till the second comming of Christ and is most perfectly finished and consummate in heaven The notes or markes to know inward circumcision attained by Christ are these 1. The party to bee circumcised was presented and offered to this ordinance of God as willing and contented to part with his flesh and blood in obedience to God so here thou hast begun thy circumcision if thou hast offered up thy soule body and all a reasonable sacrifice to God Rom. 12. 1. willingly mortifyng all the deeds of the flesh and denying and renouncing all fleshly lusts and affections which are as neere and as deare unto thee as the parts of the body So Col. 2. 11. it must bee a putting off the sinfull body implying not a suffering it onely to bee violently taken and cut away but a voluntary putting away and parting with it Indeed in legall Circumcision the infant could not cut away the flesh of his body but in Evangelicall Circumcision thy selfe must put off this sinfull body of flesh and be more then a meere patient 2. As there the whole body was wounded in one part so see thy whole body of sinne bee wounded in all parts not one member spared Col. 2. 11. put off the sinnefull body No sinne must raigne none unresisted And therefore 1. Labour for an heart circumcised There the Lord begins this worke Deut. 30. 6. and Chap. 10. 16. there see thou hast begun See thy desires be sanctified that the thoughts of thy heart and inward affections be watched and garded not suffered to be earthly wanton impious disordered or unfruitfull This purging of carnall affections and fastning them on the right object is a note of inward circumcision Deut. 30. 6. 2. See thine eare bee circumcised Act. 7. 51. the Jews are reproved for uncircumcised eares All sinnes of the eare must bee circumcised and that is done in opening them to heare God and good instruction and shutting them against slanders false tales wicked counsells doctrines of libertie and the like 3. Circumcise thy lips which then are so when they are able to speake for God Moses in Exod. 6. 12. complaines that his lips were not enough circumcised All the sinnes of the tongue must be cut off This circumcision admits not a lie an oath a slander a deceitfull or filthy or uncleane speach unmortified 4. All sinnes of the eye must be circumcised by making covenant with this member not suffering the eye to bee envious covetous wanton scornfull adulterous And so examine all the parts that no sinne bee peaceably admitted without drawing blood upon it as was in circumcision 3. As in that Circumcision was sence of much paine and griefe in the body as we see in the Shechemits Gen. 34. 25 So in this where ever it is is affliction of conscience paine of spirit pricking in the heart as in the Converts Act. 2. 37. which makes the circumcised mourne and cry out of himselfe judging himselfe and breaking his heart with godly sorrow for sinne The Priest could not take the knife and cut off the piece of flesh without paine and sorow of the child Neither can the Minister take the sharpe weapon of the Law to wound and cut the body of flesh in any part but it will be painfull and sorowfull to the child of God who will judge and condemne himselfe and dares not stand out the threats of the Law as many contemptuous rebells doe An hard and secure heart is an uncircumcised heart good Iosiah will tremble at the word but all Gods words and plagues stirre not Pharaoh 4. As that part cut off was never set to the body again but was taken quite away for ever So in this circumcision of Christ is not a parting with sinne onely for a time but a ceasing of sinne that is a constant endeavour to forsake all sinnes inward outward secret open A parting from pleasing profitable deare and bosome sins saying to them as Ephraim to his idols Hos. 14. 9. get yee hence what have yee to doe here with resolute purpose never to give them entrance or entertainment more Those that fall to their former sinnes as who forget they ever washed like dogs and swine were never circumcised The skinne once cut off died for ever such a dying to sinne must bee in this circumcision 5. In that was a joyning to Gods people and a receiving of the party into the Church and family of God See if thou beest joyned to Gods people not in outward profession but in sincere affection embracing them that feare God delighting in their society giving them the right hand of fellowship and with the hand the heart separating from the fellowship of the uncircumcised and profane as the Jews medled not with the Samaritanes Doest thou professe circumcision and grace by Christ but oppose and pursue the professours of Christian religion as Ismael him that was borne after the promise A plaine signe all thy circumcision was made with hands Thy body was washed with water of Baptisme but thy heart is unwashed untouched with any water of saving grace 6. In that was a joyning and admittance to the outward worship of God and externall communion in all holy things so here thou art become a true worshipper not outwardly in the letter and ceremony but inwardly in spirit and truth A Iew within Rom. 2. 