our defendor not a Priest onely to pray but a King to obtaine for us and bestow on us what he prayes for What if he had never so much power in teaching if he were impotent in defending But he is King of peace in himselfe and unto us We haue a powerfull aduocate in heaven They never tasted the sweetnesse of this doctrine that seeke after any other Mediator III. Hence is the happinesse of the Church As Melchizedek blessed Abraham So Christ our Melchizedek hath blessed all the faithfull posterity of Abraham Eph. 1. 3. with all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus But with difference Melchizedek onely pronounced blessing Gen. 14. 19. blessed art thou of God possessor of heaven and earth But our Melchizedek meriteth and bestoweth blessings of higher kind also then could Melchizedek For 1. Christ blesseth by meriting blessing through his most perfect sacrifice pacifying his Fathers wrath Melchizedek offered no such sacrifice to no such effect his was accepted by mercy not for merit not for his owne sacrifice but for Christs 2. By actuall procuring the blessing of remission of sinnes and righteousnesse restored a more effectual blessing then Melchidek could procure His sacrifices could onely signifie these in the Messiahs not actually apply them 3. By gathering calling ruling and preserving in spirituall life his whole Church as members of his owne body and by the donation of his spirit none of which blessings Melchizedek could give 4. By bestowing eternall life on beleevers here in the first fruits heereafter in the harvest whereof Melchizedek must be a receiver from him the fountaine not a giver 5. By publishing and pronouncing on beleevers all this blessing in the preaching of the Gospell and sealing it to the hearts of the elect by the daily effectuall voyce of his spirit by the word which Melchizedek could not doe Therefore a greater then Melchizedek is here and a greater blessing then Abraham received from him Let the world curse wicked ones rage and revile against the Church and members yet as Isaac said of Iacob Gen. 27. 33. I have blessed him and therefore he shall be blessed the same will Christ not say onely but accomplish to them IIII. Hence is the stability and perpetuity of the Church and members That Christ is the true Melchizedek that is an eternall Priest the Church must be eternall For a Priest cannot be without a Church nor an eternall Priest without an eternall Church but of Christ it is said thou art a Priest for ever Therefore Tyrants shall not wast it time shall not outlast it death shall not hinder the being and happinesse of it no more then it could the eternity of the Priest himselfe who rose gloriously from the dead so shall the members How happy a thing is it to be of this houshold V. The excellency of Christs Priesthood above the Leviticall This
is the scope of the Apostle in describing Melchizedeks Priesthood so largely For the Leviticall Priests were homagers to this yea to the shadow of it in Melchizedek while they were in Abrahams loynes 1. They were men onely of men Christ the Sonne of God true God and man 2. They were sinfull men and must offer first for themselves and then for others Heb. 5. 3. But Christ was sinlesse he needed not offer for his owne sinnes Heb. 7. 26. 27. 3. For their office they were but ministers of holy things and of salvation propounded in them Christ because of this order was author of salvation to all that obey him Heb. 5. 9. 10. 4. They were many and all ministers of a temporary covenant but he is but one who hath obtained a more excellent office in that he is Mediator of a better testament established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. For the promises of the covenant of grace are more excellent then those of the Legall covenant 5. They offered often and the repetition of sacrifices argued their invalidity and imperfection but he offered but once and needed not do it daily Heb. 7. 27. which argued the perfection Heb. 9. 28. 6. They offered the blood of beasts which could not expiate sinne nor wash the conscience of the sinner farther then purifying the flesh but he not with blood of bulls and goats but with his owne blood entred once into the holy place having obtained an eternall redemption Heb. 9. 12. and this blood purgeth the conscience from dead works verse 14. 7. They served in an earthly fading Sanctuary made with hands and entred into an holy place which perished and fayled according to that elementary and temporary worship but he is minister of the true Sanctuary and Tabernacle which the Lord pitcht and not man Heb. 8. 