of you CHAP. 22. A second thing that I take notice of about the Lamp is the Oil which was in it I Shall speak the less of this because I have been handling the matter in some measure before but for order sake I shall give you a touch here You know as hath been already observed that a bare Lamp without Oil will not produce any light at all to any family or house in the world therefore here is oil poured forth into the Lamp and so it becomes a burning light before the Lord always Now you may easily conceive what this oil did signifie if you will but consider from whence it comes read Zachariahs prophesie chap 4. 2 3. with ver 12. There you have the two Olive-trees standing on the two sides of the Pipes which Pipes reached forth close to the Lamps emptying themselves through the seven Pipes into the Lamps Now by the two Olive-trees though some may conjecture or think by them is meant the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament I understand to be meant Jesus Christ Now that it cannot be the two Testaments of the Scripture which we must take for the two Olive-trees which poured their oil into the Lamps First Because the Scriptures of themselves are not capable of giving out the least drop of moisture to any therefore S. Paul calls them A dead Letter meaning without the spirit Secondly It cannot be so because when Zachariah wrote this Mystery there was but one Testament written for the new was not then given out therefore I say it must be applied to Christ Christ was both these Olive trees both to the Jewish Church then and to the Gentile Churches ever since I mean such of them as are Christs Churches indeed Now let Jesus Christ be considered in his two-fold nature as God-Man and so he will agree for number to the Olive Trees Now it s upon this account that Christ is such a dropping fulness to the Church Christ being thus considered in his two natures make him up to be the dropping Olive-Tree to the Lamps of the Church For first He must be God equal to the Father that he might be capable to receive these communications from God which are necessary for the Candlestick his Church Secondly He must be man as well as God that he might be capable to apply these received communications from God to the Church or these that shall be the Lamps therefore is Christ called the Emmanuel or the God with us Isa 7. 14. and in 1 Tim. 2. 5. He is said to be the middle person between God and us therefore is Christ reported in Scripture to be the treasury and store-house of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2. 3. And one in whom the fulness of the God-head dwelt bodily Col. 2. 9. And that it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell but that of John is full to this purpose John 1. 14. with 16. The word was made flesh and it dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth so ver 16. And of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Thus you see Christ is the Olive Tree that first doth receive from the Father and then drops his spiritual fatness down again to his Lamps the Ministers of the Gospel for the good of all the Church which is called the Candlestick so that by the oyl is meant the rich gifts of the Spirit which Christ gives out to his Lamps the Ministers whereby they are enabled to counsel and instruct the ignorant to comfort the doubting and strengthen the feeble minded to support the weak to feed the hungry and correct the obstinate and warn the unruly as the Apostle speaks in the first of the Thessalonians 5. 14. Use 1. Then this should teach Christians to admire the Lord who hath not with-held the best of supplies from his poor people O what greater love can there be thought on then this who cannot but be swallowed up in the meditations of what God hath done for his Church touching the daily benefits he drops down upon his people O when we do consider the rich droppings of the Spirit of God through Christ which do daily come down on the Churches Lamps for the common good of the whole body how can we chuse but cry out with the Psalmist Psalm 8. 4. Lord what is man that thou act mindeful of him and the Sonne of man that thou visitâ—st him O how largely hath God abounded this way of late years towards his people what a wonderful deal of oyl hath he poured into his Churches Lamps in this our day whatever age could say the like as we can say setting aside the Apostles age O how hath the fountain of light and truth been broken up of late in the midst of us how have the little ones in Sion been made to understand doctrine what a high way hath there been set open in the things of God in our day as that the way-faring men though fools have been kept from erring therein O that the Lords people would admire the love and grace of God herein and that they would cry out with the Apostle O the heighth the depth the length and the breadth of the love of God which passeth knowledge how unsearchable are his judgement and his wayes past finding out Use 2. It informs us what rich food the people of God hath given them to live upon which is better then all the rare dainties in the world beside when I think upon the pourings out of the Spirit of God in the gifts and graces of it to the Churches of Christ I do not so much wonder at the saying of the wise man who tells us that that little which the righteous hath is better then the large revenues of the wicked Psal 36. 