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
wickedness My brethren where can you go into what Land Countrey County City Town or Family but you may blush to see the common prophaneness of it to your great grief what swearing lying couzening theeving brawling fighting and revelling is there abounding amongst men how do the most men tumble and wallow in the filth of uncleanness how are some buried up head and ears in their pride how do others glory in their oppression O how are others drowned in their malice how like swines do others reel up and down in their drunkenness what treachery and deceit and falshood dwells there in the mindes of men one against another as the Prophet speaks Micah 7. 4 5 6. The best of them is as a briar and the most upright of them sharper then a thorn-hedge Trust ye not in a friend put ye no confidence in a guide keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom for the son dishonoureth the father the daughter riseth up against the mother in law a mans enemies are the men of his own house To this agreeth the words of Paul to the Ephesians chap 2. 2 3 Where in times past you walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience among whom ye had your conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desire of the minde and of the flesh and were by nature the children of wrath even as others Therefore it is that David when he was forced to flie into Gath among the Philistines because of the prophaneness of the people cryed out Woe is me that I dwell in Mesech and am constrained to live in the tents of ungodliness Secondly As this agreeth with Egppt for prophaneness so for false worship It is natural for men in a carnal concondition to worship God in a wrong manner as a good man said once every man is born with a little Pope in his belly To set up a false worship is the first thing a carnal man puts himself forth in This is the reason that the greatest part of the world lieth drowned in false worship and ante-christianisme it is because they are carnal and blinde and so want the light of God his holy Spirit to guide them into the truth Where will you expect to finde fish but in the water where would you see birds but in the air where would you expect to finde four footed beasts but upon the earth so where would you finde poor blinde carnal men and women worshipping but in their false forms pictures images and rejected ceremonies you may see how stiff the Pharisees stuck unto these things Matth. 15. 1 2. but you may see our Saviours answer Ver. 3. with 8 9. You know Paul the Apostle telleth the Saints in his day that they had been worshippers of stocks and stones dumb idols to this agreeth our Saviours words John 4 22 speaking to the poor carnal woman of Samaria You worship you know not what This is is most certain that the world for want of sight erre in every thing So that you see how well the natural estate of mankinde doth agree with the Land of Egypt for false worship or for worshipping God in a false manner Again Egypt was a place of hard bondage and cruel burthens a place that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. besides the officers of the place would often beat the people if they failed of ought of their work ver 14. they would also refuse to hear the peoples cryes ver 16 17. This answers unto the covenant of works which every carnal man and woman in the world is bound unto by nature and lives under This covenant even to fulfil it in the exactest measure thereof This covenant was made with us in the state of innocency which requires perfect obedience in thought word and deed and not onely perfect obedience but constant continual obedience to the last breath Deut. 6. 5. with Gal. 3. 10. So that if a man fails but in one point of the Law of Works he is guilty of the breach of the whole Iames 2. 10. Now this Covenant of works doth not onely reach the outward actions of the body as some think but the inward motions intentions and purposes of the minde for so our Saviour expounds this Covenant Mat. 5. 20 21 22 with 27 28. verses Now as the case stands with the creature with respect to his fall this covenant of works may well be compared unto Pharaohs task-masters and those that yet live under it to the Jews in Egypt who were under the power of those Task-masters Exodus 5. 10 11 12 13. 14 15 16 17. verses For first of all they required of the Jews brick to be made without straw ver 10 11. so doth the Law require full and perfect obedience of the soul both in body and spirit as ever it did Saith the Law Bring me forth the full tale of obedience according to my commands let not ought of the works be deminished which ye should do in soul and body I will not abate one jot of it bring forth the full tale of your duties let not one be neglected if there be you shall dye the death and perform them in such a manner as I have required or expect death without mercy what you do see it be perfectly holy without the least stain of sin in it in thy prayings in thy fastings in thy mournings in thy hearings in thy almes in thy works of mercy in all that thou doest see that there be not the least vain thought in it nor the least stain of hypocrisie in it if there be thou shalt be damned to eternity Likewise see that it be constantly so with thee from thy birth to thy death If in all thy life thou shalt but miscarry in a word or thought I will pour out all my plagues and curses upon thee Matth. 12. 