29. Phil. 3. 3. We are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Hee that worships formally for fashion for Law and in the meane time can contemne the power of godlinesse cannot away with inward watchfulnesse sincerity strictnesse though by Baptisme he be brought to the externall communion of the Church in holy things all is but in the letter without all circumcision of the heart 7. In that was much rejoycing as in a great priviledge and the Jew did much boast and beare himselfe upon this prerogative partly upon the externall worke partly on their distinction by it partly because it manifested them sonnes of Abraham according to the flesh and much was their praise among men But true circumcision rejoyceth not in Abraham but in Christ hath no confidence in the flesh but renounceth all outward things and settles his rejoycing in Christ alone and his merits counting all other things drosse and dung in comparison of him Let the Jew trust in Circumcision by the worke wrought as our Judaizing Papists doe in their Sacraments Let him glory of Abraham his father Ioh. 8. 33. that hee is beloved because the seed of Abraham Wee are chosen in Christ not in Abraham In him we have atonement and become a beloved people and not in Abraham In him wee come boldly to the throne of grace and speed in our suits In him we glory all day long We trust not in good meanings as simple ignorant persons nor in merits as wilfull blinded Papists nor in any thing within us nor without us nor without Christ. All our joy and trust is in himselfe alone And this is
the same commandement to the young man and to the disciples of leaving all and following him it is an impossible taske to the one yet in his naturall estate but an easie yoke to the other who with the commandement receive some secret power to draw them to obedience Let the word command an angry furious naturall man to forgive his neighbour that wrongs him and blesse him that curseth him and doe good for evill and recompence love for hatred Oh this is an impossible commandement and flesh and blood cannot possibly brooke it and indeed he must be more then flesh and blood that can heare it hee must have a spirit subduing his will unto the will of God Let God speake as hee did to Abraham to a man unconverted Offer me up now not thy sonne but thy sin thy deare lusts thy Usury thy revenge swearing lying thy Herodias thy Dalilah thy darling thy pride take the knife into thy hand and with thine owne hands kill it sacrifice it let out the life blood of it Oh what grutching gainsaying rising up against the word and him by whom God commandeth Every naturall mans sin is his Isaac his childe his best beloved his joy and laughter hee cannot spare him hee cannot part with him Though the Lord bee in never so great haste and earnest they bee not so hasty as to rise up with Abraham early in the morning to offer up their sinnes a plaine evidence that as yet their nature was never changed but they are in their sinnes Rule II. In dangerous and difficult or costly commandements propp up thy faith with consideration of Gods power and truth So did Abraham in this difficult commandement when hee might have considered of a thousand strong hinderances he strengthened his faith by this Heb. 11. 19. hee considered that God was able to raise him up even from the dead whence after a sort hee received him Thus he supported his faith in that word of promise Rom. 4. 20 21. hee considered not Sarahs dead body but was fully assured that God whom hee beleeved who quickeneth the dead verse 17. who had promised was also able to doe it These two props upheld him even the full assurance of Gods truth in promises and power in performing them In duties of apparant danger the casting an eye on Gods truth and power will bring them forward else they never come on Dan. 3. 17. Our God is able to deliver us and hee will but if not c. So in the time of danger and deepe distresse cast thy selfe on the might and truth of God who quickneth the dead who can say to the dead live and they shall live In duties chargeable if thy obedience must cost thee some part or the whole of thy estate looke on Gods power and goodnesse So the Prophet to Amaziah 2. Chron. 25. 