Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	aaron_n	afford_v	unlikely_a	20	3	11.9587	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64249	Moses and Aaron, or, The types and shadovvs of our Saviour in the Old Testament opened and explained / by T. Taylor ...	Taylor, Thomas, 1576-1632.; Jemmat, William, 1596?-1678.	1653 (1653)	Wing T567; ESTC R10533	252,302	330

crucified to my self Answ. 1. The right application of Christ crucified is not to know that Christ was crucified but when we are crucified with him Gal. 2. 19 as Elisha 2 Kings 4 applyed his eyes face and hands to the dead child that it might quicken 2. So much as thou truly beleevest so much thou eatest of Christ saith August Look how much strength thou gettest by the Word so much nourishment thou receivest from Christ. And so much as thou refusest contemnest or neglectest that so much thou refusest Christ himself V. We must beware of being weary of this Manna The Jewes esteemed Manna sweet at first and went out cheerfully to gather it yea the Sabbath and all which was a prohibited time so greedy were they of it but within a little while although it retained the sweetnesse they waxed weary of it We must take heed of this ficklenesse in goodnesse which hath ever bewrayed it self in most forward people At the first building of the Tabernacle men brought too much but after took it away as fast again John was a burning and shining light Joh. 5. 35. and they rejoyced in his light but it was but for a season and few shining lights but find it so The Galatians at first received Paul as an Angel but soon revolted from him What flocking and thronging was there after Christs doctrine and miracles that the kingdome of God suffered violence but soon they had enough of him and in short time did tumult as fast against him The like was observed in our own land at the first falling of this Manna and beginnings of the Gospel men were earnest glad joyful forward then was a sweet time of the happy welcome of this Manna happy was he could get his Gomer first and fullest But now what voices hear we other than of the ungracious Israelites Oh our soules are dryed up with this Manna here is nothing but Manna so much preaching so many Sermons and it was better with the world in Egypt before all this preaching And whereas our fathers would have ridden far to a Sermon we their lazie off-spring will scarce step over our thresholds Let us consider here for our incitement 1. How hard it is to begin well but harder to hold out and not holding out we lose all our labour 2. That Manna is a sweet as ever though we see not our own need which if we did see we would be no more weary of Gods Word were it daily preached then we are of our bread we daily eat VI. We must be so farre from wearinesse as that we must highly esteem this true Manna as the sweetest gift that ever God gave from heaven and never forget so miraculous a mercy That Israel might not forget Gods extraordinary mercy in this type they must for ever keep a pot of Manna which was preserved so long as the Temple stood for many hundred yeares And that we might not forget this mercy in the true Manna he hath and doth for ever preserve his Word preached and instituted Sacraments in which he perpetually holdeth this mercy before the eyes of the Church Let us raise monuments of Gods mercies to our selves and not forget lesser favours if we would not forfeit them But such a mercy as this is in Jesus Christ the true Manna let it live in our hearts in our memories sences affections actions in walking worthy of it for thus it becometh the just to be thankfull CHAP. XXIII Water out of the Rock a type THe second extraordinary Sacrament sealing up to Israel their nourishment and strength in the Covenant was the Water out of the Rock After the Lord had brought Israel through the dangerous Sea he brings them to Elim a sweet and fruitful place where were twelve fountaines of water and seventy Palm trees there they camped and breathed Exod. 15. 27. Not long after they must come into the dry desart of Sin where they want both bread and patience for they murmure against God and exclaim against Moses and Aaron At this time the Lord feeds their bellies and fills them with miracles of which Manna was full Thence at Gods commandement must they come unto Rephidim Exod. 17. 1. Here have they bread from heaven but no water Now contend they as fast with Moses for water as before for bread And as thirst is the more eager appetite so it ineagers their affections that Moses complaines to God they are ready to kill him God sees their rebellion and puts it up and instead of revenge of their horrible obstinacy and ingratitude satisfies their thirst as miraculously as formerly he had done their famine and hunger He commands Moses to take his rod and speak to the Rock and then should issue waters in abundance to satisfie all the Campe both man and beasts and so he did Exod. 17. 6. Now we may not think that this fact concerned onely Israel in the wildernesse but even all the Church and Israel of God passing through the wildernesse of this world and that for these Reasons 1. The Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 4. calleth it a spiritual Rock both for being miraculous in effects and for being a type of what was to come It was both miraculous and significant and therefore called spiritual 2. The same water which they drank we also drink as in the same Chap. and ver because in the holy Supper of the Lord the matter of our spiritual drink is the same with theirs and that is the bloud of Christ resembled by theirs The difference is onely in the manner of drinking 3. Including this water of the Rock the Apostle saith they are all types to admonish us and are written for us verse 6. and 11. 4. Most plainly he affirmeth verse 4. and that Rock was Christ not in substance but in signification saith Aquinas Now we having as much to doe with Christ as they we must farther enquire into this type 1. To parellel it with the truth by comparing them 2. By applying it in some fruitful observations to our selves The Rock was a type of Christ three wayes 1. As it was a Rock 2. As out of it issued water 3. In the manner of obtaining I. As a Rock it elegantly typed out Jesus Christ fitly compared to a Rock in five resemblances 1. For the despicable appearance The Rock is in appearance dry and barren the most unlikely thing in all the world to afford water so as it was incredible to Moses and Aaron themselves to fetch water out of a Rock If God had commanded them to have beaten fire out of a flinty Rock it had not been so unlikely but to distil water out of a flint or Rock must be miraculous Even so Jesus Christ was for outward form and appearance in the world most unlikely of all men to afford any such waters of grace and salvation Isai. 53. 2 3. He was as a dry root without form or beauty as an