2. this tabernacle is his owne blessed body in which he performed all his service called chap. 9. 11. a great and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands and vers 24. is now entred not into holy places made with hands but into the very Heaven to appeare in the sight of God for us 8. They all ceased dyed one succeeded another as mutable was their whole service which also ceased and deceased and gave place to the truth of it when the fulnesse of time came but this true Melchizedek being without beginning or end of daies hath an eternall Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. and therefore neither hath nor needeth any successor in earth Whence every repetition of his sacrifice bloodily or unbloodily in the Masse is an high and hatefull blasphemy a denyall of Christs person to be above the person of Melchizedek and of his sacrifice to be above Aarons or that it was offered by the eternall spirit of his Deity VI. The excellency of the person shewes the greatnesse of the Sacrifice the greatnesse of the sacrifice the greatnesse of the sinne Melchizedek because he was but likened to the Sonne of God Heb. 7. 3. could not offer a Sacrifice to take away sinne he must be the Sonne of God indeed and God himselfe that must doe that The least sinne which wee account so light could never be expiated but by the blood of him that is God as well as man All created strength cannot stand under the burthen of the least sinne Therefore in the worthinesse of this person see the unworthinesse of thy sinne to hate and abhorre it and thy selfe in dust and ashes for it An haynous and execrable offence were that which nothing could take away but the death of the Prince CHAP. V. 4. Isaac a type of Christ. I. IN his birth Isaac the sone of Abraham the father of the faithfull a promised seed long before he was borne in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed Yea so strange was his birth as that he was not to be borne by the strength of nature but of Sarahs dead womb when it was not with her as with other women insomuch as when the Angell foretold it to her she thought it impossible Gen. 18. 12. So Christ the sonne of Abraham commonly so called The onely Sonne of God by nature who is the father of all the faithfull who are taught to say Our father c. The onely true promised seed long before prophecied of and expected of beleevers before his manifestation about foure thousand yeares Borne and incarnate not by the strength of nature but by the power of the holy Ghost after an unconceivable manner so as when the Angell told his mother Mary of his miraculous manner of birth she thought it impossible and said How can this be Luk. 1. 34. And in him onely the whole spirituall seed of Abraham all Gods people of Jewes and Gentiles were blessed Psa. 72. 17. the Nations shall blesse him and be blessed in him Which Prophecy cannot be understood of Salomon for scarce his owne nation was blessed in him who by his sinne lost tenne tribes of twelve from his owne sonne and verse 5. they shall feare him so long as the Sunne and Moone endure from one generation to another vers 11. all Kings shall worship him and serve him and vers 17. his name shall be for ever all these are true in Christ onely Thus as Isaac was founder of a mighty state so Christ of all the Church of God in all nations onely blessed in him As Isaac was his fathers heire So Christ heire of all things Isaac hath goods onely II. In his suffering 1. Isaac was circumcised the eighth day so was Christ. Luk. 2. 2. Isaac in his infancy was persecuted by Ishmael Gal. 4. 29 So Christ by Herod Mat. 2. 3. Isaac carryed the wood of the burnt offering upon his shoulders even to mount Moriah Gen. 22. 6 So Christ carryed the Crosse on which he was to be nayled even to Golgotha 4. Isaac was led away as a Lamb to the slaughter So Christ was led away Ioh 19. 16. to death 5. Isaac without reply submitted himself to his father even to the death suffered himselfe to be bound on the wood and yeelds himselfe a burnt offering unto the Lord Even so Christ without reply was obedient unto his father unto the death and was content to be bound not as Isaac for himselfe alone but for us and them and laid downe his life a whole burt offering and a ransome for many Ioh. 16. 28. Thus were both Lamb-like sufferers both beare their Crosse both without reply led away both bound and fastened on the wood both willingly obedient to the death III. In his offering 1. Both sonnes onely sons innocent beloved of their fathers Abraham did al at Gods Commandement and lifted up his hand So Christ by the determinate counsell of God was delivered by wicked hands Abraham offers his Sonne freely God more freely offers his sonne out of his bosome 2. Abraham by Gods commission riseth early in the morning to sacrifice his sonne and Isaac riseth as early to obey his
