In the building 1. Salomon according to the wisdome and large heart which God gave him built God an house wherein he dwelt at Jerusalem for God kept house and fire in Sion Isa. 31. 9. and Salomon set him up a standing house Our true Salomon builds an house for God even for the blessed Trinity to dwel in Not a materiall house of stones or of gold silver wood marble but a spiritual house of living stones And as the house is spirituall so are the meanes and instruments he useth His rule is the word of God Psa. 19. 4. Their line is gone forth through all the earth and their words into the ends of the world The hammer by which he hewes and polisheth these rugged stones is the same word or doctrine of the Law The cement by which he couples them to the head is faith and to the members is love and charity 2. Salomon being to build his Temple could not find matter enough for his building in his owne country of Judea but sent abroad to Hiram a Gentile and to Pervaim now Peru as some thinke and to other farre and remote parts for supply So our Salomon for his spirituall building gathers matter not onely out of Judea his owne ancient people but contracts friendship with the Gentiles and these come in out of the most remote parts of all the world to set forward that building therefore the Church is now Catholike 3. Salomon prepared great stones to lay in the foundation of the house 1. King 5. 17. but as great and costly as they were they could not uphold that house but it must fall to ruine and destruction Our true Salomon by inimitable art layes himselfe a foundation in Sion an elect precious and chiefe corner stone Vpon which firme foundation he so aptly layes and knits every living stone that is every beleever that all the gates of hell cannot prevaile against any one of them Mat. 16. 18. 4. Salomon in that building prepared and hewed stones in Mount Lebanon 1. King 6. 7. and being so squared and fit not an axe or hammer nor any toole of Iron was heard while the house was a building Our Salomon admits no stone into his building which is not first prepared and initiated by the word and Sacraments and being fitted layes them on the foundation without any more shaking by hammer or hatchet and knits them to the other stones by the durable cement of Christian love and charity so as now the noyse of contention nor blowes of bitternesse and hatred are heard among them any more 2. In dedication of the Temple 1. Salomon consecrated that house to the service of God by solemne prayer imploring his eye of protection upon it and his presence with it upon all occasions and necessâ—ties 1. King 8. 14. Our Salomon hath also dedicated his house and by solemne prayer commended it to the care and custody of his heavenly father Nothing needfull for his Church hath hee forgotten to procure for it not onely by that most effectuall and meritorious prayer but also by his continuall intercession now in heaven for it 2. In that dedication Salomon framed a most excellent prayer the forme of which is registred in Scripture but our Salomon hath delivered us a forme and patterne of prayer which is a great part of the riches of the new Testament above the old 3. In ordering the Temple that is in the constitution of Gods true and publike worship in that Temple in appointing the severall offices and officers of it A type of Jesus Christ who ascending on high appointed the officers of his Church some Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the building up of the body of Christ Eph. 4. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 5 there are many administrations but the same Lord. VI. Salomon was a type of Christ in wise dispensing and administring justice 1. in respect of gifts 2. of execution or manifesting them 1. For the gifts they are notably signified in Salomons Throne which was exalted above all the Thrones of all Princes described 1. King 10. 18. 1. The matter was Ivory and gold wherewith it shined Signifying the sincere and upright disposition of Salomon to justice and equity shunning all corruption and by-respects which make men pervert Justice And as these vertues made Salomons throne to shine so the royall throne of Christ is a throne of Justice a great white Throne Rev. 20. 11. Nothing but sincerity and purity proceeds thence Hee justifies no wicked person or cause nor takes the ungodly by the hand 2. The state of it The King ascended to it by sixe stayres signifying that the King riseth above all his subjects many degrees in practise of many vertues wisdome prudence justice fortitude piety So Christs Throne is infinitely exalted above all Princes above men Angels dominations principalities thrones and set at the right hand of God and himselfe as infinitely transcendeth all creatures in practice of all graces in perfection of all holinesse 3. The figure was round signifying the perfection and simplicity of the minde in the Judge discerning causes who could not abide any deceitfull fraudulent or hypocriticall courses or corners Such is the Throne of Christ in whom was never found guile nor deceit neither can he abet or not hate it in any 4. There were two pillers or barres to beare up the armes of Salomon signifying the rewards and defence of good men and the punishment and repressing of evill men by the power of his arme whereby Kings and kingdomes are sustained So our Lord Jesus upholds his kingdome by reward and punishment and in the last day shall set the sheepe at his right hand and the goats on his left 5. Two Lyons of gold standing by the stayes noting the power and fortitude of the King whose strength is as the strength of Lyons against enemies and to put in execution wise and soveraigne counsells But Salomons strength was weakenesse to the strength of Christ who as a couragious Lyon of the tribe of Judah shall teare and spoyle his enemies and none shall rescue Hos. 5. 14. 6. The foote stoole of it was of gold 2. Chr. 9. 18. to note the freedome of the King from covetousnesse that he ought to have his wealth under his feet and so master them as they neither overcome nor corrupt him So Christ the Judge of the world most perfectly despised the world and at his appearing shall set it under his feet and burne it 2. For administring according to those gifts Salomon did with such admirable wisdome judge betweene the two harlots for the living child as all Israel hearing the judgement feared the King for they saw that the wisdome of God was in him to doe justice 1. King 3. 28. But our Salomon is the just Judge of all the world who shall passe a righteous sentence betweene the godly and the wicked in that great
of faith in IV. The use and end of these ashes was twofold ver 9. 1. They must be kept for the Congregation signifying that there shall never want supply of grace and merit from the death of Christ to any beleever that sees his need of them 2. Of them was made a water of seperation thus A cleane person tooke of the ashes of the red Cow burnt and put pure water into a vessell and taking hysope dipped it and sprinkled it upon the tent the persons and vessels and upon the uncleane person the third and seventh day and so he washing his clothes and flesh with water was cleane at even ver 18 19. signifying 1. that the blood of Christ is the onely water of seperation for persons separate to seperate them from their uncleannesse The water made of the ashes of Christs death bloodshed sprinkled upon the unclean can onely purge the conscience from dead workes 2. that this blood of Christ must be sprinkled with hysope of faith and mortification For hysope hath a cleansing quality and is put sometimes for that which onely and properly cleanseth purge me with hysope that is with the blood of that eternall sacrifice figured by that which is sprinkled with hysope 3. that this blood of Christ must bee often applied the third day and the seventh day The death and merit of Christ must be often meditated and applied to the heart For it is a perpetuall and eternall purging and sprinkling water in the Church and we must have daily recourse unto it I. That the Lord hath appointed meanes for cleansing all kind of impurity 1. That his people and we might know that by no infirmity and frailty we shall fall quite out of the grace of God 2. That the Lord takes not the forfeit of all the scapes and foule falls of his children utterly to forsake them seeing the Jew that was legally polluted seventy times seven times was as often received in againe as he was cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary 3. That we should not despaire nor the weake Christian bee quite dejected in the sence of the multitude of his frailties and foule touches seeing the Gospel affoords us the remedy and meanes to cleanse all morall uncleannesse no lesse certainly and fully then the Law to the Jews to purge their legall II. As the Jew was no sooner defiled by touching a dead man or bone or grave or tent or any thing about him but hee must presently repaire to the meanes of legall cleansing So every Christian defiled by the least touch of any dead worke must have recourse to the remedy appointed in the Gospel The Law appointed the water of the ashes of a redd Cow but the Gospel appoints the redd blood of Jesus Christ sprinkled and applied by faith as by hyssope upon the conscience Consider 1. The necessity The person defiled not having this sprinkling upon him shall be cut off from Israel verse 13. So whosoever hath not the blood of Christ sprinkled upon his soule shall bee cut off from the number and inheritance of the Saints Mark 16. 16 hee that beleeves not shall be damned 2. Every sinne is a separation from God who being a God of pure eyes cannot abide the filth of it and therefore wee had need continually to have this water of separation for the washing of our hearts daily and often every day because it is gathering some uncleannesse every houre yea every moment 3. An uncleane creature or vessell could not bee of any service to man for hee must not touch it till it be cleansed So a sinner so long as he is uncleane and impenitent cannot be of any good use nor present any acceptable service to God And therefore the Prophet Wash you and cleanse you and then come No man dare present any thing to a King with a foule hand the Lord will accept no such present 2. Cor. 6. 