9. what shall we doe for the hundreth talents The Lord is able to give thee more then this Object But I know not whether he will Sol. Faith assures it selfe there is never any losse in obeying God It knows the way to keepe Isaac is to give up Isaac It hath a promise whosoever forsaketh house lands c. for Christ hee shall have an hundreth fold II. In both we have a notable type of our resurrection Isaac was raised the third day as from the dead but Christ indeed raised not as Isaac for himselfe but as an head for his body and members Which assureth us 1. That wee shall rise out of all pety deaths and dangers for our head is aboue water Though the billowes of afflictions inward and outward may rinse us and run over us yet they shall not drowne us because our head is aloft They may threaten and affright us but shall not drowne and destroy us we shall wade out well enough because they can never goe over our head any more 2. That we shall at the last day rise from all the death of mortality and corruption in which argument the Apostle is large to proove that because Christ the head is risen the members must also rise againe 1. Cor. 15. 12. For 1. Can or will a living and powerfull head be alwayes dismembred and sundred from the body 2. Because Christ rose not as a private person as Isaac did but as the first fruits of them that slept verse 20. 3. Because Christ in his resurrection is opposed to the first Adam verse 21 For as by the first Adam comes death on all so by the second Adam resurrection from the dead This is a sure propp and stay against all the miseries and occurrences of this life and against the bitternesse of death and horrour of the grave that we are assured of a better resurrection else were wee of all men most miserable verse 19. III. A sweet consolation God watched every motion in both these Isaacs offering how farre Abraham should goe how long to the lifting up of the knife and where he should stay and when was fit to say doe the boy no hurt So hee watched the executioners the crucifiers how farre they should proceed with Christ but stayed them from breaking his bones and kept him from seeing corruption So when Gods time and terme is come the affliction and afflicter shall goe no farther a voice at length shall come and say Stay thy hand doe him no hurt IV. Both were delivered but not till the third day the one when the knife was up the other being dead and hopelesse at least in the account of men as appeared by the words of the disciples which were going to Emmaus Hence wee learne to make this use for the strengthening of our faith Then to looke for helpe and deliverance when the case is desperate and in humane sence we are gone There is life in this comfort which assureth us of life even in death as Hos. 6. 2. After two dayes he will revive us and in the third day he will raise us up and wee shall live in his sight In all wants and extremities let Abrahams voice to Isaac comfort thee God will provide If Isaac see Abrahams sword in the one hand and fire in the other ready to deuoure him yet a little while and the sword shall bee put up and the fire shall take another object So the faithfull sonnes of Abraham seeing God the Fathers sword of justice drawne against them and the fire of his fury ready to consume them yet at length shall see by Christ the sword put up and the fire of wrath turned againe into a flame of love and grace Faith hath a cheerefull voice God will prouide Unbeleefe is full of repinings and murmurings Oh how should I be prouided for in this or that I see no meanes c. Here the difference holds which was betweene the ten spies and the two Num. 13. If thou see not the meanes for thy deliverance goe to the Mountaine there is a Ramme for Isaac hasten thy obedience and God
present Moses in types and shadows Christ in body and truth Moses to one nation the Jews Christ taught all nations the true worship Moses doctrine accuseth woundeth Iohn 5. 45. Christs doctrine justifieth healeth c. III. In his passion and suffering 1. Moses being to deliver the Law fasted forty dayes and forty nights in the Mountaine alone Christ being to preach the Gospell fasted so long in the wildernesse alone 2. Moses comming armed with authority for the Hebrews good was rejected both in his person and doctrine and message The Hebrew could say who made thee a iudge Exod. 2. 14. And Pharaoh will not hearken Exod. 7. 4. Nay Pharaoh raged and oppressed the more Our true Moses comming to save the Jews sped no better for thus they protested aginst him Wee have no King but Caesar Ioh. 19. 15. And we will not have this man to raigne over us Yea his gracious words and potent works were still contemned and envyed by the wicked Scribes and Pharisees as at this day by all the wicked in the world and there is no stilling of the rage of the Devill and his instruments where Christ is truely preached 3. Moses refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and left the Court of Pharaoh to be partaker of the afflictiōs of Gods people Heb. 11. Christ descended from the glory of Heaven to save his elect and to suffer with them and for them as Moses could not doe Yea he tooke on him our infirmities and sorrowes and on earth refused his right to be a King when they would have made him because his Kingdome was not of this world 4. Both were willing to dye at Gods commandement both went up into a mount to dye Moses on mount Abarim Christ on Golgotha Both carefull to supply their absence to their people Moses by appoynting Ioshua his successor Christ by sending his spirit to lead his people into all truth IV. In sundry particular actions 1. Moses lift up the Serpent in the wildernesse So was Christ lift up Ioh. 3. 