for more seeing this is a commoditie of eternall nature Thirdly the Church expressing her feeling of Christs loue to be vnto her more excellent and efficatious then wine wine being that which delighteth the heart of man wee thereby are taught that euery member of this mysticall body doeth not onely liue to Christ but also die to the world and the temporaries thereof The loue of God in the vse of his word which is one principall particular of his loue it was vnto Dauid more sweete then the hony and hony-combe and of more acceptation then thoâ—sands of golde and of siluer And the loue of God in Christ it was of such value vnto the Apostle Paul as in comparison thereof he counteth Tribe Birth and al temporarie and naturall things but drosse and dung Howe the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martires and Confessors haue deemed Christs loue their continuall sufferings and patient vndergoings of the crosse for his sake they plainely doe witnesse Balaam Iudas Iscariot Demas and many in this age sauouring earth not spirit they are by this doctrine laide open for such as are not of the Church howsoeuer within the church for al these Moonish fleeting temporaries the church treades vnder her feet the vnion and sensible feeling of Christ his seuerall loues being vnto her all in all Lect. III. Verse 2. Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is an ointment powred out therefore the virgines loue thee Or vnto the sauour of c. Or at the sauour c. AS in the last clause of the former verse she gaue a reason of her petition and that was drawne from the excellencie of his loue so here shee rendreth a reason of her so louing his Loue namely because shee found in him as a boxe of aromatique ointments all redolent sauours and precious spirituall smells Which precious odors were vnto her his Church and vnto euery particular member thereof most sauorie and delightfull In which comparison shee seemeth not onely to cast her eye vnto ordinary confections in the Apothecaries shop but also and that more specially vnto the sacred Ointment and Perfume in Exod. 30.23 c. effected by Moses directed by Iehouah for annointing and perfuming his Tabernacle and Priesthoode The counterfait whereof none other vpon paine of death might make nor vppon like penalty might any other person annoynt his flesh with this ointment nor perfume himselfe with this composition for the one and the other were set apart from common vse and so dedicate to a sacred ecclesiasticall purpose All which let vs draw into some particular information and profit First in that the Church seeketh out the most excellent ointment and perfume for declaration of Messiahs sweete name it teacheth vs that all excellent things in nature they are but as tipes and shadowes of spirituall graces not much vnlike to the Cabalists position which concludeth all inferiour things to be but shapes of superiour things and the patterne which Moses saw in the Mount to be a certaine proportion in the heauens whereunto the earthly tabernacle was resemblanced And in very troth all excellent things in nature they are but as steps degrees and greeces for vs to climbe vp by vnto heauenly respects Secondly her reference to the former ceremoniall oyntment wherewithall the Iewish sanctuary and priesthood were annointed it leadeth vs to these considerations First that the new testaments Church figured by that tabernacle and the new testaments Priest euen Christ Iesus figured by the former they are interessed with the inward spirituall ointment which was shadowed forth by the former outward materiall Oyle That the Church hath it Saint Iohn recordeth it in his first Epist. 2. Chap. 20. 27. verses That Iesus Christ hath it the spirit of Prophecie plainely foresaw saying The God thy God hath annointed thee with the gladsome Oile aboue thy fellowes Psa. 45.8 Aboue all his fellow members because they receiue it by measure but he beyond measure Iohn 3.34 he is the fountaine full of grace and truth as for his members thâ—y receiue of his fulnesse grace vpon grace Iohn 1.16 The sacred oile was powred vpon Aaron our head and from him the head that soueraigne ointment commeth downe his mysticall bodie euen to the hemme of his garment the most inferiour member not exempted of reall sanctification Besides seeing the former sacred oile a figure of the spirit sanctifying it was onely with profite applied to the Priest and his Tabernacle it putteth vs in minde how Christ and his members only can haue this spirit in the worke of sanctification Nor can any haue receiued this reall sanctification in any true measure but it is vnto them a reall pledge of eternall saluation and a demonstration of their holy Election before all worlds Ephes. 1.3 c. Furthermore where it was death vnto him that should apply this oile of grace to Prophane persons it teacheth vs that which our Sauiour teacheth namely That holy things are not to be giuen to Dogges in paine of God his high displeasure the sauing promises of the Gospel are not to be applied to the open vnpenitent The ointment of sauing Grace offered in the Word and Sacraments it appertaineth onely to such persons as first haue become a spirituall house or Tabernacle to God and secondly as true Priests and Sacrificers doe offer vp a reasonable oblation out of the Sanctum or Holy-place built in their conscience For howsoeuer in Christ is the Sanctum-sanctorum Holy-of-holies yet in euery of his members is a Sanctum or sanctified conscience Lastly whereas the like penaltie hanged ouer his head that should counterfet that precious oile it putteth vs in minde what fearefull iudgement hangeth ouer the heads of counterfet hypocrites and heretikes who by painted doctrine and sheepish conuersation doe make outward shewes of the spirit and holinesse but in very deede are hollow hearted and destitute of the power of true godlinesse Thirdly that shee termeth her Beloueds Name to be as Oile powred out she would allude to the full and perfect odor of such precious confections who howsoeuer they be sauory in themselues yet are not felt sauorie vntill they be powred out and as it were pownded euen as Maries pound of Spikenard ointment is then saide to fill the house with the sauour when as she had broken vp the boxe and powred it out And herein she would teach first that the very name of her Beloued was preciously sweete being powred out Sweete in it selfe it must be from all eternitie but then manifested sweete when it was vttered to mankinde Adam lying plunged in diabolicall stench how sweete vnto him was it to heare of the blessed Seeds of woman Abram hauing beene-singed in Vr that is in the Fire of Chaldea horrible Idolatrers causing their children to passe through the fire sweete vnto him must the name be of Seede wherein he and all nations should receiue a blessing Sweâ—te was the name Shiloh in the
