with the holy Garments and by anointing them with the holy Oyl and by sacrificing and so sanctifying them by the Blood thereof When all this was done they might officiate in the Priests Office all their days And all these things did point unto something of Christ represented by these Performances and may be applied in a secondary and inferior way to Ministers and Believers but first and chiefly unto Christ himself For as the Priests by this Consecration became Priests all their days Exod. 29. v. 9. and the Priests Office shall be theirs by a perpetual Statute for thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his Sons so the Son of God is consecrated a Priest for evermore Heb. 7.28 Confer v. 27. This Consecration of Jesus Christ is the Commission of the whole work of our Salvation into his hand by God the Father But in the Rites of the Consecration of the Priests of old there was as of necessity there must be a disparity between the Type and Antitype there was a great disproportion between Christ and them sundry of those Rites not agreeing to them both in the same direct manner sundry Purifications which they used were rather to make them become fit Types of Christ then that they signified such parallel actions to be done by Christ The Priests by means thereof represented that Purity which is in Christ without those means They were purified but Christ was pure so that in Purity there is an agreement between Christ and them but in the manner and means thereof there is a difference See Heb. 7.26 27. And therefore when any such actions are ascribed unto Christ as when he saith I sanctifie my self Joh. 17.19 it is to be understood rather in regard of the effect then of the action rather of the thing it self then of the means but such active expressions are used partly in relation to the Type the Priests of old and partly in relation to the Church of Christ the Members whereof he is the Head whatever is done to them being first done to him their Head so far as the incommunicable properties of either will permit He is therefore pleased so to speak of himself as being consecrated and sanctified and the like Not as though there had been any defect of Holiness in him but as representing them in himself Moreover we must remember that these things are not to be looked upon by us as terminated in the person of Christ himself but as relating further to his Church and Members for whom he is an High Priest and Mediator with the Lord. Meminerimus quae de Consecratione dicuntur non subsistere in ejus personâ sed referri ad totius Ecclesiae utilitatem Calv. in Exod. 29.6 Now to come to the particular Ceremonies of their Consecration they were those four as beforementioned 1. The first part of their Consecration was their washing with water Exod. 29.4 Levit. 8.6 This intimated and hinted two things 1. The perfect Purity and Holiness of Jesus Christ Heb. 7.26 who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and such an High Priest as behoved us to have For we needed an holyer Priest then those of the Aaronical Order They were typically holy and some of them really but Christ infinitely 2. This pointed also at the Baptism of Christ at his first entrance upon his publick Ministry Matth. 3. Thus this great High Priest was consecrated and initiated by washing with water The first thing he doth to his people is to wash them He findeth them in a wretched and lothsom condition polluted in their own Blood Ezek. 16.9 then washed I thee with water yea I thoroughly washed away thy Blood from thee and I anointed thee with Oyl and so they did to the Priests of old Rev. 1.5 6. He hath loved us and washed us from our sins with his own Blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father Therefore sinners are exhorted unto this as the first thing they have to do Isai 1.16 wash ye and make ye clean 2. The second Ceremony of Consecration was the apparelling of them with the holy Garments Exod. 29.5 Levit. 8.7 These Garments are described at large in the precedent Chapter viz. Exod. 28. they were therefore spoken to under a former Head You have heard how they did betoken all those spiritual Graces and Excellencies which our great High Priest is furnished and adorned with And the next work of his Grace upon us after the washing away of sin is to clothe the Souls of his people with the Garment of Holiness and so to make them every way beautiful See that eminent Scripture Ezek. 16.9 and what follows ver 10. I clothed thee also with broydered work and shod thee with Badgers skin and girded thee about with fine Linnen and I covered thee with Silk See also the next following verses viz. 11 12 13. 3. The third Ceremony of consecrating was the anointing them with holy Oil Exod. 29.7 Lev. 8.12 The Composition of which sacred Ointment is instituted and directed in Exod. 30.23 As to the mystery and meaning of it 1. This holy Oil signified the Spirit of God and anointing therewith the Communication of the Spirit in the saving Graces and in the Divine Joys and Consolations of it so Isai 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me the Lord hath anointed me Act. 10.38 He anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost 2. The anointing of the Priests signified the anointing of Jesus Christ with the Spirit beyond measure Psal 45.7 Joh. 3.34 This is called the Resting of the Spirit upon him Isai 11.2 as upon Elisha 2 Kings 2.15 and upon Eldad and Medad Numb 11.26 so 1 Pet. 4.14 the Spirit of God and of Glory rests on the Members of Christ especially when in sufferings it being derived unto them from him Hence he is called the Messias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the anointed one because he chiefly is anointed with the Spirit 3. As this holy Oil stayed not upon Aarons head but descended and ran down upon his Beard and to the skirts of his Garments as is observed Psal 133.2 so the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Christ distills and is diffused from Christ the Head unto all the Members of his Body so as the meanest Saints have this anointing in their measure 1. Joh. 2.20 27. and do receive of his fulness even Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 hence they bear his name and are called Christians as being partakers of his anointing 4. The Tabernacle and the Altar and all the holy Vessels were anointed with the same sacred Oil when he anointed Aaron at the same time also he anointed them Lev. 8.10 11 12. The mystery of this is evident It teacheth us that all Ordinances and Performances profit not unless they be anointed unless the Spirit be in them with the power and presence of his Grace This makes them most holy and effectual for good Exod. 30.29 and if he breath in them whatsoever toucheth them
and not of an Angel For he saith the Tree which I commanded c. But the most famous Instance hereof was at the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai Exod 19 and 20. where the Lord spake with an audible Voice from Heaven chap. 19. 9 20. so that the People might hear and chap. 20. 22. and see that the Lord talked with them from Heaven Deut. 5.22 23 24. These words the Lord spake unto all your Assembly in the Mount out of the midst of the Fire of the Cloud and of the thick Darkness with a great Voice And when ye heard the Voice Heb. 12.26 Whose Voice then shook the Earth So Matth. 17.5 A Voice out of the Cloud said this is my beloved Son But they saw no similitude Deut. 4.12 1 Kings 19.12 13. A still small Voice 4. By an inward Instinct by immediate Inspirations and Impulses of the Holy Ghost So to David 1 Chron. 