is sacrificed for us where you see he gives Christ the very name that was given to the Paschal Lamb. So Peter in his Epistle when he is a treating about the price of mans redemption 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. verses saith Peter in the 18. verse We were not redeemed with silver and gold from our vain conversations received by traditions from our fathers but by the pretious blood of Christ as a lamb slain without spot or blemish verse 19. for so it was required of the Jews in offering of the paschal Lamb that it should be a Lamb without blemish Exod. 12. 5. So read Revel 6. This title of Lamb is given unto Jesus Christ Rev. 6. 15 16 17. The rich men and the great men and the chief Captains cryed to the hills fall on us and cover us from the presence of the Lamb for the great dâ—y of his wrath is come What is the reason think you here that Jesus Christ should be so much dreaded by the great men as well as the poor men at his next coming for these words have relation to his next coming I will not here undertake to determine whether this appearing here of Christ be at or before the general Judgement day as to that I shall refer you to abler judgements who have commented on the thing but without doubt the reason why our Lord is by John in that place set forth so dreadful to men under the metaphor of a Lamb is because the Lamb was a type of his Priestly Office which includeth the greatest of grace and offers of love to mankinde that can be Now for the men of the earth be they rich or poor yet if they shall live or dye abusing of and trampling upon this freely proffered grace and richly offered love this turns this grace and rich love and mercy into the dreadfullest of judgements against men Read Matth. 11. 21 22 23 24 with chap. 12. 42. and 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Thus you see that the Lamb in Exod. 12. was a type of Christ CHAP. 2. I now come to shew you how the action of the Jews in eating the Lamb together with the place time and manner of eating the Lamb doth agree to the work of God upon the souls of his people while on this side Heaven together with his various dealings with their conditions in this life which as in a glass those that are spiritual may see it answer face to face FIrst the place that the people were in when God provided this Lamb for them It was Egypt a Land of darkness abounding with all manner of idolatry and prophaneness a Land which knew not God Exod. 5. 2. a land of bondage of heavy burdens of cruel task-masters that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12. the officers of which place would often beat the people of the Jews ver 14. besides so cruel were the Task-masters to the poor Israelites that they would not hear the peoples cryes Exod. 5. 16 17. To this agreeth as in the ante-type the estate or condition that the creature is in before he comes to Jesus Christ which estate or condition we call natural or carnal which simbolizeth very well with the land of Egypt in which the children of Israel were when they did eat the Lamb. For first of all Egypt was a place of darkness so is the natural condition of mankinde it is full of darkness and ignorance it is wholly deprived of the saving knowledge of God and Christ A man by nature knows little of that blessed life light power which the true knowledge of God teacheth a soul he knoweth not what it is to have Christ dwelling in him by his spirit nor what it is for a man to live in Christ by believing much less doth he know that great and blessed mystery which Paul speaketh of 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Alas to tell a carnal man of living by believing what a mystery is this to him of worshipping God in the Spirit of praying in the Spirit of making the Blood and Flesh and Spirit and promises of Christ his daily food of eating the hidden Manna of having the white stone with a new name written in it that none can read but he that hath it Rev. 2. 17. Alas what a paradox is this to a carnal man to tell such a man of Christ within him and of a spiritual Kingdom within him and a light within him and so from hence to bid him turn to it and live obedient thereunto and to hearken to the teachings of it for salvation Alas one had as good stand over the grave of a dead man and bid him arise or one had as good speak to a blinde man and bid him see therefore I think that such a doctrine preached by many in our dayes is an empty doctrine to help blinde men to see or dead men to a state of spiritual life therefore saith Paul 1 Cor. 2. 14. The carnal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned also Paul tells you speaking of a carnal man that his understanding is darkened and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them through the blindeness of their heart Ephes 4. 18. therefore when the Scripture speaks of the bringing home of a soul to God it calls it a deliverance from the power of darkness Col. 1. 13. a state that affords no light no knowledge of God in Christ it giveth us no acquaintance with God as a reconciled God in Christ to a poor soul therefore it may well be compared to Egypt for the darkness of it that is the first particular Secondly Egypt abounded with all manner of prophaneness and false worship for they knew not God Exod. 5. 2. how well doth this agree with the state or the natural condition of fallen mankinde O what kennel so vile so noâ—some what jakes so foul what Goal so loathsome what hell so black as the hearts and lives of wicked men therefore when our Saviour gives a description of the inward parts of such men saith That out of their hearts proceedeth evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness and blasphemies Mat. 15. 19. and to this agreeth the 14. Psalm ver 2. 3 which saith The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good no not one the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God they are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one so saith John 1 John 5. 19. The whole world lieth in
things to the comers read Jeremiah 3. 33 34. with Ezekiel 26. 27. Read Proverbs 1. 22. 23. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and scorners delight in scorning and fools haâ—e knowledge turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my spirit upon you and I will make known my words unto you Therefore soul let not the father of lyes keep thee any longer from Jesus Christ thy Gospel Altar but come with the greatest freedom and do not dispute so much thy unworthiness as the Lord Chtists sufficiency in point of righteousness for whatever thy life hath been though never so notoriously wicked yet in the name of God and by special commission from Christ we are to tell thee that neither the number of thy sins nor yet the greatness of thy sinnes can hurt thee but thy coming â—o the Altar of satisfaction where attonement is to be made for sinne this is it that will prove thy soul-destroying sinne for ever if thou take not heed of it Hence it is that David made the greatnesse of sin the onely ground of coming to the Altar Psal 25. 11. Lord pardon my Iniquity for my sinne is wondrous great Thirdly A third season when a Christian should have regard to the Altar of satisfaction is in corruption-prevailing seasons when the heart is overcome with the strength of corruption then is it a fit time for the soul to have much recourse to ths Altar corruption can never live if thou bring it to this place that altar upon which Christ died for sin will of all places in the world yield thee the greatest death to sin this is the sword of Goliah which hath none like it Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin But worthy of note is that place of the Apostle in the 1 John 3. 8. For this purpose was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the work of the Devil As if the Apostle should say for this purpose was the Son of God manifested or for this purpose was the Altar of satisfaction erected and set up that poor souls might as well get sin and corruption mortified and subdued in them as to have the guilt of sin removed out of their souls O this is the tree of Life which standeth in the Paradise of God the leaves whereof will heal the Nations O therefore soul wouldst get down the power of sin in thy soul as well as to get out the guilt of sin from thy soul O then when ever corruption gets head be sure to bring thy soul to the Altar of satisfaction and atonement and there lay thy soul down at the feet of the Altar and beg of Jesus Christ that he would yield forth the blessed effects of his death upon thy soul that as he died upon the Cross to remove out of the way the guilt of thy sins so likewise he would be pleased out of his infinite mercy and love to drop something of his sufferings some vertue of his death into thy soul which might kill sin in thy mortal body Now this being done adding faith to the work thou needst not doubt but a blessed issue in time will proceed to the great joy and comfort of thy soul only labour for a waiting frame of spirit give God his own time to effect this work in thy soul for in time thou shalt Reap if thou faint not Objection But doth not the Apostle say in Hebrewes 13. 10. That we have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle then it seems all may not come with that boldnesse to the Altar of satisfaction as you say Answer The Apostle is not to be understood so much in treating about the guilt of sin as above the use of Ceremonies Now the dangerous condition of the Hebrewes was two-fold not only was their Case sad with respect to their distance from God upou the account of sinnes guilt But their danger did farther appear in this they having their Ceremonies for a Christ to rest upon this kept them from Christ indeed by which means they were deprived of the benefit of Christs Merits Bloud and Righteousnesse which only takes away the guilt of sin as the Apostle elsewhere saith Galatians 5 4. For Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are iustified by the Law you are faln from grace As if the Apostle should say certainly so long as you stick to your Ceremonies and Jewish Rights you are at a great distance with Christ Christ can profit you nothing for you have Converted the Tabernacle Service into a Christ and you rest here and you live upon the Shadow in the neglect of the true Substance Christ unto which these Types and Legal Shadows should lead you Therefore while you serve the Tabernacle in this sense you have no right to eat of the Altar Christ but otherwise let the souls condition be never so desperate by reason of sinne yet here is an open door for him to step into the Tabernacle and fall upon this Altar Christ with boldnesse according to that word of the Apostle in Hebrewes 9 13 14 14. So that there is no sinne how great soever makes the soul uncapable of partaking of the Altar Christ who hath a desire to make out after Christ but only the souls resting upon some thing else on this side Christ and shall make that and not Christ his bottom for Salvation CHAP. 24 Of the Grate of Network made to this Altar I Now come to speak about the Grate of Network which was made to the Altar and placed under the compass of the Altar which was about the midst of the Altar underneath Exod. 27. 4 5. The use of which was to let forth the Ashes through the small holes of the Grate when the Sacrifice or Burnt Offering should be offered before the Lord upon it Now the Ashes of any thing which is burnt we look on it as the Dross or Excrements of the thing burned so it is in this case therefore was the Grate prepared to convey the Ashes of the sacrifice under the Altar which was to be carried forth without the Camp This shews us this much First of all the exceeding rich usefulness of Jesus Christ every way for Believers First In point of Justification From hence Believers may assure themselves that when Christ became a Sacrifice to God for them in order to their Justification that God was well pleased with it which was for the great comfort of Believers publickly witnessed from Heaven Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased To this agreeth the words of S. Paul Ephes 5. 2. Christ gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour So much as this you may read in this blessed Type for there was nothing which was offered upon this Altar to
to be come in the flesh who is the Anti-Christ then think you The next thing we are to take notice of is the plate of Gold which was placed upon the fore-head of the High Priest fastned to the Mitre wherein was engraven in Letters these words Holiness to the Lord Exod. 28. 36 37. The purpose of this very plate with the Letters written in it was for the High Priest to take upon him all the failings imperfections and weaknesses of the peoples duties in the Worship of God The Plate was to bear upon it the peoples sins which they would contract in the Worship of God and the Letters engraven upon the Plate was to bear out the Priest before the Lord that he died not Exod. 28. 36. 37 38. And thou shalt make a plate of pure Gold and grave upon it the engravenings of a signet Holiness to the Lord and thou shalt put it on a blue lace that it may be upon the Mitre upon the fore-front of the Mitre it shall be and it shall be upon Aarons forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hollow in all their holy gifts and it shall alwayes be upon his forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. This still looks to Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest and tells us what he is to do and doth do for Believers he takes upon him all the failings and infirmities of his peoples duties O what a blessed ground of comfort is this to a doubting soul I know some poor souls have had their backs bowed down with this kinde of guilt who when they have been in the Worship of God as in Prayer hearing of the Word or breaking of Bread when they have considered with what sad frames they have been in the Worship how hath that troubled them when they have minded the hypocrisie that appeared in their hearts while in the work those vain wandering thoughts that deadness and dull drowsie tiredness of spirit with which their work was mixed withal besides when they have considered with how much ignorance and little saith and want of love to God and his work in hand they were attended with O how hath this perplexed some poor souls and how deeply hath this sunk others into the pit of despair putting them upon resolving never more to hear the Word or Pray or receive the Sacrament O they never Worship God but they sin against him and make their case worse then it was before All this hath been for want of knowledge in this blessed mystery of the plate fastened upon the fore-front of the High Priests Mitre The Devil keeps them in suspence about this thing shews the soul his guilt but will not suffer him to see the plate upon the fore-front of the Priests Mytre which was appointed on purpose for them to lay up their gilt upon O therefore for thy comfort poor soul when ever thou comest into the Worship of God thou mayest come boldly without fear as to that what guilts thou either hast or shall contract upon thy soul in the Worship of God provided they are not wilful guilts there is a plate of Gold prepared to bear all thou shalt bear none of them thy self O bless God for this great mercy to thy soul and rejoyce in it as thy great favour make much use of it as thy best of priviledges study it as the highest of comforts and live up to the God of this mercy with the greatest of faithfulness and to the highest pitch of holiness Secondly This was to be a standing priviledge at all times for all Believers to such a continual sweetness and comfort from in point of acceptation with God for Aaron the Priest was to wear it alwayes upon the fore-front of the Mitre that they might be accepted before the Lord. This was not to be worn once or twice but alwayes before the Lord so that until Christ puts off his Mitre and layes aside his priestly work thou mayst assure thy self until then those sins of infirmity which will cleave to thy duties shall not render them or thee disacceptable before God if thou reliest faithfully upon this High Priest in this case We now come to speak of the Crown which this High Priest was to wear as well as this Mitre and the Crown was to be set upon the Mitre on the Priests head Exod. 29 6. And thou shalt put the Mitre upon his head and put the holy crown upon the Mitre The Crown upon the Priests head set forth to you the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ which springs from the Priestly office of Christ he is a King to rule in and over his Church because he is a High Priest to the Church therefore the Crown must stand upon the Mitre the Mitre doth keep up the Crown not the Crown the Mitre The Mitre being under the Crown shews you that the Kingly Office of Christ hath its foundation in the Priestly Office of Christ as was shewed you before from the first of the Revelations This shews first that Christ hath power to give out what Laws Rules Customes and Ordinances he please for his Church and people to walk by for he hath a Crown upon his head as well as a Mitre Secondly That all duty and subjection and obedience ought to be given to him both in soul and body for he is a King Psalm 2. 6. I have set my king upon my holy hill Sion We do not read that any of the Priests besides the High Priest did wear a Crown we read that they did wear Bonnets but not a Crown Exod. 28. 40. The Crown was only for the High Priest shewing us as the Priest was a Type of Christ that all Rule and chief Authority belongs to Christ its Christ onely can make or impose any Laws upon the consciences of his people so saith the Spirit Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created And yet how common is it to see the inferiour sort of Priests that should content themselves with wearing the Bonnet to catch the High Priests Crown from off his head and to leave the High Priest nothing to wear but their Bonnets and given him to understand if he will not wear them he must sit bare headed before them I mean how do men who pretend to be the Ministers and Vicars of Christ pull his priestly Diadem from off his head and so rob him of his principle glory in arrogating a power to themselves of making and imposing spiritual Laws upon the consciences of his poor people as rules for them to walk by which customs and traditions the word of Christ never knew or spake of in the least O what greater indignity can there be offered to the Crown of Christ then this not onely so but if the poor Lambs of Christ who are as dear to him as
