and Demas for a time 2. Elisha called in the New Testament Elizeus Luk. 4. He was a Type of Christ in three respects 1. In that Elisha in respect of Elijah was as it were a Continuation of the same person For he rose up compleatly in the same Spirit The Prophets discerned it 2 Kings 2.15 the Spirit of Elijah did rest upon Elisha So when Christ departed and ascended up to Heaven he left the Comforter in his stead Joh. 16. and he left the Apostles and Ministers to carry on his Work and poured forth his Spirit upon them for that end Or we may accommodate this with respect to John the Baptist thus As Elisha succeeded Elijah so did Christ come after John the Baptist and so Elisha was in this respect a Type of Christ himself 2. In regard of the remarkable Vengeance and Destruction that came upon his wicked Enemies The Children that mocked him were devoured by two She-Bears 2 Kings 2.23 24. Gehazi his treacherous Servant smitten with Leprosie 2 Kings 5.27 So Despisers of Jesus Christ and the Gospel shall be punished with most remarkable and dreadful Destruction Hear ye Despisers and wonder and perish Acts 13.41 For I work a Work in your days a Work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you incredible Plagues shall the Despisers and Rejecters of Christ and of the Gospel be punished with And Judas the Traytor his Servant you know what dreadful Destruction came upon him Acts 1.18 his Bowels gushed out through the horror of his Conscience and the Fury of the Almighty rending his very Body in pieces as well as his Soul from his Body 3. In regard of his Miracles He and his Predecessor Elijah were the greatest workers of Miracles except Moses that ever we read of in Scripture or that ever the Lord raised up in his Church For Moses was to be the Founder as it were of that Church-Estate and Worship that was in those days and Elijah and Elisha were the Preservers and Restorers of it in a most degenerate and corrupted Age. The Miracles of Elisha were very great and many they are recorded in the second Book of Kings in the 2 3 4 5 6 and 7th Chapters and one more in chap. 13. They were about one and twenty in all There be three recorded in the second chapter viz. his dividing Jordan with Elijahs Mantle his healing the Waters of Jericho the devouring two and forty scoffing Children of those idolatrous Parents the people at Bethel by two She-Bears In the third Chapter there is another viz. the overflowing of the Wilderness of Edom with Water crp. 3.20 see ver 8. to the Destruction of the Moabites In the fourth Chapter there be five more which are the Analysis and Contents of that Chapter viz. 1. His multiplying the Widows Oyl while she had any empty vessels to fill 2. His giving a Son to that great and good Woman the Shunamite 3. His raising her Son when dead unto life again and this is the second person that ever was raised from the dead 4. His healing the deadly Pottage which had poysoned the Students in the Colledge at Gilgal 5. His feeding of an hundred men with twenty Loaves In the fifth Chapter there be two more the curing of Naamans Leprosie and the smiting of Gehazi with that Disease In the sixth Chapter there be six more 1. His causing Iron to swim 2. His disclosing the secret Counsels of the King of Syria by the Spirit of Prophesie 3. An Army of Angels coming down from Heaven for his defence at Dothan 4. The opening of his Servants Eyes to see them 5. The smiting of the Syrians with Blindness And 6. The opening their Eyes again In the seventh Chapter are three more the hideous which noise was heard and caused such a pannick terror in the Camp of the Syrians that their whole Army fled and the incredible Plenty in Samaria with the Death of that unbelieving Nobleman who had questioned whether God could do it And then lastly cap. 13.21 a dead man is restored to life by touching his Bones And this is the third person that was raised from the dead All these Miracles in general were Presignifications of what the Messiah was to do in that kind and some of them were more particularly fulfilled and answered by the Antitype As that of feeding an hundred men with twenty Loaves You know Christ did that and more feeding five thousand with five Loaves and two Fishes Matth. 14.21 And at another time four thousand with seven Loaves and a few little Fishes Matth. 15.38 His raising the dead to life whereof we have three instances in the Old Testament the Widow of Sarepta her Son the Shunamites Son and the Man buried in Elisha's Grave These were Types and Pledges of what Christ should do in raising the dead As in raising Lazarus Jairus his Daughter the Widows Son of Naim and his own blessed Body out of the Grave and many Saints that arose with him And those which the Apostles raised by his Name And finally the raising all his Elect unto eternal Life and all the Sons of men unto Judgment at the great Day There might also be a spiritual application and accommodation of them as to the quickning of mens Souls the healing of the Diseases of the Soul feeding them with the Bread of Life pouring into empty Vessels empty Souls the Oyl of Gladness the Joys and Graces of his Spirit 3. Jonah him I connect with Elijah and Elisha to make the Type more compleat and full Some have conjectured that Jonah was the Widows Son of Zarephath whom Elijah raised from the dead 1 Kings 17.22 23. but this is but a conjecture without proof it is probable enough he might live about their time or perhaps somewhat after That he was a Type of Christ the Scripture is express Matth. 12.39 No Sign shall be given them but the Sign of the Prophet Jonah You may see how the Type fits the Antitype in four respects 1. In his Death he offered himself willingly unto Death to asswage the Storm Jon. 1. and so he is cast into the Sea and devoured by the Whale So did Christ to appease the Tempest of Gods Wrath. And as upon Jonahs being cast into the Sea the Sea ceased from its raging cap. 1.15 and the Seamen were saved from drowning So upon Christs Death Gods Wrath is pacified and Believers saved from the Wrath to come Jonah had sore conflicts and inward agonies of Spirit when he was under that shadow of death in the Whales Belly cap. 2. So had Christ when he cried My God my God why hast thou forsaken me there were unutterable anguishes in his Soul those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unknown unconceivable sufferings in his Soul 2. He was a Type of Christ in his Burial For look as Jonah was buried in the Belly of the Whale three days and three nights So was Christ in the Belly of the Earth the
Prophetick stile Luk. 3.23 he began his Ministry the thirtieth year of his age And there be four Passovers mentioned in the Gospel of John in the sacred Story of his Life and Death Or we may apply this circumstance more literally in reference to his Resurrection from the dead which is the 3. Third thing wherein Isaac was a Type of Christ thus that they were both delivered from Death the third day Look as Isaac was reputed among the dead in his Fathers thoughts and purpose for three days who had given him up unto the Lord but he received him again as from the dead after three days So Christ was in the state of Death three days but then rose again to dye no more so that as Isaac in three days was both alive and dead and revived in a figure Christ was so in truth In this respect the Apostle clearly makes him a Type of Christ Heb. 11.19 accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received him in a Figure For Isaac's Death and Resurrection was not a real Death and Resurrection but a figurative Death and a figurative Resurrection The truth of which Figure is in Christ who both dyed and rose again really and indeed I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death Revel 1.18 3. Jacob he also was a Type of Christ and is intimated in the Scripture so to be in that Christ is called by his Name Isai 49.3 Thou art my Servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified they are the words of God the Father unto Jesus Christ Jacob was a Type of Christ 1. In his Sojourning 2. In his Wrestling 1. In his sojourning and travelling to and fro in an afflicted condition almost all his days For he seems to have been the most afflicted Saint that we read of in Scripture except Job He leaves his Fathers House and goes to Haran and lives there as a Servant for his two Wives Rachel and Leah Gen. 28.10 and 29.18 27. So Christ left the Bosom of his Father descended from the highest Heavens and sojourned here upon earth in the form of a Servant to purchase to himself a Spouse a Church of Jews and Gentiles Jacob also went down into Egypt by Gods direction and there Joseph fed him Gen. 46.3 So Christ was carried into Egypt by Joseph the Son of another Jacob being warned so to do by the Lord in a Dream and was there fed and provided for by Joseph his reputed Father Matth. 