The reason that was given for it is this in effect that the Lord that night would pass through the Land oâ— Egypt and smite all the first born both of man and beast among the Egyptians but would spare those houses of the Israeliteâ— when he saw the blood of the Lamb on the door-posts This in it self was a great deliverance but there was a far greater mystery and deliverance intended which was accomplished in Christ. First then The Lamb was a figure of Christ whom Iohn Baptist according to his office pointed out to the people saying Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world and another day Behold the Lamb of God And the Apostle saith Christ our Passeover is Sacrificed for us And the Apostle Peter saith Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your Fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot As the Lamb appointed for the Passeover was to be without blemish so Christ the Lamb of God was without all blemish or spot of sin actual or original being conceived by the divine power of the holy Ghost in the wombe of a pure Virgin Again as the Lamb of the Passeover was taken from the rest of the flock so Christ in regard of his humane Nature was taken from the rest of mankind and made one person with the Son of God that he might be all-sufficient for this great end scil to take away the sins of the world The Lamb for the Passeover was set apart certain days before it was slain Christ was set apart in the eternal counsel of God fore-ordained before the foundation of the world And as the blood of the Lamb was to be put upon the door posts of the Israelites houses that so the destroyer might pass over them and not destroy any of them whereas the first-born were slain in those houses that were not marked with the blood of the Paschal Lamb So the most precious blood of Christ is to be sprinkled by faith upon the souls of Believers his blood death satisfaction righteousness is to be applied to their souls by faith unfeigned that so the destroying curse of the Law and wrath of God may not abide upon them but pass over them while others who have no interest in this Lamb of God and his most precious blood lye open to the curse of the Law and the wrath to come So that we see also how this Ceremony and Sacrament of the Passeover attained its end in Christ and is accomplished in him and in that sense established And in particular this is declared in the doctrine of justification through the satisfaction and righteousness of Christ apprehended by faith For as the houses marked with the blood of the Paschal Lamb escaped the destroyer so those souls who by faith unfeigned apply the blood and righteousness of Christ to themselves are delivered from condemnation and accepted of God as righteous Let us labour to improvâ— this First As the Israelites were never delivered out of Egyptian bondage until they kept the Passeover so let us assure our selves that As it had been impossible for any men and women to get out of the slavery of sin and Satan unless the Lamb of God had been slain for thâ—â— Redemption so none are actually redeemed and delivered from this woful bondage untill they keep the Passeover in a spiritual manner until they imbrace Christ the Lamb of God and feed upon him by the lively actings and exercisings of faith unfeined Many may be convinced of their misery and sigh for hard bondage as the Israelites did in Egypt but they cannot be made free unless they keep this Passeover If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed If ye be found in Christ and feed upon this Lamb of God ye shall be free indeed not otherwise Secondly Admire with all Thankfulness the infinite goodness of God who before the foundation of the world provided such a precious remedy for poor sinners even a Lamb without blemish and without spot â—eparated from the rest of the flock one of the seed of the woman set apart from among all the rest of the children of men and personally united to the eternal Son of God that so he might be a full and perfect propitiation for sin Thirdly As Christ is a Lamb without spot so let all that will be saved by him labour to be more conformed to him in holiness purging themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit for every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure What is that but an unsound self-deceiving hope which doth not stir up the soul to conform it self to Christ in purity and holiness Fourthly Labour with all diligence for faith unfeigned whereby ye may sprinkle the most precious blood of Christ upon your Souls applying his death suffering satisfaction righteousness to your selves that ye may escape the destroying curse of the Law and wrath of God that being justified by faith in the blood and righteousness of Christ there may be no condemnation unto you What had it profited the Israelites that the Lamb for the Passeover was slain if they had not followed the Lord his direction in putting the blood upon the door posts of their houses What shall it profit any that live under the Gospel that Christ the Lamb of God is slain and in the preaching of the word set forth as it were crucified before their eyes if they do not sprinkle their souls in particular with his blood rightly applying his satisfaction and righteousness to themselves Will not the Lord look upon them rather as Egyptians then Israelites and deal with them accordingly Fifthly As they did eat the Lamb at the feast of the Passeover So let Christians endeavour every day to keep this feast unto the Lord by feeding upon this living bread upon the body and blood of Christ in lively actings of faith upon him and more especially in the use of his ordinances his word and the holy Supper As they kept the Passeover with unleavened bread so let us keep the feast not with old leven neither with the leven of malice and of wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth The Lord Christ warned his Disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharises and of the Sadduces and though at the first they mistook his meaning yet afterward they understood it of the doctrine of the Pharises and Sadduces so he said unto his Disciples Beware of the Leaven of the Pharises which is Hypocrisie So that all manner of evil outward and inward in heart in opinion in conversation may be comprehended under this Leaven and they that will rightly feast with Christ and feed upon him must