was possible for the Jews to travel to their temporal Canaan without their staff O how doth Faith succour and relieve the soul all along in his way to Heaven when the soul is ready to give over and is yielding up the ghost how doth this staff of believing raise him up again and putteth a new life of confidence into the soul again Thus it oftentimes set up David upon his legs again Psalm 27. 13. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of God in the land of the living like a staff under weariness it did stay up and support David O how did this staff of Faith succour and relieve Habbakuck Hab. 3. 17 18. Although there be no fruit in the vine and although the fig-tree doth not blossom and there be no herd in the stalls and the flock should be cut off from the fold yet will I joy in God and rejoyce in the God of my salvation O what a deep ditch did the Psalmist leap over by this staff of believing Psalm 73. 25. My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Hence it is that Habakkuk saith The just man shall live by his faith Hab. 2. 4. That is for the support it gives a soul in dangerous times it is this grace that keeps a soul above water this was it which carried David through all his trouble this was it lifted him up out of the horrible pit Psalm 40. 2 3. this was the staff that led the Jews through the Red Sea this led Jacob over the Jordan of his difficulties Gen. 3â— this staff led him into Egypt and this staff brought out Joseph his bones Jacob his son out of Egypt again Hebrews 11. 22. And this was the staff the Apostles travelled by all along in their journey in this life 2 Cor. v. 7. For we walk by faith not by sight Mark we walk by faith It is what the travelling Christian must carry in his hand at all times in the pilgrimage he spendeth in this life Lastly The Jews had their shooes on their feet Exod. 12. 11. The shooes you know are what greatly helps a man to a comfortable going on in his journey without which well he cannot travel Now Paul shews you what it is to have the feet well shod Ephes 6. 15. Having your feet well shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace that is a soul that takes in the Lamb of God and thereby hath bound himself to flye out of his carnal prophane Egyptian sinful life and conversation had need first of all well furnish himself with the word of God with the threatning part of it to drive him and prick him on with the examples of others lives therein written to draw him with the promises therein to perswade him and with the hope of eternal life true joy and sweet felicity to allure him or else he will finde it a hard matter to come quit of his old condition and carnal conversation Therefore saith Paul Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Col. 3. 16. So saith David Thy word have I hid in my heart Psalm 119. 11. O you young Christians for to you I speak you that would eat the roasted Lamb Christ and would come out of the Egypt of your carnal ignorant blinde conditions O hearken to my advice you must be well shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace O saith Christ Search the Scriptures John 5. 39. O be much in reading of your Bibles let them not lie idle get as much of them as you can into your hearts that you may be able to wrestle with flesh and blood against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spiritual wickednesse got into high places Ephesians 6. 12. O beg hard at Gods hand that he would imprint his word upon your hearts and cause you to grow in the knowledge of it more and more that so you may have to answer every temptation that you shall meet with in your way to your spirâ—tual Canaan You know the shooes are useful to keep the feet from the gauling truly so is the word of God well applyed very useful to keep the conscience from gaulding and corrupting for look how it is with a man with sore feet he halts and tumbles not able to keep his ground so it is with a man under a gaulded conscience he cannot stand steddy in any place but reels from thing to thing from place to place and cannot stand long any where at a time now the word of God will help this either as applyed or eyed 1. As applyed so will it help the gaulded conscience Psalm 107. 20. 2. As it is applyed by the soul as its rule to walk by so it prevents from corrupting for as the shooes keeps the feet from gauling so will the word of God keep the conscience from corrupting if it be carefully observed as the souls rule to walk by So you see what it is to eat the Lamb a Lamb roasted to eat him with the loins girt the staff in the hand and the shooes on the feet CHAP 4. The next thing to be noted in the Type or Hiisory is this the Lamb was to be eaten by every particular Family unless the Family were too big then they were to take the next adjoyning to it and so they were to eat it together Exod 12. 4. THis in the Ante-type shews us thus much by way of information First That all the particular Churches of God in the world have a like right to Jesus Christ for though there be one body or Church Universal spread over the earth yet this universal body is distinguished into so many little bodies or Churches as Providence thinks good Hence it is that you have the Holy Ghost speaking of seven Churches in Asia Rev. 1. 4. Like wise we read of a particular Church which was in Aquilla and Priscilla's house 1 Cor. 16. 15. A slender foundation for a national Church and yet all these distinct societies have all aright alike to Christ as the families of the Jews were all alike to eat the Lamb therefore saith Paul There is one body and one spirit even as ye are called by one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God one Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Ephes 4. 4 5 6. Through all ages in the world every Church in particular hath had a like benefit by Christ so that the weakest Church in the world if it be a true Church may claim as large a portion in the heart of Christ as the flourishing'st Church in the primitive times when the Apostles were living You see though Israel were a great body yet they must be divided into several little Bodies when they come to eat the Lamb and yet a Lamb for every family or little body of eaters so that none need to doubt in any age of
comforts those that are in tribulation for his work and service Thus you have had a sight of the bitter waters of Marah together with the Tree of Life cast into these waters for the sanctifying and sweetning of them to the Wildernesse travelling soul who hath set forward to his Canaan of Rest and Peace CHAP. 10. I come next to consider the nature of the Wilderness WHich was a place of Rocks and Mountains Hills and Vallies a place which afforded few Springs of water a land of droughts a place where no Corn would grow a land of doubts and fears a place which produced great enemies who would in a warlike posture oftentimes fight the poor Israelites witness Og King of Basham and the â—malekites besides their cursing Baalam which came up with his mouth full of Curses with an intent to overturn the poor Israelites if it were possiâ—le Likewise this Wilderness might be called a place of Wonders and Miracles because of the wonderous appearances which God did give out of himself in delivering of them from the hands of the enemies and in bringing of them safe to their promised land of Canaan as in Psal 78. where you may see at large Now do not our spiritual Wilderness condition mightily simbolize with this description of the Wilderness of old O what Rocks of danger do the soul sometimes meet with in his Pilgrimage here in this world what dismal providences doth the soul pass under while on this side Heaven what trials and temptations doth God exercise his people under sometime in this world which like mighty Rocks and Mountains stand up before the soul to his great discouragement How much poverty doth God exercise some Godly souls under what straits and hardships do such hearts pass under because of it sometimes what sicknesses and weaknesses do others pass under for many years together what lasting Imprisonment do others of his people many times pass under in some parts of the world Thus God leads his people up and down amongst the Rocks and Mountains of difficulty and sometime from thence into the Valleys of despair and horrour insomuch that the soul is made to cry out often times My flesh and my heart faileth me Psal 37. 26. Thus it was with David a man who was led a great part of his pilgrimage over Rocks and Mountains of distresses how did God suffer the hand of King Saul to go out against him how did Saul pursue the life of poor David from place to place which made him to cry out I am pursued as a Partridge upon the Mountains and that he should one day perish by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27. 1. Then the men of Keilah ready to betray him at another time 1 Sam. 23. 7. Then Saul comes out against him with no less then three thousand men pursuing of him 1 Sam. 24. 2. At another time his Ziglag burned and his Wives taken captive his goods taken from him and his own servants ready to stone him 1 Sam. 30. 6. And at another time his own Child raiseth up in Arms against him 2 Sam. 15. 14. You may take a farther view of the mans condition Ps 73. 2. As for me my feet had well nigh slept and my steps were almost gone Psal 31 4. with Psal 30. 3. Pull my feet out of the not which they have privily laid for me thou hast brought my soul out of the grave and thou hast kept me alive so Jonah 2. 2 3 4. I said and cryed by reason of my affliction unto the Lord and he heard me out of the belly of hell for thou hast cast me down into the deep into the midst of the sea and the flouds compassed me about all thy billows and waves passed over me then I said I am cast out of thy sight yet will I look toward thy holy Temple Thus you see what Mountains and Rocks Hills and Valleys the Children of God are led through in this world Use 1. Then this should quiet the hearts of Gods people if his dealing be sharp and hard with them alas Christians you must know you are in the Wilderness while in this life a place of Rocks and Mountains if you are exercised underhand tryals it s but with you as it hath been with the dearest servants of God the people of God of old had their Wilderness the Church in the primitive times had their Wilderness and thou must expect to meet with thy Wilderness if ever thou intendest to sit down in Canaan St. Prul tells you that this is common to Saints to be led up and down by the Lord in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 13. 10. There is no temptation but what is common to Saints so saith the Church Psal 60 3. Thou hast shewed thy people hard things thou hast made us to drink of the wine of astonishment Secondly Have a care of murmuring and repining against the hand of God when upon you or of calling God to an account for his leading of you in the wilderness Remember what it cost the Jews for giving way to a repining murmuring spirit in the Wilderness Psal 106. 24 25 26. Yea they despised the pleasant land they believed not his word but murmured in the tents and hearkned not to the voice of the Lord therefore he lifted up his hand against them and overthrew them in the Wilderness O labour for a chearful spirit which will help you on in your Wilderness condition with the more comfort O labour to sing the high praises of God in the Wilderness that 's the way to sing his Hallelujahs in the good land Lastly Have a care of grieving the spirit in thy Wilderness condition in concluding thy self out of Gods favour because of his hard dealings with and this his leadings of thee when ever such a temptation shall come upon thee read that good word often Heb. 12. 5 6 7 8 9 10. CHAP. 11. Few Springs of water in the Wildernesse The Wilderness afforded few springs of water THis shews us the barrenness of all beneath things as to true comfort and refreshment for so the word Water doth sometime signifie viz. comfort and refreshment Psal 42. 1. Now there is little of this to be had in the Wilderness of this world fix your eyes on what you will here below here is nothing can afford you the least comfort in spiritual trouble it may be you have riches honour many friends alas what comfort can these yield the soul under spiritual trouble This serves many times to help on trouble upon the soul when the soul thinks upon the abuse of the outward comforts which God gave him but as to the allaying of trouble upon the soul they are not to be accounted of the Wilderness of this world is but an empty Well as to that water which can refresh the soul in a time of spiritual trouble therefore saith David all my Springs are in thee O Lord and saith Christ it is I that can send you the Comforter John
