Machabeus having received the City cleansed and dedicated the Temple a nevv vvhich the Gentiles had prophaned taking avvay the abomination and reducing every thing to its former state as is to be seen at large 1 Mac. 4. In vvhich state it continued till king Herod most sumptuously repaired and enlarged it to the admiration of all men vvithin the space of one year and six months Joseph lib. 15. cap. 14. And so it stood in its glory to the passion of Christ S. Mat. 27.51 at what time the vaile of the Temple rent in twain from the top to the bottom Afterwards Caligula the Emperour affecting Deity reduced the Synagogue of the Jews to his own worship adorning them with his own statues and the Temple it self which to that day had been kept inviolate he dedicated to his own name Whereby it appeared saith mine Author that the speech which the Jews unadvisedly had spoken before Pilate when they said they would have no other king but Caesar to have deservedly fallen upon their own heads After this the Iews rebelling against Caesar their King Titus Caesar in the raign of Vespasian took the City and whether willingly or unwillingly that is not here to be disputed burnt the Temple upon the same day that it had been burnt by the Babylonians before And that which made the judgement the more remarkable was that after the Souldiers had kindled the fire no humane industry was able to extinguish it Even so doth God by man bring things to pass which no human power can prevent But it was Adrian the Emperour who caused the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet Dan. 9.27 to stand in the holy place For he set up his own Statue and an image of Iupiter in the place of the Temple and when the Iewes rebelled he subdued them laid the City levell to the ground burnt that which remained of the Temple and because he would utterly take away the Iewes Religion he overwhelmed it with earth and dedicated a Temple to Venus in place of it Like as the Temple had the same utensils which the Tabernacle had so had it also the same mysterie The Mysterie Foras much as the Tabernacle was no other but a portable Temple neither was the Temple any other thing but a fixed and immoveable Tabernacle Yet because the Temple did in many things excell the Tabernacle therefore the mysterie must not go unobserved The Temple did succeed the Tabernacle which was to give them to understand that the Evangelical Church figured by the Temple should succeed the legall Tabernacle or Iewish Synagogue The Tabernacle was built by Moses and was so made that it might be dis-joynted and taken down but the Temple was built by Solomon and was made to stand and remain signifying that the Iewish Synagogue and legall worship given by Moses should be dissolved but the Christian Church and Evangelicall worship founded and built by Christ should stand and remain unto the end of the world The Tabernacle had no foundation but the Temple was surely founded upon a strong Rock signifying the weakness of the legall if compared with the Evangelicall worship founded upon Christ the Rock The Temple was more great and glorious then the Tabernacle and all the utensils that Solomon made did excell those that Moses made for the use of the Tabernacle teaching them to know that the Evangelicall Church should be more great and that farre more glorious things should be spoken of it in the time of the new Testament then could be spoken of the Iewish Synagogue or legall worship in the time of the old Testament That it should be both of Iewes and Gentiles That it should be extended all the world over that it should be adorned with gifts more rare and admirable in the persons of the Apostles and Prophets and Evangelists and Teachers that it should be enlightned with a more plentifull measure of Gods most holy and most blessed spirit That it should be directed by the Evangelicall word That it should be confirmed by miracles greater and more abundant That it should have Sacraments more venerable a worship more plain and easie a more glorious and victorious army of Martyrs and Confessors That Kings and Princes and Magistrates and all worldly Rulers should cast down their Crowns and Scepters and all engines of honour and greatness descend from their Thrones do homage unto Christ bend and bow their knees at or in the blessed name of Jesus weare the venerable sign of his Cross in their foreheads fight under his Banner and account it their chiefest happiness to be Christs his servants And therefore it was not without mystery that when Solomon dedicated the Temple he also the same day hallowed the midle Court that was before the house of the Lord and there he offered burnt-offerings and meat-offerings and the fat of the peace-offerings two and twenty thousand Oxen and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep because the brazen Altar that vvas before the Lord 1 Kin. 8.63.64 2 Chro. 7.7 vvas too little to receive the burnt-offerings and meat-offerings and the fat of the peace-offerings The Holy Ghost thereby signifying the fulness of the Gentiles to be brought unto the father by Christ his son who should present their bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God For which cause when Christ suffered his passion and dyed the vaile of the Temple rent in twain from the top to the bottom shewing unto all those that looked upon these things with spirituall eyes that then the midle wall of partition was by him broken down that so the fulness of the Gentiles might come in Concerning those who are to administer in or attend upâ—n holy things as St. Paul sheweth Eph. 2. Lastly to the Evangelicall part of the Testament belonged all those who by their place and office were to administer in or give their attendance upon holy things These were first the Priests who were of the sons of Aaron whom God who is the God of order distributed into two orders The first was the Pontificall order of which order there was alwaies one and but one who had it or ought to have had it from Aaron by succession and birth-right if he were in capability of it that is to say if he had no blemish if he were not blind nor lame nor had a flat nose nor had any thing superfluous nor were broken footed or broken handed or crook-backt or a dwarfe or had a blemish in his eye or scurvie or scabbed or had his stones broken c. For every blemish made him uncapable of the pontificall function Then again he must not uncover his head nor rend his clothes nor go into any dead body nor defile himselfe for his father or for his mother nor go out of the sanctuary nor prophane it and might onely take a virgin to wife of his own people and might not prophane his seed among his people for these are
