Heaven who are compared to Chariots and fiery Chariots Psal 68.17 the Chariots of God are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels which suits with that expression of the Chariot of the Cherubims in the Oracle 1 Chron. 28.18 and with that of the Apostle Peter who saith 1 Pet. 1.12 the Angels bow down their heads to pry into the mysteries of the Gospel alluding to the posture of the Cherubims over the Ark. 2. Kings and Magistrates are called Cherubims in Scripture so it is spoken of the King of Tyre Ezek. 28.14 Thou art the anointed Cherub that covereth and I have set thee so thou wast upon the holy Mountain of God It speaks forth both their Dignity and Duty The Magistrate is to protect the true Religion and the Worship of God as the Cherubims did cover the Ark. 3. Ministers are called Cherubims so in Revel 4. those four living Wights are nothing else but four Cherubims as you will clearly see if you compare that with Ezekiels Vision Ezek. 4. But these Cherubims or four living Wights in the Revelation cannot be interpreted concerning the Angels in Heaven because they are said to be redeemed by the Lambs Blood Rev. 5.8 9. which the Angels in Heaven were not And moreover the four living Wights are expresly distinguished from the Angels in Heaven ver 11. therefore it must needs be meant of a lower sort of Angels the Angels of the Churches that is the Officers and Ministers of the Church who should be men of Angelick Spirits for industry and zeal and vigilancy in the Lords work 6. The sixth and last part of the Ark here mentioned is the Mercy seat The Cherubims of Glory overshadowing the Mercy seat The Mercy-seat was the Cover of the Ark of which Exod. 25.17 The Hebrew word for it is Capporeth from Caphar to cover with pitch and in another Conjugation to expiate atone appease It implyeth a merciful covering of our sins The Septuagint call it sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a propitiatory covering and sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lid or covering laid on The Apostle applies it to the Blood of Christ and the satisfaction made thereby to the Justice of God for our sins Rom. 3.25 1 Joh. 2.2 Vse 1. See the Glory of the visible Church and of the Presence of God there For all these glorious things are in the Temple in the Holy of holies there And therefore your should see God himself there and hear his voice though not visibly and audibly but spiritually yet really and powerfully and effectually speaking to the heart You should see these things by the eye of Faith When you come to a Meeting though the World revile and call them Conventicles you should see a guard of Angels and Cherubims round about you c. Vse 2. See the fulness of supply and spiritual relief that is in Jesus Christ in the Gospel for poor lost Souls Here is something to answer all their cases and necessities here is God appearing and speaking in Christ here is passive and active Obedience here is the Word the Ministry the Guard of Angels the workings of Providence for the Churches good There be two things which an enlightned Conscience needs and cries for 1. I cannot keep the Law I want a perfect legal Righteousness to appear before God in Therefore Christ hath done it Here is the Law kept in this blessed Ark of the Covenant He hath fulfilled all Righteousness c. 2. But I want a Propitiation for the sins that have been committed But therefore here is a Mercy-seat upon the Ark a propitiatory Covering in the passive Obedience of Jesus Christ whereby he hath not only kept the Law but satisfied for our breaking of it Draw neer to God in the faith and meditation of this mystery An Advertisement to the Reader THe observing Reader will remember that in the method proposed by the Author the Legal Ministry should have come in the next place to be treated of But the Author in his course of preaching handled this Head before that which alteration of his first designed method and thus transposing these two heads of the Legal Ministry and the Legal Festivals is by himself accounted for in the entrance on that of the Legal Ministry and therefore no more shall be said of it The Reader will also doubtless observe his Entrance on this subject of the Legal Festivals to be more abrupt then in the rest of which this account may be given That on this head the Authors Notes which he left behind him were less perfect then on any of the foregoing and thence as it cost more labour to bring them to what is here presented so the judicious Reader will perhaps discern a difference between his Discourses on this and on the other heads as not being spun with an even thred And we have therefore been necessitated to use a greater liberty here then we allowed our selves elsewhere to insert in their properest places as neer as we could sundry notions which we found noted down in the Authors broken Papers relating to this subject some whereof perhaps were not his own yea it may be not according to his Judgment though we do not know of any such inserted but only noted down by him as they came into his mind or as he met with them in reading to be better considered of at further leisure For it is certain it was his manner thus to do Moreover we do find many imperfect hints of Notions amongst his Papers which we could not find where to insert nor indeed as to some of them well tell what to make of them or how to express them as the Author designed and therefore they are lost with him Lastly we may advertise the Reader that we find the Author had thoughts of re-assuming and going over this whole head of the Legal Festivals again in somewhat another method the first rude lineaments whereof were thus drawn by himself viz. he designed first a brief delineation of the whole and when instituted namely their Feasts to wit the Passover Pentecost the Feast of Tabernacles the Feast of Trumpets and the great Day of Expiation their New Moons and their Sabbaths to wit the seventh day of the week the seventh year amd the fiftieth year Next he designed to go over them all again and shew how they made up a rude draught or a dark shadow of better things and here he would have made the first Institution to be his Text for the several Heads and for the Sabbath the 12 13 14 15. verses of the fifth of Deuteronomy because the typical Reason is there annexed to the Command And in the last place he intended to have spoken more fully to the unwarrantableness of Popish Holidays and Musick And indeed he had many years before written two brief Discourses on that Argument the main Materials whereof we suppose he would have brought in here perhaps with some considerable Additions and therefore we have for the affinity of
trance but having his eyes open But on the contrary such as were acted by Satan they had their extatical Furies wherein their Minds were so discomposed that they were not compotes sanae mentis As some have written of the Sybils that when after their Prophesyings they came to themselves again they had forgotten what they had said and so could not review and correct what was written from them But it was not so with the Prophets of God John wrote and had Order to write his Apocalypse and so the other Prophets And when those to whom and by whom the Devil spake were not discomposed to such a degree even to fury and Distraction yet they were always debased and brought down below themselves The Lords Prophets were raised above themselves These were depressed even below themselves by dealing with Satan 3. The Prophets and Servants of God had an inward Seal from God of the Truth of what they spake Not unlike that new Name in the white Stone which none could read but he that had it Revel 2.17 Jer. 11.18 They believed and therefore spake 2 Cor. 4.13 See Isai 52.6 My people shall know that I am he that doth speak behold it is I. The true Prophets were no Scepticks they were as sure of what they said that it was the Mind of God as Ministers are now when they preach the Gospel 1. Joh. 1.1 2. On the contrary those by whom Satan spake either knew that they were acted by the Devil as the Witch at Endor Or else were deluded by him to think it was God or else knew not but were uncertain in themselves 4. They had also some of those ordinary Rules of Tryal that we have now As for instance If God confute them by the event Deut. 18.21 22 or if it correspond with the event yet if it be contrary to the Fundamentals of Religion See Deut. 13.1 2 3. Or if they be wicked men on the one side and the Prophets of the Lord on the other This gave some glimmerings of Light to Jehosaphat 1 King 22.7 They were Baalites pretenders indeed to Jehovah but superstitious wretches therefore he could not acquiesce in what they had said Quest 2. Whether these ways of Discovery be now ceased yea or no Answ As to that the Text is plain enough That instead of all those divers manners used by God of old he hath now substituted instead thereof this one and only way of revealing himself viz. in and by his Son And his Son speaks by his Word and Ordinances as also by the Works of his Providence in all which his Spirit breaths Therefore there we are to meet with God and to hear his Voice and there only to expect it These old things are vanished away Some think there be some footsteps of them to this day See a notable Instance of Information by a Dream in the Life of Zuinglius Melch. Adam p. 43. And of a Vision in Melancthon on Daniel 10. 1 But first such things are altogether extraordinary the Lord goes out of his ordinary course when he doth such things they are not the standing ways that God hath appointed under the Gospel therefore they are not to be expected or trusted to 2. They are only to be regarded in the way of a Providence not in the way of an Ordinance and to be tryed and judged by the Matter of them as agreeing or disagreeing with the Scripture As if a man in a Dream have some Duty some Scripture-truth brought to him he is to observe and accept the Providence of God in it Or if he find a strong impulse or motion of the Spirit in his Heart whereby some Truth or Duty is strongly impress'd and set upon his Heart Let him examine it by the Scripture and if the Scripture say it is a Duty he is to look at that internal motion and impression as a motion of the Spirit of God else not Vse 1. See the variety of Gods Wisdom and Goodness to his people that he hath so many ways revealed himself to them Vse 2. We may see something of the lowness of that legal Dispensation from this which hath been said that the Lord spake in such divers manners Vse 3. Bless God for the days wherein we live and for the Dispensation we are under It is much clearer and better For it is by his Son speaking by his Word working and breathing by his Spirit The Light shines much clearer We see that which many Kings and Prophets and righteous men have desired to see and have not seen as Matth. 13.17 Luke 10.24 Christ spake it to his Disciples then but it holds true concerning all the Saints under the New Testament It is true there was a Cloud of Antichristian Darkness did arise which did exceedingly obscure Gospel-light But that Cloud was never so dark but that the Elect of God did see through it in some measure Moreover the Lord hath begun to dispel and scatter those Clouds of Antichristian Darkness and will in time scatter them from off the face of the earth 2. We are now to speak to the second Word these divers times Having shewed the divers Manners of the Lords speaking to his people of old we are now to shew the divers Times or seasons wherein he did it For he spake not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by piece-meal not all at once but here a little and there a little first one piece of his Mind was discovered at one time then another piece at another time first a little Light brake forth some darker hints and intimations then further and clearer Discoveries and Manifestations by degrees In the opening of this we shall have occasion to run through some general heads of the History of the Church throughout the Scripture till the coming of Jesus Christ And it is an Inquiry both useful and profitable and also pleasant and delightful to an inquisitive Mind to view the several states of Religion and of the Church of God in the several ages of the World Under every one of which we shall have occasion to take notice both of Gods Manifestations and of mens Departures from the Lord and from the Truth That we may see the occasion of every new Discovery they departed and destroyed themselves and then the Lord appeared again in recovering Dispensations Now these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these several pieces and parcels of the Lords Discoveries and Manifestations of himself may be referred to two general heads 1. Before the Law 2. Under the Law These were the two great pieces of it and the Scripture takes notice of them both Of that Dispensation that was before the Law from Adam to Moses as the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses Of the Dispensation under the Law our Saviour speaks Matth. 11.13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John again Luk. 16.16 the Law and the Prophets were until John The difference between
yet it was a perpetual Light in the fit time and season for it They had therefore two sorts of sacred and perpetual Fire belonging to the Temple the Fire of the Altar and this was never to go out at all of which you have formerly heard and the Fire of the Golden Lamps which was perpetual at least in the season of it that is every night and they were lighted probably from the Fire that was upon the Altar And so it is with the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people This is a Lamp that never goes out The foolish Virgins indeed their Lamps were gone out Matth. 25. but in the wise it was not so There is no falling from Grace The true Believer cannot fall away totally and finally 4. The dressing and trimming of the Lamps signifyed those revivings of the work of the Spirit in the hearts of his people when it begins or is in danger to decay and decline for the Priests were to light the Lamps c. see Lev. 24.2 3 4. the same thing also in Exod. 27.20 Hence is that expression 1 Sam. 3.3 Before the Lamp of God went out in the Temple of the Lord he had that appearance of God towards break of day The Priests were wont if they found any Lamps out or burning dimly to light them again they did not leave it to be always dark This teacheth us both the Lords Goodness and our Duty For Christ Matth. 12.20 he will not quench the smoaking flax and so we should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 2 Tim. 1 6 stir up like a fire that is going out the Gifts that are in us Also Church-discipline and mortification are taught us hereby Matth. 