that is rightly distinguish of things between nature and grace between Moses and Christ betweene the law and Gospell truth and falshood They will not receive things in grosse and hand over head but being spirituall discerne all things 1 Cor. 2. 15. 2. They chew the cud that is after hearing and reading the word they meditate ponder apply and digest it as Mary laid up the words in her heart Luk. 2. 19. 2. The uncleane are knowne by some naughty and uncleane property Some like the dogs that prophane the most holy things barke against the word and preachers of it never chew the cud nor digest the word Some like the swine 2 Pet. 2. having their mouthes alwayes rooting in the earth cannot look up towards heaven all for their belly good for nothing but the knife neither for plough nor cart nor burthens nor saddle nor wooll nor milk but onely to feed and dye besides while they live their filthy wallowing in miery lusts and puddles of corruption Some like the hare fearefull creatures shrinking from faith in God in temptation and from profession of it in times of danger and persecution more fearing crosses and losses then God himselfe or the losse of salvation These uncleane creatures cannot enter into heaven The fearefull c. shall have their part in the lake c. Of the same ranke are the Conies that burrow and treasure in earth and neglect to treasure where theeves neither digge through nor steale Mat. 6. 19 20. Some like the Ravens black and unnaturall feeding on carrion Some like the Ostrich grosse hypocrites with faire wings but cannot flye Some like the Sea-meaw partly living on water partly on land partly will be saved by faith partly by workes cary fire and water blow hot and cold of any or no religion And so much might be said of the properties of the rest Sect. II. II. The second legall uncleanenesse was caused from within and was by the unclean issue of man or woman for which were appointed ceremonies of purification Lev. 12. and cha 15. 6. All those uncleane issues of which we must reade and speake modestly lead us by the hand 1. Into our selves and the consideration of our naturall corruption the running issues of which meet us every where 2. Out of our selves to the remedy which is by Jesus Christ our sanctifier The description of this foulenesse shewes what we are by nature and in the first Adam The maner of the cleansing shewes what we are by grace and in the second Adam in whom alone we attaine cure and remedy To explaine which wee must know that 1. Those lawes concerning our uncleane birth and the womans purification after every birth put both the Jewes and us in minde how that the common nature of man is horribly polluted by sin which is every where called by the name of uncleanenesse Psal. 51. 5. Behold I was borne in iniquity and in sinne hath my mothor conceived me Isa. 64. 6. We have all beene as an uncleane thing and all our righteousnesse as filthy clouts Iob 14. 4. Who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse there is not one Iohn 3. 6. That which is borne of the flesh is flesh because that which is begotten participateth of the nature of that which begetteth And this uncleanenesse is not in any one part but sticks to the whole man both in body and soule polluting the minde with blindnesse the will with rebellion against the will of God the conscience with senselesnesse and horrour the affections with all maner of disorder the whole outward man with resistance and repugnancy to the Spirit Rom. 8. 7. 2. As from these inward issues the outward man was many wayes polluted So the Jewes and we are put in minde that from that filthy puddle and fountaine of originall sinne issue continually many uncleane issues into the life and conversation Mat. 15. 19. Out of the heart come evill thoughts murthers adulteries fornications thefts false testimonies slaunders These are the things which defile the man 3. As these uncleane issues defiled whatsoever they touched Lev. 15. 4. to the 15. so herein is noted to them and us the infection of sinne and spreading of it and that the corruption of nature which will put forth it selfe in every thing polluteth all that we touch Tit. 1. 15. Vnto them that are defiled and unbeleeving is nothing pure but even their mindes and consciences are defiled 4. As those uncleane issues excluded and shut them out of the campe and society of Gods people till they were staid so the foule issues of naturall corruption till stopped and stayed by grace estrange us from God and from the common wealth of Israel Ephes. 2. 12. The effect of all morall uncleannesse is to thrust every man and woman under the curse of the Law and wrath of God who can no more abide a man in the foulenesse of his nature then men can the spawne of a most venemous serpent In Adam all died 5. As the description of those issues brought the Jewes to the legall purification for when the Jew saw the danger of his uncleannesse and that if he separate not from it hee shall die in it for defiling Gods Sanctuary vers 31. this made him seeke to the remedy So the true understanding of a mans forlorne and desperate estate by nature and that except a man bee borne againe of water and the holy Ghost he can never see the kingdome of God this makes a man flie out of himselfe to seeke righteousnesse and purity in the meanes which God hath appointed And thus by the very description of our uncleannesse we are led unto Christ by whom how wee are to bee cured wee are after to see Sect. III. III. The third Legall uncleannesse was by the disease of leprosie then which none was more foule more hatefull None so lively resembled the native face of sinne none had so solemne and significant rites for cure none did more expresly shadow all constitutions as conduce to the purging and removing of sinne and consequently none more forceably led us to Christ who is not in any Ceremony more lively figured The Lord would have the Jews and us in this instance to bee ledd by things sensible to things intellectuall by an externall and sensible disease to be caried to that which is internall and lesse sensible for the most part And though of all bodily diseases none more expresly declareth the disease of sinne in the soule then leprosie yet it comes farre short of it in the desperate and dangerous properties of it We must therefore prepare men to Christ by describing the foulenesse and misery of the disease 1. Leprosie proceeds from poisoned and corrupted humours in the body So sinne is nothing else but the poison and corruption of the soule And this spirituall leprosie is farre more miserable then the other for that of the body is onely a punishment
this is a guilt And who can deny but the corruption and poison of the soule and spirit is farre more poison full and mortall then poison of the flesh 2. Bodily leprosie is a disease of some men sinne is of all men and of all the man Bodily leprosie spreads over all parts of the body but cannot reach the soule but this spreads over the whole man the soule and all the faculties are weakened and tainted there is not a debility onely but a corruption in the understanding will conscience memory in all affections in all sences in all parts no man no part of man exempted or excepted 3. No disease is more stinking and hatefull to men then leprosie So nothing is so hatefull and abominable to God as sinne his eyes cannot abide to behold it hee will not endure it in his dearest servants no nor Angels themselves unrevenged hee esteemes the sinner as dung 4. No disease more contagious and infectious A leper must meddle with nothing unlesse hee would defile it All hee can doe is to make others uncleane by breathing touching conversing The plague of pestilence is not so infectious as the plague of leprosie so called Levit. 13. 20. infecting houses walls vessells garments Nothing is so infectious as sinne which not onely foules the person or house but heaven and earth and all creatures are subject to the vanity of it Neither can an impenitent sinner doe any thing but make himselfe and others uncleane by the filthy breath of his corrupt communication by his wicked example and conversation No leaven is so spreading no pitch so cleaving 5. Leprosie of all diseases separated the infected persons from the fellowship of all men both in civill and divine ordinances for many dayes and if they proved incurable suppose them Kings they were utterly and for ever excluded the host as Vzziah 2. King 15. 