till the second comming of Christ and is most perfectly finished and consummate in heaven The notes or markes to know inward circumcision attained by Christ are these 1. The party to bee circumcised was presented and offered to this ordinance of God as willing and contented to part with his flesh and blood in obedience to God so here thou hast begun thy circumcision if thou hast offered up thy soule body and all a reasonable sacrifice to God Rom. 12. 1. willingly mortifyng all the deeds of the flesh and denying and renouncing all fleshly lusts and affections which are as neere and as deare unto thee as the parts of the body So Col. 2. 11. it must bee a putting off the sinfull body implying not a suffering it onely to bee violently taken and cut away but a voluntary putting away and parting with it Indeed in legall Circumcision the infant could not cut away the flesh of his body but in Evangelicall Circumcision thy selfe must put off this sinfull body of flesh and be more then a meere patient 2. As there the whole body was wounded in one part so see thy whole body of sinne bee wounded in all parts not one member spared Col. 2. 11. put off the sinnefull body No sinne must raigne none unresisted And therefore 1. Labour for an heart circumcised There the Lord begins this worke Deut. 30. 6. and Chap. 10. 16. there see thou hast begun See thy desires be sanctified that the thoughts of thy heart and inward affections be watched and garded not suffered to be earthly wanton impious disordered or unfruitfull This purging of carnall affections and fastning them on the right object is a note of inward circumcision Deut. 30. 6. 2. See thine eare bee circumcised Act. 7. 51. the Jews are reproved for uncircumcised eares All sinnes of the eare must bee circumcised and that is done in opening them to heare God and good instruction and shutting them against slanders false tales wicked counsells doctrines of libertie and the like 3. Circumcise thy lips which then are so when they are able to speake for God Moses in Exod. 6. 12. complaines that his lips were not enough circumcised All the sinnes of the tongue must be cut off This circumcision admits not a lie an oath a slander a deceitfull or filthy or uncleane speach unmortified 4. All sinnes of the eye must be circumcised by making covenant with this member not suffering the eye to bee envious covetous wanton scornfull adulterous And so examine all the parts that no sinne bee peaceably admitted without drawing blood upon it as was in circumcision 3. As in that Circumcision was sence of much paine and griefe in the body as we see in the Shechemits Gen. 34. 25 So in this where ever it is is affliction of conscience paine of spirit pricking in the heart as in the Converts Act. 2. 37. which makes the circumcised mourne and cry out of himselfe judging himselfe and breaking his heart with godly sorrow for sinne The Priest could not take the knife and cut off the piece of flesh without paine and sorow of the child Neither can the Minister take the sharpe weapon of the Law to wound and cut the body of flesh in any part but it will be painfull and sorowfull to the child of God who will judge and condemne himselfe and dares not stand out the threats of the Law as many contemptuous rebells doe An hard and secure heart is an uncircumcised heart good Iosiah will tremble at the word but all Gods words and plagues stirre not Pharaoh 4. As that part cut off was never set to the body again but was taken quite away for ever So in this circumcision of Christ is not a parting with sinne onely for a time but a ceasing of sinne that is a constant endeavour to forsake all sinnes inward outward secret open A parting from pleasing profitable deare and bosome sins saying to them as Ephraim to his idols Hos. 14. 9. get yee hence what have yee to doe here with resolute purpose never to give them entrance or entertainment more Those that fall to their former sinnes as who forget they ever washed like dogs and swine were never circumcised The skinne once cut off died for ever such a dying to sinne must bee in this circumcision 5. In that was a joyning to Gods people and a receiving of the party into the Church and family of God See if thou beest joyned to Gods people not in outward profession but in sincere affection embracing them that feare God delighting in their society giving them the right hand of fellowship and with the hand the heart separating from the fellowship of the uncircumcised and profane as the Jews medled not with the Samaritanes Doest thou professe circumcision and grace by Christ but oppose and pursue the professours of Christian religion as Ismael him that was borne after the promise A plaine signe all thy circumcision was made with hands Thy body was washed with water of Baptisme but thy heart is unwashed untouched with any water of saving grace 6. In that was a joyning and admittance to the outward worship of God and externall communion in all holy things so here thou art become a true worshipper not outwardly in the letter and ceremony but inwardly in spirit and truth A Iew within Rom. 2. 29. Phil. 3. 