25.7 then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps Thus you see something of the mystery of these Golden Candlesticks in the Sanctuary how the Church the Ministry the Word and the Spirit was shadowed forth thereby As to the Use you see here the rise and withal the evil of the Popish Superstition of Lights and Candles in their Churches This is an Old Testament Ordinance it is to dig Moses out of his Grave and to deny Jesus Christ Yet their having Wax-candles is a swerving from the Mosaical Law which they pretend and seem to imitate For Hony as it was forbidden in their Sacrifices and Offerings made by Fire Lev. 2.11 and consequently Wax which belongeth to it So we do not find that ever they did use Wax-candles to burn in the Sanctuary but only Lights and Lamps of Oil. But as to the pressing and improving these things in a more practical way It is a copious and fruitful Subject let me only repeat and re-inculcate the four general heads of things before-mentioned 1. Learn to prize and see the worth and excellency of Church-society It is no vile thing which the Lord was pleased to represent and teach by so many glorious Types of old As by Noahs Ark by the Temple by the Golden Candlestick c. And in Church-estate look well to the matter of the Church that they be Golden-Candlesticks And when in it look to the exercise of Discipline a Church without the vigorous exercise of Discipline is a Candlestick without Snuffers let not the Golden Snuffers be lost or laid aside which by divine Institution belong to the Golden Candlestick 2. Prize the Ministry They are Lights they are the Stars that shine in the tops of these Candlesticks A dark Ministry was the Evening Star that ushered in the night of Popery and Antichrist into the world Rev. 8. ult compared with Rev. 9.1 3. Much more prize the Word This is the Sun in the Church the great Light shining in a dark place If thy Lamp be not lighted here all the Light that is in thee is but Darkness 4. Above all labour to find the Spirit burning and working in your hearts that you may experience the whole mystery of this Type The Spirit in the Word and in the Ministry of it in the Church the Spirit enlightening and like Oil mollifying and healing the Soul abiding there and reviving his own work there and remember your own Duty also in this thing look to the trimming of your Lamps Matth. 25.7 1. Get fresh supplies of Oil Exod. 30.7 8. this is to dress your Lamps This was Davids Faith Psal 92.10 I shall be anointed with fresh Oil. Jesus Christ is the Fountain and the Holy Ghost the immediate Dispenser of it Zech. 4.12 and thence you are to fetch your fresh supplies 2. Stir up that which you have as well as take in new supplies 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the Gift that is in thee Revelat. 3.2 strengthen the things that remain and are ready to dye stir up thy self to lay hold on God 3. Snuff the Wick Exod. 25.38 mortifie corruption cut off that superfluity of naughtiness James 1.23 this must be your frequent and daily work 2. The Golden Table of Shew-bread this was another of the holy Vessels in the Sanctuary The History of it you have in Exod. 25. and in Lev. 24. Moses made but one but Solomon made ten Tables and placed them in the Temple five on the right side and five on the left 2 Chron. 4.8 The matter of Moses his Table was Shittim-wood the dimensions two cubits in length a cubit the breadth thereof and a cubit and an half the height thereof Exod. 25.23 A cubit is about a foot and an half of our measure It was overlaid with pure Gold and a Crown of Gold was made round about v. 24. There was also a Border round about with a Golden Crown and four Rings of Gold in the four corners of it to put in the Staves to carry it Moreover there were several other Vessels belonging to it viz. Dishes Spoons Covers and Bowls all of pure Gold v. 29. The use was of it was to set the Bread thereon v. 30. And thou shalt set upon the Table Shew-bread before me alway Which is explained more fully in Lev. 24. v. 5. to the 10. Thou shalt take fine Flower and bake twelve Cakes or Loaves thereof Two tenth Deals shall be in one Cake or two Omers Exod. 16.16 that is about two Quarts of our measure And thou shalt set them in two rows six on a row upon the pure Table before the Lord ver 6. of Levit. 24. and a dish of Incense upon each row ver 7. This is the sum of the History of this Ordinance In the Explication whereof the use of the Table being to set the Bread and the Incense thereon and there being several mystical and significant actions ordained about the Bread and the Incense we must inquire into them all and not consider the Table alone but with reference to its use and to the Bread and Incense and the sacred actions about them There was a threefold mystery in this Type 1. The Shew-bread was a Type of the Churh which was typified before in other respects by the Golden Candlestick in regard
to be a multitude of little Stars Adam was a Type of Christ in regard of his Headship and Influence Enoch a Type of his Ascension into Heaven Noah of his Preaching and saving the Church by the Covenant and Water of Baptism Melchizedek was a Shadow of the Excellency and Eternity of his Person and of his Priesthood and Kingdom Know these things meditate and consider them more throughly and improve Christ in these Discoveries for your spiritual good Consider him as a common person standing in our stead as a Prophet Priest and King as ascended into Heaven as the Saviour of the Church which is his Body Use 2. Be exhorted to examine your selves and try which of the two Adams you are under For there are but two Men in the World the first and second Adam thou art a Member of one of them Adam and Christ divide the whole World Quest How may we know whether we be under the first or the second Adam Answ Take these Tryals 1. What Birth hast thou only the natural or spiritual Generation Art thou only born or new born For they that come only from Adam by natural Generation belong to him as the first Adam They that come of Christ by spiritual Regeneration are the Seed of Christ and belong to him as the second Adam What Experience hast thou had of this great work Nicodemus though a Doctor in Israel understood little of it 2. What Covenant doth thy Soul cleave to and act under the rule and influence of Works or Grace Works is the first Adams Covenant but Grace is the Covenant of the second Adam To go forth in a mans own Strength to expect acceptance in his own Worth this is a first Covenant Spirit a sign thou growest upon the old Stock upon the root of old Adam But to live in a continual dependance upon free Grace for every thing the free Grace of God in Christ this is the Spirit of the second Covenant and becomes the Sons and Branches of the second Adam Though a godly man may for a fit turn aside to the old Covenant as Abraham did to Hagar yet it is not his way it is not his Spirit to do so and thence he is never at rest till he return to have his dependance and rest on Christ again The Spirit of one under the Covenant of Grace is to have no confidence in the Flesh but to have his rest and rejoycing in Jesus Christ Phil. 3.3 3. What Communications whose Influences dost thou receive Every Branch receives from its Root the Stream from its Fountain Dost thou receive the Communications of the first or of the second Adam this will shew whose thou art and to whom thou dost belong You have heard what it is that each of them doth communicate That old Tree bears no good Fruit at all Art thou under the power of Sin and Death or under the power of Righteousness and Life Sin and Death reigns in the posterity of the first Adam But Righteousness reigns by Grace unto eternal Life in the posterity of the second Adam Rom. 5.21 2 Cor. 5.17 if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Vse 3. Here is Comfort to the Seed of the second Adam against the present troubles they are under There be chiefly three complaints and troubles of Gods People under all which here is matter of support and relief 1. Thou art here upon Earth Christ the Head in Heaven but his poor Saints and Members here below But remember whither Jesus the Forerunner is entred for us As sure as Enochs Body is in Heaven or Elijahs by the virtue of his Ascension of whom they were Shadows so sure shall thine and mine ascend thither if we be his though we sleep in the dust for a time as Chirst himself also did 2. But while in this low valley the floods of great Waters are ready to overwhelm us the floods of Persecution Affliction Desertions the overflowing scourges of common calamities which puts many of Gods people to some cares and fears But as to this consider that true Noah the Lord provides an Ark of safety for his people that the floods of great Waters may not overwhelm them Psal 32.6 see Psal 124 1-5 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when Men rose up against us then the Waters had overwhelmed us the Stream had gone over our Soul then the proud Waters had gone over our Soul But 3. Thou art a poor unworthy creature and God is angry or appears angry and how can I expect such Salvation from him who have sinned against him so as I have done To this remember what an High Priest you have even Jesus who is made an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek Therefore let us come with boldness to the Throne of Grace It is the Apostles Inference Heb. 4.15 16. the Apostle saith of Melchizedek Heb. 7.4 consider how great this man was It may be said much more of Christ consider how great your High Priest is How little soever thou art in thy own eyes how unworthy soever the Greatness and Glory of your Redeemer is enough to remove all discouragement Some entrance Beloved hath been made into the personal Types We are upon the individual persons that were Types before the Law whereof eight were named Adam Enoch Noah Melchizedek Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph whereof only two have been spoken to viz. first Adam secondly Enoch We shall now proceed to the rest 3. The third is Noah whom we did but touch upon the last time but shall endeavour now to clear it more fully The Story of Noah is written in the 6 7 8 and 9. Chapters of Genesis And so famous it was amongst his Posterity that the Heathen have some broken Remembrances and Traditions of it they had heard of a Flood as well as of the Creation of the World Ovid speaks of them both in his Metamorphosis And their Bacchus the very name with a little alteration of the Letters comes from Noah Noachus Boachus and Janus from the Hebrew Jajin vinum somewhat they had heard as it seemeth about his planting a Vinyard and making Wine That this History of Noah had a typical respect you may see in 1 Pet. 3.20 21. In what respect was he a Type In two things chiefly 1. In regard of his Preaching 2. His saving his Houshold in the Ark. 1. In regard of his Preaching he was a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 he gave warning to the secure World for a hundred and twenty years together both by his Word and Actions Every stroke in the building of the Ark had a voice and was an alarm to the World every day So Christ who did preach by his Spirit in the Ministry of Noah 1 Pet. 3.19 20. And when he came in the Flesh he did preach and bring in everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 And he hath preached by
his Word and Spirit in his Apostles and Ministers ever since What Noah did one hundred and twenty years Christ hath been doing these sixteen hundred years And as Noah had no great success in his Ministry so Christ and all the Servants of Christ have cause to complain who hath believed our Report Isai 53.1 There were but eight persons saved in the Ark wherein a few that is eight Souls were saved by Water 1 Pet. 3. And of those eight all were not saved eternally there was a Cham and of him the cursed Canaanites but all the rest of the world perished in the Flood Doubtless they despised Noah and all his Preaching and thought him an old doting Fool to go and build a Ship on dry ground and expect that the Sea should come up thither to set it afloat they would not believe one word he said so men account Preaching Foolishness 1 Cor. 1. Hence those complaints of Christ and his Messengers Isai 49.4 I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain In his own personal Ministry and teaching we read not of very many that were converted by him To the Apostles he gave more success but yet the converted ones were but a few in comparison of the unconverted unbelieving world 2. Noah was a Type of Christ in regard of his saving those that did believe his Preaching from the common Deluge and Destruction Hence the Notation of his Name Noah it signifies Rest Christ is Rest and the only Rest of the Soul Matth. 11.30 Gen. 5.29 He shall comfott us because of the Curse laid upon the Earth Not upon the Earth only as the blind Papists dream and therefore love the Fish better than the Flesh but the Earth is put for the whole Creation The Earth the Sea and all the Elemens and all that is therein yea the Sun Moon and Stars are not excluded out of the general Curse and Bondage of the Creatures the Apostle saith the whole Creation suffers and groans Rom. 8.22 The ancient Dominion over the Creatures was in part restored when they came together peaceably in the Ark the first Blessing of Propagation and Dominion had its Charter renewed and confirmed Gen. 9.9 Now Noah was an Instrument to remove this Curse in part to repair the Ruines of the old World and restore it to a better state Some he did save out of the common Ruines 1 Pet. 3.20 so doth Christ restore and save lost and fallen Mankind 1 Pet. 3.21 by the Resurrection of Christ This being a main thing wherein Noah was a Shadow let us inquire and search into it more fully For where the Scripture gives us a general hint that such a thing was a Type we may safely inquire yea we ought to inquire and search out the particulars wherein the Analogy lies Now this viz. Noahs typical saving the World includes divers things There were divers real Types belonging to the History of this personal Type As 1. Noahs Ark. 2. The Deluge 3. The Waters thereof 4. His acceptable Sacrifice 5. The Lords Covenant with him and the Rainbow the Sign thereof All which had their typical Significations For 1. Noahs Ark was a Type of the Church 2. The Deluge of the day of Judgment and the everlasting Salvation of some and Destruction of others 3. The Waters that bare up the Ark typified the Water of Baptism 4. Noahs Sacrifice was a Type of Christs Sacrifice 5. His Covenant with the Rainbow the Sign thereof a Type of the Covenant of Grace 1. The Ark was a Type of the Church Some have accommodated the Ark as a Type a little otherwise but this is the clearest The Analogy may be made out in many particulars which some have done with much ingenuity which because it seems to be solid as well as ingenious I shall rehearse it to you I say the Analogy may appear in these ten particulars 1. Noah builded the Ark according to the Mind of God and he was in it himself when it was tossed and floated upon the Waters Gen. 6.22 according to all that God commanded so did he So Christ buildeth the Church in perfect Faithfulness to his Fathers Will Heb. 3.2 3. He was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his House and he is in it in all the Floods and Troubles of his Church and People to the end of the world Isai 43.2 when thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee Matth. 28.20 Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world The Church is resembled by a Ship so Isai 54.11 O thou tossed with Tempests Here the Church is compared to a Ship in a Storm and there are many things belonging to a Ship resembling somewhat in the Church The Pump Repentance The Sails Affections Wind the Spirit The Rudder the Word 2. The Workmen and Carpenters that built it they were drowned themselves so carnal Ministers may be instrumental for good to others of saving others and yet not not saved themselves It is a scruple which some Christians are exercised with the Minister by whom they have received good to their Soules proves an Apostate hence they question the Work they have found by his Ministry Now I confess that ordinarily God doth not bless the Labours of wicked Ministers but yet sometimes he doth as in the building of Solomons Temple many had to do with it who were not truly godly So it is in spiritual building there was a Judas a Demas Matth. 7.22.23 1 Cor. 9.27 For the efficacy of the Ordinances does not depend upon Instrument but upon the Institution and Blessing of God 3. The Materials of the Ark Noah takes many trees out of the Woods cuts them down compacts them joyneth them together and they must be bowed and fitted and joynted So Christ in building his Church they must be cut off the old tree where they grew before and fitted and hewed and humbled Hos 6.5 I have hewed them by the Prophets and then compacted and united together in the Faith Love and Order of the Gospel and so they become a Church of Christ 4. There was a Door in the Ark and but one Door Gen. 6.16 So in the Church Christ is the Door Joh. 10.7 9. by whom alone we enter in to the Father and find Pasture that is full supplies according to our wants 5. The Ark had a Window to let in Light Gen. 6.16 which resembles the Windows of Solomons Temple 1 King 6.4 which were made narrow without and wide within to diffuse the Light the better This Light is Christ Joh. 1.9 he is the Light of the World Luk. 11.34 35 36 as a Candle in a Room enlightens the whole Room So if there be a Light in the supream Faculties of the Soul that is true spiritual Wisdom in the heart it will enlighten the whole man so as to direct and guide it the whole body of a mans carriage and conversation will be full