5. Neither might they come to the Temple to joine in holy things for the Temple was legally the most holy place and no polluted thing might enter into it So in our sinne unrepented we are out of the campe aliens from God Sinne shuts out of the communion of faith and Saints shuts out of the state of grace and salvation it shuts out of the Congregation of God in earth and heaven No fellowship place or reward with them 6. Of all diseases none is more painfull sorrowfull mortall or incurable and therefore they were enjoyned to put on mournfull garments seeing God had inflicted so lamentable a disease on them so hardly and seldome cured as most did cary it unto death as Gehezi and Azariah In which the Lord as in a glasse would shew us the extreme sorrowes and paines that wait on sinne unpardoned sorrows of this life and of the life to come And that we should put on mourning garments of timely sorrow and afflict our selves for our sinnes seeing wee are all poisoned with so incurable a disease as there is no hope to expect any cure in this life for every man carries the running issues of sinne to his death naturall the most to the death eternall 7. The signes and symptomes of leprosie are most correspondent to the symptoms and effects of sinne in the soule 1. As there is a debility and weaknesse of all parts because the spirits are exhausted so sinne weakens all faculties because the spirit of grace is resisted and driven out 2. There is a tumour and swelling in the flesh here a tumour and proud swelling of minde none more proud then hee who hath least cause 3. There is burning and thirst through the adust and burnt blood by melancholy whereof it ariseth here is inflammation and burning of anger of lust and thirst after the world after revenge after preferments and this insatiable as every sinne is 4. There is filthy putred matter still breaking forth most loathsomely so here from within breaks out corrupt matter of envy of hatred of goodnesse of uncleannesse in speaches and behaviour 5. There is an hoarse and weake voice here the voice so weake as it cannot pray or cannot be heard God heares not sinners for either they pray not at all or they are in their sinnes 6. There is a filthy stinking breath and therefore they must cover their lips that by their breath they might not infect others So here is a filthy breath of corrupt communication of uncleane and adulterous speaches swearing and cursing speaches lying and false speaches slanderous and uncharitable speaches and seldome doe such cover their lips being like the uncleane vessells of the Law which were ever open to the corrupting and poisoning of numbers Sect. IV. I. From the former description of legall uncleannesses note the state of Gods Church and people here upon earth subject unto many sorts of defilements and pollutions within them without them and on every hand of them by foule and uncleane creatures and persons by foule courses and actions which a godly man may not touch or tast but hee is presently defiled as hee that toucheth pitch cannot but be defiled with it Where bee they that will see no Church if they see any uncleannesse Or who say that God is in no such society where any pollution is seeing God vouchsafeth to walk among his owne people who were daily subject to so many legall and morall pollutions God might if it pleased him wholly purge his floore here upon earth but it makes more for his glory to suffer sinne and evill and to set the Saints in the middest of defilements here below 1. There must be a difference betweene this heaven and earth and that new heaven and new earth in which dwells nothing but righteousnesse for had the Saints no warre there needed no watch there could bee no victory if no seede time no harvest 2. GODS mighty power is more manifest in gathering and preserving a Church to himselfe out of sinners and among sinners and hee magnifieth his mercy both in covering and curing so great and many corruptions 3. The godly in sence of their uncleannesse are kept low in their owne eyes and watchfull of their waies and so are driven out of themselves unto Christ for righteousnesse and unto God for strength continually as privy unto their owne continuall weakenesse So to subdue presumption Paul must have a buffeter and to way-lay security comming on Israel all the Canaanites must not be subdued 4. In that they cannot expect freedome from foulenesse and uncleannesse heere below they may the rather desire and aspire to that heavenly Tabernacle into which no uncleane thing can enter Rev. 21. 27. and wish to bee translated thither where righteousnesse shall dwell yea the righteous and holy God shall dwell immediately in the midst of his Saints and all things together with themselves shall be most absolutely cleane and holy II. The Lord by so large a description of legall uncleannesse would have them and us looke more neerely and seriously upon
religious persons when times do else not To avoid pernicious and dangerous sinnes which law revengeth as murder adultery theft but not covetousnesse not usury not swearing not uncleane lusts Herod will not part with his Herodias Ahab hath no reason to respect Micah when he prophecies evill to him 3. Trades men oppresse cosen lye deceive c because they have reason to make the best of their owne What reason but they may serve a Customer upon the Sabbath so they come to Church They have reason to slip all opportunities of grace all the weeke because they must walke diligently in their callings the sixe dayes Thus reason steps in and thrusts aside the practise of that which men in judgement hold not for good and necessary and like Evah still longing after forbidden fruit Thus of the second observation Sect. VI. III. Seeing all of us in this wildernesse are stung with the old Serpent what are we to doe to be cured Answ. we are to doe five things 1. We must feele our selves stung with our sinnes and confesse our selves stung for so must the Israelite before he could be cured We must feele the poyson and paine of sinne and First that this poyson hath not seated it selfe in one place but hath crept and diffused it selfe through all our parts For therefore it is called venenum quod per venas eat And as the vaynes and blood runne through every part of the body so sinne through every part of the man Secondly as poyson never rests till it come to the heart and there strikes and corrupts the fountaine of life So our sinne hath mortally wounded our very hearts and strikes at the life of grace in the soule Thirdly as poyson inflames the party with an incredible thirst having overcome naturall moysture and eaten up the spirits so sinne in the soule workes an utter defect and dryes up all waters of grace and makes the sinner insatiable in drinking up iniquity like water Fourthly as poyson not prevented brings speedy and certaine death but not without extreame paine and intolerable torture so the poyson of sinne unconquered brings certaine and eternall death attended with horrour of conscience desperate feares and torments most exquisite Thus must we labour to feele the sting of our sin in all parts far more mortall then the most venemous stings of most direfull Serpents 2. When this people felt themselves stung so deadly they come to Moses for counsell so must thou depend upon the Minister for direction as they upon Moses Never was man sensible of this sting but he would runne to the Ministers Act. 2. 37 when they were pricked in their hearts they said to Peter and the rest Men and brethren what shall we doe Act. 16. 30 the poore Jaylor being stung and sensible of his paine came trembling and humbling himselfe to Paul and Silas prisoners saying Sirs what must I doe to bee saved A conscience truely wounded will seeke to God to his word and Ministers for it knowes that God woundeth and healeth The feet of him that brings good tidings are beautifull to an humbled heart even as an experienced Physitian to a sicke party who else were sure to be lost for want of meanes What marveile if a soule truely sensible of his sting and paine can runne to Gods Ministers when a counterfeit humiliation can make as hard hearted a King as Pharaoh runne to Moses and Aaron and beg prayers of them A marveilous thing then that of so many thousands stung so deadly so few are sensible that so few trouble Moses or the Ministers with questions concerning their estates Some stung and guilty consciences not supported by faith in touch of sinne and sence of paine like a Doe shot with an arrow runne every way but the right for ease Some with Asa send to the Physitian to purge away melancholy Some with Saul send for musick esteeming soules sicknesse but a sottish lumpishnesse Some runne into the house of laughter and wicked playhouses to see and heare the Lords Sampsons and worthies derided not without haynous blasphemy Others fall a building with Cain or set upon other imployments perhaps it is but an idle fancy Some runne perhaps to the Witch of Endor in the meane time send away Paul as Felix or runne against Moses and his Ministers But comfort can they have none but from God and his word had not thy word saith David beene my comfort I had perished in my trouble All the Physitians in the world all the Musitians and Magicians put together nor any other meanes could helpe a stunge Israelite he must come to Moses when hee had done all hee could All other by-comforts are worme eaten and as cold water to cure a dropsie or as a cold draught to cure a poyson Some few there are that come unto us who we are sure had never sought to us more then others had they had so little sence of their sting as other have as the Israelites had never come at Moses had they not beene slung Let them be comforted in that they have gone the right way to fetch their comforts which is from God and his word and not from carnall men or councels The Lord in mercy hath brought them light out of darkenesse for pittie had it beene they had wanted the sting of affliction that hath driven them to God and to his word and servants 3. Comming to Moses wherein do they imploy them what questions move they to him Numb 21. 