14. 2. Moses obtained flesh in the wildernesse to feede many thousands So Christ in the desert fed many thousands with a few loaves and fishes 3. Moses marryed an Aethiopisse a stranger blacke Christ marrieth the Gentiles strangers and in the Encomium of his Church it is said I am black but comely Cant. 1. 4. 4. Moses sweetened the bitter waters of Marah by the tree cast in Exod. 15. 25. Christ sweetens our afflictions by the wood of his Crosse Heb. 2. 10. 5. Moses was called a God Aarons God for directing him in things of God Exod. 4. 16. and Pharaohs God Exod 7. 1. for executing on him as God Gods judgements But Christ is indeed God most wise in counsell most potent in revenge 6. Moses delivered Israel thorow the Red-sea by his Rod Exod. 14 So Christ his Church from death by his Crosse through the red-sea of his blood 7. Never was God so clearly seene by the eye of flesh as to Moses who talked face to face But never did creature see his face but Christ Ioh. 1. 18. 8. As Moses was transfigured on an hill Sinai and so glorious as Israel could not behold his face So was Christ on mount Thabor so as his disciples were amazed and wist not what they said 9. As Christ after death rose most gloriously So Moses body after his death was most gloriously raised in which hee was talking with Christ on the Mount in his transfiguration Matth. 17. 2. 10. Moses face was covered with a vaile Our Moses with the vaile of his flesh hid the glory of his Deity and put on vilenesse instead of majesty that men might behold him and see and heare him and beleeve I. The doctrine of religion which wee teach is of God 1. Wee teach no other then what Moses taught nor no other then what Jesus Christ taught the one being faithfull as a servant the other as the sonne in the house For as there were not two Churches of the old and new Testament So is there but one faith one doctrine in substance onely differing in manner of delivery 2. This doctrine was perfectly fully and faithfully delivered to the Church seeing both were so faithfull If there be a doctrine of traditions unwritten if a doctrine of merits of purgatory of intercession of Saints then was Christ unfaithfull and did not reveale the whole will of his Father Paul a servant revealed the whole will of God Acts 20. 27. Was the Sonne lesse faithfull 3. This doctrine is fully and sufficiently confirmed by many and mighty miracles both in Moses the servant and in Christ the Sonne and being no new doctrine it needs no new miracles It is too idle to call for other miracles when they cannot proove that wee bring any other doctrine If wee should bring in strange and lying doctrines never knowen to Moses or Christ as they doe wee would cast about for lying wonders and pretend fabulous miracles to prove them as they doe II. Whatsoever office or function God sets thee in bee faithfull so was Moses the servant so was Christ the Sonne Hast thou an high place in Gods house as Moses be faithfull see 1. Tim. 1. 12. Art thou but a doore-keeper in Gods house bee faithfull in faithfull performing of whatsoever God reveales to bee his will Hast thou received any talent lay it out to thy Lords advantage else canst thou not bee faithfull Let thy care and study be to bee found not onely faultlesse but faithfull in all things according to thy Christian profession that faithfulnesse may bee thy praise and crowne in Magistracy Ministery private life in the whole practise of religion and also thy comfort living and dying when the Lord shall witnesse unto thee as to Moses in his life time Numb 12. 7 8. and dead Deut. 34. 5 10. Moses the servant of the Lord died and there arose no such Prophet III. Labour to expresse the fruit of faith Heb. 11. 26. to preferre the state of Gods people above all earthly profits and prerogatives account the despised condition of the Saints above the admired happinesse of wicked men Moses would joyne himselfe to them when hee might have beene in the height of honour Christ would not be in heaven without them but endured more affliction then Moses could to enjoy them Hence observe foure sorts of people that are not of Christs nor of Moses minde 1. Politicians who take the honour and profit of the Gospel but will none of the afflictions of Christ. 2. Proud persons who will not looke so low as on afflicted Christians 3. Temporizer◠that looke a squint on them if any suffer for well-doing 4. Scorners that despise the society and exercises of Gods people as too base company and courses for them Let all such know 1. That Christ in heaven scornes them not nor withdraws himselfe from them yea heaven would not please him without them 2. That the