Prophetick stile Luk. 3.23 he began his Ministry the thirtieth year of his age And there be four Passovers mentioned in the Gospel of John in the sacred Story of his Life and Death Or we may apply this circumstance more literally in reference to his Resurrection from the dead which is the 3. Third thing wherein Isaac was a Type of Christ thus that they were both delivered from Death the third day Look as Isaac was reputed among the dead in his Fathers thoughts and purpose for three days who had given him up unto the Lord but he received him again as from the dead after three days So Christ was in the state of Death three days but then rose again to dye no more so that as Isaac in three days was both alive and dead and revived in a figure Christ was so in truth In this respect the Apostle clearly makes him a Type of Christ Heb. 11.19 accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received him in a Figure For Isaac's Death and Resurrection was not a real Death and Resurrection but a figurative Death and a figurative Resurrection The truth of which Figure is in Christ who both dyed and rose again really and indeed I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death Revel 1.18 3. Jacob he also was a Type of Christ and is intimated in the Scripture so to be in that Christ is called by his Name Isai 49.3 Thou art my Servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified they are the words of God the Father unto Jesus Christ Jacob was a Type of Christ 1. In his Sojourning 2. In his Wrestling 1. In his sojourning and travelling to and fro in an afflicted condition almost all his days For he seems to have been the most afflicted Saint that we read of in Scripture except Job He leaves his Fathers House and goes to Haran and lives there as a Servant for his two Wives Rachel and Leah Gen. 28.10 and 29.18 27. So Christ left the Bosom of his Father descended from the highest Heavens and sojourned here upon earth in the form of a Servant to purchase to himself a Spouse a Church of Jews and Gentiles Jacob also went down into Egypt by Gods direction and there Joseph fed him Gen. 46.3 So Christ was carried into Egypt by Joseph the Son of another Jacob being warned so to do by the Lord in a Dream and was there fed and provided for by Joseph his reputed Father Matth. 2.13 And as the Lord brought Jacob back again in his Posterity who carried his Bones with them Gen. 46.4 I will surely bring thee up again So he brought Christ out of Egypt in his own person And that this History had a typical respect to Christ you may see in Matth. 2.15 Hos 11.1 when Israel was a Child then I loved him and called my Son out of Egypt It is spoken there historically but not only so but prophetically also For that History of Israels going into Egypt and returning again was a typical History and did represent what was to be done in Christ the true Israel 2. Jacob was also a Type of Christ in regard of his wrestling and prevailing with the Lord When he was to meet Esau he betakes himself to Prayer that night and prevailed from whence he got the name of Israel Gen. 32.28 and he said thy Name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel For as a Prince thou hast power with God and with men and hast prevailed Hos 12.4 Yea he wept and made supplication unto him So Christ often and particularly the night before his Sufferings Heb. 5.7 who in the days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared for he had that which was equivalent You know his Agonies in Prayer that night when he said Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not my Will but thy Will be done Yea he lives for ever to intercede Heb. 7.25 4. The fourth and last personal Type that is now to be spoken to is Joseph The History of Joseph in the latter end of Genesis is a very admirable and an affecting History In Poems and Romances to please and affect the Mind men take liberty to feign yet they come far short of this which was a real History It is true Joseph is not so expresly mentioned in the New Testament as a Type of Christ as Abraham Isaac and Jacob are but the analogy is so clear and full that we cannot well omit him Joseph multis modis Figuram Christi gestavit vel potius viva fuit ejus Imago saith Calvin in Matth. 2. ult The Analogy is marvellous clear in sundry particulars I shall but instance in four things wherein he was as the Apostle speaks of another eminent Type made like unto the Son of God 1. In his personal qualifications and endowments of Wisdom and Holiness 2. In his Sufferings 3. In his Advancement 4. In his Carriage towards his Brethen 1. In regard of his personal Qualifications and endowments Joseph may be fitly numbred amongst the Types of Christ for he was very eminent both as to Wisdom and Holiness As for Wisdom he had a Prophetical Light shining in him from whence Pharaoh gave him that honourable name Zaphnath payaneah a clear Revealer of Secrets Gen. 41.45 the Egyptian Language though not the same with the Hebrew yet had some affinity with it The first word Tsopnath Secretum comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recondidit The other payaneach is thought to be a compound of two words from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 claruit and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duxit placide Joseph was eminent for leading by the hand into secret hidden mysteries It was said of him by Pharaoh Can we find such a man as this is in whom the Spirit of God is Gen. 41.38 and forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this there is none so discreet and wise as thou art So in Christ are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Col. 2.3 He received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3.34 He is the wonderful Counsellor Isai 9.6 the wonderful Numberer Dan. 8.13 the true Palmoni or numberer of Secrets And as for Holiness Joseph was tempted by his Mistress to bodily Adultery but he resisted and overcame the temptation So Christ was tempted to Idolatry which is spiritual Adultery but overcame the Tempter Matth. 4. And Believers also are victorious through him Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.57 2. In regard of his Sufferings both from his Brethren and from Strangers also his Mistress and other Egyptians His Sufferings were very grievous the Archers sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated
adumbrate and shadow forth the Covenant of Works But 2. We may consider Moses under an higher notion though in respect of the external Dispensation introduced by him he shadowed forth the Law yet in other respects if we consider him in his own Person he was a Type of Christ The Scripture is clear for this also Deut. 18.15 18. A Prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee of thy Brethren like unto me That this was spoken of Christ see Act. 3.22 Peter there applies it unto Christ he was like unto Moses There was a Similitude but yet there was not a Parity For Christ was far above Moses Heb. 3.3 For this man was counted worthy of more Glory than Moses inasmuch as he who builded the House hath more Glory than the House and again ver 5. Moses verily was faithful as a Servant but Christ as a Son over his own House v. 6. You may see it in these particulars 1. In regard of his Birth 2. In his personal Qualifications 3. In the whole course of his Life 4. In the close of it 1. Moses was a Type of Christ in regard of his Birth in that he was born but of mean Parents in the time of Israels Bondage in Egypt Exod. 2.1 persecuted in his Infancy by Pharaoh and wonderfully preserved Exod. 2.3 9. So Christ Isai 53.2 He shall grow up as a Root out of a dry ground When the House of David was brought very low and the Glory of it seemingly extinct they were of the poorest sort of people as appears by their Offering which was but a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons Luk. 2.24 when they taxed all the world that is when the Jews were under Bondage to the Romans Luk. 2.1 4. and you know Rome is spiritually called Egypt then and in this condition of Subjection to the Roman Power was Christ born And as soon as born he was persecuted by Herod Matth. 2. who sought his Death but wonderfully preserved and by means of his reputed Father as Moses by the Mother that adopted him both of them by wonderful Providences saved and delivered that they might be Saviours and Deliverers unto others 2. Moses was a Type of Christ in his personal Qualifications which were very eminent He was the most accomplish'd Person that ever was except Jesus Christ himself 1. In Learning and Knowledge Act. 7.22 He was learned in all the Wisdom of the Egyptians So Christ Isai 11.1 2 3. the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding the Spirit of Counsel and of Knowledge rested upon him to make him of quick Understanding in the Fear of the Lord insomuch that he disputed with the Doctors at twelve years of age Luke 2.42 46 47. Those Doctors were as too many are now adays eaten up with mens Traditions and ignorant of the Scripture The Jews acknowledged and admired it Joh. 7.15 And the Jews marvelled saying how knoweth this man Learning having never learned and ver 46. the Officers answered never man spake like this man 2. Clear and extraordinary Vision and Sight of God Numb 12.6 7 8. Face to Face Mouth to Mouth God spake to Moses even apparently and not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord did he behold expressions arguing unparallell'd Clearness in the Lords revealing himself and his Mind to Moses There was never the like vouchsafed to any other To others even Prophets the Lord made known himself in a Vision or spake to them in Dreams ver 6. but to Moses at another rate So Christ Joh. 1.18 no man hath seen God at any time but the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him 3. There was in Moses an admirable mixture of Meekness and Zeal eminent in meekness of Spirit and that seasoned and tempered with holy Zeal Numb 12.3 forty years he bare their manners in the Wilderness Acts 7.36 with 13.18 though murmuring and rebelling against God and himself with an invincible Patience So Christ Matth. 11. Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart When his Disciples tempted him he would not fetch down Fire from Heaven against his Despisers and Opposers yet he was angry at the Defilement of the Temple and whipt them out And so was Moses at the Golden Calf Meekness without Zeal is nothing else but Lukewarmness and Cowardise Zeal without Meekness degenerates into sinful Passion We should be meek in our own Cause but zealous in the Cause of God 4. Faithfulness to his Trust this was eminent in Moses but more eminent in Christ Heb. 3.5 6. Moses was but faithful as a Servant in his Lords House But Christ as a Son in his own House He will not lose one Soul of all those that the Father hath committed to him Joh. 6.39 40. In his last Prayer he professeth Joh. 17.12 those that thou givest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of perdition not the least Believer can or shall miscarry If thou sayst How may I know whether I was committed to the trust and care of Jesus Christ by the Father The Answer is If thou dost commit thy self to him the Lord hath done it Thou couldst never trust thy self with him thou couldst not commit thy Soul to his keeping if the Lord had not first intrusted thee with him in his eternal Counsel and Covenant of Redemption But thou hast done it and it is thy daily work therefore thou maist safely conclude with Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 he will keep the thing I have committed to him He will be faithful to God and faithful to thee he never failed any that trusted in him 3. Moses was a Type of Christ in the whole course of his Life And here many things come to be considered 1. His Work and Office 2. His Sufferings and Conflicts in the Discharge thereof 3. The Lords owning and bearing witness to him by Miracles and Signs and Wonders in all which there was a manifest Prefiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ 1. In his Work and Office He was in general a Mediator between God and the People a typical Mediator All the good that God was pleased to confer upon that People it was by his Ministry and Interposition between God and then Gal. 3.19 the Law was ordained by Angels in the hand of a Mediator Deut. 5.5 I stood between the Lord and you at that time to shew you the Word of the Lord for ye were afraid by reason of the Fire and went not up into the Mount Exod 19.7 8. So Christ is the Mediator of the Covenant of Grace Heb. 9.15 and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament But he hath the preheminence above Moses Heb. 8.6 but now hath he obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant God was pleased to redeem his people Israel out of their Bondage in Egypt by Moses his Ministry God sent him and he left his