7. Oh their sinne troubles them which they confesse in generall we have sinned and in particular wee have spoken against the Lord and against thee and then pray him to helpe them in removing the Serpents So thou being stung when thou comest to Gods Ministers wilt be conversant in fruitfull and edifiable questions thou must be free in confession of such sinnes as are the likely cause of thy trouble and intent and busie how to be rid of the Serpents and the sting and poyson of thy sinnes Thou will be carefull to know how to get ease of heart and quietnesse of conscience from the paine and sting of sinne So the converts Act. 2 and so the Jaylor What shall I do to be saved The fault of many is when they have meanes of counsell and cōfort present with them to waste their time in trifling and curious questions and impertinent to the cure of the sting of the Serpent Questions which are like Crafishes in which is more picking then meat Questions meerely idle the resolution of which helps them no whit to ease or to heaven An humbled heart will not so lose his time nor dwell in toyes and unnecessaries to thrust out things more profitable A wise heart will not for a shadow forgoe the substance but will be much in that question of the young man Mr. what may I doe to inherit eternall life what may I doe to be saved what may I doe to be rid of this Serpent and
Both doe all about their Arkes at Gods commandement For as the Lord did not hide from Noah his decree Gen. 6. 13 So he communicated his whole will and counsell to his Sonne concerning the salvation of the Church Ioh. 8. 26. 2. As Noah takes many trees at Gods commandement and strongly closeth them together and pitcheth them within and without against the waters So doth Christ make choice of trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord and compacts them together by the bond of the Spirit glewes and fastens them together by the glew of Christian love and pitcheth them within and without fortifies and strengthens them against the waters of affliction temptation persecution that none shall drowne or overwhelme them 3. As Noah prepared divers roomes in the Arke for divers creatures So Christ in his Arke appoints divers places and functions for beleevers here and prepares in his Fathers house many mansions for them hereafter Ioh. 14. 2. And as Noah receives into the Arke cleane and uncleane creatures and persons a Sem and a Cham So the Lord Christ into his militant Church all sorts of Nations sexes persons conditions Jewes Gentiles men women noble ignoble beleevers and unbeleevers hypocrites and sound Christians On this floore is wheat and chaffe 4. As Noah made a window into his Arke to give light to the creatures within So Christ by the Gospel preached in the Church enlighteneth the mindes of those that are within without which light let in they should sit in everlasting darkenesse 5. As Noah by the same direction makes a doore to enter into the Arke and but one doore for so very great a building So there is but one doore to the great building of the Church dispersed farre and wide and this is Christ himselfe Ioh. 10. 7 9. 6. As Noah the Master of the Arke enters into it and receaves and saves all that enter in with him for which purpose hee is contented to bee tossed up and downe by those most raging waters and had no more freedome from feare and danger then others in the Arke So Christ the Master of his Church to save his Church himselfe enters into it and is admitted into it by the waters of Baptisme and was contented for the saving of others to bee tossed with waves and billowes of affliction ignominy shame sinne curse yea the torments of hell That his Church might be in safety with him he will bee in danger with her and every way to helpe her will bee every way like her in all things sinne excepted V. Both of them were repayrers of the world From Noah descended all the inhabitants of the earth from Christ all the inhabitants of heaven The world againe was re-peopled and replenished by Noahs posterity the Church and every member is Christs posterity Both of them were preservers and providers for all sorts of Creatures But Noah as a steward Christ as Lord and owner of them Noah for a few Christ for all Noah for a yeare and a little more Christ perpetually To both of them the creatures came in and were obedient to them Though never so fierce and savage out of the Arke yet in the Arke they were mild and tame So to Christ the windes seas divels obey and if Lyons and Cockatrices come into the Arke and Church they become as Lambs and little children putting off all fiercenesse Isa. 11. 6. VI. Both of them offered a sacrifice of rest and sweet savour to the Lord Noah Gen. 8. 21. As men are delighted with sweet savours so was Noahs sacrifice pleasing to God But his was a sacrifice but of testification witnessing his faith and thankfulnesse The sacrifice of Christ was a perfect satisfaction in which he offered not the bodies of cleane beasts as Noah but his owne body as a Lamb without spot not upon an Altar built by Noahs hand but upon the Altar of his Deity not ascending to heaven by ordinary fire but offered through his eternall spirit compard to fire Heb. 9. 14. And therefore must fully satifie his Fathers justice appease his wrath and be most acceptable in it selfe and must bring Noahs and all other sacrifices into acceptance And from hence it was that with both of them God did make a covenant of grace for their posterities that he would never breake out in such wrath against them confirming the same unto the posterity of Adam by the signe of the Raynebow and to the posterity of Christ by the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lords Supper VII Both of them sent a Dove out of the Arke Noah when the waters asswaged and much of his feare and daunger was past sends out the Dove who brought an Olive branch a signe of joy comfort and abating of the waters So Christ Jesus his sufferings and labours being ended sent his Spirit forth which had lighted as a Dove on him and brings joy and peace and comfort into the hearts of all beleevers bringing in a testimony that Gods wrath is appeased the waters are diminished his love and favour returned which is better then life Now to application I. In the type and truth learne If all the world about us be given to wickednesse and wee be cast into never so wicked an age then to labour to shine in the middest of a naughty generation Phil. 2. 15. It is a singular praise to be a Lot in Sodom and in a corrupt age to bee unlike sinners For light to shine and shew it selfe in darkenesse is beautifull and glorious Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven To shew our selves sonnes of God and children of light among enemies of God and light is a singular honour Noah fashioned not himselfe to those corrupt times nor Christ to the evill behaviour of that age Never had Christians more need among so many wicked fashions to be exhorted not to fashion themselves to the world If a Preacher hold on a preacher of righteousnesse in singlenesse and sincerity of heart not fashioning himselfe to the present temporizers and men-pleasers Let all the world scorne oppose traduce him If a private man hold forth the word of life and in blamelesse and pure conversation walke in a way which leadeth against the streame and common current of the corrupt age Both the one and the other have here the type and the truth Noah and Christ presidents for the like actions precedents in the same way II. In them both learne That these are the dayes in which we must expect our Lord to judgement As it was in the dayes of Noah c So shall the comming of the Sonne of man bee As those sinnes in Noahs time brought the deluge of water the same sinnes now reigning shall bring and hasten the destruction by fire prophecyed 2. Pet. 3. The sinnes are these 1. The sonnes of God marry with the daughters of men that is the godly with the