Christ to Moses of grace to the Law and of the new Testament to the Old 2. To the perfections For in the choice of the Priest were requisite many externall perfections Levit. 21. 17. Whosoever of thy seed hath any blemishes shall not prease to offer the bread of his God Hee must not be blind lame nor mishapen Wherein the Lord would not onely provide for the dignity of that calling in that infancy of the Church which otherwise if the Priesthood had beene in outward shew contemptible many might have drawen not their persons onely into contempt but even all such holy things as they handled But especially to signifie Jesus Christ our high Priest to bee without all blemish the onely immaculate Lambe that takes away the sinnes of the world For although no other mortall man could be without some blemish of sinne or other yet it became us to have such an high Priest as is holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners Hebr. 7. 26. And as our Lord was spotlesse and without all blemish so also perfect in all parts and perfections He wanted no part no gift no sufficiency to discharge that function too weighty for men and Angels I. In this our unblemished high Priest wee have a sufficient cover for all our blemishes both of soule and body 1. If never so blemished in soule by sinne by infirmity if wee have a thousand wants and eye-sores if we bewaile and resist them here is helpe and remedy in our high Priest against them all For as those persons that had such blemishes might not stand at the Altar to doe duties there yet they were allowed in the Congregation and to eate from the Altar of the sacrifices as the Preists did Levit. 21. 22 So all defects and weaknesses which the Saints carry as a burthen shall not hinder them from participating in the good things purchased by Christs sacrifice nor cast them out of place of the elect neither here nor for ever 2. Be thou never so blemished and deformed or maimed in body now the truth being come God respects not according to the outward appearance And although the honour of the Ministery must bee respected and the choisest of our children are not too good for Gods service yet now it is farre better a good Minister without an eye or a hand or foot then a Congregation without a good Minister II. All these outward perfections of the body in all the Priests high and low point us to such endowments and gifts of minde which the Lord expects in Ministers before they attempt this high calling 1. He of all men must not bee blind or ignorant Hos. 4. 6. Because thou hast refused knowledge thou art rejected from being a Priest to me How should he be a light to others that himselfe is in darknesse If the eye bee darke so is all the body 2. Hee must not have either a blind or a blemished eye an eye filled with envie at another mans gifts and prosperity Nor a squint eye looking indirectly upon every thing not aiming at Gods glory or the building of Christs Kingdome but his owne glory wrath lusts ends 3. He must not be lame or cripled in his feet but make right steps to his feet Heb. 12. 13. Upright in his way not right doctrine onely but right life also 4. Hee must not have a flat nose that is without discretion or judgement to discerne truth and falsehood good and evill things fit and unfit As the nose discernes smells so to discerne companies and courses 5. Hee must not have a crooked backe bended downwards and almost broken with earthly cares hindering his eye from looking towards heaven and interrupting heavenly contemplations and studye And so in the rest Would God such care were had in the choice and permission of Evangelicall Ministers as in the Old We should not see the Churches pestered with so many unworthy illiterate men fitter for any trade then this so holy calling Sect. II. II. His consecration set downe Exo. 29. 1. wherein were three thiâ—gs 1. Washing 2. Anointing 3. â— Sacrificing and purifying with blood And this consecration to continue seven dayes together Which in generall shadowed the surpassing sanctity and purity of Christ above all other men and Angels Whom the devills themselves call that holy One of God Mark 1. 24. In speciall verse 4. the washing did not onely admonish them to cleanse and purge themselves from the inward defilement of their sinnes before they undertooke that holy calling but plainly pointed at the washing and Baptisme of Christ who undertaking his Ministery went into the water and was baptized Mat. 3. The anointing by the holy Oyle verse 7. signified the anointing of Christ with the holy Spirit without measure Isai. 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord hath anointed me to preach Psal. 45. 7. God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oile of gladnesse above all thy fellowes In which regard Christ was called by eminency the anointed of God and the Priests as types touch not mine anointed In this anointing 1. The matter holy Oile signifying the Spirit of God and his gifts for much similitude and agreement betweene them 1. That was made of the most precious things in all the world Exod. 30. 