28.12 19. though he had it in Writing also and left it to his Son But it was revealed to him by the Spirit of God So to Philip Acts 8.29 The Spirit said unto Philip To Peter Acts 10.19 The Spirit said unto him and Acts. 11 12. the Spirit bade me go with them To Paul and Silas Acts 16.7 Not to go into Bithynia but the Spirit suffered them not 5. By legal Types and Shadows These were speaking things And what did they speak They spake forth Gospel Truths and Mysteries The Ceremonial Law was the Gospel in Types and Shadows Heb. 10.1 The Law having a shadow of good things to come A Type is a legal shadow of Gospel Truths and Mysteries These were the standing Ordinances and Instructions of those times 6. By Signs and Wonders These had a Voice and did speak the Mind of God These were attestations to the Truth and Mind of God and to the Authority of the Messenger See Exod. 4.8 If they will not believe thee nor hearken to the Voice of the first Sign they will believe the Voice of the latter Sign Joh. 3.2 We know that thou art a Teacher come from God For no man can do these Miracles that thou doest except God be with him The Lord may work Miracles now But he doth not now send forth any person with a Commission to do it as he did of old 7. By a special and peculiar kind of intimacy and familiarity as it were mouth to mouth without Parable or Riddle without Obscurity with all possible familiarity And this was Moses his Priviledg Numb 12.8 with him will I speak mouth to mouth apparently and not in dark speeches Exod. 33.11 23. The Lord spake to him face to face as a man speaketh to his friend thou shalt see my back parts That phrase of speaking mouth to mouth notes the clearness and certainty and familiarity of it as when Joseph saith ye see it is my mouth that speaketh unto you Gen. 45.12 This was a priviledg peculiar unto Moses Deut. 34.10 There arose no Prophet like him since whom the Lord knew face to face That that comes nearest to it seems to be the ineffable things that Paul saw and heard in the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.1 2 3 4 and the Revelation given to the Apostle John in the Isle of Patmos which is the clearest and yet withal the deepest and most wonderful of all the Prophesies recorded in the Scripture There be two Questions may arise here which would be briefly spoken to Quest 1. Whether there were not counterfeits of these things and if there were how did they discern the Lords voice in these extraordinary dispensations from Satans voice in his delusions Answ It is true there were counterfeits of them there were Visons Dreams seeming Miracles Impulses from Satan as well as from God Diabolus est Dei simia Hence that Caution of Moses Deut. 13.1 And hence are those complaints of the Prophet Jeremy cap. 14. 13 14 15. 1 Kings 22.22 23. That famous Instance of a lying Spirit in the mouths of Ahabs Prophets Therefore to have a Vision to dream strange and supernatural Dreams to have a powerful Impetus and afflatus from a Spirit are not things simply peculiar to the true Prophets of God But though Satan did partly out of Craft to deceive thereby the more effectually and partly out of Blasphemy and Malice to put an affront as it were upon God use ways and means of deceiving that had some resemblance of Gods own ways and Ordinances yet there were manifest and palpable differences between them I shall name but these four 1. The Lord did not usually suffer Satan to transform himself so far into an Angel of Light as to come in these ways unto his own people unto such as were truly Godly Search the Scriptures and you will not find that Satan did appear to give Satanical Dreams and Visions and the like to such as were Godly It is true he did tempt them but in a more spiritual manner as he tempted David to number the people Or by other outward means As when the young Prophet that came from Bethel was deceived by the old one But when Satan did inspire any with Dreams and Visions c. it was done to wicked and ungodly men As to Saul when he raised up the Devil he and and the Witch saw the Gods that is Spirits infernal Spirits ascending up out of the Earth And to the false Prophets of Ahab those four hundred-Idolaters they spake as Prophets and were acted by a Spirit but it was a lying Spirit and they were lewd and wicked men so that there was a great difference in the Person or Subject recipient of Divine Revelations and of Satanical Delusions 2. In Divine Discoveries there was an holy Elevation of their Minds when they did receive them but in the Organs and Instruments of Satan there was only a stupefaction and depression of them As when John did receive the Revelation he was in the Spirit chap. 1. 10. Sometimes they were so far elevated and raised and acted by the Spirit that they did not attend to any other thing but were transported above Sense and sensible things to attend wholly to the Visions and Revelations of God So Peter fell into a Trance Acts. 10.10 Paul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 22.17 Hence oftentimes they fell upon their Faces being astonish'd at the Majesty and Glory of the Lord both gratious and natural Fear concurring Ezek 1.28 Dan 10.8 9. Matth. 17.6 7. But this Ravishment of Spirit was not a stupefaction but an holy Elevation of their Minds whereby they were taken off and lifted up above all these low things to the highest exercise of Faith and spiritual Reason and so better fitted and composed to receive those Divine Irradiations and Manifestations of God So Daniel 10.1 He understood the thing and had understanding of the Vision So Balaam when the Lord was pleased in an extraordinary case to act him after the manner of a true Prophet Numb 24.4 16. falling into a
are so corrupted that Seth calls his Son Enos miserable man Well about three hundred years after as some conjecture for the particular time is not set down in the sacred History but it may be supposd to be thereabouts from Cains Defection and Ejection there is a new Reformation in the time of Enosh How long this reformed state continued is not certain but sure it is that when the World was but sixteen hundred fifty six years old there was such a general and universal Corruption of things that the Lord thought it necessary to cut them down with a Flood That as some have expressed it all mankind is sick of the Falling-sickness Or as the Lord himself complains Hos 11.7 My People are bent to backsliding from me though they called them to the most High yet none at all would exalt him though the Prophets called them to repent and turn to the Lord yet there was none found that would exalt and set up God in his heart and life There is a backsliding bent upon the Heart like the Byass upon the Bowl that turns it aside a departing disposition of spirit 3. Behold and see the free Grace of God in so many recovering Dispensations and renewed Discoveries and manifestations of himself Oh the Love of God to worthless Man he was loth to give up such a lost Creature This is that Divine Philanthropy whereof the Apostle speaks Tit. 3.4 4. These old things being past and vanished away do not sit down with attainments of such low Dispensations but labour for such degrees of Light and Grace and Communion with God as becometh Saints under the New Testament Administrations Beloved the Dispensation of the Age wherein we live is high and glorious But it may be thy particular Dispensation is low thy own personal attainments come very short Thou art but like a Believer that lived under Adams under Noahs under Abrahams Dispensation Signs of a Christian under a low Dispensation 1. When there is an inordinate affecting and a lusting after outward and visible and extraordinary Appearances and Operations such as they were Wont to have in those childish times Such may be Christians and may have the root of the matter in them but they are Christians of the lowest form There is a lusting in our hearts by nature after such things after extraordinary Operations which God is wont to cross as he did in Naaman 2 King 5.11 so when Christians linger much after and lay much weight upon Dreams and Visions and extraordinary Raptures and Ravishments of Spirit or it may be look'd after Miracles if they hear of any vain pretender thereunto I had rather have a little solid Comfort in that good old plain Scripture way of Faith and Repentance and labouring with my own Heart to apply the Promises and I value this more than if an Angel should appear to me out of Heaven to tell me that I am a Child of God For if an Angel should appear to me with such a Message I profess I should not know whether to believe him or not but I am sure that if I walk close with God if I exercise my self unto Godliness and unto