seeing he was before all worlds eternally begotten of his Father And whereas Melchizedek onely had no beginning or end of life expressed Christ is onely truely without beginning neither shall have any end for hee is the beginning and the ending And although his humanity had genealogie beginning and ending of life yet as he was the word hee had none And although as the Sonne he was from the father yet as God hee was from none but as the word was of himselfe Here also is a difference Melchizedek was without genealogy according to Scripture Christ according to nature IV. In the excellency of his 1. Person 2. Priesthood 1. For excellency of Person 1. Melchizedek was greater then Abraham for he blessed Abraham and the greater blesseth the lesser Heb. 7. 7. signifying Christ the fountaine and originall of all blessing in heavenly and earthly things Ephes. 1. 3. 2. Melchizedek refreshed Abraham and his Army returning weary from the battell and journey with bread and wine Here Abraham was a receiver Melchizedek a giver a manifest type of Iesus Christ refreshing and comforting all his followers and members of his militant Church in their journey and wearinesse with his word and Sacraments Matthew 11. 28. I will refresh you 3. Melchizedek was man onely and sinfull Christ God and man without sinne Melchizedek as the sonne of God Christ indeed the Sonne of God 2. For the excellency of his Sacrifice or his Priesthood which was greater then Aarons For 1. Levi and Aaron paid tythes in Abrahams loines to Melchizedek Heb. 7. 9. and the inferiour payes tythes to the Superiour Such is the Priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek not of Aaron 2. In regard of the entrance Melchizedek was not anointed with materiall oile as Aaron nor received his Priesthood from any other but onely so declared by the mouth of God So Christ succeeded none received his Priesthood from none but anointed by the Spirit of God Luke 4. 18. and made a Priest by the Oath of God Psal. 110. 4. The Lord sware and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek 3. In regard of the continuance of his Priesthood For as hee receives it from none so hee passeth it not to any other nor any can succeed him but hee endureth ever having an everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. The Leviticall Priesthood ended particularly in the death of every high Priest and universally and finally in the death of our high Priest But Christ is eternall who died but rose againe figured in Melchizedek I. If Christ bee the true Melchizedek then must he needs bee greater then Abraham though the Jewes vainely gainesay it Ioh. 8. 53. To him all our tythes and offerings our sacrifice of praises are due as tythes and offerings due from Abraham to Melchizedek Hee is blessed and Prince onely the King of kings and Lord of lords unto him be honour and power everlasting 1. Tim. 6. 15 16. So the foure and twenty Elders Revel 11. 15 17. And Angels Beasts Elders and all creatures Revel 5. 11 12 13. II. For the comfort of the Church that Christ is the true Melchizedek both a Priest and a King 1. As he is a Priest wee are assured of a perfect reconciliation by his all-sufficient Sacrifice 2. Of sound instruction for the Priest must teach the Law his lips must present knowledge Ioh. 4. 25. When the Messiah is come hee will tell us all things Wee detest the blasphemy therefore that tells us that he hath left an imperfect doctrine that must bee eeked with traditions 3. Of his blessed intercession which is meritorious and acceptable Samuel out of his love to the people 1. Sam. 12. 23. saith thus God forbid that I should sinne and cease to pray for you but I will teach you the good way Christs love to the Church is no lesse therefore he will both teach and pray 4. Of powerfull protection and safety For he is not our Priest onely but our King not our Doctor onely but our defendor not a Priest onely to pray but a King to obtaine for us and bestow on us what he prayes for What if he had never so much power in teaching if he were impotent in defending But he is King of peace in himselfe and unto us We haue a powerfull aduocate in heaven They never tasted the sweetnesse of this doctrine that seeke after any other Mediator III. Hence is the happinesse of the Church As Melchizedek blessed Abraham So Christ our Melchizedek hath blessed all the faithfull posterity of Abraham Eph. 1. 3. with all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus But with difference Melchizedek onely pronounced blessing Gen. 14. 19. blessed art thou of God possessor of heaven and earth But our Melchizedek meriteth and bestoweth blessings of higher kind also then could Melchizedek For 1. Christ blesseth by meriting blessing through his most perfect sacrifice pacifying his Fathers wrath Melchizedek offered no such sacrifice to no such effect his was accepted by mercy not for merit not for his owne sacrifice but for Christs 2. By actuall procuring the blessing of remission of sinnes and righteousnesse restored a more effectual blessing then Melchidek could procure His sacrifices could onely signifie these in the Messiahs not actually apply them 3. By gathering calling ruling and preserving in spirituall life his whole Church as members of his owne body and by the donation of his spirit none of which blessings Melchizedek could give 4. By bestowing eternall life on beleevers here in the first fruits heereafter in the harvest whereof Melchizedek must be a receiver from him the fountaine not a giver 5. By publishing and pronouncing on beleevers all this blessing in the preaching of the Gospell and sealing it to the hearts of the elect by the daily effectuall voyce of his spirit by the word which Melchizedek could not doe Therefore a greater then Melchizedek is here and a greater blessing then Abraham received from him Let the world curse wicked ones rage and revile against the Church and members yet as Isaac said of Iacob Gen. 27. 33. I have blessed him and therefore he shall be blessed the same will Christ not say onely but accomplish to them IIII. Hence is the stability and perpetuity of the Church and members That Christ is the true Melchizedek that is an eternall Priest the Church must be eternall For a Priest cannot be without a Church nor an eternall Priest without an eternall Church but of Christ it is said thou art a Priest for ever Therefore Tyrants shall not wast it time shall not outlast it death shall not hinder the being and happinesse of it no more then it could the eternity of the Priest himselfe who rose gloriously from the dead so shall the members How happy a thing is it to be of this houshold V. The excellency of Christs Priesthood above the Leviticall This
in thy calling and the rocke shall yeeld thee water rather then thou shalt be destitute in Gods way or worke V. In both learne to contemne the greatest and extreamest perill in Gods causes Sampson offered himselfe to death so did Christ hee went out to meet his enemies so must thou learne not to love thy life to the death Revel 12. 11. and with Paul not count thy life deare to finish thy course with joy For a man to thrust himselfe in hazard or venture his life without warrant from God or by his owne private motion is rash but God calling in standing against the enemies of the Church it is honourable In both learne to prepare for death approaching by faithfull and fervent prayer So did both these Sampsons And the issue will bee comfortable as theirs that all thy life and combat shall not give such an overthrow to thy enemies as such a death though enemies seeme never so much to prevaile CHAP. X. 9. David a type of Christ in 5. respects AS all the Kings of Israel were expresse types of Jesus Christ the head of his Kingdome and of all the people of God as they in their times were So were there two of them that were more manifest figures of him then all the rest I meane David and Solomon Of both which wee are to enquire wherein the resemblance consisteth David was so speciall a type of Christ as scarce is any thing noted of Christ but some shadow of it might be observed in David I. For his person David the son of Iesse Christ the true rod out of the stocke of Iesse Isai. 11. 1. Both of obscure and low parentage Both out of dry and despicable roots Both Kings Both Kings of Israel Both their Kingdomes raised out of humility Both men after Gods owne heart Both Davids for even this roote of Iesse was not onely commonly called by the name of the sonne of David but of the name of David himselfe Ezech. 34. 24. My servant David shall bee the Prince among them which was longafter David was dead Ieremiah 30. 9. they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them Hosea 3. 5. they shall seeke the Lord their God and David their King that is not the typicall King David dead long before but the Messiah the true David to whom onely prayer and spirituall worship belongs II. For his vocation and calling 1. Both called to be the head of nations Psal. 18. 43. thou hast made me the head of nations which was not literally true of David who was properly King of one little corner in Iudea but of Christ the true David whose Kingdome was from sea to sea and to the worlds end David of a shepherd of sheepe was raised to bee a shepherd of men even of Gods people So was Christ raised of God to be the chiefe shepherd of the flocke 1. Pet. 5. 4. And not of bodies as David but of soules 1. Pet. 2. 25. 2. The time when David was anointed about the thirtieth yeare of his life 2. Sam. 5. 