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
not by touching but by beleeving More plainely in this comparison As a jewel included in a ring enricheth a man or healeth him it is not the ring doth it but the jewell and yet none have the jewell without the ring So Jesus Christ is the onely jewell and antidote aginst the deadly poison of sinne This jewell is included in the ring of faith Now it is apparently Christ the jewell that justifieth enricheth cureth but wee cannot have him without the ring of faith which includeth him So as faith saveth and justifieth us onely as a meanes suppose the hand of the soule to convey Christ to us for justification which no other grace can doe So not faith but Christ applied by faith that saveth and cureth us 3. As no Israelite could bee cured but by his owne sight of the Serpent and no man could bee cured by another mans looking or seeing it So must every just man live by his owne faith Hab. 2. 4. No man can be saved by anothers faith or the faith of the Church but by his owne speciall faith beleeving in particular upon assured grounds the remission of his owne sinnes II. By what marks may I know that I have looked on this brazen serpent for cure Answ. By foure marks 1. If thine eye have beene rightly affected which will appeare in foure particulars First if it be a discerning eye cleared to see in Jesus Christ two things the first his power the second his will to cure That hee is able to helpe being the mighty God and that hee is willing to cure being a compassionate Saviour who himselfe was stung to death that he might have compassion on them that are stung Heb. 2. 18. Secondly if it bee a mournefull eye Hee that had seene the Israelites running about the brazen serpent should have seene many a teare falling and heard many a deepe groane and pitifull complaints of their deadly paine and poison Hast thou come to Jesus Christ with sorow in thy heart with teares in thy eyes with lamentable groanes and complaints of thy misery by sinne this is to looke upon him for cure Zach. 12. 10. the members of the Church shall behold him and mourne as a man for his onely sonne Such lookers on him he looketh upon and easeth Matt. 11. 28. Come unto mee all that are weary and heavy laden and I will ease you Thirdly if it bee a wishing and craving eye for there is affection as well as vision in the eye As the lame man that lay in Solomons porch Act. 3. 5. wistly looked on Peter and Iohn expecting to receive something from them so no doubt did the Israelites on the Serpent And so must thou hold on waiting and expecting sound cure from Christ take no deniall till thou bee fully cured for so did the Canaanitish woman prevaile Fourthly if it be a faithfull stedfast eye a beleeving eye carries cure from Christ. Christ was wont to aske some of his patients that came for cure if they did beleeve he could helpe and in the cure According to thy faith bee it unto thee and after the cure goe thy way thy faith hath made thee whole and much more works hee the cure of soules by meanes of the parties faith and not without it 2. If the sting were gone and the poison of the serpent abated this was an infallible signe that the Israelite was cured Consider if the power and rage of sinne be removed the guilt of it gone by justification if the poyson and staine of it bee abated and daily abolished now art thou in the way of cure But if the poison remaine that sinne lives in thee prevailes and raignes in thee and commands thee as formerly thou hast not yet looked on the serpent for cure Justification and sanctification are inseparable 3. A ceasing of paine and ease and comfort restored which when the Israelite felt it was a signe he was cured So if after sense of paine and griefe of spirit thou hast received sound peace of conscience joy of the holy Ghost and comfort of a good estate in Christ that thou art able upon good grounds to challenge thy righteousnesse in Christ and maintaine thy selfe stedfastly assured and cheared in Gods mercie and the goodnesse of an excusing conscience thou hast now looked upon Christ and Christ upon thee for perfect