a sufficient rule but then we must haue in vs the inward oyntment as Iohn termeth it 1. Ep. 2.27 that is his Spirit for leading vs into all truth or else in seeing we perceiue not and hearing wee vnderstand not To this purpose excellent is that saying of Barnard With what spirit the scriptures were writ they couet to be read and with the same spirit to be vnderstood For thou shalt neuer enter the sense of Paul till by vse of good intention in reading of him and by study of continuall meditation thou haue drunke in his spirit Thou shalt neuer vnderstand Dauid till by experience it selfe thou haue put vpon thee the very affections of the Psalmes Whereto I will adde that of Chrysostomes Riuall As all men see this corporall heauen but yet beholde not God inhabiting therein so al men reade the scriptures diuine but notwithstanding all vnderstand not that the God of truth is placed in the scriptures but onely such a one as hath beene baptized to the receiuing of the holy-ghost Nor doth this condemne but commend the scriptures heauenlinesse who will not be vnderstood but of such as haue receiued the spirit that is of heauen nor any vision had from thence till the Lambe Christ Iesus haue vnsealed it Reu. 5. for no other is worthy so much as to touch the letter ceremony or outside Naturall Wit will serue for naturall Writ but the diuine writings of God will not stoope to the naturall spirit of Man The naturall man saith Paul perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spirituall discerneth all things Thus from scripture and ancient Churches consent it plainely appeareth that for seeing the Old way the Good-way wherein the Patriarches Prophets Apostles haue walked it is absolutely necessarie that euery soule doe vnto the scriptures bring the spirit of the scriptures that is for vnderstanding the word of God they are to bring the holy spirit of God For wisdome will be iustified of her children None of the wicked shall haue vnderstanding but the wise shall vnderstand Lect. XI And feede thy Kids aboue the tents of the Shepheards THe Direction so giuen vnto her for the way she is to walke in now followeth the Direction shee hath for feeding of her yong-ones The yong-ones are here termed Gedijoth of Gedj vsually turned a Kidde or a yong Goat Rabbj Dauid Kimchi saith as Pagnine noteth in the roote Gádáh that it signifieth also a Lambe I take it to be indifferently any yong-one of the flockes as Pullus in Latine is any yong one of Beasts or Birds So I conceiue from the adiunct it hath in Genes 28.20 where it is Gedj Hà gnizijm a Kid of the goates that is a yong one of the goates the distinction so made by Gniz a Goate left any should doubt what kinde of yong one it was And this distinction is also well obserued of Ãbben-ezra hereon Euen as the Latines ioyne the word sheepe or Goate c. with pullus when they would haue vs to vnderstand the particular kinde they speake of Now in this place it must be considered what flocke he speaks of and then it may be knowne whether Lambs or Kids be entended The word flockes Gnèderéi in the sixt verse it is a generall word The word flocke Tsòn in this verse it is also a generall word for Cattle and so neither of them particulate any one kinde Afterwards in this Song the Church hath once some assimilation with sheepe but sundry times with goates I see not so how to tie it in this place to the one rather then the other but if it may I would rather take the word Kidde Yet seeing it seemeth indifferent we will make vse of both First wee may hence obserue the Lord his tender care ouer yong-ones who would not onely haue the Parents to come but also would haue the yoong tender sucklings to be brought vnto him The Catabaptists herein are hard-hearted debarring Infants a place in the Church denying them the entring-sacrament of the Church why because they are Kiddes because they are vncleane till they be cleansed by actuall faith in the sight of the Church True if they be considered in themselues they are yong Goates conceiued and borne in sinne and so were all the Male-children circumcised vnder the law but what then therefore not to be baptized It followeth as well therefore Abrahams Males not to be circumcised Obiection There was a commandement for that so not for this Answere It being once commaunded that they should be sealed that seale remaineth theirs tâ—ll a commandement be giuen to the contrary If once they had that mercy then alwayes that mercie except Christ came to lessen former mercy which to affirme were blasphemie Obiection But Circumcision that seale is abolished Answere It is abolished for the outward signe the foreskinnes cutting but the matter of that sacrament Christs blood purging vs from sinne mortifying the old man liuing in the new man that is still abiding hauing an easier signe namely Water adioyned thereto euen as the Paschall supper hath the Lords supper come in his place the signe changed but the matter our foode and strength in Christ continued We can shew that children are once receiued in let them shewe when they can that children were cast out Obiection Baptisme is the seale of that righteousnes that is by faith therefore childâ—en vnpossessed of actuall faith not to be baptized Answere So Circumcision Rom. 4.11 was the seale of that righteousnesse which was by faith doth it also follow Children therefore not to be circumcised Foolish spirits Children had circumcision not in respect of actuall faith in them but in respect of actuall faith in the Church of whom they were borne or for some were strangers in respect they were vnder the Churches gouernement as Abrahams males freeborne and strangers in his house vnder him were circumcised not by vertue of their actuall faith in the promise but rather for that they were counted branches of his tree for he belieued God and it was counted to him for Righteousnesse Which equitie once established it continueth much more vnder the Gospel And to put it out of all doubt our Sauiour in Marke 10.14 affirmeth of Infants that such were of the kingdome of God and therefore an errour in his Disciples to keep them backe from the blessing which appertaineth to the seede of the Church seeing all such to vs are borne within the Couenant of grace for so the Lord said I am thy God and the God of thy seede If as the Apostle speaketh in Rom. 11.16 the first fruits be holy so is the lumpe if the roote be holy so are the branches that is to vs holy in respect of the Couenant as also in 1. Cor. 7.14 Where the Childe of the Belieuer be Father or Mother the belieuer is