2.13 And as the Lord brought Jacob back again in his Posterity who carried his Bones with them Gen. 46.4 I will surely bring thee up again So he brought Christ out of Egypt in his own person And that this History had a typical respect to Christ you may see in Matth. 2.15 Hos 11.1 when Israel was a Child then I loved him and called my Son out of Egypt It is spoken there historically but not only so but prophetically also For that History of Israels going into Egypt and returning again was a typical History and did represent what was to be done in Christ the true Israel 2. Jacob was also a Type of Christ in regard of his wrestling and prevailing with the Lord When he was to meet Esau he betakes himself to Prayer that night and prevailed from whence he got the name of Israel Gen. 32.28 and he said thy Name shall be called no more Jacob but Israel For as a Prince thou hast power with God and with men and hast prevailed Hos 12.4 Yea he wept and made supplication unto him So Christ often and particularly the night before his Sufferings Heb. 5.7 who in the days of his Flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death and was heard in that he feared for he had that which was equivalent You know his Agonies in Prayer that night when he said Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me nevertheless not my Will but thy Will be done Yea he lives for ever to intercede Heb. 7.25 4. The fourth and last personal Type that is now to be spoken to is Joseph The History of Joseph in the latter end of Genesis is a very admirable and an affecting History In Poems and Romances to please and affect the Mind men take liberty to feign yet they come far short of this which was a real History It is true Joseph is not so expresly mentioned in the New Testament as a Type of Christ as Abraham Isaac and Jacob are but the analogy is so clear and full that we cannot well omit him Joseph multis modis Figuram Christi gestavit vel potius viva fuit ejus Imago saith Calvin in Matth. 2. ult The Analogy is marvellous clear in sundry particulars I shall but instance in four things wherein he was as the Apostle speaks of another eminent Type made like unto the Son of God 1. In his personal qualifications and endowments of Wisdom and Holiness 2. In his Sufferings 3. In his Advancement 4. In his Carriage towards his Brethen 1. In regard of his personal Qualifications and endowments Joseph may be fitly numbred amongst the Types of Christ for he was very eminent both as to Wisdom and Holiness As for Wisdom he had a Prophetical Light shining in him from whence Pharaoh gave him that honourable name Zaphnath payaneah a clear Revealer of Secrets Gen. 41.45 the Egyptian Language though not the same with the Hebrew yet had some affinity with it The first word Tsopnath Secretum comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recondidit The other payaneach is thought to be a compound of two words from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 claruit and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duxit placide Joseph was eminent for leading by the hand into secret hidden mysteries It was said of him by Pharaoh Can we find such a man as this is in whom the Spirit of God is Gen. 41.38 and forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this there is none so discreet and wise as thou art So in Christ are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Col. 2.3 He received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3.34 He is the wonderful Counsellor Isai 9.6 the wonderful Numberer Dan. 8.13 the true Palmoni or numberer of Secrets And as for Holiness Joseph was tempted by his Mistress to bodily Adultery but he resisted and overcame the temptation So Christ was tempted to Idolatry which is spiritual Adultery but overcame the Tempter Matth. 4. And Believers also are victorious through him Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.57 2. In regard of his Sufferings both from his Brethren and from Strangers also his Mistress and other Egyptians His Sufferings were very grievous the Archers sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated
former Employment and Place to do this Work Exod. 3.10 Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou maist bring forth my people the Children of Israel out of Egypt But by Jesus Christ he redeemeth us out of the spiritual Bondage of Sin and Satan which is worse than Egyptian Bondage and he was sent by his Father and was content to come down from Heaven and to leave his Glory to do this great Work wherein Christ hath the preheminence For Moses was a Mediator only of temporal and typical Redemption but Christ is the Mediator of spiritual and eternal Redemption By Moses his Mediation also the Law was delivered upon Mount Sinai Gal. 3.19 it was ordained in the hand of a Mediator or a middle person that stood and transacted between God and the people Act. 7.38 who received the lively Oracles to give unto us But by Jesus Christ the Gospel is published In this respect he is the Mediator of a better Testament Moses gave the moral judicial and ceremonial Laws But Christ reveals the Gospel and Gospel-Worship Moses appoints the Passover Sacrifices builds the Tabernacle made with hands But Christ gives the Lords Supper a most lively Representation of himself and his own Death the true Sacrifice And he is himself also the true Temple and Tabernacle which the Lord hath pitched and not Man so that Christ hath the preheminence in all things inasmuch as Gospel-worship excels Legal worship and Truth and Substance excels Figures and Shadows Lastly Moses did mediate between God and the people as an Intercessor by his Prayers and Supplications and did prevail for them for the Destruction of Amalek Exod. 17. And again when they murmured upon the evil Report of the Spies Numb 14.12 13 20 and when they made the molten Calf Exod. 32.10 11 14. then with much wrestling he prevailed with the Lord for them Psal 106.23 Moses stood in the breach So doth Christ intercede and pleads for us with the Father when we provoke him by our Sins 1 Joh. 2.1 2. yea he lives for ever to intercede Heb. 7.25 2. Moses his Sufferings and Conflicts in the Discharge of his Trust and Exercise of his Office had in them a Shadow of the like to be undergone by Christ Moses fasted forty days and forty nights in the Mount So did Christ in the Wilderness He suffered many Contradictions both from his Enemies and from his Friends professed Enemies Jannes and Jambres and the Magicians of Egypt 2 Tim. 3.8 His Friends the people to whom he was sent rejected him Exod. 2.14 often murmured at him forty years he bore their manners Acts 13.18 yea his neerest friends sometimes Aaron and Miriam So Christ he was rejected of the Builders Psal 118.22 came to his own and his own received him not Joh. 1.11 His own Disciples sometimes thought his Doctrines hard sayings as when he spake against Divorces they thought a man had better never be married than submit to such a yoke and all along how weak and wayward were they But the Scribes and Pharisees like Jannes and Jambres openly resisted and opposed his Doctrine and Miracles 3. The Lords owning and bearing witness to him by Miracles Signs and Wonders Deut. 34.10 11 12. So to Jesus Christ Acts 2.22 a man approved of God among you by Miracles Wonders and Signs some note in all about five and forty of them recorded by the four Evangelists and wrought in the three years and an half of his publik Ministry viz. three in his first year nineteen in his second year and thirteen in his third year and ten in his last half year before Judas betrayed him besides those at his Death and after his Resurrection Only there were these two differences between Moses his Miracles and Christs 1. That Moses his Miracles were wrought in Christs Name but Christs Miracles were wrought in his own Name 2. That Moses his Miracles had more of Terror and Majesty Christs more of Love and Sweetness Christ seldom wrought any Mirales for the hurt of his Enemies in a way of righteous Wrath and Judgment but ordinarily only for the help both of Friends and Enemies as for instance the healing of Malchus his Ear. I remember but two Miracles wrought by Jesus Christ in a way of Wrath and Punishment against his Enemies the suffering the Devil to enter into the Gadarenes Swine and causing his Enemies to fall backward when they came to apprehend him All the rest were Miracles of Mercy and Kindness But by the Hand of Moses there were no less than ten miraculous Plagues upon Egypt There were Thunderings and Lightnings at Mount Sinai The Earth opened her mouth upon Corah Dathan and Abiram and swallowed them up quick with other such dreadful and terrible things in righteousness The reason of this difference was because Moses was the Minister of the Law which is a voice of Words and Terror and Fear and genders unto Bondage but Jesus Christ is the Minister and Author of the Gospel which is Grace and Peace Therefore these two different kinds of Dispensations were attested with two different kinds of Miracles But as to the general the working of Miracles by Moses and so being owned by the Lord and born witness to by him herein there was a resemblance and prefiguration of what was done by Jesus Christ 4. And lastly Moses was a Type of Christ in the end and close of his Life viz. in his Death Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven He dyed willingly he went up to Mount Nebo which was a part of Mount Abarim and there surrendred up his Soul So Christ No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self no man taketh it from me see Joh. 10.18 I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again He went to Mount Golgotha and there gave up his Soul to his Father Moses after his Death and Burial rose again buried he was Deut. 34.6 and that he rose again and ascended into Heaven may be gathered from Matth. 