reasonable sacrifice to God Rom. 12. 1. willingly mortifying all the deeds of the flesh and denying and renouncing all fleshly lusts and affections which are as neat and as dear unto thee as the parts of the body So Col. 2. 11. it must be a putting off the sinnefull body implying not a suffering it onely to be 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 sinnefull body of flesh and be more than a meer patient 2. As there the whole body was wounded in one part so see the whole body of sinne be 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 work 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 guarded 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 be circumcised Act. 7. 51. the Jewes are reproved for uncircumcised eares All sinnes of the eare must be circumcised and that is done in opening them to hear God and good instruction and shutting them against slanders false tales wicked counsels doctrines of liberty and the like 3. Circumcise thy lips which then are so when they are able to speak 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 unclean speech unmortified 4. All sinnes of the eye must be circumcised by making Covenant with this member not suffering the eye to be envious covetous wanton scornfull adulterous And so examine all the parts that no sinne be peaceably admitted without drawing bloud 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 pain of spirit pricking in the heart as in the Converts Act. 2. 37. which makes the circumcised mourn 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 sorrow 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 sorrowfull to the child of God who will judge and condemne himselfe and dares not stand out the threats of the Law as many contemptuous rebels do An hard and secure heart is an uncircumcised heart good Josiah 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 againe 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 sinnes saying to them as Ephraim to his idols Hos. 14. 9. get ye hence what have ye to do here with resolute purpose never to give them entrance or entertainment more Those that fall to their former sinnes as who forget they were washed like dogs and swine were never circumcised The skin once cut off died for ever such a dying to sinne must be 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 prophane as the Jewes 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 born 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 worshiper not outwardly in the letter and ceremony but inwardly in spirit and truth A Jew within Rom. 2. 29. Phil. 3. 3. We are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit He that worships formally for fashion for Law and in the mean time can contemne the power of godlinesse cannot away with inward watchfullnesse 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 dross and dung in comparison of him Let the Jew trust in Circumcision by the work wrought as our Judaizing Papists do in their Sacraments Let him glory of Abraham his father Joh. 8. 33. that he is beloved because the seed of Abraham We are chosen in Christ not in Abraham In him we have atonement and become a beloved people and not in Abraham In him we 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 true inward Circumcision Phil. 3. 3. The Motives are 1. All outward service and Ceremony without this is rejected as preaching hearing praying fasting weeping All thy service and labour is lost if by the Spirit of God thy mind be not renewed and faith and conversion wrought in the heart For as the Jewes being circumcised were chalenged to be uncircumcised though they had the fore-skinne of the flesh cut off and had the
wholly out of thy self and all other 300 Look onely unto Christ and that two wayes 302 How this looking cures us by faith and how by faith 303 Markes of one cured by looking to Christ. 304 Four qualities of the eye that lookes to him ibid. Motives to look up to our Serpent 306 Use of comfort in five particulars 307 In this Treatise are two things 1 The Introduction chap. 1. where 1 Propositions concerning the Church of God 2 Reasons of the ancient Ceremonies 2 The Treatise it self c 2. where 1 Christ is figured in holy persons 1 Singular eleven cap. 2 -12 2 Rankes and orders of men separated and sanctified 1 By birth the First-born c. 13. 2 By office the Priests c. 14 Deputation Execution 3 By vow the Nazarites c. 15 4 By ceremony Clean persons c. 16. 2 He is figured in holy things c. 17. 1 Ordinary Sacraments 1 Circumcision c. 18 2 Passeover c. 19. 2 Extraordinary answerable to 1 Circumcision Baptism 2 1 Pillar of Cloud Fire c. 2 2 Red Sea c. 21. 2 Passover and Lords Supper 2. 1 Manna froÌ„ heaveÌ„ c. 22 2 Water out of the Rock c. 23 Adde hereunto the Brazen Serpent c. 24. CHRIST REVEALED JOHN 14. 