3. We are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Hee that worships formally for fashion for Law and in the meane time can contemne the power of godlinesse cannot away with inward watchfulnesse sincerity strictnesse though by Baptisme he be brought to the externall communion of the Church in holy things all is but in the letter without all circumcision of the heart 7. In that was much rejoycing as in a great priviledge and the Jew did much boast and beare himselfe upon this prerogative partly upon the externall worke partly on their distinction by it partly because it manifested them sonnes of Abraham according to the flesh and much was their praise among men But true circumcision rejoyceth not in Abraham but in Christ hath no confidence in the flesh but renounceth all outward things and settles his rejoycing in Christ alone and his merits counting all other things drosse and dung in comparison of him Let the Jew trust in Circumcision by the worke wrought as our Judaizing Papists doe in their Sacraments Let him glory of Abraham his father Ioh. 8. 33. that hee is beloved because the seed of Abraham Wee are chosen in Christ not in Abraham In him we have atonement and become a beloved people and not in Abraham In him wee come boldly to the throne of grace and speed in our suits In him we glory all day long We trust not in good meanings as simple ignorant persons nor in merits as wilfull blinded Papists nor in any thing within us nor without us nor without Christ. All our joy and trust is in himselfe alone And this is
the blood of this red cow he leads us to the blood of Christ saying If the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling them that are uncleane sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead workes wherein he not onely compareth but infinitely advanceth the truth above the type For 1. that was symbolicall and figurative this spirituall and substantiall 2. that was externall and temporary this internall and eternall 3. that onely a purifying of the flesh this of the Spirit and conscience 4. that cleansed from legall and bodily pollution this from morall called dead works 1. because they proceed from death of sinne 2. because they lead to eternall death For the explaining of this ordinance consider foure things 1. whence the Cow must be 2. the properties or qualities 3. the actions about her 4. the use and end of it I. All the congregation must bring an heifer to Moses out of the heard 1. All the congregation for not one in the congregation but needs a meanes of purging 2. This meanes must be a Cow not an Oxe or Bull. The imbecillity of the sexe noteth the great humility of our Lord Jesus who being the mighty Lion of the tribe of Judah would so abase and weaken himselfe for our sakes 3. They must take her from the heard so our cleanser must be taken from among our selves being true and perfect man taking our nature and our flesh yea our infirmities as the weak sexe importeth in all things save sinne like unto us II. The properties required in this Cow are foure 1. She must be an heifer in her youth and strength Christ offers himselfe and must be taken for a sacrifice in the flower of his strength at three and thirty yeares He offers his best gifts and dyes in his strength and so his offering was more free and acceptable And wee also should offer up our youth strength best times and gifts to Jesus Christ who offered himselfe in his best strength to death for us 2. The Cow must be red Signifying 1. the truth of Christs humane nature being of the same red earth that the first Adams body was 2. the grievousnesse of sinne which he was to undertake and the scarlet staine of it 3. the bitter and bloody passion of Christ and his cruell death The red skin of the Cow resembled the red garments of Christ all besprinkled 1. With his owne blood 2. with the blood of his conquered enemies 3. presented unto his father like the coat of Ioseph all stained with blood 3. The Cow must be without spot or blemish to signifie the purity of our Lord Iesus in whom was never any spot or staine of sinne Though he was contented to be counted a sinner yet he was no sinner And though he had sinne on himselfe he had none in himselfe as the Cow was slain for sin not being sinfull Christ was ruddy through his passion yet most white and spotlesse by his most perfect and absolute righteousnesse She must be without yoke on which never yoke came signifying 1. that Christ not necessarily but voluntarily tooke our nature that he might free us from our yoke 2. his absolute freedome from all the yoke of sinne farther then he voluntarily undertooke the burthen of it 3. that he was never subject to the yoke of humane precepts and commandement being the Law-giver to prescribe Lawes to all not to receive Lawes from any 4. that none could compell him to suffer for sinne but his whole obedience active and passive was a freewill offering hee having power to lay downe his life and to take it up againe 5. he was more free from the yoke then any red heifer could be She indeed must be free in her selfe he not onely free in himselfe but he must free all beleevers from the yoke whom the sonne sets free they are free indeed III. The actions about the Cow were five ver 5. 