17. For he did appear and talk with Christ at his Transfiguration together with Elias So you know Jesus Christ rose again from the dead and ascended into Heaven Thus Moses was a Type of Christ all along In his Birth in his personal Qualifications in the whole course of his Life his Office his Sufferings his Miracles and finally in his Death Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven But yet though there was such a full analogy and so great a resemblance between them yet there was a disparity Christ having the preheminence above Moses Heb. 3.5 6. Moses was faithful as a Servant in his Lords House but Christ as a Son in his own House Thus much as to Moses Now for Joshuah his Successor That he was a Type appears because Christ was called by that name in the Hebrew And Joshuah is called Jesus in the Greek in the New Testament Acts 7.45 Heb. 4.8 that is a Saviour though he be but
in by degrees the first four Trumpets made way for the perfection of that Apostasie that came in by the fifth Among the Idolatrous Kings of Israel those in succeeding times were worse then their wicked Predecessors Jeroboam was bad enough but he only sets up the two Calves at Dan and Bethel but Omri went beyond him for it is said he did worse then all that went before him 1 King 16.25 We read of the Statutes of Omri Mic. 6.16 Idolatrous and persecuting Laws But his Son Ahab was worse then he For as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam he did set up the Worship of Baal and did more to provoke the God of Israel to anger then all the Kings of Israel that went before him 1 King 16.31 32 33. So that you see it is an increasing and an endless sin 4. All the honour men do or think they do to God by worship of their own invention doth redound indeed and in truth to the honour of the Devil which is a fearful thing to consider Superstition is a sin directly against the means of worship but it is ultimately against the Object of worship Strange worship sets up a strange God Ames Med. Theol. lib. 2. cap. 13. Thes 14 15 42. for it necessarily supposeth and feigneth to it self such an Object of worship as is well pleased with such manner of worship as Superstition offers up and to whose will soever we submit our Consciences as the Rule of our religious worship him we set up as our God Though it be not so in mens intentions yet it is so indeed and in Gods Interpretation The Lord so interprets false worship that a new God is devised for the Object of it so of the Heathenish Idolatry the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God 1 Cor. 10.20 And so the Lord interprets the Jewish Idolatry Jeroboam ordained Priests for the Devils which he had made 2 Chron. 11.15 Lev. 17.7 Deut. 32.17 And he puts the same construction upon the Popish Idolatry they repented not of worshipping Devils Rev. 9.20 And their Factors and Emissaries are called Spirits of Devils Rev. 16.14 they think they worship St. Peter and the Virgin Mary yea God himself and Jesus Christ but it is indeed and in Gods account the Devil whom they worship It is true you cannot honour God too much his Name is above and beyond all praise but you may mistake and honour the Devil when you think you honour God A fearful mistake indeed it is but yet it is that which all those fall into who in their worship depart from the will of God revealed in his Word and turn aside to any of the Inventions of men THE GOSPEL OF THE CEREMONIAL UNCLEANNESSES and CLEANSINGS September 13 20. 1668. Heb. 9.13 14. For if the blood of Bulls and of Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh How much more shall the blood of Christ c. IN the distribution I formerly gave of the Ceremonial Law you may remember I did put the Legal Sacrifices and Purifications together under one Head as partaking in the same general nature both of them tending to the purging away of sin and of uncleanness Moral uncleanness being taken away by Sacrifice Ceremonial uncleanness by Ceremonial Purifications whereof we are now to speak as the Lord shall enable us from this Text which speaks very fully and most divinely to this Point There be two things in the Text. 1. The Type vers 13. For if the blood of Bulls of Goats c. 2. The Antitype vers 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ c. Under each of which there be three particulars which are here set by the Apostle in a way of opposite correspondency the one to the other 1. He speaks of uncleanness in the Type To which answers dead works as the thing figured by it 2. He mentions Ceremonial cleansing to the purifying of the flesh To which answers the purging of the Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God 3. The Means of the one answers to the Means of the other The blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean which is the Means of legal cleansing To this answers the blood of Christ who by the eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot unto God which is the Means of spiritual cleansing Though withall the Apostle shews that these two answer not each other in a way of equal Analogy there being indeed a preeminent excellency of the one above the other of the Antitype above the Type therefore he expresseth it with an how much more If those legal Purifications attain the end of legal cleansing for which they were appointed how much more shall the blood of Christ cleanse the Conscience It hath a greater efficacy and is a Truth of clearer and higher Evidence These particulars of the Analogy between the Type and the Antitype we may cast them into three doctrinal Propositions thus 1. That they had a Ceremonial uncleanness under the Law which figured the Moral uncleanness of dead works 2. That they had also Ceremonial cleansings or purifyings of the flesh which signified the purging our Consciences from dead works to serve the living God 3. That the Means of Ceremonial putification by the blood of Bulls and Goats and by the ashes of an Heiser sprinkling the unclean signified the blood of Christ who by the eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot unto God 1. For the first namely that they had a Ceremonial uncleanness under the Law which did figure out the Moral uncleanness of dead works therefore he sets them one against the other so that those uncleannesses did signify dead works and what is meant by dead works we may see Heb. 6.1 not laying again the foundation of Repentance from dead works What do we repent of We repent of our sins These are therefore the dead works here spoken of and sin is called a dead work because it proceeds from death and is a part of spiritual death and tends to eternal death As good Actions tend to life so sin tends to death so then Ceremonial uncleanness signifies Moral uncleanness of sin and dead works There were two or three sorts of Ceremonial uncleanness 1. Unclean Touchings 2. Unclean Issues 3. That unclean Disease of the Leprosy 1. They had unclean Touchings and Tastings here was uncleanness from without 2. They had unclean Issues here was uncleanness from within a mans self 3. That Disease of the Leprosy was a Disease of Ceremonial uncleanness and here was both an inward and an outward uncleanness 1. There was a Ceremonial uncleanness by eating or touching any unclean thing Lev. 11. In that Chapter it is treated of which Chapter shews what Beasts what Fishes what Fowls and what creeping things might and what might not be eaten And it