that there was a Mystery in this Pillar of Cloud and Fire is clear from Isai 4.5 6. for there never was a literal Cloud and Fire upon Mount Sion This fiery Pillar did cease when they were entred into Canaan Isaiah therefore intends a spiritual thing under those expressions So it is here mentioned by the Apostle in the Context as representing a Gospel-mystery They were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud 1 Cor. 10. ver 2. It signified and shadowed forth 1. Something of Christ himself 2. The Benefits of Christ 3. The Ordinances of Christ 1. Christ himself some have noted a shadow both of his Deity and Humanity There was a fiery Brightness in the Cloud which yet was but a dark shadow of the Glory of his Deity which was often in Visions so represented But his divine Nature was veiled and overclouded by his humane as in this shadow there was a Pillar of Cloud as well as Fire In Revel 10.1 Christ is represented as clothed with a Cloud and his Feet as Pillars of Fire Expressions notably answering this antient Type and Shadow 2. It holds forth something of the Benefits of Christ What Benefits had they from this Pillar of Fire and Cloud They had three 1. Light and Direction 2. Defence and Protection 3. Ornament and Glory All which we have in an higher manner in Christ by the Gospel 1. Light and Direction in the way that they should go in those Arabian Desarts where no man dwelt and which no man passed thorough where there was neither Path nor Guide But they had the Lord himself to guide them So it is said of this Cloud in Exod. 13.21 where it is first mentioned that it was to lead them the way by day and by night to give them Light and more fully and with much emphasis Numb 9.17 18. and to the end of the Chapter So doth Christ direct and conduct his people in their travels through the Wilderness of this world to Heaven the true Canaan He is the true Light Joh. 1.9 who coming into the world enlighteneth every one that is enlightned For so that place may be fitly rendred He is the way the truth and the life Joh. 14.6 There is a directing Light they are under the everlasting conduct of his Word and Spirit He doth not leave his people in the dark as to things absolutely necessary for their Communion with him here in this world and for their Salvation with him in the world to come we must follow Christ as they followed the Cloud 2. A second Benefit they had by this Cloud was Safety and Protection both from the heat and scorchings of the Sun in those burning Sands and Desarts of Arabia For the Cloud covered and overshadowed them therefore it is said of it Psal 105.39 he spread the Cloud for a Covering And likewise from their Egyptian Persecutors and Enemies For the Cloud went behind them when their Safety so required Exod. 14.19 20. as if the Lord should say You shall not hurt them till you have stricken thorough me first Yea the very same Dispensations which are directing and protecting to his people are dark and destructive to his Enemies as here the same Cloud was light to the Israelites but darkness to the Egyptians Vpon all the Glory shall be a Defence and a Covert from the Storm Isai 4.2 last There is a protecting presence of God in his Church we do experience the truth of this at this day in all our solemn Assemblies there is a wonderful protecting Providence over us Every Church of Saints is a spiritual Army of Jesus Christ and these Armies are terrible Cantcles 6.10 glorious as the Sun terrible as an Army with Banners It is a terrible thing to offend or trouble them a man had better fight against all the power the great Turk can raise than oppose or offend one Church of Christ and there were more hope of Success For the Lord himself is a Wall of Fire round about them Zach. 2.5 as well as the Glory in the midst of them Therefore it is written Isai 54.17 no Weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn Some allude thus upon these two Benefits they had by the Cloud That Truth is as a Pillar of Fire to go before us and Peace as a Pillar of Cloud to overshadow and refresh us 3. This fiery Pillar was exceeding glorious it was an honour and glory to them so in the Church Christ is the Glory of his Church See Isai 4.2 We would think if we could see a company of Kings and Princes and Nobles and great men walking together in the Ways and Ordinances of Christ this were glorious but Deus maximus in minimis There is a Glory in the meanest of the Assemblies of his Saints though spiritual that carnal eyes are not able to discern it When you come to the meetings and Assemblies of Gods People you should endeavour to see this divine Glory you should by Faith discern and see a Pillar of Cloud and Fire over the places where they meet and a Guard of Angels and fiery Chariots round about them God is present there in his Temple doth every one speak of his Glory Psal 29.9 Thus the Pillar of Cloud and Fire did figure and exhibit to them the Benefits of Christ Light and Direction Safety and Protection Ornament and Glory 3. It figured also the Ordinances of Christ and his Presence in and with them For the Ordinances are the outward and visible tokens of Gods Presence with his people as this fiery Pillar was of old And therefore when the Tabernacle was made and set up it rested upon the Tabernacle Exod. 40.38 There be some Duties are secret which the world sees not nor may see as Alms-deeds personal and secret Prayer But the Ordinances of Institution are things that ought to be practised with all the publickness that may be They are outward and visible tokens of Gods Presence particularly that great Ordinance of Baptism as in this Chapter 1 Cor. 10.2 The Cloud it seems had a refreshing moisture in it to shade and to refresh and cool them from the burning heat And they were bedewed with it as we are with the Water of Baptism whereby this legal Cloud became a Type of Gospel-Baptism And so you see how it represented something of Christ himself and something of his Benefits and something of his Ordinances under the New Testament So much for this third typical thing this Pillar of Cloud and Fire 1 Cor. 10.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 April 16. 1668. A Fourth typical thing amongst them of old was their Manna or Bread from Heaven And a fifth was the Rock that followed them and gave them Water Here was spiritual Meat and spiritual Drink Of these two the Lord assisting at this time They are both mentioned above in the 3 and 4th verses of this Chapter And they did all eat
greater sin then people do imagine the retaining of such legal Shadows being an implicite denyal of the Truth of the Gospel but men consider not the meaning of their own Actions 7. The last occasional Typical thing which the Lord gave to his People of old was those healing Waters of the Pool of Bethesda which indeed are not mentioned in the Old Testament but in the New John 5. It was a Miracle but yet it had also a symbolical use as many other Miracles had to lead them from the consideration of earthly things unto heavenly things Healing Waters are often spoken of in the Scriptvre with a reference to spiritual healing as Ezek. 47.1 8 9 11 Rev. 21.1 So Christ speaks of Rivers of Waters flowing out of the heart of a Believer Joh. 7.38 which cannot be meant of literal Water but is meant of Metaphorical and Spiritual Waters this in general But to unfold the Allegory a little more particularly that we may see more fully what instructions we may learn out of it 1. Those healing Waters of that Pool of Bethesda may fitly represent the Ordinances of Christ in the Church which is indeed Bethesda an house of mercy for so the word may be interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beth chesda Domus misericordiae though others expound it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domus effusionis The Church of Christ is indeed a spiritual Hospital an house of mercy to the Sick to poor diseased Souls where there be the choisest Waters the Waters of Life and all other Medicines of spiritual help and healing 2. The healing virtue of the Water may hold forth to us the spiritual good of Ordinances the healing of our Souls This is frequent in the Scripture as was said before for bodily healing to teach and represent spiritual 3. The motion of the Angel leads us to take notice of the effectual Operation of the Spirit of Christ in and by the Ordinances in the time of love It is not the Means it is not the Ordinances but the Angel of the Covenant by his Spirit moving and working in them that heals and doth good to souls the Ordinances are not effectual at all times but only when and as they are moved and influenced by the Spirit for it was a place much frequented as appears by the five Porches and its neerness to the Temple and the Text saith many sick lay there He could have healed all as well as some Verùm ut miracula suum habent finem ita modum habere debent Calvin in loc As when there were so many dead and but one raised 2 Kings 4.32 So many Widows and the Prophet sent but to one 1 Kings 17.9 Luk. 4.25 26. Who would have looked for help and healing from troubled Water We must follow God against our own reason the judgment of reason is often contrary to the mind of God 2 King 5.10 Naaman thought washing in Jordan an unlikely means to recover the Leper Elisha 2 King 2.20 healeth the Waters by casting in Salt an unlikely means for Salt is wont rather to cause barrenness The Water here did it not for then it would have healed all and at all times one as well as another He singles out one whose condition was most deplorable his disease inveterate incurable 38. years So he that was born blind and had been so till he grew up to mans estate Cap. 9.1 So Lazarus when dead buried four days Joh. 11.39 The Woman twelve years Mat. 9.20 Another eighteen years Luk. 13.11 4. These times were unknown and uncertain to the people they knew not when the Angel would come to move the Waters So is the day of grace and the opportunities of salvation to Souls because man knoweth not his time Therefore is he snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon him Eccl. 9.12 Oh that thou hadst known Luk. 19.41 42. Therefore Eccl. 11.6 In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand for thou knowst not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good Lay hold upon all opportunities 5. These excellent Waters did not heal all but only him that was put first into them which was for our instruction that we might learn to lay hold betimes upon seasons and opportunities for our spiritual good They that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8.17 Be at work for God and your Souls betimes lest you come too late Christ asks him vers 6. Wilt thou be made whole He prevents him before he expressed any desire to Christ not as though Christ were ignorant of his desire but to excite and stirr up desire and expectation in him and to stirr up the attention of those who were providentially present at that time that they might mind and take notice of the Miracle Vers 8. Jesus saith to him rise take up thy bed and walk He could have said be whole but he chooses rather to express it by an infallible effect and fruit of it To the Maid arise Mark 5.42 To Lazarus come forth Joh. 11.43 and vers 44. Let him go To the Paralytick Mat. 9.6 Arise take up thy bed and go unto thine house On the Sabbaoth day that so it might be the more taken notice of the people would wonder to see a man carry his bed abroad and so inquire about it There were beside these we have now handled some other occasional typical things as Noahs Ark but that was spoken to in the History of Noah and some others may occur afterwards but these are all I shall speak unto here Let me conclude with a few words of use to help you to a practical improvement of all that hath been said upon these Typical things 1. We may here see the compleat and perfect fulness of our Lord Jesus Christ to all the necessities of our Souls That spiritual Ladder represents him as the Mediator and means of all the intercourse between Heaven and Earth between God and us The burning Bush shews his presence with and protection of his Church and People in the Fires of Persecution and Affliction The Pillar of Cloud and Fire holds forth that everlasting blessed Conduct and Guidance of his People by his Word and Spirit through the Wilderness of this World to their eternal Rest The Manna and Water out of the Rock holds him forth as our spiritual Food And now lastly the Brazen Serpent and the Pool of Bethesda teacheth us that here is healing also so that he is both Meat and Medicine The same thing is held forth also under other Metaphors Rev. 22.2 The Leaves of the Tree of life are for healing of the Nations so that Christ is all in all 2. Learn from hence not to despise these Truths concerning the Types how weakly soever they may be held forth by him that speaks unto you for you see they are full of Gospel marrow and mystery Any thing of Christ should be sweet and precious and it is so
the good sense thus our Saviour useth it in his Parable Mat. 13.33 the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto Leaven which a Woman took and hid in three measures of Meal till the whole was leavened And you have the same Parable recorded again by Luke Cap. 13.21 The Lord makes use of Leaven here to teach and hold forth unto us the inward and secret working of the Word and Spirit in the heart sanctifying the heart effectually but gradually by imperceptible degrees as Leaven seasons the Lump Thus the joyning of Leaven with the Peace-Offering may teach us That we and our services must be seasoned with the new Leaven of Grace whereby the old Leaven of Corruption is changed and altered and so the whole man made savoury Look as there is an old Leaven which must be purged out for they that are in the old unsavoury lump of the Flesh cannot please God so there is a new Leaven wherewith every ones heart and life should be seasoned a new principle of Grace a spirit of Life from God which in time works out the contrary old principle of sinful Corruption as an Antidote that works out poyson out of the body 2. Take Leaven in the bad sense and so it signifies sinful Corruption In this sense the Scripture often speaks of it as 1 Cor. 5. Hence we may learn that as God accepteth the Peace-Offering though offered with Leaven so he accepteth the sincere endeavours and services of his people though there be a mixture of sinful Corruption in them Or if we take Leaven as in that sense of sorrow and grief as Psal 73.21 thus my heart was leavened Their having some sower Leaven amongst their Feasts may teach us That in all our rejoycings in this World there is a mixture of sorrow there is no prosperity so entire but hath some sorrow some affliction with it as there is no day but hath some Clouds Roses have Thornes Honey hath a Sting Crowns and Scepters have Cares and Troubles And it is not only so in natural Joy but in those better Joys and Consolations of the Almighty Spiritual Joy is and ought to be accompanied with godly sorrow and is too oft accompanied with a mixture of carnal sorrow and unbelieving doubts and fears There is some of this Leaven with the Peace Offerings of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. 4. The fourth Ceremony is this That they must not eat the fat nor blood but give it wholly to the Lord vers 16 17. I number this among the Ceremonies of the Peace-Offering because it is here first mentioned and here indeed was the first occasion for it for there being no part at all of the Burnt-Offering to be eaten there was no need there to forbid the eating of fat or blood but in the Peace-Offerings they were to eat some part therefore here comes in this exception respecting the Peace-Offerings in the first place though extended likewise to all the rest The first Prohibition is of Fat And here first for the literal sense of the Ceremony before we come to the mystical signification There be two Cautions to prevent mistakes that the legal Rigor may not seem greater then it was indeed 1. It is meant only of that Fat that was to be sacrificed as the Suet and Fat of the Kidneys c. For of the other Fat that is diffused through the rest of the flesh throughout the whole body of the Beast there is no mention in this Restriction in the Text and therefore being not restrained and prohibited we may justly presume it was allowed and permitted to them they might lawfully eat of it Neh. 8.10 eat the Fat and drink the sweet 2. It is meant only of the three kinds of Beasts that were appointed to be used in Sacrifice for they were permitted to eat the Fat of other clean Beasts See Levit. 7.23 25. where this restriction of Fat is clearly explained and restrained to the Fat of those three kind of Beasts Now as to the mystery and spiritual signification of this Ceremony that we may learn some wholesome Instruction out of it the best way will be this let us consider when the Scripture speaks of Fat in an allegorical or metaphorical sense how is it meant For a Similitude is typus arbitrarius and a legal Ceremony is no more but typus fixus or destinatus and differs from an Allegory or Metaphor or Similitude only in the fixation or destination of it by God unto such an use and end in a stated way Now you will find that the Scripture speaks of Fat in such a Metaphorical sense two ways as was before noted concerning Leaven both in a good and in an evil sense which will give this Type a double aspect as that also had Nor is there any real absurdity or incongruity in the accommodation of a Type two or three several ways for they are not so many contrary senses but only so many several Instructions or spiritual mysteries to be learned out of one of Gods teaching Signs such manifold Instructions being all included in the vast aim and comprehensive wisdom of the Holy Ghost designing and choosing out such things for teaching Signs as may afford and yield plentiful Instruction to his people 1. Then the Scripture speaks of Fat in a good sense My soul shall be satisfied a with marrow and fatness Psal 63.5 That is to be filled with the best things So Isai 25.6 In this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a Feast of fat things a Feast of Wine on the Lees of fat things full of marrow So Gen. 45.18 Pharaoh saith to Josephs brethren ye shall eat the fat of the Land that is the best of it So all the Fat of the Oyl and all the Fat of the Wine and of the Wheat Numb 18.12 for so the Margin from the Hebrew reads it denotes the best Oyl the best Wine the best Wheat as the Translation well explains it Hence it is said of Abel by way of Commendation Gen. 4.4 That he brought and offered unto the Lord of the Firstlings of his Flock and of the Fat thereof Thus the Lords challenging the fat of all the Sacrifices peculiarly to himself may instruct and teach us thus much That we must serve God with the best we have the best of our time and strength the vigor of our Spirits the best of our endeavours should be the Lords For men to spend their youth in the service of their lusts and then at last bring their decrepit old age unto God this is to give the fat of their Sacrifice to the Devil and the lean unto God But with such Sacrifices God will not be well pleased And yet when we have brought the Fat the best we have unto the Lord it is accepted not for our own sakes but through Christ As the Fat in the Peace-Offerings was burnt upon the Altar upon the Burnt-Offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord. 2. The Scripture sometimes
