to be said as to the spirit and mystery of this Ordinance all that you will hear afterwards will be things belonging to the Covenant of Grace therefore let us prove that it is not a carnal Covenant that Circumcision doth relate to Argum. 1. Jesus Christ is not the Covenant of Works but Christ is the Covenant of Circumcision and therefore it is not Works but Grace He is so called in Isa 49.8 I will give thee for a Covenant to the people Now Christ was in Circumcision he was the Minister of Circumcision he is the Seed which Circumcision relates to I will be the God of thy Seed This Seed is Christ Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made He saith not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ Christ is the sum and substance of the Covenant of Grace now this was the Covenant that God made with Abraham and sealed in Circumcision that he would give him a Seed which Seed is Christ 2. The Gospel is Grace and not Works The Covenant of Abraham was the Gospel and therefore it is Grace but not Works It is the Apostles expression that the Gospel was preached to Abraham Gal. 3.8 The Scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the Heathen through faith preached the Gospel before to Abraham There is no Gospel of Works for Works is Law and bad tidings if it be the Gospel it is the Covenant of Grace 3. If it was a Covenant of Works it will follow that Abraham and all the Old Testament Saints either were not saved or else were saved without Christ neither of which can be admited The truth is if it were Works it will follow they were all damned for by works shall no flesh be justified and saved If they were saved and yet by Works they were saved without Christ but without Christ there is no salvation In him in this Seed shall all the Nations of the World be blessed that is by Jesus Christ no blessing and salvation without him and therefore he and his Seed were saved by Christ for Grace was in this Covenant 4. To be a God to any man this is not carnal this is not Works but Grace It is true God was a God to Adam before he fell but to be a God to Sinners this is Grace he was a God to Adam in innocency by virtue of the Covenant of Works but he is not a God to any Sinner but in a way of free Grace Now that was the Covenant I will be a God to thee and thy seed Gen. 17.7 Abraham was a sinner and a Child of Wrath by nature as well as others yet God was his God truly For God to be a God to those that never sinned there may be merit but for God to be a God to those that have sinned this is Grace indeed Angels are saved by Works Sinners cannot be saved but by Grace That ever the Lord should condescend to engage in such a Relation as to give a Sinner interest in him and propriety in him as his God this is Grace they that do not think this is Grace they do not need Arguments but pity and prayer 5. Consider that it was the fatal error and miscarriage of the carnal Jews that they did understand Circumcision and all the rest of those ancient Types and Ceremonies they did understand them all as a Covenant of Works and herein they lost Christ and their Souls It is every where charged upon them as their sin it is that which all the Prophets and Apostles do endeavour with all their might to beat them out of those misconstructions of Circumcision and the Covenant of God in those times The Apostle proves it at large in Rom. 4. that it was Grace and not Works that Abraham was justified by Now this was the error that all the carnal Jews fell into that they took it to be a Covenant of Works as the Pharisees they had a Righteousness of their own they were all of that Spirit they took it all as Law even the Gospel and the Grace that was in the Covenant and so fell short of the blessings of it therefore if our New Testament Circumcision be practised by any as the Covenant of Works as the Jews did when the Apostle preached to them they will fall short of Heaven Now if they took it to be a Covenant of Works shall we justifie their errors and miscarriage against the whole preaching of the Gospel This is enough to shew that it is the Covenant of Grace that Circumcision doth relate to Now briefly what is this Covenant of Grace And what is the Grace of the Covenant that Circumcision doth relate to This is a very large Field There were three parts of this Grace of the Covenant that the Lord made with Abraham and his Seed 1. To be a God to him 2. To give him a Seed 3. To provide an Inheritance both for him and them And these three general Heads will comprize and take in the whole mystery of Circumcision 1. The first part of the Covenant is this that God would be a God to him and his Seed and this indeed is most comprehensive and includes all the rest I will establish my Covenant and be a God to thee and thy Children after thee Gen. 17.7 And what is it for God to be a God to be a God to a man thy God or a God to thee It is when he gives to a poor Creature a special interest and propriety in himself so that God in his alsufficiency and efficiency is ours and we are his All his Attributes and Works are ours for our good I will be thy God that is all my Attributes shall be thine and for thy good as really as they are mine for my Glory The infinite Wisdom of God shall contrive their good whose God he is the infinite Power of God shall effect it the infinite Love of God is theirs his Mercy Truth and all his Attributes are theirs As his essential Power so his working Power or his actual Power As he will be all to them so he will work all for them Now this as I said includes and infers all the rest this is the first and most general 2. That he would give him a Seed that was another part of the Covenant Gen. 17.5 6. Thou shalt be a Father of many Nations thy name shall be no more called Abram but Abraham I will make Nations of thee As God did lengthen out his name so he would lengthen out his Posterity even to length of time But now what is this Seed the Lord promised to Abraham The question is whether it be a meer natural Seed or a spiritual Seed Certainly it was not meerly a natural Seed it is true that is one thing that was the Shell and outside of it but the Kernel of this promise was a spiritual Seed There was a fourfold Seed promised to Abraham above a natural Seed and