36. with Gal. 2. 10. I will not regard any thing that thou hast done in my service before though thou hast served me to the last hour of thy life with all thy strength and with all thy power yet if at last thou shalt offend in one word or deed thou shalt dye the death a death eternal of soul as well as body Ezek. 18. 24. Deut 27. ver 26. Now when the soul comes to be awakened to the voice of the Law how is it overwhelmed with amazement and horrour like the Jews under their task-masters how bitterly doth the soul bewail his condition crying out with Paul Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from so cruel a bondage as this Thus the soul falling down flat on the ground cryeth out of his condition because of the hard usage it hath from the Law that it should require the full tale of brick and yet deny straw O saith the soul
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
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
the world though the number be great which have eaten of Christ yet there is enough in Christ to satisfie all that are to come therefore is Christ called a fountain set open for sinne and for uncleannesse Zach. 13. 1 2. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David c. 2. It shews the benefit we have by eating the Lamb Christ for we are by it made partaker of families right and order every soul by Christ may say now I am through grace of the Family of Heaven and I shall have a childes portion with the rest of the true Israelites though it goes hard with me in this life though I am poor and low in the world yet it s enough that I am of the houshold of Faith my name is listed in heaven for my daily allowance both for me and mine in this life and I shall have my full portion of glory with the rest of my Brethren hereafter I shall have that inheritance that fadeth not away O to be an adopted Son of God what a priviledge is this O how should this bear up the heart under all discouragements to have a right to all the excellency of glory and glorious attendance that there is laid up for the heirs of it as Paul saith That which eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for those which love him Thus much is to be observed by the Jews eating the roasted Lamb apart by particular families One thing more is worth our noting which is that the Lamb was to be eaten that night nothing of the Lamb was to be left until the morning Exodus 12. 10. Which shews us thus much that delayes are dangerous in this case for a soul to put off any thing of Christ after he is convinced of the need of him though it be but for the morrow the soul may never have the proffer more read that place in Hebrews 3. 7 8. In which place a soul is called upon to take Christ to day meaning at the first offer or else you may never see a Christ more in mercy for ever read Isaiah 55. 6. Therefore the exhortation is for men to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is near men will know that God will not alwayes be found and if any are like to finde it so they are such souls as put by Christ until to morrow they have not time to minde the thing there is yet something of more weight to be minded some worldly interest which must be set on wards farther first before they can attend this matter Read the danger of setting Christ aside until to morrow or of setting something more necessary as such think before Jesus Christ read Luke 14. 16 17 18. 19 20. with 24. Therefore take this along with thee soul remember the Jews were to eat the Lamb at the first offer that which they set aside until the morrow they were not to eat but to burn with fire not to eat it again read Exod. 12. 10. O Christian have a care thou doest not undo thy soul this way by setting aside some of Christ in a dish until to morrow crying out you are too young yet or you would sport your selves a little longer with your corruptions or your merry companions I say take heed of that CHAP. 5. The occasion of eating the Lamb. I Now come to speak something about the occasion of the Lamb which was this because of the destroying Angel which was to pass over Egypt on purpose to destroy their first-born for the safety of the Israelites God in mercy to them ordered them to take a Lamb and kill him the blood of which they were to take and strike the door posts of their houses which was for a sign to the destroying Angel that in his passing through the land where ever he should see that blood on the door of the house he might pass over that without doing the least injury to it and so from thence to the next house where the blood was not on the doors there the Angel was to do his work of execution Exod. 12. 7. with 12 13 and 22. verses This thing shews us the great reason why God the Father sent Christ into the world it was that sinful mankinde might not perish by the destroying Angel of his Justice which will certainly pass through the Egppt of this world and eternally slay all those that shall be found in their sins Christ shall come in flames of fire rendring vengeance on those that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 8. 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Now to prevent this mischief and the execution of this plague upon miserable men and women the Lord sent in a Lamb into the world which was his Son Jesus Christ that so men might be delivered from wrath through him John 3. 16. Acts 4. 