4 and Christ was baptized at thirty yeares and invested into his Office 3. The place where David made choice of Ierusalem for his royall seate and Metropolis being anointed of God to the Kingdome of Israel So Christ being anointed the everlasting King of all the Israel of God makes choice of Ierusalem there to rule and shew his power upon the Crosse his chariot of triumph crowned with a crowne of thornes and after in his glorious resurrection ascension sending the Spirit the Gospel And as David added some of the borderers to the kingdome of Israel as himselfe saith strangers were subdued to him So the true David adds to the Church the whole body of the Gentiles and hath by the preaching of the Gospel the sword of his mouth subdued the world to himselfe 4. The gifts fitting him to this function As when David was anointed the Spirit of God came upon him 1. Sam 16. 13. and fitted him to the governement of Gods people So our true David Jesus Christ anointed with oyle above all his fellowes had the Spirit of God descending upon him in a visible shape and by that anointing filled and furnished with the Spirit and all needfull graces for the administring of his Kingdome 5. As David was preferred above all his brethren in foure speciall graces So was Jesus Christ above David himselfe 1. In wisedome and prudence 1. Sam. 16. 18. the servants of Saul observed David to bee wise in matters and the Lord was with him and Chap. 18. verse 14 15. when Saul saw that David was very wise hee was afraid of him Our true David had all treasures of wisedome and knowledge the Spirit of wisedome and understanding the Spirit of counsel rested upon him Isai. 11. 2. who is therefore called the great Counseller Isai. 9. 6. whose counsels are farre beyond Ahitophels his werâ— as the Oracles of God Christs were so And our true David gets beyond his type David in many things by his owne confession did very foolishly Our true David never did any thing but the wisedome of God shined in it with whom not onely God was but because hee was God 2 In fortitude and magnanimity without which counsell were bootlesse by which hee was able to encounter with a Lion a Beare with Goliah and all that rose up against him or his people A man fitted for peace or warre with counsell and strength Whose description in part is contained in the forecited place 1. Sam. 16. 18. strong valiant a man of warre and wise in matters A type of our true David who for fortitude is the invincible Lion of the tribe of Iudah and not a valiant man onely but the strong God Isai. 9. 6. the mighty God See Tit. 2. 13. 3. In gifts of prophecy He was able to sing divine Psalmes and hymnes to the praise of God an holy pen-man of the Scripture A type of Christ the true Prophet of his Church not a pen-man but the Authour of all the holy Scriptures David a Prophet Christ the Lord of all holy Prophets 4. In gifts of true sanctification and holinesse being a man after Gods owne heart commended for his uprightnesse in all matters save that of Vriah A type of Jesus Christ who by the devils confession was the holy One of God 1. Himselfe being sanctified beyond all measure 2. Being the sanctifier of his people the Authour meritour and applier of all sanctifying graces to his members of whom himselfe is head 3. In his type were many foule spots In him no spot nor staine Therefore the Church sings out his holinesse from topp to toe Cant. 5. 10. and concludes him wholly faire and delectable verse 16. III. David was a type of Christ in his warres First in respect of his followers secondly of his enemies thirdly of his victories 1. His followers
head Not dropped but powred signifying the abundance of gifts and graces most plentifully conferred upon Christ our head For as it was proper to the high Priest to bee anointed on the head whereas the common Priests were anointed but in their hands not on their heads So was Christ as the head anointed with oile above all his fellowes and received the spirit beyond measure signified by powring on the head 3. The communication of this oile It stayed not on Aarons head but ranne downe his beard even to the skirts of his garments signifying that the Spirit of grace distills from the head unto all the members of his mysticall body the Catholike Church First the Spirit descends and sits on Christs head then on the Apostles in likenesse of fiery tongues running downe as it were by Aarons beard and from them upon other inferiour persons beleeving their word as unto the skirts of his garment Now a threefold Application hereof I. In the anointing of the high Priest the eminency of Jesus Christ above all creatures whose very Name carrieth in it a note of principality being called the high Priest of our profession And in that this whole consecration of the high Priest in most solemne and stately manner was but a darke shadow of his solemne inauguration into his Office And by this anointing Christ is differenced from the most excellent Priests and Prophets that ever were Aaron Moses Elias Some of them had a most glorious vocation as Moses and in the entry of their callings graced with most divine and powerfull miracles but never any had the spirit sitting on his head but hee None of them by their anointing had all graces nor any grace in perfection but onely begunne and in small degree Moses a beleever wanted faith sometime as when he smote the Rocke which he should have spoken to and the meekest man in the world was sometimes to seeke of his meeknesse Aaron though the oyle was powred on his head was weake as in murmuring against Moses and in making the calfe But in our high Priest all graces and vertues were not inchoate onely but perfect In him knowledge of God was most perfect holinesse most perfect and all kinde of graces in highest degrees Grace sits in his lips not only to move the mind but to change it None of them by anointing could receive graces for others but for themselves onely but hee receives such a measure as runnes over to the sanctifying of the lowest and meanest of his members Hence 1. Ioh. 2. 27. the anointing which wee have of him dwells in you and teacheth you all things And 2. Cor. 1. 21 22. It is God that anointeth us in Christ and sealeth and giveth us the earnest of the Spirit Thus our Lord Jesus is advanced above all his oile shines brightest and swims aloft above all others II. In Aarons and Christs anointing and furnishing to their Office Ministers must labour for a greater measure of this ointment then others to runne downe from them to their skirts They must pray by the Spirit watch by the Spirit walke by the Spirit An unconverted Minister may doe another good but hee hath no promise of blessing nor doth any good to himselfe As the holy ointment was kept in the Sanctuary So Christ is the Sanctuary whence this oile comes The pipes are the word preached Sacraments prayer societies of the Saints and Gods people And such Ministers as contemptuously contemne the conduit-pipes through which this oile drops and flowes scorne to come to Sermons and joyne in holy exercises how doth their oile drie away Instead of this oyle that should fall from them a deale of pitch and slime froth and filthinesse falls on their skirts III. In the communication of this ointment unto us the skirts we learne that Christ is not for himselfe but for us And therefore 1. Examine if thou beest anointed This is to bee a Christian to bee anointed as Christ was Scornest thou this holy oile in thy selfe or others Know thou shalt one day wish the mountaines to fall on thee on whom this oile falls not 2. Hence draw strength in temptation Remember If sollicited to sinne Oh I have the anointing I am taken up and set apart to Gods use I am for God and his glory Neh. 6. 11. 3. Use meanes to attaine a farther measure and be liker Christ. Thou missest a Sermon or the Sacrament thou knowest not what drops of oile thou hast missed 4. Have a care to walke as such as are anointed smelling sweet every where in holy lives speaches prayers in all things edifying thy selfe and others Leave a sweet smell every where behinde thee Let it drop downe from us to others round about us The third thing in the high Priests consecration was sacrificing Exod. 29. 1 2. In which 1. Observe in generall that the Priests must be consecrated by offering all sorts of sacrifices for them and therefore they must take a calfe two rammes unleavened bread cakes and oile vers 1 2. 1. Because of the speciall holinesse and honour of their calling who are to come so neere unto God who will bee specially sanctified in all that come neere him 2. Because sinne in them is more hatefull then in any other and in expiating their sinnes as much is required as for the sinnes of all the Congregation 3. Because they were to offer unto God all the gifts and sacrifices of all the people of all sorts and therefore for them must be offered all sorts to sanctifie them not onely in generall but to their speciall services betweene God and his people 2. In particular The first of these sacrifices must be a sinne offering verse 10. For which they must 1. Take a calfe and offer him for the expiation of sinne verse 14. This yong calfe was a type of Christ who onely by his owne oblation expiated our sinne which otherwise made our selves and duties most hatefull 2. This calfe must be presented before the Lord and his Congregation signifying the willingnesse of Christ to offer up himselfe for the sinnes of men Iohn 19. 11. 3. Aaron and his sonnes must put their hands on the head of the calfe verse 10 not onely to confesse they were worthy to die for their own sinnes but to professe also that the death which they deserved was by the death of the Messiah the high Priest of the new Testament removed off them and transferred upon the beast And not onely the imputation of our sinnes upon Christ but also is signified that wee must lay our hand by a true faith upon Christ our head if we expect any comfort from his death and passion 4. The calfe must be killed before the Lord at the doore of the Tabernacle ver 11 signifying both the death and crucifying of Christ as also the fruit of it by the place That by his death as by a doore an entry is made for us into the Church both