1. Action 1. The congregation must deliver the Cow to be slaine so was Christ delivered to be slaine by the whole body of the Iews 2. She must not be delivered to Aaron but to Eleazer his successor signifying that the death of Christ serveth all the successions and ages of the Church and must be taught by the ministers of all ages 2. Action She must be led out of the Camp and there burnt whole to ashes her skin flesh blood and dung ver 5. Signifying 1. that Christ must be led out of the gate of Ierusalem to suffer Heb. 13. and there 2. must be crucified by which he was made a whole burnt offering 3. that whole Christ is our comfort his flesh our meate his blood our drinke yea the very base dung of those contumelies cast upon him were a part of his sacrifice offered up in the fire of his passion for us to sweeten and sanctifie ours 3. Action Eleazer must take of the blood with his finger and sprinkle towards the foreside of the Tabernacle of the assembly seven times ver 4. Signifying 1. the purging of us by the blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience 2. that Christs death profits none to whom it is not specially applyed for the Cowes blood must be not shed onely but sprinkled 3. that onely the people and congregation of God have benefit of the death and blood of Christ for it was sprinkled directly before the Tabernacle 4. the seven times sprinkling noteth 1. that that one oblation hath vertue and merit enough 2. the perfection of justification 3. the need of often application of Christs death 4. the duration of it to all ages 4. Action She must bee burnt with Cedar wood scarlet lace and hysope all which must be cast into the fire with her ver 6. signifying 1. three things in Christ. 1. the Cedar of uncorrupt life 2. the scarlet of fervent love to mankinde 3. the hysope of savoury obedience in all things to his father all which were in all his sufferings and fire of his passion sweetning it 2. they noted three things arising from Christs sufferings 1. immortality signified by the Cedar which is not subject to putrefaction 2. the scarlet the merit of his blood applyed to justification 3. the hysope of mortification healing our corruptions as hysope hath an healing quality All these three properly arise from the passion of Christ. 5. Action A cleane person must gather the ashes of the heifer and lay them without the Campe in a clean place ver 9. signifying 1. the buriall of Christ in a cleane and new tombe wherein never man lay a cleane place never used before 2. that the merit of Christs death is ever laid before God in the highest and holiest heavens 3. the Christians account of Christs merit and passion who layeth them up as his chiefe treasure in the cleane place of a pure heart and conscience an onely fit closet to keep the mystery
a Minister of the Circumcision was also to receive Circumcision himselfe which was shadowed in all their Circumcisions 2. in their shedding of blood by Circumcision was represented to their eyes the shedding of Christs blood not onely in the first fruits of his bloodshed in his Circumcision which was a part of his humiliation and a parcell of the price payed for our sins but also the full powring out of all his blood in sacrifice upon the Crosse wherein the Circumcision of Christ was fully accomplished 3. was shadowed their duty also that having shed the first fruits of their blood in Circumcision in obedience to God they should be ready to shed all their blood for him whom they expected to shed all his blood for them 3. A distinguishing signe of the Jewes from all other people who were without God without Christ and they onely a chosen seed in that blessed seed in whom all their prerogatives were conferred and established 4. A demonstrative signe 1. of the naturall sinne and disease of man and therefore it was placed in the generative part to admonish Abraham and his posterity of their uncleannesse for things cleane need no Circumcision nor ablution Abraham and his seed must be led out of themselves 2. to demonstrate the cure and remedy by the Messiah to come cleansing our natures two waies 1. by bearing upon himselfe the imputation of our impurities 2. by healing them in us partly by his merit and bloody death bestowing a perfect righteousnesse upon us partly by his Spirit daily sanctifying and circumcising our hearts thus hath this Sacrament preached Christ unto us Now the observations to make it usefull I. Take notice of our owne estate to humble us both in state of nature and in state of grace I. In our nature wee are all sprung out of a corrupted seed which although we would forget yet the Lord in this Sacrament tooke care that his people should carry upon their bodies the signe of sinne and death seazing upon their whole nature In place of which comes our Baptisme presently after our birth shewing that a man in his very first frame is filthily polluted and goeth astray even from the wombe Psa. 58. 3. Whence also it is called Originall sinne 1. because it hath beene from the beginning of the world 2. because it is the originall and beginner of all sinne in us it is the first of all our sinnes 3. from our beginning even from our conception Psa. 51. I was conceived in iniquity and we from it called the children of wrath that is laid under wrath even from our childhood Eph. 2. 3. 