12. But this must be done the Blood of this Lamb Christ must be taken and by the hysop of Faith dipped in the Bason of Gospel Ordinances striking the door posts of the heart therewith this done the destroying Angel of Gods Justice looking upon it cometh to be satisfied and hurteth not that soul and becomes that souls friend Therefore saith John Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world John 1. 29. But not a bare looking upon the Lamb will content the Justice of God but the taking of his Blood out of the bason of the Gospel or dipping therein the hysop of believing and applying of it to the heart and conscience so to do contents the Justice of God therefore saith the same Apostle The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 7. Meaning the guilt of our sins To this agreeth the words of the Apostle Heb 9. 13 14. For if the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Jesus Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Thus have I shewed you the mystery of Egppt and of the Lamb eaten by the Jews there likewise you have seen the manner of eating the Lamb together with the bread and sauce with which the Jews were to eat the Lamb also you have seen the mystery of their striking the door posts of their houses with the blood of the Lamb as also the mystery of the destroying Angel you have seen opened together with the sweet harmony it makes to the work of God upon the hearts of his people which when well considered will make a soul cry out with the Psalmist Psal 77. 19 20. Thy
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
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
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
eye it was rejected Levit. 22. 22. The eye you know is the discerning part of a Beast and surely God hath no more regard for an eye-less sacrifice under the Gospel then he had under the Law for if knowledge which is the eye of the sacrifice be wanting it is an imperfect sacrifice and much blemished in Gods account therefore saith S. Paul in â— Cor. 14. 15. What is it then when I pray I will pray with the spirit and with understanding and when I sing I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding so that you see S. Paul was very careful to binde what sacrifice he had to offer God withall very fast to the Horns of the Altar Christ with this cord of understanding and indeed so should all Believers else labour for such a measure of knowledge and spiritual understanding of and discerning into the things of God so as to acquaint themselves with the nature use end vertue and excellency of the work and worship of God in which they are imployed as that they may be able to give God a reason of what they do as that when God shall ask them this question in their consciences as once he did the Jews in Isa 1. 12. Who hath required this at your hands They may be able to answer again with the Church in Isa 26. 13. O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee onely will we make men ion of thy name You know how God disregarded the Corinthians duties and sacrifices for want of a true discerning of the things in Worship which they adventured upon 1 Cor. 11. 29 30. Therefore my Brethren take S. Peters advice 2 Pet. 2 18. But grow in grace and knowledge that through the exercise of which grace you may so binde your duties to the horns of your Altar Christ as that through the not starting aside of your sacrifices you may be sure not to miss of the reward of your work 3. A third cord with which believers should bind their duties to the horns of their Gospel-Altar Christ is the cord of love and affection Love is and ought to be the spring of action it is not what services we do for God as the principle from whence they flow forth to God is the thing God looks at for did we offer God in one sacrifice the cattel upon a thousand hills yet if this comes not freely to God from a principle of love and affection God hates all when done notable is that place in the Psalms Psal 40. 6 7 8 sacrifice and offerings thou didst not desire mine ear hast thou opened burnt offerings and sin offerings thou didst not require then I said lo I come as it s written of me in the Volume of the Book I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is in my heart Though this Prophesie do principally concern Christ whose bloud was preferred before all the Sacrifices in the world with respect to the taking away of sin yet this Scripture may not be unfitly applyed to the Saints with respect to their right performing of duty which teacheth us thus much that unless that principle of delight or Law of love here spoken of be in the heart as a bottom to all our duties all our Sacrifices are of little value with God therefore in Levit. 1. 3. who ever they were that would offer any thing to God in Sacrifice he was to offer it with a willing mind the reason of it is given you by the Apostle 2 Cor. 9. 7. For God loveth a chearful giver Use O then my friends labour after this grace of the holy Spirit O make it much of your business at the throne of grace that God would shed abroad much of his Spirit and Grace of love upon your hearts that so you might not miscarry in your work and service and for want of this blessed cord to tie your services fast at the horns of the Altar Jesus Christ O this is a blessed grace of the Spirit of God he that hath much of this in his heart is a rich man The world accounts those rich that have much of the wealth of this world in their houses but the word accounts them rich which have much of this grace shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost This makes duty acceptable this grace of love to God if in the heart will make a little Goats hair that is offered to God pleasing and acceptable in Gods sight Read Exod. 35. 