Sharôn push their hornes against heauen as the redde Dragon their parent watched in his birth to deuoure him they can preuaile no more then Dogs that yelp against the Moone for this white and ruddy Rose is taken vp vnto God his throne Where he sittes at right hand of Maiestie till his father haue fought the second battel causing the enimies to become a footstoole So far the flower of Sharon the Rose of the worlds-field The Lilly is a flower of hot quality of excellent cleere colour whatsoeuer his colour be furnished with beauteous accomplements namely with the forme of a Bel leaued with the number of sixe furnished within with 7. graines and all within of the colour of golde hanging downe the head the lower by how much the stalke is higher of sauour so sweetely strong as mans sences will easily be ouerturned with the strength thereof This is the lilliy whereto our Saâ—ior assimilates himselfe That Messiah before was compared with the cold qualitie a reason was giuen thereof Herewith the Lilly hot in operation but this in another respect Cold he was in respect of his quenching the fiery darts of Satan hot he is in respect of chearing vp appalled spirits that haue bin nipped with the cold frosts of despâ—râ—tion And as for the first hee was compared to water and the Northerne winde so for the second hee is compared to fire and the Southerne winde By the first estate hee humbles by the second he lifts vp the first effected by the law and his curse the second brought to passe by the Gospel and his blâ—ssing For his royal accoutrements they superexcel Of the Lillies furniture it is saide Math. 6.28 29. that Salomon in all his glory was not araied like one of them But touching Iesus his clothing it surpasseth the Lilly The coate of Iesus is saide to bee without seame and the spirituall deckings of him are without all schismes nothing of his spirit that is not at vnitie in it selfe Wherewith was his humanitie inuested himselfe shall answer The spirit of the Lord is vpon mee Isa 61.1 If the spirit be his garment then no creature nor all creatures can compare with him in glory No maruell then though himselfe say Behold a greater than Salomon is here Math. 12.42 for he was the Lilly of the vallies which farre surmounted Salomon The Lillies bell-like forme it may put vs in minde of Aarons bels depending his Ephods robe which by their sound enformed the people of his going in comming out of the Sanctum or Holy-place signifying thereby the powerfull watch-word he would minister to all people sounding forth his voyce in the audience of all whereby notice might be taken of his sacrifice staine here and presented in the holy heauens or heauenly places The Lilly is called of the Hebrues Soshan the flowre of sixe because of his six leaues God creating all in measure and Number he by the number six would call vs to remember the ancient worke of creation dispatched in sixe dayes as also in the creation of our new Heauens and new Earth together with Messiahs appearance that is a new state ecclesiasticall and ciuill for the new Testaments Church to walke in For neither naturall nor spirituall Creation but all is in him for him and by him Which further appeareth by Psa. 45. dedicated to him that excelleth on Soshannim For the 7. graines growing therein they leade vs to further consideration of Christ who also is the Saboath of our soule The seauenth day the seauenth yeare the 7. times seauenth yeare begetting the great Iubile they al were shadowing rests of Messiahs rest the Substance of the former After hee established this rest by sacrificing himselfe once for all hee distinguisheth his newe Churches state into seauen Sections of Seales of Vialls of Thunders of Trumpets teaching by Saint Iohn that the Seauenth trumpets sound should finish the mysterie of God Reu. 10.7 The Lillies golden colour within dooth intimate the golden graces wherewith his soule is filled From which golden fountaine we drawe grace for grace the glorious die of our conscience The head dependant by how much the more the stalke is of height it teacheth the humilitie of Iesus who rather then Dauid might sing the 131. Psalme Lord mine heart is not hauty neither are mine eyes loftie For he thinking it no robberie to be equall with God his Father did notwithstanding make himselfe of no reputation humbling himselfe to the very death Yea vppon the very crosse hee bowed downe the head as if hee would kisse his Church on the earth for drawing it after him into heauen As for the transicke sauour of the Lillie it well represents the ouerswaying rauishments of the soule by a full contemplation of celestiall glory Daniel fell downe at the sight of Gabriel vnable to sustaine his sight but when the soule shall haue a full sauour of glory sealed vp in Messiah hee shall become appalled stand as speechles and be ready to sink vnder through the strong verdure of such an object Now for the Lillies growth-plot the Vallies it teacheth not orlie the glorious humble estate of Iesus during his whole pilgrimage here whereto the Gospel doth plentifully witnes wherof before but also it enformeth vs of the benefit of Humilitie For as the vallies-lilly is first freâ—r from harme by tempests as also capable of more moisture then is the Lilly of the Mountaines euen so our Sauiour Iesus by his humble and lowe carriage was freer from his fathers indignation yea heereby didde vndermine the building of damned Principalities and powers as also by such estate became fully fitted to receiue all the sacred dewe of Heauen for the proud and hautie shall be sent emptie away but the humble and meeke shal be filled with euery good thing As pride goeth before destruction so Humilitie goeth before glory and true receipt of graces So much of Messiahs speach touching himself hauing so compared himself to the Rose of Sharôn the Lilly of the Vallies In the Churches garden I haue gathered this Nosegay and by the guift God hath giuen haue knitte it together it remayneth that heereafter we â—auour it and smell to it for keeping vs from the worlds pestilence Now to Messiahs speech of his church Lect. II AS the Lilly amongst the Thornes so my Loue amongst the Daughters Two senses and both analogicall may herein be obserued First an assimilation of the churches state with Christs secondly a siâ—ile of hir state with som natural Lilly The first may well follow the former proposition where Messiah affirmed himselfe to be the Lilly and may be resolued thus Looke what my lot is in this wicked world the same is my churches but my lot is to be galled and pricked of the wicked world therfore such is my churches portion And in this sense not the Church but Christ himselfe is the Lilly also in this verse That the Church is alotted to