of those former Dispensations therefore how shall we escape if after so many ways of teaching we do not receive Instruction see Heb. 2.3 4. THE GOSPEL OF CIRCUMCISION October 30. 1666. Acts 7.8 And he gave him the Covenant of Circumcision and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat the twelve Patriarchs THis excellent Sermon and Apology of Stephen the first Martyr of the New Testament the Scope of it is to shew them the variety of Gods Dispensations towards his people together with the various Rebellions and Oppositions of the Sons of men against him and so to convince them that the scope and tendency of them all was to lead to Jesus Christ and that as former Dispensations had been despised so was this which was the Glory of all the rest He goes over the History of the Church from Abrahams time to the time of Christ in sundry most eminent and principal Dispensations of God towards his Church In this Verse he is speaking of the Dispensation of God to Abraham He had shewed before how he had called Abraham out of his own Country how he had promised him a Possession the Land of Canaan how he had foretold the affliction of his Seed for four hundred years and their Deliverance afterward how the Lord had given him the Covenant of Circumcision and how under the influence of this Covenant Isaac was born and Jacob and the rest of the Patriarchs And he gave him the Covenant of Circumcision I shall give you no other Doctrine but the words themselves Doct. That God gave to Abraham the Covenant of Circumcision that is the Doctrine That which I do design and intend is a little explanation of Circumcision and of the Covenant thereof for that is the Phrase here and that in reference to our attendance upon God in this Ordinance of the New Testament Circumcision which we are now to wait upon him in To open to you the nature of Circumcision You know there is an outward and an inward part of it as there is in all other Signs and Sacraments whatsoever Something must be spoken 1. Of the Sign the nature of the external Ordinance 2. Of the Covenant that it relates to and 3. What those respects are wherein it doth relate to that Covenant 1. For the external part of this Ordinance of Circumcision It was the cutting away the Foreskin of the flesh of Abraham and his Male seed upon the eighth day The first institution of this Ordinance is recorded Gen. 17.10 11. This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man child among you shall be circumcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin c. The Lord did appoint the Seal of this Covenant to be in that part of the body in his infinite Wisdom and Soveraignty a thing which carnal Reason would despise There seems to be two principal accounts of it 1. Because those Members of the Body are so much abused to sin in the way of uncleanness and filthiness therefore the Lord would now sanctifie them and separate a Seed and Generation to himself and usually the greatest Wrath of God to the Souls of men is expressed by giving them up to abuse those parts of the Body The World was grown very degenerate and the Lord was resolved to leave a Monument an everlasting Monument of his Wrath for those sins in all Ages and therefore destroys Sodom Gen. 18. and before this Destruction he appoints this Seal and Ordinance 2. Another account of it is this that it might be a sure and a strong Wall of Partition between the Jewish and Gentle Nations of the World It made the Partition Wall the surer because carnal Reason could not but despise such an Ordinance Those that know not God have no spiritual sense of the thing therefore we find the Heathens scoff at it as Horat. Curtosque Judaeos Credat Judaeus Apella because by their carnal Reason they could not see the reason of it Therefore when the Lord would have both united to Jesus Christ in one Body he abolishes Circumcision This Ordinance was dispensed to the Males the Females were included and comprehended in the Males and as fully and clearly comprehended in them as the Land and the Trees are said to be Circumcised so are all the Daughters of Abraham as they came of circumcised Parents and married to circumcised Husbands and their Sons were circumcised so that it was a circumcised Nation and People It was to be done upon the eighth day after the Birth of the Child and so in this Text He gave him the Covenant of Circumcision and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day The reason of this limitation might be partly because of the Infant state of the Church in those times therefore the Lord teacheth them and limiteth them even in such small particulars which are now left to be determined only by the general Rule of the Word even the particular time and season of our Circumcision It s thought also this might have some further mystery in it in reference to the Christian Sabbaoth which is the eighth day in one respect the first in other ways of numbering and to respect a new state and life after that the compleat and full number of the days of this life here are gone through after the Week is ended the Week of this life here we come to Heaven and Glory which was one thing intimated in Circumcision as you will hear afterwards But so much for the external part of this Ordinance the cutting off the foreskin of Abraham and his Male seed and that upon the eighth day 2. To speak a little to the mystery of this Ordinance the meaning of it the spirit of this external Dispensation For besides the Shell there was a Kernel besides the letter of the Law of the Ordinance there was much spiritual mystery intended and aimed at in it Now then what is the mystery of Circumcision the inward part of it that is the Covenant And he gave him the Covenant of Circumcision So that Circumcision is the Covenant and it is the same expression where this Ordinance is first instituted You shall have my Covenant in your flesh Gen. 17. It is called a Covenant as other Signs and Sacraments are it is a sacramental Phrase the Lamb is called the Passover the Bread the Body the Wine the Blood of Christ so Circumcision is the Covenant of it But what Covenant is it that Circumcision doth relate to This is the great Question You know there be two Covenants that of Works and Grace Now Circumcision was not the Covenant of Works but the Covenant of Grace That it was not a carnal Covenant and a Covenant of Works take these five Considerations to make good that ground before we proceed any further for if it be the Covenant of Works it cuts off all that is