Communion with him in Faith and Prayer and in seeking of him and humbling my self before him daily I am sure that in this way I cannot miscarry if the Gospel be true I am safe the Lord keeping me in that way I would not advise Believers utterly to reject all Evidences and Comforts where there is possibly something of Enthusiasm intermixt if there be a suitableness to their condition in the Promises brought to hand in such a way and if there be a spiritual Savour in the Heart and a relish of the Gospel and the Promises and Blessings of it I say then receive them which way soever they be brought to hand though it be by a Dream But I would exhort you not to rest in such a way but labour for an higher and more solid and spiritual way of Comfort and Communion with God 2. Art thou acted by a spirit of Light and Love or Darkness and fear hast thou a dark or clear Light It may be thy Candle gives but a dim Light and smokes in the socket as if it were going out Thou art dark as to the Light and Work of this age This is a sign thou art but low in thy attainments Art thou acted by Fear or Love If by Fear only this is low and legal if by love also this is Gospel-like The Law genders unto Bondage Gal. 4.24 It was delivered Heb. 12.18 with darkness and tempest But the spirit of the Gospel is a spirit of Faith and Love not of Fear and terror 3. Where there is an aptness to backslide and fall off from good beginnings and to fall again after recovering Dispensations This is but a weak and infant state as little Children when first they begin to go they catch many a fall 4. Consider of what standing thy Profession is at first all Believers are but low and weak but for an old Professor to be so this is sad It may be thou hast made a Profession of Religion ten or twenty years It is time for thee to put away childish things Heb. 5.10 you might have been for the time setled and established Christians assured of Gods Love but you are yet under the power of sinful corruptions of Pride and Peevishness and Passion yet under darkness and prevailing doubts about your Interest in God and this after many years Profession of Religion This might better become the Sons of God under those old Dispensations than one of thy years and standing We have briefly gone through the several pieces of Discovery the several Beams of Gospel-light that shone forth before the Law during that first Period from Adam to Moses The second grand Period is that under the Law from Moses to the Messiah This we are now to speak unto we may call it the Legal or the Mosaical Dispensation In this season there were further and clearer and more plentiful beamings forth of Gospel-light upon the Church above what had been before Now might the Spouse say The Voice of my Beloved behold he cometh leaping upon the Mountains skipping upon the Hills c. Cant. 2.8 9. The Worship of God and the true Religion and Church of God was now reduced to a better consistence and settlement in the world than ever before There were two things especially which were the peculiar advantages of this Dispensation under the Law wherein it did excel the former which was before the Law 1. That now the true Religion was preserved and propagated by Writing to Posterity which had been done before only or chiefly by Oral Tradition which might indeed be more easily done Willet in Gen. 9 28 when men lived so many hundred years For some have well observed that three Patriarchs for the space of two thousand years and more from the beginning of the World to Isaac might suffice to propagate
for evermore Psal 16.11 So likewise the Tree of Life in Paradise was a Type of Christ though it was created upon the third day of the Week and before the Gospel it could not be a Type of Christ yet after the Fall and after the preaching of the Gospel Gen. 3. it might be designed and ordained to this use As God provided Physical Herbs for Man before he fell or needed them as to that use of Physick so this Tree of Life before Sin or the Gospel was known It seems to be so spoken of Revel 2.7 and 22.2 The Tree of Life in the midst of Paradise Christ in the midst of the Church Mans Ejection out of Paradise a Type of his deserved Exclusion out of Heaven And the Cherubims with flaming Swords Gen. 3. ult an outward and visible shadow of the Wrath of God and of the Angels of God as Executioners of it on Man who were created to be Ministers to his good and are so again through Grace But as in our natural condition they are the Lords Hosts to fight against us But there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a much more put upon Christ His saving Virtue far exceeds that cursed influence of Adam in sundry particulars amply opened by the Apostle from ver 12. to the end of the Chapter 1. The disparity is very great both in their Persons The first Adam is of the earth earthly his Name is but Adam Earth or Red earth but the second Adam is the Lord from Heaven 2 Cor. 15.47 2. In their Headship and Undertaking the one of a Covenant of Works the other of a better Covenant of Grace 3. In the Success of their Undertakings The one failed the other kept the Covenant the first Adam was tempted by Satan and conquered by him but Christ was tempted but overcame the Tempter 4. In their Influences The first Adam was made a living Soul the second a quickening Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 The one conveys all evil Sin and Death to his Seed the other communicates all good Righteousness and Life to his There is Righteousness opposed to Sin and Life to Death and with a much more Rom. 5.15 16 17 18. Not as the Offence so is the free Gift At the great Day when Adam shall see his Seed lost and undone he must own it I have embrued my hands in the Blood of all these But Christ shall say here am I and the Children which God hath given me and not one of them is lost 2. Enoch the seventh from Adam It is true he is not so expresly mentioned in Scripture for a Type of Christ as Adam is but yet by comparing the Scriptures we may discern a clear analogy between Christ and him how he was made like unto the Son of God in sundry things 1. He was a most illustrious Type of Christs Ascension into Heaven and indeed the only Type they had of it before the Law They had but two in all Elijah under the Law and Enoch before the Law Therefore we cannot well omit him Gen. 5.24 Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him and Heb. 11.5 he was translated that he should not see Death and was not found because God had translated him Some look upon this as a pledg of their Translation that shall be found alive at Christs second coming of whom the Apostle saith they shall be changed or translated 1 Thess 4. But it looks first and chiefly at Christ himself at his Ascension This I mention first as being the chief particular but a further analogy may observed in sundry other particulars also as 2. There was in Enoch some shadow of Christs Prophetical Office we read of Enochs Prophesie Jude 14 15. But Christ is the true Prophet who hath unsealed the whole Book of Gods Counsels that Liber fatidicus Rev. 5. he hath opened it so far as is fit and needful for his Church to know And as Enoch prophesied of the Day of Judgment so hath Christ very fully and frequently 3. We may set him among the Types of Christ for his unparallell'd Holiness in the age wherein he lived which was a corrupt and evil time all Flesh began to corrupt their way Gen. 5.22 24. Enoch walked with God it is twice repeated as worthy of special remark so Christ fulfilled all Righteousness Matth. 3.15 4. His pleasing God For so it is testified of him Heb. 11.5 so Christ Matth. 