or forbidding the thing to be done by in the worship of God if the thing commanded or forbidden be in its self an evil but not the subjects in obeying the thing commanded or forbidden Thus you see how difficult the Devil labours to render the poor souls way to the good Land and how Satan fills the souls paths with discouragements and how much Satan is like to prevail without the infinite power of God be put forth to help and bear up the poor soul in his way to the good Land which leads me to the next particular which is this The wilderness of old might well be called the place of wonders because of the great miracles which the Lord did work for the Jews in their travels in that notwithstanding all the seeming deaths dangers the people past under in the Wilderness yet the Lord by a powerful hand brought them to their promised Land in safety So soul take this for thy comfort that whatever the opposition be that thou meetest with in the way to thy eternal Canaan yet bear up fear not for God will at last deliver thee out of the hands of all thy enemies and carry thee safely through to thy appointed rest of glory that thou mayest serve him in righteousness and true holiness in bliss to all eternity Luke 1. 74 75. O soul therefore hold up thy head the work is the Lords and although he suffers thee to tug with fearful difficulties and great oppositions yet know this that the battle is the Lords and he will fight it in thee for thee its true it may be as with Gideon thou art ready to cry out of thy own weaknes thy family is the smallest in Israel and thou the least in the family but let me speak to thee in the words of the Angel to Gideon Judges 6 12. Up for God is with thee thou mighty man of valour O soul the Lord is engaged to bring thee home to glory God hath sworn by his holiness that it shall be so therefore it must be so read Psalm 89. 33. 34 35 36 37. O therefore arise go out againâ—â— thy enemies fear them not but look them boldly in the face O look a corrupt proud lustful revengeful unbelieving worldly fearful dead backward heart in the face and look all the Devils in hell and wicked men in the world boldly in the face look all thy relations in the face look a wicked world in the face look â—ubtle inticing Apostates in the face O fear none of these things assure thy self there shall nothing of these prevail against thee for God will fight for thee and will be with thee in the battle he will do all thy works in thee and for thee Phil 2. 13. So that the gates of hell shall not prevail against thee O hearken to the voice of the Spirit of God in thy soul which will speak to thee as once Joshua and â—aleb did to the Israelites Numb 14 6 7 8. Fear not the Land which we passed over to search is an exceeding good Land if the Lord delight in us then he wiâ—â— bring us into this good Land a Land which floweth with milk and honey onely rebel nâ—t agaâ—nst the Lord neither fear ye the people of the Land for they are bread for us their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us ear them not therefore for a close to this particular take these two places of Scripture and the God of heaven make them of use to the fainting doubting dying soul Deut. 31. 8. The Lord he is he that doth go before thee he will be with thee he will not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be afraid Deut. 33. 27. The eternal God is thy refuge underneath thee are the everlasting armes and he shall thrust out thine enemies before thee and shall say destroy thou them O therefore soul let me advise thee not to yield to thy temptations for assure thy self in time thou shalt reap if thou faint not Let the gates of Hell do what they can yet they shall go forth weeping bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again bringing their shears with them Psal 126. 56. And the raâ—sommed of the Lord shall return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads and they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flye away Isa 35. 10. CHAP. 13. The next thing that we are to take notice of is their bunch of Grapes which was brought them from the good Land by the hands of their Spies yet notwithstanding they could not believe THis bunch of Grapes which were brought out of Canaan by the Spies might lead us to the sheddings abroad of the Holy Spirit of God upon our hearts if we truly believe for the end why God sent the Grapes of Canaan to the Israelites while they were in the Wilderness it was to assure their hearts to the making good those promises which God before made to their Fathers concerning their certain arrival at the Land of promise and so it was to be an earnest or pledge to them which believed of their right to the Land of promise that assuredly as they did eat of that bunch of grapes which came from â—anaâ—n so assuredly if they would believe the Lord would bring them safe home to the full vintage Now of the same use is the Holy Ghost which God sends down into the hearts of the faithful You may call the breathings of the Spirit of God in the hearts of the godly the fore-running bunch of Grapes of the eternal Canaan which doth yield forth his blessed refreshing comforting chearing juyce into the hearts of the people of God God gives out the holy Spirit to assure the godly that the Land is a good Land unto which they are a travelling God gives his people the sweet sensible tastes of glory to come before-hand O how hath God drenched the souls of his people with draughts of this salvation sometimes when in an ordinance of God This made David prize so much the house of God Psalm 27 4. It was the coming down of those heavenly Grapes or spiritual Dews from the Spirit of God which did so much draw and atttact his heart thither-ward so much Psalm 36 8. For thou shalt abundantly satisfie them with the fatness of thy house and make us to drink of the Rivers of thy pleasures The work of which heavenly dews of the Spirit is to witness to and in our hearts about the great right we have by free Grace to the good Land of promise which is Heaven Rom. 8. 16 The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the people of God so 1 John 4. 13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us by his Spirit which he hath given us That is the Holy Spirit is given us to assure us of the right we have to heaven the Father gives it to his as the imagining pledge that
by it we might hold God to his promise or bargain that so heaven might be good to believers in law for you know in Law a penny given upon bargain or sale as an earnest of that bargain gives strength to the bargain as that the party cannot start from it but in Law is tied by it to make good the same therefore in 2 Coâ— 1 22. the Holy Spirit of God is called the earnest sent down into our hearts yet notwithstanding as Israel could not believe they should come to the good land although God sent them the grapes of the Countrey as the assuring earnest of it so is it likewise with the Lords people in this life notwithstanding they receive from God those many secret witnessings of the Spirit and many blessed refreshings which have been sealed home upon the heart by the blessed Spirit of God Yet how hard a matter doth the soul finde it to bear up with God in a way of believing how doth the Devil labour daily to make the soul to call in question his greatest enjoyments of the Spirit of God thus it was with the good man in the Psalms Psalm 73. 25. My flesh and my heart faileth me so Paul though he could say sometimes he was full of the blessings of the Gospel of God and that he had been caught up into the third heavens where his enjoyments of the Spirit were so large as that he hardly knew whether he were in the body or no yet at another time under the sentence of death in his own esteem even as deep as hell 1 Cor. 2 9. Therefore soul if it be so with thee remember that its the condition which is proper to the Wilderness state in which thou art and though thou canst not alwayes believe Yet God abideth faithful and cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. And that the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth who are his ver 19. And for those men and women which do not experience these ebbings and flowings inwardly of the Holy Spirit of Faith and Comfort upon their souls but boast of the constant sound abiding comfort which they have of heaven and of the love of God in the fence of it upon their souls as some have done in my hearing let them profess what they will yet to me the soudness of their conditions is highly to be questioned I do except some strict close walking humble souls CHAP. 14. I come now to speak of those Types which were handed out to the Jews in the time of their being in the Wilderness THe first was the cloud which alwayes led them up and down in the Wilderness Exod. 40. 3 4. with 36 37 38. verses Now this Cloud was undoubtedly a Type of Jesus Christ in these two respects First In that the cloud guided the people from place to place up and down in the Wilderness so the Lord Jesus Christ he it is that leadeth the Church up and down in the present Wilderness of this World 1 Cor. 10 2. And as the Jews were not to move any way until the Cloud went before them so it should teach all Christians not to move any way in what condition soever they be in until they can say the Lord Jesus Christ their spiritual Cloud goes before them and leads their way for them that soul loseth the honey of the condition he is in that wanted patience to tarry for Christs leadings as in the case of King Saul 1 Sam. 13. 9 10 11. Therefore the advice and councel of the Lord to all his people is this Isa 52. 12. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight for the Lord will go before you and the God of Israâ—l will be your reward so Isa 28. 16. And he that believeth shall not make haste Secondly The Cloud was a Figure or Type of Christ for its protecting and sheltering use which it afforded the Church in the Wilderness of old by which means they were hid from danger so is Jesus Christ such a cloud of protection to his Church and people in their wilderness condition in this life as that though Satan the world and the flesh set upon the Church with a purpose to overthrow and devour them at once yet they cannot overcome them Hence it is that David calls Christ a defence and a refuge to his people saith David Psalm 58. 16. I will sing of thy power yea I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning for thou hast been my defence and refuge in time of trouble so Psalm 94. 22. But the Lord is my defence my God is the rock of my refuge so saith the Church in Isa 12. 2 Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song he is also become my salvation Therefore doth Paul make it to appear that the Cloud in the Wilderness was a Type of Christs great care of and protection over his Church 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. For we were all Baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink of the same spiritual rock that followed them which Rock was â—hriist Thus you see not I onely but the Apostle also applies the Wilderness Cloud to Jesus Christ which must hold out and intend the great safety which Christ doth daily administer to his Church as the Saviour of it Use 1. Then this should teach thee soul when ever thou art assaulted by temptation arising either from the Devil the World or thine own corrupt heart then to get in under this Could and there to shelter thy self here wilt thou be covered in the day of battle and thou needest not fear what men or Devils can do against thee Psalm 26. 3. 5. Though an host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though war should arise against me yet in this will be confident for in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me upon a rock Thus you see how confident David was and thought himself to be under this covering and cloud of defence O soul so will it be with thee if thou fliest to the Lord Jesus Christ and art careful to make him thy covering and protecting hiding cloud thou shalt then be far from trouble no evil shall come nigh thy tabernacles Job 11. 17. 18 19. Thine age shall be clearer then the noon day thou shalt shine forth thou shalt be as the morning thou shalt be secure because there is hope yea thou shalt dig about thee and thou shalt take thy rest in safety also thou shalt lie down and none shall make thee afraid yea many shall make suit unto thee But if on the other hand thou shalt neglect to get under the spiritual cloud and covering what ever covering else thou shalt hide thy self under it will
certainly fail thee in the time of trouble for God will tear it to pieces and thou wilt be found naked then woe woe to thee in the day of Gods wrath when he shall come forth to render vengeance upon all that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle speaks 2 Thes 1. 7. 8 9. O soul who ever thou art that shalt read these lines I beg thee therefore to hearken to that good advice given thee from the Lord in Isa 55. 6. Seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near CHAP 15. I come in the next place to speak of the Brazen Serpent another Type which was given out to the Children of Israel in the VVildernesse read Numb 21. 6 7 8 9. THe occasion of which was this because of those hot fiery stinging Serpents which in the Wildernesse had destroyed so many of the Israelites up and down in the Countrey therefore did the Lord out of compassion to the Jews cause a thing to be made called a Serpent and it was to be set upon a pole for this end viz. that if at any time any of the people should be stung by any of the Serpents in the Wilderness if they at the same time should but look up at the Brazen Serpent set upon a pole in the midst of the Camp for that purpose this would bring them home an immediate cure upon their persons at the same instant Now this Type had as to its use special reference to Jesus Christ for such a remedy is Jesus Christ to spiritual stinged souls God in mercy to the elect hath sent his Son into the world and advanced Christ his Son upon the pole of the Gospel that he might cure them of their spiritual stingings occasioned by Sinne and the Devil the worst of Serpents If we look up to this Serpent upon the pole of the Gospel with an eye of faith John 3. 16. God so loved the world that he sent his onely begotten Son into the world thaâ— whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting lâ—fe so John 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world Alluding to the use of the brazen Serpent in the Wilderness which was to be looked up unto or to be beheld so saith John of the Lamb Christ Jesus behold the Lamb or look up to him if you ever intend to be cured of your spiritual stingings therefore for this purpose Christ is called the healer of the nations Rev. 22. 2. Use 1. O then soul whoever thou art that at any time art bit with the guilt of sin or by the prevalent working of any corruption O soul if thou wilt but look up to Jesus Christ the spiritual Serpent by an eye of faith thou mayest as certainly expect a cure to be wrought on thy soul as the Israelites who in looking up to their brazen Serpent in the Wilderness might expect a cure to be done on their bodies therefore is salvation tendred upon this act of the soul in looking up to Christ by an eye of faith Isa 45 22. Look unto me all ye ends of the earth and you shall be saved O therefore soul have a care thou doest not lose looking up to Christ there is nothing else will or can damn thy soul but this thy not looking up to Christ as a Saviour and Redeemer and resting upon him alone for life and salvation as one that is able to save to the utmost as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 7. 25. CHAP. 16 I now come to speak of the Tabernacle another Type given out to the Israelites in the VVilderness the manner and form of it I have already described to you before THis Tabernacle was typical two wayes or it typed out these two things to us First Christ himself Secondly The Church of Christ First It typed out Christ himself and that in these respects First As to the glory and excellency of Jesus Christ the Tabernacle was exceeding excellent and glorious within for all the inward parts of it were over laid with pure Gold Exod. 35. This was to shew us the richness and worth of the Son of God that so the creature might see cause to desire him love him and chuse him to themselves as their highest portion for ever therefore when the Holy Spirir doth speak of Christ it speaks of him under this consideration as excellent Prov. 3. 13 14 15 16. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding for the merchandize of it is better then the merchandize of silver and the gain thereof then fine gold she is more precious then rubies and all the things which thou caust desire are not to be compared to her length of dayes are in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour Heb. 13. speaking of Christ saith He is the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express image of his Fathers person Therefore saith the Spouse Cant. 5. 10. speaking of Christ He is the chiefest to me of ten thousand And to this agreeth the words of Peter speaking of Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. To you which believe he is excellent Secondly As the Tabernacle typed forth Christ in point of beauty or excellency so in point of acceptation for in the Wilderness if the people would worship God acceptably it must be at the door of the Tabernacle see Numb 8. 15. chap. 18. 3 4. 7 8. and at the Tabernacle door were the people to wait until the Priest within had done the service of the Tabernacle for them before the Lord which shews us thus much that if we intend in Gospel dayes to worship the Father acceptably we must come to the Father at the Tabernacle Christ and by the hand of Faith lay down our offerings at the door of his Worth and Merits therefore saith Christ himself John 14. 6. I am the way the truth and the life no man can come to the Father but by me Use 1. O therefore soul when ever thou doest any thing of the Worship of God be sure thou come to God alwayes by the door of this Tabernacle Christ if thou meanest to be accepted in and about what thou doest in the service of God offer all thou hast to offer God withal in Christs name in and by his worth and merits onely for his sake and upon his account and be wholly nothing in thy own esteem Come to the door of the Tabernacle under the sence of a meer piece of nothing bring with thee a self-loathing and self-condemning self-abhorring frame of spirit and let Christ be all and in all to thy soul and in thy esteem when thou art before the Lord in point of acceptation Phil. 2. 8 9. I count all things but as dung in comparison of Christ and I desire to be found alone in him Thirdly The Tabernacle was a Type of Christ in point of revelation Exod.