6. J am the Truth CHAP. I. HAving formerly delivered that Christ is Truth as opposed to falsehood we are now to shew that he is Truth as opposed to the shadows and figures of the old Law In the entrance into which Treatise we must premise some Propositions I. That the Lord decreed to have always a Church upon the face of the earth for the upholding of which he upholds the world For 1. He will have his name confessed and praised as well in earth as in heaven 2. He will maintaine his publike worship by it to distinguish heathenish Idolaters from true Worshippers 3. To prepare true beleevers in this Church militant to that Church triumphant and to set and polish them as living stones in this mount of the Church for that heavenly mountaine and temple II. For the effecting of his purpose he hath decreed that the doctrine of salvation by Jesus Christ would be sounded out in the Church together with the doctrine of the Law that partly the right way of his shorship and partly the way of salvation might be made known and opened to beleevers III. By the Gospel the Lord hath revealed the Covenan of grace which is in substance but one as God is but one and Christ is but one who is the substance of it As there is but one hope of one eternall life the end of the Covenant and one faith which is the mean to lead to that end Ephes. 4. vers 5. IV. Christ and his doctrine the Covenant being the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. for substance altereth and differeth onely in the form and manner of dispensation according to which it is diversly propounded in the old Testament and New In the former propounded as of the Messiah to come from Adam unto his Incarnation In the latter as of the Saviour allready come and so embraced in the Church from his first comming to his second comming againe V. So long as Christ was to come it pleased God to train his Church by an heap of Ceremonies rites figures and shadows to strengthen their Faith in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of him Of which multitude of Ceremonies if more â—pâ—â—â—ll reasons be demanded These may be given 1. The nonage and infancy of that Church which was not capable of such high mysteries but was to be taught by their eyes as well as their eaâ—s And therefore it pleased God to put the ancient Church even newly out of the Cradle under Tutors Gal. 4. 2. and appointed divers Types and Ceremonies as Rudâ—ments and Introductions vers 3. fitted to the grosse and weak fences of that Church which was to be brought on by little and little through such shadows and figures to the true Image and thing signified who in our Text calleth himselfe truth in opposition to all those shadowes Object But the weaker and duller they were the more need had they of clear instruction and God could have revealed Christ as clearly to them as to us Sol. But as the Lord had observed this method in creating the world he would have darknesse go before light and in upholding the world he would have dawning go before clear day So in the framing and upholding the Church he would have Christ exhibited to the Fathers as to the Wise men in swadling coluts which hid his glory He respected them as Children he erected for them in Jewry a little free-schoole set up in a corner of the World he appointed the Law of Moses as a Primer or A. B. C. in which Christ was to be shaddowed in dark and obscure manner he would that Christ should come to his brethren as Joseph to his who first obscured himself to them and afterwards made himself better known One compares it to Noahs 1. opening the window of the Arke 2. Removing the covering 3. Stepping forth himselfe II. Therein the wisedome of God provided for the further advancement of Christ and his Gospel which compared with the Law must be manifested in great brightnesse and glory Christ the Sonne must come in more glory than Moses the servant Hence John 1. 17. The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The Gospel is called grace not because under the Law the same grace was not preached but comparatively that was scarce grace to this which is more full more manifest as the light in the dawning is scarce light in comparison of light at noon-day There was grace but here is more grace 1. In manifestation The light of the Sunne is sevenfold and like the light of seven days as was prophesied Isai 30. 26. 2. In impleti on and accomplishment of that which was but a promise of grace in comparison Act. 13. 32. 3. In application and apprehension by beleevers in all Countries not onely in Judea 4. In the groth and perfection of faith and grace in the hearts of ordinary beleevers above them Hence Heb. 10. 1. the Law had but a shadow of good things to come and not the Image and truth it self that is It had a rude and dark delineation of good things to come as a draught made by a painter with a coale but the Gospel exhibites the picture it self in the flourish and beauty that is the truth and being of it Hence also Paul to the Col. 2 17. speaking of observances of the Ceremoniall Law saith they were but shadows of things to come but the body is Christ. Whence he would have us conceive 1. That as the body is the cause of the shadow and the cause more excellent than the thing caused So Christ was the cause of those Ceremonies and more excellent than they 2. As the shadow representeth the shape of the