for evermore Psal 16.11 So likewise the Tree of Life in Paradise was a Type of Christ though it was created upon the third day of the Week and before the Gospel it could not be a Type of Christ yet after the Fall and after the preaching of the Gospel Gen. 3. it might be designed and ordained to this use As God provided Physical Herbs for Man before he fell or needed them as to that use of Physick so this Tree of Life before Sin or the Gospel was known It seems to be so spoken of Revel 2.7 and 22.2 The Tree of Life in the midst of Paradise Christ in the midst of the Church Mans Ejection out of Paradise a Type of his deserved Exclusion out of Heaven And the Cherubims with flaming Swords Gen. 3. ult an outward and visible shadow of the Wrath of God and of the Angels of God as Executioners of it on Man who were created to be Ministers to his good and are so again through Grace But as in our natural condition they are the Lords Hosts to fight against us But there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a much more put upon Christ His saving Virtue far exceeds that cursed influence of Adam in sundry particulars amply opened by the Apostle from ver 12. to the end of the Chapter 1. The disparity is very great both in their Persons The first Adam is of the earth earthly his Name is but Adam Earth or Red earth but the second Adam is the Lord from Heaven 2 Cor. 15.47 2. In their Headship and Undertaking the one of a Covenant of Works the other of a better Covenant of Grace 3. In the Success of their Undertakings The one failed the other kept the Covenant the first Adam was tempted by Satan and conquered by him but Christ was tempted but overcame the Tempter 4. In their Influences The first Adam was made a living Soul the second a quickening Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45 The one conveys all evil Sin and Death to his Seed the other communicates all good Righteousness and Life to his There is Righteousness opposed to Sin and Life to Death and with a much more Rom. 5.15 16 17 18. Not as the Offence so is the free Gift At the great Day when Adam shall see his Seed lost and undone he must own it I have embrued my hands in the Blood of all these But Christ shall say here am I and the Children which God hath given me and not one of them is lost 2. Enoch the seventh from Adam It is true he is not so expresly mentioned in Scripture for a Type of Christ as Adam is but yet by comparing the Scriptures we may discern a clear analogy between Christ and him how he was made like unto the Son of God in sundry things 1. He was a most illustrious Type of Christs Ascension into Heaven and indeed the only Type they had of it before the Law They had but two in all Elijah under the Law and Enoch before the Law Therefore we cannot well omit him Gen. 5.24 Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him and Heb. 11.5 he was translated that he should not see Death and was not found because God had translated him Some look upon this as a pledg of their Translation that shall be found alive at Christs second coming of whom the Apostle saith they shall be changed or translated 1 Thess 4. But it looks first and chiefly at Christ himself at his Ascension This I mention first as being the chief particular but a further analogy may observed in sundry other particulars also as 2. There was in Enoch some shadow of Christs Prophetical Office we read of Enochs Prophesie Jude 14 15. But Christ is the true Prophet who hath unsealed the whole Book of Gods Counsels that Liber fatidicus Rev. 5. he hath opened it so far as is fit and needful for his Church to know And as Enoch prophesied of the Day of Judgment so hath Christ very fully and frequently 3. We may set him among the Types of Christ for his unparallell'd Holiness in the age wherein he lived which was a corrupt and evil time all Flesh began to corrupt their way Gen. 5.22 24. Enoch walked with God it is twice repeated as worthy of special remark so Christ fulfilled all Righteousness Matth. 3.15 4. His pleasing God For so it is testified of him Heb. 11.5 so Christ Matth. 3.17 this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Joh. 8.29 I do always those things that please him He is pleased so well with him that he is well pleased with Sinners for his sake even for his Righteousness sake 5. His very Name Enoch hath something in it dedicated unto God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consecratus from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dedicavit consecravit From whence some derive the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Initio and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Feast of Dedication Joh. 10.22 So was Christ Luk. 1.35 that holy thing my Servant whom I have chosen Isai 42.1 and 49.5 formed me from the Womb to be his Servant 6. Some have added in regard of the continuance of his Life Henochs days were as the days of the Sun For he lived three hundred sixty five years Gen. 5.24 as many years as there be days in the year And of Christ it is is said his Throne shall continue for ever as the Sun before me Psal 89.36 3. The third typical person that we mentioned is Noah He is made a Type 1 Pet. 3.20 21. in regard of his preaching and saving those that believed him in the Ark. So Christ hath published the Gospel Matth. 11.27 no man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son revealeth him He came and preached Peace Ephes 2.17 1 Pet. 3.19 Christ preached in Noah he saves them that believe his Doctrine he saves them in the Ark of his Church by the Covenant and Water of Baptism 4. Melchizedek was also a Type of Christ and most especially in regard of the excellency and eternity of his Person Priesthood and Kingdom Psal 110 4. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek with Heb. 7.2 3 4. made like unto the Son of God But there is not time to insist upon these nor to proceed to the rest of the Types I shall therefore for the present conclude with something of Use and practical Improvement and shall raise the Uses not so much from the Doctrine in general but rather from that which hath been spoken upon it at this time Vse 1. Learn and know something more of Jesus Christ by what you have heard or if you knew it before let it be more deeply imprinted upon your hearts Let us sum up all together for they are all but partial Types and weak and imperfect Shadows of the Messiah but all put together will give the greater lustre like the Galaxia which is said