3.17 this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Joh. 8.29 I do always those things that please him He is pleased so well with him that he is well pleased with Sinners for his sake even for his Righteousness sake 5. His very Name Enoch hath something in it dedicated unto God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consecratus from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dedicavit consecravit From whence some derive the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Initio and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Feast of Dedication Joh. 10.22 So was Christ Luk. 1.35 that holy thing my Servant whom I have chosen Isai 42.1 and 49.5 formed me from the Womb to be his Servant 6. Some have added in regard of the continuance of his Life Henochs days were as the days of the Sun For he lived three hundred sixty five years Gen. 5.24 as many years as there be days in the year And of Christ it is is said his Throne shall continue for ever as the Sun before me Psal 89.36 3. The third typical person that we mentioned is Noah He is made a Type 1 Pet. 3.20 21. in regard of his preaching and saving those that believed him in the Ark. So Christ hath published the Gospel Matth. 11.27 no man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him He came and preached Peace Ephes 2.17 1 Pet. 3.19 Christ preached in Noah he saves them that believe his Doctrine he saves them in the Ark of his Church by the Covenant and Water of Baptism 4. Melchizedek was also a Type of Christ and most especially in regard of the excellency and eternity of his Person Priesthood and Kingdom Psal 110 4. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek with Heb. 7.2 3 4. made like unto the Son of God But there is not time to insist upon these nor to proceed to the rest of the Types I shall therefore for the present conclude with something of Use and practical Improvement and shall raise the Uses not so much from the Doctrine in general but rather from that which hath been spoken upon it at this time Vse 1. Learn and know something more of Jesus Christ by what you have heard or if you knew it before let it be more deeply imprinted upon your hearts Let us sum up all together for they are all but partial Types and weak and imperfect Shadows of the Messiah but all put together will give the greater lustre like the Galaxia which is said
his Word and Spirit in his Apostles and Ministers ever since What Noah did one hundred and twenty years Christ hath been doing these sixteen hundred years And as Noah had no great success in his Ministry so Christ and all the Servants of Christ have cause to complain who hath believed our Report Isai 53.1 There were but eight persons saved in the Ark wherein a few that is eight Souls were saved by Water 1 Pet. 3. And of those eight all were not saved eternally there was a Cham and of him the cursed Canaanites but all the rest of the world perished in the Flood Doubtless they despised Noah and all his Preaching and thought him an old doting Fool to go and build a Ship on dry ground and expect that the Sea should come up thither to set it afloat they would not believe one word he said so men account Preaching Foolishness 1 Cor. 1. Hence those complaints of Christ and his Messengers Isai 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain In his own personal Ministry and teaching we read not of very many that were converted by him To the Apostles he gave more success but yet the converted ones were but a few in comparison of the unconverted unbelieving world 2. Noah was a Type of Christ in regard of his saving those that did believe his Preaching from the common Deluge and Destruction Hence the Notation of his Name Noah it signifies Rest Christ is Rest and the only Rest of the Soul Matth. 11.30 Gen. 5.29 He shall comfott us because of the Curse laid upon the Earth Not upon the Earth only as the blind Papists dream and therefore love the Fish better than the Flesh but the Earth is put for the whole Creation The Earth the Sea and all the Elemens and all that is therein yea the Sun Moon and Stars are not excluded out of the general Curse and Bondage of the Creatures the Apostle saith the whole Creation suffers and groans Rom. 8.22 The ancient Dominion over the Creatures was in part restored when they came together peaceably in the Ark the first Blessing of Propagation and Dominion had its Charter renewed and confirmed Gen. 9.9 Now Noah was an Instrument to remove this Curse in part to repair the Ruines of the old World and restore it to a better state Some he did save out of the common Ruines 1 Pet. 3.20 so doth Christ restore and save lost and fallen Mankind 1 Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Christ This being a main thing wherein Noah was a Shadow let us inquire and search into it more fully For where the Scripture gives us a general hint that such a thing was a Type we may safely inquire yea we ought to inquire and search out the particulars wherein the Analogy lies Now this viz. Noahs typical saving the World includes divers things There were divers real Types belonging to the History of this personal Type As 1. Noahs Ark. 2. The Deluge 3. The Waters thereof 4. His acceptable Sacrifice 5. The Lords Covenant with him and the Rainbow the Sign thereof All which had their typical Significations For 1. Noahs Ark was a Type of the Church 2. The Deluge of the day of Judgment and the everlasting Salvation of some and Destruction of others 3. The Waters that bare up the Ark typified the Water of Baptism 4. Noahs Sacrifice was a Type of Christs Sacrifice 5. His Covenant with the Rainbow the Sign thereof a Type of the Covenant of Grace 1. The Ark was a Type of the Church Some have accommodated the Ark as a Type a little otherwise but this is the clearest The Analogy may be made out in many particulars which some have done with much ingenuity which because it seems to be solid as well as ingenious I shall rehearse it to you I say the Analogy may appear in these ten particulars 1. Noah builded the Ark according to the Mind of God and he was in it himself when it was tossed and floated upon the Waters Gen. 6.22 according to all that God commanded so did he So Christ buildeth the Church in perfect Faithfulness to his Fathers Will Heb. 3.2 3. He was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his House and he is in it in all the Floods and Troubles of his Church and People to the end of the world Isai 43.2 when thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world The Church is resembled by a Ship so Isai 54.11 O thou tossed with Tempests Here the Church is compared to a Ship in a Storm and there are many things belonging to a Ship resembling somewhat in the Church The Pump Repentance The Sails Affections Wind the Spirit The Rudder the Word 2. The Workmen and Carpenters that built it they were drowned themselves so carnal Ministers may be instrumental for good to others of saving others and yet not not saved themselves It is a scruple which some Christians are exercised with the Minister by whom they have received good to their Soules proves an Apostate hence they question the Work they have found by his Ministry Now I confess that ordinarily God doth not bless the Labours of wicked Ministers but yet sometimes he doth as in the building of Solomons Temple many had to do with it who were not truly godly So it is in spiritual building there was a Judas a Demas Matth. 7.22.23 1 Cor. 9.27 For the efficacy of the Ordinances does not depend upon Instrument but upon the Institution and Blessing of God 3. The Materials of the Ark Noah takes many trees out of the Woods cuts them down compacts them joyneth them together and they must be bowed and fitted and joynted So Christ in building his Church they must be cut off the old tree where they grew before and fitted and hewed and humbled Hos 6.5 I have hewed them by the Prophets and then compacted and united together in the Faith Love and Order of the Gospel and so they become a Church of Christ 4. There was a Door in the Ark and but one Door Gen. 6.16 So in the Church Christ is the Door Joh. 10.7 9. by whom alone we enter in to the Father and find Pasture that is full supplies according to our wants 5. The Ark had a Window to let in Light Gen. 6.16 which resembles the Windows of Solomons Temple 1 King 6.4 which were made narrow without and wide within to diffuse the Light the better This Light is Christ Joh. 1.9 he is the Light of the World Luk. 11.34 35 36 as a Candle in a Room enlightens the whole Room So if there be a Light in the supream Faculties of the Soul that is true spiritual Wisdom in the heart it will enlighten the whole man so as to direct and guide it the whole body of a mans carriage and conversation will be full