17 18. touch no uncleane thing and I will receive you and bee a father unto you Implying that the Lord will not receive him that any way communicats with sinne if obstinate and impenitent 4. Nothing else can recover our beauty and first estate of holinesse and happinesse but this laver A cloth once soiled never recovers the beauty and whitenesse but by washing This laver onely brings backe a white and unspotted innocency All the holy water in the Sea of Rome cannot wash one sinne for that hath no commandement no institution no promise Besides all legall Ceremonies are dead which in their life time could not cleanse by the meere deed done as they say theirs doth 5. How vaine is it to see men and women curious and carefull in washing their bodies and clothes they will not suffer the least spot on them but wash them weekely and yet goe on yeare by yeare in the foule defilements of sinne and never desire to be washed and rinsed in the water of separation nay nothing more troubles them then to be called to reformation A cleanly man will have his clothes washed weekely but his hands and face every day A cleanly Christian will not be lesse carefull of his heart III. Seeing there was so much businesse in legall cleansing of the least foulenesse how carefull were the Jews to avoid those foulenesses and how much more should Christians bee to avoid the morall 1. In themselves A good heart will be affected with the least touch of sinne as David to cut Sauls lappet and to avoid appearance as well as evill it selfe 2. From others For the Jew might bee impured from others as well as by himselfe We must not communicate in other mens sinnes 1. Tim. 5. 22. The just man bewareth not onely sinne it selfe but even the contagion and infection of sinne Watch thy selfe as privie to thine own weaknesse and thy adversaries subtlety and strength Watch against others sinnes as being beset with snares Resolve with good Iacob Gen. 49 6. Into their secret my soule shall not come This strict watching is counted commonly foolish precisenesse nicety hatefull purity but God esteemes it otherwise It is an apparant losse of mens favour preferments and worldly helps but hee onely finds the favour of God and the happinesse to see God Sect. VII The oblation for uncleane issues leading us to Christ is appointed Levit. 15. 14 15. In this 1. What fowles must bee prepared for the offering two Turtles or two young Pigeons and so for the womans vers 29. Of the cleane kind of birds signifying and resembling the purity of Christs humane nature Besides his innocencie simplicity meeknesse chastity charity fruitfulnesse of all which vertues these Doves were expresse Emblems 2. What was the use of these fowles 1. They must bring them to the Priest No man must offer his owne sacrifices but must present them to God by Christ the onely high Priest 2. They must bring them to the doore of the Tabernacle for publicke service
the Moone the Popes ridiculous claime and yet they be sonnes of God heires of heaven brethren of Christ and of the royallest blood that ever was 3. When they ride in progresse they shew their state pompe and worldly glory Great Alexander gets upon his Bucephalus Pompey triumphs upon an Elephant Anthony rides upon Lyons Aurelianus upon Harts and bucks Christ had his kingdome beene of this world could have imitated them But while he was in the world to shew that his kingdome had no similitude nor correspondency with the pomps of earthly kingdomes in his progresse hee gets on an asse and instead of a saddle of state he had poore mens clothes spread under him But when he shall shew his glory he shall ride upon the Clouds as on an horse with such attendants and majesty as all the Potentates on earth were never capable of nor shal be able to behold 6. In amplitude and absolutenesse They will be free Monarchs and commanders their will and every word of theirs must be a Law But never was any kingdome absolutely Monarchicall but Christs al earthly Kings ever held in fee of him By me Kings raigne Never any other included all kingdomes of the world in it and under it but this Never any to whom all Princes were subiect but this Never was there any of them which shall not be broken to peeces by this little stone if it stand in opposition against him Dan. 2. 45. 7. In dispensing justice 1. They must judge by evidence and proofe by the sight of their eyes and hearing of their eares but he shall not doe so Isa. 11. 3. For he shall try and discerne the reynes and secrets of all hearts and shall judge things as they be not as they seeme David judged according to the hearing of his eare rashly against Mephibosheth Christ shall not doe so 2. They can pronounce their subjects just and innocent but he can make them innocent and just communicating his owne righteousnesse to them which no Prince can doe 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made to us righteousnesse 8. In meanes of upholding and maintaining 1. They must winne holds as David Sions for t and enlarge themselves by force of armes dint of sword multitude of souldiers But Christ sends but twelve unarmed poore men who wonne and subdued the whole world with the word onely in their mouths such a word as was the greatest enemy to the world and corrupt fashions of it This is the weapon mighty under God to cast downe holds 2. They if they want men money munition must despaire of attaining or retaining their rights But Christs kingdome being neither set up nor held up by military power shall be upheld by the invisible and secret power of the spirit If all worldly power be against it never despaire it thrives best in opposition 9. In things to be attained In them the best things are honour pleasure externall prosperity and this for a time But Christs Kingdome stands not in meat or drink but in righteousnesse peace of conscience joy in the holy Ghost in grace here and glory hereafter The wealth of Christs subject is to be rich in grace rich in good works his honour to be of the stock and linage of Christ his pleasure a patient and painfull expectation of the pleasures at Gods right hand And these being eternall the kingdome of Christ must needs be eternal now this being the glory of the kingdom of Christ we have need of faith to discerne it and a great measure of humility before wee can resolve to become subjects of it The theefe on the Crosse asking Christ to remember him in his Kingdome Augustine askes him What Royalty doest thou see Seest thou any other crowne then that of thornes any other Scepter then Iron nayles any other purple then blood any other Throne then a wooden Crosse any other gard then executioners Was there now so great faith in Israel Let our faith touch the top of this Scepter let us submit our selves to his word for the present and cast our eye beyond the present upon his second comming when wee shall see him ride upon a white horse not upon garments but upon the Clouds in power and great glory entring not Jerusalem but the stage of the whole world to render unto every man even Kings according as they have done in the flesh good or evill III. David was called and annoynted to bee King but betweene that and the installing or enjoying of his Kingdome he had many troubles doubts and feares that made him stagger and say I shall surely one day fall by the hand of Saul So was the true David Jesus Christ annoynted with the fulnesse of the Spirit and called to be King of his Church but before his installation into his Kingdome many afflictions persecutions feares yea death it selfe overtooke him for our sakes Isa. 53. Wherein he said My God why hast thou forsaken me So must it be with us who must be content to suffer before we can raigne to be crowned first with thornes as Christ was and stand with Christ on Mount Golgotha before we come to Mount Olivet see Acts 14. 22. It is so ordained by God that we should make our way through a straite to state through thornes to Roses through troubles to rest through stormes to the haven through vertue to glory through conquest to triumph through warre to peace through the Crosse to heaven And this processe God the father strictly observed with his beloved son as was necessary Luk. 24. 26. Phil. 2. 8 9 he was humbled therefore God exalted him And this is the Lords honour to honour his servants raised from the dunghill that they may know the way to glory lyes by humility IV. It was ever the lot of the Church to have in it secret and inbred enemies as David and Christ had even such as eat bread at his table and dipped in the dish and these have alwaies prooved more mischievous then open and forraigne enemies The Church ever had hypocrites and false brethren Satans spyes who professing the same Christ and religion eating bread at the same table of the Lord and making shew of friendship in the communion of Saints joyning in the hearing of the word and prayer yet watch the haunts of Gods servants to spy their weakenesse and where they lye open to advantage Every one sees they advantage not themselves but by all meanes undermine the Gospell and professors so as the silly dove of Christ can find no rest for the soale of her foot And never was the Church so wounded as in the house of her friends Cant. 1. 5. The sonnes of my mother were angry against me This being the estate of the Church to be hunted as the silly hare from one Mush to another and no where safe it must make us 1. more wary 2. desire our rest 3. love that promise Come with me from Lebanon