25 So the holy graces of the Spirit are the best things in the world Luk. 11. 13. there is no gift to this Oile swimmes aloft So the Spirit and graces are highest 2. No stranger had that Oile but onely persons and things sanctified So none but Gods Elect have these precious and saving mercies Ioh. 14. 17. The world cannot receive it that is gifts not common but of sanctification 3. That perfumd all the place where it was It is the Spirit of God that sweetens and perfumes all our actions and natures otherwise most corrupt and loathsome to God 4. That sanctified the thing to which it was applied and set it aside to an holy use Without this Oile the sacrifice of the Jew was as if hee had killed a dog It is the Spirit that sets us apart and sanctifieth to the Lord us our persons our actions 2. Tim. 2. 21. The service that wants the spirit is hatefull to God 5. Oile is cleare and shining and makes other things anointed to shine The holy Ghost within enlightneth the mind and brings in the true light and knowledge of God 1. Ioh. 2. 27. the anointing shall teach you all things 6. Oile hath the force of fire in penetrating and subtly pearcing and is the fuell and feeder of fire and flames So the Spirit of God is a pearcing fire in the heart and kindles and maintaines in it the ardent flames of the love of God Holy thoughts as sparkes flie upward 7. Oile suppleth cherisheth comforteth So the Spirit of consolation anoints with oile of gladnesse Psal. 45. 7. It is he that brings peace and tranquillity into consciences 2. The measure powred in abundance upon Aarons
a Minister of the Circumcision was also to receive Circumcision himselfe which was shadowed in all their Circumcisions 2. in their shedding of blood by Circumcision was represented to their eyes the shedding of Christs blood not onely in the first fruits of his bloodshed in his Circumcision which was a part of his humiliation and a parcell of the price payed for our sins but also the full powring out of all his blood in sacrifice upon the Crosse wherein the Circumcision of Christ was fully accomplished 3. was shadowed their duty also that having shed the first fruits of their blood in Circumcision in obedience to God they should be ready to shed all their blood for him whom they expected to shed all his blood for them 3. A distinguishing signe of the Jewes from all other people who were without God without Christ and they onely a chosen seed in that blessed seed in whom all their prerogatives were conferred and established 4. A demonstrative signe 1. of the naturall sinne and disease of man and therefore it was placed in the generative part to admonish Abraham and his posterity of their uncleannesse for things cleane need no Circumcision nor ablution Abraham and his seed must be led out of themselves 2. to demonstrate the cure and remedy by the Messiah to come cleansing our natures two waies 1. by bearing upon himselfe the imputation of our impurities 2. by healing them in us partly by his merit and bloody death bestowing a perfect righteousnesse upon us partly by his Spirit daily sanctifying and circumcising our hearts thus hath this Sacrament preached Christ unto us Now the observations to make it usefull I. Take notice of our owne estate to humble us both in state of nature and in state of grace I. In our nature wee are all sprung out of a corrupted seed which although we would forget yet the Lord in this Sacrament tooke care that his people should carry upon their bodies the signe of sinne and death seazing upon their whole nature In place of which comes our Baptisme presently after our birth shewing that a man in his very first frame is filthily polluted and goeth astray even from the wombe Psa. 58. 3. Whence also it is called Originall sinne 1. because it hath beene from the beginning of the world 2. because it is the originall and beginner of all sinne in us it is the first of all our sinnes 3. from our beginning even from our conception Psa. 51. I was conceived in iniquity and we from it called the children of wrath that is laid under wrath even from our childhood Eph. 2. 3. 