of men but of God The same Apostle saith that Abraham received the sign of Circumcision and seal of the righteousness of faith These Scriptures compared together shew that Circumcision did seal the Covenant of Grace between God and his people on the one side confirming the promises of God to them as a seal added to the blood of his Covenant on the other side engaging them to answer the ends of the Covenant by Circumcising their hearts mortifying their corruptions and forsaking their sins The sum of Gods promises sealed by the Sacrament of Circumcision is delivered in these words I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee I conceive this conteineth as much as all the promises of the Gospel For what is there in all the promises concerning pardon of sin justification adoption the graces of Sanctification the comforts and joyes of the holy Ghost Communion with God strength against temptation protection against the assaults of Satan and the world hearing and answering of prayers support under afflictions victory over death everlasting life and salvation and other promises and priviledges granted to Believers in the Gospel I say what is there in all these which is not comprehended in this promise I will be their God God is all sufficient he is all in all and when he giveth himself he giveth all good things and blessings and this was sealed by Circumcision Now this promise and Covenant is fulfilled in Christ for out of Christ men and women are both strangers and Enemies to God and have no interest in him The Lord is so far from being their God that he is their Enemy saith the Apostle When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son The best of men and women are in a state of enmity with God until they are reconciled by Christ. And that Covenant sealed by Circumcision wherein the Lord promised to be the God of Abraham and of his seed was the same for substance with that where he saith I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed I conceive the promise of Christ is twice included here when it is said I will make thee a blessing and again in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed Abraham was made a blessing and the Nations and families of the Earth were blessed in him in this regard because Christ according to the flesh or humane nature was to issue out of his loynes according to that in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed that is in Christ. So that Abraham found that in Christ which was sealed to him by Circumcision Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness and he received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of faith which he had yet being uncircumcised Circumcision attained its end in Christ and he was the substance of this shadow in him believers are reconciled to God and he becometh their God and they are made his people being justified by his righteousness and by his spirit they are circumcised in heart their corruptions are mortified and their body of sin destroyed which is an evidence of their union with Christ and justification by him and this may move us to labour to be found in Christ that we may be circumcised in heart that the power of sin may be killed in us that we may be conformed unto his death our sinful lusts and affections being crucified by virtue of his death on the Cross that so as the Apostle saith we may be circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ. 2. In as much as circumcision was a seal of that Covenant whereby God gave himself to his people to be their God in Christ and a seal of the righteousness of saith and so of the pardon of sin and justification through the righteousness of Christ apprehended by faith It is clear that all the Arguments of the Anabaptists fall to the ground which they build either upon the pretended difference of Baptisme and circumcision or of the Covenants sealed by them or upon the incapacitie of Infants for it is evident that the same Covenant which is confirmed by Baptisme was also sealed by circumcision and if Infants under the old Testament were capable of circumcision how are they made uncapable of Baptism under the Gospel And accordingly you may observe how the Apostle compareth baptisme and circumcision together and sheweth how the latter cometh in place of the former for having warned believers not to hearken to those who would bring them in bondage unto Iewish Ceremonies he telleth them ye are compleat in hi scil in Christ aâ—d so need not to observe those shadows of the Law in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. So that they have the same circumcision in Christ w ch their Fathers had under the Law and therefore needed not the outward circumcision But lest any should think thus our faith under the Gospel needeth outward helps to confirm it as well as theirs under the old Testament he addeth these words ver 12 Buried with him in baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead as if he had said instead of Circumcision ye have the Sacrament of baptisme signifying the same thing and sealing the Covenant of grace and righteousness of faith Secondly The other Sacrament was that of the Passeover this was instituted by the Lord while Israel was in Egypt and was first celebrated that same night that they came out of that house of Bondage The sum of the ordinance was this that every family should chuse a Lamb a male of the first year without blemish they were to separate it from the rest of the flock on the tenth day of the Month setting apart four days until the fourteenth day at even when it was to be killed they were to take of the blood and strike it upon the two side-posts and on the upper door-posts of the houses wherein the Lambs was to be eaten and the same night they were commanded to eat the flesh of the Lamb roasted with fire and with unleavened bread and bitter herbs but if any family were too little for a Lamb it was to joyne with the next and they were to eat it in hast with their loines girded their shoes on their feet and their staffe in their hand as men prepared to travel
so the people of God had need every day morning and evening to flee to Christ and to apply his sacrifice and satisfaction to themselves and through him to seek pardon of God for their dayly sins and infirmities every day sprinkling the blood of Christ the Lamb of God upon their souls 2. This may stir up Christians dayly to offer up a morning evening sacrifice to the Lord in confession of sins prayers praises thanksgivings We read of special blessings which the Lord vouchsafed at those times The King of Iudah Israel and Edom with their Army were in danger to perish for want of water and in this great distress they had recourse to the Prophet Elisha now it is said ver 20 and it came to pass in the morning when the meat-offering was offered that behold there came water by the way of Edom and the country was filled with water So Danâ—ul having prayed with much importunity for the Church which was then in captivity saith the man Gabriel to wit the Angel Gabriel in the likeness of a man being caused to fly swiftly touched him about the time of the evening oblation and so as it followeth there opened the counsels of God unto him according to his request I conceive it is very probable that the people of Israel in their several houses did use to pour out their prayers to God about the time of the morning and evening sacrifices and that Daniel and others of the godly when they were in captivity did observe those times though then the Temple was destroyed and the daily sacrifice interrupted A second sort of Sacrifices were sin offerings this kind of offering is called in the Hebrew expresly Sin because in a typical or figurative way the guilt or sin of him for whom the sacrifice was offered was laid upon the creature sacrificed