his wayes are past finding out For if the Creature could swallow vp all the reason of the Creator God should be finite and God no God The most learned reason the most plaine and readie reason the soberest reason of God his electing reprobating or acting whatsoeuer is this God so willeth or it is because God so wil. An answer soone learned and as readily made and being put in practise it shall stay much babling and vaine iangling that destroies but the hearers As God did choose vs and freely seale vs vp in Christ the rock of our saluation before all time so in time he calls vs and comfortably speaketh vnto vs. Not entitling vs according to that we are in ourselues but as we are in him In our selues a serpentine brood but in him Doues by litle climing towards our head as doues by steps and staires do ascend the Rocke Lect. VII SHew me thy face Hauing awaked his Loue he now exhorteth to shewe her face vnto him or more neere to the hebrue shew thy countenance vnto me Quid eniim per faciem nisi fidem qua à deo cognoscimur what can we vnderstand by the face but faith seeing by it wee are knowne of God Shew me thy Faith saith GOD shew mee thy faith by workes saith man God taketh knowledge of vs face to face when we apprehend Messiah by Faith And for this cause Saint Paul teacheth iustification freely by faith seeing by that we haue peace with God Rom. 5.1 Man taketh knowledge of vs by workes and therefore Saint Iames who was but a man saith Shew me thy faith by workes The first we call internall the second externall iustification the first iustification with God the second with man If thou wouldst be iustified with man first labour thy iustification with God So did Zacheus when he said Behold Lord and so did Isaiah when standing forth with his children he cried Behold and so did the poore man in the gospel when he cried Lord I beleeue If thou canst shew thy countenance boldly to God then neuer feare the face of man And how can we shew our face to God by first being quickened in Christ and at vnion with him by faith for hee it is alone in whome the Father is well pleased Heare him shew thy face to him and he will comfortably shew vs the father for none comes to the father but by him And did we but know the benefiâ—e ensuing our standing bâ—fore his face he should not neede twise to say vnto vs Shâ—w me thy face We cannot shew our face to him but wee shall see the face of him And that which is more while we behold the Glory of Messiah with open face wee are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 that is whilst by the eye of faith we contemplate Messiah we are turned not into Messiah but into his glorious Image And this conuersion not by any naturall hand but by the operation of the Lords spirit But here this question may be propounded Seeing the Elect are alwayes seene of Christ how comes it that here he craues their sight I answer He desires not her sight in regard of Election bxt of Iustification which is alone by faith as afore For though Paul was elect before time yet had he not faith but in time And that time of his iustification by faith did appeare together with the Ghospels spring-time The Church of the Gentiles had her election euer sealed vp in Christ but shee had not euer faith in Christ. He therefore here desireth his loue to shew her countenance which sometimes appeared not that is to shew the precious effect of faith which alwayes was hers in posse in regard of Gods dâ—cree but not in Esse in present habite or possession Cause me to heare thy voyce What voyce is this which he so desireth to heare Is it the voyce of blasphemie of taking God his name in vaine the voyce of vncleanenesse of haeresie of cursing No Messiah delights not in that voyce Whâ—t then is it euen that voyce which is effected in her by his owne holy spirit As the voyce of preaching his glorious workes the voice of singâ—ng Psalmes hymnes and spirituall songs But speciallie the voyce of sad-glad prayer like to the ioyous swâ—et mourning note of the Doue in the presâ—nce of her mate Sinneâ—addes â—addes this voyce but Faith glads it Sinnâ— drawes his notes downe and sin is the burden of this Song but fâ—ith in Christ carries vp the notes aloft piercing the eare of the highest With this Douelike voyce Messiah is so affected as he entreats his Church to cause him to heare her voyce quasidicat Though I should sâ—eme not to heare thee at the first or second or moe times yeâ— cease not to pray pray continually and pray feruently like to the poore widdow that stil importuned the Iudge the more we pray the more we may and the more he would like to a father who seemeth not to heare his childe because he would much heare the Child seeming to eye another thing when he will indeed not heare any other thing nor eie any other thing with delectation The reason of the one and the other followeth For thy voyce is sweet and thy countenance comely First for the voyce it must needes delight because it is sweet melodious delightsome and piercing Nor maruell seeing all such voyce is the effect of the Holy-ghost the very spirit of Messiah and there must needes be sweet and pleasant to Messiah Would the Lord haue put Dauid so much to prayer had not prayer beene sweet to the Lord Would the heauenly Father haue put his owne Sonne so much to prayer had not his prayer beene as sweet odours continually ascending And would the Holy-ghost haue taught vs Continually to pray to watch in prayer in all things to giue thanks but he knew that the Father and Son did sweetly affect prayer And as the voice of prayer so the voice of reading singing and speaking as the words of God they be all as before hath beene cleared sacrifices of sweet sauour vnto God Chrysostome hauing praised spirituall song he addeth This I speake not to the end that you should onely praise spirituall Songs but to the end you should teach your children and wiues to sing such songs not only in knitting or doing of other worke but specially at the table And of the whole Clemens Alexandrinus writes thus Vniversa eius vita speaking de homine cognit praedito est quidam celebris ac sanctus dies festus Atque ei quidem sacrificia sunt ipsae precâ—s laudes quae ante cibum fiunt scripturarum lectiones psalmi autem hymni dum cibus sumitur antequam eatur cubitum quinetiam noctu rursus orationes A man indued with knowledge his whole life is a certaine honourable and holy festiuall day His sacrifices are very prayers and