a Candlestick to maintain and hold up the light of his holy truth in the world is by pouring forth upon their hearts the grace of his Spirit that so they might be enabled to suffer for it The Saints suffering for truth doth wonderfully tend to the confirming of truth in the earth and to the making of it acceptable amongst men in this world insomuch that in the first three hundred years after Christ the Churches sufferings for the truth occasioned this proverb That the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church Hence it is that the suffering Saints are called Gods witnesses therefore St. Paul tells you that the truth got great ground by his sufferings Phil. 1. 14. Use 1. O then how should this teach the Lords people to bestir themselves in the way of their duty O remember ye are God Candlestick and appointed by God for this purpose to keep up truth in the world O then how should this encourage the Lords people to appear in the defence of that glorious light of truth which God hath put into your hands and not to suffer it to be trodden down with so much ease as it is now in the world I do not mean nor say that the Lords people should betake themselves to any weapon besides faith tears prayers and sound arguments together with a bold standing up in the visible practice of the wayes and truths of God against all that is contrary to this truth These be the weapons that I mean and this is the contending that I plead for and as to this way of contending for the Faith what cause hath God to complain of his people as once he did of Israel of old No man is valiant for the truth O what little contending is there amongst Saints for the faith that was once delivered to them O what silly heartless dove-like spirits are the Lords people surprized withal who can sit and hear the truths of the Gospel rended in pieces before their eyes and in their hearing and not a word spoken for it or in the defence of it but instead thereof they out of a slavish fear do but too much comply with the wicked in it O brethren the precious truths of Sion are more worth then so more worth then not to have one word spoken for them O remember the Church is to contend for the faith and know that God will deeply charge home the neglect of this duty one day close upon your souls O therefore as you would avoid that judgement spoken of in the third of the Revelations ver 16. I beseech you brethren to labour to give up your selves to a holy contending for the faith O earnestly contend for the faith there is great reason so to do for the name of God is upon the Faith the Blood of Christ was shed for this faith the blood of all the Martyrs in all ages in the world hath been shed for this faith O the faith that was once delivered to the Saints is worth the contending for O that God would stir up your hearts to an earnest contending for the faith O set a work a praying spirit and a believing spirit O set on work your parts your pens your purses every way as you are able if the way be warrantable do you contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. Thirdly This Candlestick was made of pure gold this was to teach the Saints what they should and ought to be namely pure gold that is very sincere to God ward void of a heart full of guile and hypocrisie therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5. 48. â—e ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Fourthly This Candlestick was made of beaten gold which was to shew or set forth the glory and the excellency of the Church for as gold exceeds for glory and excellency Iron Lead Tinne or Brass so do the Saints all other men and women in the world Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 16. 3. The Saints are the excellent of the Earth Though the blind world see no worth or excellency in the Saints in this life yet they shall know as Solomon once said that the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12. 26. First The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour for grace Secondly For their attendance for not gilded creatures but glorious Angels are the Saints servants Heb. 1. 14. Thirdly For the Saints food on which they live in respect of which all the dainties in the world or which the world lives upon are but husks and swines meat for the Saints live upon the Bloud and Flesh Word Spirit and promises of Christ John 6. 55. Fourthly The Saints are more excellent then others in point of inheritance for it s not an earthly Dunghil but an inheritance which is pure and undefiled which fadeth not away is the Saints birthright Pet. 1. 1 4. Fisthly The Saints are more excellent then others because they only can prevail upon the heart of God in prayer Prov. 15. 29. Sixthly It s so because its only amongst the Saints God delights to dwel 2 Cor. 6. 16. Psal 132 13 14. Use 1. O then what excellent Conversation should the Saints lead in this world what an engagement should this put upon the Saints to a strict holy walking that they should through grace be made of Gods pure golden Candlestick O therefore soul think with thy self when the Devil would at any time intice thee to sin against God or would draw away thy heart at any time from the Lord O say this to thy temptation O Satan I am one that belongs to Gods pure Candlesticks how should I dare to bespot my self with the least of impurities as Joseph answered his Mistress Gen. 39. 9. So do thou thy temptation How shall I do such a wickedness and sin against God Again As the Candlestick had three Bouls and Knops with their flowers upon it This was for Ornament to adorn the Candlestick that so it might the more appear in its glory and beauty to the beholder all which was to set forth the glory and beauty of the Church of God which by the righteousnesse of Christ and the Divine Graces of his Spirit is made more glorious then the gold of Ophir read Psal 45. 13 14. Isa 54. 11 12. Rev. 12. 1. The Churches glory is only discerned by an eye of believing a carnal understanding knows very little of this saith John 1. 3 1. The world knows us not certainly were not the glory of the Saints a hidden veiled up glory from the world its impossible but the Saints would be better intreated at the worlds hands then they are but however thou farest at the worlds hands let me advise thee to these two things First If the world shew thee and the rest of the Saints no favour yet pity them because they are held so much in a condition of darknesse as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of
the divine graces of the Spirit or else it must be a holiness arising from a Church state and in this sence were the Jews called a holy nation and a peculiar people which arose from their being set apart by God to holy uses and purposes to God himself or if you will take it in St. Pauls terms 1 Cor. 7. 14. A holiness in opposition to uncleanness which uncleanness is elsewhere proved to consist of not being of a professed Church state to God read Isa 52. 1. with Acts 10. 14. For it could not be a holiness with which the whole body of Israel were made holy that consists of the divine qualifications of the Spirit of grace I think but few are of that opinion that the whole body of Israel were in such a sence holy then it must be a holiness arising from a Church State as if he had said If the first fruit be holy that is if Abraham with his Isaac and Ishmael together with the rest of his family who were first with all their succeeding little ones taken into a Church state and so became the first fruits of such a work to God The lump is holy that is then the whole body of that people is holy with reference to a Church state they need not call it in question But if they keep close to God certainly God accounts the issue of Abraham for many generations after as much in a holy state as to a Church state and as much a Church to himself both they and their little ones as ever he accounted it in the first fruits of it meaning in Abrahams time The lump saith Paul is also hâ—ly Then he comes to conclude that if the first fruits were holy which were the parent and the childe And if the lump be holy that is if God to this day have accounted the whole body of the Jews ever since in the same Church state which admitted of the parent and the childe then are the branches holy viz. The Gentile Churches which were ingrafted in upon the same stock then the childe as well as the parent being set on upon this stock as formerly are likewise hily still so that from what hath been spoken doth to me clearly warrant the congregational people the giving of their Children membership amongst them and consequently baptism Let not any mistake me I did not this to revive any part of the old contention or to beget any new quarrel between us and those Christians which dissent from us in this thing but as I conceived things lay so in my way that I must have leapt quite over a clear truth if I had left it and so passed by Object But some may say upon the same account will a national Church be proved to be lawful even the same way that the membership of Infants will come in I answer first I know no absolute necessity lying upon the thing so as that we must not dispute for or practice the one but the other must come in you see in the practice of the Congregational Churches both here and in New England that the connexion is not forcible but that we may give our Children Membership and Baptism amongst us and yet be far enough from building our Churches upon a National bottom But secondly And that which will lead me to the other consideration in the Candlestick which is this The candlestick you know had one stem out of which came six branches The stem of the Candlestick signifies the Jewish Church and the little Candlesticks which came out of that signifies the Gentile Churches under the Gospel the stem of the Candlestick was but one individual shewing that the Church of the Jews was to be national But the branches above in the Candlestick were several in number signifying that the Churches under the Gospel day should be no more national but congregational To this agreeth the two Prophesies of Zechariah and John who writing both about one and the self-same thing viz. about the two Witnesses Zach. 3. 3. with Rev. 11. 3 4. Onely Zachariah sayes That at that time when he writ about the two Witnesses belonging to the Jewish Church he saw but one Candlestick Zach. 3. 2 Because then the Church was national but when John writ of the Witnesses in the Gentile or Gospel Church he saw two Candlesticks or several Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. Because now the Churches of Christ were no more to be national but congregational or many Churches in one nation There is one thing more to be spoken to about the Candlestick and I have done with it You may observe in reading Exod. 37. 18 19 20 21. This plain difference about the Candlesticks which is that the main Candlestick had four bowls with his knobs and his flowers belonging to it but the lesser Candlesticks which branched themselves forth of the great Candlestick had but three Bowls with their knobs and their flowers Now you must observe as hath been already said that the bowls knobs and flowers added to the Candlestick it was to set sorth the glory of it then where the most of the bowls knobs and flowers were there was the greatest glory but now the most of these things were about the great Candlestick which shews us thus much that although the Jewish Church did at first fall short of the Gentile Churches in glory and brightness yet the time shall come that the glory of the Jewish Church shall far excel all the Gentile Churches in the world Isa 54. 11 12. O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours and lay thy foundation with saphires I will make thy windows of agats thy gates of carbuncles and all â—hy borders of pleasant stones This is a Prophephesie which relates to the latter day glory of the Church of the Jews when they shall be brought into Jesus Christ CHAP. 21. I now come to speak of the seven Lamps which with the Candlestick were placed in the Tabernacle THere were likewise seven lamps made of pure gold Ex. 37. 23. which Lamps were to be lighted and always to be kept burning before the Lord Exodus 40. 25. In which there are these things to be considered or it may put us in minde of these things First The vessel it self Secondly the oyl in the Vessel or Lamp Thirdly The light it gave out to the beholders First By the Lamp or Vessel it self it may put us in mind of this great mercy which by Grace Believers hath received at Gods hands and that is a sanctified heart into which God pours forth the holy oyl of his Spirit in the several graces of it by which means the heart is changed purged renewed and made fit for God Now in this sence every Believers heart may be said to be a Lamp therefore saith the Lord in the Prophesie of Jer. 31. 33. I will put my Law in their hearts and write it in their inward parts so Ezek. 36. 26. A
new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take awaythe stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh O how excellent is that heart which is dedicated to the use and service of God that Lamp which was set apart for the service of the Tabernacle was worth a hundred Lamps elsewhere because the use and service unto which it was dedicated was both holy and honourable O so is a heart set apart for the Lord it s both holy and honourable its worth a hundred of other hearts in Gods account Prov. 10. 20. The heart of a wicked man is little wâ—rth Let men be never so noble great learned or wise in the worlds eyes yet if their hearts are not Vessels or Lamps dedicated to God for the use of Altar worship you may assure your selves that God values them no more then you value so many heaps of Dung the best service which comes from such unsanctified Vessels or hearts is abominable to God Prov. 15. 8 9. It s a sanctified heart which God calls for in Worship Pâ—ov 23. 26. My Sonne saith God give me thy heart By Son here we are to understand a soul whose heart is renewed by the graces of the holy Ghost Iohn 1. 12. These are the Lamps which God loves should be always flaming and burning before the eyes of his glory as it s spoken of the Lamps in the Tabernacle burning and flaming with love and affection to God with zeal for him with the flame of fervent prayer before him therefore is it sad Prov. 15. 8. The prayers of the upright are his delight Use 1. O therefore how should this teach the Lords people to look to their hearts that nothing but the true Oil of the spirit of grace be found in it you know the exhortation in Jer. 4. 14. O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee for its the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 5. 8 Therefore when Temptation Sin or Lust offers it self to thy soul for entertainment O banish it upon this very account O say to sin my heart is become a dedicated Vessel or Lamp to God set apart for Altar-worship and work prepared for better matter then sin is O therefore sin and corruption depart and get you hence here is no entertainment for you or for such filthy matter as you are saith David Psal 45. 1. My heart is inditing a good matter O so say to thy temptations My heart is inditing a good matter or better matter then sin lust or the world doth amount unto it s about heaven and heavenly things that my heart is now upon it s about God and Christ and glory to come which my heart is taken withall O therefore Sin and Satan the World and Temptation depart depart here is no entertainment for you for ever I have found better food to live upon and better objects to look unto then you are therefore farwel for ever farwel for ever Secondly By the Lamps or Vessels in the Tabernacle which did hold the Oil which was to give out the light in the Tabernacle I understand by them the Ministers or gifted men in the Church who are principally imployed to hold out the light of Gods holy will to the Church for the benefit and comfort of it this you may see more plainly set out unto you in Zachaiahs prophesie Zach. 4. 2. 3. I looked and behold a Candlestick of pure gold with a boulâ— upon the top of it and his seven Lamps thereon and his seven Pipes to the seven Lamps which were upon the top thereof and olive-trees by it one on the right hand and the other on the left side of the boul Here you see the Prophet puts a clear difference between the Candlestick and the seven Lamps the Candlestick and the Lamps are not one and the same thing Now by the Candlestick as have been shewed already is meant the Church of God and by the seven Lamps on the Candlestick must be meant the Ministers and gifted men in the Church which are gifted by the spirit of God for the accomplishing of the Worship and Service of the Gospel-tabernacle both as to Doctrine and Discipline for as the two Olive-trees Zach 4. 11 12 Standing on each side of the Lamps did convey their Oil through the seven Pipes into the seven Lamps to continue their burning always in the Candlestick so do Jesus Christ by his spirit for Christ is called the tree of life nd the apple tree and the tree in the midst of the Paradise of God constantly conveying the sap and oil of light and truth into his Lamps the Ministers through the Pipes of the Scriptures or the writings of the Prophets and Apostles for the information of the Candlesticks his Churches therefore saith St. Paul to Timothy 1. Tim. 4. 13. with 15. Untill I come give a tendance to Reading Exhortation and Doctrine meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profitting may appear to all Now if you compare Zach. 4. 2. with Rev. 1. 20. It will the more appear that the seven Lamps do intend the Ministers of the Church and such as are gifted for Church work they are called there the seven Stars of the seven golden Candlesticks that as Stars are fixed in the Firmament for the help of mankind in the absence of the Sun against temporal darkness so are the Ministers set in the Firmament of the Church to help men in the absence of â—hrist the Son of Righteousness against spiritual darkness therefore saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 20. We are Embassadours in Christ stead that is we as the lesser Lights are left with you in stead of Christ the great Light who is the Son of Righteousnesse so Eph. 4. 10 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ untill we all come to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Lastly They are said to be seven Lamps this number seven was given them or the reason why the Lamps were seven in number it s with respect to the plentifulness of the gifts of the spirit which the Lord Jesus doth pour out into his Church through these Lamps for the word or number seven was a note of perfectness amongst the Hebrews which they called a perfect number so that by the seven Lamps we understand such a plentiful measure of the spirit and through supply of gifts as that there shall not be any wanwant of it in the Church upon any occasion whatsoever either to enlighten guide comfort and strengthen it unto its journeys end therefore you have it Isa 27. 2 3. A vineyard of