So the Apostle sheweth that God hath made him scil Christ to be â—in for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him The sin-offering called sin figured the imputation of mens sin to Christ who had no sin of his own bnt voluntarily took upon him the guilt of mens sins as a surety taketh upon him anothers debt 1. See here how exceedingly the Son of God abased himself for sinners as to stand under the guilt of numberless sins If we consider the infinite holiness glory and Majesty of Christ is it not evident that this degree of humiliation and abasement passeth all understanding Admire therefore his infinite love and unconceivable goodness which moved him hereunto Learn highly to exalt and honour him 2. See here the baseness of sin which thâ— abased the Son of God when he took the guilâ— of it upon him out of compassion to sinnerâ— No outward estate condition calling imployment doth so abase any as the least sin doth in the Lord his account and yet hoâ— vain is the corrupt heart of man in being ashamed of many other things more thâ— of sin yea how many are there that arâ— ashamed of holiâ—ess and ready to glory iâ— sin 3. If Christ did thus abase himself for thâ— sins of others as to be made a sin-offering or to be made sin by imputation How shoulâ— we take shame to our selves and be exceedingly humbled and abased for our own sins As David I have sinned greatly in that I haâ— done I have done very foolishly And 〈◊〉 I abhor my self and repent in dust 〈◊〉 ashes 2. The blood of the sin-offering was to sprinkled seven times before the Lord and seâ— is noted for a number of perfection The Souâ— and Consciences of sinners are so deeply slaâ—ned and defiled with sin that they neeâ— much purging How often should we laboâ— by â—aith to sprinkle the blood of Christ upon our souls and to apply it to our selves This blood of the sin-offering was to bâ— sprinkled seven times before the vail of 〈◊〉 holy place so it is the blood of Christ 〈◊〉 maketh way for believers to the mercy-seat which their sins had shut up against theâ— Having therefore Brethren boldness to enteâ— into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh and having an high-priest over the house of God let us draw near with a true â—eart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water with hearts and souls sprinkled with the blood of Christ by faith and so purged from the guilt of sin and bodies washed with pure water being baptized outwardly and inwardly with water and the sanctifying graces of the holy spirit 3. Some of the blood was to be put upon the horns of the sweet incense Altar scil the Golden Altar so Christians are to ground their faith and confidence in offering up the Incense of prayer upon the blood and Mediation of Christ having no hope of acceptance but only through him and his satisfaction and intercession The Golden Altar being a type of Christ as he intercedeth for his people The blood of the sin-offering put upon this Altar may intimate unto us that Christ intercedeth with his Father and pleadeth for his people by presenting to him his blood the merit of his death and fulness of his satisfaction which he underwent not for himself who had no need but for them 4. The fat of the Inwards Kidneys c. were to be burned upon the Altar The fat may signifie carnal security senselessness and sottishness in heavenly and spiritual things Make the heart of this people sat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes and the Kidneys and fat upon them may signifie fleshly lusts and therefore as these things were consumed by fire upon the Altar so let Christians earnestly pray and labour for more and more of the spirit of Christ to consume and burn up their earthly and carnal affections and sinful lusts And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Ierusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Hierusalem when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the Daughters of Sion and shall have purged the blood of Hierusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Iudgement and by the spirit of burning 5. The skin of the Bullock for the sin-offering and all his flesh with his head and with his leggs and his inwards and his dung even the whole Bullock was to be carried without the Camp where the Ashes were poured and there to be burnt and as this was to be done without the Camp while they were in the Wilderness as they were when these things were written so it seemeth after they were settled in Canaan it was done without the City The Apostle giveth us
the interpretation of this Mystery For the bodyes of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burnt without the Camp wherefore Iesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the Gate And he bearing his Cross went forth unto a place called the place of a Skull which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha It seemeth this was a loathsome place without the City where they executed the vilest offenders and so at that time there were two malefactours Crucified with the Lord Jesus Christ one at each hand A place of a skul where there were it is likely many skuls and bones of such as had been there put to death even as the sin-offering was burnt at the place where the ashes were poured out First Here we have an other evidence of the wonderful abasement of the Lord of glory thrust out of the Camp out of the City as an outcast as an unclean and cursed thing so extreamly was he vilified whom all the Angels of God worship and to whom every knee must bow of those in heaven c And therefore let us make the same use of it as was formerly hinted Secondly In particular let us make the use of it which the Apostle points us to Let us go forth therefore unto him without the Camp bearing his reproach Both Iews and Gentiles conspired together in Crucifying the Lord Christ and therefore Believers must go out of the Iews Camp and out of the worlds Camp bearing the reproach of Christ they must not joyn with the obstinate Iews in observing legal Ceremonies nor be conformed to the world but labour to be conformed to a crucified Saviour and be content to endure scorn reproach persecution for Christ following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Many will seem to close with Christ if they can find him in the Camp if they can enjoy their credit their favour with the world their earthly interests But how few will go forth to him out of the Camp bearing his reproach so as to be rejected by the world and dealt with as outcasts and the off scouring of all things For saith the Apostle here have we no continuing City but we seek one to come If Christ suffered without the Gate of the City let us not be so affected as if this world were the place of our rest Let us not mind earthly things let us have our conversation in Heaven labouring to make sure of our interest in that everlasting inheritance Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entring into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it The Apostle urgeth from this Type of the sin-offering that they which would still rest in the