shall never enjoy it in heaven IV. In the type and truth we have a sure argument of our resurrection Moses dead body hid in the valley of Moab none knew where appeared glorious on the hill Thabor in Christs transfiguration Christs body hid in the grave comes forth glorious and ascends glorious on mount Olivet Both teach that our boies are not lost but laid up and as sure as laid downe in basenesse shall rise in glory CHAP. VIII 7. IOSHUA A type of our true Joshua another Moses I. BOth Saviours For Joshua under the very same name is propounded a type of Christ. Both had the name Jesus both saved their people therefore Joshua is called Jesus Heb. 4. 8. the type from temporal and externall enemies the truth from spirituall and eternall II. In his calling 1. Both succeeded Moses who makes way to both 2. Both guides going before Gods people The type to the earthly Canaan the truth to the heavenly 3. Both led them into the land Joshua led the people not onely towards the land but into the promised land What was denied to Moses was granted to Joshua Moses might not enter nor those that had disobeyed but Joshua eâ—…eth and taketh possession for himself and for all the people So our Joshua hath taken possession and led us into the possession of our heavenly Canaan What Moses Law could not do for our infirmity Christ by his Gospel hath done for us That may shew us the way but this brings us to the ways eâ—d and gives us all our promised expectation Thus our Joshua carries us through from this wildernesse to our rest 4. Both divided the land and allotted to every man his portion Joshua having entered Canaan assignes everyone his portion Josh. 14. 1. Christ ascended unto heaven prepares for every beleever a place Joh. 14. 2. III. Both confirmed their calling with many miracles 1. Joshua being to passe over Jordan divides the waters and they gave way unto him Christ in the same Jordan divides the heavens Matth. 3. 16. and they testifie unto him verse 17. Joshua divides waters but he ascribes it to the power of the Lord of all the world Chap. 3. 13. But our true Joshua being that Lord and God of all the world by his owne power commanded the seas and they obeyed him 2. Joshua becompassing the walls of Jericho and the long blast of rammes hornes overthrew the walls of it Chap. 6. 5. Our Joshua by as weak and vile meanes in the eye of flesh even by the sound and blast of the Gospel shakes down dayly the high and thick walls of the Divell and Antichrists kingdome and of the Jericho of this world which resists the people of God in their passage to Canaan By the preaching of the Gospel typified by the sound of the trumpets our Joshua overthrowes the wisdome power seeming sanctity and whatsoever strength of flesh is opposed to the power of the Gospell 3. Whilst Joshua was destroying the enemies of God the Sunne in the heavens at his word stood still and stayd his course as a willing spectator of that businesse and deferred the night least he should want day to smite his enemies in Chap. 10. 12. So our Joshua whilst on the Crosse he was spoiling principalities and powers and opening the way to Canaan commanded the Sunne to stop his course and hide his face to witnesse to all the world the great work in hand that day Of both these dayes may be verified Josh. 10. 14. there was never before day like nor after it shall be IV. In his fortitude victory triumphs Both of them mightily miraculous miraculously triumphant 1. Joshua was the Judge and Captaine of Gods people the leader of his Armies the mighty conquerour of all the enemies that rose up and resisted them He subdued both princes and people of the Canaanites He set his foot on the necks of five Kings at once and slew them Chap. 10. 24. nay made his men of warre set their feete on their necks and trample them as dung and went on and in small time had slaine one and thirty kings with their armies Chap. 12. 10. Never had Israel so many enemies in their passage to Canaan as Gods people have unto that heavenly Canaan their countrey and rest typified by that Even all the gates of hell the rage of Satan the power of sinne the allurements of the world whole armies of temptations a troupe of pleasures honours profits on one hand a whole band of crosses and discouragements on the other a legion of lusts within our selves But our Joshua the mighty Captaine not onely of the Lords hosts but who is the Lord of hosts is described to sit on a white horse whose name is called Faithfull and true and he judgeth and fighteth righteously Rev. 19. 11. He hath valiantly triumphed over all enemies spoyled principalities and powers set his foot on their necks trodden Satan under his feet and made us tread him under our feet too If Joshua have slaine one and thirty kings Our Joshua hath slaine so many thousand Commanders 2. by meanes of Ioshuas faithfullnesse and fortitude not one word failed of all the good things which the Lord had said unto Israel but all came to passe Chap. 21. 45. and 23 14. So by meanes of our Ioshua all the promises of God concernig heaven and happinesse are accomplished which are all in him Yea and Amen Heaven and earth may faile but not one jote of Gods promise but his Ioshua will see it accomplished V. In sundry actions 1. Ioshua saved Rahabs house that had the red cord hung out at the window because they had saved the Spies Chap. 6. So Christ saves every penitent sinner that expresseth faith in his bloud and love to the true Israel of God especially his Ministers and Seers 2. He graciously accepted the Gibeonites when they humbly sued and intreated peace of him So a broken and a contrite heart our true Ioshua never despised He that offers repentant sinners grace before they seek it when they seek it will not deny it 3. When God by Ioshua had wrought that great miracle of stopping up the river Iordan till they passed over Chap. 4. 2. Ioshua commanded twelve men of Israel to gather twelve stones out of Iordan and set them up memorials of Gods great acts to all posterity So our Ioshua having wrought many mighty miracles for the confirmation of his holy doctrine commanded twelve men his twelve disciples by the preaching of the Gospel to erect through all the world a monument and memory of the wondrous workes of the Sonne of God in the working out of mans salvation and leading them to the heavenly Canaan I. What a fearfull thing it is to be an enemy of God and his Church Never was Joshua so mighty against the enemies of Israel not one of whom were he never so strong could stand before him as our Joshua is to