greater sin then people do imagine the retaining of such legal Shadows being an implicite denyal of the Truth of the Gospel but men consider not the meaning of their own Actions 7. The last occasional Typical thing which the Lord gave to his People of old was those healing Waters of the Pool of Bethesda which indeed are not mentioned in the Old Testament but in the New John 5. It was a Miracle but yet it had also a symbolical use as many other Miracles had to lead them from the consideration of earthly things unto heavenly things Healing Waters are often spoken of in the Scriptvre with a reference to spiritual healing as Ezek. 47.1 8 9 11 Rev. 21.1 So Christ speaks of Rivers of Waters flowing out of the heart of a Believer Joh. 7.38 which cannot be meant of literal Water but is meant of Metaphorical and Spiritual Waters this in general But to unfold the Allegory a little more particularly that we may see more fully what instructions we may learn out of it 1. Those healing Waters of that Pool of Bethesda may fitly represent the Ordinances of Christ in the Church which is indeed Bethesda an house of mercy for so the word may be interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beth chesda Domus misericordiae though others expound it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domus effusionis The Church of Christ is indeed a spiritual Hospital an house of mercy to the Sick to poor diseased Souls where there be the choisest Waters the Waters of Life and all other Medicines of spiritual help and healing 2. The healing virtue of the Water may hold forth to us the spiritual good of Ordinances the healing of our Souls This is frequent in the Scripture as was said before for bodily healing to teach and represent spiritual 3. The motion of the Angel leads us to take notice of the effectual Operation of the Spirit of Christ in and by the Ordinances in the time of love It is not the Means it is not the Ordinances but the Angel of the Covenant by his Spirit moving and working in them that heals and doth good to souls the Ordinances are not effectual at all times but only when and as they are moved and influenced by the Spirit for it was a place much frequented as appears by the five Porches and its neerness to the Temple and the Text saith many sick lay there He could have healed all as well as some Verùm ut miracula suum habent finem ita modum habere debent Calvin in loc As when there were so many dead and but one raised 2 Kings 4.32 So many Widows and the Prophet sent but to one 1 Kings 17.9 Luk. 4.25 26. Who would have looked for help and healing from troubled Water We must follow God against our own reason the judgment of reason is often contrary to the mind of God 2 King 5.10 Naaman thought washing in Jordan an unlikely means to recover the Leper Elisha 2 King 2.20 healeth the Waters by casting in Salt an unlikely means for Salt is wont rather to cause barrenness The Water here did it not for then it would have healed all and at all times one as well as another He singles out one whose condition was most deplorable his disease inveterate incurable 38. years So he that was born blind and had been so till he grew up to mans estate Cap. 9.1 So Lazarus when dead buried four days Joh. 11.39 The Woman twelve years Mat. 9.20 Another eighteen years Luk. 13.11 4. These times were unknown and uncertain to the people they knew not when the Angel would come to move the Waters So is the day of grace and the opportunities of salvation to Souls because man knoweth not his time Therefore is he snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon him Eccl. 9.12 Oh that thou hadst known Luk. 19.41 42. Therefore Eccl. 11.6 In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand for thou knowst not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good Lay hold upon all opportunities 5. These excellent Waters did not heal all but only him that was put first into them which was for our instruction that we might learn to lay hold betimes upon seasons and opportunities for our spiritual good They that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8.17 Be at work for God and your Souls betimes lest you come too late Christ asks him vers 6. Wilt thou be made whole He prevents him before he expressed any desire to Christ not as though Christ were ignorant of his desire but to excite and stirr up desire and expectation in him and to stirr up the attention of those who were providentially present at that time that they might mind and take notice of the Miracle Vers 8. Jesus saith to him rise take up thy bed and walk He could have said be whole but he chooses rather to express it by an infallible effect and fruit of it To the Maid arise Mark 5.42 To Lazarus come forth Joh. 11.43 and vers 44. Let him go To the Paralytick Mat. 9.6 Arise take up thy bed and go unto thine house On the Sabbaoth day that so it might be the more taken notice of the people would wonder to see a man carry his bed abroad and so inquire about it There were beside these we have now handled some other occasional typical things as Noahs Ark but that was spoken to in the History of Noah and some others may occur afterwards but these are all I shall speak unto here Let me conclude with a few words of use to help you to a practical improvement of all that hath been said upon these Typical things 1. We may here see the compleat and perfect fulness of our Lord Jesus Christ to all the necessities of our Souls That spiritual Ladder represents him as the Mediator and means of all the intercourse between Heaven and Earth between God and us The burning Bush shews his presence with and protection of his Church and People in the Fires of Persecution and Affliction The Pillar of Cloud and Fire holds forth that everlasting blessed Conduct and Guidance of his People by his Word and Spirit through the Wilderness of this World to their eternal Rest The Manna and Water out of the Rock holds him forth as our spiritual Food And now lastly the Brazen Serpent and the Pool of Bethesda teacheth us that here is healing also so that he is both Meat and Medicine The same thing is held forth also under other Metaphors Rev. 22.2 The Leaves of the Tree of life are for healing of the Nations so that Christ is all in all 2. Learn from hence not to despise these Truths concerning the Types how weakly soever they may be held forth by him that speaks unto you for you see they are full of Gospel marrow and mystery Any thing of Christ should be sweet and precious and it is so
be referred to three Heads or Glasses 1. Sins against the first Table eating things offered to Idols 2. Sins against the second Table against the seventh Commandment Fornication because it was a common sin and wherein the Heathen were very blind some of them accounting it but an indifferent thing 3. Sins against the general Rule of love to our brethren Of this sort is the eating of things strangled and blood which had formerly been a sin against the second Commandment being forbidden of old in the way of a perpetual Statute during the whole legal Aeconomy Lev. 17.15 That which dies of it self includes strangled for there is no other place in the Law that forbids the eating of things strangled but only this And Deut. 14.21 where there is the same expression But now the same thing is forbidden in a more occasional and temporary way upon the account of scandal to sincere but weak Believers 1 Cor. 8.13 And there was a further benefit of this Observation in that juncture of time for it did prevent and cut off all appearance and occasion for that Calumny and false Aspersion cast forth by the Pagans in those first times of Christianity That the Christians were wont to feed upon mans flesh and to drink blood in their Assemblies Euseb Eccles Hist lib. 5. cap. 1. Tertull. Apolog. cap. 9. And though they are called necessary things yet there be divers sorts and ways of necessity As some things are necessary in their own nature upon a moral and perpetual account as to avoid Idolatry and Fornication so other