observation of Iewish Ceremonies had no right in Christ We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle for the bodies c. as before The bodies of the sin-offerings were burnt without the Camp and so the Priest did eat no part of their flesh whereby was signified that they who would feed upon Christ and partake of the benefit of his sacrifice must leave the Tabernacle or Temple Priesthood Sacrifices Ceremonies of the Law now that Christ hath suffered for thus are all established by Christ not so as to be observed much less to be rested in but so as to attain their end in Christ in whom it appeareth that they are no empty shadowes but lively types of great and weighty Mysteries whereof also they are useful illustrations Thirdly I proceed to somewhat of meat-offerings It seemeth these were sometimes offered by themselves and sometimes joyned with other sacrifices as they were offered by themselves we have them set down Lev. 2. The original word is taken for a gift or present so these meat-offerings were to be given and presented to the Lord and this offering was to be fine flower of the purest part of the wheat and so it is conceived to signifie the perfect purity of Christ offering himself to God for his people resembled by pure flower without any mixture of bran The Lord Christ is brought in speaking to his Father Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me in burnt offerings and Sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure Then said I Loe I come in the volumn of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God I conceive here those three sorts of sacrifices are mentioned burnt-offerings sin-offerings and meat-offerings none of these could satisfie the justice of God for the sins of men and therefore he prepared or fitted a body for his Son an humane nature fitted to suffer for the sins of men a pure humane nature as the pure flower of wheat by the miraculous operation of the holy Ghost This humane nature united in one person with the Son of God was sufficient to make full satisfaction to the infinite justice of God which all the sacrifices of the Law could not do In respect of his body or humane nature he was fitted for a sacrifice in respect of his God-head he was an all sufficient sacrifice of infinite value Labour then to lay hold on Christ by faith and to turn to the Lord by repentance that ye may have interest in this most pretious offering this compleat and most perfect sacrifice every way fitted for this use for as Christ is the only Son of God he is most nigh unto the Father the same God with the Father and infinitely beloved of the Father of infinite worth and excellency and so able to make full satisfaction to his justice As he is the Son of man so he is nigh unto men their Brother one of the seed of that woman who was the Mother of all living one of the same nature and so of a nature fit to suffer and therefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him 2. This meat offering of fine flower seemeth also to signifie the offering up of believers to Christ because the members are to be conformed to their head They shall bring all your Brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all Nations The word there translated offering is the same that elsewhere is rendred meat-offering Suitable whereunto is that of the Apostle saith he that I should be the Minister of Iesus Christ to the Gentiles ministring the Gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the holy Ghost Although the Gentiles were prophane Idolaters and defiled with manifold abominations and so fitly resembled by the beasts that were unclean under the Law yet the Apostle preaching the Gospel to them and the holy spirit of Christ working in and with his Ministry upon their souls were renewed cleansed sanctified and so presented as an acceptable offering to the Lord 1. Let all Christians pray
of God and the spiritual sacrifices which he offereth the duties which he performeth must have a tincture and favour of Christs spirit in them 4. Salt preserveth things from perishing and so may note unto us perpetuity therefore it is called the salt of the Covenant of God and a sure and everlasting Covenant is called a Covenant of salt so Abijah pleading the right of Davids posterity to the Kingdom of Israel said Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the Kingdom over Israel to David for ever even to him and to his Sons by a Covenant of salt This was imperfectly fulfilled in David and the Kings that sprang from his loyns before Christ his coming but it was compleatly verified in Christ the Son of David after the flesh to whom God gave the throne of his Father David that he should raign over the house of Iacob or Israel for ever The Covenant of grace established by Christ his sacrifice is a covenant of salt that shall never fail How earnestly should we labour to break off all leagues with sin and Satan and turn to the Lord by unseigned repentance and lay hold of Christ by faith that in him we may be reconciled to God and made parties to this unchangeable Covenant enjoying the everlasting blessings and priviledges of it 2â— To the meat-offering was added a drink-offering a quantity of wine The meat-offering consisting of fine flower and the drink-offering of Wine how fitly do they resemble the pretious body and blood of Christ which is meat and drink indeed upon which Christians are to feed by faith And how exactly doth the bread and wine in the Sacramental supper of the new Testament answer to this meat and drink offering consisting of the same materials Fourthly Now followeth the peace-offeringâ— conceive this was offered especially in a way of thankfulness for mercies and deliverances â—ometimes upon a conditional vow made beâ—ore sometimes without a vow and therefore may also be called thank-offering and â—hese may signifie the duties of Christians in general their spiritual sacrifices and services which they are to offer unto God continually in thankfulness for his saving mercies towards them in Christ. And therefore the Apostle having largely shewed that the sacrifices of the old Testament were not to be observed in the times of the Gospel since they are fully accomplished in Christ toward the end of that Epistle he calleth upon believers to offer spiritual sacrifices by him scil by Christ therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name but to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased All these and the like spiritual sacrifices believers are to offer up by Christ their high-priest in his name presenting them to the Father by his hand that they may find acceptance through him and whatsoever we do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him all these sacrifices are to be offered in his name and to be presented to God by and through him 2. For a peace offering and thank-offering liberty was given to sacrifice either male or female so saith the Apostle There is neither Iew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for yâ— are all one in Christ Iesus The Lord maketh no difference of persons now either in respect of