the Spirit that is by his Deity raising him up again from death to life he must both dye and live again for us As to the Cedar Hyssop and Scarlet they were used in the Purification by the Red Heifer of which we spoke before and shall now add thereunto only thus much further That of these three it is conceived that there was a sprinkling Brush made namely the Brush of Hyssop the Handle of Cedar Wood and the binding of a thred of Scarlet dy The Apostle calls it Scarlet Wooll in Heb. 9.19 And as there seems to be a general respect had to the properties of these Plants as was formerly shewed so some do observe a particular sutableness between the Leprous Contagion and these means of Purification thus That as the Leprosie did corrupt and putrifie the body opposite to this was the Cedar-Wood which is commended for firmness and soundness against putrefaction And as the Leprosie was of a foul colour contrary to this was the fresh and fair colour of Scarlet And as the Leprosie had a very ill and unsavoury scent the sweetness of Hyssop was a Remedy against that So our Annotators on Lev. 14.6 Thus for the Materials of this purifying Sacrifice Now the purifying Ceremonies and Actions were of three sorts and all full of mystery some relating to the slain Bird some to the living Bird and some to the Leper himself Let me briefly open them unto you 1. The Ceremonies of the slain Bird were chiefly these three 1. It must be killed vers 5. You know the mystery of this in all the Sacrifices it was a prefiguration of the death of Jesus Christ the true Sacrifice Almost all things in the Law were purged by blood and without shedding of blood there is no remission Heb. 9.22 2. It must be killed over running Water or living Water That is Spring Water called Living because of the continual motion resembling life thereby that is it must be taken out of a Spring or a River not out of a Pond or Rain Water What this means our Saviour himself interprets Joh. 4.10 14. where he speaks of spiritual Living Water And the blood thus falling into and being mingled with the Water points us clearly to him who came to cleanse us and save us by water and blood 1 Joh. 5.6 For as water and blood here meet so there were Streams of both issuing out of his Side when he was slain for us Joh. 19. But this water and blood is the blood of Justification and the water of Sanctification both plentifully flowing from Christ our Purification There is an ever flowing Fountain of these Waters of life in and from the Lord Jesus Christ for the cleansing of sinful and leprous Souls 3. This must be in an earthen Vessel The like Numb 5.17 The sense of this part of the Allegory may be easily gathered from the former That Soul-cleansing blood and water issued out of his blessed body therefore his body was this earthen Vessel which was frail and brittle and accordingly broken by death at last and mean and contemptible amongst men as earthen Vessels use to be The Ministers of the Gospel also are compared to earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 God useth contemptible Instruments many times for the effecting of great things These are the Ceremonies relating to the slain Bird it must be killed and it must be killed over Living Water and this is in an earthen Vessel Now 2. The Ceremonies belonging to the living Bird they are also three 1. The living Bird must be dipt in the blood of the slain Bird vers 6. A most evident and excellent representation of the union of the divine and humane nature of Jesus Christ and the influence of that union into the concernments of our peace Had not the Deity supported and influenced the humane nature in its sufferings they could not have been available with God for us Upon the account of this divine union and dipping of the living Bird in the blood of the slain the Apostle calls the sufferings of the humane nature the blood of God Act. 20.28 2. The Cedar Scarlet and Hyssop must be dipped also with it vers 6. That is all the concernments of our Salvation they do all receive a tincture an influence from the blood of Christ Whether we refer the mystery of these Plants to the Graces and Excellencies that are in him as our Saviour or to the Graces we receive from him all must be considered with relation to his blood Take it in the latter all the Graces Virtues Excellencies we receive from him must be dipped in his blood to cleanse them and make them and us accepted of God 3. The living Bird must be let loose into the open field vers 7. This clearly represents not only Jesus Christ his escaping and deliverance from death to life after he had suffered and humbled himself unto death he did escape and live again and lives for ever But also the open publication and preaching hereof as it were in the open Firmament in the view of all men so that Phrase imports Rev. 14.6 flying in the midst of Heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel This respects also the setting of the Leper free from his restraint that was upon him before by reason of his uncleanness as appears by the Connexion He shall pronounce him clean and let the Bird loose into the open field These are the Ceremonial Actions relating to the living Bird. 3. The Ceremonial Actions in reference to the Leper himself these also are three 1. The Priest shall sprinkle upon him seven times and pronounce him clean Vers 7. This sprinkling of that typical blood and water upon him is nothing else but the application of the blood of Jesus Christ There must be a particular application of it to the Soul it must be sprinkled upon the Leper and then he is pronounced clean All the other Ceremonies would not make him clean without this though the Bird were killed and other Ordinances observed yet it must be also sprinkled The death and blood of Christ is not enough to the cleansing of our Souls unless the blood be sprinkled the death of Christ applied to us There must be a work of Application as well as of Redemption All the precious blood that Christ hath shed will not save a sinner unless this blood be effectually applied and sprinkled on the Soul Application is a great and necessary part of our Recovery and Salvation as well as the blood of Christ it self And it must be applied seven times both frequently and perfectly over and over again once is not enough suppose thou hast believed and laid hold upon Christ already and applied him by Faith to thy self in particular the blood must be sprinkled seven times over thou must apply Christ and lay hold upon Christ again And lastly the number seven is a number of perfection so it holds forth perfect cleansing as well as frequent application of the blood of Christ for
up unto God with strong crying and tears Matth. 26.37 he began to be sorrowful and very heavy and ver 38. then saith he unto them my Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death and ver 39. he fell on his face and prayed saying Oh my Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me Luk. 22.44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his Sweat was as it were great drops of Blood falling down to the ground Hebr. 5.7 It speaks also the Contrition and brokenness of heart that is in the Prayers of the Saints 3. He took a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar to kindle the Incense It is the fire of the Altar the Spirit of God that inflames the Affections in Prayer that sets the heart on fire and makes the Incense flame sets Grace on work and as the Spices whereof the Incense was made are the Graces of Gods Spirit and the beating of them small is the Contrition of the heart so the Incense must be set on fire with sacred fire the Spirit of God inflaming the heart with earnest desires and ardent affections after God 4. The Cloud of Incense must cover the Mercy-seat that the Cloud of Incense that is the Smoke thereof may cover the Mercy-seat that he die not ver 13. There is much Instruction in this If we think to behold the Mercy-seat without the Cloud of Incense we die It is the death of many a Soul that in the day of Atonement when they are afflicting their Souls for sin they think that God is merciful and they cry to God for Mercy But they do not behold the Mercy of God in the Son of his Love they do not look up to the Mercy-seat as covered and clouded with the Incense of the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ and therefore they die and perish even in the day of Atonement when they come before the Mercy-seat 3. The Blood must be sprinkled upon the Mercy-seat Eastward that is upon the forepart of it ver 14. It teacheth us that as the High Priest went into the holy place not without Blood so Christ with his own Blood Heb. 9.7 11 12. hath entred into Heaven for us to make way for us to come thither also by the merit and virtue of his own Blood and Satisfaction Heaven therefore is called the purchased possession Ephes 1.14 because purchased by the Blood of Christ We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus Hebr. 10.19 20. 