23. and this will make thy weakest of groans very sweet to God O therefore forget not to labour after this precious grace and Jewel of the spirit of God for the more you have of this to love God withall the more God will love you the more will God delight in your duties love as we use to say is the loadstone of love it draws the heart of the object beloved to love again The Fourth Cord with which Believers should tie their duties to the Horns of the Altar Christ is sincerity and uprightness of heart in the things of God sincerity of heart to God is varnish to all our other gifts of the Spirit therefore doth Saint Paul prefer this beyond the highest gifts and parts and learning which men may be endowed with in this world 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. Though I had the Tongues of men and Angels to speak with all yet if I had not Charity I am become a â—ounding Brass and a tinkling Symbal and though I have the gift of Prophesie and all Knowledge and understand all Mysteries and have faith so as to remove mountains and have not Charity I am nothing Alas Brethren for men to get a headful of notions and to covet after gifts and parts to be able to talk and discourse much amongst the people of God or to be able to pray and preach much or to be able to speak well from a Text of Scripture If this be all that God sees in a man truly that man is but in an ill Case its true he may be of use to the benefit of others but all in vain as to himself therefore saith S. Paul I desire so to preach Christ â—hat I my self be not a cast-away As if Paul had said true I my self may be very useful with my gifts and parts to tie on the Sacrifices of others to the Horns of this Altar Christ yet all this while I may want the cord of sincerity to tie on my own Sacrifice therefore it is that God requireth so often in his word the heart My Son give me thy heart this God calls for often in his word as in Prov. 23. 26. By the heart is meant the uprightness and sincerity of the Soul concerning those things which the Soul shall set about for God hence you have it in 1 Samuel 16. 7. The Lord seeth not as man seeth man looketh at the outward appearance but God looketh at the heart Use O labour for this
the Body united to the Head and so he is to be understood as our interceeding High Priest praying to God for us against the evil of death So ver 10. This was done as he was called of God according to the Order of Melchisedeck That is as he is a High Priest for so was Melchisedeck Heb. 7. 1. whose work was to bless Abraham a Member of this Priesthood grace and mercy Gen. 14. therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them therefore saith the Apostle ver 26. Such an High Priest became us And as Christ did pour out his crys and supplications with tears here on earth it was to give Believers a comfortable view and sight of what he is ever doing for them in heaven of which they may assure themselves to the utmost Therefore doth S. Paul so much comfort Believers against all fear of a total miscarriage for it cannot be because Christ as our great High Priest did not only interceed against it on earth by pouring out strong crys and supplications with tears Heb. 5. 7. but he is doing of the same work now he is in heaven with as much fervency of Spirit for us Rom. 8. ver 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again and sitteth at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Now that the Intecession Christ makes is a work of prayer which he poureth forth for his people to God evermore as that which the Golden Altar for Incense was a Type of will appear if we consider that place in Rev. 8. 2 3 4. 5. with chap. 1. 13. And I saw the seven Angels which stood before God and to them were given seven Trumpets and another Angel came and stood at the Altar which Angel was Christ 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 ascending up before God out of the Angels hand Now look into Rev. 1. 13. and you may see who this Angel was And in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks one like unto the Son of men clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle Here you have the Son of man representing himself to John after he ascends up into Glory standing in the garb of the High Priest for so the legal High Priest was attired when he was to administer before the Lord. That so we might understand for our great comfort that he is doing the great work of the Priesthood now in Heaven for his people that are yet without the Tabernacle as to their being in this life even for those that are not entred within the veil of blessed glory and immortality So that you see that Christ is an interceeding High Priest now in heaven pouring out his prevailing prayers to God for his And this is the matter of the work of Intercession Use 1. O then what cause have Believers to bless God for his mercy that there is an Intercessour provided for them that can and will prevaile on their behalf if loud crys and strong supplications attended with many tears will do it O my Brethren this is an inestimable blessed privilege to Believers that they have such an interceeding High Priest as Jesus is who is heard in all things and denied in nothing that he shall request the Father for on the behalf of Believers We use to say that man is happy that hath a Friend in Court to speak if need be on his behalf O but how much more happy are Believers that have a Christ a High Priest in heaven to agitate all their matters and concernments for them there Hence it is that the Psalmist doth affirm that there can be no want to them which fear God Psal 34. 