Vests and Ornaments with the mitre and holy crown upon his head the holy annointing oyl was so powred upon his head Psal 133.2 that it ran down upon his beard and descended to the skirts of his garments Now the reason why God would have his consecrations to be done by Oyl may be rendred from the excellent proprieties thereof The Mystery all which in a spirituall and Evangelicall sense and meaning will relate to Christ Oyl hath an excellent vertue in seasoning of meats as well for the preservation of health as also to give them a sweet and delightsome relish to the palate Therefore did they dress their flovvre vvith Oyl 1 Kin. 17.10 Levit. 2. and vvith Oyl God vvould have his offerings to be seasoned The Oyl in the meat-offering did shevv forth Christ the condiment vvithout vvhom nothing is svveet nothing is savory It is he that seasoneth all our sacrifices and whatsoever we shall aske the father in his name he will give it us Joh. 16.23 Oyl hath an excellent vertue in healing of wounds and to asswage the pains of them Luc. 10.34 It is Christ who speaks peace unto the soul by the word of the Gospel and was annointed and sent to heal the broken hearted Oyl doth exhilarate and make glad him that is annointed with it Luc. 4.18 Psal 104.15 all true joy and gladnesse is from Christ through the sweet influence of his most holy and most blessed spirit who is the oyl of gladness Psal 45.7 Oyl doth pierce into the bones doth diminish the pains of bodily exercises doth make a man strong and able to perform his work Livie telleth of Hannibal that he being to skirmish immediately with the enemy but the weather being extream cold and his Souldiers weary and weak distributed Oyl unto them to the end that being annointed therewith they might be refreshed and enabled to the battel It is Christ who by his grace enableth us unto that whereunto of our selves we have no sufficiency 2 Cor. 12.9 Ezec. 36.26 Oyl doth mollifie and soften It is the peculiar work of Christ by his Spirit to mollifie and soften the hard hearts of men Oyl hath a sweet and odoriferous smell Cant. 1.3 and his name saith the Spouse in the Canticles is as oyntment powred forth Oyl doth illuminate and lighten and He is the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world Joh. 1.9 When the High Priest was annointed Christ was annointed in the type He was the annointed and he was the annointer and he himself was the holy annointing oyl Notwithstanding the oyl wherewith he was annointed was not of the essence of his God-head but the fulness of all graces and of all vertues wherewith the man-hood of Christ was as it were filled up to the brim created graces and vertues infused into the man-hood by the divine operation of the Holy Ghost Therefore the holy annointing oyl howsoever it was Gods oyl neither was it lawfull for any one to make the like yet was it confected of no other simples but such as are to be found in nature That holy annointing oyl was powred forth upon the High Priest having on together with all the rest of the sacerdotall ornaments the Urim and Thummim together with the golden Plate or holy Crown that so they might in the type and by the spirtuall eyes of faith see Christ by his unction with that oyl which was materiall annointed and consecrated to be that true King that true Priest that true Prophet of whose fulness all Kings Priests and Prophets do pertake and yet he hath made all his elect and chosen Kings and Priests unto God and his father as St. John saith in his Revelation Rev. 1.6 That the High priest was so annointed that the holy annointing oyl powred upon his head went down unto his beard and descended to the skirts of his clothing it did mysteriously give them to know that the graces of the Holy Ghost whereof the man-hood of Christ is the rich treasure house do descend down from him the head of his Church who received them not by measure into all the members of his mysticall body who all receive them from him in such a measure and proportion as is convenient for every one of them Lastly by the different habit of the High Priest and his superabundant unction they were shewed the difference that must be betwixt the type and the antitype for Kings Priests and Prophets were typicall persons and they all were annointed by men but that He must be annointed by the Father through the Holy Ghost They were annointed with the holy anointing oyl but he must be annointed with all spirituall graces meant and intended by it They were annointed in measure but he must be annointed above measure They were annointed as men but he must be annointed as God and man They were annointed to offices temporall but he must be annointed to offices eternall They by their unction were Christi Domini the Lord 's Christs But he by his unction must be Christus Dominus the Lord Christ Act. 2.36 4ly To the Evangelicall part of the Testament belonged all the Leviticall offerings The Levitical offerings The Holocaust or whole burnt-offering The whole burnt offering so called because it was all burnt It was a sacrifice wherein to the end that God might be honoured and pleased the whole host which was offered was consumed with the holy fire and as it were sent up from earth to heaven for an odour of a sweet savour to God It was of the Herds of the Flocks or of the Fouls and the whole rite thereof is amply set forth Levit. cap. 1. The continuall or daily burnt-offering The continuall burnt-offering so called because it vvas offered unto God tvvice every day at morning and at evening It did consist of two Lambs of the first year vvhereof the one vvas offered in the morning and the other at even and the rite thereof is set dovvn Exod. cap. 29. The meat-offering The meat-offering vvhich vvas either fine flovvre and oyl seasoned vvith salt and frankincense put upon it and that either ravv bak't or fryed or green ears of corn dryed having in like manner oyl salt and frankincense and the rite thereof is to be read Levit. cap. 2. The drink-offering The drink-offering vvas strong Wine the fourth part of an Hin for one Lambe as a proportionable quantity for such an offering povvred unto the Lord Exod. 29. Numb 28. The sin-offering The sin-offering so called because it vvas made for the expiation of sin committed either ignorantly or vvittingly vvhether greater or less by the priest the vvhole congregation the Ruler or any of the people set forth and prescribed at large Levit. cap. 4. 5 6 7. The peace-offerring was either of the herd or of the flock male or female The peace offering it was made in thankfulnesse
of death to look back upon the city In this state the Romans had it and held it till the year of God six hundred and fifteen From whose Empire the Persian wan it and kept it the space of two and twenty years and then the Saracens got it in the year six hundred thirty and seven and possessed it for the space of three hundred seventy and two years But in the year nine hundred and nine the Turks wan it and immediately lost it to the Sultan of Egypt And so the Egyptians were Lords over it by the space of ninety years untill the christian Godfrey Bulloign conquered it in the year of our Lord one thousand ninty and nine and in possession of Christian Princes was it kept by the space of eighty and eight years till in the year one thousand one hundred eighty and seven it was surprised by Saladine Sultan of Egypt and by them was it held three hundred and thirty years though not without much variety of fortune being in or about the year one thousand two hundred twenty and eight regained by the Emperour Frederick the second and in the year one thousand two hundred forty and six won by Cassanus king of the Tartars then destroyed by Tamerlane and then by Mahomet the second When finally in the year one thousand five hundred and seventeen it was invaded and obtained by Selim the Turkish Emperour who conquered Capson and Tomombeus successive Sultans of Egypt where to this day I will not say to the shame of all Christian princes the abhomination of wicked Mahomet is set up Now this