4. The Blood must be sprinkled upon the Mercy-seat seven times A mystical number often used in the legal Services and hath been formerly explained It is a number of perfection God having created the World in six days and resting upon the seventh It therefore notes a full and perfect cleansing and applying of the Blood of Christ for that end And it presupposeth a copious and liberal effusion but it implies directly a plenteous and effectual application of the Blood of Christ Get the Blood of Christ effectually applied unto thy Soul or else thou canst never look God in the face with any comfort or acceptance take this Blood of Christ apply it by Faith see how it atones God It is true the Blood of Christ doth not make God merciful but it makes way for the exercise of his Mercy it doth not cause the attribute of Mercy to be in God but it makes way for the putting of it forth Now then let us put both these together The Mercy-seat must be both clouded with Incense and sprinkled with Blood or else there is no approaching for Sinners into the presence of God none but through the Prayers and Intercessions and through the Blood and Satisfaction of Jesus Christ Non solum periculosum sed horribile est de Deo extra Christum cogitare It is not only dangerous saith Luther but it is an horrible thing to think of God out of Christ Do not think to make use of Gods Attributes in an immediate way but by the Intercession of a Mediator there is no Mercy in God for Sinners out of Christ Thus much of the Priests Offerings for himself 2. The second sort of Offerings upon this great day of Atonement were for the People and these are two Goats for a Sin-offering and a Ram for a Burnt-offering ver 5. The Rites and Ceremonies of these two Goats are full of the Gospel It is pity that choise portions of Scripture which have so much in them are commonly so little understood by us Let us in the help of Christ inquire a little into the mystery of these things Of the Burnt-offering there is something said but it is not much the common rules of the Burnt-offering being here to be observed But the Sin-offering of the two Goats there be many very significant Rites and Ceremonies about them This Sin-offering is first generally and then severally and more particularly spoken to and the several actions about them more particularly opened 1. In general ver 7 8 9 10. The first thing that they had to do which was peculiar to it was that these two Goats they were to cast lots upon them Now a Lot is a referring of a thing by an appeal to the determination of Providence Prov. 16.33 the Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. There is a special hand of Providence in a Lot so it is said of Christ Acts 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and foreknowledge of God ye having taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain The Lot in this business was to determine which of the Goats should be slain and which was to escape But why were there two Goats one to die and the other to escape The reason was plainly this Because that one alone was not sufficient to represent the Mystery intended and aimed at For Christ was both God and Man he both died and rose again but the same Sacrifice could not both die and live again without a miracle Therefore these two Goats were appointed to represent more compleatly the whole mystery of our Redemption in all the concernments of it to shadow forth Jesus Christ in both his Natures and in both the states he passed through both in his Divinity and in his Humanity both in his Humiliation and Exaltation As in like manner there were two Birds appointed in the Purification of the Leper See of the cleansing of the Leper Lev. 14. pag. 398. So here two Goats a flain Goat and a scape Goat the one to shadow forth Christ as dying and slain for our offences the other as rising again for our Justification The slain Goat represented Christ as he was put to death in the Flesh that is in his Humane nature the scape Goat represented him as quickened by the Spirit that is by his Deity raising him up again from death to life This in general Now 2. In particular the sacred Rites and
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
a certain time or during a mans whole life Of Persons that were Nazarites all their days the Scripture giveth some very great and eminent instances as Sampson Judg. 13.5 also Samuel the Prophet 1 Sam. 1.11 also John the Baptist Luke 1.15 Of Persons under the Vow of Nazariteship only for some certain time we have instance in Paul the Apostle Acts 18.18 and again Acts 21.23 24. How long they were to be under the Vow the Scripture limits not The Jewish Writers report that one month was the shortest time in use amongst them This Order shadowed forth sundry things relating 1. To Christ himself 2. To the Members of Christ 3. To the Benefits of Christ 1. The Nazarites were Types of Christ himself not that Christ himself was a Nazarite according to the Law but only in the Spirit and Truth of this Type That he was not a Nazarite literally is clear because he drank Wine as at other times so at his last Supper which they might not do But in him this Type was fulfilled in two respects 1. In regard of his usual Name and Title Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus the Nazarite Matth. 2. ult Joh. 19.19 Thus he was usually called which the Jews would never have done but that by the Providence of God he had lived in that place In which disposal of Providence altius fuit Dei Consilium as Calvin in Mat. 2. God had a further Design and Counsel than they were aware of that from thence called him by that Name Which though it was given him upon another occasion by the Jews namely from the place of his Residence yet God in his infinite Wisdom did so contrive and order it that by this means he should be commonly called by the Name of this religious Order See Matth. 2. ult where the Evangelist tells us that by this means of Christs living in Nazareth was fulfilled that which was spoken by the Prophets namely that he should be called a Nazaren By the Prophets is meant those Prophets that wrote the Book of Judges and the place intended is Judges 13.5 as Calvin from Martin Bucer judgeth It is true indeed the words there are spoken of Sampson literally but intended mystically of the Messiah of whom both Sampson and all the Nazarites were Types It is true there is some literal difference between Zain and Tsade and the Syriack Translation which yet is but a Translation renders Nazareth by Tsade Notsoreth whereas the word Nazarite is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Zain But that the Holy Ghost regarded such a literal exactness is not probable See Bucholcer Cbronol p. 285. It may suffice that there is an allusion and affinity in the sound And though Matthew useth the word Nazarene as signifying one of the religious Order of the Nazarites yet Pilate Joh. 19.19 useth the same word of him never dreaming of any thing more than the place where Christ had dwelt Some indeed have thought that this passage in Matth. 2.23 refers to Isai 11.1 where Christ is called Netsor the Branch a flourishing Branch But we do not find that flourishing Branches are called Nazarites in the Scripture so Calvin in Matth. 2. ult 2. In regard of his peculiar Holiness and Separation unto God They were ceremonially holy but he was holy indeed and after an higher and infinitely more excellent and glorious manner He is called that holy thing that shall be born of thee Luk. 1.35 and Dan 9.24 the most holy or the Holy of holies 2. The Nazarites were Types of all the Saints and Members of Christ All Believers who are an holy people are spiritual Nazarites separated unto God I say all Believers whether male or female For there were Women Nazarites as well as Men Num. 6.2 when either Man or Woman shall separate themselves to vow a Vow of a Nazarite For in Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female Gal. 3.28 3. There was in this Order a Ceremonial shadow and adumbration of the Benefits of Christ which Believers do receive from him and they are chiefly two Sanctification and Justification 1. Sanctification This was shadowed out in this that the Nazarites were persons separated and devoted unto God in a special manner by a Vow Numb 6.6 As also in the particular Rules and Ceremonies belonging to this Order which were three 1. Not to drink Wine Numb 6.3 4. So Sampson This was to teach them Temperance and Mortification of fleshly Lusts which Wine often provokes men to and takes away their hearts from that which is good Hos 4.11 and causes them to err and stumble Isai 28.7 Moreover this Ceremony taught them instead of Wine to be filled with the Spirit Ephes 5.18 and inebriated as it were with the Joys thereof in the sense of Gods Love which is better than Wine Cant. 1.4 2. Not to cut their Hair ver 5. This is thought to be appointed as many other ceremonial Laws were in opposition to the heathenish Idolatry of those times and to signifie the keeping himself from all uncleanness and impurity For when the Nazarite was purged and cleansed from impurity his Hair was shaved off ver 9. and so the Leper Lev. 14.8 9. therefore to keep it from shaving seemeth to signifie the keeping themselves from uncleanness so some expound it It shadowed forth also the growth of the Graces of Gods Spirit in them as in Sampson who with the loss of his Hair lost the Power of God and as his Hair grew again so his Strength in God renewed Judg. 13 25 and 16. This Strength came not by the growth of the Hair otherwise than as an outward Sign appointed unto them of God who sanctifieth to his people what outward Signs himself pleaseth to signifie and convey Grace as he sanctified the Waters of Jordan to wash away Naamans Leprosie Ainsworth on Numb 6.5 which of themselves had no such efficacy 2 Kings 5.14 3. Not to defile themselves by the dead ver 6 7 8. This refraining from the dead in whom the Image as it were of Gods Curse for Sin was to be seen For the Wages of Sin is Death Ainsworth in loc Rom. 6.23 figured out abstaining from sinful and dead Works and from such as live in them who are dead whilst they live 1 Tim. 5.6 It shewed their Constancy in the Rules of their Profession and their Magnanimity in the loss of dearest Comforts 2. Justification by Christ alone was shadowed forth in two Rules or Observations belonging to this Order 1. That legal strictness and severity of Purification in case of accidental Defilement ver 9 10 11 12. If a Nazarite chance to be defiled he is to begin again upon a new score This shews the absolute Purity and Perfection of the Law of God which will not admit the least error or failing but whosoever continueth not in all things is cursed and condemned by it Deut. 27.26 Gal. 3.10 If a man keep the whole Law and fail but in one point he is guilty of