Christ to Moses of grace to the Law and of the new Testament to the Old 2. To the perfections For in the choice of the Priest were requisite many externall perfections Levit. 21. 17. Whosoever of thy seed hath any blemishes shall not prease to offer the bread of his God Hee must not be blind lame nor mishapen Wherein the Lord would not onely provide for the dignity of that calling in that infancy of the Church which otherwise if the Priesthood had beene in outward shew contemptible many might have drawen not their persons onely into contempt but even all such holy things as they handled But especially to signifie Jesus Christ our high Priest to bee without all blemish the onely immaculate Lambe that takes away the sinnes of the world For although no other mortall man could be without some blemish of sinne or other yet it became us to have such an high Priest as is holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners Hebr. 7. 26. And as our Lord was spotlesse and without all blemish so also perfect in all parts and perfections He wanted no part no gift no sufficiency to discharge that function too weighty for men and Angels I. In this our unblemished high Priest wee have a sufficient cover for all our blemishes both of soule and body 1. If never so blemished in soule by sinne by infirmity if wee have a thousand wants and eye-sores if we bewaile and resist them here is helpe and remedy in our high Priest against them all For as those persons that had such blemishes might not stand at the Altar to doe duties there yet they were allowed in the Congregation and to eate from the Altar of the sacrifices as the Preists did Levit. 21. 22 So all defects and weaknesses which the Saints carry as a burthen shall not hinder them from participating in the good things purchased by Christs sacrifice nor cast them out of place of the elect neither here nor for ever 2. Be thou never so blemished and deformed or maimed in body now the truth being come God respects not according to the outward appearance And although the honour of the Ministery must bee respected and the choisest of our children are not too good for Gods service yet now it is farre better a good Minister without an eye or a hand or foot then a Congregation without a good Minister II. All these outward perfections of the body in all the Priests high and low point us to such endowments and gifts of minde which the Lord expects in Ministers before they attempt this high calling 1. He of all men must not bee blind or ignorant Hos. 4. 6. Because thou hast refused knowledge thou art rejected from being a Priest to me How should he be a light to others that himselfe is in darknesse If the eye bee darke so is all the body 2. Hee must not have either a blind or a blemished eye an eye filled with envie at another mans gifts and prosperity Nor a squint eye looking indirectly upon every thing not aiming at Gods glory or the building of Christs Kingdome but his owne glory wrath lusts ends 3. He must not be lame or cripled in his feet but make right steps to his feet Heb. 12. 13. Upright in his way not right doctrine onely but right life also 4. Hee must not have a flat nose that is without discretion or judgement to discerne truth and falsehood good and evill things fit and unfit As the nose discernes smells so to discerne companies and courses 5. Hee must not have a crooked backe bended downwards and almost broken with earthly cares hindering his eye from looking towards heaven and interrupting heavenly contemplations and studye And so in the rest Would God such care were had in the choice and permission of Evangelicall Ministers as in the Old We should not see the Churches pestered with so many unworthy illiterate men fitter for any trade then this so holy calling Sect. II. II. His consecration set downe Exo. 29. 1. wherein were three thiâ—gs 1. Washing 2. Anointing 3. â— Sacrificing and purifying with blood And this consecration to continue seven dayes together Which in generall shadowed the surpassing sanctity and purity of Christ above all other men and Angels Whom the devills themselves call that holy One of God Mark 1. 24. In speciall verse 4. the washing did not onely admonish them to cleanse and purge themselves from the inward defilement of their sinnes before they undertooke that holy calling but plainly pointed at the washing and Baptisme of Christ who undertaking his Ministery went into the water and was baptized Mat. 3. The anointing by the holy Oyle verse 7. signified the anointing of Christ with the holy Spirit without measure Isai. 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord hath anointed me to preach Psal. 45. 7. God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oile of gladnesse above all thy fellowes In which regard Christ was called by eminency the anointed of God and the Priests as types touch not mine anointed In this anointing 1. The matter holy Oile signifying the Spirit of God and his gifts for much similitude and agreement betweene them 1. That was made of the most precious things in all the world Exod. 30. 25 So the holy graces of the Spirit are the best things in the world Luk. 11. 13. there is no gift to this Oile swimmes aloft So the Spirit and graces are highest 2. No stranger had that Oile but onely persons and things sanctified So none but Gods Elect have these precious and saving mercies Ioh. 14. 17. The world cannot receive it that is gifts not common but of sanctification 3. That perfumd all the place where it was It is the Spirit of God that sweetens and perfumes all our actions and natures otherwise most corrupt and loathsome to God 4. That sanctified the thing to which it was applied and set it aside to an holy use Without this Oile the sacrifice of the Jew was as if hee had killed a dog It is the Spirit that sets us apart and sanctifieth to the Lord us our persons our actions 2. Tim. 2. 21. The service that wants the spirit is hatefull to God 5. Oile is cleare and shining and makes other things anointed to shine The holy Ghost within enlightneth the mind and brings in the true light and knowledge of God 1. Ioh. 2. 27. the anointing shall teach you all things 6. Oile hath the force of fire in penetrating and subtly pearcing and is the fuell and feeder of fire and flames So the Spirit of God is a pearcing fire in the heart and kindles and maintaines in it the ardent flames of the love of God Holy thoughts as sparkes flie upward 7. Oile suppleth cherisheth comforteth So the Spirit of consolation anoints with oile of gladnesse Psal. 45. 7. It is he that brings peace and tranquillity into consciences 2. The measure powred in abundance upon Aarons
is the scope of the Apostle in describing Melchizedeks Priesthood so largely For the Leviticall Priests were homagers to this yea to the shadow of it in Melchizedek while they were in Abrahams loynes 1. They were men onely of men Christ the Sonne of God true God and man 2. They were sinfull men and must offer first for themselves and then for others Heb. 5. 3. But Christ was sinlesse he needed not offer for his owne sinnes Heb. 7. 26. 27. 3. For their office they were but ministers of holy things and of salvation propounded in them Christ because of this order was author of salvation to all that obey him Heb. 5. 9. 10. 4. They were many and all ministers of a temporary covenant but he is but one who hath obtained a more excellent office in that he is Mediator of a better testament established upon better promises Heb. 8. 6. For the promises of the covenant of grace are more excellent then those of the Legall covenant 5. They offered often and the repetition of sacrifices argued their invalidity and imperfection but he offered but once and needed not do it daily Heb. 7. 27. which argued the perfection Heb. 9. 28. 6. They offered the blood of beasts which could not expiate sinne nor wash the conscience of the sinner farther then purifying the flesh but he not with blood of bulls and goats but with his owne blood entred once into the holy place having obtained an eternall redemption Heb. 9. 12. and this blood purgeth the conscience from dead works verse 14. 7. They served in an earthly fading Sanctuary made with hands and entred into an holy place which perished and fayled according to that elementary and temporary worship but he is minister of the true Sanctuary and Tabernacle which the Lord pitcht and not man Heb. 8. 2. this tabernacle is his owne blessed body in which he performed all his service called chap. 9. 11. a great and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands and vers 24. is now entred not into holy places made with hands but into the very Heaven to appeare in the sight of God for us 8. They all ceased dyed one succeeded another as mutable was their whole service which also ceased and deceased and gave place to the truth of it when the fulnesse of time came but this true Melchizedek being without beginning or end of daies hath an eternall Priesthood Heb. 7. 24. and therefore neither hath nor needeth any successor in earth Whence every repetition of his sacrifice bloodily or unbloodily in the Masse is an high and hatefull blasphemy a denyall of Christs person to be above the person of Melchizedek and of his sacrifice to be above Aarons or that it was offered by the eternall spirit of his Deity VI. The excellency of the person shewes the greatnesse of the Sacrifice the greatnesse of the sacrifice the greatnesse of the sinne Melchizedek because he was but likened to the Sonne of God Heb. 7. 3. could not offer a Sacrifice to take away sinne he must be the Sonne of God indeed and God himselfe that must doe that The least sinne which wee account so light could never be expiated but by the blood of him that is God as well as man All created strength cannot stand under the burthen of the least sinne Therefore in the worthinesse of this person see the unworthinesse of thy sinne to hate and abhorre it and thy selfe in dust and ashes for it An haynous and execrable offence were that which nothing could take away but the death of the Prince CHAP. V. 4. Isaac a type of Christ. I. IN his birth Isaac the sone of Abraham the father of the faithfull a promised seed long before he was borne in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed Yea so strange was his birth as that he was not to be borne by the strength of nature but of Sarahs dead womb when it was not with her as with other women insomuch as when the Angell foretold it to her she thought it impossible Gen. 18. 12. So Christ the sonne of Abraham commonly so called The onely Sonne of God by nature who is the father of all the faithfull who are taught to say Our father c. The onely true promised seed long before prophecied of and expected of beleevers before his manifestation about foure thousand yeares Borne and incarnate not by the strength of nature but by the power of the holy Ghost after an unconceivable manner so as when the Angell told his mother Mary of his miraculous manner of birth she thought it impossible and said How can this be Luk. 1. 34. And in him onely the whole spirituall seed of Abraham all Gods people of Jewes and Gentiles were blessed Psa. 72. 17. the Nations shall blesse him and be blessed in him Which Prophecy cannot be understood of Salomon for scarce his owne nation was blessed in him who by his sinne lost tenne tribes of twelve from his owne sonne and verse 5. they shall feare him so long as the Sunne and Moone endure from one generation to another vers 11. all Kings shall worship him and serve him and vers 17. his name shall be for ever all these are true in Christ onely Thus as Isaac was founder of a mighty state so Christ of all the Church of God in all nations onely blessed in him As Isaac was his fathers heire So Christ heire of all things Isaac hath goods onely II. In his suffering 1. Isaac was circumcised the eighth day so was Christ. Luk. 2. 2. Isaac in his infancy was persecuted by Ishmael Gal. 4. 29 So Christ by Herod Mat. 2. 3. Isaac carryed the wood of the burnt offering upon his shoulders even to mount Moriah Gen. 22. 6 So Christ carryed the Crosse on which he was to be nayled even to Golgotha 4. Isaac was led away as a Lamb to the slaughter So Christ was led away Ioh 19. 16. to death 5. Isaac without reply submitted himself to his father even to the death suffered himselfe to be bound on the wood and yeelds himselfe a burnt offering unto the Lord Even so Christ without reply was obedient unto his father unto the death and was content to be bound not as Isaac for himselfe alone but for us and them and laid downe his life a whole burt offering and a ransome for many Ioh. 16. 28. Thus were both Lamb-like sufferers both beare their Crosse both without reply led away both bound and fastened on the wood both willingly obedient to the death III. In his offering 1. Both sonnes onely sons innocent beloved of their fathers Abraham did al at Gods Commandement and lifted up his hand So Christ by the determinate counsell of God was delivered by wicked hands Abraham offers his Sonne freely God more freely offers his sonne out of his bosome 2. Abraham by Gods commission riseth early in the morning to sacrifice his sonne and Isaac riseth as early to obey his