10. And S. Peter wonders who can harm such as be followers of that which is good Pet. 1. 3. 13. And saith S. Paul who can lay any thing to the charge of such and who can condemn such or can separte such from the love of God Rom. 8. 33 34 35. the Reason of all is given you in the 34. ver For we have a High Priest at Gods right hand making Intercession for us Use 2. O then let this blessed Doctrine administer comfort to the people of God at all times in all conditions that they have a High Priest in Heaven interceding for them at Gods right hand O Brethren of whom should Believers be afraid that have such an interceding Priest as Christ is what if all the Tyrants in the world and Devils in hell should set themselves together against the poor Lambs of Christ O fear them not there cannot a hair of your heads fall to the ground O you Saints lift up your heads and be not so fearful of your Adversaries it is your High Priests work in heaven to pray you down deliverance from the hands of Men and Devils Read that comfortable place Exod. 17. 8 9 10 11 12. When Amaleck came out to fight against Israel it s said that all the while that Moses lifted up his hands to God in a way of Prayer and Intercession for Israel Israel prevailed over Amaleck O then shall the liftings up of the hands of a Moses so much prevail for Gods Israel in a time of danger and yet Moses was but a servant Heb. 3. 5 and shall we think that the lifting up of the interceding hands of Christ who is the Son shall not prevail over these Amalekites which Believers stand in doubt of here O Brethren do not dishonour the interceding Office of Jesus Christ your High Priest in giving way so much to your fears Remember what our Saviour spake in his own case the same he can and will do in the case of his people so far as it shall stand with his glory and a Believers good Matth. 26. 53. Think you not and I can pray to my Father and he can give me more then twelve Legions of Angels What work did that Angel make which Christ prayed down for the relief of his Church in the time of their distress Isa 37. 36. How did the Angel scatter in one night that proud Blasphemous Army and shall we think that Christs Prayers have lost their Efficacy through length of time No no he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. And so in all other exigencies and straits whether in Famine Plague Pestilence or what ever the providence be which may occasion fear Here is a sufficient Balm for the soul in these conditions yea in a word if thou wert brought so low with thy distress as that thou couldst not put up one word
in the same kind of work yet the least Instrument or Vessel in the Tabernacle was employed and was of use even to the Tongs and Fire-pan both which were to right up the Coals on the Altar and to carry forth the Ashes of the Sacrifice Oh so it is in the Church of God there is not one there in that Body or Tabernacle but was appointed for use in the Church though their work may differ and their gifts may differ yet there is work to employ all so saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. Where the Apostle tells you that there be given to the Church a diversity of gifts and operations for every man to profit withall in Verse 10. To one is given the working of Miracles to another divers kinds of Prophecy to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpretation of Tongues but all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will So that you see every one in the Church of God is of some use or other for every one hath his proper gift every Christian in his place must do something in his Generation to help forward the glory of God Object But some will say their gifts are small and their graces small and they can do but little Answ It s true where God giveth but little he doth not require much but yet requireth the well-improvement of that little the unjust Steward though he had but one tallent yet he was cast into hell for the non-improvement of that what soul though thou canst not preach for Christ yet canst not pray to Christ for the Church and Gospel and Ministers and Ordinances of Christ what if thou wantest gifts to pray canst not shed some tears for a slain Christ a dying Gospel a starving perishing Ministry and an imprisoned company of Saints and banished Saints and what if thou hast no tears hast thou no sighs and inward groans for these things what if thou hast none of all this for Christ in his people what hast not a good word for them and what if thou durst not afford them a good word what hast thou not a piece of bread to send them or secretly â—o convey to them in their sufferings and what if thou wantest that to give them hast thou not a little dish to dip up a little water as thou passest by a prison door for them Matt. 25. 