of you CHAP. 22. A second thing that I take notice of about the Lamp is the Oil which was in it I Shall speak the less of this because I have been handling the matter in some measure before but for order sake I shall give you a touch here You know as hath been already observed that a bare Lamp without Oil will not produce any light at all to any family or house in the world therefore here is oil poured forth into the Lamp and so it becomes a burning light before the Lord always Now you may easily conceive what this oil did signifie if you will but consider from whence it comes read Zachariahs prophesie chap 4. 2 3. with ver 12. There you have the two Olive-trees standing on the two sides of the Pipes which Pipes reached forth close to the Lamps emptying themselves through the seven Pipes into the Lamps Now by the two Olive-trees though some may conjecture or think by them is meant the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament I understand to be meant Jesus Christ Now that it cannot be the two Testaments of the Scripture which we must take for the two Olive-trees which poured their oil into the Lamps First Because the Scriptures of themselves are not capable of giving out the least drop of moisture to any therefore S. Paul calls them A dead Letter meaning without the spirit Secondly It cannot be so because when Zachariah wrote this Mystery there was but one Testament written for the new was not then given out therefore I say it must be applied to Christ Christ was both these Olive trees both to the Jewish Church then and to the Gentile Churches ever since I mean such of them as are Christs Churches indeed Now let Jesus Christ be considered in his two-fold nature as God-Man and so he will agree for number to the Olive Trees Now it s upon this account that Christ is such a dropping fulness to the Church Christ being thus considered in his two natures make him up to be the dropping Olive-Tree to the Lamps of the Church For first He must be God equal to the Father that he might be capable to receive these communications from God which are necessary for the Candlestick his Church Secondly He must be man as well as God that he might be capable to apply these received communications from God to the Church or these that shall be the Lamps therefore is Christ called the Emmanuel or the God with us Isa 7. 14. and in 1 Tim. 2. 5. He is said to be the middle person between God and us therefore is Christ reported in Scripture to be the treasury and store-house of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2. 3. And one in whom the fulness of the God-head dwelt bodily Col. 2. 9. And that it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell but that of John is full to this purpose John 1. 14. with 16. The word was made flesh and it dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth so ver 16. And of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Thus you see Christ is the Olive Tree that first doth receive from the Father and then drops his spiritual fatness down again to his Lamps the Ministers of the Gospel for the good of all the Church which is called the Candlestick so that by the oyl is meant the rich gifts of the Spirit which Christ gives out to his Lamps the Ministers whereby they are enabled to counsel and instruct the ignorant to comfort the doubting and strengthen the feeble minded to support the weak to feed the hungry and correct the obstinate and warn the unruly as the Apostle speaks in the first of the Thessalonians 5. 14. Use 1. Then this should teach Christians to admire the Lord who hath not with-held the best of supplies from his poor people O what greater love can there be thought on then this who cannot but be swallowed up in the meditations of what God hath done for his Church touching the daily benefits he drops down upon his people O when we do consider the rich droppings of the Spirit of God through Christ which do daily come down on the Churches Lamps for the common good of the whole body how can we chuse but cry out with the Psalmist Psalm 8. 4. Lord what is man that thou act mindeful of him and the Sonne of man that thou visitâ—st him O how largely hath God abounded this way of late years towards his people what a wonderful deal of oyl hath he poured into his Churches Lamps in this our day whatever age could say the like as we can say setting aside the Apostles age O how hath the fountain of light and truth been broken up of late in the midst of us how have the little ones in Sion been made to understand doctrine what a high way hath there been set open in the things of God in our day as that the way-faring men though fools have been kept from erring therein O that the Lords people would admire the love and grace of God herein and that they would cry out with the Apostle O the heighth the depth the length and the breadth of the love of God which passeth knowledge how unsearchable are his judgement and his wayes past finding out Use 2. It informs us what rich food the people of God hath given them to live upon which is better then all the rare dainties in the world beside when I think upon the pourings out of the Spirit of God in the gifts and graces of it to the Churches of Christ I do not so much wonder at the saying of the wise man who tells us that that little which the righteous hath is better then the large revenues of the wicked Psal 36. 16. Not onely because the wicked have not their portion upon a divine account or with such a blessing as the godly have but because all that the wicked do enjoy of this world were it ten times more then it is yet it is nothing compared with the least dram of the grace of the Spirit in the heart of a believer O the honey sweet mansions which believers feed upon O the rare comforts they experience both by day and night saith Paul 1 Cor. 2. 9. 10. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for those that love him which things God revealed to his by his spirit Well one word of the Lamps more and I have done speaking about them and that is It is said that these Lamps were alwayes burning before the Lord in which we may take notice of these two things 1. They were alwayes burning 2. That they were to burn before the Lord. As to the first consideration I understand it to be meant of the assured continuance of the gifts and graces of
the Spirit for the benefit of the Elect of God in several ages of the world that as the Lamps were never to go out in the Tabernacle so the Lord will never be wanting with the gifts of his Spirit upon his Ministers throughout all ages that he might by and through them keep up the light and truth of his holy will in the world in despight of all opposition whatsoever read Psalm 132. 15 16 17. I will abuudantly bless their provision I will satisfie their poor with bread I will cloath her Priests with salvation and their Saints shall shout for joy there will I make the horn of David to bud I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed This is the promise of God to the Candlestick is Church throughout all ages in the world giving them to understand that let men and devils do what they can yet certainly God will alwayes keep up the lamp light of truth to the end of the world You see the lamp was alwayes to burn in the Tabernacle so as certainly the light of truth shall and must alwayes burn in the world Hence you have it in the Psalms Psalm 132. 14. where God is speaking of the Candlestick his Church saith in these words This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it for my habitation Use 1. This informs us then of the great folly and madness of the children of this world who labor night and day to extinguish and put out these lamp lights of Gospel truth which God hath set up in his Church Alas men do but strive against the stream in the thing you see how successess men have been in their attempts this way even from the beginning How did Pharaoh King of â—â—yâ—t strive to root out the Lamp lights in his day so how did King â—â—â—â—bâ—am lay out himself this way in his day by setting up the Calves by throwing out the good Ministers of the Lord and in putting into their rooms Priests made of the lowest and basest of the People 1 Kings 12. 31. so in Christs time what ado did King Herod make to finde out the Lamp of lamps viz. our Lord Jesus Christ that he might quite rid the world of his light Mat. 2. so in the Apostles dayes how did the Jews labour to fill the world with uproars against them that their lamp light of truth might be wholly put out of the earth so the heathen Emperours in the first three hundred years after the Apostles what bloody attempts did they in their times make against the lamps and so all along ever since their time for this fifteen hundred years what horrid cruel desperate attempts have the Antechristian party in the world made against these lamp lights of Gospel truth which Christ by his Apostles hath left for the good of his Church witness the slaughtering of the Waldenses Albingenses beside those many murthers which have been done upon the Christians in Germany whose case without doubt God is now a pleading by the Turks You may call to minde the many cruel murthers done in France and Ireland as also the many cruelties which have past upon the Lords people in England ever since Queen â—â—arâ—â— time what endeavours what plots what secret treacheries have there been afoot to get down these divine lights which God in mercy hath caused to shine in the midst of us But alas alas let me tell such men that all their labour is but lost labour men do but kick against the pâ—icks and throw back their heels against sharp stakes that persist in a work of this nature O you persecutors of truth and such as think to extinguish the lamps of Gods truth to you I speak even to you of every nation in the world O Sirs lay down your weapons of contention push at the pikes no longer for you will certainly perish in the end know you that do what you can God will keep alive his lamp lights of truth in the world in despight of you all certainly you do but set the briars and thorns in battle aray against the everlasting burnings in rising up to resist the work of God in the earth God will have his work to go on O therefore stand not in his way God will make way for it though it be through your heart blood read Psalm 45. 4 5 6. Psal 36. 9. O therefore be wise ye judges of the earth and be ye instructed ye great ones serve the Lord with fear and come before him with trembling kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the miâ— way when his wrath is kindled but a little therefore if you love your selves hearken to the advice of that learned Doctor Acts 5. 34. with 38 39. Then stood there up one in the councel a Pharisee named Gamaliel a doctor of the Law who said And now I say unto you Refrain your selves from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily ye be found even to fight against God Lastly and I have done this Type It is to be noted that this Type viz. the Lamps was to burn before the Lord or in his sight which signifies Gods watchful eye over the lamps that so nothing might hinder or obstruct the burning of them you may fully see the care of God set out to you in this thing Isa 27 2 3. In that day saith God speaking of his Church sing ye unto her a vineyard of red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day Use 4. This should inform us then what a dangerous thing it is for men to endeavour to corrupt the pure Worship of God by mixing any thing of their humane inventions with Gods divine Institutions certainly there cannot be any thing added to the Doctrine or Worship of God but God will readily espy it for the lamps were to burn before the Lord where the eyes of his glory should be fixed upon them let it be in the most secret Chambers men can devise yet God will finde it out Ezek. 8. 12. You may see how dearly the two sons of Aaron paid for so bold an adventure Levit. 10. 1 2. Truly men cannot easily provoke God in any thing more then by endeavouring to eclipse the shining of his lamp lights of Gospel truth in the world for truth may be as much eclipsed by corrupting of it as any other way But good Lord what little conscience do men make of this crying sin at this day Alas how do the learned of the earth labour by their wits and parts to adulterate the worship of God and the pure oyl of truth in this our age so that the great evil is come upon the earth now which fell upon Israel of old Ezek. 34. 18. They eat the good pasture and tread wn the residue