honoured Ioseph As 1. He richly decks and attires him puts a golden chaine on his necke Gen. 41. 42. 2. They must cry before him Abrech that is every man must bow to him 3. Every man must depend on his word Gen. 41. 55. Goe to Ioseph saith Pharaoh and what he faith to you doe yee So God the Father hath highly exalted his Sonne Jesus and given him not onely the rich robes of immortality and glory but a Name above all names that at his Name every knee shall bowe He appointed not Iohn Baptist onely to be his fore-runner to make way for him but all the Apostles and Evangelists cry before him Abrech Yea all faithfull pastours and teachers whose office is to bring men to stoope under the subjection of Jesus Christ. Yea he hath given his Sonne plenary authority to governe his kingdome and commands us as another Ioseph to heare him I. From the type and truth learn It is no new thing for the best men to be hated and wronged for their excellency and innocency Ioseph was therefore hated of his brethren because most loved of his Father Gen. 37. 4. Christ was hated because he was the light and gave witnesse unto it This is a certaine truth if God will testifie to a man the world will testifie against him whose judgements are contrary to his If God will advance a man in grace the world will depresse him If God be extraordinary to Moses Aaron and Miriam his brother and sister will hate him If David be respected Saul will envy him Who can stand before envy not naturall brothers No marvaile if men say as of old If we let this man alone all men will beleeve in him Well an evill eye is a signe of an evill man that dares in his thoughts check the Almighty for doing with his owne as he will And a good man cannot expect a surer confirmation in goodnesse then to be hated for it as in our type and truth Let us on the contrary there love most where God sheweth most love nor let any Ioseph leave his goodnesse for the hatred of the brethren II. All the sufferings of Gods children are ordayned and ordered by him 1. They are ordayned by God So in the type Ioseph sees Gods decree It was not you but God sent me afore you So did the true Ioseph It is not thou Pilate that couldst have any power over me unlesse it were given from above Ioh. 19. 11. and Acts 4. 27. 28. against thy holy Sonne Jesus Herod Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselves together to doe whatsoever thy hand and counsell had determined Let not us looke so much at mens malice as at Gods decree So did David when he said Shimei curseth because the Lord hath bid him curse David 2. Sam. 16. 10. If for brethren wee find enemies let us say as Ioseph It was not you God hath an hand in it 2. Our suffrings are ordered by God 1. For their measure as in the type Come say they let us kill the dreamer but they could not So in the truth come let us kill the heire and then the inheritance shall be ours let us bury him and lay stones and watch and seale yet with all these they could not keepe him under Feare not evill men they shall not doe as much as they will but as God will 2. For the end they cannot frustrate the counsell of God nor his dreames Neither Gods glory nor Iosephs preferment can be prevented So the Jewes Let us put this seducer to death and we shall well shift our hands of him what will become of his doctrine of his Disciples But all turned to his greater exaltation as Iosephs Conclude hence that all the hatred of evill men unjust accusations false sentences cruell executions shall not hurt but one way or other set forward our truest good As both Iosephs and Christs turne to their greatest advancement both their innocencies breake out as the light And innocency is innocency and will be so knowne and shall be as the Sunne at noone day III. A singular comfort Is Christ the true Ioseph our brother Hee will 1. know us when we know not him as Ioseph He will love us before we can love him he will love us when we shall not know it his bowels will earne within him towards us 2 Cor. 6. 9. as unknowne and yet knowne He is a stone of refuge to all his brethren and though he be rough for a while and try us with temptations and afflictions of sundry sorts as Ioseph did yet he will at length make himselfe knowne to bee Ioseph he will say I am Ioseph I am Jesus your brother 2. As Ioseph tooke order that his brethren should bee washed in his house and set at his owne table So our Ioseph washeth us in cleaner water even the pure streames of his blood and makes us cleane by the water of sanctification sealing it to us in baptisme and after feeds us at his owne table and sets before us the bread and water of life as in the sacrament of the Supper 3. As Ioseph sent his brethren home with victualls without money and with Chariots and all necessaries for their journey till they came againe to be fully provided for by him so our Ioseph furnisheth us in this our journey and travell with all necessaries without our money or merits untill we come to dwell with him and he be all in all unto us 4. As when Iacob and his sonnes came into Aegypt and at that joyfull meeting of Father and all the sonnes Ioseph went out to meet them So our Ioseph meets us now in our way by his grace and spirit and at that great meeting of all his brethren shall make ready the clouds as his Chariot and come in person in state and we shall meet the Lord in the ayre and be ever with him IV. As Iosephs brethren behaved themselves to him Gen. 50. 17. So let us behave our selves to Christ. 1. Humble our selves bee ashamed that we have so wronged our brother pray for pardon and as it is in Zachery looke upon him whom we that is our sinnes have pearced and lament and be sorry for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne 2. Honour him All our sheafes must bow to his he hath that extraordinary blessing from above and below the blessing of his father is strong with the blessing of his Elders Gen. 49. 26. Christ is blessed in himselfe and in his posterity in all ages 3. Depend on him for food as they and say with Peter Ioh. 6. 68. Master to whom shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life and for all supplyes apply that to him which is spoken of Ioseph Gen. 50. 19. Is not he for us under God 4. Let his gracious promises comfort and feede us as Iosephs brethren were comforted by his Gen. 50. 21. 5. Offer him such gifts as wee have
fellowship of a Kings Court such as Pharaohs in riot feasting drinking gaming is hatefull to a sound minde in comparison of the society of the miserable and persecuted Saints though a fleshly eye cannot see it 3. That it will be no great comfort to beleeve the Communion of Saints and not enjoy it 4. That they which despise it here shall never enjoy it in heaven 4. In the type and truth wee have a sure argument of our resurrection Moses dead body hid in the valley of Moab none knew where appeared glorious on the hill Thabor in Christs transfiguration Christs body hid in the grave comes forth glorious and ascends glorious on mount Olivet Both teach that our bodies are not lost but laid up and as sure as laid downe in basenesse shall rise in glory CHAP. VIII 7. IOSHVA A type of our true Ioshua another Moses I. BOth Saviours For Ioshua under the very same name is propounded a type of Christ. Both had the name Jesus both saved their people therefore Ioshua is called Iesus Heb. 4. 8. the type from temporall and externall enemies the truth from spirituall and eternall II. In his calling 1. Both succeeded Moses who makes way to both 2. Both guides going before Gods people The type to the earthly Canaan the truth to the heavenly 3. Both led them into the land Ioshua led the people not onely toward the land but into the promised land What was denied to Moses was granted to Ioshua Moses might not enter nor those that had disobeyed but Ioshua entreth and taketh possession for himselfe and for all the people So our Ioshua hath taken possession and led us into the possession of our heavenly Canaan What Moses Law could not doe for our infirmity Christ by his Gospel hath done for us That may shew us the way but this brings us to the wayes end and gives us all our promised expectation Thus our Ioshua carries us through from this wildernesse to our rest 4. Both divided the land and allotted to every man his portion Ioshua having entred Canaan assignes every one his portion Iosh. 14. 1. Christ ascended into heaven prepares for every beleever a place Ioh. 14. 2. III. Both confirmed their calling with many miracles 1. Ioshua being to passe over Iordan divides the waters and they gave way unto him Christ in the same Iordan divides the heavens Matth. 3. 16. and they testifie unto him verse 17. Ioshua divides waters but he ascribes it to the power of the Lord of all the world Chap. 3. 13. But our true Ioshua being that Lord and God of all the world by his owne power commanded the seas and they obeyed him 2. Ioshua becompassing the walls of Iericho and the long blast of rammes hornes overthrew the walls of it Chap. 6. 5. Our Ioshua by as weake and vile meanes in the eye of flesh even by the sound and blast of the Gospel shakes downe dayly the high and thick walls of the Devill and Antichrists kingdome and of the Iericho of this world which resists the people of God in their passage to Canaan By the preaching of the Gospel typified by the sound of the Trumpets our Ioshua overthrowes the wisedome power seeming sanctity and whatsoever strength of flesh is opposed to the power of the Gospel 3. Whilst Ioshua was destroying the enemies of God the Sunne in the heavens at his word stood still and stayed his course as a willing spectatour of that businesse and deferred the night lest hee should want day to smite his enemies in Chap. 10. 