2. After grace received see the weakenesse of our faith Abraham the father of the faithfull needeth this pledge and seale to support his weake and shaking faith Who can say my faith is strong enough which is ever imperfect in the best who know but in part and beleeve but in part Why else did the Lord appoynt the use of Sacraments to the strongest beleevers and that all their life long but to put them in minde of the weakenesse of their faith which needeth such continuall props and supports Neither is it marvell that men are so heavy to the reverent receiving of the Sacrament because they see no want no neede no benefit of faith they feele not the weakenesse of faith which would breed desire of strength and drive them to the diligent use of the meanes II. If Christ be the truth of circumcision then every Christian in the new Testament must be circumcised as necessarily as the Jewes in the old And though the ceremony and act of circumcision bee worne out yet the truth of circumcisiō as neerely belongs to us now adayes as of old it did unto them In whom wee are circumcised through the circumcision of Christ speaking of the Gentiles converted unto Christ. In which words the Apostle plainely distinguisheth between Jewish circumcision and Christian between legall circumcision and Evangelical between Moses his circumcision and Christs Here 1. What this Evangelicall circumcision is 2. the difference from Legall 3. the marks and notes of it 4. the motives This Christian Circumcision is described Col. 2. 11. to bee a putting off the sinfull body of the flesh that is in plaine termes the mortification of the body of sinnes that are in the flesh For the truth and kernell of Circumcision never stood in the cutting off a peece of skinne that was but the shell of it but in cutting off the lusts of the heart and life and parting from corruptions of nature which rebell against the Spirit And this wee have in Christ alone being as farre beyond the Circumcision of the old Testament as the truth useth to excell the type as far as Christ is beyond Moses or heaven above earth This renovation of minde was 1. signified by that Ceremony 2. promised by every Circumcised person The difference betweene this Evangelicall and that Legall Circumcision is 1. In the efficient That was appoynted by God to bee made with hands but this is a wonderfull worke without hands done by the finger of God himselfe The mortification of sinne is so honourable a worke as the hand of man and Angells cannot do it 2. In the subject That was wrought upon the seed of Abraham according to the flesh this onely upon Abrahams seed according to the faith upon beleevers and members of Christ. That upon the Jew without this upon the Jew within That upon Ismael as well as Isaac here no Ismaelite is circumcised That was Circumcision of the naturally borne and males onely of Jews onely this is of the supernaturally borne againe male or female Jew or Gentile for in Christ all are one 3. In the proper seat That was ceremoniall in the flesh this morall in the heart In that a naturall part was wounded in this the very corruption of nature That dealt with flesh in substance this with the body of flesh in quality 4. In the end In that every man was circumcised in himselfe and his blood shed to fulfill the rite of the Law in this all beleevers men and women are in Christs blood once circumcised to fulfil the rigour of the Law 5. In the effect By that the person was received into the society of Gods people according to externall profession by this the sinner is received into inward and eternall fellowship with God and into communion with Gods people 6. In the latitude or extent In that the Priest circumcised in one part of the body in this Christ our high Priest circumciseth the whole man In that one beloved part was cast away with griefe and sorrow in this the whole corruption of nature and all beloved sinnes with no lesse griefe and sorrow of heart for them 7. In the durance and continuance That was temporary but till the comming of Christ who razed the type and raised the truth but this is to continue for ever
Jesus Christ protecteth his Church from all enemies Hee steps betweene the Camps of Israëlites and Aegyptians becomming their sure defence Psal. 18. 1. 2. This Pillar shall never rest till the dead bodies of the Aegyptians and enemies become a spoile and spectacle to his people V. In the infallible instruction of it it typifyed Christ. For as the Lord spake to Moses out of the cloudy Pillar when it descended on the Tabernacle and delivered his Oracles in it Exod. 33. 9. so Jesus Christ alone is the cloudy Pillar by whom the Lord delivers to us his whole counsell concerning our happy passage through this our wildernesse to that blessed Canaan the happy rest of all the Saints And as they must heare and obey absolutely those Oracles so we are commanded to heare him Application followes I. Is Christ the Pillar Here is comfort for the people of God who shall want no good things but this Pillar of cloud and fire shall supply it For 1. The Cloud was a generall guide for all and every particular of Gods people Isa. 4. 5. 6. The cloud was every where seene and Christ is every where present to be seen found in his Church Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. Ier. 51. 