things are necessary only pro hic nunc in regard of present Circumstances as to abstain from blood or from eating flesh As 1 Cor. 8.13 And though they are joyned with grosser sins yet the same penalty and much more the same Prohibition may be set upon things of a very different nature As Death is the penalty of Murther Gen. 9.6 And of having Leavened Bread Exod. 12.15 19. It cannot possibly be the sense of the Council to forbid that kind of Meat as in it self and morally and perpetually unlawful because all difference of Meats is most expresly and clearly taken away under the New Testament As Mark 7.14 to 20. Act. 10.10 1 Cor. 8.8 But meat commendeth us not to God for neither if we eat are we the better neither if we eat not are we the worse And 1 Cor. 10.25 Whatsoever is sold in the Shambles that eat asking no question for conscience sake Tit. 1.15 To the pure all things are pure But in 1 Tim. 4.3 4 5. the Apostle thunders against this Error of making difference of Meats under the Gospel Thus you see the nature of the Sacrifice of Peace-Offerings Something will be expected as to the practical Improvement of these Truths Let me therefore only repeat and reinculcate some few of the general Heads of things which have been doctrinally cleared and made out I shall but touch them now in a more applicatory way 1. Then be perswaded and encouraged to feed and feast upon Christ our Peace-Offering Do not say such and such may if I had such Parts and such Abilities and so Eminent as such and such I durst believe This blessed Peace-Offering is not for the Priests only for Saints of the highest Rank and greatest Eminency but for the common people also Do but draw neer with a pure heart and then come and welcome take your share and eat it with a glad heart God hath given it you 2. Do not defer the eating of your Peace Offerings take heed of a procrastinating Spirit As many who think to repent and return to God when they are dying and dropping into hell whereas they should eat the Peace-Offering and eat it now Do it to day before to morrow or at least before the third day for rhen thy Peace Offering will not be accepted Come in to God the third hour of the day or if thou hast lost that season yet come in at the sixth the ninth at least at the eleventh hour of the day If you stay till the Sun be set and the day of the Lords patience run out then your Peace Offerings shall not be accepted then thy Faith thy Repentance will not save thee Oh! But I will cry God mercy and trust to Christ then Ay but thy Conscience then will say you should have eaten the Peace-Offering sooner eating it the third day shall not be accepted nor will catching at Christ when thou art gone to hell Oh then that thou hadst known in this thy day the things belonging to thy Peace Luk. 19.42 3. Let all your Peace-Offerings be seasoned with the new Leaven of Grace and Holiness get this blessed Leaven of the Kingdom of God into your hearts 4. Give God the fat the strength the vigor of your Spirits the best of your endeavours do not leave the worst you have to him the very dregs of time at night when you are all drowsy and sleepy for prayer and family duties when you have spent the strength of your time in your Callings Reserve some of your good hours for God and duties of Communion with him With such drowsy Sacrifices God will not be well pleased 5. Take heed of accounting the blood of the Peace Offering a common thing But as the typical blood might not be eaten but was sacred to the Lord let the blood of Christ be sacred and precious to you It is a dreadful sin to count the blood wherewith you are sanctified a common thing Heb. 10. Oh this contempt of Christ contempt of the Gospel of those glad tydings and of that Soul Redeeming blood That soul shall be cut off from his people To you that believe he is precious there is a reverential esteem of him in the hearts of all that are his they dare not arrogate nor medle with that which is his peculiar Glory and assume their Salvation to themselves The Papists will say they are saved by Christ but how Why through the blood of Christ but how come they to be made partakers of him Why God foresees that they will repent and believe and so ordains them to life upon the foresight of what they will do And thus they do as it were devour the blood of the Peace-Offering and destroy the Glory they pretend and seem to give to him THE GOSPEL OF THE SIN-OFFERING Lev. Cap. 4. August 13.16 23. 1668. The Sin-Offering Chattaah THis is the fourth of those six kinds of legal Sacrifices which are handled and directed in the seven first Chapters of this Book The first is Yola the Burnt-Offering Cap. 1. The second is Mincha the Meat Offering Cap. 2. The third is Shelamim the Peace-Offering Cap. 3. The fourth is Chattaah the Sin Offering in this 4. Chapter The fifth is Asham the Trespass-Offering Cap. 5. The sixth is Milluim the Offering of Consecrations As to this fourth namely the Sin-Offering many of the Laws and Rites thereof are the same with other Sacrifices
Uncleanness of which there be several kinds whereof this of Leprosie is one The general scope of this Chapter is to give Rules of tryal whereby to discern it The next viz. the 14. Chapter gives the Rules for cleansing the Leper Concerning both which God gives them afterwards a strict and solemn charge that they should take heed and observe diligently and do according to these commands of his concerning the Leprosie Deut. 24.8 The Leprosie and the legal uncleanness thereof was typical It signified and held forth three things 1. Sin which is fitly compared to a Leprosie for the loathsomness and painfulness and infectiousness of it Yet this is not all For Sin may be compared to any other disease as well as to the Leprosie Any sore or sickness or disease whatsoever may signifie and hold forth sin As Isai 1 5â— 6. full of sores the meaning is Spiritual sickness They were a sinful people Mat. 9.12 The whole need not a Physician but they that are sick that is sick of sin 2. Therefore secondly it signified Original sin For the Leprosie overspreads all Actual sins are the Boils and Sores that break forth but Original sin is as the Leprosie overspreading the whole nature Yet this is not all For this is in the best and therefore if this were all the people of God might be accounted Lepers For all have Original sin but yet there be some that be not Lepers 3. Therefore thirdly the Leprosie signified a state of sin and unregeneracy For the Leper must be shut out of the Camp from among the people of God as being none of them as having such a spot as is not the spot of his people Therefore it seems also to hold forth a state of sin a sinful or unregenerate condition Now for the exposition of this Chapter to let you see a little further into some of the Truths and Mysteries contained in it I shall only give you some general Observations under which we shall explain some part of the Chapter Obs 1. That it is a work both difficult and weighty for people to discern and judge aright of their own spiritual condition This appears by all these Rules and Directions Were it not necessary what need of any Rule were it not difficult what need of so many Rules of tryal about the Leprosie This condemns the slightness of many that are slight and careless about this great work bestow few thoughts and cares about it about searching into their Spiritual Condition as if it were an easie or a slight matter It is the exhortation of the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.10 that we should give diligence to make our Calling and Election sure Obs 2. That it is the Priests Office to judge of the Leprosie It is the Office of the Ministers of God to help his people in discerning their own spiritual estates and conditions towards God therefore it runs so much upon the Priest throughout the Chapter Bring him to the Priest and the Priest shall make him unclean Defile him pollute him that is Ministerially declare him so to be As Ezek. 43.3 4. destroy the City that is prophesie its destruction God hath given his Ministers power to retain and remit sins Joh. 20.23 which is the thing intended in this typical work