12. So our Ioshua whilst on the Crosse hee was spoiling principalities and powers and opening the way to Canaan commanded the Sunne to stopp his course and hide his face to witnesse to all the world the great worke in hand that day Of both these dayes may be verified Iosh. 10. 14. there was never before day like nor after it shall be IV. In his fortitude victory triumphs Both of them mightily miraculous miraculously triumphant 1. Ioshua was the Judge and Captaine of Gods people the leader of his Armies the mighty conquerour of all the enemies that rose up and resisted them Hee subdued both princes and people of the Canaanites Hee set his foot on the necks of five kings at once and slew them Chap. 10. 24. nay made his men of warre set their feete on their necks and trample them as dung and went on and in small time had slaine one and thirty Kings with their Armies Chap. 12. 10. Never had Israel so many enemies in their passage to Canaan as Gods people have unto that heavenly Canaan their countrey and rest typified by that Even all the gates of hell the rage of Satan the power of sinne the allurements of the world whole armies of temptations a troupe of pleasures honours profits on one hand a whole band of crosses and discouragements on the other a legion of lusts within our selves But our Ioshua the mighty Captaine not onely of the Lords hosts but who is the Lord of hosts is described to sit on a white horse whose name is called Faithfull and true and hee judgeth and fighteth righteously Revel 19. 11. Hee hath valiantly triumphed over all enemies spoyled principalities and powers set his foot on their necks troden Satan under his feet and made us tread him under our feet too If Ioshua have slaine one and thirty Kings Our Ioshua hath slaine so many thousand commanders 2. By meanes of Ioshuas faithfulnesse and fortitude not one word failed of all the good things which the Lord had said unto Israel but all came to passe Chap. 21. 45. and 23. 14. So by meanes of our Ioshua all the promises of God concerning heaven and happinesse are accomplished which are all in him Yea and Amen Heaven and earth may faile but not one jote of Gods promise but this Ioshua will see it accomplished V. In sundry actions 1. Ioshua saved Rahabs house that had the red cord hung out at the window because they had saved the Spies Chap. 6 So Christ saves every penitent sinner that expresseth faith in his blood and love to the true Israel of God especially his Ministers and Seers 2. Hee graciously accepted the Gibeonites when they humbly sued and intreated peace of him So a broken and a contrite heart our true Ioshua never despised Hee that offers repentant sinners grace before they seeke it when they seeke it will not deny it 3. When God by Ioshua had wrought that great miracle of stopping up the river Iordan till they passed over Chap. 4. 2. Ioshua commmanded twelve men of Israel to gather twelve stones out of Iordan and set them up memorialls of Gods great acts to all posteritie So our Ioshua having wrought many mighty miracles for the confirmation of his holy doctrine commanded twelve men his twelve disciples by the preaching of the Gospel to erect through all the world a monument and memory of the
head Not dropped but powred signifying the abundance of gifts and graces most plentifully conferred upon Christ our head For as it was proper to the high Priest to bee anointed on the head whereas the common Priests were anointed but in their hands not on their heads So was Christ as the head anointed with oile above all his fellowes and received the spirit beyond measure signified by powring on the head 3. The communication of this oile It stayed not on Aarons head but ranne downe his beard even to the skirts of his garments signifying that the Spirit of grace distills from the head unto all the members of his mysticall body the Catholike Church First the Spirit descends and sits on Christs head then on the Apostles in likenesse of fiery tongues running downe as it were by Aarons beard and from them upon other inferiour persons beleeving their word as unto the skirts of his garment Now a threefold Application hereof I. In the anointing of the high Priest the eminency of Jesus Christ above all creatures whose very Name carrieth in it a note of principality being called the high Priest of our profession And in that this whole consecration of the high Priest in most solemne and stately manner was but a darke shadow of his solemne inauguration into his Office And by this anointing Christ is differenced from the most excellent Priests and Prophets that ever were Aaron Moses Elias Some of them had a most glorious vocation as Moses and in the entry of their callings graced with most divine and powerfull miracles but never any had the spirit sitting on his head but hee None of them by their anointing had all graces nor any grace in perfection but onely begunne and in small degree Moses a beleever wanted faith sometime as when he smote the Rocke which he should have spoken to and the meekest man in the world was sometimes to seeke of his meeknesse Aaron though the oyle was powred on his head was weake as in murmuring against Moses and in making the calfe But in our high Priest all graces and vertues were not inchoate onely but perfect In him knowledge of God was most perfect holinesse most perfect and all kinde of graces in highest degrees Grace sits in his lips not only to move the mind but to change it None of them by anointing could receive graces for others but for themselves onely but hee receives such a measure as runnes over to the sanctifying of the lowest and meanest of his members Hence 1. Ioh. 2. 27. the anointing which wee have of him dwells in you and teacheth you all things And 2. Cor. 1. 21 22. It is God that anointeth us in Christ and sealeth and giveth us the earnest of the Spirit Thus our Lord Jesus is advanced above all his oile shines brightest and swims aloft above all others II. In Aarons and Christs anointing and furnishing to their Office Ministers must labour for a greater measure of this ointment then others to runne downe from them to their skirts They must pray by the Spirit watch by the Spirit walke by the Spirit An unconverted Minister may doe another good but hee hath no promise of blessing nor doth any good to himselfe As the holy ointment was kept in the Sanctuary So Christ is the Sanctuary whence this oile comes The pipes are the word preached Sacraments prayer societies of the Saints and Gods people And such Ministers as contemptuously contemne the conduit-pipes through which this oile drops and flowes scorne to come to Sermons and joyne in holy exercises how doth their oile drie away Instead of this oyle that should fall from them a deale of pitch and slime froth and filthinesse falls on their skirts III. In the communication of this ointment unto us the skirts we learne that Christ is not for himselfe but for us And therefore 1. Examine if thou beest anointed This is to bee a Christian to bee anointed as Christ was Scornest thou this holy oile in thy selfe or others Know thou shalt one day wish the mountaines to fall on thee on whom this oile falls not 2. Hence draw strength in temptation Remember If sollicited to sinne Oh I have the anointing I am taken up and set apart to Gods use I am for God and his glory Neh. 6. 11. 3. Use meanes to attaine a farther measure and be liker Christ. Thou missest a Sermon or the Sacrament thou knowest not what drops of oile thou hast missed 4. Have a care to walke as such as are anointed smelling sweet every where in holy lives speaches prayers in all things edifying thy selfe and others Leave a sweet smell every where behinde thee Let it drop downe from us to others round about us The third thing in the high Priests consecration was sacrificing Exod. 29. 1 2. In which 1. Observe in generall that the Priests must be consecrated by offering all sorts of sacrifices for them and therefore they must take a calfe two rammes unleavened bread cakes and oile vers 1 2. 1. Because of the speciall holinesse and honour of their calling who are to come so neere unto God who will bee specially sanctified in all that come neere him 2. Because sinne in them is more hatefull then in any other and in expiating their sinnes as much is required as for the sinnes of all the Congregation 3. Because they were to offer unto God all the gifts and sacrifices of all the people of all sorts and therefore for them must be offered all sorts to sanctifie them not onely in generall but to their speciall services betweene God and his people 2. In particular The first of these sacrifices must be a sinne offering verse 10. For which they must 1. Take a calfe and offer him for the expiation of sinne verse 14. This yong calfe was a type of Christ who onely by his owne oblation expiated our sinne which otherwise made our selves and duties most hatefull 2. This calfe must be presented before the Lord and his Congregation signifying the willingnesse of Christ to offer up himselfe for the sinnes of men Iohn 19. 11. 3. Aaron and his sonnes must put their hands on the head of the calfe verse 10 not onely to confesse they were worthy to die for their own sinnes but to professe also that the death which they deserved was by the death of the Messiah the high Priest of the new Testament removed off them and transferred upon the beast And not onely the imputation of our sinnes upon Christ but also is signified that wee must lay our hand by a true faith upon Christ our head if we expect any comfort from his death and passion 4. The calfe must be killed before the Lord at the doore of the Tabernacle ver 11 signifying both the death and crucifying of Christ as also the fruit of it by the place That by his death as by a doore an entry is made for us into the Church both