35 36 37 38 39. Oh let not the weakest Christian set himself aside to say I can do no work for God I want these gifts and parts which some have and therefore I can do little O soul though thou art but the fire-pan in the Church yet here is work to be done for thee though it be but to rid out the dung of the Sanctuary I mean by thy crying and sighing and praying to God that he would cast out that filth and dung out of his Church and Sanctuary that is of late crept into it Secondly It may inform us what the Children of God are and ought to be the holy sanctified ones of the times You read what God commanded Moses to do to the vessels in the Tabernacle when they were framed and fiâ—ted he was to anoint them all with holy oyl Oh so hath the Father anointed every true Believer with the oyl of Grace which came down from Christ so saith John 1. 16. And of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Hence is that of Peter speaking of the Saints 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ There is not one in the body of Christ but is sanctified and fitted by grace for the work God appoints him to do 1 Pet 2. 5. You are built up a spiritual sacrifice to God and set apart for holy uses to God as the things of the tabernacle were Psalm 4. 3. The Lord setteth apart the man that is godly for himself O therefore Sirs ye that are the Tabernacle vessels O labour to answer the end for which you were dedicated to God at the time of your Conversion and Calling remember the reason why you were caught out of the power of darkness it was for this purpose that you might be a holy people to God and might bring him home the fruits of righteousness in your lives for ever Titus 2. 14. CHAP. 27. Of the Tabernacle coverings I Come now to speak of the out-side coverings of the Tanacle which comprehended all the rest Now the coverings were of two sorts which we may call the inward or the outward coverings First the inward covering and that was very glorious Secondly the outward covering and that was as mean and uncomely As for the inward covering you may read what is said of that Exod. 36. 8. And every wise-hearted man amongst them that wrought the work of the Tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue purple and scarlet with Cherubims of cunning work made he them you may likewise see the outward coverings of the Tabernacle which seems to be as uncomely as the other are comely and glorious Ver. 14. with 19. And he made curtains of Goats hair for the tent over the Tabernacle ver 19 And he made a covering for the tent of Rams skins dyed red and a covering of Badgers skins above that Suitable to which coverings is the state and condition of the Church of God is it relates either to God or this world First as it relates to God so the covering that is upon the Church is very beautiful glorious which answereth to the coverings about the Tabernacle made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet with Cherubims of cunning work Exod. 36. 8. Which holds out to us the Righteousness of Jesus Christ with which the Church is cloathed withall which covering makes the Church truly beautiful and glorious in the eyes of God when this blessed covering of Christs Righteousness is put upon and hanged about the Church then doth the Church look fair in Gods account so saith the Apostle Col. 2. 10. And yea are complete in him who is the head of all Principalities and Powers That is when the Church is cloathed upon with this covering of Christs Righteousness then are you complete who are of that Church in Gods sight not else 2. Besides the Tabernacle covering agrees to the Righteousness of Christ I mean the Inner of the two coverings if we consider the obscurity of the Tabernacle covering it was not what was to be seen by every beholder for this covering was hid from the beholder by reason of another covering which was made of Rams skins and cast over it Read Exod 36. 14. with ver 19. So it is in the case of the Churches greatest glory in this life the Churches greatest glory and beauty doth consist of a being cloathed with
commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator Soul it would be very necessary for thee to keep this truth always warm upon thy heart that it may give down its daily comfort to thee that the High Priest is thy Brother for he was taken from amongst his Brethren it would be the choicest food thou canst live upon in thy wilderness condition if thou wert to take up thy quarters at any time in a Dungeon yet if thou hast this pot of Manna with thee viz. thy Brother is a High Priest in Heaven what more comfortable consideration in the world then this David was wonderfully raised in his hopes and expectations from hence Psal 23. 1. The Lord is my sheepherd I shall not want that is he is a Priest whose office it is to supply the wants of the soul in any condition for so much was expected from the High Priest under the Law he was to procure what blessings he could for the people Numb 6 23 24 25 26. And the Lord spake unto Moses saying speak unto Aaron and to his Sons saying on this wise ye shall bless the Children of Israel saying the Lord bless thee and keep thee the Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace Now that which greatens this mercy is this That as its the Place and Office of Christ to supply the wants of his people there is no condition whatsoever that his people are in at any time but Christ is privy to it Psal 139 2 3. Thou knowest my down sitting and my uprising thou understandest my thoughts afar off thou compass est my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways Herein lay Davids great comfort and the same may be thine