Nation condition or sex if they be in Christ whatsoever they are in other regards the Lord accepteth them in his beloved Son and they may present themselves as living holy sacrifices unto him assuring themselves that he will graciously receive them and by the same reason they may offer up their services and duties to him by Christ as spiritual sacrifices 3. The fat and the kidneys of the peacâ—-offerings were to be burnt upon the Altar but what was to be done with the rest of the flesh that you may find in Lev. 7. the breast and the right shoulder were to be given to the Priests the Sons of Aaron whereof the former was to be waved before the Lord the latter to be heaved or lifted upwards and then they were to be given to the Priests It seemeth the rest of 〈◊〉 flesh of the peace-offerings was to be eaten by him that brought the sacrifice of the peace-offering before the Lord who together with his family was to celebrate a holy feast with spiritual rejoycings before the Lord. 1. The breast was to be given to God for what was given to the Priests was given to God because it was given to the Priest for the attending on the service of God This may teach us to give up our breasts hearts affections to God in holiness and obâ—dience My Son give me thine heart Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind 2. The breast was to be waved before the Lord or shaken to and fro The original word is taken for sifting with a five so this waving of the breast may teach us what stirâ—ings of heart what lively workings of spirit and affections there should be in Christians in performing services to the Lord. It is not a dead soul without spiritual life and motion which the Lord regardeth but it is a wave-breast that he calleth for an active heart and soul a stirring spirit like that of David Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name 3. The right shoulder was to be heaved up before the Lord or to be lifted up This may â—each Christians to lift up their souls to the Lord as David Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul to seek the things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God â—o set their affections on things above not on things on the earth to have their conversation in Heaven These parts being to 〈◊〉 given to the Priests by the Lord his command here we have another ground estaâ—lishing the maintenance of Gospel Ministers â—ecording to that of the Apostle mentioned beâ— The rest of the flesh of the peace-offerings â—â—ting to be eaten by him that brought the â—â—â—rtices with his houshold rejoycing in the Lord may teach Christians that as Christ offered up himself in sacrifice to God to satisfie his justice for the sins of his people so he inviteth them to feed and feast upon him by faith with rejoycing with joy of the holy Ghost this they should do in reading and hearing the Gospel in meditating upon the word upon Christ and the things of Christ. And in the use of the Lords supper I conceive this feasting upon the remainder of the facrifice was a special act of Communion which the
them as are brought forth into outward act defile the body also some of them more some less according to their natures and degrees Now there is a severe threatning formerly mentioned If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy As ye desire the salvation of your souls and bodies to prevent the destruction of both take heed of defiling these Temples of God make a through search and cast out all the filth which ye find there by sincere repentance and reformation watch against all future defilements and as atonement was made for the Tabernacle by the blood of the sin-offering so seek to clear your selves from the guilt of your sins by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus applied by faith Seventhly Next to the Tabernacle or Temple ye may take notice of the Altar of burnt-offering and as the sacrifices offered up on this Altar and High-priest who was the principal officer were Types of Chirst so it seemeth was the Altar We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat that serve the Tabernacle 1. It was commanded to be made of Shittim Wood which is thought to have been a choice kind of wood that would not rot and so fit to resemble the precious body of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom it is said He whom God raised again saw no corruption The Lord Christ though he freely laid down his life for his people and suffered death yet He rose again in so short a time as to prevent all putrefaction and rottenness He saw no corruption and as he preserved his own natural body from corruption so he shall deliver his mystical body his Church and the members of it out of corruption and raise them incorruptible But 2. The Altar was to be over-laid with Brass for though the wood might be free from rotting and corrupting yet I conceive it could not endure the force of that fire which was to burn upon it and therefore it was to have a brazen covering This seemeth to note unto us the Godhead of Christ united to his manhood or that strength which the Godhead thus united gave to the manhood whereby it was so mightily forâ—ified that the wrath of God due to the Sons of men did not consume it as the wood of the Altaâ— was not consumed by the fire wherewith the Sacrifices were burnt 3. This Altar was placed by the door of the Tabernacle of the Tent of the congregation it seemeth this was set in the open Court that all the people might see it and behold the Sacrifices offered upon it that their hearts might be raised in expectation of that great and all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ which alone satisfieth for sins so now Christ in the preaching of the Gospel is set forth as it were crucified before the eyes of believers The Altar upon which the sacrifices were offered was set by the door of the Tabernacle at the entrance into it whosoever will have a place in the Courts of the Lord and abide in his house for ever must get entrance by Christ and his sacrifice sin shutteth the door against all only Christ makes way for those that truly come to him and by him to God Saith the Lord Christ I am the door by me if any man enter in he shall be saved And again I am the way c. No man cometh unto the Father but by me whosoever will come to God enjoy his favour enter into Covenant and have communion with him must come to him by Christ. 