16. Not onely because the wicked have not their portion upon a divine account or with such a blessing as the godly have but because all that the wicked do enjoy of this world were it ten times more then it is yet it is nothing compared with the least dram of the grace of the Spirit in the heart of a believer O the honey sweet mansions which believers feed upon O the rare comforts they experience both by day and night saith Paul 1 Cor. 2. 9. 10. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for those that love him which things God revealed to his by his spirit Well one word of the Lamps more and I have done speaking about them and that is It is said that these Lamps were alwayes burning before the Lord in which we may take notice of these two things 1. They were alwayes burning 2. That they were to burn before the Lord. As to the first consideration I understand it to be meant of the assured continuance of the gifts and graces of
a Candlestick to maintain and hold up the light of his holy truth in the world is by pouring forth upon their hearts the grace of his Spirit that so they might be enabled to suffer for it The Saints suffering for truth doth wonderfully tend to the confirming of truth in the earth and to the making of it acceptable amongst men in this world insomuch that in the first three hundred years after Christ the Churches sufferings for the truth occasioned this proverb That the blood of Martyrs was the seed of the Church Hence it is that the suffering Saints are called Gods witnesses therefore St. Paul tells you that the truth got great ground by his sufferings Phil. 1. 14. Use 1. O then how should this teach the Lords people to bestir themselves in the way of their duty O remember ye are God Candlestick and appointed by God for this purpose to keep up truth in the world O then how should this encourage the Lords people to appear in the defence of that glorious light of truth which God hath put into your hands and not to suffer it to be trodden down with so much ease as it is now in the world I do not mean nor say that the Lords people should betake themselves to any weapon besides faith tears prayers and sound arguments together with a bold standing up in the visible practice of the wayes and truths of God against all that is contrary to this truth These be the weapons that I mean and this is the contending that I plead for and as to this way of contending for the Faith what cause hath God to complain of his people as once he did of Israel of old No man is valiant for the truth O what little contending is there amongst Saints for the faith that was once delivered to them O what silly heartless dove-like spirits are the Lords people surprized withal who can sit and hear the truths of the Gospel rended in pieces before their eyes and in their hearing and not a word spoken for it or in the defence of it but instead thereof they out of a slavish fear do but too much comply with the wicked in it O brethren the precious truths of Sion are more worth then so more worth then not to have one word spoken for them O remember the Church is to contend for the faith and know that God will deeply charge home the neglect of this duty one day close upon your souls O therefore as you would avoid that judgement spoken of in the third of the Revelations ver 16. I beseech you brethren to labour to give up your selves to a holy contending for the faith O earnestly contend for the faith there is great reason so to do for the name of God is upon the Faith the Blood of Christ was shed for this faith the blood of all the Martyrs in all ages in the world hath been shed for this faith O the faith that was once delivered to the Saints is worth the contending for O that God would stir up your hearts to an earnest contending for the faith O set a work a praying spirit and a believing spirit O set on work your parts your pens your purses every way as you are able if the way be warrantable do you contend for the faith which was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. Thirdly This Candlestick was made of pure gold this was to teach the Saints what they should and ought to be namely pure gold that is very sincere to God ward void of a heart full of guile and hypocrisie therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5. 48. â—e ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect Fourthly This Candlestick was made of beaten gold which was to shew or set forth the glory and the excellency of the Church for as gold exceeds for glory and excellency Iron Lead Tinne or Brass so do the Saints all other men and women in the world Therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 16. 3. The Saints are the excellent of the Earth Though the blind world see no worth or excellency in the Saints in this life yet they shall know as Solomon once said that the Righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12. 26. First The righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour for grace Secondly For their attendance for not gilded creatures but glorious Angels are the Saints servants Heb. 1. 14. Thirdly For the Saints food on which they live in respect of which all the dainties in the world or which the world lives upon are but husks and swines meat for the Saints live upon the Bloud and Flesh Word Spirit and promises of Christ John 6. 