And here comes in that Quoere concerning the Peace-Offerings whether they were of the Holy of Holies whether they had the double or only the single Holiness They are not called most holy as the other five sorts are The reason whereof is because that some part of them was eaten by the people but yet a part also was burnt upon the Altar and another part eaten by the Priests and these parts were most holy though the whole was not Therefore some have called the Peace Offering Sacrificium varium a divers Sacrifice as being partly holy and partly most holy And the other sorts they call simplex by a simple Sacrifice intending that which was all of it most holy and the whole was to shadow out the Sacrifice and satisfaction of Jesus Christ so Mede Disc 49. 2. The second Ceremony of the Peace-Offering was the limitation of time for the eating of it The parts belonging to the Priest and to the Offerer must be eaten by them the same day or the next but if any was left till the third day it must be burnt with fire Lev. 7.15 16 17.18 And here there is a distinction in the Rule between the two sorts or occasions of Peace-Offerings namely That if it were for Thanksgiving it must be eaten the same day that it is offered but if it were for a Vow or a voluntary Offering it must be eaten within two days The former Rule is in vers 15. The Rule for the latter is in vers 16. But how if they did not observe this Rule see the penalty in vers 17.18 To eat any of it upon the third day was very detestable and abominable see vers 17 18. It is forbidden under the penalty of utter Extermination There might be something of a natural Reason for this because the flesh might putrefy in that hot Climate if kept longer But surely this is not all that was intended in such a severe and vehement Prohibition Therefore there be also two spiritual Mysteries that seem to be intended and aimed at by the Spirit of God in this Ceremony 1. To teach us that we should make haste and not delay Communion with God in the exercise of Faith and thankful obedience Do not delay and put off the work of Believing but receive Christ and Communicate of him in this our day This Instruction is clear and evident out of this Ceremony for seeing eating signifies our feeding upon Christ by Faith and to day and to morrow denotes a short time therefore this instructs us speedily to lay hold upon the Mercy of God in Christ and to feed upon this our Peace-Offering while it is called to day according to that Psal 95.7 8 Heb. 3.12 13 15. So for other duties of obedience we should not delay the expressions of our joy and thankfulness to God Psal 119.60 I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments They had a like Rule touching the Passover Exod. 12.10 Ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire One scope whereof was to teach us to lay hold on present opportunities Do not protract the time there is a day of Peace after which when once expired it is too late God will not accept thy Peace-Offerings then 2. It is thought to have respect unto Christs Resurrection which was upon the third day therefore he saith Luk. 13.32 Behold I cast out Devils and I do Cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Then he ended his work and state of humiliation for our Redemption and had no more to do in a way of Sacrifice and Peace-Offering for our sins In which respect the number of three was a mystical number under the Law as well as the number seven the Scripture often sets a mark upon it Isaac was offered the third day Gen. 22.4 Against the third day they were to be ready to receive the Law upon Mount Sinai Exod. 19.10 11. Sanctify the people to day and to morrow and let them wash their Clothes and be ready against the third day for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai so the Ark went before them three days before it rested Numb 10.33 And they departed from the Mount of the Lord three days journey and the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days journey to search out a resting place for them And after three days to pass over Jordan into Canaan Josh 1.11 In the third day the unclean person was to purify himself but if he purify not himself the third day then the seventh day he shall not be clean Numb 19.12 In the third day Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord and recovered from the sentence of death 2 King 29.5 Hos 6.2 After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight With many other memorable things all which intimates something of mystery in the third day And the greatest Dispensation that ever was upon that day was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after he had layn part of three days in the Grave Then he was perfected and had no more to do in way of Sacrifice and satisfaction for our sins as after the third day there was no more of the Peace-Offering remaining 3. A third Ceremony in the Peace-Offering was this That they were to offer leavened bread with it Cap. 7. vers 13. This is the more remarkable for that in all their other Sacrifices Leaven was usually very strictly and severely forbidden but here it is required Here we may learn first That it is not the nature of the thing it self but meerly the will of God that makes a thing good or evil in his worship To put Leaven into any other Offering it makes the Sacrifice odious unto God and like a smoak in his Nostrils all the day but if it please him to require it in the Peace-Offering then it must be used So for Honey he forbids it in other Sacrifices Lev 2.11 But in the First Fruits they were to offer Honey 2 Chron. 31.5 The Children of Israel brought in abundance of the First Fruits of Corn Wine Oyl and Honey and of all the Increase of the Field God herein manifesting his Authority and the supremacy of his Will If it had pleased our Lord Jesus Christ to command us to sign men in his Name with the sign of the Cross it would have been a duty and a blessed thing to do it and if he had not commanded us to wash men with Water in his Name it would have been a sinful and an unlawful Administration to baptize More particularly Leaven is taken both in a good and in a bad sense and I find Interpreters do accommodate and apply it both ways as to the Sacrifice of the Peace Offerings 1. In
the Tent of the Congregation and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernalce so Numb 12.5 the Lord came down in the Pillar of Cloud and stood in the door of the Tabernacle So when Solomon had finished the Temple and placed the Ark in the holy place the Cloud filled the House of the Lord so that the Priests could not stand to minister because of the Cloud For the Glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord 1 King 8.10 11. Isaiah likewise saw his Glory in the Temple Isai 6.1 I saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne high and lifted up and his Train filled the Temple 3. These places had their typical significations of Christ and Gospel Mysteries Therefore much of the Name of God was in them There were chiefly two great Mysteries in them Christ and the Church 1. The Temple was a Type of Christ Joh. 2.19 destroy this Temple and within three days I will raise it up But he spake of the Temple of his Body v. 21. Therefore the Apostle saith that in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 He was a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 9.11 2. It was a Type of the Church 1 Tim. 3.15 how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the living God Ephes 2.20 21 22. And it was a Type not only of the whole Church in general but of every Believer in particular 1 Cor. 6.19 what know you not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost He dwells in their very Bodies much more in their Souls The manner how the Deity dwells in these Temples is very mysterious and glorious 4. These places were appointed of God to be parts yea principal and eminent parts of his Worship I say they were parts of his Worship or Ordinances they were such eminent parts of his Worship that they did sanctifie both the Worshipers and all the Worship performed in them The Altar sanctified the Gift the Temple sanctified the Gold Matth. 