to be a multitude of little Stars Adam was a Type of Christ in regard of his Headship and Influence Enoch a Type of his Ascension into Heaven Noah of his Preaching and saving the Church by the Covenant and Water of Baptism Melchizedek was a Shadow of the Excellency and Eternity of his Person and of his Priesthood and Kingdom Know these things meditate and consider them more throughly and improve Christ in these Discoveries for your spiritual good Consider him as a common person standing in our stead as a Prophet Priest and King as ascended into Heaven as the Saviour of the Church which is his Body Use 2. Be exhorted to examine your selves and try which of the two Adams you are under For there are but two Men in the World the first and second Adam thou art a Member of one of them Adam and Christ divide the whole World Quest How may we know whether we be under the first or the second Adam Answ Take these Tryals 1. What Birth hast thou only the natural or spiritual Generation Art thou only born or new born For they that come only from Adam by natural Generation belong to him as the first Adam They that come of Christ by spiritual Regeneration are the Seed of Christ and belong to him as the second Adam What Experience hast thou had of this great work Nicodemus though a Doctor in Israel understood little of it 2. What Covenant doth thy Soul cleave to and act under the rule and influence of Works or Grace Works is the first Adams Covenant but Grace is the Covenant of the second Adam To go forth in a mans own Strength to expect acceptance in his own Worth this is a first Covenant Spirit a sign thou growest upon the old Stock upon the root of old Adam But to live in a continual dependance upon free Grace for every thing the free Grace of God in Christ this is the Spirit of the second Covenant and becomes the Sons and Branches of the second Adam Though a godly man may for a fit turn aside to the old Covenant as Abraham did to Hagar yet it is not his way it is not his Spirit to do so and thence he is never at rest till he return to have his dependance and rest on Christ again The Spirit of one under the Covenant of Grace is to have no confidence in the Flesh but to have his rest and rejoycing in Jesus Christ Phil. 3.3 3. What Communications whose Influences dost thou receive Every Branch receives from its Root the Stream from its Fountain Dost thou receive the Communications of the first or of the second Adam this will shew whose thou art and to whom thou dost belong You have heard what it is that each of them doth communicate That old Tree bears no good Fruit at all Art thou under the power of Sin and Death or under the power of Righteousness and Life Sin and Death reigns in the posterity of the first Adam But Righteousness reigns by Grace unto eternal Life in the posterity of the second Adam Rom. 5.21 2 Cor. 5.17 if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature Vse 3. Here is Comfort to the Seed of the second Adam against the present troubles they are under There be chiefly three complaints and troubles of Gods People under all which here is matter of support and relief 1. Thou art here upon Earth Christ the Head in Heaven but his poor Saints and Members here below But remember whither Jesus the Forerunner is entred for us As sure as Enochs Body is in Heaven or Elijahs by the virtue of his Ascension of whom they were Shadows so sure shall thine and mine ascend thither if we be his though we sleep in the dust for a time as Chirst himself also did 2. But while in this low valley the floods of great Waters are ready to overwhelm us the floods of Persecution Affliction Desertions the overflowing scourges of common calamities which puts many of Gods people to some cares and fears But as to this consider that true Noah the Lord provides an Ark of safety for his people that the floods of great Waters may not overwhelm them Psal 32.6 see Psal 124 1-5 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when Men rose up against us then the Waters had overwhelmed us the Stream had gone over our Soul then the proud Waters had gone over our Soul But 3. Thou art a poor unworthy creature and God is angry or appears angry and how can I expect such Salvation from him who have sinned against him so as I have done To this remember what an High Priest you have even Jesus who is made an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek Therefore let us come with boldness to the Throne of Grace It is the Apostles Inference Heb. 4.15 16. the Apostle saith of Melchizedek Heb. 7.4 consider how great this man was It may be said much more of Christ consider how great your High Priest is How little soever thou art in thy own eyes how unworthy soever the Greatness and Glory of your Redeemer is enough to remove all discouragement Some entrance Beloved hath been made into the personal Types We are upon the individual persons that were Types before the Law whereof eight were named Adam Enoch Noah Melchizedek Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph whereof only two have been spoken to viz. first Adam secondly Enoch We shall now proceed to the rest 3. The third is Noah whom we did but touch upon the last time but shall endeavour now to clear it more fully The Story of Noah is written in the 6 7 8 and 9. Chapters of Genesis And so famous it was amongst his Posterity that the Heathen have some broken Remembrances and Traditions of it they had heard of a Flood as well as of the Creation of the World Ovid speaks of them both in his Metamorphosis And their Bacchus the very name with a little alteration of the Letters comes from Noah Noachus Boachus and Janus from the Hebrew Jajin vinum somewhat they had heard as it seemeth about his planting a Vinyard and making Wine That this History of Noah had a typical respect you may see in 1 Pet. 3.20 21. In what respect was he a Type In two things chiefly 1. In regard of his Preaching 2. His saving his Houshold in the Ark. 1. In regard of his Preaching he was a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 he gave warning to the secure World for a hundred and twenty years together both by his Word and Actions Every stroke in the building of the Ark had a voice and was an alarm to the World every day So Christ who did preach by his Spirit in the Ministry of Noah 1 Pet. 3.19 20. And when he came in the Flesh he did preach and bring in everlasting Righteousness Dan. 9.24 And he hath preached by