55. Fourthly The Saints are more excellent then others in point of inheritance for it s not an earthly Dunghil but an inheritance which is pure and undefiled which fadeth not away is the Saints birthright Pet. 1. 1 4. Fisthly The Saints are more excellent then others because they only can prevail upon the heart of God in prayer Prov. 15. 29. Sixthly It s so because its only amongst the Saints God delights to dwel 2 Cor. 6. 16. Psal 132 13 14. Use 1. O then what excellent Conversation should the Saints lead in this world what an engagement should this put upon the Saints to a strict holy walking that they should through grace be made of Gods pure golden Candlestick O therefore soul think with thy self when the Devil would at any time intice thee to sin against God or would draw away thy heart at any time from the Lord O say this to thy temptation O Satan I am one that belongs to Gods pure Candlesticks how should I dare to bespot my self with the least of impurities as Joseph answered his Mistress Gen. 39. 9. So do thou thy temptation How shall I do such a wickedness and sin against God Again As the Candlestick had three Bouls and Knops with their flowers upon it This was for Ornament to adorn the Candlestick that so it might the more appear in its glory and beauty to the beholder all which was to set forth the glory and beauty of the Church of God which by the righteousnesse of Christ and the Divine Graces of his Spirit is made more glorious then the gold of Ophir read Psal 45. 13 14. Isa 54. 11 12. Rev. 12. 1. The Churches glory is only discerned by an eye of believing a carnal understanding knows very little of this saith John 1. 3 1. The world knows us not certainly were not the glory of the Saints a hidden veiled up glory from the world its impossible but the Saints would be better intreated at the worlds hands then they are but however thou farest at the worlds hands let me advise thee to these two things First If the world shew thee and the rest of the Saints no favour yet pity them because they are held so much in a condition of darknesse as the Apostle speaks in 2 Cor. 4. 4. The God of
the Spirit for the benefit of the Elect of God in several ages of the world that as the Lamps were never to go out in the Tabernacle so the Lord will never be wanting with the gifts of his Spirit upon his Ministers throughout all ages that he might by and through them keep up the light and truth of his holy will in the world in despight of all opposition whatsoever read Psalm 132. 15 16 17. I will abuudantly bless their provision I will satisfie their poor with bread I will cloath her Priests with salvation and their Saints shall shout for joy there will I make the horn of David to bud I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed This is the promise of God to the Candlestick is Church throughout all ages in the world giving them to understand that let men and devils do what they can yet certainly God will alwayes keep up the lamp light of truth to the end of the world You see the lamp was alwayes to burn in the Tabernacle so as certainly the light of truth shall and must alwayes burn in the world Hence you have it in the Psalms Psalm 132. 14. where God is speaking of the Candlestick his Church saith in these words This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it for my habitation Use 1. This informs us then of the great folly and madness of the children of this world who labor night and day to extinguish and put out these lamp lights of Gospel truth which God hath set up in his Church Alas men do but strive against the stream in the thing you see how successess men have been in their attempts this way even from the beginning How did Pharaoh King of â—â—yâ—t strive to root out the Lamp lights in his day so how did King â—â—â—â—bâ—am lay out himself this way in his day by setting up the Calves by throwing out the good Ministers of the Lord and in putting into their rooms Priests made of the lowest and basest of the People 1 Kings 12. 31. so in Christs time what ado did King Herod make to finde out the Lamp of lamps viz. our Lord Jesus Christ that he might quite rid the world of his light Mat. 2. so in the Apostles dayes how did the Jews labour to fill the world with uproars against them that their lamp light of truth might be wholly put out of the earth so the heathen Emperours in the first three hundred years after the Apostles what bloody attempts did they in their times make against the lamps and so all along ever since their time for this fifteen hundred years what horrid cruel desperate attempts have the Antechristian party in the world made against these lamp lights of Gospel truth which Christ by his Apostles hath left for the good of his Church witness the slaughtering of the Waldenses Albingenses beside those many murthers which have been done upon the Christians in Germany whose case without doubt God is now a pleading by the Turks You may call to minde the many cruel murthers done in France and Ireland as also the many cruelties which have past upon the Lords people in England ever since Queen â—â—arâ—â— time what endeavours what plots what secret treacheries have there been afoot to get down these divine lights which