23.18 19. The Places did bring acceptance to the Worship so that the Places were principal and the Duties less principal as some express it There will I accept them Ezek. 20.40 Exod. 20.24 In all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee 5. They were by Gods appointment the seat of all the publick Church-worship of those times They did perform the moral Worship of Prayer and reading and hearing the Law in all their Synagogues but their publick Church-worship was annexed and affixed to the Temple only There be three things in the Text as to this 1. Thither shalt thou seek that is for Answers and Oracles from the holy Place and from the Priest by Vrim and Thummim For so the Lord had appointed Exod. 25.22 there will I meet with thee and I will commune with thee from above the Mercy-seat from between the two Cherubims which are upon the Ark of the Testimony And accordingly so they did Numb 7.8 9. And they were to enquire by Vrim and Thummim Therefore it is said of Joshuah when he was to be chief Magistrate Numb 27.21 and he shall stand before Eleazar the Priest who shall ask counsel for him after the Judgment of Urim before the Lord at his Word shall they go out and at his Word that is at Eleazar the Priest answering from God shall they come in both he that is Joshuah and all the Children of Israel with him even all the Congregation All other places were forbidden for this use seek not Bethel enter not into Gilgal Amos 5.5 And the Lord severely punish'd it in Ahaziah the Son of Ahab 2 Kings 1.16 Elijah said unto him for as much as thou hast sent Messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the God of Ekron is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his Word therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up but shalt surely dye The Devil in imitation and abuse of this Ordinance of God had his Oracles and gave Answers in the old Pagan times but his Answers were usually sophistical and ambiguous And after the Death of Christ God was pleased to chain him up therefore Plutarch an Heathen Philosopher in his Morals hath a Discourse upon it why the Oracles are ceased and he hath an expression for the resolving of it which hath more of truth in it than himself understood Amongst other things he gives this account of it that it was because the great God Pan was dead It was indeed because Jesus Christ who is the great God and the great Shepherd of the Sheep had sufferd Death and thereby conquered Satan and hath therefore stopt Devils mouth from giving answers in that way ever since 2. Thither shalt thou come that is at all their appointed Festivals three times a year Exod. 23.14 17. and whensoever they offered Sacrifice as afterwards ver 6. 3. Thither shall ye bring your Burnt-offerings and your Sacrifices c. ver 6. so Levit. 17.8 9. here is a particular induction and enumeration of their holy things Your Burnt-offerings mentioned first as being the first sort and all the rest depending much upon that Your Sacrifices this is a general word including all that belonged unto the Altar And your Tithes these were for the Maintenance of the Priests whereof Levit. 27.30 32. They had two sorts of Tithes the first went to the Priests and Levites then of that which remained they were to separate a second Tithe and this the Owners were to eat before the Lord in the place that he should chuse as infra ver 17 18. The Heave-offerings of thine Hand that is the First fruits which they were to bring in their hands before the Lord Deut. 26.2 thou shalt take of the first of all the Fruit of the Earth and shalt put it in a basket and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall chuse to place his Name there and thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God and worship before the Lord thy God Your Vows and voluntary Offerings of which see Levit. 7.16 Firstlings of you Herd and Flock often declared to be the Lords Numb 3.13 because all the First-born are mine For on the day that I smote all the First-born in the Land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the First-born in Israel both man and beast mine they shall be I am the Lord. For the Use of all there is a fourfold Instruction from all that hath been said concerning these holy Places under the Law 1. The first Instruction is concerning the Cessation of this Holiness of places under the New Testament For this being a part of the Ceremonial Law it must needs be ceased and vanished away now that Christ the thing signified is come The Papists have borrowed this as they do many other of their Superstitions from the
docebantur ne dum convenit spirituali cultui novi Testamenti If it were saith he a good and pious thing to appoint Holy days this Piety were better imployed in so many Commemorations of the actions of Christ as the Church could bear then in turning aside to the Saints To dedicate a day unto God in remembrance of a man is a thing which the very Jews were never taught to do in those weak and childish times much less doth it agree to the spiritual Worship of the New Testament And though it were lawful saith Mr. Cartwright First Reply p. 153. for the Church to ordain Holy days to our Saviour Christ or the blessed Trinity yet it is not therefore lawful to institute Holy days to the Apostles and other Saints or to their remembrance As to that pretense of honouring their memorial I remember this is alledged by Bellarmine for the keeping of Reliques and Dr. Ames Bellarm Enerv. tom 2. l. 6. c. 6. thes 25. his answer to him De istiusmodi conservatione nihil traditur in Scripturâ ubi tamen omne genus honoris virtuti defertur may be applied here this is such a way of honouring the memorial of Saints departed as the Scripture knows not wherein yet all due honour is given to virtue and holiness For as we reason against the Popish Purgatory saith Mr. Cartwright First Reply p. 153. that it is therefore nought forasmuch as neither in the Old Testament nor in the New there is any mention of Prayer at any time for the Dead so may it be reasoned against these Holy days ordained for the remembrance of the Saints that forasmuch as the old people did never keep any Feast or Holy day for the remembrance either of Moses or Daniel or Job or Abraham or David or any other how holy or excellent soever they were Nor the Apostles nor the Churches in their time never instituted any neither to keep the remembrance of Stephen or of the Virgin Mary or of John Baptist or of any other notable rare personage that the instituting and erecting of them now and this attempt by the Churches which followed is not without some note of presumption for that it undertaketh those things which the primitive Church in the Apostles times having greater gifts of the Spirit of God durst not venture upon And what though some of these Corruptions crept in some what early they are but old sins and grey-headed errors That Antichristian violence of Victor Bishop of Rome for Easter was about the year of Christ one hundred ninety eight but Christmas is not so ancient Pezelius refers the first establishment of it to the Council of Constantinople in the year of Christ five hundred fifty three Celebrata est saith he Constantinopoli Synodus Oecumenica quinta circa annum Christi 553. In eadem Synodo dies natalis Christi dies Purificationis Mariae primum sunt instituti ut solenniter quotannis celebrarentur Pezel Mellific Hist par 2. Justinian 1. pag. 326. But be their antiquity more or less they have been abundantly testified against by the faithful Servants of Christ both in former and later times Socrates who wrote the History of the Church above twelve hundred years ago hath a whole Chapter concerning Easter wherein he hath many notable arguments against those that contend so much for it He saith that as many other things crept in of custom in sundry places so the Feast of Easter prevailed amongst all people of a certain private custom and observation seeing not one of the Apostles hath any where prescribed any thing about it He sheweth also that the Apostles have set the Churches free from the yoke of bondage by their Letters to them Acts 15. But some neglecting these things account of Fornication as a thing indifferent yet they contend about Holy days as it were for life and death they despise the Commandments of God and establish them Canons of their own they set at nought they make no account of the Law published by the Apostles but raise a foul stir about Days and Months c. Thus Socrates Hist lib. 5. cap. 22. Which Testimony of his is so plain and punctual that Bellarmine knew not how to rid his hands of it but by flying out upon Socrates and calling him a Novatian Heretick Bell. de Cultu Sanct. l. 3. c. 