the Mountains of delights of Holiness as Dan. 11.45 No account can be given hereof but the good Pleasure of his Will 4. The Materials and Preparations of them there were the choicest Materials and the most plentiful Preparations for them the people contributed to the Tabernacle very liberally Exod. 35.21 29. Exod. 36.5 6 7. So that Proclamation was made for them to cease And for the Temple was prepared Gold Silver Brass Iron Wood Stone all in great abundance and vast Sums by David and Solomon 1. These rich and choice Materials instruct us that we must give God the best we have and give it plentifully and liberally 2. There must be a preparing time and work for the building of the Temple which to do is Gods free Gift therefore we must acknowledge and admire him for it as David did 1 Chron. 29.14 who or what am I or my people that we should offer so willingly And the way to continue this frame is to beg it of God as there David also doth ver 18. keep it for ever in the hearts of thy people 5. The Parts which I shall mention now but deferring the interpretation of them to another time they were three the House the Courts and the Vessels all these were parts of the Temple take it in the largest sense for all the holy Buildings and appertainances thereof 1. The House or Building the covered Temple Of this there are the common parts that belong to every House namely the Foundation the Walls the Doors the Windows the Floor the Roof The peculiar parts of this house as it was the house of the Lord were the Porch the Sanctuary and the Oracle with the side-chambers belonging to them These are the parts of the House it self or the covered Temple 2. The second general part of the Temple is the Courts about it for they were holy ground as well as the covered Building and they were two the outward and the inward Court or the Court of the People and the Court of the Priests 3. The Vessels they were many I shall instance only the chief and such as were significant of Gospel-mysteries and they are either belonging to the Sanctuary or to the Oracle 1. To the Sanctuary and that either sub dio or sub tecto without or within doors There were four without doors and three within without the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering the molten Sea the Lavers and the Pillars of Brass within the Altar of Incense the Table of Shew-bread and the Candlesticks 2. To the Oracle wherein was the Ark and the appertainances thereof Heb. 9.1 to 5. Vse Exhortation unto Temple-work It is prophesied that even the Gentiles Zech. 6. ult they that are far off shall come and build in the Temple of the Lord. We are all by nature far off Ephes 2. but brought nigh by the Blood of Christ and built up into an holy Temple to the Lord as it there follows ver 13 17 19 c. to the end Take these Rules about Temple-work 1. Be sure you build according to the Pattern shown in the Mount to Moses Exod. 25.9 Heb. 8.5 It is eighteen times repeated in the two last Chapters of Exodus as the Lord commanded Moses so did he as the Lord commanded Moses And in like manner David and Solomon See the Geneva Note upon it 1 Chron. 28.11 12 19. they had both the Word and Spirit of God to direct them If you ask how may we know the Pattern These are the means of knowing it the Word and the Spirit Hag. 2.5 and they give light in this matter in the way of effectual Humiliation and Repentance especially repent and be humbled for Temple-sins Temple-defilements for your Church-sins Church-defilements sins against the Worship of God see Ezek. 43.10 11. so Rev. 11.1 a Reed is given at the restoring of the Churches and Worship of God from the Antichristian Apostacy to measure the Temple the Altar and the Worshippers Get this measuring Reed into your hands the Word of God Revel 21.15 2. Leave out the outer Court Rev 11.2 that is nominal Christians Look to the matter of the Church else it will be like rotten timber in the foundation of a Building Not that I do exhort you to rigour and severity I know there may be an extream on both hands but take heed of extreams and of admitting persons visibly unfit These two Directions are of that weight that I have thought they are enough as to Communion of Churches If they own the Scripture for their Rule of Worship and Discipline if they build by the golden Reed and if they leave out the outer Court if there be care taken to keep off promiscuous Administrations But if they slight the Scripture as the rule of their Walking or of their Worship and Administrations Or if they be not in a capacity to keep the Ordinances pure I do not see how we can have comfortable communion with them 3. Let there be no noise of Axes and Hammers in building the Temple It was built entirely of hewed and squared stones whereof every one was perfectly fitted for its place the length of the stones some say being the thickness of the Wall 1 Kin. 6.7 It is not to be too rigorously understood but the meaning is is as some express it no sound that was obstreperous to a publick disturbance no laborious sound from the hewing or squaring of timber but only a more cheerful yea melodious harmony from the conjunction and compacting of matter aforeâ—â—â—d fitted and prepared Doubtless this was not without a mystery it may be divers ways applied as that the matter of the Church should be well prepared before their admission as members and that the Saints are aforehand fitted and prepared unto Glory so that when they come to dye they have nothing else to do but to dye for the Temple was a Type of Heaven and of the Church triumphant But the Application that I would make of it is this There should be no noise of strife no contention no collision of mens spirits in Church-society And the means to avoid this is the well preparing of the matter when the Soul is well prepared by an humbling work in its first conversion when hewed and squared it will lye even in the building else not For by Pride only comes Contention 4 Build the House of the Lord before your own Houses so Solomon did The Lords House was finished in seven years but his own was not finished till thirteen years 1 Kings 6. ult with cap. 7. 1. not that he regarded his own House more but less and therefore finished the Lords House before his own And the Jews after their return from the Captivity are greatly reproved for this neglect Hag. 1.4 and 2.19 It is indeed the general scope of the whole book of Haggai It brings a Blessing upon all your concernments Matth. 6.33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added But if this be
5. The Oxen under the molten Sea are the Ministers of the Gospel and especially the twelve Apostles as the number it self intimates for there were twelve Oxen looking towards all the 4 quarters of the world so the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel carry this Crystal Sea of the Blood of Christ and the Laver of Regeneration and Baptism throughout the world Ministers are often compared in Scripture to Oxen because of the strength and laboriousness of that creature as 1 Corinth 9.9 thou shalt muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. Doth God take care for Oxen saith the Apostle there I may say so in reference to this Type now in hand Did God regard the shapes and pictures of Oxen to be set under this Temple-Sea or rather did he not set them there altogether for our sakes For our sakes no doubt this was done as the Apostle there speaks The Lavers also had their Bases with their wheels which served for the carrying of the water from place to place and so served for the same use really whereof the Oxen were but an emblem The taking of these away is noted as an act of audacious wickedness and profaneness in Ahaz 2 Kings 16.17 And King Ahaz cut off the borders of the Bases and removed the Laver from off them and took down the Sea from the Brazen Oxen that were under it and set it upon a pavement of stones he having as it seemeth no understanding at all nor no sense in him of the spiritual mystery and signification of these Wheels and Oxen nor no fear and reverence of Gods Institution who did ordain and appoint them 6. The use of it being to wash in both the Priests and Sacrifices were washed in the water of these typical vessels the Sea and Lavers that they dye not Exod. 30.19 20 21. For Aaron and his Sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat when they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall wash with water that they dye not or when they come neer to the Altar to minister to burn Offering made by Fire unto the Lord so they shall wash their hands and their feet that they dye not and it shall be a Statute for ever to them even to him and to his Seed throughout their Generations You see with what emphasis and earnestness it is required and ingeminated This teacheth us that both our persons and our duties and services must be washed and made clean in the Blood of Jesus Christ or else we dye eternally that they dye not it is twice repeated as both the Priests and Sacrifices so both our persons and our services must be washed or else the same disaster that befel Nadab and Abihu may befall us of whom it is said they dyed before the Lord Levit. 10.2 It is a fearful thing for men to come before God in their sins in their uncleannesses unwashed and uncleansed from them They shall wash that they dye not 7. The Laver was never covered but always open when the rest of the vessels were folded up Ainsworth on Numb 4. v. 14. hath this Note It seemeth to be not without mystery that Moses mentioning Fire-pans Flesh-hooks and other less things should quite omit the Laver which usually is reckoned amongst the holy things of the Sanctuary Exod. 35.16 and 38.8 and 39.39 and 40.30 And as in Melchisedeks History Gen. 14. he omitted his Parentage Kindred Birth and Death from which silence in the Story the Apostle reasoneth as if he had been without Parents or Kindred beginning of days or end of life Heb. 7. so here if it may be lawful to conjecture the like the Laver is left uncovered and always open to the eyes of the people that it might be a lively representation of Gods Grace in Christ continuing and opened as an ever springing Fountain that by the washing of the new Birth by Repentance and Faith in the Blood of Christ we may in all our travels at all times cleanse our hands and feet our works and ways as the Sacrificers did from the Laver Exod. 30.19 20. that albeit the face of the Church is sometimes hid as the Tabernacle wrapped up and the Light of the Word shineth not nor publick Worship performed yet always Gods Elect having Faith in him may wash and purge themselves in Christ his Blood unto forgiveness of sins and Sanctification of the Spirit and Salvation It may be the Holy Ghost hath some allusion hereto in that phrase Zech. 13.1 a Fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in for sin and for uncleanness Certainly this point of our washing and cleansing by the Blood of Christ is of that weight and moment that it was not without cause said of it by Luther Hic articulus regnat in corde meo this Article reigns in my heart which he also styled Stantis aut cadentis Ecclesiae articulum the point upon which the Church doth either stand or fall So much for the Explication of this Type You see how full it is of Gospel-teaching and instruction Nor should it seem strange that one Type should have such a various and manifold aspect to so many several Truths at once For it is usual as you have formerly seen and it suits best with the infinite Wisdom of the Holy Ghost that one of his teaching signs should teach many things at once and have many spiritual lessons and instructions thus included in it And now from the Type thus explained we may gather some further light to confirm and settle the true interpretation of the Text. What is meant by this Sea of Glass like unto Crystal I argued before from the allusion that is carried on all along in the context to the Types of the Temple therefore this Crystal Sea in the Text is the same with that molten Sea of Solomons Temple which shadowed forth the Blood of Christ for Justification Now to add some further arguments A 2d May be this Here are other priviledges and benefits of Christ mentioned in the context which do accompany Justification through his Blood and go along with it As in ver 5. here are seven Spirits before the Throne that is the sanctifying Spirit of Christ And again ver 6. here are four living creatures And cap. 5.11 many Angels round about the Throne Here is the Ministry and a Guard of Angels and the Spirit of Sanctification therefore it is not incongruous that the Blood of Christ for Justification should be also mentioned And this therefore seems to be intended in this Crystal Sea Reas 3. From the properties and circumstanâ—es belonging to this Sea in the description of it which cannot well be otherwise accommodated I shall mention but these two 1. It is said to be before the Throne so we are said to be justified before God this is one of the blessed effects and manifestations of his Glory in the Church so Heb. 12.23 24. we are said to come unto God the Judge of all