God in mercy hath caused to shine in the midst of us But alas alas let me tell such men that all their labour is but lost labour men do but kick against the pâ—icks and throw back their heels against sharp stakes that persist in a work of this nature O you persecutors of truth and such as think to extinguish the lamps of Gods truth to you I speak even to you of every nation in the world O Sirs lay down your weapons of contention push at the pikes no longer for you will certainly perish in the end know you that do what you can God will keep alive his lamp lights of truth in the world in despight of you all certainly you do but set the briars and thorns in battle aray against the everlasting burnings in rising up to resist the work of God in the earth God will have his work to go on O therefore stand not in his way God will make way for it though it be through your heart blood read Psalm 45. 4 5 6. Psal 36. 9. O therefore be wise ye judges of the earth and be ye instructed ye great ones serve the Lord with fear and come before him with trembling kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the miâ— way when his wrath is kindled but a little therefore if you love your selves hearken to the advice of that learned Doctor Acts 5. 34. with 38 39. Then stood there up one in the councel a Pharisee named Gamaliel a doctor of the Law who said And now I say unto you Refrain your selves from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest happily ye be found even to fight against God Lastly and I have done this Type It is to be noted that this Type viz. the Lamps was to burn before the Lord or in his sight which signifies Gods watchful eye over the lamps that so nothing might hinder or obstruct the burning of them you may fully see the care of God set out to you in this thing Isa 27 2 3. In that day saith God speaking of his Church sing ye unto her a vineyard of red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day Use 4. This should inform us then what a dangerous thing it is for men to endeavour to corrupt the pure Worship of God by mixing any thing of their humane inventions with Gods divine Institutions certainly there cannot be any thing added to the Doctrine or Worship of God but God will readily espy it for the lamps were to burn before the Lord where the eyes of his glory should be fixed upon them let it be in the most secret Chambers men can devise yet God will finde it out Ezek. 8. 12. You may see how dearly the two sons of Aaron paid for so bold an adventure Levit. 10. 1 2. Truly men cannot easily provoke God in any thing more then by endeavouring to eclipse the shining of his lamp lights of Gospel truth in the world for truth may be as much eclipsed by corrupting of it as any other way But good Lord what little conscience do men make of this crying sin at this day Alas how do the learned of the earth labour by their wits and parts to adulterate the worship of God and the pure oyl of truth in this our age so that the great evil is come upon the earth now which fell upon Israel of old Ezek. 34. 18. They eat the good pasture and tread wn the residue
with their feet they drink up the best water and foul the residue with their feet But truly though men may joyn hand in hand in this thing yet they shall not go unpunished Use 5. What an ingagement should the thoughts of this doctrine of the lamps burning alwayes before the Lord put upon the hearts of all Ministers of the Gospel to look to it that there doctrine be sound and that which will hold weight before the Lord if Ministers doctrine do at any time carry more of their own water in it then Gods Wine certainly God will discover it the Ministers are Gods Lamps appointed for the Tabernacle and they are to burn before the Lord that is they never act but Gods eye is upon what they do and preach in his Worship to observe what comes from them his eye is upon them in the studying of their matter while in the composing of it and his eye is upon them in the Pulpit while they are preaching of it if there be iron and tin mixed with Gods gold and silver surely the pure eyes of Gods glory will try it of what sort it is therefore saith Paul in 1 Cor. 3. 12 13 14 15. If any man build on this foundation gold silver precious stones hay wood or stubble every mans work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed or fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is if any mans work abide which he hath built thereon he shall receive a reward but if any mans work shall be burnt he shall receive loss yet he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire O if men were well acquainted with the strict eye that God exerciseth always over his burning lamps the Ministers with respect to their doctrine surely men would be more careful then they are both in their studying and preaching of them and would tremble to bring forth such sad stuff for doctrine as some do amongst us Paul â—ells you of a doctrine of devils 1 Tim. 4 1. And sayes that some men which give heed to seducing spirits may be given unto therefore if men would be protected from being delivered up to the doctrine of seducing spirits let men labour faithfully to bring forth the doctrine of God Hence it is that Paul hath it in 1 Tim. 4. 