I want strength to perform the least service or duty O Law saith the soul what no mercy no pity consider my weaknes how unable I am in my self to perform the least duty as I ought O Law I pray thee accept of what I can do no saith the Law I take no notice of what thou art not able to do but what thou art bound to do Luke 17. 10. I require no more then is my due if you cannot give it me look you unto that for my part I will have my full tale of perfect and constant obedience here in this life or you shall give me satisfaction in hell to all eternity Do not tell me you want strength or ability to perform go get you that where you can look you out the straw your selves I shall give you none but let not me misse of my tale of brick Gal. 2 10. with Ezek. 18. 24. Thus you see how parallel the language of the old covenant runs with the voice of the Egyptian task-masters to the Israelites under them Besides in Exod. 14. we finde thâ—t Pharaohs task-masters did beat and abuse the Israelites very much in their work This very well suits with the old covenant of works O what lashes and blows does it give those that live under it First In the conscience within O what thunder claps have some men had within them from the Law O how hath it made some men to roar and to cry out at midnight upon their beds for their breach of it How dreadfully did it lash the conscience of Cain and how did it dog Judas until it dogged his neck into a halter therefore doth the Scripture pitty those that are under it crying out a wounded conscience who can bear those that have been under the lash of the Lâ—w in the conscience can say never was poor man in Turkey in the like misery they would have exchanged conditions with the veriest slave in all the world night and day terrified with dreadful sounds of the wrath of God and the judgement day to come shewing the soul his portion in everlasting burnings where he shall seek for death but death shall be far from him Although the soul runneth to his duties and doth what he can to pacifie the Law but alas all to no purpose for the Law quarrels with him about every duty so that here is the Dilemma the Law hath all his in they shall suffer one way or other if they do not live holy and strict in their lives then he comes upon them with his curses and plagues If they do live holy and as unblameable as they can yet the Law curseth them that way because it is an obedience full of spots and defilements Luke 17. 10. Secondly The Law lasheth men externally as well as internally in the conscience O what plagues and punishments upon body estate and relations hath it brought home on some men for their disobeying of it You may see a whole file of curses plagues punishments judgments and afflictious hang up upon the bar of the Law against its offenders Deut. 28. from ver 15. to 38. Lastly The officers of Egypt would not hear the bitter cryes of the poor Jews under their burthens ver 16 17. how well doth this agree with the old covenant of works what little mercy doth that shew any that are under it how little is it affected with their cries and tears could men cry to it for mercy as loud as ever heaven thundered it would be to no purpose could men weep so much blood out of their eyes as there is water in the Sea the Law would not take any notice of it Ezek. 18. 24. This Esau tried Heb. 12. 16 17. For after he had sold his birth-right he found no repentance although he sought it carefully with tears Alas friends the Law knows no repentance repentance is a fruit of the new covenant of grace not of the old Thus you see both how the Land of Egypt with its task-masters together with their carriages towards the Israelites doth agree as the type with the state of nature in which carnel men are in together with the old covenant and his carriage toward those that live under him CHAP. 3. I next come to speak of the eating of the Lamb together with the circumstances belonging thereunto which agreeth very well with the Ante-type as we shall shew you in the next place IN which there are these three things to be considered First The occasion of the Lamb. Secondly The manner of eating it Thirdly The benefits the people had by eating the Lamb. First The occasion of the Lamb which was to save the people from that generall judgement which was to passe over the whole Land of Egypt This shews the exceeding love and mercy of God to the whole world who by Adams Garden transgression and their own actual sins all are lyable to the destroying Angel of Gods Justice which will certainly pass over the whole earth with a flaming sword of God vengeance to execute it on offenders Rom. 1. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who with-hold the truth in unrighteousness Heb. 10. 36. For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversary so Jude 14. 15. The Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him 2 Thes 1. 7. 8. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flames of fire rendring vengeance on those that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Thus you see the whole world lyeth open to the destroying Angel of the justice of God which will pour it self forth to the scorching of the earthly minded with the most dreadfullest of fires 2 Pet. 3. 10. Now that men might escape this dreadful storm which the heavens look black with over the heads of sinners God in mercy hath provided poor sinners which are in their Egyptian state of sin and uncleanness I say he in mercy hath provided them a Lamb to eat which Lamb is his Son Jesus Christ upon eating of which they really escape the hands of the Justice of God John 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his onely begoteen Son that whosoever believeth in him should have everlasting life and not perish which Sonne of God is else-where called the Lamb of God John 1. 36. the which whosoever takes and receiveth and eateth in as their food by believing shall live by him and so be free from the destroying Angel John 6. 54. Secondly As to the manner of eating the Lamb we may note