cure 4. When the sting with the paine was gone the Israelite could goe as strongly and chearefully about his businesse as ever before he had new life new strength new motions by which he might be sure he had looked upon the serpent So if thou canst find so happy a change in thy soule as new life new motions new actions new affections and in a word the whole renewed nature all these are the fruits and effects of thy faith and faithfull beholding of Christ and of his looking upon thee Of this new obedience and renewed strength of a Christian having lately spoken I passe it over more briefly III. Motives to stirre us up to this looking upon our Serpent are 1. Nothing else can cure us but Christ. The Israelits had gold silver Manna from heaven water out of the Rock yea the Arke the Oracle but none of all these can helpe them onely the Serpent must cure them no sight else can cure Thou mayest see gold silver lands friends playes pleasures nay couldst thou see heaven it selfe without Christ there were no helpe or cure in it In respect of this sight the Apostle counted all things losse and dung and desired to see and know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified and lifted on the wood 2. No not Christ himselfe can cure without this looking and faithfull beholding him as the brazen serpent not looked on healed not The want of the eye or sight disabled the Israelites from cure though the serpent were by them so the want of faith disableth God after a sort and Christ himselfe from doing a man any good Mark 6. Christ could doe no great cure in Capernaum because of their unbeliefe Neither can any ordinance of God doe him good that wants faith no more then this serpent ordained by God could doe a blind Israelite good If wee should send a man to the word it must be a word of faith must doe him good that is not onely because it is a begetter of faith but because it must be mingled with faith else it proves unprofitable Heb. 4. 2. If to the Sacraments if hee bring not faith they are not to him the seales of faith but as seales set to blanks If to prayer it must be a prayer of faith that is availeable Iam. 5 15. If to good works and good life it must be a life of faith led by faith for the just must live by his faith If to the Church of God hee must bee of the houshold of faith else he shall be but as Iudas among the Disciples Faith must be every where diffused to walk by faith
resemblances Sacrifice of testification and of satisfaction Mat. 3. 16. Vse 1. Preserve integrity in the worst times Math. 5. 16. Sinnes which are signes of Judgement approaching Matth. 24. 38. 2. Pet. 3. 20. Comfort to bee had in Christ our Noah Psal. 46. 2. Arca tandem ex diâ—uvio liberata sic Ecclesia Arca cessante diluvio in mâ—nte requievâ—t Ecclesia mundi fluctibus ceâ—â—antibus in câ—eleâ—â—imente Melchizedek a type of Christ in 4. respects Peace by Christ most excellent Hebr. 7. Heb. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc. 1. 11. Melchizedek quoad Scripturam Christus quoad naturam Ego reficiam vos Preheminence of Christs Priesthood above Aarons Psal. 110. 4. Vse 1. Christ greater then Abraham Vse 2. Comfort by Christ our Melchizedek Magnum in 〈◊〉 habemus patronum Vse 3. We are blessed by our Melchizedek Vse 4. By our Melchizedek the Church abides for ever Vse 5. Excellency of Christs Priesthood above the Leviticall Sin not to be accounted 〈◊〉 whâ—se sacrifice is so costly Isaac a type of Christ in five respects 1. Et Isaac Christus erat aries Christus erat Isaac sibi â—igna portabat Christus cruceâ— propriaâ— baâ—ulabaâ— Pro Isaac aries c. Aug. Act. 2. 4. Cerva matutina Ob molis magnitudinem Ob peccatorum molem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Similitude of Rebekahs marriage and the Churches How Christ meets his Church Vse 1. A patterne of obedience Non ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sic Christus tantuÌ„ tamen quoad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etiam propter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two rules for our obedience Vse 2. A type of our resurrection Vse 3. Matter of sweet consolation Vse 4. Looke for help though the case be desperate Luke 24. Genâ— 22. Deus providebit Ioseph a type of Christ 4. wayes Gen. 30. 24. Luke 1. 28. Decâ—rus facie pulcâ—rior mente Gen. 41. 38. Gen. 49. 22. Isai. 53. 10. Gen. 37. 15. Gen. 41 42. Joh. 6. 37. Gen. 45. 