of the Priests How should I understand without an Interpreter Act. 8.31 How could men know the meaning of the Scripture or apply it aright without this means which God hath appointed for their help Ordinarily they cannot Vse It reproves that reservedness of many who know not their own condition whether they be Lepers or no and yet will not disclose their case whereas it may be the Priest might declare and evidence it to them that they are clean To complain to every one and to make Table talk of their Corruptions and so to fish out praises savours of Hypocrisie But to make known their condition to some able faithful friend or Minister especially if in the use of other means you cannot attain to a comfortable discerning of it is a duty through the neglect whereof some are kept long in the dark about their own estates It is often times out of shame their sins and sores and spiritual Leprosies are loathsome and shameful But were it not better to make it known then to let the sores of thy Conscience sester inwardly Their Wounds stink and are corrupt because of their foolishness in this particular Obs 3. Note here which will carry us through many particulars in the Chapter the Rules of Tryal whereby the Priest is to judge of the Leprosie There be five Rules especially which be clear and safe to judg of the spiritual Leprosie by 1. If it be but skin deep it is not the Leprosie he is clean but if deeper he is unclean Vers 3 4 and again Vers 20 25 30. if it be but skin deep it is some sin some sore of a lesser nature but if deeper then the skin in the Vitals blood and spirits he is unclean it is the Leprosie So if there be sins and corruptions appearing like spots in the skin in a mans outward walkings yet if the heart be not tainted it is a good sign A Child of God may have spots in his Skin frailties in his life but his heart is sound his heart is perfect with God sound in his Statutes But there be some sins that go deep not only in the Skin but the sin is deeply rooted in the heart and spirits and affections of a sinner so that the Vitals are infected This is a sign he is a Leper 2. Tryal Doth it stand at a stay Or doth it spread further and further Vers 5 6 7 8. And again vers 23 27 28 34 36 37. If it stand at a stay he is clean If it spread he is a Leper So a leprous sinner that is in a sinful state and condition the Leprosy will spread in him Evil men and Deceivers will grow worse and worse 2 Tim. 3.13 Their Corruptions gain ground upon them But it is a sign there is some beginning of healing if it stand at a stay If the Lord be healing a sinner mortifying his Lusts he is clean There is sinful Corruption in a Child of God but it doth not grow spread and gather strength from day to day but on the contrary it is decaying it is on the losing hand The house of Saul grows weaker and weaker but the house of David grows stronger and stronger This is a sign God intends good to him 3. Tryal is this If there be proud raw flesh in the Rising vers 9 10 11 and 14 15. he is not to be shut up in suspense the thing is evident But how shall we apply this to the spiritual Leprosy Thus. Is there proud raw flesh of pride and presumption and impatience of reproof This is an evil sign the sin is grown to some strength There may be sores and spots in a Child of God but they are not so sore as that they
break Bread every Lords day And in the primitive times the Sacrament was the concluding Ordinance But Man did not eat of the Tree of Life for then he had been confirmed and lived for ever Gen. 3.22 therefore it is not likely that he stood in his integrity to the end of the Sabbath And as to the time of the day wherein he sinned it seems to have been about eating time at dinner about noon eating what they should not being the thing wherein they sinned And after his Fall it is said that God came and spake to them in the cool of the day Gen. 3. ver 8. This seems to have been about that time of the day which the Scripture calls the ninth hour which is after our reckoning about three a clock in the afternoon So long they were in darkness and under guilt of their Sin before the Promulgation of the Gospel to them Wherein some have observed a congruity in that Jesus Christ was under those his infinite Sufferings upon the Cross the same space of time from the sixth hour to the ninth Matth. 27.45 46. And it being thus Man in his first sin and fall did break all the Commandments at once as he brake all the rest so he sinned upon the Sabbath day This seems by all the circumstances of the Story to have been the time of his Fall But to think that he fell on Tuesday the tenth day from the Creation there is nothing in the History to evince it Others think this Fast on the day of the seventh month was appointed in remembrance of the great Sin the Idolatry of the Golden Calf Exod. 32. But we may rest in that the Text mentioneth as the occasion of this Ordinance viz. the Sin and Death of Nadab and Abihu And there is a threefold Instruction we are here to learn Obs 1. Here we are taught first That there must be holy fear and reverence in approaching to God in his Ordinances an holy fear and dread of sinning in the manner of his Worship and that it is a dangerous thing to worship God otherwise then he hath appointed Men should take heed of it that they die not as Nadab and Abihu did for this sin they incur the danger of Death both Death temporal and eternal Though God doth not usually smite men with visible Judgments but when they are first in any transgression yet there is a spiritual fire and wrath upon their spirits for it which is worse then outward Judgments Obs 2. The Lord takes hold of the saddest occasions to bring in Dispensations of the greatest good and mercy to his people Light out of Darkness Heaven out of Hell good out of evil to those that he hath set his Love upon Obs 3. When some are slain and die in and for their sins the Lord provides for the Salvation of others that they die not Now to come to the thing it self Moses is to charge Aaron that he come not into the Holy of holies at all times nor in any manner but at Gods appointed times and in such manner as he requireth This manner is here described at large It consists chiefly in three things 1. His washing himself 2. His holy Garments And 3. His propitiatory Offerings 1. That the Priest must wash before he put on his Garments and before he present his Offering is an intimation of his Purity and Cleanness Hence that expression of the Apostle Heb. 10.22 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure water This is the first thing he is to do So Christ Matth. 3.16 was baptized before he entred upon his Ministry and he was perfectly holy and pure not having the least defilement of sin upon him though he had taken on him our Nature and all the other Infirmities of it Vid. On the Priests Consecration Exod. 29. 2. As to his Attire here be two sorts of holy Garments mentioned in the Services of this day the holy Garments ver 4. and other holy and most costly Garments ver 23.24 Some call the former his White Garments and the other his Golden Garments 1. This Priestly Attire was an emblem of spiritual clothing Psal 132.9 Let thy Priests be clothed with Righteousness and let thy Saints shout for joy and ver 16. I will also clothe her Priests with Salvation Job 29.14 I put on Righteousness and it clothed me my Judgment was as a Robe and a Diadem This then speaks the Grace and Holiness that was in Jesus Christ and ought to be in Ministers such Garments Ministers should be clothed with 2. Those two sorts of Attire the White and the Golden Garments signified the different estate and condition of Jesus Christ when he performed the great work of our Redemption and made atonement for us he did it in much meanness and abasement Isai 52.14 his Visage was marred he was without external Pomp and worldly Glory in the form of a Servant made himself of no Reputation Phil. 2.7 though with Holiness and Purity and Innocency He had white Garments on though they were but plain But as there is a clothing of Grace so there is a clothing of Glory 2 Cor. 5.2 4. And after his Resurrection when he had been in Heaven