City was not without great mystery The mystery and such a city would God have for the administration of his covenant and principally of the Evangelicall part of the testament For Abraham had two wives Hagar and Sarah the one a bond woman the other a free woman And two sons Ishmael the son of the bond-woman born according to the flesh and Isaac the son of the free woman born by promise And two seeds a carnall seed the seed of the bond woman and a spirituall seed the seed of the free woman There be also two mountains mount Sinai in Arabia and mount Sion in the land of Canaan And two testaments the old testament and the new testament the old testament the law delivered by Moses from mount Sinai the new testament the gospell published by Christ from mount Sion And two people the Iewes and the Christians the Iewes seeking to be made righteous by the law the Christians by Christ And two states a state of spirituall bondage to fear and a state of spirituall liberty to believe And two mediatours Moses a human mediatour and Christ the divine mediatour And two cities Ierusalem the type and Ierusalem typed To the legall part of the testament belonged the bond woman and the son of the bond woman and the carnall seed and the mount Sinai and the old testament and the Iewes and the spirituall bondage and the human mediator and Ierusalem the type To the Evangelicall part of the testament belongeth the free woman and the son of the free woman and the spirituall seed and mount Sion and the new testament and the Christians and the spirituall liberty and the divine mediatour and Ierusalem typed Ierusalem which was the type did visibly represent the Church of the new testament teaching them to look for another Ierusalem that Ierusalem which is above and is free and is as Saint Paul saith the mother of us all of which Gal. 4.26 those things which are spoken of Ierusalem in the best sense are to be affirmed in a spirituall and evangelicall sense and meaning This city is founded by Melchisedec indeed Heb. 7 2. Iesus Christ the true king of righteousnesse and peace Her foundations are upon the holy hills not mount Sion and mount Moriah but Iesus Christ is the foundation of this Jerusalem this foundation is a sure rock 1 Cor. 3.11 S. Mat. 16.18 Eph. 1.20 and the Apostles and Prophets are foundations strongly built and laid upon that foundation These foundations are in the holy mountaines the publick places of his worship where Christ is preached the scriptures read the prayers made the sacraments administred unto those mountains hath the Christian to lift up his eyes from whence commeth his help Psal 121.1 for upon those mountains shall he finde the sure foundations Glorious things were spoken of that Ierusalem which was the type far more glorious things are spoken of this Jerusalem which was typed S. Mat. 4.5 Psal 76.2 Isa 22.1 S. Mat. 5.35 This Jerusalem is indeed the holy city the true Salem the valley of vision the city of the great king wherein Christ doth raigne and rule by his word and by his holy spirit That was the city of David from which he cast out the Jebusites this is the city of Christ from which he hath cast out the devills There Abraham offered up Isaac for a burnt-offering here is Christ offered up for the sins of the whole world There Solomon built his temple here Christ hath his worship That was Gods Aholibah for a time this is his Aholibah for ever Thy walles are continually before me Isa 49.16 There was the throne of David for a time here is the throne of Christ for ever and ever That was often assailed and finally surprised this is often assailed but shall never be surprised for the gates of hell shall not prevail against it S. Mat. 16.18 And all this was mysteriously signified and shewed by that city 7ly To the Evangelicall part of the testament belongeth the holy temple History of the Temple Deut. 12.4 5. 13 14. 1 King 8.29 2 Chron. 7.12 And that such a temple should be built an habitation to the Lord Moses had sufficiently premonished them in the book of Deuteronomy cap. 12. David therefore having obtained rest from his enemies thought that this duty might concern him and consulted with Nathan the prophet about it But God by the mouth of Nathan expresly forbiddeth him to do it giving him to understand that he would accept such a work not at his 2 Sam 7. 1. Chron. 17. 22. but at his sons hands David thereupon having purchased the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite upon mount Moriah maketh ample provision for the building of it and leaveth the work to be performed by Solomon his son Solomon in the fourth year of his raigne begins the work upon mount Moriah 1 Chron. 22.14 2 Chron. 3.1 compasseth and endeth it in the terme of seven years and having also made all the ornaments and utensills of the same in form and matter like unto those of the Tabernacle he brought the Ark with the Tabernacle of David and all the sacred vessells which were in that tabernacle into the temple which he had built concerning which stately structure the magnificence and dimensions of it let him that pleaseth read 1 King 6. 2
figuratively set forth the Evangelicall priesthood that although they have a true and a reall priesthood convenient to the new testament yet inferiour and of a second order to the priesthood of Christ That by their office and function they descend and derive a spirituall and evangelicall pedigree from Christ the first and the great high priest The conditions of their capability to wit of the priests of the second order did mystically shew what manner of men the evangelicall priests ought to be that they must be without all blemish not in respect of sin as Christ was for that is impossible but of scandall for that is requisite Therefore some things were permitted to the priests of the second order which were absolutely forbidden to the high priest The office of the priests of the second order to whom it was appointed that they should conserve the oyle oversee the vessells offer incense and sacrifices yet might they not go within the vail nor make the expiation did mean that although the evangelicall priests should be ordained to preach the gospell to offer up spirituall sacrifices and to intercede for the people as priests or ministers yet that it is Christ alone who by his own blood should enter once into the holy place having obtained eternall redemption for us To his superiority therefore belonged all that which was meant and intended by the peculiar robes and ornaments of the high priest and to their ministrie all that which was meant and intended by the other vestes The feminalls or linnen breeches and the strait linnen coat that they must be expedite and diligent to do the duties of their calling the girdle of needle work that they must be bound about with verity and truth the cap or mitre of fine linnen that they must in all things save and preserve their head which is Christ and the linnen Ephod that they must be of a pure and unspotted conversation That whereas the priests of the second order were distinguished into their classes and appointed to their offices by lot it gave them to understand that the priesthood of the new testament should be of divine providence and allotted unto his Church by Christ The Levites the Nethinims the Singers and the Porters did signifie the inferiour clergie of the new testament and all others