that this want-supplying Priest that was so well acquainted with his peoples several conditions he could appropriate him to himself as his sheepherd The Lord is my sheepherd saith David that is as if he had said I draw much of my comfort from the place out of which the Priest was to be chosen which is this he was to be called forth from amongst his Brethren so that he is not a stranger to me a man whose voice or words I understand not or he mine but he is my Brother which understands my thoughts afar off CHAP. 29. I now come to speak of the Qualifications which were required in the Person which was to be the Peoples High Priest under the Law THe High Priest was to be one of the meekest tenderest mercifullest men exceeding others of his Brethren a man brimful of bowels of tender love and compassion towards those he was to be a Priest unto And secondly he was to be as faithful as merciful Both of which Qualifications in the High Priest under the Law you have the Apostle speaking of in the Epistle to the Hebrews First That he was to be full of bowels and tender compassion towards those for whom he was chosen a High Priest Heb. 5. 1. For every High Priest taken from amongâ—st men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that he might offer gifts and sacrifices for sins so Ver. 2. Who can have compassion of the ignorant and them that go out of the way Secondly The Priest was to be a faithful man a man discharging his duty with all faithfulness and sincerity towards his people not seeking his own before their good using all diligence in his place and calling withholding no due right from the people thus much you have from the Apostle in Heb 2. 17. Speaking of Christ saith That in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the people To be made like unto his Brethren who are these Answer not only all Believers for they are called Christs Brethren too but also and most principally with respect to office by Brethren is meant all those High Priests which were before his Incarnation who were likewise the fore-running Types of him in the work of the Priesthood and that it was the Priests of old that are mostly intended in this Text as the Brethren which Christ was to be made like unto will appear if we consider the end why the Apostle saith our Saviour must be made like unto his Brethren It was that he might make Reconciliatien for the sins of the people Heb. 2. 17. A work proper to none under the Law but to the Priests But wherein was Christ to be made like unto his Brethren you may see in the Text it was in point of faithfulness as well as in other respects That he might be a faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the people So that you see so much as this was expected to be found in and from the High Priest under the Law that he should be faithful Now both of the Qualifications in an abundant measure the Apostle shews you are in Christ our Gospel High Priest for so he applies the thing for our comfort as indeed all this was but to set forth the fulness of grace which from the Spirit of anointing the Father caused to run into Christ to fit him for this great work of the Priesthood read Heb. 5â— 1 2. and Chap. 2. 17. Isa 11 2 3 4. with Isa 61. 1. Use 1. I shall first of all take up the first of the Qualifications and labour to improve it for the encouragement of two sorts of persons First For those who as yet keep themselves off from this High Priest Christ through a sinful fear Secondly For those who have made choice of Christ for their High Priest but still live in continual doubt about their conditions As for the first fort of persons who yet stand off from Christ and are afraid to close with him so as to make him their High Priest Oh soul how long wilt thou doubt and by doubting keep thy soul off from Jesus Christ knowest thou not that there is a necessity for thee to hasten to Jesus Christ art thou not convinced that thou art a sinner and under the Curse doth not the word tell thee that God is angry with thee every day Psal 7. 11. Dost thou not hear the sound of wrath that is gone out against thee are not the first fruits of it upon thee already which is but the fore-runner of the full Winepress which like a dark storm is hastning after and is there not great need that Reconciliation for sin should be made to God for thy poor soul why then dost thou delay thy hastning to Christ the High Priest that he might make atonement for thee to the Lord that so a stop may be put to that wrath which from the Lord is gone out against thee or dost thou know a better way of
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
all pains of body or decrepidness of limbs Isa 35. 5 6. Revel 21. 4. Revel 22. 3. Lastly And that which will crown all will be this they shall be under the constant shinings of Gods face of glorious love and mercy which will never admit of any withdrawings more Rev. 22. 4 5. Object But some may say doth not our Saviour say That my kingdom is not of this world 1 John 18. 36. and that the kingdom of heaven cometh not with observation Luke 17. 