that is an essential property of God Novitas essendi est de Essentia Creaturae And that Melchizedek was a Creature and not God was proved before because he was Priest and King of Salem and every Priest is taken from amongst men de Ratione Sacerdotis est ut sit verus Homo it is an essential requisite in a Priest that he be indeed a Man Melchizedek therefore was a Man but yet eternal typically and in a figure Christ is called a Priest for ever Psal 110.4 and of Melchizedek the Apostle saith he abideth a Priest continually Heb. 7.3 You shall never have cause to say My Friend alas my best Friend is dead For he hath an everlasting Priesthood and lives for ever to intercede and make mention of you to the Lord Heb. 7.25 4. In regard of his Preheminence and Excellency above all other men Vide My Notes of Christs Priestly Office wherein greater than Aaron Behold how great this man was Heb. 7.4 he was greater than Aaron the Priest of the Lord yea greater than Abraham the Forefather of Aaron He was greater than Abraham as in other respects so in these three 1. In that he blessed Abraham Gen. 14.19 Heb. 7.7 and without contradiction the less is blessed of the greater so Christ blesseth us Luke 24 50 51. All our Blessings are through him he is the Fountain of Blessing 2. In that Melchizedek did refresh Abraham and his Army Gen. 14.18 and Melchizedek King of Salem brought forth Bread and Wine that is as the old Note well explains it for Abraham and his Souldiers Refreshment and not to offer Sacrifice So Christ refresheth his Church with the Word and Sacraments Matth. 11. I will give you rest or I will refresh you Ego reficiam vos 3. In that Melchizedek did receive an homage and acknowledgment of Tythes from Abraham and from Levi and Aaron in his Loins Thus they paid their Respects to him Gen. 14.20 Heb. 7.9 whether of his Spoils or of his Goods it was the tenth part Some have gone so far from this as to infer that we ought to give unto Christ the Tenth part of our Goods as well as the Seventh part of our Time But to let that pass Certain it is that we ought to give some fit proportion of our Estates unto God for his use and service And as he was herein greater than Abraham so likewise greater than Aaron and the Aaronical Order Melchizedeks was an higher Order in many respects largely opened in that 7th to the Hebrews Vse This that hath been said concerning Melchizedek as a Shadow of Jesus Christ affords the greater encouragement to believe and comfort to them that do believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Encouragement having such an High Priest thou maist safely venture thy Soul upon him Comfort that so great a Person is thy Saviour True thou art unworthy but his Worth and Excellency is enough to preponderate and overballance all thine unworthiness He is both a King and a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedek and if thou dost accept of him as thy King to rule thee thou maist safely rely and rest upon him as thine High Priest to justifie and reconcile thee to his Father Aug 15. 1667. Of the individual Personal Types that were before the Law there be four yet remaining to be spoken to You have heard of Adam Enoch Noah Melchizedek how they were Types and Figures of him that was to come It remains to speak of Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph 1. Abraham As the Apostle saith of Melchizedek in other respects Heb. 7.4 so we may say of Abraham Consider how great this Man was in that so many Patriarchs so many righteous men so many Prophets Priests and Kings yea Jesus Christ himself were once in Abrahams Loyns I confess he is omitted by divers that have handled this Subject for what reason I know not unless it be from an aptness to restrain all the Types to the Person of Christ wherein perhaps they found the accommodation not so clear in respect of Abraham in whom nevertheless you will see some clearness I hope by and by even as to that though it is not always necessary in a Type that it point directly at the Messiahs Person but it is sufficient if there be an adumbration or shadowing a forth of any Gospel Truth or Mystery any way belonging to him But there were many of them shadowed forth in Abraham and the Scripture owns him for a typical Person as you will see in the particulars I shall but instance in five or six things 1. If we consider him together with Isaac and Jacob that proceeded from him we may observe that in these three persons Abraham Isaac and Jacob there is a weak and dark shadow of a very great Mystery even of those three glorious Persons God the Father Son and Spirit in the order of their Subsistence and Influences to our Salvation For Abraham was the Father and Original of both the other and in his Love to God he spared not his only Son Isaac but offered him up to Death for a Burnt-offering so God in his Love to Man spared not his only begotten Son but delivered him up for us Rom. 8.32 Isaac was sacrificed in a Figure Vide my Expos on Gen. 22. so was the Son of God the second Person of the Trinity in our Nature slain and sacrificed for us And Jacob you know came both of Abraham and Isaac and he is renowned for the Spirit of Prayer by which he had power with God and prevailed Gen. 32.28 He did not prevail by his own strength but by the Power of the Holy Ghost who did appear in him and acted him as a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication unto such invincible wrestlings with the Lord. From all which you see that there is some glimpse and shadow of the Fathers Love of the Sons Death and Sufferings and of the Spirit his breathings and workings in us Here is something of a low and weak representation of that glorious Mystery of the Trinity and the influences thereof to our eternal peace though it is but a low and weak and dark shadow of it as all Types are in comparison of the Antitype 2. If we consider Abraham with his two Wives Hagar and Sarah and their Posterities Ishmael and Isaac Here the two Covenants of Works and Grace legal and evangelical Professors are shadowed forth For this we have the Apostles Authority and the Testimony of the Holy Ghost himself the best Interpreter of his own meaning Gal. 4.22 23 24. 1. The Differences and Properties of the two Covenants are here held forth Hagar by the strength of Nature hath a Child but Sarah by the Faith in the Promise Gal. 4.23 So Works and Fruits brought forth in a mans own strength these are legal if by Faith in Christ this is evangelical The first Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of bondage Gal. 4.24 25. bondage unto sin and death the
second Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of liberty and freedom not liberty to sin but liberty of spirit in and unto Duty The first Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of Persecution Gal. 4.29 the second Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of Love Let those Professors look to it and take heed to their Spirits who have a rigid a violent an imposing spirit towards the people of God the Children of the Promise take heed least you prove Hagarites and meer legal Professors 2. It is true as Abraham did turn aside unto Hagar so a Believer that is in the Covenant of Grace may possibly turn aside in some particular actings to a Covenant of Works when through unbelief and neglect of the Promise they act according to the Law in their own strength or in a way of violence not of love to their Brethren 3. But the Bondwoman and her Seed must be cast out Gen. 21.10 Gal. 4.30 Away with the Law of Works we must renounce the old Covenant and get free from the snares of such a Spirit 3. If we consider Abraham as the Head of the Covenant to that Church and People so he is a Type of Christ the Head of the second Covenant You know God covenanted with Abraham for his Seed so he doth with Christ for all his Elect. Gods Promise to Abraham was to give a Seed to him and an Inheritance to his Seed viz. the Land of Canaan the Land of Promise so God did promise to Jesus Christ that he should see his Seed Isai 53.10 11. and to bring them to Heaven Heb. 2.10 Jesus Christ is the true Head of the second Covenant he engageth and undertakes for all his Seed Abraham was but a typical Head thereof 4. Abraham was a Type of Christ in regard of his absolute Obedience to the Will of God coming from his own Land and from his Fathers House submitting to that painful and unto carnal Reason shameful and contemptible Ordinance of Circumcision dismissing Ishmael a thing grievous to a tender-hearted Parent yea which was yet more sacrificing and offering up his Isaac his only Son Isaac there was nothing so difficult but if God require it Abraham will do it there is not such another Example there is not an higher instance of Obedience in all the Scripture than in Abraham save only in Jesus Christ who was obedient to his Fathers Will in all things even unto Death it self Joh. 6.38 8.29 10.18 As God tryed Abraham in his Isaac so will he try every Son of Abraham in what is dearest to him 5. Abrahams Intercession for the Righteous in Sodom and the efficacy of it with the Lord is some shadow and resemblance of the Prayers and Intercession of Jesus Christ and the prevailing efficacy thereof for the Salvation of the Elect Gen. 18.25 For as Lot was saved by means of Abrahams Prayer from the Destruction of Sodom so are we for Christs sake from everlasting Damnation For Sodom was a Type of Hell which is therefore called a Lake of Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21.8 Lastly That he who was the Father of the Faithful should be so great a Souldier and Conqueror of five Kings and indeed Abraham is the first godly Warrior we read of in Scripture It was a good Omen and a Presage what Believers the Sons of Abraham should do and especially in the latter days when the Kingdom of Christ shall prevail as Dan 2. and chap. 7. 2. Isaac the Scripture takes notice of him as a Type of Christ when it calls both him and Christ the promised Seed and saith he rose from the dead and so he dyed also in a Figure or as a Type He was therefore a Type of Christ in three respects 1. In his Birth 2. In his Death and Sufferings 3. In his Resurrection from the dead 1. In regard of his Birth which was extraordinary and incredible not by the power of Nature but by virtue of the Promise of God Isaac was the Seed of the Promise made to Abraham Gal. 4.28 in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed But Christ was indeed the promised Seed he was chiefly and principally intended in that Promise see Gal. 3.16 in whom alone we are truly blessed Psal 72.17 Isaac was born by virtue of the Promise believed on against and above the ordinary course of Nature of Sarahs dead Womb Rom. 4.19 So Christ was born of the Womb of the Virgin Mary in a miraculous unconceivable manner not according to the ordinary course of Nature but by the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowing her Luk. 1.35 An Angel did reveal the Birth of Isaac to Sarah and she thought in her self it was impossible Gen. 18.11 12. Sarah heard it and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of Women and Sarah laughed within her self saying after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also So did an Angel reveal to the Virgin Mary that Christ should be born of her and she admires and saith how can this be seeing I have not known Man Luk. 1.34 Isaac's Birth was promised and waited for many years from the first Promise of a Seed made to Abraham to the Birth of Isaac was five and twenty years For he was seventy five years old when he left Haran Gen. 12.4 and he was an hundred years old when Isaac was born Gen. 21.5 So Christ the promised Seed was long expected and waited for from the first Promise of Christ in Gen. 3.15 Vid. Ainsworth in loc to his coming in the Flesh was well nigh four thousand years 2. Isaac was an eminent Type of Christ in regard of his Death and Sufferings Isaac without resistance without repining or reply willingly yields himself to his Father even unto Death So was Christ obedient to his Father even unto Death So each of them was led away like a Lamb to the slaughter as is said of Christ Isai 53.7 Act. 8.32 Isaac carried the Wood whereon he was bound to Moriah Gen. 22.6 so did Christ carry the Cross whereon he was nailed to Golgotha Joh. 19.17 and so the Wood was first laid upon them both and then they were laid upon the Wood. Isaac was to be offered alone the Servants being left behind at the foot of the Hill Gen. 22.5 So Christ must tread the Wine-press alone his Disciples being fled and scattered from him Joh. 16.32 The place where Isaac was offered was Mount Moriah Gen. 22.2 and there was the Temple built a Type of Christs Body and there also his Body was crucified upon another part of the same Mountain And as to the time something of analogy may be noted some accommodated it thus that as Isaac came the third day to the place of his Immolation so Christ came to his Sufferings the thirty third year of his age consisting of three tens and three units And it was three years after his Entrance upon his publick Ministry which is three days putting a day for a year according to the