that our principall mourning may be for our sinnes and binde up our affections for outward and naturall losses and crosses so as wee may have them loosed in spirituall This law tells us that sorow for our onely sonne or brother or the deare wife that lieth in our bosome ought to be no sorow in comparison of sorow for sinne Which 1. separates from God 2. makes Christ absent and stand aloofe 3. grieves the Spirit and makes him heavy towards us 4. seperates soule from body yea without repentance soule and body from heaven and happinesse Let us who have beene excessive in worldly sorow turne the streame against our sinnes and in all crosses set our heavinesse rather upon some sinne in our selves which might cause the crosse then on the crosse it selfe Sect. VII Now it followeth that we shew how the Priests figured Christ in their ministeriall actions Of these kinde of actions some were common to inferiour Priests some proper to the high Priest I. Common actions were six 1. The Priest must kill the sacrifices and none but he signifying Jesus Christ his voluntary action in laying downe his life for beleevers none could take away his life from him And hee was to be aswell the Priest as the sacrifice Iohn 10. 18. I have power to lay downe my life 2. The priests offred the blood of the sacrifices to God and sprinkled it on the Altar for they were ordained for men in things of God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes No man might offer his owne sacrifice but hee must bring it to the Priest there was no comming to God but by the priest Figuring out Iesus Christ who offers up himselfe a sacrifice for the sinnes of the world upon the Altar of his Deity which gives both vertue and merit unto it No other can offer to God bloody or unbloody sacrifice upon this Altar but himselfe Iohn 17. 19. I sanctifie my selfe for them even as the Altar sanctifieth the gift 3. The Priests prepared the body of the sacrifice Lev. 1. 6. flayed it divided it into severall parts washed the intrailes put fire unto the burnt offering consumed the fat cast the filth and dung into the place of ashes Signifying that Christ himselfe alone did the whole worke of redemption He suffered the heate of Gods wrath and justice he puts away all our filth and covers it in his owne ashes he burnes up our fat that is the senselessenesse of our sin and all that savoureth of the flesh by the fire of his Spirit and inwardly purgeth and wholly washeth us in the fountaine of his owne blood 4. The Priest must teach the people His lippes must preserve knowledge and the people must depend on his mouth signifying the action of this great teacher of the Church who brought to us from the bosome of his father the whole counsell of God concerning the redemption of mankinde which could never have entred into the heart of man but by the teaching of this great Prophet Deut. 18. 15. He hath the learned tongue and Grace is poured into his lippes Hee therefore having the words of eternall life we must depend on him and heare him 5. The Priest must pray for the people and blesse them A forme of blessing is prescribed for Aaron and his sonnes laying their hands on the children of Israel signifying the strong prayers and intercessions of Iesus Christ for his Church who was heard in all things as himselfe witnesseth Iohn 11. 42. Father I knowâ— thou hearest me alwaies And accomplished not only in his holy intercession upon earth and now in heaven but manifestly in that blessing of his disciples by laying his hands upon them which was his last action upon earth Luke 24. 50. 6. The Priests were to preserve the Oyle for lights and the incense and for the daily meat offering and the anointing oyle And the oversight of the whole Tabernacle and all in the Sanctuary and all the instruments belonged to their care for the safety in moving carying standing c. signifying Iesus Christ the preserver of all grace in his Church He onely watcheth for the safety of his Church for the upholding of his holy ministery and all holy constitutions which else would quickly be broken up He plants the Ministery and he removes it at his pleasure He hath the seven stars in his right hand Hee is the great Archbishop of soules to the whole Church and no other in this kinde but hee So much of common actions ministeriall II. Actions more peculiar to the high priest were 1. daily 2. weekely 3. yearely 4. continually I. Hee must daily 1. dresse the holy lamps and lights morning and evening before the Lord Lev. 24. 2 3. to preserve the lights from going out Shadowing Christ the true light by whom the light of true doctrine must ever shine in the Church and never goe out by which the true beleevers shall bee delivered from darkenesse and death This was formerly figured by Goshen there was light when three dayes darknesse was over all Aegypt And this was figured by the pillar of fire that never failed till they came to Canaan 2. he must daily burne incense before the Lord upon the Altar of sweet perfume signifying Christ our high Priest daily offering up 1. our duties and services done by his appointment and which through him smell as a sweete incense acceptable to God 2. our prayers called odours of the Saints and a sweet incense And as no incense pleased God but that which was offered upon that golden Altar so no duty or prayer of ours is farther accepted then offered up by him and from him whose golden purity gives merit and worth unto them And as the incense must be offered up by the high Priest morning and evening so the continuall vertue of Christs merit ascendeth daily before God and perfumeth all the Sanctuary neither is there any other way to the father but by him II. He must weekly make the shewbread and set it before the Lord continually Exod. 25. 30. And more expresly Levit. 24. 5 6. Every Sabbath he must set on the table twelve loaves according to the twelve tribes and take the old away to the maintaining of his family for which use they might well suffice every loafe weighing about seven or eight pounds Here was a figure of Christ the true bread of life who sets himselfe in the preaching of the Gospell and administration of the Sacraments before the face of God that is in the assemblies gathered together every Sabbath the most sufficient food and refreshing of the Church to continue it in life strength and good estate from Sabbath to Sabbath till that eternall Sabbath come III. He must yearely once and that in the day of expiation goe into the Holy of Holies Exod. 30. 10. and Lev. 16. 2. and 34. to make an attonement for himselfe for all his
bones not one of them is broken that is without the will of our heavenly Father as Mat. 10. 29. Not an hayre shall fall for the same providence watcheth the head and members This consideration is used by Christ to remoove excessive feare of men If thou see thine enemies encrease as bees about thee ready to strike and sting Let thy waies please the Lord he can 1. turne their hearts to peace as Esaus to Iacob when he purposed his death and Labans to Iacob when he intended evill intreaty towards him 2. He can turne their counsell to folly and bring it on their owne heads as in Haman and Achitophel 3. He can turne their evill to thy good and salvation according to the saying of Ioseph to his brethren Yee intended evill against me but God turned it to good as this day 4. He can take them off at his pleasure he hath an hooke for Zenacherib and Balaam shall not curse though he would never so faine 3. In that Christ brought no uncleane thing to his sacrifice figured in pulling out the maw and feathers and casting them beside the Altar in the place of ashes wee have comfort in the offering of all our service and sacrifices of prayer prayses almes duties all unclean in and from us but presented in Christs sacrifice no uncleannesse is in them II. How carefull the Lord is that his people preserve purenesse among them that the holy God may walke amongst an holy people And teacheth how carefull we Christians should be to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. And that we should be ever stopping up those uncleane issues which disturbe our chastity of body or mind which these Legall issues specially aime at Oh this chastity of minde and body is a singular grace For 1. It stands with the will of God 1 Thes. 4. 