in the Church of the Gentiles euen before she was This falleth out by reason of the certaine execution of his decree as also by reason things past and to come are all present vnto him and his Spirite And heereof it is that his spirit very ordinarily in the prophets doth speake offuture things as already existing Nor but for such cause coulde Messiah and his church be introduced mutually parling in Salomons time about a thousand yeeres before Messiahs substance put away the shadowes that so the partition wall broke downe he might espouse the Gentile Which by the way must teach vs to thinke of things to come Gods word hauing taught that such things shall come as if they were already acting nay as if they were already acted Hath God threatned to destroy the impenitent If Noah Iob Daniel yea if Moses and Samuel should rise vp in their behoose they could not turne away the iudgement Hath God promised mercie to the contrite saluation to the faithfull victorie to his Church It is as good as done hell gates cannot preuaile against it For the time of Messiâ—hs absence it lieth in these two points first it should be till the day breake secondly till the shadowes flee away For the day-breake it implieth to the Gentiles onely that time of Messiâ—hs incarnâ—tion whereby the Day-starre from an high did visite vs or as the Greeke readeth wherein the Rising or East from an high did visite vs. Which implieth not so much the Day-starre called Phósphér and Lucifer growne into euill report because of their application to Satan and Nebuchadnetsar as the Sunne it selfe arising in the East True it is that Messiahs starre appeared in the East but that was not an ordinary but extraordinary starre fore-prophecied of by Balaam Iaakobs starre whereby the Easterne Sophies had intelligence of Messiahs birth The last writing Prophet of Israels Church hee prophecying of this Day breake doeth say The Sunne of Righteousnesse shall arise c. This light came amongst his owne but they louing darkenesse more then light laboured by false accusations to darken this Sunne as sackecloth they therefore kill him But the firmaments Sunne pulled in his head as ashamed to shine when the Sonne of God might not shine Hereupon the day did plainely breake for the vaile of the Temple brake asunder and as at his birth hee was highly honoured of the Gentiles so here at his death Pilate a Gentile did honour him with a Kingly inscription against the heart of the Iewes The heathen Centurian and his comâ—any seeing the euents They feared greatly saying Surely this was the Sonne of God With his birth the day did breake with his death the Sunne rose higher but with the Temples ouerthrow by the army abhominable of Romans which was about fortie yeares after his death the Gentiles had the Sunne of righteousnesse further risen vpon their Hemisphere whereof more hereafter Christ being thus as Simeon Iustus termes him a light to Gentiles and a glorious light to Israel it teacheth vs all to shew forth the vertues of him that hath called vs out of darkenesse into his maruelous light 1. Pet. 2.9 Lect. XII MEssiahs absence is secondly laide downe in thâ—se words Tâ—ll the shadowes flâ—e away q.d. retire my Wel-beloued till the nights darkenesse be put to flight till the ecclesiasticall shadowes be chased away by the Sunnes bright rising As Christ was this Sun comming gloriously forth as a Bridegroome so the Law was but a shadow of good things to come the body whereof was Christ Heb. 10.1 Coloss. 2.17 wherein the Apostle may well allude to the shadow accompanying a mans body which sometimes is before sometimes behinde as occasion is ministred by the Sunnes course euen as some shadowes went before Messiahs incarnation some againe followed behinde not vnlike to the two spies of Israel carrying betweene them the cluster of grapes for the Churches comfoâ—â— As the Apostle calleth all a shadow so Salomon here vseth the plurall shadowes because the whole body of tipes would be considered in the particular members For the better effecting whereof I will giue a taste thereof by diuiding all ecclesiasticall shadowes into these three classes or heads Chronologicall Personall Sacramentall By Chronologicall shadowes I vnderstand such as consist in Number By Personall shadowes I intend such as rest specially in some Persons By Sacramentall shadowes I conceiue onely such as consist specially in typicall elements for externall signes for which they haue of ancients beene termed principally Sacraments For Chronologicall shadowes they be I doubt not so many as there be numbers in the old testament the handling whereof would make a large booke yea many bookes But as I am vnable to wade deepe in any part of this argument so for the present I wil obserue some few times or numbers and these also of such nature as this ages sluggard who despiseth this wisedome may be least able to spuâ—ne at The first shadowing number shall be â—ixe which I terme the number of creation In sixe dayes God begunne and finished his workes of creation not because it was of absolute necessitie for God to vse such time but for our instruction for whome both times and creatures were formed One is no number but as the seede of number because all number ariseth from it And for that cause it may well be giuen to God who as he is in esâ—â—nce One so all number hath his being flowing from hâ—m and returning backe againe into him like the Hierogliphick serpent which turneth his taile round about into his mouth And that is cause why Christ God doth terme himself Alpha and Omega the first and last of the Greeke letters the beginning and endâ—ng Two is the first number three the second and this Three is not onely made glorious in the first three dayes worke with a glorious light before Sunne Moone and Starres were created but also is closely inferred in the third word of the Bible Where after Breshâ—th Bara in the beginning created there followeth Aeloâ—im God but informe plurall together with the third place secretly teaching a pluralitie of persons that is a sacred Trinitie in Vnitie In three dayes moe heauens and earth are with their whole host perfected and therefore the number 6. well tâ—rmed of Diuines The perfect number or number of perfection But what may 6. in the naturall creation figure or shadow forth Beda Rabanus and others shall in effect answere for me These sixe dayes do insinuate the sixe ages of the world wherein a mysticall worke shal be finished represented by the former naturall worke The first age is from Adam to Noe the second from Noah to Abraham the third from thence to Dauid the fourth from Dauid to the transmigration to Babel the fift from thence to Christ the sixt from Christ to the worlds ending Some others doe also diuide the world into sixe ages but with some difference from the former ancients in