2. After grace received see the weakenesse of our faith Abraham the father of the faithfull needeth this pledge and seale to support his weake and shaking faith Who can say my faith is strong enough which is ever imperfect in the best who know but in part and beleeve but in part Why else did the Lord appoynt the use of Sacraments to the strongest beleevers and that all their life long but to put them in minde of the weakenesse of their faith which needeth such continuall props and supports Neither is it marvell that men are so heavy to the reverent receiving of the Sacrament because they see no want no neede no benefit of faith they feele not the weakenesse of faith which would breed desire of strength and drive them to the diligent use of the meanes II. If Christ be the truth of circumcision then every Christian in the new Testament must be circumcised as necessarily as the Jewes in the old And though the ceremony and act of circumcision bee worne out yet the truth of circumcisiō as neerely belongs to us now adayes as of old it did unto them In whom wee are circumcised through the circumcision of Christ speaking of the Gentiles converted unto Christ. In which words the Apostle plainely distinguisheth between Jewish circumcision and Christian between legall circumcision and Evangelical between Moses his circumcision and Christs Here 1. What this Evangelicall circumcision is 2. the difference from Legall 3. the marks and notes of it 4. the motives This Christian Circumcision is described Col. 2. 11. to bee a putting off the sinfull body of the flesh that is in plaine termes the mortification of the body of sinnes that are in the flesh For the truth and kernell of Circumcision never stood in the cutting off a peece of skinne that was but the shell of it but in cutting off the lusts of the heart and life and parting from corruptions of nature which rebell against the Spirit And this wee have in Christ alone being as farre beyond the Circumcision of the old Testament as the truth useth to excell the type as far as Christ is beyond Moses or heaven above earth This renovation of minde was 1. signified by that Ceremony 2. promised by every Circumcised person The difference betweene this Evangelicall and that Legall Circumcision is 1. In the efficient That was appoynted by God to bee made with hands but this is a wonderfull worke without hands done by the finger of God himselfe The mortification of sinne is so honourable a worke as the hand of man and Angells cannot do it 2. In the subject That was wrought upon the seed of Abraham according to the flesh this onely upon Abrahams seed according to the faith upon beleevers and members of Christ. That upon the Jew without this upon the Jew within That upon Ismael as well as Isaac here no Ismaelite is circumcised That was Circumcision of the naturally borne and males onely of Jews onely this is of the supernaturally borne againe male or female Jew or Gentile for in Christ all are one 3. In the proper seat That was ceremoniall in the flesh this morall in the heart In that a naturall part was wounded in this the very corruption of nature That dealt with flesh in substance this with the body of flesh in quality 4. In the end In that every man was circumcised in himselfe and his blood shed to fulfill the rite of the Law in this all beleevers men and women are in Christs blood once circumcised to fulfil the rigour of the Law 5. In the effect By that the person was received into the society of Gods people according to externall profession by this the sinner is received into inward and eternall fellowship with God and into communion with Gods people 6. In the latitude or extent In that the Priest circumcised in one part of the body in this Christ our high Priest circumciseth the whole man In that one beloved part was cast away with griefe and sorrow in this the whole corruption of nature and all beloved sinnes with no lesse griefe and sorrow of heart for them 7. In the durance and continuance That was temporary but till the comming of Christ who razed the type and raised the truth but this is to continue for ever
to the excellency of meanes but by weake and unlikely meanes effects his great works And therefore that which had no power of cure in it selfe must cure and heale that the worke may be knowen to be his and not the meanes 2. The lower and baser the meanes are the better may the Israelites be led through them and so beyond them It was not the will of God that they should rest in the brazen serpent which had no power of cure but through it bee led by faith vnto the Messiah who onely could cure them 3. Though it was of brasse yet it was strong and signified Jesus Christ how weake soever in mens eyes yet was hee first the mighty and strong God secondly powerfull and able to deliver his people thirdly most invincible and potent also against all his enemies he is a wall of brasse and his strength is as the strength of brasse Reuel 1. 15. 4. Being of brasse as it was strong so was it shining and bright signifying Christ in respect of his divine and eternall generation truely shining and glorious Hee was the brightnesse of his Father Heb. 1. 3. the very brightnesse of the glory of God excelling all the Angels in heaven in their clearest glory and brightnesse Revel 1. 16. 5. As that serpent so shined that the Israelites might look upon it and their eyes not dazled so this great glory was so vailed by his flesh and humility as we the Israel of God might behold it yea approch it and fetch our salvation and happinesse from it 2. It resembled Christ in the forme for the forme was of a serpent First a serpent is of an hatefull and contemptible shape and appearance so was Christ in his owne habite Isai. 53. a despised man a worme rather then a man men saw no beauty in him but hid their eyes Secondly the serpent was accursed of God So Christ lay under the curse of sinne for us Gal. 3. 