3 4 This is the will of God even your sanctification and that every one possesse his vessell in holinesse and honour 2. It stands with the nature of God which is most holy and pure God is a pure chast Spirit and will bee prayed unto with a pure and chast heart How can foule fornicators and adulterers thinke that their prayers can get into heaven and themselves shut out 3. By holinesse and chastity of mind and body thou becommest a Temple of the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6. 19 Without which thou art no better then a swinesty fit for foule spirits and devils that delight in uncleannesse to harbour in 4. It stands with the honour of the body which 1. is for the Lord that is created for the glory of the maker 2. the Lord is for the body namely to redeeme it so as the body also is a part of Gods purchase 3. the Lord is the head and the bodies are members of Christ. Oh what a great wickednesse as Ioseph calls it Gen. 39. 9. to make it a member of an harlot 5. Follow holinesse and chastity without which thou shall never see God either in grace or in glory Heb. 12. 24. What makes the harlots so sottish so gracelesse in the middest of powerfull meanes but that their hearts are taken away Gods plague hath already seised upon them in great part for they cannot see God in grace offering repentance and therefore they shall never see him in glory Now the best directions for stopping these running issues are I. Direction Begin at the fountaine labour for inward purity first For 1. Whence issue these but from a wicked and impenitent heart 2. God lookes first at the cleannesse of the heart knowing that if hee find that uncleane nothing is cleane 3. Morality and cleanlinesse make a man care for the cleannesse of his face but grace and religion must make him looke to the cleannesse of his heart Ier. 4. 14. Because he knowes that no beauty of the face can allure a man so much as the cleannesse of heart allureth 4. Get grace into thy heart and it cannot choose but send out as Christ saith According to that which is within According to the abundance of the heart the mouth will speake the eye will looke the hand will worke the foot will walke Get thy heart purged and washed and it is impossible that thy life should be foule 5. In vaine do men struggle and strive to cast off some wast boughs of sinfull actions if they seeke not to strike up the roote Thou wouldst avoyd oathes and lyes in thy tongue but shalt never doe it while thou hast a swearing and lying heart Thou wouldst avoid fornication and adultery in the act in the eye in the speech but never shalt thou stop this issue if thou hast an adulterous heart And so in other sinnes Quest. How may I cleanse my heart Answ. Cleannesse of heart is in two things 1. Justification by the blood of Christ imputed and applyed Ioh. 15. 8. 10. 2. Sanctification by the spirit which stands in two things 1. In parting with our filthinesse as evill thoughts pride hypocrisie stubbornnesse malice in a mortification of all inward lusts 2. In attaining a new estate in all the inward faculties a planting and cherishing of all graces Thus as our Saviour saith he that is washed is all cleane II. Direction From the foundation come to the streams If the heart at any time be inflamed with the fire of concupiscence and begin to boyle over stay the issue with all expedition Quest. How Answ. 1. Covenant with all thy parts that none of them shall fulfill the lusts of the flesh Specially covenant with thine eye as Iob with thy tongue not to name any filthinesse as it becommeth Saints Eph. 5. 3 with thy hand not to execute any inordinate desires 2. Threaten thy members that thou wilt plucke out thine eye cut off thy hand and foot rather then by them offend God and thy conscience If this will not serve beat downe thy rebellious members as Paul with labour 3. Direction Avoid occasions of defilements by the uncleane issues of others so did the Jewes As 1. Come not neere uncleane persons 2 Cor. 6. 17. Avoid swearers drunkards gamesters wantons Prov. 4. 14. 2. Avoid the seate they sit on A place of shorter rest Psal. 1. 1. Blessed is he that sits not in the seat of wicked men Lev. 15. 6. 3. Shunne the bed they lye on Lev. 15. 5 A place of longer rest with them as one delighting in their fellowship and tumbling with them in filthinesse 4. Beware of their spittle ver 8. Words are cast out of the mouth as spittle Neither assent to their speeches and perswasions which are still against God nor be dismaid from good things by their threats and reproches This filthy froth and spittle daily pollutes many that are carelesse to avoid it Object Alas it is impossible then to avoid uncleane issues I cannot but daily and hourely touch some filthinesse unlesse I runne out of the world and from
till the second comming of Christ and is most perfectly finished and consummate in heaven The notes or markes to know inward circumcision attained by Christ are these 1. The party to bee circumcised was presented and offered to this ordinance of God as willing and contented to part with his flesh and blood in obedience to God so here thou hast begun thy circumcision if thou hast offered up thy soule body and all a reasonable sacrifice to God Rom. 12. 1. willingly mortifyng all the deeds of the flesh and denying and renouncing all fleshly lusts and affections which are as neere and as deare unto thee as the parts of the body So Col. 2. 11. it must bee a putting off the sinfull body implying not a suffering it onely to bee violently taken and cut away but a voluntary putting away and parting with it Indeed in legall Circumcision the infant could not cut away the flesh of his body but in Evangelicall Circumcision thy selfe must put off this sinfull body of flesh and be more then a meere patient 2. As there the whole body was wounded in one part so see thy whole body of sinne bee wounded in all parts not one member spared Col. 2. 11. put off the sinnefull body No sinne must raigne none unresisted And therefore 1. Labour for an heart circumcised There the Lord begins this worke Deut. 30. 6. and Chap. 10. 16. there see thou hast begun See thy desires be sanctified that the thoughts of thy heart and inward affections be watched and garded not suffered to be earthly wanton impious disordered or unfruitfull This purging of carnall affections and fastning them on the right object is a note of inward circumcision Deut. 30. 6. 2. See thine eare bee circumcised Act. 7. 51. the Jews are reproved for uncircumcised eares All sinnes of the eare must bee circumcised and that is done in opening them to heare God and good instruction and shutting them against slanders false tales wicked counsells doctrines of libertie and the like 3. Circumcise thy lips which then are so when they are able to speake for God Moses in Exod. 6. 12. complaines that his lips were not enough circumcised All the sinnes of the tongue must be cut off This circumcision admits not a lie an oath a slander a deceitfull or filthy or uncleane speach unmortified 4. All sinnes of the eye must be circumcised by making covenant with this member not suffering the eye to bee envious covetous wanton scornfull adulterous And so examine all the parts that no sinne bee peaceably admitted without drawing blood upon it as was in circumcision 3. As in that Circumcision was sence of much paine and griefe in the body as we see in the Shechemits Gen. 34. 25 So in this where ever it is is affliction of conscience paine of spirit pricking in the heart as in the Converts Act. 2. 37. which makes the circumcised mourne and cry out of himselfe judging himselfe and breaking his heart with godly sorrow for sinne The Priest could not take the knife and cut off the piece of flesh without paine and sorow of the child Neither can the Minister take the sharpe weapon of the Law to wound and cut the body of flesh in any part but it will be painfull and sorowfull to the child of God who will judge and condemne himselfe and dares not stand out the threats of the Law as many contemptuous rebells doe An hard and secure heart is an uncircumcised heart good Iosiah will tremble at the word but all Gods words and plagues stirre not Pharaoh 4. As that part cut off was never set to the body again but was taken quite away for ever So in this circumcision of Christ is not a parting with sinne onely for a time but a ceasing of sinne that is a constant endeavour to forsake all sinnes inward outward secret open A parting from pleasing profitable deare and bosome sins saying to them as Ephraim to his idols Hos. 14. 