his calculation before Christ hee teacheth that the generall resurrection of all flesh shall fall in the 34. Iubile euen as Christ himselfe rose from the dead in his 34. yeare as if these yeares of Christs age were a mysticall shadow of so many Iubilees Now 34. Iubiles being so many hundreds they so do make 1700. yeares and these to be compted in the state of the new Testament This number but by another Methode is obserued and so vrged by a learned nobleman in Scotland That the Iubile shadowes forth that great day of rest a day like to the first Sabaoth which introduceth speach of Day but none of Night because Day and Rest were to be Iehouahs last act in creation that the Iubile I say figured forth that great day of our Redemption it is plaine and vngaine-sayable But what number of time shal finish al the worlds worke introduce that Iubile of soules I thinke that number concealed from vs euen as it is hid from the Angels yea from the Sonne of man in regard of his manhood Obiection Not the Day nor Houre but yet the yeare may Answ. If the Yeare then I would belieue also that the very Day if not also the Houre it might be knowen The Flood comming vpon the world in the 1656. which was the sixt yeare after 33. full Iubilees the Arke resting in the seauenth Noah was foretolde of the yeare yea of the very day Genesis 6.3 and 7.4 The Angel Gabriel telling Daniel of the 70. Sabaoths of yeers which should be cut out for declaring Messiah in our nature suffering for abolishing transgression he giues him therewith intelligence of the houre namely that he the Lambe of the world should be offered vp that houre wherein he came to Daniel namely at the time of Euening sacrifice which was the third houre after noone for from the time he preached that Gospel Daniel was to rectifie his accompt But because no more the Yeare then the Day and Houre can be knowne I take it the Holy Ghost also vseth the word Time when as in the person of the Apostles he saith of al the faithful their knowlege ye know not when the time is Marke 13.33 and therfore watch and pray continually Another thing might seeme more necessarie our knowledge namely When the Kingdome shal be restored to Israel Act. 1.6.7 and neyther that in respect of his precise time is fit for vs to know That the Kingdome of Christ shal be restored to the naturall Israel it is largely prooued by the Apostle in Rom. 11. but for the precise time of houre day or yeare it is not for vs Why Because the Father hath put it in his owne power Euen so our Sauiour touching the former saith Onely the Father knowes it Many haue bin bold to prescribe the yeare and some the day but still haue lied About some 540. yeares after Christ a rumor was spread abroad Quod MVNDVS esset cum prole periturus that the world with his issue was then to be destroyed And it came so to passe for a certaine captaine of Iustinians going into Italy for warring against the Gothes his name being Mundus in english WORLD he then with his children was slaine In such a second intent or secondary sense a man may haue guessed right but this not according to his Owne but the Diuels meaning Isidore hauing drawen out the worlds age first to Christ then from thence to his owne time he saith of the new testaments age as I do Residuum sextae Aetatis tempus soli Deo est cognitum the Remainder of the worldes sixt age is knowen to God Alone To the heauenly Father therfore leaue that and for vs let vs labor in watchfulnes fasting and prayer that so whensoeuer that day commeth we may lift vp our heads in the assurednes of our full Redemption Lect. XVII Personall Shadowes Adam Hauing thus giuen a taste of the sad wisdome of God couched in number by hauing somewhat suruaied the Numbers of Sixe Seauen and Eight I will now turne from figures of Number and time called Chronologicall or Arithmeticall tipes vnto such shadowes as concurre with Persons whome before I termed Personall shadowes And this God willing shal be done by examining some Persons before the lawe some vnder the lawe And of these before the lawe I will elect first two before the Flood Adam and Henoch secondly two after the flood Melchitsedech and Isaac For Adam the first man he is a shadowe of Christ called of the Apostle in 1. Cor. 15. the second Man or Adam But Adam being a man of such state as none of his sonnes after him for first he was excellently good secondly passing Euill thirdly good and euill it thereby commeth to passe that he is a shadowe dâ—uersly In regâ—rd of his first estate he figured Messiah à Simili in some sort of likelihood In his second estate hee shadowed forth Iesus ex obliquo ouer-thwartly In his last estate he was a type ex Renouato in respect of Renouation For the first behold the First man in his glorious Creation is made to the likenes of Aelohim God-triune secondly proclaimed Lord ouer the common creature thirdly giuing titles to Airie fowles and earthly Beasts fourthly the Woman built out of his side fiftly his Regall seate in Paradise In all these points the first Adam shadowed forth the second à Simili in some due congruitie First for the likenesse of God whereto hee was made it is no doubt according to the letter the character of Righteousnesse and truth of holinesse stamped in his reasonable soule Ephes. 4.23 24. Coloss. 3.3.10 but according to typicall mysterie This Image as one well writeth it is our Sauiour the first begotten of euery creature of whom it is written Heb. 1.3 that he is the splendor of light and the expresse figure or forme of his Fathers substance Well might hee shadow forth Messiah that Righteous and Holy-one when he himselfe was truely Righteous and Holy while he himselfe was more then a shadow euen after a sorte the liuely image of Aelohim O Adam thou then mightest but cast thy sight into thy selfe and there as in a glasse or pure fountaine thou might behold Heauens Trinitie in Vnitie as face to face the receptacle of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost If thou hadst there abouts spent thy contemplation thou hadst beene changed into the same image from glory to glory by the spirit proceeding from Father and Sonne But contemplating the creature without for the Creator within thou lost Vnitie with Veritie and became One with Vanity After the which thou in this respect didst loose the shadow of so diuine a substance and therewith rather became a shadow of Satan in Apostacie darkenesse confusion of Spirit Secondly being proclaimed Lord ouer the Creatures he herein liuelily shadowed forth the Son of God who of the Father hath all things put in subiection vnto him Which consideration I take it