the sea so all beleevers by the death of Jesus Christ. 1. Let us not measure Gods works by carnall senses This made the two disciples going to Emaus Luk. 24. to make but a bad argument He is crucified and behold this is the third day therefore though we thought he should have redeemed Israel we are deceived Whereas faith would have made a clean contrary conclusion He is crucified and this is the third day therefore he is the Redeemer The Jewes not knowing the Scriptures and power of God are hardned against Jesus Christ expecting a great Emperour as Julius Caesar or some great Monarch not able to see that by so base a death life could be procured The carnall protestants are held off from the true embracing of Christ because they see the truth and sincerity of Christ every where so resisted and hated by great Rulers and Doctors as if it had not been so in Christs own person and Ministery or as if Christ was not set as a signe or butt of contradiction whereas therefore it must needs be he 2. Let us admire Gods power and wisedome and patiently with Jonah expect after darknesse light And seeing God can turne the greatest evill into the greatest good of his Church let us labour to make benefit of all evils hapning to our selves and others 1. Even of our sinnes themselves to make us more humble watchful for time to come 2. Of our sufferings as Jonah and Christ learned obedience by the things they suffered V. In the type and truth we have first terror on the one hand secondly comfort on the other 1. We see the weight of sinne committed pressed Jonah into the deepest sea of evills and sinne imputed thrust Christ into a deeper sea even the deepest hell Both seem left of God in the hands of death both cry out as left in the depth of hell 1. Do thou run from God and duty and though thou beest Gods childe thou maist find God pursuing thee as if he were an utter and irreconcileable enemy 2. Make as light a reckoning of sinne as thou canst the least of them shuts us or Christ out of heaven Doth Christ undertake thy sinne he sees not heaven till he die for it Sinne imputed will not let Christ enter into heaven but by his own bloud yea through hell Thy sinne repented of held Christ an innocent out of heaven till he died for it but where shall ungodly and impenitent sinners appear 2. This same collation affords us sundry grounds of comfort First both seem forsaken neither of them was so but both of them go to his God There is no time nor place wherein the child of God may not boldly goe to God and pray to his God and say My God my God Secondly no deepe is so deepe but Gods hand can reach helpe into it even into the Whales belly and heart of the earth Thirdly the extreamest misery and death it selfe work to good to the godly See it in Jonah Where was feared perdition there was found preservation The Whales belly was a prison indeed but to preserve him alive a deepe gulfe and a sea but to save him from drowning Can any man save a man from drowning by casting him into the Sea but God can Fourthly when the case seems most desperate then the Lord steps in to help When no helpe can be expected any other way after three dayes and three nights Jonah must be cast up and Christ raised up Never feare extreamities but then exercise thy faith most for then is God the nearest howsoever trust in him though he kill thee Job 13. 15. Fifthly the deepest sorrowes of Gods children end in greatest joy God hath a dry ground for Jonah after a sea of misery a glorious ascending for Christ after his lowest descent Whatsoever the sorrowful songs be that Gods people sing here in Egypt or Babel they shall end in songs of joy and victory and be changed into the songs of Moses and the Lambe Rev. 15. 3. CHAP. XIII The first-born Types of Christ 4. waies HAving spoken of holy types in sundry speciall persons now of personal types in some rankes and orders of men sanctified and specially separated to the Lord. Of whom 1. Some were sanctified by birth the first-borne 2. Some by office Priests especially the High-Priest 3. Some by vow as Nazarites 4. Some by ceremony as cleane persons legally cleansed from uncleanenesse Of these the first-borne were speciall types of Jesus Christ. 1. As they were Gods peculiar Exod. 13. 2. Sanctifie unto me all the first-born for it is mine Quest. How were they Gods Answ. 1. By common nature But so were all both first and last borne through the world For all the world and inhabitants of it are his Psal. 24. 1. 2. By common grace So all the people of the Jewes by reason of common grace were his with whom God had plighted his gratious covenant which was made to Abraham and all his seed wheresoever they were borne of whom he made choice as his peculiar though all the earth was his Exod. 4. 