10. which is but a poor shift instead of answering his Arguments to reproach his Person But the Book he hath written I mean his Ecclesiastical History is evidence enough for him that he was a man of an excellent spirit It was one of the Articles held and owned by the Waldenses as Mr. Fox sheweth five hundred years ago Constrained and prefixed Fasts bound to days and times difference of Meats superfluous Holy days and all the rabblement of Rites and Ceremonies brought in by Man to be abolished Fox Acts and Mon. vol. 1. p. 300. art 6. It was Luthers desire no less then seven score years ago in his Book de Bonis Operibus set forth anno 1520. that there were no other Festival days amongst Christians but only the Lords day Beza saith Superstitiosum esse docemus arbitrari unum aliquem diem altero sanctiorem Bez. Confes c. 5. art 41. And Reverend Mr. Dod condemns it as Idolatry against the second Commandment either to pray unto the Saints or to swear by them or to dedicate set days and times to the honour of them either by Fasting or Feasting Dod on the second Commandm p. 67 68. In Scotland they were laid aside in the first Reformation and have been witnessed against by the Godly there ever since They were revived indeed by those backsliders in the Assembly of Perth in the year 1618. For one of the five Articles of that Assembly was concerning Festival days but they found little acceptance with such as adhered to the Reformation of Religion as appears by the Books and Writings of many godly learned men against the Acts of that Assembly Yea King James himself before his Apostasie bore witness against them Right excellent was that Speech of his to a National Assembly in Scotland anno 1590. He praised God that he was King in the sincerest Church in the world sincerer then the Church of England for their Service was an ill said Mass in English sincerer then Geneva it self for they observed Pasche and Yoo le that is Easter and Christmas and what warrant said he have they for that I find this Speech of his recorded in Didoclavius his Altare Damascenum pag. 666. and in the Book intituled Perth Assembly the Proceedings the Nullity thereof c. printed 1619. pag. 64. and in the Re-examination of the five Articles of Perth printed 1636. pag. 340. How far he did sin against these enlightenings and convictions and how the Bishops did poyson him and pervert his Spirit in his declining times it is needless here to discourse But these were his Principles in his first which were his best times
and make use of it and it will cleanse thy Soul for ever Hebr. 9.13 14. September 27. 1668. THe Apostle in these expressions the blood of Bulls and Goats includes by a parity of reason all the other Ceremonial Cleansings which are not particularly mentioned As they had three sorts of Ceremonial Uncleanness so they had three ways of Purification 1. For the uncleanness by touching any unclean Meat or thing The purification for this was by the Red Heyfer which the Holy Ghost mentions in the Text particularly whereof we spake the last time 2. For unclean Issues Two Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons the one for a Sin Offering the other for a Burnt Offering Lev. 15.14 15. and Lev. 12.8 Or a Lamb and a young Pigeon ver 6. The rites whereof being the same with the Burnt-Offering and the Sin-Offering were there handled and so need not be spoken to here again 3. The third sort of Ceremonial uncleanness was that unclean disease of Leprosie which is treated of at large in Lev. 13. and the Cleansing of it in Chap. 14. Of the Disease we have formerly spoken in the exposition of the 13. Chapter and shall therefore now proceed to the cleansing of it which was done by several Sacrifices and Ceremonies appointed and directed in that 14. Chapter of Leviticus wherein the method the Holy Ghost is pleased to use is this He gives direction first concerning the cleansing of a Leprous person to ver 33. and then of a Leprous house from ver 33. to the end of the Chapter The Rules and Directions about the cleansing of a leprous person are of two sorts Preparative and Executive The preparatory directions are these three 1. He must be brought unto the Priest Lev. 14. ver 2. This was an Ordinance of God and therefore Christ himself requires the observation of it of that Leper whom he himself had cured miraculously Matth. 8.4 Go shew thy self unto the Priest and offer the Gift that Moses commanded The Leper was to dwell alone without the Camp and without the City but he was to be brought to the outmost part of the Camp or to the Gates of the City to the Priest Now the true Priest is Jesus Christ Therefore the meaning of this Ordinance was plainly and clearly this That Leprous souls must come to Jesus Christ by Faith for spiritual healing He is said to arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 You know how many Lepers he did heal in the days of his flesh And all the Miracles of Christ had a symbolical use to instruct us in what he does for Souls in a spiritual way by what he did for mens bodies in a miraculous way 2. The Priest must go forth out of the Camp to the Leper ver 3. This plainly speaks thus much That Jesus Christ goes forth unto poor sinners when in their distance in their back slidings and separations from the Lord he seeks them and finds them out whose blessed Office it is to seek and to save lost sinners Luk. 19.10 We are by nature far from God shut out and cast forth aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Ephes 1.12 When thou wast in thy blood I passed by and pittied thee Ezek. 16.6 He goes to meet the returning Prodigal Luk. 15.20 As the Priest here to meet the Leper when shut out of the Camp of Israel 3. The Priest shall see and behold if the plague of Leprosie be healed in the Leper ver 3. The Judgment of it is committed to the Priest and he must judge as the thing is It is Christ himself that is the Judge of Souls and he will judge true and righteous Judgment Isai 11.3 he shall not judge according to the seeing of his eyes Though men judge thou art a Leper a Schismatick a Fanatick be not troubled if the Priest pronounce thee clean if the Lord hath said it to thee by the witness of his Spirit in his Word It is the Priest must judge and it is this Word which cannot err nor lye that shall judge of thee at that day It belongs also to Ministers in an inferior way to judge of men to discern between the Clean and the Unclean and to retain or remit sins Ministerially Joh. 20.23 These are the preparatory directions for the purification of the Leper Now 2. The Executive part follows from vers 3. c. and it consists mainly in two things 1. The Sacrifice of two Birds and their Ceremonies to vers 10. 2. A Sacrifice of three Lambs with their Appurtenances and Ceremonies from vers 10 to 21. 1. The first part of the Purification of the Leper is by two Birds and the Ceremonies belonging to them from vers 3 to vers 10. The Materials here required are two living clean Birds together with Cedar Scarlet and Hyssop vers 4. The Birds are thought to be Sparrows The Hebrew word Ziphor signifies a Bird in general any winged Fowl Deut. 4.17 They are forbidden to make the likeness of any winged Fowl that flyeth in the Air. Psal 8.8 The Fowls of the Air. And is sometimes used particularly concerning a Sparrow Psal 84.3 and 102.7 We may understand it here in the largest sense for any clean Birds These two Birds and the Herbs are the Ingredients that must all concur to make up the matter of this cleansing Sacrifice The two Birds were not two Sacrifices for one of them was not slain but dismissed but they did both make up one Sacrifice some of the Mysteries whereof could not be represented by one Bird and therefore two were appointed the one to dye and the other to live They had another Ordinance of the like nature and of the same importance with this viz. the two Goats on the yearly Feast of Expiation Lev. 16. whereof the one was slain the other did escape being sent away into the Wilderness therefore called the Seape-Goat But why were there two Birds and what was the Mystery of this Ans It shadowed forth both the natures and estates of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. Both his natures his eternal Deity and his mortal Humanity are here prefigured and represented The slain Bird represents his humane nature capable of death and suffering The other Bird his divine nature which was and is immortal and impassible As both these Birds were necessary and must be used in this Sacrifice so Christ our Sacrifice must be both God and man We are not cleansed and saved either by his Deity or Humanity alone but both his natures do concur in his mediatorial Actions for our Salvation 2. Here is a shadow of the twofold state that Jesus Christ passed thorough first a state of death and humiliation and then a state of life and glory 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit Put to death in the flesh that is in his humane nature but quickened by