5. Israel hath beene no widow II. The Cloud was an unerring guide because the Lord went in the Cloud so that except the Lord could mislead them they must needs goe aright Jesus Christ is the way as well as the truth follow him in the direction of his word in the motions of his spirit agreeing thereto in his blessed example both in doing and suffering walke as he did And as he passed by his Crosse to the Crown so shall he lead thee through this wildernesse to that Canaan and rest to which he hath gone before to take thee in III. As the Cloud was a safe guide and a covering cloud so is Jesus Christ the vayl and cover of his Church When the Pharaoh of hell pursues us at heels and is even ready to snatch us back into eternall slavery now this Angell of the Covenant interposeth himselfe to defend us and steppeth betweene us and dangers This Cloud of Gods protection seeme it never so farre off is the sure wall and defence of the Church the strongest munition and will not suffer the Aegyptian armyes to come neere the Israelites to hurt or destroy them but onely to exercise them and drive them more hastily to God for safety and to Canaan for rest This is a sure comfort when we know that all the enemies of grace Papists apostates recusants drunkards scorners and Atheists reach at us to hurt and hinder us in our way this cloud shall make them further us IV. The Cloud was a powerfull guide strengthning Israel weakning and discomforting all the power of Egypt powerfully and miraculously opening the red sea for a passage to the one and shutting it for the others perdition Our Lord JESUS is a potent guide the Michael and Captaine of Gods Armies getting himselfe a name upon Pharaoh and his forces discomfiting and destroying all adversary power of our salvation perfectly conquering for us all the powers of darknesse and triumphing upon all the externall enemies that pursue his people and making them the dust of his footstoole Besides that this cloud powerfully opens the red sea and makes a way for the Saints through a sea of afflictions Oh the sweet comfort hence both in the view of the trouble of the Church in generall beset with so many huge armies of Antichrist and his adherents as also in sence of our owne particular tryalls Both whole and parts are under this powerfull cloud V. The Cloud was a comfortable guide a cooling covering Cloud Jesus Christ is the well yea and sea of consolation without whom is nothing but scorching heat which would burne up and consume the Church But he cooles the fire of his Fathers wrath for us he cooles the fiery darts of Satans temptations and quencheth them in us he refresheth and cheereth us in the sunne of persecution and afflictions which satan and his instruments kindle against us he is our onely shadow for the heat and a cover for the storme and for the raine Isa. 4. 6. Now therefore get to him by prayer faith and repentance VI. The Cloud was a patient and respective guide It waited all their necessities it rested that they might rest it moved slowly according to their pace it stayed for them till they had ground their Mannah and baked it till they had eaten and refreshed themselves till they had offered sacrifices and whatsoever was necessary to be done it waited for them Oh what a patient and respective Lord have we who not onely waits on our necessities but beares all our needs and weaknesses on himselfe not onely beares with our infirmities but beares them on himselfe and helpes them in us He stretcheth his hands all day long waiting for our return He knows our mould and weaknesse and covers it with his owne strength and righteousnesse He would be in all things like us that he might in all things helpe us VII The Cloud was a constant guide The Lord never took away his Pillar by day nor by night from before the people Exod. 13. 22. not all their journey till they came into Canaan Jesus Christ is constant to his Church never leaves it without light and direction without comfort and consolation without safety and protection Nay he not only leads and covers them in this wildernesse but never fayles them no not in the land of their rest That cloud which now is like the cloud which Elias saw like the bignesse of an hand then shall cover or rather fill the whole heavens II. Here is a ground of confidence and security in the greatest perils What a marveilous thing is it that a Pillar of fire should sit upon the Tabernacle and not burne it What a strange thing that a Pillar of fire must coole the Israëlites and save them from fire So shall all fires kindled and all extreame dangers threatned against the Church tend to the saving and comforting of it For 1. God never kindles a fire to consume his Church but as the pillar of fire to enlighten it and direct it to Canaan 2. The Church is that bush which burnes with fire but is not consumed Exod. 3. 2. The members of this Church are not chaffe and stubble but pure metall the longer in the fire the better tryed and the purer 3. There is no Pillar of fire in the Church without the pillar of cloud God mingleth his corrections with consolations and in judgement remembreth mercy 4. Nature must runne out of her selfe to doe homage to her Creator Fire must cease to burn at his word Dan. 3. 27. The fire burnt only the bonds of the three children but not their bodies it not onely saves their lives but sets