22. Israel is my first-borne that is not onely the first people and nation that first professed the true worship of God and had priority of the Gentiles who were younger brethren but the first-born by a special election and choice of that from all other people whom he would accept as his beloved in the Messiah the first-born of all creatures and among whom he would stablish his covenant and raise up his worship thus he dealt not with other nations 3. By a speciall right The first-born of Israel were Gods by a singular right as no other Children of any other family were namely by right of that singular deliverance of all the first-born when he destroyed all the first-born of Egypt And therefore presently after that destruction he makes challenge of them Exod. 13. 2. Thus is Jesus Christ the Lords first-born by a singular right not common to man or Angell whether we respect his nature or office 1. In his nature he is first-born as sonne of God the first begotten of all creatures Col. 1. 15. begot before all Creation And thus he is not onely the first begotten before whom there was none but the onely begotten after whom is none Joh. 1. 14. the onely begotten Sonne of the Father the first-born without a second or brother 2. In his office he was first-born by speciall prerogative 1. For the kind 2. For the undertaking 3. For the accomplishing 1. For the kind in that he was Mediator God and man in unity of person and the onely redeemer of his Church In this regard Rom. 8. 29. he is called the first-born among many brethren Which phrase noteth quality not equality with him some similitude but no parity between him and beleevers He holds his birth-right as the Sonne of God by nature and we by grace made the Sons of God he disdaines not to call us brethren
much to set a special time apart for it as such who out of sound judgement esteem we have sufficient cause once a year thus deeply to humble our selves For however the Jewes had daily expiatory sacrifices yet the Lord held it not superfluous to appoint them besides one set and solemne day of expiation So is it no lesse needfull for any Christian notwithstanding his daily humiliation to help himselfe in his repentance by one in a year at least day of more solemne expiation CHAP. XV. Nazarites Types of Christ. THe third order or ranke of holy persons types of Christ are the Nazarites who were sanctified by vow or speciall profession and not obscurely shadowing Jesus Christ the onely true and perfect Nazarite For I. The name Nazarite by which Christ must be according to the ancient prophecies called Matth. 2. 23. and in contempt was by the Jewes so stiled in the superscription of the Cross signifieth one separated and set apart from others and is ascribed to three sorts of men usually set above others 1. To such as are set apart for singular sanctimony as the high Priest whose crown of sanctification on his head is called Nezer Ezod 29. 6. 2. To such as in dignity and authority are separated from others as Kings whose royall Crown or diadem is called Nezer 2 Sam. 1. 10. I tooke the crowne that was upon his head 3. To such as were separated by some religious vow as to this order of the Nazarites whose hair increasing on their heads as an externall signe of their vow was called Nezer Numb 6. 18. By which order the Lord would have the eminent sanctity of Jesus Christ to be typified as well as his sacrifice and kingly office by Priests and Kings He was indeed the onely true Nazarite separated from sinners holy harmelesse and undefiled Heb. 7. 26. For 1. His profession was I am not of the world Joh. 8. 23. 2. He is called Dan. 9. 24. the holy of holies or the most Holy a title never ascribed to the most holy persons on earth by resemblance For as the holy of holies a type of Christ was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle and Temple and excelled both the outer and inner Court in holynesse So Jesus Christ surpassed not onely common men but the holiest of men as far as the sanctum sanctorum excelled both the sanctum and atrium His divine holinesse farre excelled the most pure Nazarites who yet are said Lam. 4. 7. to be purer than the snow and whiter than the milk 3. He was not of unholy made holy as they but he was alwaies holy and without all staine of sinne from the first moment for ever That holy thing which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost Matth. 1. 20. 4. His holinesse was not from any other but of and from himselfe whereas whosoever else have any holinesse it is from him 5. His holinesse was essentiall not accidentall as he was God and as he was man by the union of the manhood with his divine nature was bestowed upon him in full measure yea beyond measure and therefore is called fullnesse of grace and holiness Joh. 1. But in the most holy men this holinesse is a received quality by communicating of his spirit and that imperfectly and in small measure 6. They might be holy in part for themselves but could not impart that holinesse to others But Christ is not onely holy in himself but sanctifieth them the whole Chruch he being the originall and fountaine of all holiness They might be legally cleane in some actions but he was morally clean in all observations They in some passages of their life but he in his nature in his disposition and in the fulfilling of all righteousnesse II. Nazarites by the Law Numb 6. 