employed in the Church to glorifie God to promote and set forth religion with decency and order And whereas the officers and judges were of the tribe of Levi it gave them to understand that in the Church of Christ the scriptures must be expounded and questions and controversies of religion decided by those onely who in respect of their office and function do properly pertain to the Leviticall tribe By the distinct orders and offices of the high priest the priests of the second order the levites the singers the porters the officers and judges was signified that Christ in his Church would have distinct orders and officers to attend severally upon their severall offices and not to clash or interfere one with another Let the layicks or lay-officers be subject to the Deacons the Deacons to the Priests the Priests to the Bishop the Bishop to Christ as Christ himselfe is subject to the Father saith Saint Ignatius Epist ad Smyrnens There were yet others who by their office and function did give their attendance upon holy things Concerning the Prophets and were organs or instruments in or by whom the word came in whom God was by his most holy and most blessed spirit and did regulate their mouths and pens so that look what they delivered to the Church either by preaching or by writing it was none of their word but the word of God in and by them delivered For God spake unto the fathers of old time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.1 in or by the Prophets as the Apostle saith And these Prophets whether they obtained to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prophets from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to predict because they did predict and foretell things to come especially concerning Christ and his kingdome Or else 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to shew because they did shew forth future events but more especially because they did shew Christ to come and were themselves typicall persons of Christ Or else 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they did interpret obscure oracles and declare deep and profound mysteries especially such as lay hidden in the sacrifices and ceremonies of the law Certain it is that they were more anciently by the Hebrewes called Seers because they had their prophecies and predictions by divine visions and revelation from God and because by them men did enquire of God 1 Sam. 9.9 Definition of Prophets These Prophets therefore must be defined to be holy men who being inspired by Gods most holy and most blessed Spirit did see and had divine visions and revelations from God and did interpret obscure oracles and declare great mysteries and did prophesy and foretell things to come specially concerning Christ and his kingdome seeking only the glory of God and the good of his Church Of these Prophets there was no continued succession neither did the son succeed the father in the office of a Prophet as the Priests did yet we finde them almost from the beginning of the world For although I shall make no doubt but that Adam himselfe had the gift of prophecie and was able to prophesy and predict things to come especially concerning that blessed seed whom God had promised to break the serpents head and that his sons also had the same gift Jud. v. 14 15. Yet Enoch the seventh from Adam is expresly noted a prophet and that he did see and did prophesy and predict things to come concerning Christ so far off as his second comming Neither were these Prophets all of the Jewes but there were prophets also of other nations as Balaam Job and the Sibylls whose fatidick verses are well known and remembered by the Fathers in their learned Writings But our definition holdeth good specially of those Prophets in and by whom the word of God came unto his people the Jewes and which were raised up among them and of their own nation although they were not all of them of the tribe of Levi. Of these some were before the law as Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph whose prophecies are extant in the Scripture Gen. 20.7 and Abraham is affirmed to be a Prophet by God himselfe Some of them were under the law first and principally Moses to whom God spake not in visions and dreams as to other prophets but mouth to mouth apparently and not in dark speeches and to whom it was given to behold the similitude of the Lord. Then the seventy Elders Num. 12.7 8. who had the same spirit of prophecy put upon them though not to the same measure that Moses had In the time of the Judges there was Deborah a prophetesse
they say that when God was propitious to the sacrifice then that onyx stone which was upon the right shoulder of the Ephod which before was dim did shine with a wonderfull lustre so that they who stood afar off might discerne it And that the twelve stones in the Rationall by their more then usuall radiancy before the battle was joyned were sure tokens of victory Howsoever it were sure it is that God was consulted with and did give answers by the priests for it is said expresly that Saul enquired of the Lord and the Lord answered him not neither by dreams nor by Urim nor by prophets And when the Amalekites had spoiled Zicklag 1 Sam. 28.6 David said to Abiathar the priest Abimelechs son I pray thee bring me hither the Ephod and Abiathar brought thither the Ephod to David 1 Sam. 30.7 And David enquired of the Lord saying Shall I pursue after this troop shall I overtake them And he Abiathar who had on the Ephod and made enquiry for David answered him 8. Pursue for thou shalt surely overtake them and without fail recover all But the second temple had not the Urim and Thummim as before is mentioned And Josephus saith that about two hundred years before he wrote his History the Onyx stone of the Ephod and the stones of the Rationall left off their former divinatory splendency God being offended with his people for the transgression of his law Antiqu. lib. 3. cap. 9. 4ly God was enquired of and did give his answers by visions and by divine dreams visions are the representations of things to the outward senses of men being awake and dreames are the representation of things by the phantasie in sleep and the interpretation of such dreams and visions was a peculiar gift of God Gen. 41.16 Such dreams had Abimelech and Jacob and Joseph and Gideon and such visions had Jacob and Samuel and Nathan and the Prophets And this kind ceased not under the second temple and is frequently found in the new testament for Joseph in his dream was commanded to flee into Egypt with Christ and with his blessed mother and in his dream he was commanded to return again S. Mat. 1.12.20 The Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul had divine dreams and visions and Saint John had his revelation by visions and visions and dreams divine visions and dreams were promised to the new testament Joel 2.28 All the Prophets were typicall persons and types of Christ that great Prophet The mystery Deut. 18.15 of whom Moses prophesyed saying what God had said unto him I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee c. Which prophecy is no lesse then three times cited in the new testament S. Joh. 1.45 Act. 3.22 Act. 7.37 Their immediate mission from God did signifie Christ to be sent from the bosome of the Father The unction which they had with materiall oyle did signifie Christ immaterially