24. Vse 1. No newes for good men to be hated for their excellency Vse 2. All sufferings of the godly come of God Ordained by him Ordered and how Vse 3. Comfort by Christ our Joseph manifold Vse 4. Do to Christ as Iosephs brethren to him Moses a type of Christ 4. waies Similes non pares Office of Moses and of Christ. Execution faithfull for matter and manner Non redemptionis sed relationis Dum extendebat manus Moses prae se â—erebat typum eius qui crucifixus est pro nobis nam Quemadmodum servo extendente manus ce cidit Amaâ—â—ch ita cum dominus manus extendit dissoluta est acies diabel Theodoret. in Exod. Suffering of Moses and of Christ. Actions of Moses and of Christ. Vse 1. Our doctrine is of God Vse 2. Bee faithfull in doing thy office Vse 3. Shew faith in the fruit of it Vse 4. Assurance of our resurrection Ioshua a type of Christ 5. wayes Saviours Calling Miracles Valour Vterque magnus miraculis magnus triumphis Ambr. de offic lib. 2. cap. 20. Moses non pugnat cum Amalecitis sed Ioshua Exod. 17. 10. sig quod non lex nos ab hostibus libeâ—â—et sed Iesus Christus Actions Vse 1. A fearefull thing to be an enemy of the Church Vicisti Galilaee Qui non faciunt Dei voluntatem de iis fit Dei voluntas Vse 2. Comfort in our salvation accomplishâ—d Vse 3. Duties we 〈◊〉 to Christ our Ioshua Vse 4. Conditions to be observed in going to heaven Vincenâ—i dabo Rev. 2. Sampson a type in 4. respects Conception Nazarite Growth in Spirit Actions Christianorum processit extmen instar aepum August ser. 107 de temp Sufferings Stratagems and victories Vse 1. Judge none by outward calamities Or inward Psal. 73. 15. 22. 1. Vse 2. Strange means used by God for the Churches good Vse 3. Our victory stands in patience and passion Illic qui caedit superat hic qui caeditur perfert Illic qui vicissim ferit hic qui alteri maxillam praebet non in ultione led patientia victoria ponderatur Vse 4. Fourefold comfort to Gods people Christ a mightier and better Deliverer then Sampson in six things Psal. 37. 3. Vse 5. In Gods cause contemne greatest perill Injussu Dei privato assectu And prepare for death approaching Five things specified in which David was a type of Christ. 1. Person 2. Calling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 18. 44. Foure graces wherein David and Christ excelled Confilium sine fortitudine magnanimitate iâ—e Sanctification eminent in Christ 3. wayes 3. Warres Followers Enemies open and secret Victories 4. Kingdome Entrance Psal. 118. 22. Administration Eternity Ps. 132. 12. 18. 49. 5. Office Propheticall and Priestly 1. Math. 5. and 6. and 7. Vse 1. Enter upon no office without assistance of the Spirit A note of it Rom. 8. 9. Vse 2. Christ the true King of the Church And 9. waies more excellent then David 1. Originall Vnction Titles Rexregâ— Dominus dominantium Scepters Rev. 19. 15. State Absolutenesse Prov. 8. 15. Iustice. Exallegatis probatis Meanes of upholding it 2. Cor. 10. 4. Things to be attained Rom. 14. 17. QuidregiuÌ„ vides videsne coronam aliaÌ„ quaÌ„ spineaÌ„ sceptum aliud quam clavos aliaÌ„ purpuram quam sanguinem aliuÌ„ thronuÌ„ quaÌ„ cruceÌ„ alios ministros quaÌ„ carnifices Vse 3. How God brings his servants to honour Vâ—per angusta ad cugustuÌ„ per spinas ad rosas per motuÌ„ ad quieteÌ„ per procellas ad portuÌ„ per virtuâ—eÌ„ ad gloriaÌ„ per arma ad triumphuÌ„ per bella ad paceÌ„ per cruâ—eÌ„ ad câ—luÌ„ contendamus Vse 4. Church ever pestered with homebred enemies Cant. 4. 8. Comfort to the Church in 3. things 1. Cor. 15. 27. Mat. 28. 20. Six things wherein Salomon typified Christ. Person Pacisicus Isay 9. 6. Luke 1. 74. Wisdome Christ greater then Salomon in wisdome 5. things Joh. 7. 46. Royall glory In Christ farre greater and better Revel 19. 12. In templo 1. aedificando 2. dedicando 3. constituendo Structure Joh. 14. 23. 1 Peter 2. 5. Jer. 23. 29. Isay 28. 16. Dedication Iohn 17. Order set Administration of Iustice. Salomons Throne sixe things opened Premio paena Vse 1. Duties to Christ our Salomon 1 Heare him 2. Wait on him and thinke thy selfe therein happy Vse 2. Fourefold comfort in our Salomon Foure things delivered in which Jenaâ— was a type Name and office Kind of death Egosum Manner And fruit Buriall Matt. 12. 40. Resurrection Vse 1. Repent at the Ministery of his servants Motives Christ a farre more excellent Preacher Vse 2. Vocation of the Gentiles Rom. 9. 6. Vse 3. Our resurrection assured to us Vse 4. Power and wisdome of God to bee admired Vse 5. Terror of sin even in Gods owne children And comfort Vhiputabatur interitus ibi custodia Foure rankes of sanctified ones under the Law The first born types in foure respects Exrationâ— Communis