9. get yee hence what have yee to doe here with resolute purpose never to give them entrance or entertainment more Those that fall to their former sinnes as who forget they ever washed like dogs and swine were never circumcised The skinne once cut off died for ever such a dying to sinne must bee in this circumcision 5. In that was a joyning to Gods people and a receiving of the party into the Church and family of God See if thou beest joyned to Gods people not in outward profession but in sincere affection embracing them that feare God delighting in their society giving them the right hand of fellowship and with the hand the heart separating from the fellowship of the uncircumcised and profane as the Jews medled not with the Samaritanes Doest thou professe circumcision and grace by Christ but oppose and pursue the professours of Christian religion as Ismael him that was borne after the promise A plaine signe all thy circumcision was made with hands Thy body was washed with water of Baptisme but thy heart is unwashed untouched with any water of saving grace 6. In that was a joyning and admittance to the outward worship of God and externall communion in all holy things so here thou art become a true worshipper not outwardly in the letter and ceremony but inwardly in spirit and truth A Iew within Rom. 2. 29. Phil. 3. 3. We are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Hee that worships formally for fashion for Law and in the meane time can contemne the power of godlinesse cannot away with inward watchfulnesse sincerity strictnesse though by Baptisme he be brought to the externall communion of the Church in holy things all is but in the letter without all circumcision of the heart 7. In that was much rejoycing as in a great priviledge and the Jew did much boast and beare himselfe upon this prerogative partly upon the externall worke partly on their distinction by it partly because it manifested them sonnes of Abraham according to the flesh and much was their praise among men But true circumcision rejoyceth not in Abraham but in Christ hath no confidence in the flesh but renounceth all outward things and settles his rejoycing in Christ alone and his merits counting all other things drosse and dung in comparison of him Let the Jew trust in Circumcision by the worke wrought as our Judaizing Papists doe in their Sacraments Let him glory of Abraham his father Ioh. 8. 33. that hee is beloved because the seed of Abraham Wee are chosen in Christ not in Abraham In him we have atonement and become a beloved people and not in Abraham In him wee come boldly to the throne of grace and speed in our suits In him we glory all day long We trust not in good meanings as simple ignorant persons nor in merits as wilfull blinded Papists nor in any thing within us nor without us nor without Christ. All our joy and trust is in himselfe alone And this is
hee that comes from heaven is above all His person is above all for God hath exalted him and given him a Name above al names Phil. 2. 9. His worke is above all that men and Angels can comprehend in power and merit His place is above all the head of the Church eminent above all men and Angels 3. A Rock for firmnesse and stability Hee is the strength of Israel on this Rock as on a sure and firme foundation the whole Church is laid and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it Matt. 16. 18. Hence he is a Rock of defence and safety to his chosen and every wise man builds his house on this Rock 4. A Rock of scandall and offence to wicked men Rom. 9. 32. Not in himselfe and his nature for hee is a precious corner stone but accidentally and passively because men dash themselves against him as many at this day bark like doggs against the wholesome doctrine of justification by Christ without the works of the Law Many loose and formall Gospellers scorne the basenesse and meannesse of Preachers and true professours of the Gospel because their darknesse can abide no light to come neere it To all these and thousands moe Christ is a rock of scandall by their owne default 5. A Rock for waight and danger and inayoidable judgement upon his adversaries which on whomsoever it falls it crusheth him all to pieces Matt. 21. 44. If any rise against it they doe but tire and teare themselves but if this Rock rise against any man and fall upon him it breaks him to pouder Witnesse the greatest enemies of Jesus Christ which the world ever had Herod Iudas Iulian Iews Pilate as unable to rise from under his revenge as a man pasht to pieces unable to rise from under a Rock II. It was a type of Christ as it sent out water in abundance to the people of Israel ready to perish for thirst For so Jesus Christ is the onely Rock that sends from himselfe all the sweet waters of life for the salvation of his elect otherwise ready to perish eternally For explanation whereof marke 1. As from that Rock issued waters to wash and cleanse themselves and their garments so from this Rock streame waters of ablution or washing which serve to wash away both the guilt of sinne and staine of sinne For the former the precious blood of Christ streaming out of his side is the onely mundifying water in the world to wash the soule from the guilt of sinne and to scowre away all the execration of sinne from the sight of God 1. Ioh. 1. 7. the blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne For the latter from the same side of Christ our Rock issueth water as well as blood even the waters of regeneration called Tit. 3. 5. the washing of the new birth by the Spirit of grace and holinesse which daily cleanse the staine and filthinesse of sin Of these waters reade Ioh. 7. 38. He that beleeveth in me out of his belly shall flow riuers of water of life This hee spake of the Spirit which he would give 2. As from that rocke issued waters to coole and comfort Israel in their wearinesse and wandrings so from Jesus Christ do issue the waters of refrigeration and comfort to coole and refresh the dry and thirsty soule to allay the heat of a raging and accusing conscience and to revive with new strength the fainting soule in temptation or persecution And therefore the tryed traveller and thirsty passenger is called to these waters Mat. 11. 28 Isa. 55. 1. For nothing but sound grace from Jesus Christ can quench the tormenting thirst of an accusing or distressed conscience 3. As from that rocke streamed abundance of waters to make fruitfull that barren wildernesse wheresoever they ranne so onely from the true rock issue plentifull waters of grace to make our dry and barren hearts fruitfull in all workes of righteousnesse Isa. 44. 3 4 I will poure water upon the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will poure my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy buds and they shall grow as among the grasse and as willowes by the rivers of waters All this blessing of fruitfulnesse is from the Rocke See Eph 1. 4. III. In the manner of attaining this water are many sweet resemblances 1. The people might aske Moses water but Moses cannot give it It is God must give it and miraculously fetch it out of a rocke which how it should be Moses cannot conceive So men may seeke justification and to drink waters of salvatiō in themselves either by nature as Pelagians or by merit as Popish justiciaries do either in the Law of Moses as the Jews or in Evangelical Counsells as the fond votaries of the Church of Rome But no Jew can tell how to procure any water to himself neither can Moses give it By the Law of Moses no man can bee justified nor by any fond devises beyond the Law But God of his grace hath devised a way and poynted to us a rocke of living waters to supply unto us that which was impossible to Moses Law because of our infirmitie Rom. 8. 3. 2. The rocke gives water but not till it bee smitten Exod. 17. 6. so Christ the true rock must be smitten with passion he must be smitten with the wrath of his Father and made a curse for us before there can issue out of his side that bloody streame by which the thirst of beleevers can be quenched And as the rocke was smitten twice and waters gushed out both times so Christ was twice smitten first actually in himselfe secondly virtually in the saith of beleevers of all ages the faithfull before him beleeving in the rock that was to bee smitten and suffer death for sinne the faithfull after him beleeving in the rock that was smitten dead and raised already 3. It was the Rod in Moses hand that smites and breakes the rocke Even so it was the Law given by Moses hand and our transgression against it that breaks the true Rock Isa. 53. 5. Gal 3. 13. he was made a curse for us and our transgression of the Law was laid upon him that we might be freed from it And as this was the same Rod that smote the River to bring destruction on the Aegyptians and enemies of the Church so this same Law and Rod of Moses brings the curse and damnation upon all the enemies of God from whom it is not remooved by Jesus Christ. 4. The rocke was smitten but it was not so much the striking on the rock but the Lords standing upon it that gets water for Israel Exod. 17. 6. There was no vertue in the stroake but all depended on Gods commandement and precept and presence even so it is not the death of Christ nor the abundance of price and merit of his blood nor the striking on this rock before mens eyes in the ministery of the word and