and returned again and arose and appeared from the dead he did change his Raiment He wore the garments of Holiness here but when he entred into the holy place even into Heaven he did put on garments of Glory These were the holy Garments on this day of Expiation Now the third thing is the Offerings of Atonement and they were of two sorts for the Priest and for the People 1. For the Priest himself and for his own House ver 3 6. This teacheth us the insufficiency and imperfection of the legal Priesthood Heb. 5.1 2.3 we need a better High Priest and we have one Heb. 7.26 27 28. The Priest was first to make atonement for himself and for his own sins that so he might be fit as a figure of Christ the true High Priest to make atonement for the people They that lie under unpardoned guilt themselves are not fit to be Mediators and Intercessors for others The Priest had three things to do in reference to his own Sacrifice 1. He was to kill it and so to make atonement with it v. 11. This was a Type of the Death of Christ the true Sacrifice 2. He was to offer Incense in the Holy of holies v. 12. This is a Type of the Prayers and Intercessions of Jesus Christ in the virtue of his Satisfaction Here are four particulars observable 1. As the High Priest did this before he sprinkled the Blood in the Holiest of all so Christ prepared his own way into Heaven by his Prayers and Intercessions Joh. 17. 2. The Incense was beaten small to intimate the anguish and contrition and brokenness of heart wherewith Christ prayed and interceded for us those agonies of spirit in his Prayers before his Death which he offered
on foot about it as if a man should say he had rather lye or steal or whore or be drunk or kiss the Pix or bow to an Idol or go to Mass then not preach the Gospel For I beseech you consider either it is a sin or it is not a sin If it be not a sin to preach in a Fools Coat or in a Surplice prove this and then use it and wear it in the name of God But if it be a sin it is not a supposed good intent to save a Soul that will justifie an evil action though it be not so foul an evil as some others If a Minister would fain do good to Souls and therefore is very loth to be silenced let him observe this rule let him take heed of conforming lest God silence him lest God stop his mouth or blast his endeavours that he shall never speak with any great evidence and demonstration of the Spirit nor with any great success for the good of Souls For I see but few Surplices or Circingle men that do much good Vse 2. To confute the Popish Allegorizers who tell us the literal sense of these Garments is such as this namely That the disposition and frame of the World is expressed in them and that the High Priest did thereby profess himself the Minister or Servant of the Creator of Heaven and Earth For of the significations of these holy Garments thus they descant see Aquin. 1. 2â— â—st 102. art 5. ad 10. and Becan tom 3. Opusc 7. cap. 5. q. 1. 〈◊〉 lintea significabant terram ex quâ linum nascitur Balceus Oceanum qui cingit terram the Linnen Breeches signifie the Earth out of which Flax groweth the Girdle the Ocean because it compasseth the Earth like a Girdle Tunica hyacinthina Aerem quia hyacinthini coloris est the sky-coloured Coat the Air because it is of a sky-colour The Golden Bells of it the Thunder in the Air The Pomegranates the Lightenings The Ephod the starry Heavens The two Onyx-stones the two Hemispheres or the Sun and the Moon The twelve Precious Stones in the Ephod the twelve Signs in the Zodiack The Mitre the Empyrean Heavens The Golden Plate God the King of all This they call the literal account of these holy Priestly Garments Well then they come to the mystical sense and there they tell us That the Linnen Breeches signifie Chastity the Linnen Coat purity of Life the Girdle moderation of Discretion the Mitre a right Intention which they say are virtues necessary for all Ministers over and above which Bishops they say must have four others which they fancy to be signified by the other Garments of the High Priest But these are too vain to insist on a large Confutation of them As these Interpretations and Applications of theirs have no footing in Scripture nor the least countenance given them from thence so there is a profound silence concerning Christ therein passing him over wholly when as indeed He and his Performances and Endowments are the great thing taught and shadowed forth by them all Vse 3. See and behold in these holy Pontifical Vestments the spiritual Glory of Jesus Christ the true High Priest For all this did represent plusquam Angelicam Splendorem Calvin that more then Angelical Splendor of Jesus Christ who is clothed indeed with Glory and Beauty Let me but briefly run over and recapitulate the heads of things according to the Explications given 1. Here is the white and pure Linnen of his perfect Righteousness imputed to us in Justification For that is one great thing intended by it as well as the Garments of Holiness and Grace inherent 2. He is girded with Strength and with Truth and Faithfulness for our Salvation and is always ready to do us good 3. He hath a glorious Robe the Golden Bells whereof have sounded in the holy place and their sound is gone forth into all the earth and the Fruits thereof are sweet and fragrant as a Garden of Pomegranates 4. He wears a glorious Ephod in the shoulders whereof he doth support his Church and lifts up them and their concernments out of the dust of death and sin and misery and bears them up before the Lord as upon the shoulders of an infinite and almighty Power 5. He hath a Brest-plate of Love upon his Heart continually our Names and our Concernments are written there even upon the Heart of Jesus Christ like the Names of the Children of Israel upon Aarons Brest-plate 6. Here is the true Urim and Thummim all Divine Illuminations and Perfections in the Heart of Jesus Christ and Emanations of Light and Holiness from him to us 7. He hath a Mitre upon his Head He is a Royal Priest both King and Priest He reconciles us effectually and intercedes with Power as a Prince prevailing with the Lord. 8. And lastly he wears a Golden Crown of Holiness upon his Forehead before the Lord. And having such an High Priest Is not all this enough to strengthen Faith and to encourage you not only to believe but to rejoyce in believing even to rejoyce and triumph in Jesus Christ THE GOSPEL of the CONSECRATION of the PRIESTS Exod. cap. 29. ver 1 c. to 38. Feb. 21. 1668. THe Contents printed in your Bibles give you the true Analysis of this Chapter for there be three things in it 1. The Consecration of the Priests to ver 38. 2. The continual Burnt-offering ver 38 c. 3. The Lords Promise of his gracious Presence with the Children of Israel ver 45. It is only the first of these viz. the Consecration of the Aaronical Priests unto their Office that we are now to speak unto There be four things wherein those Priests of old were Types 1. In their Priestly Qualifications and other Rites and Rules observed by them 2. In their Apparel 3. In their Consecration to their Office 4. In their Priestly Ministrations The two former of these viz. their Priestly and ritual Qualifications as also their holy Garments have been spoken to That which follows next is their Consecration to their Office which is declared at large in two places almost two whole Chapters of holy Scripture The Direction of it in this 29th of Exodus and the Execution of it in the 8th Chapter of Leviticus This Consecration was the solemn Investiture of them in their Office which was done by sundry sacred and mystical Rites and Ceremonies ordained and appointed of God for that end They were chiefly these four all mentioned in both these places Exod. 29. and Levit. 8. 1. Washing them 2. Apparrelling them with the holy Garments 3. Anointing them with the holy Oyl 4. Sacrificing and so sanctifying them by Blood All which I shall put together in one general Proposition or point of Doctrine which will indeed contain the sum of this whole Chapter as far as to ver 38. Doctr. That the Consecration of the Priests of old was done by washing them and by apparrelling them