4. There was an Altar to burn Incense upon of the same wood with the former but overlaid with pure Gold Christ is the Golden Altar upon whom the prayers and other services of his people are offered up as sweet Incense unto God by whose merit and intercession they find acceptance 2. No strange Incense was to be offered thereon so no strange worship must be offered to God in the Name of Christ of mans deviseing only such services are to be presented to him as the Lord himself hath appointed in his word In vain do they worship me teaching for doctrine the traditions of men The Lord alloweth not any strange Incense to be offered up to him Eighthly There was the Ark overlaid with pure Gold into which was put the Testimony by which I understand the Tables of stone wherein the Law was written by the finger of God This Ark was a special token of God his presence with his people and upon the Ark was placed a mercy-seat of pure Gold and the mercy seat was put above upon the Ark. As the mercy seat was set above upon the Ark wherein the Law was so the Lord in dealing with repenting and believing sinners in Christ exalteth and magnifieth his mercy and covereth their sins whereby they have transgressed his holy Law He sitteth upon a mercy-seat to receive poor sinners that fly from the curse of the Law for refuge to the riches of his grace in Christ. Let all poor souls without strive and hasten to escape from the severity of Gods dreadful justice to his mercy-seat through Christ whose blood hath opened a way unto it They that are sincerely willing to renounce their dearest sins and to yeild subjection unto Christ may have free access to the mercy-seat and receive an answer of peace in Christ. This Ark wherein the Tables of the Law were written and the mercy-seat was of the same measure for breadth and length so they that will have their hearts assured of the saving mercy of God in Christ must have the Law of God written by the finger of God in their hearts they must be regenerate and renewed by the spirit of Christ and conformed to his holy Law Poor souls pursued with the guilt of their Consciences and curse of the Law must flee to the mercy-seat of God in Christ though as yet they do not find any such work in themselves but they cannot have their hearts established in the assurance of this priviledge that their sins are forgiven until they find this gracious work wrought in them and therefore the Lord in dâ—câ—aring his Covenant joyneth these two together This is the Covenant c. I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more The Lord promiseth to the same prâ—sons to pardon their sins and to write his Laws in their hearts As for those that go on securely in sin and yet rely upon the mercy of God in Christ for pardon of sin they deceive themselves The Ark wherein the Law was put and the mercy-seat were just of the same size and repentance which is a change of heart and life is always joyned with forgiveness of sins There were two Cherubims of beaten Gold at the two ends of the mercy-seat with their faces one
for thy righteousness for thou art a stiff-necked people it was not because of the greatness of thy Nation or the multitude of thy people The Lord did not set his love upon and chuse you because you were more in number then any people for ye were the fewest of all people but because the Lord loved you c. It was a pure act of grace and work of Gods free love towards Israel and therefore the Apostle as one transported with admiration of that which he could not comprehend breaketh out into this exclamation O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out 2. Let us magnifie the goodness of God towards the Nations of the world in these latter days that he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world manifested in the flesh to break down the partition-wall that was between Iew and Gentile that as now that difference between several sorts of beasts c. is taken away so that they are not opposed to each other as legally clean and unclean as they were under the Law of Ceremonies so the difference between Israel and other Nations is now also abolished and it is as free for an people as for the posterity of Abraham to partake of the Covenant of grace in Church-priviledges both was declared to Peter by a vision and a voice from Heaven for Cornelius an Heathen Captain being directed by an Angel to send for Peter the Lord prepared this Apostle for the journey by casting him into a trance and causing him to see Heaven opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and wild-beasts and creeping things and Fowls of the Air and there came a voice to him Rise Peter kill and eat but Peter said not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing common or unclean And the voice spake unto him again the second timeâ— what God hath cleansed that call not thou common Now when Peter came to Cornelius and his company He said unto them ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Iew to keep company or come unto one of another Nation but God hath shewed me that I should not call any common or unclean The Lord spake of beasts c. Peter rightly applyeth it to men so that the Lord Christ took away the difference of clean and unclean that was under the Ceremonial Law both between men of several Nations and between other Creatures How should we in particular stir up our selves to be thankful to the Lord that he hath reserved us for these times wherein it is as free for us descended from Heathen Ancestors to partake of the Priviledges of God his Covenant as for the people of Israel yea when the Israelites being natural branches are cut off through unbelief we may be grafted in by faith Let us take heed then least our unbelief impenitency security deprive us of this blessed priviledge for though none now are unclean in respect of the Nation whereof they are more then others yet all are unclean in the sight of God who remain dead in trespasses and sins out of Christ whose Natures are not renewed and cleansed from their filthiness 3. Observe with thankfulness the liberal use of the Creatures which God hath given to his people now under the new Testament through Christ above that which he allowed the people of Israel under the old Testament for now every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving Nothing that is wholesome for mans body is to be refused as unlawful and so the same Apostle saith All things are lawful for me viz. all sorts of meats for of such things he speaketh in that place and therefore whereas blood in particular was forbidden under the old Testament it is now lawful But it hath been objected that blood was forbidden upon a moral reason taken from the Nature of the the thing forbidden because the blood is called the life of the Creature For answer I conceive this is no moral reason but a natural reason implying a mystery scil to shew that men should abhor cruelty and bloodshed and so I suppose if we did throughly understand the Natures of all the Creatures which the Israelites were forbidden to eat there might be some natural reason given for it comprehending the Mystery Again it seemeth there was also a farther Mystery in the prohibition of blood for eating of blood and fat are both forbidden together scil such fat as used to be sacrificed because the blood and fat were both in a peculiar manner to be offered unto God The blood poured forth signified the taking away the guilt of sin by the death of Christ and shedding of his blood The burning of the fat it seemeth signified the mortification of sin by the spirit of Christ and so they might be forbidden both the eating the blood and fat to teach all not to take to themselves the honour either of their justification or of their sanctification but to ascribe it wholly unto Christ. But it may be said that blood