annointed by the Holy Ghost That they brought the word of God unto the people it did signifie that the word himselfe should come who should fully reveal unto men the Father and his will That it was given unto them to work miracles and to raise the dead it did bid them expect that great Prophet who by his own power should work all manner of miracles and raise the dead and raise himselfe from death to life again There was nothing which the Prophets had or did but in a spirituall and evangelicall sense and meaning it must relate to Christ. That David and Solomon were kings and prophets of the tribe of Judah it signified Christ the true king of whose gift it is that all the kings of the earth have their crownes and scepters to be and descend according to his human nature of the kingly tribe 1 King 18.37 The fire which Elijah brought from heaven to consume the sacrifice did represent the Holy Ghost oftentimes in the Scriptures compared to fire and meant and understood by fire to be sent from heaven by Christ to help our infirmities and to offer up our spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ 2 King 1.10 12. 2 King 2.11 2 King 4.34 The fire which Elijah brought from heaven to consume the captains of the fifties did set forth Christ comming to judgment whose comming shall be with fire to burn up the world of the ungodly The ascention of Elijah into heaven in a whirle-winde did prefigure the ascention of Christ into heaven That a double portion of the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha it signified that double portion of his spirit which Christ would give to his Euangelicall ministers That Elijah raised the Shunamites son by applying himselfe unto him by putting his mouth unto his mouth and his eyes upon his eyes and his hands unto his hands and by stretching himselfe upon him it did premonstrate that Christ by applying himselfe unto us in the human nature would raise us up unto a new and spirituall life The multiplying of the widowes oile did foretell the powring forth of his Spirit 2 King 4 6. and the multiplying of his graces in the new testament The raising of the man that was dead by the touch of his dead bones 2 King 13.21 did prefigure a quickening vertue in the dead body of Christ by the power of his Godhead not only to raise himselfe from the dead again but to raise all true believers who are buried with him by baptisme and touch him in his grave by faith unto newnesse of life 2 King 6.17 Those horses and chariots of fire which he shewed unto his servant was the mystery of Christs divine protection of his Church for ever to defend it against the gates of hell That the Prophets were Seers 1 Sam. 9.9 and that God did speak by them and that the people enquired of them it did direct them unto Christ who is the true Seer in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge stored up in him as in a treasure-house he being the word it selfe the coeternall coessentiall and consubstantiall word who spake unto the Partriarks and inspired the Prophets with his most holy and most blessed Spirit Thus there is a wonderfull profundity as Saint Augustine also saith of the divine oracles of God and to use the words of Justine Martyr Unlesse that a man by the great grace of God shall obtain to understand the sayings and deeds of the Prophets it is to little purpose that he can repeat their words and works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If he have not obtained by unfolding the great mysteries contained in them to render a sufficient reason of them Dialog cum Tryphon Jud. Hitherto I have endeavoured in some part to unfold these deep and profound mysteries To do it fully and according to the latitude and extent of them it would need a colledge of Elders nay Moses himselfe who had the patterne shewed unto him
in spirit filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him S. Luc. 2.40 41. Now his parents went to Hierusalem every yeare at the feast of the Passeover And when he was twelve yeares old they went up to Hierusalem after the custome of the feast And when they had fulfilled the dayes 42 as they returned the childe Jesus tarried behind in Hierusalem and Joseph and his mother knew not of it 43 But they supposing him to have been in the company went a dayes journey and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance And when they found him not 44 they turned back againe to Hierusalem seeking him And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the Temple 45 sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers 46 47 And when they saw him they were amazed and his mother said unto him Sonne why hast thou thus dealt with us Behold thy Father and I 48 have sought thee sorrowing And he said unto them How is it that ye sought me wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them And he went downe with them 49 50 51 52 and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man Thus abode he at Nazareth with his parents for the space of eighteen yeares almost which was from the time of their return from Hierusalem after that he had disputed with the Doctors he being then compleatly twelve years old and going on in the thirteenth year to the thirtieth yeare of his age current For during all that time no further mention is made of him then hath been made before Then began that acceptable yeare of the Lord The acceptable year of the Lord begun prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah to be proclaimed and preached unto all the world by Christ the Fathers eternall word The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath annointed me to preach good tydings unto the meeke Isa 61.1 2. he hath sent me to binde up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable yeare of the Lord. Which prophecie is repeated by the Evangelist in these words The spirit of the Lord is upon me S. Luc. 4.18 19. because he hath annointed me to preach the Gospel to the poore he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised To preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord. This year was annus placabilis Domino a year placable to the Lord a year in which the Lord was easily pleased with all those things which were performed by Christ for the redemption of all mankind This year was Annus Domini acceptus the accepted year of the Lord a year in which the Lord was pleased to accept the merits of his son a full and sufficient price satisfaction and redemption for the sins of the whole world There were other types of this year which the law had but this year was specially figured by the great Jubile of the fiftieth yeare That year was proclaimed by blowing up of trumpets of rammes hornes this year was proclaimed by the Ram himselfe figured by that Ram which Abraham offered up in stead of Isaac his son and by all those Rams which were offered up in sacrifices according to the Law That year brought with it a temporall rest unto the land of Canaan This year brought with it a spirituall rest unto the whole world That year proclaimed liberty and in that year all servants went forth perpetually free from corporall bondage and every one that had sold his possession did in that year return unto it again Levit. 