16. Take heed unto thy self and to the doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt both save thy self and them which hear thee CHAP. 22. I now come to speak of the Snuffers which did belong to the Lamps in the Tabernacle ANd there were Snuffers likewise made of pure gold which belonged to the Tabernacle as well as the Lamps and Candlestick Exod 37. 23. Now the use of that instrument you know it is to correct or to remove out of the way any thing that shall offend the burning of the light that so the light might shine with the more brightness and clearness Now if you observe the thing the snuffers are put together with the lamps Exod. 37. 23. And he made seven lamps and his snuffers with his dishes of pure gold which gives us to understand that the snuffers were appointed for the use of the Lamps which Lamps as I have said signifies the light of truth which through the pourings out of the gifts of the Spirit into the hearts of the gifted men of the Candlestick the Church God intends by them to keep up in all ages of the world Now by the adding the snuffers to the seven Lamps we the better come to understand their property which is as I have said to correct all those superfluities which in cleaving to the lights of the Lamps are apt to hinder its shining This shews us the great care which God doth and will take to the keeping up of the purity of truth in its glory and lustre in the Church do what men and devils will to the contrary it shews us likewise the great provision which God hath prepared to his peoples hands for the removing out of the way any thing that might tend to the darkening or hindering the light from burning in his Churches and that is it which we are to understand by the Snuffers which were added to the Lamps Now here two things are to be noted First What it is which hinders the light of truth from shining in the Churches of Christ Seeondly What that provision is which as the Snuffers is given forth by God on purpose to correct it and remove it out of the way For the first what it is which offends the light of truth in the Churches of Jesus Christ First It s all that corrupt doctrine and unsound opinions which false teachers labour to usher into the Church of God and of Christ by the cunning craftiness of men which handle the word of God deceitfully of such the Apostle speaks of in his time who laboured to bring in damnable errours into the Church of God Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained unto condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into wantonness and denying the onely Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ Hence it is that Paul gives such a charge to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20. 28 29 30. Take â—eâ—d brethren unto your selves and unto the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you over seers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud for I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in amongst you not staring the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them so likewise do the Apostle shew us that it will be the portion of the latter ages of the world to be pestered in the Churches of Christ by men of very base and corrupt principles to the eclipsing and darkning of the Lamp lights of truth in the midst of them these are S. Paul words unto Timothy 2 Tim 3. 1. with ver 8. This know that in the last days perilous times shall come for there shall arise men such as Jannes and Jambres who withstood Moses so shall these resist the truth Men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith so Rev. 9. 1 2 3 4. And the fifth Angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit and he opened the bottomless pit and there arose as make out of the bottomless pit like the smoke of a furnace and the Sun and the Air was darkned by reason of the smoke of the pit By the Sun and the Air here spoken of I understand the Lamp light of truth which did once burn in the Romish Church before its falling away for it is the condition of the Church of Rome which the holy spirit intends in this Chapter who intimates to you that as smoke darkens the Air as that
case God hath not been so much wanting to his people in the means as Christians have been to themselves about the faithful use of means if errour have prevailed above truth the fault hath been ours not Gods We have wanted hearts to deal plainly with our offending Brethren in this case besides the great liberty which hath been given to some of our green raw rash members of Churches to vent their undigested notions in publick and that before themselves well skilled in the knowledge of the Scripture and the form of sound words I am not pleading against a Christians exercising his gifts to the building up his fellow-members in the faith provided they keep their bounds and act within their compass untill their growth be such in the judgment of the wise as that they may be adventured upon publick work for want of using the golden snuffers sure I am that many a poor ignorant soul hath been carried away with gross opinions to their utter undoing without the infinite mercy of God prevent it Therefore if we would have our Lamps burn clearly in the midst of us let us more use the golden snuffers which were appointed to remove that which should hinder the light in its shining with more diligence then yet we have done I shall conclude this type of the snuffers with that good word of the Lord in Prov. 36. 