13. Thirdly that was but like a serpent in the forme of a serpent not a serpent it had onely the shape not the life sting nor poison of a serpent So Jesus Christ was the similitude of sinfull flesh but no sinner No venim or poison of sinne was found in him neither in his nature nor actions Rom. 8. 3. hee was in the similitude of sinfull flesh as that of a serpent but without all sting or spot of sinne The third thing in the appointment is the end or use of the serpent It must bee lift up upon a pearch that all Israel might see it Which plainly noteth both the kind of death which Christ must suffer as also the proper end and vertue of it as in these particulars 1. Both must bee lifted up So Christs crucifying is called an exaltation from the earth Ioh. 12. 32. 2. Both must be exalted upon wood the Pole a type of the Crosse of Christ. 3. Both among the Jews out of the Church is no salvation 4. Both to be looked upon one with the eye of the body the other with the eye of faith 5. Both to recover health and life one of body the other of soule one frees from corporall death the other from spirituall and eternall II. The applying of this remedy was nothing but the looking upon the brazen serpent which signified the sinners beholding of Jesus Christ for his cure The meanes of application of the remedy was the eye of the Israelite So the instrument of applying the remedy by Jesus Christ is the eye of faith which is the eye of the soule So our Saviour Christ himselfe expoundeth it Ioh. 3. As the brasen Serpent was lift up so shall the son of man that whosoever beleeveth in him c. That which Moses calls looking on the type Christ calls beleeving in himselfe the truth Which if the Lord had not purposed to expresse he could as easily have remooved the Serpents as appointed the making of another and as easily have healed them by his word as by this signe but hereby affords them a double mercy and cure one of the body by the signe another of their soules by the thing and truth thereby signifyed III. From this application followes a saving effect The Israelite by looking lived and received present ease with freedome from paine and poyson So the beleever looking on Christ by the eye of faith hath an heavenly life restored present ease from the paine of a guilty and accusing conscience freedome from the poyson of sinne both the guilt and staine of it But herein the truth is advanced above the type 1. That brazen Serpent had not power in it selfe to cure this hath power in it selfe 2. Whereas they were cured to dye againe beleevers attaine a sound cure never to dye more Ioh. 11. 26. 3. Whereas that did not alwaies retaâ—â—e the vertue of curing our brazen Serpent doth ever retaiâ—e power and vertue for the salvation of beleevers looking towards him to the end of the world 4. Wheras this brasen Serpent now a remedy against poyson was after turned to poyson the Israelites in Hezekiahs time which made him stampe it to powder our brazen Serpent ever remaineth the soveraigne and healing God as unchangeable in his goodnesse as hee is in his most holy and divine nature 5. That remained a great while about seaven hundred and threescore yeares but after was defaced and destroyed Our brazen Serpent can never bee defaced or destroyed but abides the Saviour of sinners to all eternity Oh now what a sweet Sermon doth this one type containe of the whole summe and marrow of the Gospell what a pregnant testimony and vaticinie is it alone of the death and passion of Jesus Christ as also of the vertue and merit of the same and consequently what a prop and stay of our faith what a goade and spurre to drive us to Jesus Christ in whose name alone wee can bee saved Sect. 3. I. Note What weake and contrary meanes the Lord useth to effect great things for his Church and in his Church Was there any sence or reason to be conceived in all this counsell and ordinance of God in healing thus his people 1. Could a Serpent of brasse a shape only more heale then hurt them 2. Could a dead Serpent prevaile against so many living and fiery Serpents 3. Shall not this shape and image of a Serpent be so much as touched or applyed to the wound but the sight of it onely a farre off cure a mortall wound really inflicted How inconceivable is this to humane reason which perhaps would count it foolish and ridiculous But the Lord though he might by many other more mighty and likely meanes will by no other meanes effect their deliverance He that brought in the Serpents could as easily have remooved them if not that yet he might have hindered them from biting them or hee might powerfully of the same poyson have made a remedy but he chooseth most unlikely meanes Qu.