interest in the death of Christ as also that Christ did not onely deliver himselfe to death for us as this Ram but also giveth himselfe to feed us to eternall life Iohn 6. 55. My flesh is meate indeed 3. It must be heaved up before the Lord aud shaken too and fro every way ver 26. Signifying 1. The lifting up and heaving of Christ upon the Crosse. 2. The heaving up of our hearts in thankfulnesse to God for so great benefits 3. That the merits of Christ our true sacrifice and benefits of his death should by the preaching and publication of the Gospell be spred abroad into all corners of the world as that sacrifice was shaken every way East West North and South 4. This sacrifice must alwayes be offered up with cakes of unleavened bread tempred with oyle ver 23. Signifying 1. the most perfect purity of Christs life and doctrine without all leaven of sinne 2. That Priest and people must in service to God lay aside all leaven of maliciousnesse 3. The oyle notes the soft and loving kindnesse of God and Iesus Christ chearing and suppling the conscience by the sweet meditation of it as also how joyfully and gladly we ought to serve the Lord and with cheerefulnesse present before him all the parts of his worship Note hence as the eare hands and feete of the high Priest must be touched with blood before he attempt any part of his office so our care must be that all our parts all our actions and affections bee touched and purged with the blood of Christ. So David Psal. 51. 2. Wash me throughly Reason 2. Because sinne hath defiled the whole man all his parts all his actions all within him all without him 2. This foulenesse sticks so fast as it is no easie matter to bee cleansed Nothing in the world can fetch out this soile but the blood of Christ. Not all the water in the sea nor all the holy water in the Sea of Rome can wash away one sinne 3. All thou doest or performest depends upon the merit of this blood and dignity of this person and passion for acceptance The knowledge of thy duty must be sprinkled with this blood for that is signified by the eare The undertaking of duty by the hand The progresse and perseverance in it by the foot All must bee presented in him and by him and finde grace and acceptance If I wash thee not thou hast no part in me Qu. How may I know that the blood of Christ hath touched and purged me Ans. 1. It is not enough that Christs blood be shed but it must also be sprinkled If thou contentest not thy selfe that Christ hath died for all but seest how necessary it is to apply it to thy self 2 If thou hast an hand to lay hold on Christs blood and besprinkle thy selfe with it A man washeth his face with his hand This hand is faith which takes up the blood of Christ and applyes it to ones selfe as did Paul who dyed for me 3. If it wash the whole man within and without which no other blood could do The blood of sacrifices under the Law could not sanctifie the conscience but onely the outside Heb. 9. 9. but this can and must purge the conscience from dead workes ver 14. And under conscience is contained the whole innerman purged by the merit of his satisfying blood and by his spirit renewing our nature And for the outward man 1. If thy right eare bee touched thou hast the hearing eare rightly to heare the word of God Thou hearest to learne for to hearken is better then the fat of Rammes 2. If thy right hand be touched that thou art an active Christian not an hearer onely of the word but a doer and unto knowledge of the doctrine of faith joynest obedience of faith thou keepest the faith working as knowing that obedience is better then sacrifice thou darest not doe what seemes good to thy selfe or is right in thy owne eyes but what is rightly ruled by Gods word for that is the right hand touched 3. If thy right foot be touched that thou walkest in the right way with a right foot not making crooked pathes to thy feet but ordering thy conversation aright And all this with right ends and affections the feet of the soule laying aside all sinister ends and intentions in all thy obedience and directing all to the honour of the true Aaron and high Priest Jesus Christ. 4. If thou findest the effects of Christs blood sprinckled 1. Pacification of conscience for this blood speakes better things then Abels for us and in us for us to God by intercession in us by perswasion that the Lord looking on the blood of Christ rests wholly on it as a full satisfaction for all our sinnes for this is the end of shedding remission of sinnes Mat. 26. 28 therefore of sprinkling 2. Daily sanctification through this sprinckling 1 Pet. 1. 2. For out of the side of Christ issues water as wel as blood the one redeeming from condemnation the other froÌ„ vaine conversation the one purgeth froÌ„ the death of works the other from dead works themselves The sprinkling of this blood admits not security or idlenesse and carelesnesse nor suffers a man to sinne against this blood by impenitency unbeleefe despising of grace horrible swearing and foule lusts But makes the Christian truely noble as one now descended of the blood of Christ scorning the base and foule courses he formerly affected Find these markes and comfort thy selfe thou art sprinkled with Christs blood Thy whole course is sanctified all thy hearing all thy obedience be it never so weake in it selfe bee thy unworthinesse never so great it shall bee no barre to thine acceptance with God for every thing sprinkled with this precious blood is sweetned and accepted Sect. III. III. The third thing in the deputation of the Priest to his office is his apparrell appointed by God and called holy garments glorious and beautifull farre differing from all other mens And they signified 1. The function to be glorious and excellent 2. The fitnesse of their persons to that office 3. The glory of the true high Priest Jesus Christ of whom Aaron was but a figure For all the glistering shew of these Priestly garments set forth the more the Angelicall brightnesse of all the vertues which should shine in Jesus Christ. The Priestly garments appointed by God were tenne in number of which â—oure belonged to the inferiour Priests Exod. 28. 40. 42. 1. A linnen garment Which signified the white garment of CHRISTS righteousnesse and innocency which they were to appeare in before the Lord if they would be acceptable in their persons or duties Noting to us by the way that every godly Minister weares a white linnen garment not woven and made by men but by God not without him but within him not a shadow or ceremony but the substance and truth to which all
kinds of legall uncleannesse Next all Legall uncleannesse was to bee cured two waies 1. by ablution or washing 2. by oblation or offering Both these were appoynted for all kinds as in particular 1. for uncleane touchings and tastings the parties must wash their cloathes Levit. 11. 40. 2. for uncleane issues they must wash themselves and their cloathes Levit. 15. 13. 3. for uncleannesse of Leprosie they must wash themselves their cloathes and besides shave off all their haire and stay seven dayes without the campe Lev. 14. 8 9. Sect. V. I. The first meanes of purging Legall uncleannesse is washing which shadowed out the washing of the sinner in the laver of Christs blood All the water in the sea cannot wash away the least sinne that great worke is appropriated to the blood of Christ 1 Ioh. 1. 7 the blood of Iesus Christ his sonne cleanseth us from all sinne Rev. 1. 5 who loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his blood which blood is opposed to all legall washings Heb. 9. 9. Object Lev. 11. 44 this washing is called a sanctification Answ. Sanctification is twofold 1. by the outward signe 2. by the inward truth They by washing symbolically and in outward profession by these rites sanctified themselves but thereby beleevers were led to the internall truth and the laver of the blood of Christ. All this washing then leads us to the blood of Christ by which is meant his whole passion and obedience by the merit whereof he hath procured both remission of our sinnes and mortification of them And herein is no small resemblance 1. Washing is an applying of water to foule parts so in the cleansing of sinne must be a speciall application of the blood of Christ called Heb. 9. 14 the sprinkling of Christs blood upon the conscience Which is nothing else on Gods part but the imputation of Christs sufferings to us and on our owne part the application of them to our selves by the hand of faith 2. In Washing is a rubbing and scowring off of uncleanenesse which will not easily off and in some foulenesse they must wash often for the surenesse of the worke noting the paines and true indeavour of the repentant heart in mortification and afflicting it selfe It is well contented with any beating and wringing so hee may fetch out the stayne of sinne which sticks as close as his flesh to his bones 3. The uncleane party was to wash himselfe that is his whole man and every part which noteth totall sanctification in the whole man and all parts and members that the washing may be as large and generall as the foulenesse is For whatsoever part is not washed by Christ hath no part in Christ which made Peter say not my feet onely Lord but mine hands and head 4. In the foulenesse of Leprosie hee must wash againe and againe to note that after our justification by the death of Christ we must looke to a second washing of sanctification by his spirit And because we have still washing worke with us wee must be still washing our selves by daily labour in our owne reformation This was more lively signified in that other ceremony added to washing in the Leper that hee must shave his haire againe and again signifying the paring away of superfluities and lusts as fast as they grew and a voluntary departing from his owne secret corruptions which were as many as the haires of his head and no lesse rooted in him that well he might shave and loppe them but hee was out of hope quite to unroot them as long as he lived He must keepe them under but cannot be rid of them Hee must shave the first day and the seventh day and resist his lusts which daily grow up on him as haire cut quickly growes againe 5. The uncleane person must wash his clothes as well as himselfe signifying that we must part with all impurity even the least at least in endeavour cherishing none favouring none He must hate the very garment spotted by the flesh all occasions and appearances of evill esteeming the least spot of sinne foule and filthy enough And all this is requisite in purifying of the soule I. Labour against the smallest sinnes Be not a mental adulterer banish unchastity in the eye and mouth avoid wanton company as did Ioseph that of his Mistris Thou art no drunkard or great swearer but art thou a companion of such not reproving them No Papist but a friend and patron as seeing no great harme in their superstition No Atheist but a scorner of the persons and doctrine of godly teachers what doest thou but foame out thy owne shame If thou shouldst keepe thy selfe never so pure but partakest in other mens sinnes thou art unclean This reproveth Magistrates who though they themselves come to Church yet suffer others in time of divine worship to lye in streets houses fields openly c. prophaning thus the day of the Lord which is to bee kept holy to our God Or if they be ordinary abettors of idle persons and gamesters by example This brandeth Ministers openly pleading for drunkards and hatefull blasphemers This defileth masters parents husbands that suffer their families to runne into prophanenesse or ryot II. In all these touches goe to the fountaine opened Zach. 13. 