2 3. must abstaine from wine and strong drink and all that commeth of the grape 1. Because they were to study the Law of God and the Lord will not have them meddle with any thing that might trouble their braine or unfit them to so holy studies 2. He would have them patterns of sobriety and temperance and restraine them from whatsoever might stirre up lust or occasion intemperance In which what else did they but shadow our Saviour Christ Who was a true Nazarite not in the letter and ceremony for he did drink wine and miraculously provided it for others yea ordained wine an element in the Supper that every Christian might drink it but in the morality and truth of the thing he was the onely perfect Nazarite Never was any so intent in study invocation preaching acting and suffering all things for our sake as he was Neither was any creature so abstinent and temperate as he was he fasted fourty daies and fourty nights and after that being hungry he would eat nothing till all his temptations in the wilderness were ended As of all other virtues so he was an unfailing pattern in this of holy abstinence and unviolated temperance III. The Nazarites were enjoyned to let their haire grow and no razor must come on their heads all the time of their vow and separation Numb 6. 5. By which ceremony the Lord intended two things 1. He would have them most unlike and contrary to the religious orders of the heathen Idolaters who usually nourished their haire to offer in sacrifice to their gods as in many examples I could shew But these must not diminish their haire all the time and when they cut it off they must burne it with fire 2. To be a meanes to avoide finenesse and delicacy in curious trimming of the head and care of the flesh which is a great enemy to religious thoughts and exercises So the Apostle implies the more care of the flesh the lesse of putting on Christ Jesus 3. Long haire in men is a signe of strength as in Sampson And by this Law the Lord would put them in mind that as they were to avoid effeminate softnesse and delicacy so to be manly strong and couragious in performing duties and resisting stoutly all the temptations and baites that might allure them from the duty undertaken As for our Saviour whom they shadowed it is not likely he nourished his hair because the Apostle saith it was in that age uncomely for men to have long haire If a man have long haire it is a shame unto him 1 Cor. 11. 14. And then are all the Romish Painters quite out who paint him with his haire lying round about his shoulders but Painters and Poets may lie by authority It was enough for him that he was a Nazarite in the truth and substance of that Law although not in the letter and outward ceremony of it In which respect how did he neglect himselfe who being the Lord of all denied himselfe of all rights and comforts He was so farre from all delicacy that with an utter refusall of all delights of flesh his whole intention was set on his function
So must thou get faith for thy vessel to passe thee through Faith in tryall is a great victory in the bottome of the Sea in deepest afflictions it is most glorious It is nothing to believe in prosperity but in desperation to believe in the bottome of the Sea to stand still yea in the bottome of hell to hope for heaven there is faith 2. To joyn to Gods people Let not the Egyptian think the way is made for him Except thou goest out with Israel as Exod. 12. 38. the sea will know thee for an Egyptian and cover thee 3. To get God their guide and to follow him Neither Noah upon the top of a world of seas nor Israel in the bottome of the sea shall miscarry if â—od become the Pilot. Follow thy guide goe on forward fear not rest in God for safety in extream danger and thou art the fittest for his help and deliverance See 2 Chron. 20. 12. We know not what to doe but our eyes are towards thee CHAP. XXII Manna a type of Christ. THere were among the Jewes two extraordinary Sacraments which sealed up unto believers their continual nourishment and preservation in grace by the free Covenant of God in the Messiah The former was Manna from heaven the latter the water out of the Rock Both of them most lively setting forth Jesus Christ the true bread and water of life to ancient and present believers In which sense the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 3 4. calleth them spirituall meat and spirituall drink The Story of Manna is recorded Exod. 16. 14. The proper application of which is in Joh. 6. 32. 