whom it is not removed by Jesus Christ. 4. The Rock was smitten but it was not so much the striking on the Rock but the Lords standing upon it that gets water for Israel Exod 17. 6. There was no vertue in the stroak but all depended on Gods commandement and precept and presence even so it is not the death of Christ nor the abundance of price and merit of his bloud nor the striking on this Rock before mens eyes in the ministery of the Word and Sacraments that can bring one drop of true water of comfort but by the presence and word of Gods blessing The efficacy of grace depends not on any meanes or work wrought but it is Gods word and presence that doth all in them Object Then we may give up the use of all meanes and pray at home for grace Sol. Not so for meanes must be used Moses must speak to the Rock God appoints no meanes in vain but we must not insist and dwell in them but look beyond them to Gods blessing and successe Moses must use the Rod though a word without the rod might have done it so we must use the meanes as being tyed to them though God be not but not stick in them seeing the abuse of them may make them hurtful not helpful The people of Moses the Jewes struck this Rock pearced him with thornes and speares saw with their eyes the precious fountain opened in his side a priviledge in which they were beyond all people of the earth but partly ignorant what they did partly malitious treading this pretious bloud under foot not attending not believing the Word this real striking of this Rock was unprofitable yea and damnable unto them 5. The waters of the Rock smitten followed the Israelites 1. Noting the abundance of water not onely for their present supply but also for future so in Christ and his bloud 〈◊〉 abundant and plentiful redemption and consolation 2. The Rock following them that is following or satisfying their desires It followed them every where where they desired followed their necessities followed their desires So Christ Jesus is to the faithful heart all it can desire He followes them with all sweet and needful desires He is above all that heart can think alwayes present with us through our wildernesse especially in most needful times 3. It followed them in signifying the truth which was to follow It signified plainly that Christ was to follow it as the truth the tppe and so it followed them with instruction and admonition so Christ the true Rock followes the Church with instruction His whole life ministery miracles actions passion and speeches was a real instruction And now by his Ministery he followes us with daily directions 4. It followed them through the wildernesse even unto Canaan All the drynesse of that dry and barren wildernesse could not dry it up So the waters of grace streaming from the Rock Jesus Christ follow the believing Israel of God through the wildernesse of the world to the heavenly Canaan All the persecutions and parching heats and droughts in the world can never dry it up Let all the wildernesse besides want water in Israels Campe is enough Where God begins with a man in sound and saving grace here it will carry him into the land of promise True grace must end in glory Hence arise observations twofold I. In respect of God to confirme our faith in the assurance of his 1. Presence 2. Power 3. Mercy to the Church I. His Presence He that before was present in the Pillar of the Cloud and Fire for their safety and in the Manna for their sustenance is now present in the Rock for their satiety in their extreme thirst The presence of Christ is all in all to the Church his presence is a present supply of all wants His eye is alwayes present for although it goe over all the world yet it is alwayes fixed on the Church His ear is present they cannot call to Moses for bread or water but he heares and supplies His hand is ever present with and for his Church and is not shortned Himself is ever present with his in life in death and after for good for grace and glory Onely keep thou these conditions 1. Be with him 2 Chron. 15. 2. that is walk with him as Henoch 2. Keep in thy wayes for so long he hath promised his comfortable presence 3. Rejoyce in his presence in the presence of his spirit in the signes and meanes of his presence And then fear not want sicknesse nor to walk in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death for God is with thee Psal. 23. 4. He will also prepare a table for thee in the sight of the adversarie ver 5. II. Here is a testimony of such mighty and miraculous power in God for his people that even Moses himself staggered and could scarce conceive a work of such power from God Here is a work of omnipotency in cleaving the hard Rock Psal. 78. 15. To shew 1. That he is a free worker not tied to second causes but at his pleasure can hinder alter or change the power of nature Psal. 115. 3. 2. That he can work by contraries and out of most unlikely yea contrary meanes effect his own pleasure Luke 1. 37. Is any thing impossible to God 3. That we should cast our eyes on this power Psal. 62. 11. Once have I heard it yea twice that power belongeth to God And hence learn 1. Not to limit the holy one that made heaven and earth of nothing 2. Faithfully to depend on this power when we see no meanes of safety or supply but all the meanes contrary For the Rock shall yield water rather than thou shalt want what he seeth good for thee 3. In thy fainting and wearinesse when thy weaknesse tells thee thou art not able to goe on in this wildernesse for want of water of comfort and consolation nay art hopelesse in thy self or any meanes thou canst make now hope above hope Gods power is sufficient in thy weaknesse Sampson shall get both victory and water by a jaw-bone the most unlikely thing in the world for either And though this power now worketh not miracles ordinarily yet before thou that waitest on him shalt miscarry he will miraculously sustain thee III. Here is a testimony of Gods admirable mercy to his people Israel deserved to be smitten for their murmuring and rebellion but the Rock is smitten for them The Rock is not smitten for itself but for Israel In stead of a revenging power which they might have expected they find a gracious power which they could not expect Even so all mankind was to be smitten by the Law but the Rock must be smitten for us Our Rock suffered nothing for his own sinnes who was purer in his nature and actions than all the Angels of God but all the stroke he suffered was for the Israel of God that they