Providence that ever was excepting that of our Redemption by Jesus Christ Yea so famous was the History of Moses that though it was very antient yet the Heathen Historians and Poets have said something of it And he is thought by some to be their Mercurius Trismegistus of whom they spake out of some broken remembrances and traditions though corrupted with fabulous Inventions intermix'd wherein yet some footsteps of the Truth may be discerned They call their Mercurius Interpres Divum and paint him with a Rod twined with Serpents c. Now that Moses was a Type the Scripture is clear Deut. 18.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee Heb. 3.2 Jesus Christ who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his House But how or wherein was Moses a Type The Answer is in two respects For Moses may be considered two ways 1. In regard of his Dispensation and so he was a type of the Law 2. In regard of his Person and so he was a Type of Jesus Christ And so we have two things to inquire into 1. What of the Law and 2. What of Jesus Christ was shadowed forth in Moses I shall begin with the lower Notion first 1. Moses was a Type of the Law in regard of the Dispensation wherein the Lord was pleased to use him and to introduce by his Ministry into the Church For as hath been formerly shewed the Types are not always to be restrained only to the Person of Christ But there were legal shadows of all other Truths which are more clearly and fully revealed under the New Testament And so they had their Types and Shadows even of the Covenant of Works as was shewed in Abrahams Wives and Children So likewise Moses his Administration of the Mind of God shadowed forth the same thing Hence the Scripture speaks so much of the Law of Moses under the notion of Works The Law came by Moses Joh. 1.17 that is as contradistinguished unto Gospel Grace and Truth for it follows but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Not that Moses his Dispensation was indeed a Covenant of Works but a shadow or representation of it For had it been indeed a Covenant of Works it would have been their Duty to seek Salvation by their own Merits but they were saved by Grace as well as we and not by Works they were saved by Faith in Christ and in his Righteousness whereof they had some discoveries they were under a Dispensation of Grace but it was like a Covenant of Works and did very much resemble that legal way in many respects Quest But wherein was the Mosaical Dispensation so like unto the Covenant of Works what of the Law was shadowed forth in Moses Answ Something was hinted as to this in the first Sermon on Heb. 4.2 But now to speak a little further to it 1. In regard of the dreadful Majesty and Terror and Glory of that Administration Herein it was like the old Covenant Heb. 12.18 21. God acts as a Soveraign Lord in the Covenant of Works and appears in the dreadful Glory of his absolute Soveraignty and Dominion over his Creatures 2. There was a darkness also in that Dispensation Heb. 12.18 Ye are not come unto blackness and darkness and Tempest Hence Moses had a Veil upon his Face Exod. 34.29 30 33. But there was a further mystery in this Veil it signifieth a spiritual Veil a Covering upon the Heart 2 Cor. 3.13.14 a Veil upon their Minds Act. 13.27 the Prophets they understood them not though read every Sabbath day 3. There was a Yoke of Bondage which neither we nor our Fathers saith Peter were able to bear Act. 15.10 so the Law genders unto Bondage Gal. 4.24 25. Such as are under the Law their Spirits are under continual Bondage but the Gospel is spiritual Liberty 4. The abiding Strength and Power of the Law to condemn 1 Cor. 3 the Letter killeth It is the Ministration of Death And as Moses his natural Force was not abated Deut. 34.7 so neither is the Strength of the Law as to its condemning Power over Sinners Hereby the continual force of the Law is signified the Power whereof decayeth not in the Conscience of Sinners by number of Days or mutitude of Works Answorth in lec till God take it away and abolish it by Grace in Christ 5. The Weakness of it to save Moses might not enter into Canaan though he did much desire it see Deut. 32.52 And the Reason alledged is his failing in that one point Numb 20.12 What was Moses his error and mistake at that time There is something of difficulty to discern and make it out Three things the Scripture seemeth to intimate 1. He smote the Rock twice Numb 20.11 when his Instructions were no more but to speak unto it v. 8. 2. Something of inordinate Passion seems to be noted Psal 106. he spake unadvisedly with his Lips v. 33. 3. His Unbelief is expresly taxed because ye believed not my Word Numb 20.12 But what was this Unbelief or how came it to be working in him at this time Some have guessed at it thus This Occurrence fell out eight and thirty years after their first murmuring for Water and their was a new Generation now risen up and they falling into the very same sin and that at the same place upon the Borders of Canaan and upon the same occasion want of Water for which the Lord had rejected and excluded their Fathers Moses was afraid that the Lord would now take advantage against this Generation also as he did against their Ancestors causing them to wander forty years and as indeed he might justly have done against these also But yet Moses should not have given way to such Fears unless the Lord had declared it which as to this Generation he did not But for this one failing Moses could not enter into Canaan So the Law if but one Sin be admitted keeps the Soul of Heaven the Law is strong to condemn and destroy Sinners but it is unable and weak to save them The Law cannot save Rom. 8.3 Yea 6. The abrogation of it through Grace As Moses's Body was buried that it could not be found Deut. 34.6 and Satan would have brought it forth again but Michael opposed him Jud. 9. so he hath buried the Law though Satan would revive it in the Spirits of Men. 7. Moses did prepare the people for Joshuahs Dispensation So the Law prepares and sits the Soul for Christ Gal. 3.24 wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith It doth not put us into Christ but it prepares us for Christ Thus in regard of the Terror of that Dispensation and the Darkness and Bondage of it the Strength to condemn the Impotency of it to bring them into Rest and the Abrogation of it and that nevertheless it did prepare and fit them for it Moses did