cord of sincerity that you may find favour in the eyes of God touching what you do in his Worship O this is as the Gold about the Temple which made it so glorious to the beholders so doth this grace wonderfully adorn the Temple of our Souls to God in which God delights to dwell therefore are the prayers of the upright so delightful to God Prov. 15. 8. Never think your duties fast bound to the Altar Christ unless they are tied to the Horns of it with this cord O consider well that place in the 1 Chron. 28. 9. Davids words to Solomon and thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever A Fifth cord with which Believers should bind their duties to the Horns of the Altar Christ is a zealous fervent Spirit in the work and Worship of God as the Apostle speaks Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. A Soul that acts carlesly in the Worship of the Lord is like a Cord let loose or slackt it gives liberty to the thing tied to role or start at pleasure A careless heat in Worship destroys all in hand and brings a Curse upon the person found under so filthy a frame of Spirit Many Christians insensibly perish and die to their growth in Sanctification and yet ignorant of the Reason of it alas it lieth here viz. in their giving way too much to a careless frame of Spirit in the work of God who can think or imagine that God will bless the means appointed for our growth in Sanctification when we come to the means and Ordinances of the Gospel void of hearts and serious spirits which should fit them for the blessing of it Luke 1153. The hungry are filled with good things but the rich are sent empty away We use to say that Gold is better worth then to give to Children to play withall so doth God account the precious things of the Spirit better worth then to give out to careless Children who rather play with holy things then truly prize them as it too too often appears by these two great evils First what respect to persons carelesness in coming to the Worship of God who can take their own times in coming as if it lay in their power to make it subject to their carnal interests in the world The second Evil is in persons slight behaving themselves when before the Lord in his Worship so that as men do behave themselves in this case accordingly are the dealings of God with them As to those spiritual things which God gives out to men in their waiting upon him in his Ordinances according to that word in Jer. 5. 25. Your iniquitiâ—s have turned away these things c. Use O then labour for this Cord of a fervent Spirit that you may fasten your sacrifices with Zeal to the Horns of the Altar Christ Friends beg of God for it O give not over asking and crying and praying untill you have got it let there be no neglect on your part in the getting of this mercy into your souls assure your selves that God will not be wanting to you if you will not be wanting to your selves I mean God will not be wanting in the giving out this Gospel-frame of a fervent Spirit to you if you be not wanting to your selves in the asking and seeking of it at Gods hands God hath pawned his Word for it and he cannot deny his word nor cease to make it good to the souls of those which shall plead his word with him for any spiritual mercy Read often that place in James 1. 5. If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not My friends its worth your while to consider that place in the 3. of Revel 16. where you may see how the want of this Cord of a zealous fervent Spirit did render the Laodiceans services altogether loathsome to God as that when their work was done God tells them he could spue both it and them out of his mouth the Reason is given you because what they did in the Worship of God was done from a luke-warm spirit O be afraid of this ye careless heedless souls which can pray and read and hear themselves fast asleep in the Worship and Ordinances of God and others that can suffer their eyes and hearts to wander after every vain object while in the Worship of God of such a sort of people did God complain of long ago in Ezek. 33. 31. God saith This people draweth near me with their lips and with their mouths they seem to honour me but their hearts run after their covetousness Secondly I come now to speak of the second particular of the Horns on the Altar as they lead to Christ and that is what affords the soul as much comfort as the other did Instruction If we consider the Protection Believers have by Christ while in his Service and Worship if they with Joab do fly to Christ the great Altar for it It cannot be denied but that these souls whose hearts God hath awakend to behold their danger while in the Worship and Service of Christ have great cause to dread and fear what may befall them or become of them before they come off the duty now that danger which attends the people of God while they are engaged in the work of God may be three ways considered First With respect to the Justice of God Secondly With respect to the Malice of the Devil Thirdly With respect to the Malice and Hatred of wicked men here below First With respect to the Justice of God which cannot bear with the least sin committed any where much less in his Worship and service As to that did not the bloud and merits of Christ interpose between the justice of God and the soul in the performance of his duties it were impossible that ever the soul should come off alive again because of these stains weaknesses impurities and defilements our best of duties are accompanied with an instance you may take for this in the two Sons of Aaron Levit. 10. 1 2. Secondly It is so if we consider the Malice of the Devil who like a Roaring Lion is going up and down the earth seeking whom he may devour whose devouring Rage and Malice is mostly bent against the soul when the soul is engaged for God in the performance of some spiritual duty a figure of which you may see in Zach. 3. 1. where no sooner was Joshua the High Priest ingaged in the performance of the work of the Priesthood but presently you have Satan at his right hand to resist him whose work was to hinder him in and to unfit Joshua for the work of God what
in prayer to God thy self in the greatest necessity thou mighst comfort thy self in this thy High Priest is praying for thee for saith the Apostle he ever liveth to make Intercession for us Heb. 7. 25. This is the ground why thy barrel of Meal wasteth not and thy Cruse of Oil spend not it self in time of Famine and why the Plague cometh not nigh thy dwelling place in pestilentious seasons Job 5. 17 18 to 23. Secondly The next thing we are to speak of is the time how long this is to last or how long this interceding work of Christ was to continue for Believers not only for the Saints under the Old Testament seasons but for the Saints under the New Testament seasons also even for us saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 34. And such a High Priest became us Heb. 7. 26. And this will further appear if you consider this work in the Type of it as it s held out to you Exod. 30. 8. And when Aaron lighted the lamps at even he shall burn Incense upon it a perpetual Incense before the Lord throughout your Generations Now observe it was perpetually to burn before the Lord throughout their Generations there was not a Generation but must have the benefit of this Altar of Incense so is Christ an Intercessour for the Elect in all Generations and not only for time either of the day or of the night but Christ is pouring out his interceding groans to the Father for his people Therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 25. He ever liveth to make Intercession for us Use 3. O soul then doubt not thy case goeth on in Heaven well enough there is alwayes prayer going up to God for thee to keep thee night and day from danger so long as Moses his hands were kept up by Aaron and Hur it went well enough with Israel Exod. 17. O but here are the hands of Christ lifted up for thee night and day to keep thee from the Arrow that flieth by day and the shaft which flieth by night Read that place Isa 27. 2 3. In that day sing ye a Vineyard of Red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment least any hurt it I will keep it night and day O Christ is interceding night and day for thee against all evils It may be thou fearest that sin and corruption will undo thy soul that the Devil and temptation will be thy ruine that wicked men will swallow thee up in the end O soul look up to Jesus Christ under all this eye him at the Throne of grace wrestling by his strong crys for thee O soul live upon this in doubting seasons O go on in the way of thy duty with chearfulness O remember the Lord is with thee his Spirit shall be with thee his Prayers with thee O fear not O saith David The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me O soul whatever thy danger be that shall beset thee whether it be from Hell or this World it can never seize thee while Christ is at prayer for thee but Christ as thou hast heard ever liveth to intercede on thy behalf Object But some may say then why are men so strict to enjoyn the people to pray is it not enough that Christ their High Priest prayeth for them in Heaven I answer It is true in point of prevailing with God for the Elect so Christ their High Priest prayeth enough for them And in this sense there is no need of Believers praying I mean so as if their prayers did give any strength to the Priestly work or office of Jesus Christ therefore that cursed Tenent of the Papist is to be abhorred by all true Christians which teacheth that the prayers of the Church meriteth or procureth the grace of God by its own strength or efficacy blindly mistaking that place James 5. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Now in this sense there is no need of Believers prayers for this will be to destroy the Mediator-ship of Christ and to render his Priestly office of no effect for in point of merit oâ— worth God only accepts of the prayers of Christ and of the Elects for his sake according to that word in Matth. 3. 17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased But secondly notwithstanding the Intercession of Jesus Christ yet in point of obedience to God it is a Christians duty to pray So much as this is handed out to you in the Priesthood of old Read Luke 1. 8 9 10. Speaking of Zecharias the Priest While he was executing the Priests office before God in the order of his course according to the custom of the Priests office his lot was to burn Incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord and the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of the Incense Now Zecharias the Priest represents our Lord Jesus in the work of his Priestly interceding office for the Elect and you read that nowithstanding Zecharias was interceding at the Incense Altar within the Temple yet the people were to pray at the same time without strongly proving that although Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest still intercedes in Heaven for the Elect yet notwithstanding it is highly the duty of all the Elect while without the Temple of glory and remain yet in the body to pray This will farther appear if you consider that place in Rev. 8. 3 4. And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer in his hand and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne and the smoak of the Incense which came up with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand If you would know who this Angel was or is you may read Rev. 1. 13. and there you shall as I have said already find him to be Jesus Christ in all his Priestly Formalities as our High Priest And in this Chapter he is set forth to you in the performance of his work of Intercession for the Saints by having a Golden Censer in his hand which was what the High Priest under the Law did administer before the Lord withall Numb 16. 46 47. And the Angel had Incense given him to offer up to God in the Censer which was in his hand which Incense I understand to be meant the infinite worth of his bloud and righteousness which is continually pleaded by Christ as a ground of full satisfaction to God for the Elect It s said there was much Incense given to this Angel that is as the Apostle elsewhere saith in Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell which sheweth the abundant worth and efficacy that lay in the death and righteousness of Christ therefore he is able to save to the uttermost all
more then the whole world is worth Now to prevent these Fears and Objections the Priest was to be taken from amongst his own Brethren it shall be no stranger whom you know not or that knows not you but of your own selves from amongst his Brethren bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh this yields great relief against Fears Suppose the King should send an Army over Sea into some strange Country now if he shall make choice of some Alien or Outlandish man to be General over them how would this discourage the Army in their way and work for who knows but that a stranger may sell them into their Enemies hands or should he not do so yet he being an Alien they not known to him what ever their necessities with respect to want of food clothing or any other necessaries may be he cannot understand their complaints and they perish without remedy but now if the General be one of their own Nation they will not so much fear the being betraid into the hands of their enemies because their General and they are all alike hateful to the enemy they engage against besides when ever they have any request to put up to him or matter of moment to inform him withall they are sure he knows their language and understands their tongue and they his for he is born of the same Nation a General made of his Brethren Now as the High Priest under the Law was a Type of Christ in all respects so in this very respect likewise that so Believers might have great encouragement to apply themselves to him at all times hence it is that Moses alluding to Christ saith Deut. 18. 15. A Prophet shall â—he Lord your God raise up unto you from amongst his Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things So Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren So that you see the Apostle as well as Moses speaking about Christ alludes to the High Priest under the Law which was to be taken forth from amongst his Brethren Use 2. Oh then what comfort and encouragement should this afford the soul against the former Objections First as to their non-acquaintance with him Oh soul thou needst not fear for thy High Priest is no stranger to thee he is not an Alien which cannot understand thy speech thou maist freely lay open thy mind to him in prayer what ever distress or want thou art in come to him in prayer and thou needst not fear he will well know what it is thou supplicatest him about this it was that encouraged David to come to him and freely pour out his soul to him he knew that Christ was no stranger nor a man of an unknown tongue to him and he knew that Christ could as well understand what he had to express on his part of Christ Psal 139. 4. Lord there is not a word in my tongue but thou knowest it altogether Besides Christ is so well skilled in our tongue that he can throughly judge of our meaning and broken sighs and groans delivered up before him if we want expressions he can help the soul out in the thing for he doth not only know what we should speak but what we would speak before him and so helps us out in the matter Rom. 8. 26 27. Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with groans which cannot be uttered and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the will of God For Christ is made a High Priest for this end to spread the complaints of his people before the Lord therefore is it recorded in Rev. 8. 3. And another Angel stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and there was given him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints So that you see Christ did offer up the complaints sighs and groans of his people to God therefore must he be taken from amongst his Brethren a member of the same Nation born and trained up amongst the people that so he might be fully capable to do them that service for which he was ordained a Priest Use 3. What encouragement should this Doctrine give a soul to adventure his all in the hands of this Christ in point of that faithfulness we may expect to find in him meerly upon this account that he is a High Priest called forth to the work from amongst his Brethren and then this would remove the other Objection which some poor soul may make against Christ O! That which I have to entrust the High Priest withall is of infinite value and if it should miscarry through the unfaithfulness of the Priest I am for ever undone and shall never recover my self more Now to prevent these fears the High Priest was to be taken from amongst his Brethren a man interested with them in all the proyerties together whose happiness is bound up in the peoples one who must stand and fall with those he is a Priest unto who promotes but his own in seeking the peoples good for whom he undertakes therefore must he be taken from amongst his Brethren to assure us of his faithfulness and diligence in the work he hath undertaken for Believers you know that Christ our High Priest is called an Advocate that is one that pleads a case in Law 1 John 2. 1. Now what an encouragement would this afford a person to make use of such a man in his case who is concerned in the same case himself so as that if it goes ill with the Client it must go ill with the Advocate Oh soul thus much maist thou draw out of this particular of the High Priests being taken from amongst his Brethren it is to encourage thee to make use of Jesus Christ for a High Priest to God in the behalf of thy soul thou maist assure thy self that he will be faithful to thee No bribes offered him can pervert or corrupt him therefore is he called a righteous Advocate 1 John 2. 1. We have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous the Inheritance which Christ as a High Priest intercedes for and as an Advocate pleads for in Heaven its what Christ and thee are co-heirs and joynt-heirs of together Rom. 8. 17. If Children then heirs heirs of God and joynt-heirs with Christ So that thou standest and fallest with Jesus Christ Christ promotes his own Interest in promoting thine if he prove unfaithful it s as well to himself as to thee Oh therefore doubt of nothing put thy all into his hands adventure whole soul and body upon his Priesthood thou canst not do better that which was Peters Exhortation to the Saints in his day is mine to thee Pet. 1. 4 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God