1. Every Iew had his waterpots to keep water for daily purification Iohn 2. 6. but now the house of David and Ierusalem that is all the godly have a fountaine opened by the death of Christ. We must every day be washing and cleansing our selves in that fountaine from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit Sect. VI. II. The second meanes of purging legall uncleannesse is oblation or offering some attonement to the Lord this directly leads us to Christ. For howsoever an uncleane person must wash himselfe and his clothes yet no Iew could make an attonement for himselfe but this was common to all uncleannesses legall the Priest must make an attonement for the uncleane person For all uncleannesse in generall Lev. 16. 30. In speciall for uncleannesse in touchings Numb 19. 4. In issues Lev. 12. 8. and 15. 15. In leprosie Lev. 14. 53. Noting by the way that all that we can doe cannot make attonement for the least spot of sinne Let us wash our selves as often as Naaman in Iordan yea let us take snow water to us and wash our hands most cleane yet our owne cloths will make us foule and God will plunge us in the pit if our Lord Iesus the high Priest of the new covenant make not attonement for us A fit note against all humane satisfaction and merits The offering for the legall uncleannesse by touching was done by the sacrifice of a red cow and the sprinkling water made of the ashes of that red Cow prescribed by God to this purpose Numb 19. called water of expiation That all this ordinance typified Christ to the Iews the Apostle expresseth Heb. 9. 13 14. when from
those antient promises and now preach salvation to all that beleeve in the name of Christ crucified dead buried raysed ascended and sitting at the right hand of his father as Ioh. 3. 16 This promise he confirmeth with two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper as speciall seales of his grace Thus is the Lord still like himselfe in all ages and provideth fully for our direction and consolation for our strength and assurance in the Covenant of grace and salvation But to come nearer our purpose The Sacraments of the old Testament were either before the fall or after Of the Sacraments in Paradise before the fall we are not to speake as the tree of knowledge and the tree of life Because 1. They sealed the Covenant of works not the Covenant of grace 2. They concerned the first Adam without any respect or reference to the second Adam There was no need of Christ and consequently no type of him Wee are onely to speake of Jewish Sacraments types of Jesus Christ and so reject them which never aymed at Christ but were before any distinction of Jew or Gentile These Jewish Sacraments were either 1. Ordinary or standing 2. Extraordinary and occasionall Ordinary were 1. Circumcision 2. Passeover Circumcision was the Sacrament of entrance and receiving the Jew into Gods covenant The Passeover was a Sacrament of continuance and growth in that Covenant Extraordinary which were in some resemblance both to them and the two Sacraments of the new Testament 1. To Circumcision and Baptisme answered the Sacraments of the Cloud and the red Sea 2. To the Passeover and the Lords Supper answered Mannah from heaven and water out of the Rock Of these wee must by Gods assistance speak in order not what we might for that were endlesse but what we must necessarily so far as they preach Christ unto us or may set us nearer unto him CHAP. XVIII Circumcision a Type Herein 1. What it is 2. How it figures Christ. 3. Observations I. CIrcumcision was a sacred rite ordained by God wherein by cutting off the foreskins of all the males of the Jewes in the eighth day the Covenant of God made to Abraham was sealed up to him and all his posterity 1. A sacred rite ordained by God God is the Author For 1. He onely that can promise and give the grace can seale the Covenant 2. Abraham received it of God Rom. 4. 11. therefore God gave it 3. the institution is in Gen. 17 where is the word of institution 1. in commanding 2. in promising 2. The subject of Circumcision were all the males of Israel descending of Abraham For these must be distinguished from all families of the earth Gen. 17. 4. Neither may we thinke that women were excluded out of the Covenant of grace for they were cōprehended under the Circumcision of males And God spared the weaker sexe because it was enough to bring them within the number of Abrahams posterity to be borne of the males circumcised Besides as the males carry a speciall type and resemblance of Christ as 1 Cor. 11. 3 in order to the female so was it fit they should have the thing and ceremony of Circumcision and the female onely the vertue and efficacy Junius 3. The part must bee the part generative Gen. 17. 13 My Covenant shall bee in your flesh and ver 11. Circumcise the foreskin of your flesh The very place shewes that Circumcision aymed to remedy the corruption and uncleannesse of mans nature whereof it admonished Abraham and his posterity For neither Abraham nor any of his were chosen into the Covenant because they were cleaner or holier then other but that they might be holier Gods election is free who makes choyce of them that need Circumcision as well as any other 4. The time the eight day Because 1. the Lord had a mercifull respect to the tendernesse of infants 2. not to distinguish but that those infants also were within the Covenant that dyed within that time 3. because whatsoever was borne of man or beast was Legally impure and in their blood till the eight day and therefore no beast must be offered to the Lord till the eight day Exod. 23. 19. and ch 34. 26. No nor men of other nations servants or other must be circumcised but upon the eight day from their comming in 4. this precise observation of the eight day was not without a mystery either poynting to the resurrection of Christ on the eighth day or leading beyond the weeke of this present life in which we cannot be perfectly circumcised unto that eight day in the life to come when all our corruption shall be cut away and perfectly and at once abolished 5. The end of Circumcision was to seale up Gods Covenant made with Abraham This Covenant had three clauses 1. of the multiplying of his seed in Christ 2. of the inheritance of the land of Canaan being a type of Heaven 3. of the blessed seed the Messiah that was to come of him typified in Isaac and so was Circumcision a seale of the righteousnesse of Faith Rom. 4. 11. II. Circumcision figures Christ I. As it was a Jewish Sacrament wherein Christ shined out clearely who was and is the substance of all Sacraments both Jewish and Christian for Christ is the substance of the whole Covenant and all the seales of it In this sence the Apostle calls it a seale of the righteousnesse of faith Namely 1. a seale of secrecy that locked up the Covenant onely to that people 2. a witnessing seale whereby as by a visible perpetuall and sensible signe in their flesh which they could never lay off the Lord would still hold in their sences his owne promise of grace made unto them in the promised Messiah and their promise of obedience made backe againe unto God to become his people Which promise of theirs howsoever they were to endeavour in yet could it not be fully performed for them but in the promised seed in whom their imperfect obedience and indeavours were to be covered and accepted And thus is every Sacrament a signe 1. of grace 2. of duty and a religious signe binding God to man and man to God 3. a strengthning and confirming seale by which the Lord pleased to ratifie the promise of grace and seale up to them the inward and invisible circumcision of the heart called the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2. 11. Because he only by his spirit can worke it Deut. 30. 6. II. Circumcision figures Christ as it was a signe 1. memorative of the Covenant of God made with Abraham and his seed Gen. 17. 11. which mercifull Covenant was founded in Christ Jesus out of whom God never contracts Covenant with any man He onely slayes hatred and makes God and man to walke together as friends 2. figurative or representative foreshewing 1. that the Messiah should bee borne of Abrahams seed and not of the uncircumcised nations who being to be
us into our owne Canaan and countrey and that with all expedition seeing that to be dissolved hence and to be with Christ is best of all Phil. 2. 23 3. We must celebrate our Passeover with staves in our hands that is the doctrine of the Law and Gospel held in our hearts as a staffe to defend our selves in the right track and path of holy doctrine and holy conversation to repulse our adversaries that come out against us for it is the sword oâ— the Spirit and to leane upon as a staffe in our weaknesse and wearinesse This staffe must not lie by us in our books but be held in our hands and hearts and bee not in our possession onely but in our daily use Hee hath no comfort of this Sacrament that hath not this staffe in his hand VI. As the Jewes in eating the Passeover must repeate and recite the memory of that great deliverance out of Aegypt by a mighty and miraculous power so must we in our Sacrament commemorate and remember our great deliverance from hell and that spirituall Pharaoh wrought by the blood of our Paschall lambe 1 Cor. 11. 