purple and scarlet and fine twined linnen of broyderie vpon the twoo shoulders whereof were couched two Onix stones hauing sixe of Israels sonnes names grauen in the one and sixe in the other The Breast-plate of iudgement couched vpon the Ephod and very short it had the same stuffe as had the Ephod but coupled to with gold chaines fastned in gold rings In whose Square were couched twelue precious stones euery of these gemmes hauing engrauen one of the names of the Tribes of Israel But within this Breast-plate was put the Vrim and Thummim two things not expressed in scripture what they be nor can any Iew affirme indeed what they were Nay as onely they were of God giuen to Moses so to be inserted so is it not probable that euer any but Moses did see or know them And which is more after they were once lost and in Esraes time the Priest had them not Esr. 2.63 it neuer appeareth they were had againe The Angel bid Manoah not enquire after his name which was Secret and the scriptures concealing what Vrim and Thummim was I leaue it as a Secret The Plate for the Hie-priests miter was of pure gold tied to with a blew silke lace euen to the front of the Miter wherein according to art was grauen HOLINES TO IEHOVAH Thus was Aarons body adorned and so was his head decked all these tirings by reason of their mysterie precisely of the Lord called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bigedé Kâ—dèsh Garments of holinesse Exod. 28.2.4 garments for his consecration and yet all but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shadow of good things to come namely in Christ Iesus the Hie-priest of our profession For the foure tyrings of Aaron which hee had in common with the minor-pâ—iesthood wee may behold in them the pure innocencie of Iesus more white than linnen more spiritually fine than Bâ—sse Which Righteousnesse of his imputed to his church is called Reuel 19.8 pure fine linnen and shining euen the Righteousnesse of the Saints If Salomon cast his eyes to this no maruell though he saide At all times let thy garments be white for no such occasion of triumph as to waâ—ke purely hauing the bright shining puritie of Iesus put vpon vs for that is to be cloathed with Christ as the Woman in Reuel 12. is cloathed with the Sunne More particularly the Broydered coate may represent that Iustice which he puts on as an habergeon The breeches well represent his Puritie couering the shame of our nature The Girdle of his â—oynes and reines is expounded of the Euangelicall Prophet to be Iustice and faithfulnesse The Miter cloased about below but open aboue point-wise to heauen-ward it wel might shadow that saluation which he brought from heauen for mankinde below We the Body that is saued he the Head that saueth vs. And hitherto the Apostle leadeth vs when hee wills vs to take to our selues the helmet of Saluation which is no other than our head Christ as Simeon well vrgeth when he saith Mine eyes haue seene my saluation The inferiour Priest did thus in his garments represent Christ with his graces whereby we stand and are saued But to take a little view of the other foure garnishings which were proper to the Hie-priest it shal be to survay a more plenarie shadow of all things The foure tyrings absolute to Aaron and the Greatâ—sacrificer in succession vnto him be these first the side Robe secondly the Ephod thirdly the Brestplate lastly the Golden plate For the Robe consider his heauen-blewe or hyacinth colour and what can one behold therein but glory or heauenly maiestie such as is represented to Iohn in Reuel 1.13 where our great Hie-priest standeth amidst the Churches clothed with Maiestie as with a state-garment As Iohn see him we should all see him in the spirit of our Minde namely to be clothed with Maiestie and renowne no more knowing Christ according to the flesh but according to his glorious immortalitie from the abolishment of corruption in all his mysticall members for to them it is finally appointed that dishonour corruption and immortalitie shal be put off that so they may be inuested with mortalitie vncorruption and glory For as we haue borne the image of the earthly Adam so shal we beare the image of the heauenly 1. Corinthians 15 49. In the Bels and Pomegranats circuiting the skirts of this garment much may thereof be spoken and all according to the analogie of faith Whereof now onely this In the golden bells making a golden sound as Aaron went in and out not onely is represented Prayer which powerfully was offered vp of Iesus but also and that more properly Sonitus verbi the sound of the word Messiah himselfe was the Word of the Father by which Word the worlds were made But the Bels here shadow not that vncreate word but that Creature-word which our great Messiah hath sounded in the eares of his people Which word should be deare vnto vs euen as the fringe of our garment placed about our seete for directing strâ—ight steps accordingly Yea it shadow-wise preacheth that we must sound well to others for their direction also in holy duety Specially the Ministers of God must vâ—ter this golden sound Iram bene inquit Beda contra se occultiiudicis exigit si sine praeaicationis sonitu incedâ—t hee pâ—ouoketh the anger of God against him who insisteth not in the sound of preaching Nor is it sâ—fficient to pray or preach except it may be vndeâ—stood of Gods people for if the trumpet giue an vncertaine sound who shall prepare himsâ—lâ—e vnto battelâ— except â—aith the Apostle ye vâ—ter words that haue signification how shall it be vnderstood what is spoken for yee shall speake in the ayre As Christ rung this bell before vs so wee are to ring it vnto others specially that peale whereby people may take knowledge of Messiah gone into the Holy of holies euen into the very heauens to appeare now in the sight of God for vs. For the Pomeâ—granets consider their composition they were made of blew silke and purple scarlet Not to meddle with Iâ—sephus no not with some christians their elementall conceits grounded here vpon colours it is certaine that by these pomegranats a most excellent fruite is shadowed forth good workes and by these dainty colours is intimatâ—d the Beautie and comelinâ—sse of good workes It is a frequent vse of scripture to compare Mankinde to a tree and his actions to tree-fruites and as such fruitâ—s are commaunded so aâ—e they of the Holy-ghost commended for beauteous Instance it but with one particular That loue which causeth brethren to dwell together in vnitie is it not commended for Tób and Nágnim comely and amiable pâ—al 133.1 Yea good workes are the beautie of mankind Which as they abounded in Messiah so neither can be lacking in his members Was it the Leuiticall posie A Bell and a Pomeâ—granat A Bel and a Pome-granat Let it also be