25. This year proclaimed liberty and in this year all that were servants to sin and Sathan had a perpetuall liberty obtained and an eternal redemption so that now there is no let but that all the sons of Adam who shall by a lively faith and true repentance accept the liberty of this year may return again to that holy and heavenly inheritance which Adam lost by reason of sinne That year took away the distinction of master and servant This year took away all distinctions not in respect of that relation which is between man and man in the world but in respect of that relation which is betwixt Christ and his Church For like as the Redeemer would buy them all with the same price and would shed no more nor no other blood for the Jew then for the Gentile for the bond then for the free for the male then for the female Even so the freedom of this year brought to pass that they should be all saved by the same grace justified by the same faith have the same word the same sacraments the same worship an equall interest in Christ according to that of St. Paul Gal. 3.28 There is neither Jew nor Greeke there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus And in another place Col. 3.11 There is neither Greeke nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Weeks in the scriptures are not alwaies weeks of dayes nor years are not alwaies years of months Though that acceptable yeare is properly said to begin then yet must we not think to terminate it in twelve months It is saith that ancient Father Irenaeus the time in which they are called of him that do believe in him that is all the time from his comming to the consummation in which he doth acquire as fruits those that are saved lib. 2. cap. 38. It is indeed and according to St. Paul the whole time of Grace Behold now is the accepted time 2 Cor. 6.2 behold now is the day of salvation in the largest sense But strictly and properly to his Ascention into heaven in which year he compleated all those things which God accepted at his hands to be done for the redemption of mankind by his Baptisme by his preaching by his miracles by his passion death buriall descent into hell as also by his resurrection and ascension We have therefore now to see how he did administer the covenant during that year It was the fifteenth year of the raign of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being then governour of Judea and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee c. as is noted by the Evangelist S. Luc. 3.1 which was the thirâ—ieth year of his age current Then began the Gospel of Christ to be published for then John the son of Zacharias
answered the question aenigmatically reproveth the ignorance of the Samaritan-worship tells her that salvation is of the Iewes and what is the true Evangelicall worship The woman telleth him v. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 v. 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 that the things concerning Gods worship shall be fully regulated by the Messiah Christ telleth her plainly that he is the Messiah Then came the Disciples and they marvelled that he talked with a woman The woman leaves her water pot and goes into the city to call her neighbours to come forth and to see the Messiah mean while the Disciples pray him to eat he eateth not but declareth unto them his zeal to Gods glory The woman made relation to the Samaritans of what Christ had told her 38 39. and many of them believed on him before they saw him But when they were come unto him they besought him that he would tarry with them and he abode with them two dayes And many more believed because of his own word commended the woman highly v. 40 41 42 and make a lively confession of their faith A most remarkable History wherein the learned Fathers do find many excellent and most profound mysteries Christ was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel S. Mat. 15.24 therefore might he not abide altogether among the Samaritans it was his great grace that he vouchsafed to abide with them two days which being expired he left them by his bodily but not by his spirituall presence and went into Galilee Iesus cometh into Galilee but not to Nazareth at that time for he had testified S. Mat. 4.13 S. Joh. 4.44 that a Prophet hath no honour in his own country Then when he was come into Galilee the Galileans received him having seen all the things that he did at Hierusalem at the feast for they also went unto the feast And first he goeth directly to Cana of Galilee 45 where he made the water wine During the time of his abode there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 46. Healeth the Rulers son by his word St. Luc. 8.3 a certain noble man ruler or courtier probably Chuza Herods steward whose wife Joanna was one of those believing women who ministred unto him of their substance when he heard that Jesus was come out of Iudea in to Galilee came unto him and invited him to come unto Capernaum and to heal his son who was sick there and at the point of death He went not presently down with him but cured his son who was dangerously sick of a feaver by the power of his word whereupon the ruler believed and his whole house as the story is reported at large by St. Iohn cap. 4. which was not the second miracle that he did but the second miracle which he did in Galilee and was done when he was come thither out of Iudea Shortly after he went down to Capernaum v. 54. and dwelt or made some longer abode there as St. Matthew saith who makes no mention of his going to Cana first in the mean time preaching the Gospell wheresoever he came he went first to Nazareth which was but eight miles from Cana in which city he had been brought up And as his custom was went into the Synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read S Luc. 4.16 And there was delivered unto him the book of the Prophet Isaias out of which he read a Text expounding the same to the admiration of all that heard him and although they could not deny the verity of his doctrine but bare witness to it wondring at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth yet hecause he did not speak placentious things they were all filled with wrath and thrust him out of the city and would have brake his neck as St. Luke saith cap. 4. The Synagogues therefore were publique Congregations and places consecrated for religion and for the publique worship and service of God whither the people resorted every sabbath day to hear the law and the Prophets read and expounded and the Rector or Ruler of the Synagogue was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 15.21 S. Mar. 5 22 Christ therefore being come from Nazareth into Capernaum straight way on the sabbath day entred into the Synagogue and taught S. Mar. 1.21 And they were astonished at his doctrine for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the Scribes And there was in their Synagogue 22 a man with an unclean spirit who hearing him to teach with authority as being the Lord of Moses and of all the Prophets 23 Christ known of the Devils to be the Messiah 24 and he who put his word into their mouth cryed out saying let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Iesus of Nazareth art thou cone to destroy us I know thee who thou art The holy one of God The Devills therefore knew him to be the Messiah though not certainly and without doubting the knowledge which they had of him they had from him Tantum verò iis innotuit quantum voluit tantum autem voluit quantum oportuit saith St. Augustine