48. where our Saviour shewes that he is the true Manna of which the other in the wildernesse was but a shadow and dark resemblance Now for opening this type we shall fruitfully consider two things I. Christ prefigured by it where we shall see an admirable and pleasant correspondence of the type with the truth and how Christ was not obscurely preached even in this one shadow to old believers II. Christ far preferred before this figure as became the truth to be set above the type I. For the resemblance consider Manna 1. in it self in 1. Quality 2. Quantity 2. in the Jews in their 1. Gathering 2. Use. Sect. I. I. The qualities of Manna considered in it self were six many of them miraculous 1. The Manna came down from heaven God in heaven prepared this food to satisfie the Jewes hunger so Jesus Christ is the true bread that came down from heaven all other bread is from earth but Christ is from heaven he hath God for his Father from whose bosome he is sent into the wildernesse of this world to satisfie the spiritual hunger of his people And as that was an admirable gift prepared by God for them and therefore they called it Manna so nothing was more freely prepared and given by God than Jesus Christ for the life of the world he came without the worlds seeking without merit and deserving yea or accepting for he came to his own and his own received him not And was not this miraculous above that that he which sent the Manna was the Manna which he sent 2. The taste of Manna was sweet and tasted like fresh oyle Numb 11. 8. or wafers baked with honey Exod. 16. 31. So nothing is so sweet as Jesus Christ to an afflicted and hungry heart The sweet promises of grace are sweeter than honey Psal. 19. 10. No fresh and sweet oyle can so cherish the face as they doe the heart which is able to apprehend the sweet consolations and joyes of the Spirit And as Manna tasted alike to all tastes and every whit of it was sweet and every mouth tasted the same sweetnesse as it never was in any other food in the world So onely Christ is the same to all that taste him and every whit of him is sweet even his yoak his Crosse and every mouth that tastes him can confesse him so to be 3. The figure of it was round a figure of perfection signifying Jesus Christ without beginning or end the first and the last most simple and sincere without any guileful corner or angle most infinite most perfect and fit to contain all perfections of grace meet for the head of the Church 4. The colour was white Exod. 16. 31. signifying the most holy and immaculate purity of Jesus Christ in his nature person and actions The holy One of God fairer than all the sonnes of men Psal. 45. 2. 5. The generality It was common to all the Israelites of what state soever So Jesus Christ is the common Saviour to rich and poor to master and servant bond and free and to all believing in his Name without respect of persons Acts 10. 34. There is neither male nor female but all are one in Christ Gal. 3. 28. 6. The continuance of it This was all the while they were in the wildernesse So Christ continues alwayes with his Church to the end of the world Mat. 28. 20. But when they came into Canaan it ceased for where ordinary bread was was no need of miraculous So when we come to our Canaan we shall gather no more Manna by the meanes of the Word and Sacraments neither yet shall we lose our Manna but mmediately enjoy Christ and see him face to face which the Apostle calls an open face 1 Cor. 13. 12. II. The quantity of Manna considered in itself resembled Christ in four particulars 1. It was a small grain as a little seed of Coriander verse 14. but full of yeald sweetnesse and nourishment So Jesus Christ was little and humble in his own eyes and in other mens eyes liker a worm than a man Little in his birth in his life in his death in his followers Very weak in shew and appearance but full of power strength and grace to sustain and uphold his Church full of nourishment sweetnesse and comfort to refresh his Church to eternal life 2. It was freely and abundantly given to Israel as the rain and fell down with the dew So Jesus Christ is freely given to the Church and in him abundant grace and plentiful redemption God never expressed such bounty nor ever opened the treasury of his rich grace in any thing so much as in giving his Christ who never comes any where without the sweet dewes of comfort joy and happy graces which distil from him into every believing heart 3. Manna fell every morning round about the campe and no where else and so much every morning as was sufficient for six hundred thousand men besides women and children signifying that Jesus Christ is no where to be found without the campe and bounds of the Church and that of his fulnesse all believers receive grace for grace and that in Christ is sufficiency of merit for all his Church and there need other supply for health and safety of soule but out of this heap 4. It fell on the
might draw out of this well-head waters of joy and abundant consolation The mighty power of God which we had deserved to be turned all against us is all turned to the salvation of the Church where mercy rejoyceth against judgement Thus of God From this Rock and water we are also to observe some things concerning our selves I. We have here the accomplishment of that Prophecy Zach. 13. 1. A fountain is opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleannesse Here we have Christ himself the true water out of the Rock who onely refresheth dry and weary soules and comforteth the fainting heart with the sweet promises flowing from the Gospel And that we may see the excellency and benefit of this fountain we will a little compare this Rock with the other and set the truth above the type to draw our eyes and desires after it 1. In that Rock the Rock was one thing the Water another here Christ is both the Rock and Water both the giver and water given 2. That Rock refreshed wicked men and beasts this is bestowed upon and comforteth onely believers 3. That Rock refreshed bodies onely this both soules and bodies That preserved natural life but this torrent preserves the supernatural life of grace so as a leaf withers not nor falls from a tree of righteousnesse planted by this River of water Psal. 1. 