so freely offers to the washing in this spiritual Sea is nothing else but believing and exercising Faith in the Blood of Christ Do not object and say Alas I am defiled and unclean I answer Thou hast the more need of washing the greater thy defilements be thou hast the more need of Jesus Christ and of his Blood to cleanse thee and wash thee from thy sins Vse 4. Comfort to Believers that wash here for sin and for uncleanness see Isai 4.4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the Daughters of Sion and shall have purged the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof Here is a fourfold ground of comfort in this Crystal Sea 1. Here is enough of it here is a Sea to wash in there is Water enough in the Sea for any man to wash in though never so much defiled so there is vertue enough cleansing enough in the Blood of Jesus Christ Thou hast many sins many spots many defilements upon thee but here is a Sea to wash in this Type of a Sea speaks the plenty of it here are not a few drops of Soul-cleansing justifying Blood but here is an Ocean of it 2. It will take out the deepest stains the foulest spots though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll Isai 1.18 The Apostle instanceth in some of the foulest and blackest spots Adulterers Thieves Drunkards c. 1 Cor. 6.10 11. and such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Your Robes are white if washed in this Blood Rev. 7.14 these are they that have washed their Robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Yea 3. Thou art as clean in respect of Justification as if those sins had never been committed You are perfectly justified though but imperfectly sanctified Therefore justified persons are said to have no more Conscience of sins Heb. 10.2 not as though they made no conscience to commit it No that were abominable but the Conscience is discharged and set free from guilt and can look God in the face comfortably and with holy boldness Men use to say when they have not committed such or such an evil my Conscience is clear yea but Conscience may be clear though thou hast committed it if washed and cleansed from it by the Blood of Christ 4. You should therefore draw nigh with full assurance of Faith being thus washed as Heb. 10.22 Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water When you stand upon this cleansing Sea you should take the Harps of God into your hand as Revel 15.2 you should triumph and sing Quest But how may I know that I am indeed washed in this Blood and accepted through this Righteousness of Jesus Christ Answ This Sea of Glass is mingled with Fire cap. 15.2 and here in the words before the Text here are seven Lamps of Fire burning before the Throne which are the seven Spirits of God ver 5. There is a Baptism of Fire as well as a Baptism of Water the meaning is this that Justification through the Blood of Christ is ever accompanied with Sanctification by his Spirit therefore if the Spirit of God be burning and working in thy heart fear not thou art washed in this Crystal Sea which is before the Throne if sanctified by the Spirit of Christ thou art justified by his Blood THE GOSPEL of the GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS in the TEMPLE Hebr. 9.1 2 3 4 5. Decemb. 6. 13 20. 1668. Then verily the first Covenant had also Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly Sanctuary For there was a Tabernacle made the first wherein was the Candlestick and the Table and the Shew-bread which is called the Sanctuary And after the second Veil the Tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all which had the Golden Censer and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid round about with Gold wherein was the Golden Pot that had Manna and Aarons Rod that budded and the Tables of the Covenant and over it the Cherubims of Glory shadowing the Mercy-seat of which we cannot now speak particularly OF the two Courts of the House of the Lord and of the sacred Furniture and Utensils of the Inner Court we have spoken viz. the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering signifying our Reconciliation unto God by the Death and Blood of Christ the molten Sea and Lavers signifying our Justification by the applying or washing in that Blood and the two Pillars Jachin and Boyas which signified our perseverance and Preservation through the Power and Faithfulness and Love of God till we be crowned with the Crown of Glory We are now to survey the House it self all the Furniture and Vessels wherof were of Gold And as to these I have pitch'd upon this Text because it gives us in a short compass of words the most full and compleat enumeration of them that doth occur to my remembrance any where in Scripture We may resolve the words into these five doctrinal Propositions 1. That the Old Testament had Ordinances of Divine Service and a worldly Sanctuary There was a Religion and a way of Worship ordained by God in those times as well as now though that Worship was not so spiritual and evangelical as is the Worship of the New Testament They had Ordinances of Worship and a Seat of Worship then but they were carnal Ordinances and a worldly Sanctuary comparatively carnal But the Ordinances now are spiritual and the Seat of Worship spiritual For then it was the material Temple to which God was pleased to tye and to annex the publick Church-worship and Ordinances of those times but now the Seat of Worship is the several Churches and Congregations of his People However a Worship Ordinances of Worship and a Seat of Worship they had Obs 2. There were two parts of that old legal Tabernacle one called the Sanctuary and the other called the Holy of Holies so it was in the Tabernacle and so in the Temple After the second Veil by the first Veil the Apostle intends the Curtains and Hangings that were hung about the Tabernacle of which you read Exod. 26. In the Temple there was but one Veil for instead of these Hangings were the Walls of the Temple Obs 3. That both these parts of the Tabernacle had their sacred Furniture of several holy Vessels and Vtensils belonging to them Obs 4. That the sacred Furniture or Vessels belonging to the Sanctuary were the Golden Candlestick and the Table of Shew-bread Obs 5. That the Furniture belonging to the Holy of Holies were the Golden vessels for the offering of Incense and the Ark with its appurtenances We are now to speak concerning the Furniture of the Sanctuary of which the Doctrine is this That the sacred Furniture or
Vessels belonging to the Sanctuary were the Golden Candlestick and the Table of Shew-bread There was also the Golden Altar of Incense though that did in some respects belong to the Holy of Holies of which afterwards But first of the Golden Candlestick that this belonged to the Sanctuary you may see Levit. 24.3 without the Veil of the Testimony in the Tabernacle of the Congregation shall the Lamps burn c. The history and first institution of this Type we have in Exod. 25 Moses made but one for the Tabernacle but Solomon made ten for the Temple 1 Kings 7.49 and the Candlesticks of pure Gold five on the right side and five on the left before the Oracle It was a sacred utensil of much spiritual use therefore alluded to in that stately Vision of the Prophet Zechary cap. 4. and in the Revelation cap. 5.1 and cap. 11.14 There needs not much be said for the History of it Every Candlestick had a foot or basis on which it stood which though not expresly described yet must of necessity be supposed Then the shaft or stalk which arose strait up out of the foot and on each side three Branches adorned with Bowls Knops and Flowers And then lastly the seven Lamps on the top viz. six on the top of the six branches and one on the top of the shaft and so they were seven in all In these Lamps was the Oil and the Light or Flame and some matter for the accension of the Flame which probably was made of twisted flax Vide Ainsw on Exod. 25. and on Exod. 27.20 and on Lev. 24.1 2. to which our Saviour seems to allude when he saith he will not quench the smoking flax Matth. 12.20 The spiritual mystery aimed at in it seems to lye in four things Here was a typical shadow of the Church the Ministry the Word and the Spirit 1. The Golden Candlestick was a Type of the Church For this the Lord himself is his own Interpreter Rev. 1.20 the mystery of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven Golden Candlesticks the seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches But wherein doth the Golden Candlestick represent the Church I shall but instance in four things 1. The end and use of the Church is to give Light and to hold forth the Truth as the Candlestick gave Light Phil. 2.15 among whom ye shine as Lights in the world 1 Tim. 3.15 the Church of God the Pillar and Ground of the Truth the Pillar to hold it forth and to which it is fastened as an Edict to be known of all men 2. The matter of the Church As the Candlestick was of Gold so the matter of the Church is Saints therefore Churches are called Golden Candlesticks not Brass or Loaden Candlesticks nor gilded Candlesticks but Golden Candlesticks not ignorant and unfound and scandalous persons but Saints visible Saints 3. The Discipline of the Church For there were Golden Snuffers belonging to these Golden Candlesticks Exod. 25.38 and the Tongs thereof and the Snuff dishes thereof shall be of pure Gold and Exod. 37.23 he made his seven Lamps and his Snuffers and his Snuff-dishes of pure Gold As these Golden Snuffers did cut off the Snuff of the Candle so Discipline and Censures cut off corruption and corrupt members 4. The Union and Distinction of Churches There were several Branches all out of one Shaft And seven Lamps therefore distinct but all growing upon one Shaft and therefore one so all Churches depend upon the same Christ upon the same Head and they are all guided by the same Rule the same Word and influenced by the same Spirit of Christ Vid. Answ in loc 2. These Golden Candlesticks in the Temple were a Type of the Ministry in the Church so Rev. 1.20 the seven Stars that shine in the tops of the Candlesticks are the Angels of the seven Churches For as the Candlestick doth support the Lamp and the Light so doth the Church the Ministry and as the Lamp or Candle shines in the Candlestick so doth the Ministry in the Church A Church without a Minister is a Candlestick without a Light John is called a burning and a shining Light Joh. 5.37 and so all Ministers are or ought to be 3. These Golden Candlesticks typified also the Light of the Word with which the Ministry shines and the Scripture is compared to a Lamp and a Candle Psal 119.105 to a Light shining in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 to Gold and fine Gold Psal 19.10 which makes the allusion yet more full for these were Golden Candlesticks so the Word is Gold yea more precious then Gold 4. These Golden Candlesticks typified also the Spirit of God for this the Text is express Rev. 4.5 and there were seven Lamps of Fire burning before the Throne which are the seven Spirits of God That this is meant of the Holy Ghost the third person of the Trinity appears by this that John prays son Grace and Peace from the seven Spirits of God Rev. 1.4 but it had been impious to have prayed to any created Spirit for them But why is the Holy Ghost mystically expressed in such a phrase the seven Spirits of God Both in allusion to the number of Candlesticks which were seven in Johns Vision Rev. 1.12 and in allusion to the seven Lamps that were on the top of each Candlestick in the Temple and also to signifie the variety perfection his of Gifts and Graces and Operations in the Church and in the hearts of his people for seven is a number of perfection But you may see the the analogy more fully in four particulars 1. The Lamps of the Candlestick did shine and give Light so the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of Light and Illumination Ephes 1.19 2. The Lamps were fed with Oil they shall prepare Oil-Olive beaten for the Lamps Exod. 27.20 Now this Oil is the Spirit Isai 61.1 Acts. 10.38 bow God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost fitly compared to Oil for the excellent nature of it it is of a softening and an healing nature c. 3. These sacred Lamps were ever burning and never went out The Institution was that they should burn before the Lord continually so the phrase is Exod. 27.20 Lev. 24.3 it shall be a Statute for ever throughout your Generations It is a question here whether the Lamps in the Temple did burn both night and day or only by night Some think there was need of them in the day time because the Windows of the Temple were fifteen cubits high from the ground for they were over the side-chambers Others think they were lighted only from evening to morning because the phrase is He shall order it from evening to morning Exod. 27.21 and when Aaron lighteth the Lamps at even Exod. 30.7 And in Abijams Speech 2 Chron. 13.11 the Candlestick of Gold with the Lamps thereof to burn every evening But
1668. Coloss 2.16 17. Let no man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an Holy day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath-days Which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ THere are three Doctrines in the words 1. That the Jewish Holy days are of three sorts or may be referred to three general heads Feast days New Moons and Sabbaths 2. That these their holy seasons were shadows of things to come but the Body is of Christ 3. Therefore no Christian should suffer any man to judg him or condemn him for not observing these Jewish times and seasons We are endeavouring to open the substance of these shadows and what were those things to come those things about Jesus Christ and the Gospel which were shadowed forth in them We began first with their Holy days or their Feast days that is their annual Festivals whereof we heard they had five 1. The Passover 2. Pentecost 2. The Feast of Tabernacles 4. The Feast of Trumpets 5. The Feast of Expiation These three the Passover Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles were the three great Festivals which were more solemn then the rest because then all the Males of Israel were to assemble together out of the whole Nation and to appear before the Lord in the place that he should choose in a general Church Assembly We heard something that these things pointed to The Passover did point them to the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ as the true Paschal Lamb who fulfilled this Type even as to the very season and holy time it self for he suffered at the Passover The Pentecost pointed at the time of the effusion of the Holy Ghost after his Ascension The Feast of Tabernacles pointed them to the Birth and Nativity of Jesus Christ when he should come to tabernacle and pitch his Tent in our Nature We heard indeed that this was the time of Christs Birth and not as it is commonly computed to be in December in the depth of Winter It is not like the Shepherds would be watching their Flocks all night then and that Augustus would command his Subjects to travel to their own Cities to be taxed at such a time and that John would choose that time to baptize in There be two more of the Jewish Feasts to be spoken to which were great and solemn Feasts yet not so great as these three because the people were not all bound to come up to Jerusalem to the Temple namely the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Expiation they were both in the seventh month as was also the Feast of Tabernacles the Feast of Trumpets on the first day of it the Feast of Expiation on the tenth day and the Feast of Tabernales on the fifteenth day and from thence to the two and twentieth day which is therefore accounted the greatest of all their Feasts being in the seventh month which was also the first in their old account the chiefest of all the months in the year and called by some the Sabbath of months as the seventh day is the Sabbath of days 4. This month began with the Feast of Trumpets which was upon the first day of the seventh month The first Institution of it we have in Lev. 23.23 24 25. and the Lord spake unto Moses saying c. It was celebrated as a Sabbath they were to do no servile work therein This Feast also had its peculiar Sacrifices appointed for it as in Numb 29. the six first verses It was also solemnized with the blowing of Trumpets which being the special Rite of this Festivity it had its Name from thence Here therefore the old legal Musick may fitly be considered this being as it were their Feast of Musick The Institution of these Trumpets we read in Numb 10. the ten first verses mentioned long after as a very solemn