Civit. Dei lib. 9. cap. 22. He was so much known of them as he pleased and he was pleased to be known by them so much as it was fit for them to know him That is to testifie of him so far as he pleased that they should and to obey his word 25 And Iesus rebuked him saying hold thy peace and come out of him And when the unclean spirit had torne him and cryed with a loud voice 26 he came out of him And they were all amazed insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying What thing is this what new doctrine is this for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits 27 and they do obey him And immediately his fame spread abroad therefore would he that they should obey his word throughout all the region round about Galilee As soon as he had wrought the miracle upon the daemoniak man and was come forth of the Synagogue Saint Peters wives mother healed to the end that he might refresh himselfe he entred into a certain house which was the house of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew who dwelt together at Capernaum and had with him his disciples Saint James and Saint John There Saint Peters wives mother lay sick of a feavour and anon they tell him of her and besought him for her saith Saint Luke And he came and stood by or over her S. Luc. 4.38 and took her by the hand and lift her up and immediately the feavour left her and she ministred unto them S. Mar. 1.31 She did wash their feet and served at supper And at even when the sun did set they brought unto him all that were diseased and them that were possessed with devills And all the city was gathered together at the dore 32
day he came down with them S. Luc. 9.37 and when he came unto his disciples he found a great multitude about them and the Scribes questioning with them And straight-way saith Saint Mark all the people when they beheld him were greatly amazed S. Mar. 9.15 for it is likely that his face shone as Moses's did when he came down from the mount and running to him they saluted him 16. And he asked the Scribes What question ye with them But a certain man came unto him S. Luc. 9.38 kneeling down and supplicating on the behalfe of his son who was his only childe who at certain seasons of the moon and therefore said by Saint Matthew to be Lunatick was grievously vexed with a dumb and deafe spirit S. Mat. 17.15 A dumb and deafe spirit dispossessed which wheresoever he took him did throw him down and teare him so that he fomed and gnashed with his teeth and pined away telling him also that he had brought him to his disciples those nine which did not ascend with him and they could not dispossesse him Christ having blamed the people for their unbeliefe and hardnesse of heart commanded him to be brought And when he was brought straightway the spirit tare him and he fell on the ground and wallowed foming These are the symptomes of an Epilepsie but it was not naturarall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit tare him He demanded of his father not because he knew it not but because he would have the multitude to know it how long he had been in that case He told him Of a childe and that oftentimes it had cast him into the fire and into the water to destroy him desiring him to help both him and his childe by his divine power Christ requireth his faith of which having received a good confession he cured him by his word saying Thou dumbe and deafe spirit I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him The disciples demanded of him privately and when he was come into an house why they could not cast him out He tells them because of their unbeliefe magnifying the power of faith and for that they had not disposed themselves thereunto by prayer and fasting And so while he passed to and fro in Galilee S. Mat. 17.22 23. S. Mar. 9.30 31 32. S. Luc. 9.44 45. before he went up to Hierusalem he renewed unto them that doctrine which he had taught them before concerning his passion death and resurrection upon the third day But they understood it not and were afraid to ask him being exceeding sorry About this time also it was as I think that he visited the house of Martha and Mary as is to be seen St. Luc. 10.38 they then having their habitation in Galilee And afterwards as he was praying in a certain place likely upon one of the mountains upon which he ascended to pray his disciples came unto him desiring him to teach them to pray in publick and when they came together according to a set form conceptis verbis as Saint John the Baptist also taught his disciples Whereupon he prescribed to them his own prayer directing and requiring of them to use it totidem verbis teaching them to pray instantly and with full assurance to obtain St. Suc. 11. from v. 1. to 14. Then came he to Capernaum where he dwelt and where his Apostle Saint Peter also dwelt together with Saint Andrew his brother as hath been said before And being come thither the collectors of the tribute mony called didrachma came unto Saint Peter Christ payed the didrachma demanding of him whether his Master did pay the tribute or piece of mony so called who answered Yes it seemes therefore that he had formerly paid it and Saint Peter did know that he did pay it so often as it was due That piece of money called Didrachma was halfe a stater and the stater was halfe an ounce of silver Epiph. lib. de mens pond So that at the rate of five shillings the ounce the didrachma came to fifteen pence of our English sterling mony Exod. 30.12 13 14 15 16. and the stater which was two didrachmaes two shillings and six pence Some think it to be that sacred tribute imposed by the law which was paid of every man by the pole and was for the service of the tabernacle first of the temple afterwards which tribute was to be paid for ever a memoriall unto the children of Israel before the Lord to make attonement for your souls said the law and was for the repair of the temple and other sacred uses And was paid in to the gazophylacium being an anniversary payment which continued to the utter desolation of the temple and dissolution of the Mosaical policy and was then as I read transferred to the Capitol in Vespasians time But this was some other tribute not sacred but politicall imposed not by the law of God but by the secular power and paid anniversarily by the pole in the severall cities of all the inhabitants and was required of Christ as an inhabitant or citizen of Capernaum This the circumstances do plainly evince for first this tribute was demanded and paid at Capernaum to the collectors there but the sacred tribute before mentioned was brought to Hierusalem and paid in the temple 2 King 12.4 2ly The words of Christ to Saint Peter import so much For when he was come into the house Jesus prevented him saying What thinkest thou Simon of whom do the kings of the earth take custome or tribute of their owne children or of strangers A question at no hand to have been demanded had it been a divine or sacred and not a humane or politicall tribute Finally Christ paid it but to avoid scandall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lest we should offend them having otherwise a sufficient exemption had he been pleased to have used it It was not therefore enjoyned by the law of God against which in that he came to fulfill all the righteousnesse thereof he would have pleaded no immunity By whom this tribute was imposed whether by Caesar by Herod or peradventure by Pompey who first put them under tribute to the Romans I have not to say it appears not to be a sacred but a civill tribute paid by Christ both for himselfe and for his Apostle Saint Peter as inhabitants of Capernaum who sent him to the sea to fish and to finde a stater which was two didrachmaes that he might pay it for them both And when they were come to Capernaum they that received tribute mony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the didrachmaes came to Peter and said Doth not your Master pay tribute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the didrachmaes He saith Yes And when he was come into the house S. Mat. 17.24 Jesus prevented him saying What thinkest thou Simon of whom do the kings of the earth take custome or tribute of their owne children or of strangers Peter saith