Reconciliation and Pacification then by Christ dost thou not read that the Father is only well-pleased in Christ because he is his beloved Son Math. 3. 17. Dost thou not read that he is the way the truth and the life to the Father as that there is no coming to the Father but by him Iohn 14 6. And that there is no other Name given amongst men whereby we can be saved Act. 4. 12. And that if we believe not in him we shall die in our sins Ioh. 8. 24. And the wrath of God shall abide upon us Iohn 3. ult Obj. But methinks I hear thee reply Oh but thou art afraid to come to Christ I pray thee tell me where the stick lieth what it is which hinders and keeps thee back from the greatest of mercies what is it Is it the greatness of thy sins Oh then come to Jesus Christ for he is a merciful High Priest filled brimful of bowels and tender compassion for such an one as thou art which have gone out of the way of God mark the phrase Heb. 5. 2. Who can have compassion on them that are out of the way Oh the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me saith Christ and the Lord hath anointed me to preach liberty to the captive and to open the Prison doors to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. Soul art not thou one of these captives art not thou a captive to sin a slave to Sathan a prisoner to thy own lustful wicked heart as that if the Devil and Lust bid thee to drink untill thou art dead drunk in the place thou must do it if it bid the commit Adultery Lie swear Blaspheme the worthy name of God if it bid thee Rob Kill thou must do it if it bid thee fight against the Gospel of thy Salvation speak evil of good Ministers for their faithful dealing with thy soul if it bid thee abuse and persecute the Lords people meerly for waiting upon him in his Ordinances if it bid thee seek and hunt out their Meetings untill thou hast tired thy self with thy wicked journey all this and more thou must do thou canst not help it thou art not thy own but Satans and Sins slave Now for thee was Christ anointed and with infinite bowels of grace and tender compassion filled that he might set thee at liberty from thy sin and lust and that he might preach the acceptable year of the Lord to thy soul O therefore come in come into Christ do not so much look upon what thou hast been in thy self as upon what Christ is anointed to be and to do for thee as a High Priest if thou wilt come in to him look not so much upon thy sins as upon the infinite compassions of Christ as a High Priest which was so made for them that go out of the way yea and for the ignorant likewise that should not discourage thee neither for if thou comest to Christ as a High Priest he will teach thee the fear of the Lord the knowledge of himself and the exceeding evil of sin which thou didst not know before Isa 29. 24. They also that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding and they that muâ—mured shall learn Doctrine Oh soul throw thy self upon him he will not reject thee for thy sins but pardon thee of them and pity thee under them Oh remember he is the High Priest which is full of compassion look up to him and hasten thy soul thither to the gate of his tender mercy and thou shalt find acceptance with him take his own word for it live upon it as surer then Bill or Bond from the tenderest faithfullest man in the world for it came from the lips of one who never spake an untruth in his life John 6. 37. He that comeâ—h unto me I will in no wise cast out Secondly As for those who have made their choice of Christ but still doubts of their condition Oh soul didst thou know how much comfort and satisfaction thou maist draw out of the Priestly office of Christ thou wouldst never doubt more I do confess that Satan labours to fill the minds of the people of God with great fears and doubtings but would they view this Qualification of compassion in their High Priest it would abundantly fortifie them against all Objections whatsoever Satan could make against them there be these five things which do ordinarily cause doubtings in the hearts of the Lords people First The guilt of sin Secondly The strength of corruption Thirdly The violence of Temptation Fourthly The weakness of Grace Fifthly Their backwardness in duty First If it be the guilt of sin which cometh in upon thee under all this look up to Christ let it not drive thee from but to Christ for he full of bowels and tender compassion on purpose to deal with thee under this distemper take his own words for it Art thou laden with thy sin as that thou canst not hold up thy head saith Christ then come to me and I will freely pardon it for my name sake though your sin be as red as Crimson and as Scarlet yet I will make them as white as snow and as wooll Isa 1. 18. Is it the power of sin troubles thee Oh then look up to Christ thy High Priest who is full of compassion filled up with it to out-vie thy corruption the Father was resolved to bring his elected ones to glory through the Priesthood of Christ therefore filled Christ with infinite affection towards his people that so he might pitty them and have compassion on them in all their distempers the people were in an ill case in the wilderness for want of greater measures of this in Moses who had undertaken the conduct of them Numb 11. 11 12 13 14 15. Moses crys out I am not able to bear all this people alone because it is too heavy for me Oh but it s otherwise with Christ for the Father was resolved to fill Christ with so much compassion as that he should never complain of his burthen in having to do with such corrupted ones as thou art Heb. 2. 17 18. For he was made a merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God that he might be able to succour those that are tempted mark that to succour the tempted or burthened not to reject them under it Oh then come to Christ bring thy corruption with thee lie down with it at the feet of Christ and he will unlade thy burthen for thee Math. 11. 28 29. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Oh burthened soul here is thy call what canst expect more at Christs hands then to be bid under this weight of corruption to come away to him But it may be thou wilt say but I am afraid should I come my corruption would stir up fury in my Lord Soul Christ gives answer to it what wilt thou have more and bids thee put him upon the trial for saith
young and lively is better then that which is old and feeble It was first to shew the High Priest under the Law that God expected he should be lively and strong for the Lord in all he did for him he was to consecrate the best of his years and the best of his time strength and abilities for the Lord that the worship of God called for the best of our all for its service therefore was he to be consecrated with a young Bullock not an old or feeble one 2. It shews us that time or age never enfeebles our great High Priest in heaven the Priest was to be consecrated with a young Bullock shewing you that the Priest Believers have in heaven grows never old he is not subject to tire or faint in his employment he is as lively and active in his work for his people now as at the first day he entred heaven as their Priest and so is it lookt upon by the Father that makes our High Priest still so prevallent upon the Heart of God he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Lastly We might make this use of it to perswade all young persons to dedicate themselves to God betime in the prime of their dayes when the marrow is warm in the bones A young Bullock not an old must be offered to God in sacrifice O so should it be with you my friends would you offer up your selves as an acceptable sacrifice to God O then let it be in your youth minde that exhortation of Solomon Eccles 12. 1. Remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth while the evil dayes come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt saâ— I have no pleasure in them It was Timoâ—hies honour and it is spoken to his great praise that that he had consecrated his soul and body to God in the time of his youth at a time when he was mostly capable to act for God 1 Tim. 4. 12. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Alas Sirs when we live so long in sin as to spend the marrow of our bodies in the service of the Devil How do we think God should be pleased with the offering up of our old dry bones for a sacrifice upon his Altar There is nothing doth more ingage God to take care for a soul in old age then when a soul is careful to consecrate himself to God in his youthful dayes Then was Moses to take a vessel of oyl and pour it on the Priests head which was called the anointing of him Exod. 29. 7. The oyl of anointing poured forth upon the High Priest signified these three things First It signifieth the great endowments of the Priest with respect to the gifts of the Spirit which should be upon him as necessary to the work he was to do for the people for so is the anointing understood sometimes 1 Sam. 10. 1. 6. And Samuel took a vial of oyl and poured it upon the head of Saul and kissed him and said Is it not because the Lord hath annointed thee to be captain over his inheritance Now look into the 6. verse and there you shall see the gifts of the Spirit spoken of that should fit him for government an office unto which he was anointed And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee and thou shalt prophesie with them and be turned into another man And look you into the 10th verse and there you shall see the gifts of the Spirit upon him This shews us what infinite gifts of all manner of perfections fell upon Christ to fit him for the great work of the Priesthood saith Christ Isa 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me A Spirit of counsel that he might be able to give sound advice at all times to his Church Isa 9. 6 A Spirit of courage and strength that he might go through all oppositions for his people therefore is he called the mighty God Isa 9. 6. A Spirit of wisdom that he might be able to out-wit his subtle adversaries in hell or on the earth 1 Cor. 1. 24. A Spirit of love and tenderness that he might not reject for but pitty his people under their temptations weaknesses and infirmities Heb. 2. 17 18. A Spirit of pardon that he might be able to pass by his peoples sins iniquities and transgressions Nehemiah 9. 17. A Spirit of faithfulness as not to neglect his people in any condition nor wanting in the giving out to them any supply to his people which the Father hath both given the Saints by promise and laid into Christ as their store-house of grace and wisdom for that purpose Psalm 36. 5. All this was in Christ the Head for the use of the Body mystical as the streams are in the fountain not onely to be imployed for them but to be given down to them into their souls according as they shall draw it out of this Well by the vessel of believing so saith the Church who made use of Christ upon this account Isa 12 2 3. Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and song and is become my salvation therefore saith Christ with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation Secondly It denotes the perfection of grace and holiness which was to dwel in Christ for so much may we understand by the pouring forth of the anointing saith the Apostle It pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1. 19. A fulness of grace and holiness that from him we might derive it for our use and benefit in this life Thirdly The anointing of the High Priest did signifie that legal right he had to administer in the Priests office above another man hence is that of the Apostle Heb. 5. 4. And no man taketh this honour upon him but he that was called of God as was Aaron Now this would afford great comfort to a soul if well considered that the Lord Jesus Christ was not only a Priest or an Advocate but he was an anointed Priest and Advocate one who had a legal right to the place he came not in the wrong way therefore no Thief or Robber we need not doubt no one can invalue Christs work when it s done for believers meerly for want of right to officiate you know if a Councellour at Law undertake to plead a mans case for him and should dispute it never so ably and should carry it in Law yet if this can be objected against the Councellour that he is not lawfully inducted to the place as a Councellour all will be invalued that hath been done and said and looked upon as of no force O therefore soul if Christ intercedes as a High Priest and pleads as an Advocate at the Throne of grace for thee thou needst not fear of thy Case there is not any enemy thou hast can hurt thee in this Case should the Law object the Justice of God object
should Satan object against thy Christ it s nothing he had the legal anointings of the father upon him to in right him to his work saith Christ Isa 61. 1. The spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel That is the sense of what he means by preaching Lastly That which was appointed to consecrate the Priest withall the Priest was to eat it Exod. 29. 32 33. Which shews us that the work of the Priesthood lives in the heart of Christ it should be of that infinite delight to him as food is to the hungry stomack the Priest should eat in his office and work he should as it were live upon it and feed and feast himself with it as a man doth on his daily food so saith Christ himself speaking of this great work of the Priesthood it is my meat and drink to be imployed in and about it Iohn 4. 34. It is my meat and drink to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work All this is to encourage doubting souls to make use of Christ to bring their sins and sores and sorrows temptations and corruptions to him and their leporisiecal souls to him and the ignorant hard unbelieving dead carnal proud lustful revengeful hearts to him as their High Priest and lay them down at the door of his Priestly office O this is meat and drink to Christ the High Priest O for Christ to see his door crouded up full with halted mained blind leporous souls all waiting for a cure O this makes the heart of Christ leap in heaven saith Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy will O God Now what was the great will of God it was that the desperate and damned should be saved by the Priesthood of Christ and that he should preach good tidings to the meek and that he should bind up the broken-hearted and preach liberty to the captive and let loose the prisoners and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord Isa 61. 1 2. And that he should comfort all that mourn of the Elect Isa 40. 1 2. O saith Christ this is my delight it s my meat and drink to do my fathers will remember the Priest hath eaten in that with which he was consecrated Secondly So should it be with all the Ministers of the Gospel with what delght should they go about their work O saith St. Paul the goodness of God constraineth us or the love of God constraineth us 2 Cor. 5 14. This work was as meat and drink to him St. Paul had eaten in his Consecrating matter which was bitter in his belly but as sweet as Honey to his taste as it s said of the little book John was to eat Rev. 8. 9. CHAP 33. The work which the High Priest was to do for the people when chosen for them UNder which general there are these things to be considered First The place where the High Priest was to perform the work of the Priesthood Secondly The work he was to do when in the place for administration Thirdly What the Priest was to do for the people upon all occasions of need besides his solemn work in the Tabernacle First The place where the Priest was to perform the work of the Priesthood that was in the Tabernacle within the veil a place where none but the Priest was to enter Lev. 16. 16 17. This was a Type of Christs interceding work now he is in Heaven Heb. 9. 24. For Christ is not entred into the holy place made with hands but into heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us He is there to intercede forth blessings for us and to Advocate our Case he takes up all our accusations laid in against us There he answereth all objections which may be made in Heaven by the Law against us he is there to gather up all our Inditements which may be laid into our charge and he is always there for this work Christ is never absent when there is need for his presence on our behalf saith the Apostle he ever liveth to make Intercession for us it s likewise said that the people were not to go into the Tabernacle but were to stand without at the door of the Tabernacle Lev. 16. â—6 17. This shews us two things First The dark state which God held them under in comparison to us Gospellers it was little of the glory or of the mystery of the grace of the Gospel which that people knew its true they knew they had a High Priest within in the Tabernacle within the veil of it but what he did or acted they were not to look into what manifestations he had of God or glorious discoveries from God they were not to see or have any knowledge of therefore if the ministration of the Law were glorious much more will the ministration of the Gospel exceed in glory so reasons St. Paul 2 Cor. 3. 7 8 9 10 11 12. And he tells you wherein the Gospel is rather glorious in that the veil is taken away and we can now with open face behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord ver 16. 18. Secondly It shews us that at best while we are in this Tabernacle of our body we are absent from our greatest Vision of glory we are but in the outer Court we behold only the back-side of the Tabernacle in comparison to what we shall see when we come to pass within the veil where our High Priest is he saith Paul at best We walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. We have here but a few drops of our true Tabernacleglory brought whom to us by the eye of faith through Ordinances O but when we are out of the body we shall swim in the Rivers of all glorious perfection saith David Psalm 16. 11. Where we shall be brought into the presence of God where shall be the fulness of joy at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore therefore saith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Who would desire to live in this dark dungeon Tabernacle state apart from those celestial glories but rather who would covet as Paul did to be at whom to this blessed Canaan of rest where all true blessedness dwells Again It s observed that the people were to bring their offerings and lay them down at the door of the Tabernacle and the Priest was to take it and offer it for them before the Lord Levit. 1. 3. 4 5. This teacheth what believers should do now in Gospel dayes bring all their offerings to the Lord Christ all the duties in worship and offer it to him that he may present it in his own name to God O how doth this reprove that vain opinion of the Papists who dream of I know not how many High Priests in Heaven whom they adore with that respect which is