Ordinance in Psal 81.3 4 The first mention we have of Musical instruments in the Worship of God is in Exod. 15.20 21. where we read that Miriam used Timbrels and they praised God therewith and they sang the Song of Moses when they were delivered from Pharaoh And Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron took a Timbrel in her hand and all the Women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances And Miriam answered them Sing ye to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea Moses afterwards by order from God appointed these Trumpets to be made and we read of a further increase of such Instruments in after times As to the use and signification of them there be many Gospel Instructions to be considered in this legal shadow we shall mention seven 1. The general scope of them was to signifie and shadow forth the sound of the Gospel the blessed sound of the Gospel which is called the joyful sound Psal 89.15 the Gospel is called glad tidings it is a joyful pleasant sound indeed Hence the Ministers of the Gospel are said to lift up their voice like a Trumpet Isai 58.1 the Tongue of the just is as choise Silver Prov. 10.20 these Trumpets were of Silver the faithful discharge and execution of their Office is expressed by blowing of the Trumpet Hos 8.1 Ezek. 33.3 4 5. it is said in the day when the Jews shall be converted in that day the great Trumpet shall be blown and they shall come which were ready to perish c. Isai 27. last when God shall gather them one by one ye shall be gathered one by one ver 12. in that day the great Trumpet shall be blown c that is saith Calvin the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel to the conviction and conversion of the Jews God will have his Church instructed not by sight only but by voice not by the eye only but by the ear Even under the Law the Lord would not have his people always to look for miraculous and immediate Guidance but they were to order themselves according to the sound of the Trumpet both in War Peace according to the rule of the Word so according to the rules of the Gospel according as that Trumpet sounds so are you to act This is the first namely the joyful sound of the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel 2. The Joys and Graces of the Spirit of God is another thing intimated by this Trumpet and instrument of Musick that spiritual melody of the Joys and Graces of the Holy Ghost in the hearts of Gods people Psal 98.6 with Trumpets and sound of Cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord the King Ephes 5.18 19. There is a melody and joyful voice in the Consciences of Believers the Spirit of God both sanctifying and comforting of them so the Apostle Col. 3.16 Grace and Joy the fruit of Grace so this Musick remains in the Antitype of it the heart-strings of Believers making melody suitable to the profession of their Lips and to the gracious and peaceable
In England besides the frequent Testimonies of the Martyrs against them Authority hath smitten them once and again the Lord usually carrying on the work of Reformation by degrees The first blow they received by publick Authority was by the Injunctions of King Henry the eighth in the year 1536. in the Preface whereto he reasons thus against them Forasmuch as the number of Holy days is so excessively grown and yet daily more and more by mans devotion yea rather Superstition was like further to increase that the same was and should be not only prejudicial to the Commonwealth by reason that it is occasion as well of much sloth and idleness the very Nurse of Theeves Vagabonds and divers other unthriftiness and inconveniences as of decay of good Mysteries and Arts profitable and necessary for the Commonwealth and loss of mans food many times being clean destroyed through the superstitious observance of the said Holy days in not taking the opportunity of good and serene weather offered upon the same in the time of Harvest but also pernicious to the Souls of many men which being inticed by the licentious vacation and liberty of these Holy days do upon the same commonly use and practise more excess riot and superfluity then upon any other days c. See Mr. Fox Acts and Monum vol. 2. pag. 386. whereupon he abrogates a number of them and especially such as sell in the Harvest time And thus the work was begun But the total extirpation of them was a work and honour reserved by God for the great Parliament who in their Directory pag. ult have declared that Festival days vulgarly called Holy days having no warrant in the Word of God are not to be continued And in their Ordinance of June 8. 1647. they do utterly abolish them in these words Forasmuch as the Feasts of the Nativity of Christ Easter and Whitsuntide and other Festivals commonly called Holy days have been heretofore superstitiously used and observed be it ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that the said Feast of the Nativity of Christ Easter and Whitsuntide and all other Festival days commonly called Holy days be no longer observed as Festivals or Holy days within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales Any Law Statute Custom Constitution or Canon to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding See Mr. Scobels Collection anno 1644. cap. 5â— and anno 1647. cap. 81. And now to see these and other abominations by the Prelatick party conjured up again from the Grave and from the bottom of Hell after such a Funeral he said well who said it is almost as prodigious and as ghastly a sight as to see a dead Ghost walking up and down with his winding-sheet about him but God will shortly bury them again and seal the Tomb-stone upon them never to rise more For he hath said I hate I despise your Feast-days See Calv in Amos 5.21 I will not smell your Holy days Amos 5.21 wherein as the most judicious Interpreters observe he doth not only reprove their Hypocrisie in reference to his own blessed days but also their Idolatry and Superstition in observing days of their own Oh! that God would set home this Text by the power of his Spirit upon the Consciences of Holiday-keepers to convince and humble them How dreadful are these words I hate I despise your Feast-days I will not smell your Holy days that is I will never accept them THE SUPERSTITIOUS VANITY OF THE POPISH MUSICK IN THE WORSHIP of GOD. THis is such a strange superstitious Vanity that it is generally accounted in these knowing times as it was of old by Justin Martyr Quest Resp 107 childish and ridiculous insomuch that it doth expose the Papists and their way of Worship to much contempt and laughter and therefore I should have thought it needless to speak much against a thing so generally exploded but that Mr. R. B. hath discovered and declared himself for it as a thing in it self lawful and warrantable His words are these For Organs or other instruments of Musick in Gods Worship they being an help partly natural and partly artificial to the exhilerating of the Spirits for the Praise of God I know no argument to prove them simply unlawful but what would prove a Cup of Wine unlawful or the Tune and Meeter and Melody of Singing unlawful but yet if any would abuse it by turning Gods Worship into carnal Pomp and Levity especially by such non-inteligible singing or bleating as some of our Choristers used the common people would have very great cause to be weary of it as accidentally evil Thus he Disp of Humane Cerem p 412. But Bellarmine hath said more then this for it in fewer words Cum habeamus saith he exemplum Testamenti veteris experiamur devotionem per eam excitari taedium minui Bell. de Missa lib. 2. c. 15. and he gives as grave and learned Counsel against the abuse of them In ipsis Organis saith he non nisi res sacras pias sobrie graviter exprimendas neque enim leve peccatum est siquis lascivum aliquid Organis ludat audientium animos non ad pietatem sed ad amorem mundi accendat Bell. de Bon. Oper. in particul lib. 1. cap. 17. The answering of which objections and pretences will sufficiently discover the vanity and groundlesness of this Superstition and that it is more then accidentally evil And first to that plausible Objection of Bellarmine from the use of them in the Old Testament to begin with the strongest Argument first for this is the most specious and hath the greatest seeming weight But though the Jews had Musical Instruments in the Worship of God under the Law yet that they are no part of Gospel-worship these Considerations may evince First There was then a clear word of Institution for them The Trumpets of Silver and Cornets of Horn were instituted by the hand of Moses Numb 10. in the ten first verses and Levit. 23.23 24. we read also in Moses his time of Timbrels used in the publick Praises of God by Miriam the Prophetess Exod. 15.20 and in Davids time we read of Organs also and ten-stringed Instruments and Cymbals of Brass and Harps and Psalteries of fine wood 2 Sam. 6.5 Psal 149.3 and 150.4 2 Chron. 16.4 5. and these Musical instruments were not brought into Gods Worship by David of his own head but by Authority and Direction from God For so was the Commandment of the Lord by his Prophets saith the Text 2 Chron. 29.25 and therefore they are called the musical instruments of God 1 Chron. 16.42 and instruments of Musick of the Lord 2 Chron. 7.6 with relation to God as the Author and Institutor of them For the Lords Name in the Scripture phrase is never set upon things of Humane invention but only upon things of Divine institution as the Lords Supper the Lords Day the Lords Feasts the Lords Altar c. so
expect it I say it is not Faith but presumption to expect it for Apostolical Gifts are ceased A Minister that is called to that work and is diligent in reading and meditation and in Prayer to God may expect assistance from the Spirit in this way for God hath promised it But he cannot expect it in the way of immediate Revelation because there is no such promise Now then seeing God hath ordained that the Ministry be a particular Calling so that it is not lawful for men that follow their Callings to take upon them to be constant Preachers and it is not lawful for one that is a constant Preacher to follow another Calling It follows that Ministers either must be maintained or else they must starve Quest There is also another Question concerning the way and manner of Maintenance whether it may be in any of these ways that were used under the Law or whether they be not all ceased and abolished Answ To this the Answer is easie that seeing the Maintenance of the Priests and Levites under the Law was raised all manner of ways the Maintenance of Gospel-Ministers must be in some of these or there can be no Maintenance at all For if Ministers do receive Maintenance by the Free-will-offerings and voluntary Contributions of the people so did the Levites under the Law If Ministers have Houses to dwell in provided for them the Legal Ministry had so too If Ministers have it by the Edict of the supream Magistrate so had the Levites too Ezr. 7.24 If Ministers have their Maintenance setled by Law by the consent of the people as by Act of Parliament This way was used under the Law likewise Josh 21.1 3. Nehem. 10.32 If Ministers under the Gospel receive Tythes so did they also under the Law only concerning Tythes it's observable that the most of the other ways were not used till first instituted under the Law yet Tythes were paid long before as a Due to God and to his use long before the Aaronical Priesthood or Levitical Ministry was instituted and appointed For Abraham paid Tythes to Melchizedek Gen. 14.20 and Jacob Gen. 28.22 resolves of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee Such ways and parts of their Maintenance as were inseparable appendants to the Types as their parts of the Sacrifices must needs be ceased because there are no such Sacrifices under the Gospel But for the other ways of Maintenance which were not of such a nature they may be lawful still for ought I know to the contrary Thus I have gone through the Temple-Officers both their kinds and their Maintenance And now to wind up all I shall but briefly recapitulate and gather up the heads of things and so conclude All these old legal Types and Shadows may be ranged into these seven Classes or general heads 1 Personal Types sundry individual persons before the Law such as Adam Enoch Noah Melchizedek Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph There were divers also under the Law such as Moses and Joshua Sampson David and Solomon Elijah Elisha and Jonah Zerubbabel and Jehoshuah And besides these individual persons that were Types there were also typical Ranks and Religious Orders of men under the Law such as their Nazarites their Prophets Priests and Kings All these were personal Types and this is the first Classis 2. Occasional Types such things as Jacobs Ladder Moses his burning Bush the Pillar of Cloud and Fire Manna and Water out of the Rock the Brazen Serpent the Pool of Bethesda And beside such typical things there were typical actions and dispensations of Providence as their deliverance out of Egypt their passing thorough the red Sea and thorough the Wilderness and thorough Jordan and possessing the Land of Canaan and their Captivity and Deliverance out of Babylon And there were not only such typical Mercies and Deliverances but typical Vengeance and Destruction upon Enemies the Flood Sodom and Gomorrah Egypt Jericho Babylon Edom were Types of Rome and Hell This is the second general head of Types these transient and occasional Types 3. The third is that initiating Seal of the Old Testament Circumcision that famous Ordinance which stood in force about two thousand years much longer then the Temple and Temple-Ordinances 4. The fourth is the holy Places as the Tabernacle and Temple with all the holy Vessels and Utensils belonging to them the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering the molten Sea and Lavers the two Pillars of the Temple the Golden Candlestick the Tables of Shew-bread the Golden Altar and Censer of Incense the Ark with all the glorious appurtenances thereof This is the fourth Classis of them 5. The fifth is the Priesthod with all the Legal Ministry and all the concernments thereof the Rules of these Religious Orders their holy ministring Garments the Ephod the Brest-plate the Urim and Thummim the Mitre the holy Crown their Consecration to their Office their Administrations in their Office And to the Priests belonged as subordinate to them the Levites who were Porters Singers Treasurers Judges And lastly the Nethinims 6. The Legal Sacrifices and Purifications Their Burnt-offerings Meat-offerings Peace-offerings Sin-offerings Trespass-offerings the Purifications of unclean Touches unclean Meats unclean Issues and chiefly the Leprosie both the Signs and Indications and likewise the Purifications of it they were all typical 7. The seventh and last is the Jewish Festivals or holy times and seasons as the Passover Pentecost the Feast of Tabernacles the Feast of Trumpets the Feast of Expiation their New Moons their Sabbaths weekly every Saturday as also every seventh year and every fiftieth year seven times seven which is the Jubile These are some of the general heads of things which you have heard spoken to and the Gospel-mysteries included in them briefly opened and unfolded This is the proper and genuine method and order of them which to have thus rehearsed may a little help and refresh your memories There are three things more which must needs be added and annexed unto all that hath been said each of which might have deserved a distinct Discourse by it self But I shall but name them because I would conclude at this time 1. That all this typical Dispensation is expired and abolished by the exhibition of Jesus Christ the truth