uttermost part of the earth 8. So when he had spoken all these things and was come unto the place where he would ascend up from them into heaven which was the mount of Olives upon the confines of Bethany while he blessed them S. Luc. 24.51 S Mar. 16.19 Act. 1.9 he was parted from them and carried up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God He ascended and they looked after him and a cloud received him out of their sight And now finally we must take notice how the covenant was further administred by him this year also The Recapitulation for the breaking of the serpents head and for the abolishing of the old Testament By going to Hierusalem to suffer By exhorting to enter in at the straight gate By blessing the children By disallowing the petition of Salome and her sons By restoring sight to the blind men as he went in and as he departed out of Jericho By dining with Zacheus By putting forth the parable of the pounds By raising up Lazarus from the dead By leaving the chief Priests and Pharisees to consult his death By comming to Bethany six dayes before the passeover By being first annointed to his burying By his triumphant riding into Hierusalem By cursing the fruitlesse fig-tree By refusing to shew his authority to the chief Priests By parables signifying the reprobation of the Jews and vocation of the Gentils By avoiding the snare of the Pharisee By confuting the Sadduces By analysing the law By questioning them concerning Christ By foretelling the destruction of the Temple By foretelling persecution to the Gospel calamities to the Jews and the signs of his second comming By being annointed to his buriall the second time By being to be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver By eating his last passeover By directing them to the house by the pitcher of water By instituting the Sacrament of his supper By foretelling the offence that his Disciples should take at him and S. Peters denyal of him By his farewell Sermon By being sorrowfull in soul By beginning his passion in the garden By his apprehension By being bound and brought to Annas first and from him to Caiaphas By being examined by the high Priests By permitting false witnesses to be produced against him By being adjured By being brought before Pilate By being examined by him By answering fully By being sent to Herod By being condemned to be crucified By being twice scourged By bearing his own cross By refusing the wine mingled with myrrhe By being fastened to the Cross By the superscription of his accusation By being stripped of his garments By being mocked of all sorts of people By crying out upon the cross By complaining of thirst By giving up the ghost By the time of his abode upon the cross By the darkness and by other miracles By his buriall By going in soul into Paradice By descending in soul into hell By his blessed Resurrection upon the third day By his first apparition to St. Mary Magdalen By his second apparition to the other women By his third apparition to St. Peter By his fourth apparition to the two Disciples By his fifth apparition to all the other Apostles in the absence of St. Thomas By transferring the keyes from the legall to the Evangelicall priesthood By his sixth apparition to Saint Thomas with the other Apostles By his seventh apparition at the sea of Tiberias By his conference with St. Peter By his eighth apparition upon a mountain in Galilee By his ninth apparition to St. James By his tenth apparition to all his Apostles as they sate at meat It became him who humbled himself and was made man for the redemption of all mankind to do and to suffer all these things and then to ascend into his glory carrying up with him our flesh which he hath fully glorified and placed at the right hand of God There sitteth he highly exalted and far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come Eph. 1.21 making intercession for us as God and man exhibiting his infinite merit and the sufferings of his humanity by shewing of his bloody wounds and in such a manner as is convenient for the Son making request to the Father for us Rom. 8.34 that the satisfaction made by him to divine justice may be accepted on our behalfe And because all power is given to him in heaven and in earth S Mat. 28.18 there sitteth he administring of that kingdom which he hath purchased with his blood by gathering his subjects together into the unity of a Church-catholique through the Gospell externally dispensed in the word and sacrament and internally by his blessed spirit enlightning the mind mollifying the heart and converting the whole man to God By shewing them the way which leadeth to everlasting happiness and by conducting them therein by the scriptures and by his Spirit By experimenting the graces which he hath conferred on them through many and manifold temptations and afflictions whereby they are taught to know the sufficiency of his grace and to live a new and spirituall life by faith By saving and defending them against all their enemies ghostly and bodily in limiting their power so that they shall not be able to do unto them the hurt that they intend in giving to his people faith patience and spirituall fortitude to resist and withstand them in moderating their sufferings and in causing all things to work together for their good By bringing all his enemies to confusion in permitting them to go on in unbelief and hardness of heart not to understand not to repent not to believe the Gospell that so their damnation may be just And having administred his kingdom in this manner till the Gospell shall be preached unto all nations till Antichrist shall be revealed the Jews converted and the whole number of his elect compleated 1 Thes 4.16 Then shall the Lord Jesus descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire 17. and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Thus endeth the Sacred and most mysterious History of Mans Redemption to the praise and honour of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen FINIS AN Alphabeticall Index setting forth the heads of things chiefly insisted upon The figures direct to the Folio A. ADAM's sin 1. The Ark 19. history of it 22. Altar of Incense 20. brazen Altar 21. Aenon 132. Apostles Ordained why so called the number of them 156. What they were 157. sent forth two and two 166. how laid into the foundation 178. petition for increase of faith 198. Annas sendeth Christ to Caiaphas 239. Acceptable year of the Lord begun 97. Angells Angells tutelary 189.