3. 4. That Rock might preserve and comfort the living but could not help a dead man but this quickneth the dead soul with new and heavenly life 5. The waters of that Rock quenched natural thirst but this quencheth all unnatural One drop of it tasted by Zacheus quenched all his unnatural thirst after the world and in Paul all â—he thirst of revenge and fury against the Saints 6. The Rock gave water twice this Rock gives waters of comfort alwayes The water of that Rock followed them a great while but at length were dryed up but the waters of this Rock are never dryed up The bloud of Christ is alwayes running and a fresh fountain never dry 7. The Israelites drank of that water and were contented for a little while but by and by did thirst again But he that drinkes of this water shall never thirst again Joh. 4. 14. that is miserably as they however he shall desire it still yet his very desire is his happinesse and satiety II. How we are to carry our selves to this Rock and Fountain namely as Israel to that Rock 1. The Israelites thirst and call for water they see and feel their need and want so we must feel our want of Christ and get a fervent desire after Christ and his graces because onely the thirsty are called Isai. 55. 1. and onely they in want see the worth of the thing wanting Now we may not think that every wish after Christ is this thirst for the worst can wish a part in Christ but this thirst and desire must have three conditions 1. It must be fervent and eager as Sampsons Give me water or I die Judg. 15. 18. As the chased Hart panteth after the rivers of water so doth my soul after thee Psal. 42. 1. 2. It must be faithful We must not thirst with repining and diffidence as the Israelites but with faith and confidence This drawes vertue from Christ According to thy faith be it to thee 3. It must be constant The Israelites thirst still till they obtain their desire so we must not content our selves with desire or to come where this water is and goe without it but we must never be content with our estate though it be never so well with us for the world till we taste the sweet comfort and strength of Christ and his merits To continue thy thirst observe two rules 1. So long as God hath any grace to give or is not weary of giving thou must not be weary of thirsting begging asking 2. So long as thou wantest any grace or any measure of grace received thou must thirst still Ever be desiring one good thing after another and one measure of grace after another till thou beest compleat and then shalt thou never give over this thirst while thou livest here 2. Israel thirsty runs to the Rock so in thy thirst run thou to the Rock Dost thou thirst for pardon of sin for grace of sanctification for sence of Gods love for assurance of eternal life come to this Rock for supply Art thou ready to faint in thy soul for want of grace and comfort art thou ready to sink in sorrows feares faintings wants dangers run to this fountain which God hath opened for thee To move thee hereto consider 1. The Rock it self calls thee which art thirsty which that Rock could not doe Joh. 7. 37. If any man thirst let him come to me and drink 2. That to run any whither else is to forsake the fountain of living waters and dig pits that will hold no water Let Papists run to the puddle waters of their own merits or seek other Mediators or Intercessors say thou with the Apostles Lord thou hast the words of eternall life and whither should we goe Let others run to humane helpes and remedies in their sorrowes to cards dice merry company let them run to devils and witches and make them their Rock Let thy heart say The Lord is my Rock and if the word were not my comfort I were sure to sink in my trouble 3. Israel coming to the Rock did not onely draw from thence but drink heartily so we must not onely come to the place where Christ is preached but we must believe in him and specially apply to our selves the merit of his death For as drinking is a special application of water to the thirsty body so by believing in Christ we specially apply the waters of grace to the refreshing of the soul. To believe is to drink this water Joh. 7. 38. with Joh. 4. 14. Nothing could quench Israels thirst being bodily but water and onely faith quencheth our spiritual thirst And therefore as they to Moses we must say to Christ Lord give us faith to quench our spiritual thirst Let these motives provoke us to drink these waters 1. As Israel was by drinking that water revived and refreshed so onely these waters from Christ quicken us with new life and cool the heat of raging and accusing consciences Every believer hath true tranquillity of heart and joyes of the Holy Ghost within him yea so plentifully doe these waters of consolation rise from the Rock that he that drinkes them is said to have the kingdome of God in him which stands in righteousnesse peace joy c. 2. What madnesse and folly is it to lay about us so eagerly for this puddle water in comparison and catching with all greedinesse at the bitter-sweet comforts of this life which prove poyson to the most and neglect the sweet and pure streames of