6. Adde thou not unto his word lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar for every word of God is pure CHAP 23. I now come to speak of the two Altars which were made and placed in the Tabernacle both of which having special reference to Jesus Christ. THese Altars were two in number their difference in form and fashion was not great only the one was overlaid with pure gold and had his Crown upon it and the other was overlaid with brass but we find not any Crown upon that and the Altar which was overlaid with brass had a Grate of Net-wort made for it which was to let out the ashes of the slain sacrifices which were to be offered as a burnt-offering upon it Exod. 27. 1 2 3 4 5. Both of the Altars had horns alike which were in number four and placed at the four corners of the Altars Exod. 27. 2. with Exod. 37. 25 26. Now these two Altars differed mostly in use or office for the Altar which was overlaid with pure gold and had the Crown upon it was only to offer the burnt Incense upon Exod. 40. 26 27. And the Altar which was overlaid with brass that only was to offer the burnt sacrifice upon which sacrifices consisted of the bodies of the slain beasts which were to be offered before the Lord Exod. 40 29. These two Altars did signifie both to them and all else the Lord Jesus Christ as then to come with respect to the twofold work which he was to do and suffer for believers in the handling of which I shall do these two things First I shall shew you that these Altars did signifie Christ our Lord who was then to come Secondly That according to the differing uses of these Altars are the differing works of Christ for and in the behalf of all true believers First That these Altars did signifie Christ to come to this you have St. Pauls words agreeing read 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. In which place you have the Apostle speaking how much a duty it is that Preachers of the Gospel should be well provided for by the Saints and that because they wait on the things of the Gospel and that was to preach and make known Jesus Christ to their souls now to prove that such Ministers are of right to be provided for the Apostle doth instance the right which the Moseical Law did give those men which did wait on the Altar to eat of the things of the Altar as if the Apostle should have said certainly Gospel Ministers have no less a right to a maintenance then the legal Ministers had under the Law seeing our work is one and the same the difference only lay in mode and circumstance not in substance they and we all taught one and the self same Christ they waited on the Altar typical and we wait upon the Altar substantial they upon the Altar of the legal tabernacle and we upon the Altar Christ of the heavenly tabernacle as that their Altar was but the type or forerunner of Christ our Evangelical Altar which we wait on and preach to you my end in this Commentary was not so much to handle a Ministers maintenance as to give you by what hath been spoken a sight of the great congruity the Apostle makes to be between the Altars in the tabernacle and Christ Jesus so Heb. 13. 10. We have an Altar whereof none have right to eat which serve the tabernacle you may easily perceive in reading through this Epistle to the Hebrewes that the drift and purpose of the Apostle was to bring off the Jews from their resting in these shadows to live more upon Christ the true substance which the legal Figures were only the types of And labours to convince them that the tabernacle with all the glorious Vessels in it together with what else was of any Ceremonial use amongst them all was but to shadow out Christ to come read Heb. 9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. And amongst which things the Altars in the Tabernacle were of special use in point of signification as they related to Christ as any other type which was in use amongst them And therefore doth the Apostle so apply the matter in hand if you compare the 10. verse of Heb. 13. with the 5th ver of the same Chapter for when in the 10. ver he had spoken of the Jewish Altar saying in these words We have an Altar which none have right to eat which serve at the tabernacle he presently in ver 12. brings in Christ as the Antytipe of that type in these words Wherefore Jesus that he might sanctifie the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Mark he suffered without the gate as a sacrifice which was proper to the Altar in the Tabernacle thus you see how the Apostle makes Christ and the Altar in the Tabernacle to agree here also so Rev. 6. 9. I saw under the Altar the souls of them which were beheaded for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus which they hold Which Altar we must understand to be meant of Jesus Christ which was slain for the sins of the world under which sacrifice lieth murdered of the slain Prophets Apostles Martyrs of Jesus Christ that have died for the word of God in all Ages of the world for as Christ was sacrificed for their sins so are the Saints willingly sacrificed for his truths and so Christ and the Saints are by John represented to our view in one suffering heap or body together only Christ hath the preeminence he first and they after or Christ