to be eaten for Meat Now concerning this Mincha or Meat-Offering there be these six things to be enquired into 1. The Materials of it which were Corn Oyl Frankincense and Salt 2. The Actions to be performed about it it was to be brought to the Priest the Memorial of it burnt upon the Altar and the Residue eaten by the Priest in the holy place 3. The meaning and signification of it to be a sweet Savour before the Lord. 4. The Additions prohibited to be annexed to it which were two Leaven and Honey 5. The Appurtenance of Drink-Offerings by divine Institution added to it 6. The several Seasons and Occasions on which the Meat-Offering was to be offered These six things we shall enquire into the Lord enabling us chiefly out of this Chapter and partly also out of other Scriptures especially in the two last Enquiries which are not expresly spoken to in this Chapter 1. The Materials of it they were these four Corn Oyl Frankincense and Salt 1. Bread Corn Wheat or Barley 1 Chron. 21.23 Wheat for the Meat Offering See also Ezek. 45.13 15. where Wheat and Barley are mentioned for the Meat-Offering This was dressed and ordered several ways They might offer the Meat-Offering of Wheat Either only ground and sifted into Flower without any further preparation vers 1. Soleth simila the Flower of Wheat or dressed and cooked into Cakes and Wafers vers 4. Or baked vers 5.6 Or fryed in a frying Pan. vers 7. Or First Fruits not so much as grinding it into Meal or Flower only dryed and beaten vers 14. This Meat-Offering of First Fruits was of Barley because that was first ripe in that Country therefore the name of the first Month in the Year was called Abib Exod. 13.4 quasi mensis spicarum the Month of Ears of Corn. Out of all which Corn-matter of the Meat-Offering I shall mark three things 1. It must be fine Flower purged from the Bran. It shews the pure estate of Christ and of all Christians with their services in him being purged as it were from the Bran of natural Corruption Aynsw in loc Isai 66.20 it appears their manner was to bring them in a clean Vessel We should labour in all our Offerings and Sacrifices to be pure and clean in his sight and to come with purged and refined Spirits God must have the best as the Flower must be fine and not course so in the Burnt-Offering the Beasts were to be without blemish and whatsoever they offered to God must be of the best all betokening the purity and perfection of him of whom they were Types to wit Jesus Christ and beseeming the excellency of him to whom they were offered Engl. Annot. on Numb 28. ult 2. There was a Meat-Offering of First Fruits what this is the Apostle informs us 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ is the First Fruits by whom the whole Lump is sanctified There may be also some further accommodations of it whereof we may speak further when we come to the Feast of First Fruits 3. It must be ground sifted baked fryed beaten and the like some such bruising and contusion of it there must be So Christ was bruised for our Iniquities and beaten with stripes for our sins Isai 53.5 wherein his Members are partakers with him Col. 1.24 Hence Ignatius sweetly and spiritually when he was to suffer Martyrdom by being devoured of wild Beasts he speaks how his body was the Lords Corn and must be ground by the Teeth of the wild Beasts to be prepared for the Lord as in the Meat-Offering the Corn was to pass under some such preparation 2. The second Ingredient in the Meat-Offering was Oyl vers 1 4 5 7 15. The quantity of Oyl is not expressed but the meaning was there should be a quantum sufficit a fit proportion of it mingled with the Flower Much use of Oyl there was under the Law and so we shall have occasion to speak further to it It signified in general the Spirit of God in the graces and comforts of it Isai 61.1 which Jesus Christ did receive above measure and from him all Believers in some degree do partake of his anointing There is and must be this sacred Oyl in all our Offerings the influence of the Spirit of God 3. Frankincense The use of this was to make a sweet perfume in the Air when the burning of the other things might have caused an ill scent It figured the acceptableness unto God of the persons and services of his people through the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ he is set forth by Pillars of smoke perfumed with Myrrhe and Frankincense with all Powders of the Merchant Cant. 3.6 and without him our Offerings are not acceptable nor our Sacrifices sweet unto God Jer. 6.20 Hence there was no Oyl nor Frankincense in the Sin-Offering Lev. 5.11 nor in the Jealousy-Offerings Numb 5.15 because though it was for a Memorial yet it was not to bring the person or his services to remembrance with acceptance before God but to bring his sin to remembrance 4. Salt Vers 13. which being required in all their Offerings and so in the Burnt-Offering there we spoke to it and shewed that it was to teach them the perpetuity of the Covenant of Grace that God had made with them and the wholesome and savoury carriage and walking of his people Now put all this together and it spells thus much That our Meat Offerings our good Works being anointed with the Spirit and perfumed with the Incense of Christs Mediation are accepted of God and that in a Covenant of Salt through the unchangeable faithfulness of God in the Covenant So much for the Materials of the Meat-Offering Corn Oyl Frankincense and Salt 2. The Actions to be performed about it and they were three vers 2 3. 1. It must be brought to the Priest 2. He is to burn a part of it the memorial of it before the Lord. 3. The remnant of it must be eaten by the Priest 1. They were to bring it to the Sons of Aaron the Priests vers 2. There was the same Action before in the Burnt-Offering and there we shewed the meaning of it that it imports a voluntary act of the Offerer and a making use of Christ for acceptance in all our services and approaches unto God 2. The Priest is to burn the memorial of it upon the Altar before the Lord. vers 2 9 and 16. For a memorial This as Interpreters well observe is spoken after the manner of men to put God in remembrance of the person or rather of his own love to him and Covenant with him in Jesus Christ Psal 20.3 The Lord remember all thy Offerings and accept thy Burnt-Sacrifice Act. 10.4 Thy Prayers and thine Almes are come up for a memorial before God Hence Nehemiah prays Remember me O my God concerning this Neh. 13.14 22. the meaning is that the Smoke thereof was to come up before God with acceptance therefore there was Frankincense burnt