their use was for this purpose that if any man had committed murder accedentally yet if he did immediately repair to any one of these Cities before the officer that was appointed for execution did overtake him then he was not to die provided he did not get out of the City untill the death of the present High Priest Numb 35. 11 12 13 14. These Cities as to the use of them they were all types of Jesus Christ with respect to the safety Christ administers to poor guilty sinners in a way of protecting of them from the wrath of God Look as the avenger of blood did pursue the murâ—herer in open field so doth the Justice of God the sinner every day Psalm 7. 11. God is angry with the wicked every day so ver 12 13. If he turn not he will whâ—t his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the instruments of death he hath ordained his arrows against the persecutors But if the soul can make to Christ before the justice of God hath overtaken him he will be safe fot Christ is the great City of refuge there is no kinde of evil can enter the gates of this City saith Solomon Prov. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run thereat and are safe therefore it is said in Isaiah where the prophet is speaking of Christ Isa 25. 4. For thou hast been a strength to the poor a strength to the needy in his distress a refuge from the storm a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible one is as a storm against the wall Therefore soul if thou wouldst be protected from the blast of the terrible one from the stroke of Gods justice maste haste to the City of refuge which is Christ get into him and thou wilt be safe CHAP. 38. Of the scape-Goat offered to God for the People THere was likewise a live Goat which that the Priest was to take upon the head of which he was to lay his hands and there to make a publick confession to God of all the peoples sins and when so done the Priest was to lay all the sins of the people upon the head of the Goat then was the Goat to be sent away into the Wilderness never to return with them more Leviticus 26. 7 8. 9. with 21 22. verses This Type as well as the rest was to set forth the wonderful grace of God in Christ to sinners who hath prepared a scape Goat for them to carry away their sin upon his own head which scape Goat is Christ his onely Son O this is wondeâ—ful love saith the Spirit John 3. 16. God so loved the world as that he sent forth his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life O look to Christ he is this scape Goat he bears all the sinnes of his people they are confessed over Christs head and translated upon Christs head Isa 53. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 24. And so made his sins not ours and he hath carryed them into the wilderness of forgetfulness where they shall never come into mind more Jer. 31. 34. From the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember the sin no more Christ will leave all the sin and guilt which he took upon him behind him in the Wilderness saith God I will cast away their iniquity behind my back And assure your selves when ever Christ comes again he will come without sin to Salvation Heb. 9 28. CHAP 39. Of the other smaller Sacrifices in use amongst the people THere were other Sacrifices which they offered to God besides what have been mentioned all holding forth something of a Christ to come now these sacrifices were of two sorts First Of things solid Secondly Of things liquid or moist Those solid things which they offered to God in sacrifice they were likewise of two sorts First Of things living Secondly Of things dead Now the living sacrifices or the sacrifices of those things that were living They were either Bullocks Levit. 16. 11. Goats Levit. 16. 15. Rams Levit. 16. 3. Lambs Exod. 12. 3. And young Pigeons Levit. 1 14. Now all these living sacrifices were to be put to death which answers to the death of Christ pointed out to them as the Apostle speaketh Heb. 9. 26. That Christ towards the latter end of the world should appear to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself And these sacrifices were not only to be put to death but their bloud was to be shed forth that so an atonement might be made to God by it Levit. 1. 14. Levit. 16. 15 16. Which answers to that of the Apostle touching Jesus Christ Heb. 9. 13 14. And where as well these sacrifices were to be without spot or blemish Levit. 3. 6. This answers to the Apostles pure nature of our Gospel-sacrifice Christ as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 9. 14. Secondly As for these sacrifices which were of things sollid but of a dead matter it was Meal or Flower and this was to be bruised or broken which answers to that of Christ which the Prophet speaks of him in Isa 53. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him and to put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin As for these sacrifices which were liquid they were either of Oil Wine or Water and this was to be poured out upon the ground Exod. 29 40. Which answereth to that of Christ which the Prophet speaks in Isa 53. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the greaâ— and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death Thus soul I have spoken my thoughts of these great mysteries of the Gospel and I hope that I was not wholly left to my own spirit in the thing I found much of the presence of the Lord going along with me in the work the foundation of which was laid in prison when I was shut up for Jesus Christ Jâ—has Isle of Patmos brought him in his great Revelations from God and I hope that my impisonment was attended with somethng of a Patmos blessing if thou receivest any benefit by it give God the glory and say the Lord hath brought whom light to thee out of the midst of ignorance it self and thou hast met with instruction from the mouth of a mere Babe But what 's there too hard for the Lord who when he will work who shall let him who brings to nought the things that are by the things that are not and by foolishness to confound the wise and prudent My desire is that as I have laboured in the strength of God to bring this forth for thy spiritual profit and advantage thou wouldst not content thy self only with the keeping of this piece in thy house and the letting of it stand upon thy shielf or to let it lie in thy window but be much in the reading and meditation of it things no farther profit us then we are diligent in the use of them Remember that Timothies spiritual profit came in by much reading and meditation on the word 1 Tim. 4. 13. with ver 15â— Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages world without End Amen FINIS THese are to inform the Reader That whereas the Covenant mentioned amongst the TYPES is left out and nothing spoken of it the reason is the Author intends to publish it in another Treatise By reason of the Authors Remoteness from the Press there are several Mistakes in this Book Wherefore the Reader is desired to compare such places as are doubtful with this following ERRATA Pag. line  3 14 FOr such read they 8 8 for strength r. streight 11 4 for executioner r. execution 17 14 leave out so no some 27 10 leave out of 32 4 add is 36 10 leave out the 69 6 leave out never inherited 73 26 leave out who have 76 20 for shall r. that 78 19 for imagining r. ingaging 84 17 for loose r. leave 87 32 for meanest r. means 90 33 for that r. the 96 3 add it 109 30 for Church r. Gentile 120 26 leave out thoughts 121 3 for mind r. wind 134 11 for work r. word 137 11 add were 142 25 add an 144 29 add eace 147 29 add not 180 9 leave out pride 187 36 add what with 189 30 leave out comma at with an instance 202 27 for times r. sometimes and at the last line of page 202 add for his people in all ages Therefore 207 10 for tears r. words 209 6 leave out all 216 32 for sacrifice r. house 220 21 for his r. this 223 32 add may 228 17 for neither r. either 233 6 for will r. doth 245 35 r. who hath despised c. 266 31 for careful r. fearful 270 26 for laudable r. audible 273 2 for laudable r. audible 274 29 for me r. them 300 32 for he r. here 301 8 add not  9 for whom r. home 304 18 r. a view of him as 307 28 for mark r. word 317 last for administration r. admiration 325 9 leave out well
red wine I the Lord do keep it and water it every moment Use 2. O then how do this call upon the Ministers of Christ to be vigilant taking all opportunities to hold forth their Lamp lights of truth to the Candlestick the Church Ministers are Lamps and they were set apart by God for the benefit of his people to enlighten and comfort them in needful times you know the charge which is given Ministers in Isa 40. 1. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith the Lord speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem how careful was St. Paul of his duty herein what opportunities did he take on all hands to guide the Church and enlighten the Church with his Lamp light of knowledge Acts 20. 24. Who accounted not his life dear to himself so that he could but finish his Ministry with joy O what a dreadful thing is it for one of these Lamps to wax out or withdraw its shinings when the Church of God lieth ready to perish for his not discharging his duty to them for men to prove faint careless and negligent in the discharge of duty in and to the Church which God calls his Candlestick St. Paul calls this a being guilty of the bloud of fouls Acts 20. 26 You may likewise see what God doth account of this thing read Ezek. 3 20. Use 3. How should this humble Ministers of the Gospel what a blow would this consideration give the old Adam within them and pluck down the pride and confidence of all proud Ministers who may swell high with the conceit of their gifts and parts and so come to think high of themselves beyond what they should or ought to think forgetting that at best they are but bare empty Lamps in themselves who can do nothing nor can say any thing or be of any use to the Church of God without Divine assistance you know a Lamp without Oil in it is of little use in a house or family the house may be full of darkness for all that if the Lamp be without Oil in it O so are Ministers of as little use without the Oil of Gods assisting presence goes along with their labours they can do little good to any soul in point of conversion or comfort gifts and parts and flourished notions will do little in order to the raising of a dead soul to life or to the comforting a of dejected soul in the hour of temptation It was once the saying of Melancthon about a Sermon once preached by him to a Country people who pomised himself upon the well preaching of it a great harvest of Converts but upon his next coming that way and finding the little effect of it crys out old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon Alas Brethren the greatest Aristotle or Learned Philosopher in the world can do nothing here without Gods quickning comforting spirit be with him saith St. Paul our sufficiency is not of our selves but of God yet St. Paul had great parts and abilities but he looks not upon these things but upon God for success If God did not pour oil into him and thereby fitted him for his work as a Minister of the Gospel he knew he should remain but a dark Lamp without the least use to any man or woman therefore how should this make such men think low and mean thoughts of themselves and be humble both before God and man Use 3. This serves to inform Christians about their duty in this case First To keep close to their Ministers and Pastours for spiritual light and knowledge and not to slight them so and to turn the back upon them as some have done I do not intend those who under the notion of Ministers of the Gospel can cunningly undermine the Gospel neither do I mean such as can mind and turn with every turn of state but I mean those Ministers who have given evidence of the uprightness of their hearts and sincerity of soul to God as Joâ—hâ—a and Caleb did in backsliding times to be men of other spirits then to run back again with the stream of the times or the cry of the multitude to the old Egyptian darkness from whence they were delivered I say to slight these Ministers is to slight those burning Lamps of light and truth which God in mercy hath left amongst his people for direction through their wilderness to their spiritual Canaan We have had sufficient experience of this great evil of late years into how many evils and mischiefs and fearful Apostasies have thousands of professours run themselves upon leaving their sound Ministers and Pastours O what horrid darkness hath their over-spread the minds of some professours that would dare to profess an open separation from their Pastors and sound teaching Ministers which were the Lamps of light and comfort which God in mercy held out to them O therefore Christians have a care you do not slight and despise these heavenly Lamps saith St. Paul to Timothy Let no man despise thee you know the exhortation in Mal. 2 7. Thou shalt seek the Law at his mouth the reason is given you in these words for the Priests lips shall preserve knowledge Secondly Let this teach Christians to love the Ministers of Jesus Christ O keep this upon your heart daily that the Ministers of Christ are the Lamp lights to enlighten your souls in the time of darkness our Saviour calls them the lights of the world Mat. 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world that is such as are appointed to guide the feet of the Saints into the way of peace the Apostle says that the Ministers of Christ are such as watch for your souls and must give an account for them to God in the last day reade Hebrewes 13. 17. O my Brethren your Ministers they are more to you and can do more for you then the eyes of your bodies and how choice are you of that member your eyes you account your Jewels when that 's gone you account the Mercy next to life is gone But truly great Mercies and greater Jewels are Ministers if good and sound to the people of God whether they know it or not the Gallatians Church were well acquainted with the worth of their Teachers and Ministers of Christ there was once a time when they valued them beyond their bodily eyes Gal. 4. 15. For I bear you record saith Saint Paul that if it had been possible you would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me Certainly if you loose them you will loose the best of your eyes O therefore bless God heartily who hath yet continued his Lamp lights amongst you which yet maintain their burning and shining lights in the midst of you though it be wholly dark over Egypt yet you have your Lamps burning in Gosher O pray hard for them O let Heaven ring with your cryes about your Ministers O put on for them as you would for your treasure your all that God may yet stay them in the midst