was forbidden after Christ his death and resurrection by the Apostles and Elders in the Synod of Ierusalem I Answer It was but a temporary decree imposed upon the believing Gentiles that they might not give offence to weak believers among the Iews who were not yet clearly satisfied about the abolishing of legal Ceremonies and the extent of that Christian liberty which Christ had given them Secondly An other Ceremonial observance was the keeping of their solemn festivals 1. In general These feasts may intimate unto Christians that gound and matter of joy which true believers have through Christ and accordingly that duty of holy rejoycing in Christ which they are called unto so the Angels said unto the Shepherds Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And the Apostle saith We are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Iesus This is that spiritual feast which the Lord promised In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined 2. In special there were three solemne feasts which they were commanded to observe every year 1. The Feast of unleavened bread which was annexed to the Passeover of this somewhat hath been formerly spoken 2. The feast of Harvest which was called the feast of weeks it seemeth because it was as it were a week of weeks after that other feast of
the Passeover and unleavened bread scil seven weeks the same that is called Pentecost it is called the feast of Harvest their Harvest being much earlier then ours in that hot Country This may teach Christians to stir up their hearts to sincere thankfulness unto the Lord for all his blessings particularly for the increase of the fruits of the earth that they may serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things At this Feast of Harvest of weeks or Pentecost the Lord Christ having ascended into Heaven about ten dayes before did in a more glorious manner send down the holy Ghost upon his Apostles that so he might furnish them abundantly with gifts graces abilities to gather in his Harvest to bring in the Nations of the earth into his barn into his Church which before were in the open field of ahe world being strangers to Christ and subject to Satan the God of the world and Prince of darkness He had said unto them Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are white already to Harvest And herein is that saying true One soweth and another reapeth I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour other men laboured and ye are entred into their labours The ancient Propâ—ets that foretold of Christ his coming death resurrection and ascension into Heaven and that great and glorious Harvest wherein the Nations of the world should be gathered into Christ were â—eedsmen that did not live to see this rich crop brought into the barn they died long before the Son of God was manifested in the flesh and the Gentiles converted but the Apostles were called to Harvest-work to reap what the Prophets had â—own to gather in the Nations of the earth unto Christ and here the Lord Christ told them it was Harvest-time the fields looked whiteâ— the fulness of time was come and they were the reapers that must bring in his Harvest which he had so dearly paid for even with the price of his most precious blood but it was needful that that they should be furnisht in an extraordinary measure and manner for such a work and therefore the Lord Christ said unto them Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Hierusalem until ye be endued with power from on high do not fall rashly upon the work until I have fitted you for it and so he told them Ye shall receive power after the holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Hierusalem and in all Iudea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth after ye are thus fitted and enabled for so great a work ye shall go over the large field of the world to bring in mine Harvest and accordingly at this feast of Harvest the day of Pentecost the Lord Christ sent down his spirit upon them wonderfully enabling them for this service Thirdly There was a third feast scil the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when they had gathered in their labours out of the field I conceive when the last of their fruits their vintage or Grapes c. were gathered in This I take to be the same which is called the feast of Tabernacles This was to begin on the fifteenth of the seventh month which seemeth to answer to our September and continued seven days and again it is said to be at the time when they had gathered in the fruit of the Land and they were commanded to take boughs of goodly trees branches of Palm-trees and the boughs of thick trees and willows of the Brook and to rejoyce before the Lord their God seven days they were also commanded to dwell in Boothes seven days that their Generations might know that the Lord made the Children of Israel to dwell in Booths when he brought them out of the land of Egypt This feast was solemnly kept after the peoples return from Captivity 1. This again may stir up Christians to thankfulness unto the Lord for all his blessings and particularly for the fruits of the earth as before 2. This dwelling in Booths and slight Tents or Tabernacles made of green boughs in memory of their condition when they came out of the Land of Egypt the house of bondage may teach Christians often to call to mind their afflictions and low condition out of which the Lord hath at any time delivered them especially they that are in Christ should often and seriously remember that woful bondage and misery under sin and satan and the danger of condemnation out of which the Lord Christ hath delivered them and labour to be exceedingly thankful for it 3. They were to go out of their dwelling houses to dwell in booths when they had gathered in their fruits least when their barns and store-houses were plentifully filled they might forget God who gave them all these things and set their hearts upon the Creatures resting in their outward enjoyments giving themselves up to voluptuousness like him spoken of Luk. 12. Soul thou hast goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry but God said unto him thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided Learn then in the midst of the greatest abundance to raise up your hearts above all earthly things to make God your portion to walk with him in the light of his Countenance 4. This dwelling in Booths or Tabernacles may teach Christians to be affected as strangers here on earth having no continuing City in this world their bodies being slight and weak frames easily dissolved like summer-houses made of green boughs that will suddenly wither labour then to make sure of a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens purchased by the blood of Christ for all those that are sound in him in as much as ye have no continuing City here seek one to come and labour for sound evidence to clear your title to it Fourthly Besides these three great feasts there was to be a memorial of blowing the Trumpets upon the first of the same seventh month and then upon the tenth day of that month a day of Atonement solemne humiliation repentance and afflicting the soul so the silver Trumpet being sounded in the preaching of the word summons the hearers to repentance to afflict their souls to abase and humble themselves to turn to the Lord with all their hearts Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Iacob their sins This silver Trumpet was sounded by Iohn Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Iudea and saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand for this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye
the way of the Lord make his paths strait Yea the Lord Christ himself in his own person sounded this Silver Trumpet From that time Iesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand He who gave himself for a sacrifice and poured forth his blood to make atonement and reconciliation between God and sinners did preach repentance to them to prepare them for atonement and reconciliation It is very lamentable to consider how many live under the sound of the Silver Trumpet many years and yet are not prepared for atonement and reconciliation to God through Christ nor brought to the beginnings of sound and saving repentance but either are secure careless dead-hearted minding earthly things or resting in outward performances or openly profane and wicked Oh how dreadful will the sound of that Trumpet be at the last day for the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trumpet of God I say how dreadful shall the sound of that Trumpet be to such who go on hardning their hearts in security and impenitency against the sound of the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel 2. The day of atonement and humiliation was about four or five days before the feast of Tabernacles wherein they were to rejoyce before the Lord so sincere humiliation and repentance make way for sound spiritual joy Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted godly sorrow maketh way for heavenly rejoycing But when a man goeth on to glut himself with the pleasures of sins or earthly contents not afflicting his soul for sin he hath no part in this spiritual feast to such belongs that sad threatning Wo unto you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep Fifthly Consider their manifold washings with water in divers Cases to purifie themselves from legal uncleannesses Ceremonial pollutions as when any was cleansed from the Leprosie he was to be sprinkled with water mingled with blood seven times and afterwards to wash both his cloaths and his body in water so they that had running issues when they were cleansed from them were commanded to wash their cloaths and their bodies in water and so in divers other Cases Now the Apostle Iohn proves that the Lord Jesus is The Christ thus This is he that came by water and blood even Iesus Christ nâ—â— by water only but by water and blood and iâ— is the spirit that beareth witness because the spirit is Truth whereas there was great use of water and blood in the Law of Ceremonies the blood of the 〈◊〉 and the water many wayes used for cleansing and purifying it sheweth that all these things were accomplished in Christ and attained their end in him he performed and fulfilled what was signified and typified both by water and blood His blood was shed as the blood of the most perfect sacrifice to take away the guilt of sin and to justifie sinners and save them from condemnation and the sanctifying spirit and grace of Christ cleansing his people from the filth of sin washing their hearts from wickedness and making them holy as he is holy and therefore he addeth ver 8 there are three that bear witness in earth the spirit the water and the blood And ver 10 He that believeth hath the witness in himself He that savingly believeth in Christ being united to him by faith hath this threefold witness in himself the spirit of Christ witnessing with his spirit that he is in Christ reconciled to God by Christ an adopted child and Heir of God through Christ the only begotten Son of God and Heir of all things the blood of Christ cleansing his Conscience from the guilt of sin the grace of Christ resembled by water sanctifying him and conforming him to Christ in holiness so that such an one hath an evidence in his own soul both that Jesus is the very Christ and that he is his Christ for he findeth that Christ hath fulfilled that in and upon his soul which was figured by the blood and water under the Law of Ceremonies This is a blessed and most precious priviledge which all that are under the Gospel should labour with all diligence to make their own Oh what an happiness is it for Christians to have this threefold witness in themselves In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established Here are three witnesses beyond exception A Christian having this threesold witness in himself in the poorest outward estate is richer and happier then all the treasures of the earth and all the Kingdoms of the world can make him but how few are they that have any other witness of their interest in Christ but their own fancy how few do seriously and diligently seek for any other In that great and last day how will ye stand in the presence of God when numberless sins are charged upon you Will ye say Christ hath satisfied for your sins what shall this profit you unless ye be united unto Christ Will ye plead that ye believe in Christ and so are made one with him where is your witness Oh take heed of appearing before the all-seeing God without a witness And therefore I beseech you consider seriously of your condition and rest not till ye are in Christ and until he come into your souls both by water and blood and give you the witness of his spirit 2. Those frequent washings under the Law of Ceremonies may stir up Christians to frequent endeavours dayly to purifie themselves as Christ is pure to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God to draw cleansing and sanctifying virtue from Christ more and more by faith They were to wash their bodies and cloaths to be sprinkled with water seven times There is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness a fountain of most precious blood and water of most Soveraign virtue the sufferings of Christ and the grace of God are to wash away the guilt of sin and the uncleanness and pollution of sin Do not forsake your own mercies and neglect so great salvation It is sad that when such a precious fountain is opened so few are washed and cleansed Thus much concerning the Ceremonial Law to shew how and in what respects it is established by the doctrine of the Gospel CHAP. VII THere are two other Laws mentioned by the Apostle in the former part of this Epistle by neither of which men can be justified in the sight of God One is the Law of Nature the other is the Moral Law written and delivered in the Scriptures It was needful for the Apostle to speak distinctly of both these For 1. His great design was to make known the only way whereby men might be justified and accepted as righteous in the sight of God the righteous judge of all the world that so they might be everlastingly blessed and