and substance and scope of all these Shadows are vanished away by the rising of that Sun of Righteousness this is that which the great Apostle doth expresly assert Col. 2.14 He hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross This the Jews do not believe 2. The Gospel-dispensation doth succeed and is substituted instead thereof so the same Apostle Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Instead of Moses the Servant of the Lord we have Christ himself the Son of God instead of the Law and the Prophets we have the Gospel and Evangelists who give us an History instead of Prophesie they tell us that Christ is come whereas the Law and the Prophets only said he shall come The Jewes do not believe this neither as they adhere to the Law so they reject the Gospel 3. This Gospel-dispensation is far more glorious then that old legal Dispensation For is not the substance better then shadows The Law from Mount Sion is more glorious then the Law from Mount Sinai the Spirit is better then the Letter 2 Cor. 3.6 to ver 11. The Letter there is not the written Word and the Spirit the Enthusiasms of a deluded fancy as some have understood it but the Letter is the Law and the Spirit is the Gospel as the whole Context shews And look as the Jews do not believe the two former so the Papists and other superstitious Christians do not believe this third and therefore they seek to adde an external legal Pomp and Splendor which is carnal to the Worship of the Gospel to the spiritual Majesty and Glory of the Gospel and Gospel-Ordinances which their carnal eyes are not able to see and to discern Remember these three things and carry them along with you The Abolition an Expiration of the Law with all the Types thereof The Succession and Substitution of the Gospel And the preeminence of Glory in the Gospel above the Law And now blessed be God who hath carried me through this Subject of the Types and Shadows of the Old Testament a Subject in it self useful and edifying were it handled according to its worth I must confess I have found some experience of assistance and help from God since first I entred upon it much beyond my own weakness and unworthiness I hope through the influence of your Prayers and through the Grace of Christ shining into a dark heart But I have been but brief in divers things which have deserved a much larger and better explication If you can say concerning any part or portion of holy Scripture that now you understand it something better and that you see a little more into it then you did before if you have found any refreshings by what you have heard any enlightenings and increasings of Gospel-light by it live up thereto and bless the Lord who hath taken off the Veil from off Moses's Face and the Veil from off your Hearts FINIS
Vid. Engl. Annot. in loc 4. Moses was to fill the hand of the Priests with some parts of the Sacrifices ver 23 24 25. This interprets and lets you see the reason of that expression why Consecration is called filling of the hand Lev. 7.37 so Exod. 28.41 and here cap. 29. ver 9. It is because some parts of the Sacrifices were put into his hands at his Consecration as a pledge or symbol of putting such a business and intrusting such a work in his hands No man can or ought to undertake this or any other Trust or Office till the Lord fill his hand with it and commit the work and business to his trust A man can take unto himself nothing except it be given him from Heaven Joh. 3.27 they are the words of John the Baptist and he saith of Christ that the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand ver 35. of that 3d. of John Now the Use of all these Rites of Consecration lies in such things as these 1. They were an external sign and representation of the Dignity of the Office therefore there were so many solemn and sacred Ceremonies in setting them apart thereunto and yet these Priests were but shadows of Jesus Christ our great and true High Priest whose Office is of incomparably more surpassing excellency and Dignity See 1 Cor. 3.7 8 9 10 11. 2. All these Rites of Consecration had this use to the Priests themselves to be Monitors or Remembrances to the Priests themselves that they might remember how pure and holy to the Lord they ought to be And the like Instruction they hold out to Believers who all are made spiritual Priests unto God that they ought to be holy to the Lord. 3. From the people they bespeak reverence and regard to the Priests and that for their works sake they having such Honour and Dignity put upon them in such a solemn Consecration to their Office Thus the Apostle in the New Testament chargeth the Thessalonians that they should know them that laboured among them that were over them in the Lord and admonished them and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thess 5.12 13. 4. We may learn also this from these sacred Rites of the Consecration of the Priests that under the New Testament there should be no Gospel-Ministers but such as are called and consecrated by God to that work see Heb. 5.4 'T is set as a Brand upon that wicked Jeroboam that he made of the basest of the people Priests even whosever would he consecrated him but this thing became sin to the House of Jeroboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth as the Holy Ghost expresly tells us 1 Kings 13.33 34. THE GOSPEL of the MINISTRATIONS of the LEGAL MINISTRY Feb. 28. 1668. Morning and Afternoon Numb chap. 18. THere were three sorts of Officers in the old Legal Ministry 1. The Priests 2. The Levites 3. The Nethinims Of the Priests you have heard four things propounded 1. The special Rites and Qualifications of that Order of Priesthood 2. Their Priestly Apparrel 3. Their Consecration 4. Their Priestly Ministrations in the House of God This last remains to be spoken to for which this Chapter may be the Text and foundation of our Discourse The Chapter consists of two parts 1. The Work of the Priests and Levites 2. Their Maintenance 1. Their Work and Office to ver 8. The several Work of the Priests and of the Levites is here exactly distinguished their several Offices bounded and disterminated by the Soveraign Wisdom and Authority of God setting each their limits which they might not on highest penalties transgress and violate The charge of the Sanctuary and the Altar with the things appertaining thereunto was committed to the Priests the charge of the Tabernacle to the Levites ver 7. 1. For the Priests their work was the charge of the Sanctuary and the Altar and the holy Vessels and Services thereof These they must look to and of these God would require and expect an account at their hands And the Lord said unto Aaron thou and thy Sons and thy Fathers House with thee shall bear the iniquity of the Sanctuary and of your Priesthood ver 1. that is the guilt and punishment of whatever is done amiss in these matters The Stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death ver 7. the Stranger here is not meant of other People and Nations only as in other places but any other Family beside the Family of Aaron the rest of Israel yea the Levites themselves were Strangers in this sense There are many particulars comprised under this general head of the Charge of the Altar and Sanctuary in each of which I shall but briefly shew how they had an eye to Jesus Christ the Priest and Minister of the true Sanctuary 1. First then this includes the holy Vessels and all the hallowed things thereof ver 7. so Numb 4 5-15 and ver 16. In like manner hath God committed the whole Church of God and all the mysteries of our Salvation to the trust and care and charge of Jesus Christ for the Tabernacle is the Church All the concernments of his people all their Graces and Duties and Comforts meet in him and are under his special care and trust therefore they are said to be given to him by the Father Joh. 3.35 2. The offering Sacrifice and ordering that whole matter is here also plainly included as being part of the Charge of the Altar the Priest was to kill and dress the Sacrifices and sprinkle the Blood thereof and to manage and dispose of that whole affair Lev. 1.5 and he that is the Priest shall kill the Bullock before the Lord and the Priests the Sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the Blood c. Heb. 5.1 Every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer both Gifts and Sacrifices for Sins and the same Apostle applies it expresly to Jesus Christ Heb. 8.3 For every High Priest is ordained to offer Gifts and Sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man that is Christ have somewhat also to offer that is himself his own blessed Body and Humane nature This is the Sacrifice he offered And so he himself was both the Sacrifice and the Priest the Priest in regard of both his Natures and the Sacrifice in regard of his human nature see Heb. 10.10 11 12. No other can offer any expiatory Sacrifice to make atonement with the Lord but only he He trod the Wine-press alone in this respect and of the people there was none with him as Isai 63.3 3. The Priests were to light the seven sacred Lamps of the golden Candlestick Exod. 27.20 21. Lev. 24.2 3. This shadows forth Christ the true Light Joh. 1.9 shining forth and enlightening his Church by his Spirit in the Ministry of the Word For the Golden
Candlesticks are the Churches the seven Stars or Lights in the tops of the Candlesticks are the Angels or Ministers of the Churches Rev. 1.20 yet the Ministry considered barely in it self doth not enlighten but as illuminated by the Spirit Rev. 4.5 4. The Priest was to burn sweet Incense upon the Golden Altar when he dressed the Lamps Exod. 30.7 8. this is Prayer and Intercession and this is Christs work he prays and he perfumes the Prayers of his people with the sweet Incense of his own Merits and Mediation and as they are daily praying so Christ is daily interceding for them Rev. 8.3 4. 5. The Priest was to set the Shew-bread upon the Golden Table before the Lord every Sabbath Lev. 24.8 Every Sabbath shall he set it in order before the Lord continually so doth Jesus Christ present and set the whole number of his Elect before the Lord continually as the Shew-bread upon the Table where his favourable Eye and Face is always upon them 6. The Priest was to bless the people in the name of the Lord and well he might for blessed indeed are such a people who have such an Altar and Sanctuary and such a Sacrifice offered for them amongst whom the Lamp of God shines whose Prayers ascend and come up before him as Incense upon the Golden Altar out of the hand of the true High Priest the Angel of the Covenant and who stand before the Face of God and under the Eye and Care of God continually Numb 6.23 and so on to the end and accordingly they did so when they had performed their other Ministrations Lev. 9.22 23. and God ratified it For the Glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people so 2 Chron. 30.27 Then the Priests the Levites arose and blessed the people and their voice was heard and their Prayer came up to his dwelling place even unto Heaven so doth Jesus Christ bless his people Luke 24.50 and that most really and effectually Acts 3.26 These were the Priestly Ministrations Objct. But now it may be demanded wherein then differed the High Priest from the other ordinary Priests these Ministrations belonging to them as well as him Answ There were three things peculiar to the High Priest wherein he was advanced by God above his Brethren 1. He had a superiority of spiritual Power and Jurisdiction over all the Ministers of the Sanctuary both the Priests and Levites Numb 4.19 also ver 27. see Deut. 17.12 and so Aaron was the Archbishop or Primate as it were to oversee and order all so is Jesus Christ in the Church of God He is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 5.4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away He only is the chief Shepherd 2. The High Priest was clothed with peculiar Garments of Glory and Beauty Exod 28. The inferior Priests the Sons of Aaron had but four Priestly Garments Linnen Drawers and Coats and Girdles and Bonnets Exod. 28.40 but Aaron the High Priest had a Brest-plate and an Ephod a Robe a broydered Coat a Mitre and a Girdle with the Urim and Thummim and precious Stones in his Brest-plate and on the shoulders of his Ephod and a Crown or Plate of Gold upon his Mitre Exod. 28. ver 4. and so is Jesus Christ fairer then the Sons of men more beautiful then any other Psal 45.2 3. The third Prerogative of the High Priest was in his glorious Ministration upon the great day of atonement when he went into the holiest of all to make atonement there before the Lord Lev. 16. which none but he might do Thus Jesus Christ is entred not into the holy places made with hands which are the Figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Hebr. 9.24 Neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal Redemption for us ibid. ver 12. Here note as a Corollary the wickedness of the Bishop of Rome who calls himself the High Priest amongst Christians as Aaron was amongst the Jews His judaizing antichristian wickedness And all other such Archbishops and Primates and Prelates fall under the same condemnation who differ not specie but only grad◠not in kind but only in degree from the Usurpations of that Man of Sin I know no other High Priest no other Archbishop or chief Shepherd of our Souls under the Gospel but only Jesus Christ Some thus understand that of Paul Acts 23.5 I wist not that he was the High Priest I acknowledg not that there is an High Priest Vide Beza in 1 Pet. 5.4 Against this Primacy which the Pope usurps consider 1. The High Priest in this preeminence above his Brethren was an express Type of Jesus Christ of whom it is said that he was the first-born among many Brethren Rom. 8.29 2. This Ecclesiastical preeminence amongst Ministers is expresly forbidden under the Gospel How often doth Christ reprove his Disciples for it for striving who should be chiefest Matth. 18.1 2 3 4. and Matth. 23.8 10 11. and Matth. 20.25 and Luke 22.24 25 26. And it is the brand set upon Diotrephes 3 Joh. ver 9. that he did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he affected the Primacy 3. Thô the Priests Power was ecclesiastical yet the Pope exercises a temporal power and this not as a Commissioner from under the Civil Magistrate but distinct from the Civil Magistrate and without dependance on him yea indeed superior to him and so do the inferior Prelates too not only a Civil power derived from the King as other Barons of the Realm or Justices of the Peace or the like civil Dignities but they make the Clergy a Fountain of Power to themselves even of temporal Power wherein they intrench upon the Prerogative and just Rights of the Civil Magistrate as well as of Ecclesiastical Power having never received any such Primacy of Office from Jesus Christ but usurping it to themselves and so they do intrench both upon God and the King shewing themselves therein to be the true and natural Children of their Father the Pope the great Antichrist of Rome But you see how remote this is from the Spirit of the Gospel and that it is indeed a Judaizing for Ministers to assume a disparity superiority of Power and Ecclesiastical or Spiritual Jurisdiction over other Ministers So much of the Priests and of their Priestly Work and Ministrations 2. The second sort of Temple Officers were the Levites of whom four things are worthy to be considered 1. Who they were they were the whole Tribe of Levi excepting only Aarons Posterity who were preferred to an higher Office of Priesthood yet they were Levites but all Levites were not Priests The Priests were Levites in regard of their Birth and Extraction out of that Tibe but they were not Levites in regard of their Office nor were the Levites Priests