26 so often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup yee shew the Lords death till he come And therefore it is very fit the word and Sacrament should goe together as the seale together with the deed and Indenture Hence those that are so devoute at the Sacrament and neglect or despise the Word are meere hypocrites and ignorants their folly is like his that makes much of a seale but teares the Indenture all to peeces which onely can convey his inheritance unto him VII As the Jewes came together to eate the whole Lambe so must wee to receive whole Christ. Quest. When do we receive whole Christ Answ. First when we reverently receive the signes appointed by Christ according to his owne institution Secondly when we receive faithfully the thing signified which is Christ and all his merits I. For the former 1. as it had beene a great sin for the Jewes to divide the Lambe which God commanded to be eaten whole no lesse grievous a sinne is it in Popery to administer the bread without the cup of which Christ hath said expressely Drinke ye all of this 2. as the Lambe was appointed to no other use by Moses but to be eaten so was the bread and wine in the Sacrament ordained to no other end by Christ but to be eate and drank all other holy use of them out of the action of the Sacrament is Idolatrous superstitious and unlawfull 3. as it had beene a grievous sinne to reserve any of the lambe till the morning against so expresse a commandement appointing it to be wholly eaten so grievous a sinne is it to reserve the consecrated host as they foolishly call it either to boxe up or to hang up or to worship and adore it or pray unto it or carry it in procession or lift it up with both hands above the Priests head that it may be worshipped with divine and Idolatrous worship or yet if it be possible with more blasphemy to offer it upon an Altar as an unbloody sacrifice for the sinnes of the quicke and dead which abolisheth at once the whole Priesthood of Christ. All which the Lord would prevent in this constitution that no part of the lambe must be reserved but if any were left it must be burnt with fire II. Wee eate the whole lambe when with the signes we receive the thing signified which is Christ and all his merits Wee must feede upon and digest whole Christ that is bee united so straitly and undividedly to Iesus Christ as the meat which is changed into the same substance with our bodies and this by the faith of our hearts which so straitly knits us to Christ as a marriage bonde and he becomes a perfect nourishment to us unto eternall life Neither could our Lord fitlier expresse this strait union then by feeding and eating seeing there cannot be a straiter union in nature then betweene the thing nourishing and nourished Quest. What may I doe thus to receive the whole lambe Answ. 1. Come hungry in sence of the want of faith and desire of supply 2. Labour to feele the sweetnesse of Christ take heed of despising this sweet Mannah Let not the hunger of the Onyons garlick and flesh pots of Aegypt thrust downe the desire of this Mannah which comes downe from heaven to which the other Mannah was not halfe so sweet 3. Thinke it not enough to eate the flesh of Christ Sacramentally if not spiritually Conceive what a fearefull delusion it is to eate the Sacrament of the flesh of Christ in the Supper and not eate the flesh of Christ by the Sacrament Thou hast beene at the Supper of the Lord but hast not tasted of his Supper CHAP. XX. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire a type OF the ordinary Sacraments of the Iewes pointing at Christ we have spoken Now of the extraordinary Of these some are answerable to the Iewes circumcision and our Baptisme as 1. the Pillar of Cloud 2. the red Sea Some to the Iewes Passeover and our Supper as 1. Mannah from Heaven 2. water out of the Rocke The ground of this distinction we have in 1 Cor. 10. 2 3 where the Apostle leads us by the hand to the distinct consideration of these Sacraments First of the Pillar of Cloud and fire under which the Fathers of the old Testament were baptised When the Lord in his wise providence appointed to lead the children of Israel for the space of forty yeares through a dry uncouth and terrible wildernesse himselfe undertooke to be their guide and for their certaine direction in their way appointed them this visible signe of his presence for their motion or station by night or by day through all their pilgrimage concerning this Cloud let us enquire 1. of the kind 2. of the difference betweene it and other clouds 3. of the use of his cloudy Pillar 4. how a type of Christ. 1. Quest. What kinde of Cloud was this Answ. Not naturall but supernaturall and miraculous yea one of the foure great miracles that the Lord continued all the while of their Iourney which was forty yeares Those foure great miracles were 1. the not swelling of their feet Deut. 8. 4. 2. their apparrells not wearing or not waxing old Deut. 8. 4. 3. the feeding of them with daily Mannah ver 3. and 16 and water out of a rock ver 15 4. this Pillar 2. Quest. Was there any difference between this and other Clouds Answ. Yes in five things 1. the matter 2. the fashion 3. the motion 4. the properties 5. the durance 1. The matter of it was not of vapours as other clouds nor apt to engender raine but framed by the Lord besides and above the ordinary course of nature 2. The fashion It kept still the figure of a Pillar whereas other clouds continually alter the
Jesus Christ protecteth his Church from all enemies Hee steps betweene the Camps of Israëlites and Aegyptians becomming their sure defence Psal. 18. 1. 2. This Pillar shall never rest till the dead bodies of the Aegyptians and enemies become a spoile and spectacle to his people V. In the infallible instruction of it it typifyed Christ. For as the Lord spake to Moses out of the cloudy Pillar when it descended on the Tabernacle and delivered his Oracles in it Exod. 33. 9. so Jesus Christ alone is the cloudy Pillar by whom the Lord delivers to us his whole counsell concerning our happy passage through this our wildernesse to that blessed Canaan the happy rest of all the Saints And as they must heare and obey absolutely those Oracles so we are commanded to heare him Application followes I. Is Christ the Pillar Here is comfort for the people of God who shall want no good things but this Pillar of cloud and fire shall supply it For 1. The Cloud was a generall guide for all and every particular of Gods people Isa. 4. 5. 6. The cloud was every where seene and Christ is every where present to be seen found in his Church Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18. 20. Ier. 51. 5. Israel hath beene no widow II. The Cloud was an unerring guide because the Lord went in the Cloud so that except the Lord could mislead them they must needs goe aright Jesus Christ is the way as well as the truth follow him in the direction of his word in the motions of his spirit agreeing thereto in his blessed example both in doing and suffering walke as he did And as he passed by his Crosse to the Crown so shall he lead thee through this wildernesse to that Canaan and rest to which he hath gone before to take thee in III. As the Cloud was a safe guide and a covering cloud so is Jesus Christ the vayl and cover of his Church When the Pharaoh of hell pursues us at heels and is even ready to snatch us back into eternall slavery now this Angell of the Covenant interposeth himselfe to defend us and steppeth betweene us and dangers This Cloud of Gods protection seeme it never so farre off is the sure wall and defence of the Church the strongest munition and will not suffer the Aegyptian armyes to come neere the Israelites to hurt or destroy them but onely to exercise them and drive them more hastily to God for safety and to Canaan for rest This is a sure comfort when we know that all the enemies of grace Papists apostates recusants drunkards scorners and Atheists reach at us to hurt and hinder us in our way this cloud shall make them further us IV. The Cloud was a powerfull guide strengthning Israel weakning and discomforting all the power of Egypt powerfully and miraculously opening the red sea for a passage to the one and shutting it for the others perdition Our Lord JESUS is a potent guide the Michael and Captaine of Gods Armies getting himselfe a name upon Pharaoh and his forces discomfiting and destroying all adversary power of our salvation perfectly conquering for us all the powers of darknesse and triumphing upon all the externall enemies that pursue his people and making them the dust of his footstoole Besides that this cloud powerfully opens the red sea and makes a way for the Saints through a sea of afflictions Oh the sweet comfort hence both in the view of the trouble of the Church in generall beset with so many huge armies of Antichrist and his adherents as also in sence of our owne particular tryalls Both whole and parts are under this powerfull cloud V. The Cloud was a comfortable guide a cooling covering Cloud Jesus Christ is the well yea and sea of consolation without whom is nothing but scorching heat which would burne up and consume the Church But he cooles the fire of his Fathers wrath for us he cooles the fiery darts of Satans temptations and quencheth them in us he refresheth and cheereth us in the sunne of persecution and afflictions which satan and his instruments kindle against us he is our onely shadow for the heat and a cover for the storme and for the raine Isa. 4. 6. Now therefore get to him by prayer faith and repentance VI. The Cloud was a patient and respective guide It waited all their necessities it rested that they might rest it moved slowly according to their pace it stayed for them till they had ground their Mannah and baked it till they had eaten and refreshed themselves till they had offered sacrifices and whatsoever was necessary to be done it waited for them Oh what a patient and respective Lord have we who not onely waits on our necessities but beares all our needs and weaknesses on himselfe not onely beares with our infirmities but beares them on himselfe and helpes them in us He stretcheth his hands all day long waiting for our return He knows our mould and weaknesse and covers it with his owne strength and righteousnesse He would be in all things like us that he might in all things helpe us VII The Cloud was a constant guide The Lord never took away his Pillar by day nor by night from before the people Exod. 13. 22. not all their journey till they came into Canaan Jesus Christ is constant to his Church never leaves it without light and direction without comfort and consolation without safety and protection Nay he not only leads and covers them in this wildernesse but never fayles them no not in the land of their rest That cloud which now is like the cloud which Elias saw like the bignesse of an hand then shall cover or rather fill the whole heavens II. Here is a ground of confidence and security in the greatest perils What a marveilous thing is it that a Pillar of fire should sit upon the Tabernacle and not burne it What a strange thing that a Pillar of fire must coole the Israëlites and save them from fire So shall all fires kindled and all extreame dangers threatned against the Church tend to the saving and comforting of it For 1. God never kindles a fire to consume his Church but as the pillar of fire to enlighten it and direct it to Canaan 2. The Church is that bush which burnes with fire but is not consumed Exod. 3. 2. The members of this Church are not chaffe and stubble but pure metall the longer in the fire the better tryed and the purer 3. There is no Pillar of fire in the Church without the pillar of cloud God mingleth his corrections with consolations and in judgement remembreth mercy 4. Nature must runne out of her selfe to doe homage to her Creator Fire must cease to burn at his word Dan. 3. 27. The fire burnt only the bonds of the three children but not their bodies it not onely saves their lives but sets