became indeed The Son of Man And thus the fall of Man brought with it the fall of Gods Son The Head is contented to stoope with his body Christ with his Church pawning himselfe for her payning himselfe for her becomming poore for making her rich giuing her libertie by his captiuitie procuring to her pleasure by his paine life by his death Nor did the Sacrifices only represent this but also exhibite and seale Christ with his benefits vnto the faithfull Communicant In which respect it is that the Author to the Hebrues saith that Habel by his Oblation obtained witnesse that he was iust that is imputed iust by Christ Iesus sealed to his conscience To whome as to all ancient Belieuers Christ was the Lamb slaine from the beginning of the world Iesus Christ yesterday and to day the same also for euer The Egiptian priest could say Deus vim â—fficacem imprimit Sacramentis God deeply printeth an effectuall operation in Sacraments speaking of their fantastick Sacrifices but the faithfull of God vnder and before the lawe might in deede and trueth say that a vitall power was conâ—aid vnto them by the Sacrifice no lesse then eternall life by Christ Iesus sealed vnto their Conscience by the stamp of his Spirit By which externall shadowe they were so taught and sealed till Messiahs day did breake and the Lawes shadowes fly away So much generally of Sacrifice Lect. XXXII Circumcision THe next Sacramentall exhibitiue shadow shal be Circumcision first incommended vnto Abraham in the seauenteenth of Genesis and continued in his seede till Christ putte that away for establishing Baptisme But baptisme by sufficient preaching being once established thencefoorth Christ Iesus should profite him nothing that would be circumcised Galat. 5.2 This Circumcision was nothing else but a solemne cutting away of that fore-skinne in a Manchild which appertaines to the generatiue part Which the Lord at the first institution thereof doth sometimes call his Couenant sometimes the Signe of his Couenant Why Because the thing signified was to the true Belieuer conuaâ—de with the signe euen as it is in all exhibitiue sacraments And that is it which causeth the Apostle in Rom. 4.11 to call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a seale of that Righteousnesse which is by-faith Which Sacrament was to Abrahams nâ—turall sâ—ed as Baptisme is vnto Christs spirituall seed an infallible signe of being receiued into the Couâ—nant of grace and holy Church of GOD. For by this signe the Hebrew Israel and Iew all Abrahams petigree were distinguished from all the world besides termed Gentiles The ancient prophane Herodot recordeth that the Colchians Aegyptians Aethiopians did circumcize themselues and of the Aegyptians he will forsooth that the Phaenicians and Syrians in Palestina these must be the Iewes they learned Circumcision Yet forsooth saith he â— cannot define whether the Egyptians learned it of the Aethiopians or they of the Egyptians Silly Greeke it is something he saith but farre from the truth He thought the Iewes had leaâ—ned it of the Aegyptians Why No doubt because hee had heard that sometimes their predecessours had beene in Aegipt Whereas it was instituted neere two hundred yeares before Iaakob went downe into that country And whereas he affirmeth so many of the Gentiles to circumcise it is nothing likely they euer hauing the Hebrewâ—s and their religion in horrible detestation Onely this may be some of Abrahams seede specially by Ismael borne of the Aegyptian Hagar might be sparsed in such places and there continuâ— this ceremony But for circumcision to be practised by naturall Egyptians it is against all probabilitie Philo Iudaeus therefore in his discourse of Circumcision making one argument of the vse thereof to the bodily cleanenesse specially in the priestes hee therewithall affirmeth of the Aegyptians that they for such purpose did 〈◊〉 their bodies For Circumcision we see how odious it was vnto the Gentiles in the time of Maccabees as diuerse Iewes for liues preseruation were glad to vncircumcize themselues by a painefull stretching and curious phisiking of the scarred skinâ—e It is sufficient that the ancient Greek hath recorded the Ceremonie though altogether ignorant to whom it appertained and to what end vsed But what is shadowed in Circumcision First If wee respect the paring away of the flesh it shadowes forth the expoliation and casting away of the olde-man with his inueterate lusts And this of the Holy Ghost is oft termed the circumcision of the * heart If we respect the shedding of blood accompanying that cutting it may wel represent the blood of Christ Iesus appointed to be poured out for our sinnes for the washing away of our lustsâ— for without blood no remission Heb. 9.22 And if with the representation we respect what therein to the faithfull is exhibited it is no other thing than Christ who of God the Father is made vnto vs Wisdome Righâ—eousnes Sanctification and Redemption 1. Cor. 1.30 Who by his spirite and word worketh in vs true mortification to sinne and true Viuification to Holinesse and trueth of Righteousnesse Nor lesse was taught to Abraham at the gift of Circumcision For being ben a Sonne of 99. yeares hee in his olde age is tauâ—ht to cut off the old man that so a Couenâ—nt may be sealed in his flesh The Couenâ—nt is exprâ—ssed when he saith I am God all sufficient walke before me and be thou vpright wherein the Lord not onely calleâ—h Abraham and his seede to vprightnesse of Obâ—dience towards him but also preacheth and promisâ—th to be God all-sufficient vnto him and his Nay lest he should thinke his obedience the Cause why God would be sufficient vnto him the Lord first pronounceth him El-shaddaj and then biddeth Abraham walke vprightly because his All-sufficiencie in the first place was cause of his integritie in the second place Which couenant standing of free-grace and promise it could not doe lesse than leade Abraham by the hand vnto the Seed of promise euen Christ Iesus by whom al the earth was to receiue a blessing Vnto the which blessed seede the Lord seemeth to will Abram and Sarai to Behold when as he turnes Abram into Abraham and Sarai into Sarah so adding to their names the hebrewe letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in english is Behold Whereto the Angel Gabriel might haue an eye when to the Virgine Mary hee cryed Behold Which letter of hebrewes termed Heâ— of vs H is to Cabalists their character of the holy ghost By which forme of learning if Abraham euer approoued such learning that faithfull couple were taught to giue the praise of all goodnesse to that Spirite of God by whom they were sealed vnto the day of redemption Thus the Church in her infancie was taught by letters In this state of the Gospel wee should be able to put these letters together for spelling a Word euen that Word which assumed Flesh for the circumcising and sauing of Mankind So much for circumcision Lect. XXXIII Passeouer THe fourth sacramentall