20. and that the kingdom of God is within you ver 21. How is it which you say the kingdom of Christ shall be on earth in this world To which I answer That there is a three-fold kingdom which is attributed to Jesus Christ 1. A kingdom of providence or his providential kingdom 2. And a kingdom of grace 3. A kingdom of glory here on earth As for his providential kingdom of that I shall say but little But there is his kingdom of grace in the heart This Kingdom cometh not with observation indeed and this is not of this world for nothing in the world can procure or effect it in the heart of any creature The strongest Caesar or wisest Philosopher or richest Nabal in the world should they put all their strength and parts and riches together can do nothing in this case without the mighty power of God This kingdom of grace is within in the heart indeed and it affords no signs or fore-running tokens of it in the least but as the winde bloweth where it listeth so is the spirits coming upon a soul at the time of its conversion you hear the sound of it but know not from whence it is so saith our Saviour John 3. 7 8. But thiâ—dly There is his glorious Kingdom or Kingdom of Glory and that is what is of this world and that which cometh with signs and tokens of observation that Christ is to have a Kingdom in this world a Kingdom of external glory hath been the business which we have proved already but for better satisfaction take this Scripture Revel 11. 15. And there were voices in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lords and of his Christs And that the coming of this kingdom is with observation that is it s attended with its fore-running signes and tokens there is nothing more clear read Mat. 24. from the 1. ver to the 30. You shall meet with little else but matter of observation touching the coming of this kingdome into the world ver 30. So that Christ saying My kingdom is not in this world and my kingdom cometh not with observation and my kingdom is within you doth not in the least fight against this truth if we consider the various administrations of the Kingdom I grant all this to be properly applied to the kingdom of his Grace but not to the Kingdom of his Glory which he shall have here as he is the Son of man Further Now the Jews Canaan was an inheritance which God gave the people freely Deut. 19. 1. So is it in this case to have a right to this Kingdom or Gospel Canaan of rest and peace it is the free gift of God without any desert on our part at all take the kingdom as it is of grace here in the heart or of glory in the Nations or of ultimate glory above to have a portion in it it s of free gift therefore saith Christ Luke 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdome Likewise Canaan it was an inheritance which was divided to the children of Israel proportionably to every one by lot Numb 26 54 55 56. So is it in this case of the Gospel Canaan every true Israelite shall have his portion of grace and glory in this kingdom none shall say then that his field shall yield no meat or that his flock be cut off the fold no no but rather with David to cry out Psalm 16. 5 6. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup thou maintainest my lot the lines are fallen in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Again The Jews were to march in an armed state to their Canaan of old so should all the Saints get on about them their spiritual armour as the Apostle speaks in Ephes 6. 13 14 15 16 17 18. Wherefore take on thr whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and when you have done all to stand stand therefore having your loins girt about with â—ruth and having on the brest plate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace above all things take on the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be abâ—e to quench the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying alwayes with supplâ—cation in the spirit watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints Without this armour on about you never think to march safe to this good Land take it either for the kingdom of glory here on earth or the kingdom of glory above with the Father Your enemies are worse then those which stood in Israels way to their Canaan saith Paul Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but agaâ—nst principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spirital wickedness got into high places Likewise the Jews were to fight for the good Land they were not onely to put on their armour but they were to use it Deut. 7. 19 20 21 22 23 24 So must Christians not onely put on their spiritual armour but they must use it against the Devil sin and temptation Armour signifies but little if a man make no use of it therefore saith Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 12. Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called Lastly They were to fight under their captain Joshua So this sheweth Christians under whose banner they should fight and who they should engage with them in the quarrel their spiritual Joshua in whose strength alone they are more then conquerors Rom. 8. 37. Nay in all these things we are more then conquerors through him that loved us Saints your enemies are great and politick and truly they contend with you for things of a very great concernment it s for your souls things of more worth then the world and in your selves you are poor weak things but Christ is the power of God yea the Lion of the Tribe of Judah be sure if you intend to overcome and prevail get under the shadow of Christs wing set Christ before you make him the captain and he will fight your battle for you and make the necks of your stout enemies to lie under your feet CHAP. 37. Of their Cities of Refuge THese Cities were six in number
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