his own blood will not comply with their Canons they violently run upon them with ruine and destruction both to them and theirs without the least dram of mercy shewed them Should a Subject deal thus with his Prince who would advocate such a ones case at the Bar but how much Christ thinks himself bound to these men for this piece of service both to himself and his people let the world judge Again whereas 't is said that the Crown was set upon the Mitre it is to shew Believers how sweet the Kingly Office Power and Authority of Christ is sweetned to them by the Priestly Office of Christ It s the Priestly Mitre makes the Kingly Crown so sweet and lovely to men The grace which flows from Christ as Priest makes the Law which flows from Christ as King so delightful and precious What strange prejudicated opinions have men of the Law of the Crown of Christ when they look on it apart from the Mitre of Christs Priest-hood how formidable and cruel doth the Law look to them how do men shun it and avoid it as death it self it s an unreasonable Law it requires impossibilities such things as can never be obtained or performed by me it affords me no assistance no strength let me do what I can it damns me at last This the soul instead of subjecting to it fights with it as his worst of enemies so saith Paul Rom. 8 7. The carnal minded man is not subject to the Law of God neither indeâ—d can be But when the soul is brought in to close with Jesus Christ as his High Priest and hath tasted of the grace of the Priesthood and is made to see the Mitre under the Crown which it did not see before and understands that all the terrour of the Crowns Law is suckt in by the Mitres grace O then the soul comes to have other thoughts of the Law of God then ever it had before O saith the soul how miserably was my understanding darkened that I should so wickedly conclude of it as an unreasonable Law and a cruel Law a Law which required brick to be made without straw O but now I see it was my mistake and great ignorance O it requires no more then it will help in the doing it s a Law which hath the spirit of life in it Rom. 8. 2. That will quicken to its own performances a Law flowing from the Crown but it s a Crown upon the Mitre which is so far from killing of me that it giveth me spiritual life and frees me from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8. 2. Therefore saith Paul Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inner man so saith David Psalm 119. 72. The Law of thy mouth is better then ten thousands of gold or silver So Psalm 19. 10. More to be desired is thy law then gold yea then much fine gold sweeter also then the honey and the honey comb O every part of the work and worship of Christ is sweet now when the soul sees its the Law of a reconciler the work of an advocate the worship of a blessed High Priest which he is imployed in and about O it s the Law of one who hath shed his dearest blood for me to satisfie Justice it s the work of a High Priest which presents me in himself without spot to God and hath clothed me with the Robe of his Righteousness and made me an heir of Glory a childe of God a citizen of the new Jerusalem O this makes the work of Christs Kingdom delightful work to the soul now CHAP. 32. I now come to speak of the fourth general which is the manner of the Consecrating of the Priest which is as followeth THe High Priest being thus attired then was Moses to take a young Bullock and two Rams without blemish and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes tempered with oyl and offer this with the two Bullocks and tvvo Rams unto God for the Priest Exodus 29. 1 2. with 19. 20. Then was Moses to take a vessel of oyl and pour it on the Priests head and anoint him ver 7. In which consecration we may note two things 1. Something which related to the Type it self 2. What related to the Ante-type Jesus Christ First What of this consecration related to the Type or High Priest himself and what was this the materials made use of about his Consecration did highly testifie that he himself was but a poor weak frail man and that although he were called to so great an Office as to interpose between God and the people to make reconciliation for them yet he vvas no farther efficacious then as he vvas the Type of him that onely could take avvay sin vvhich vvas Jesus Christ held forth in him Thus much both himself and the people likevvise might inform themselves in the manner of his conseeration for there vvere tvvo Rams and a young Bullock must be slain and offered to God in sacrifice for him before be could stand in Gods presence to administer for the people Some sacrifices of pacification and attonement must be offered to God for the Priest himself as well as for the people vvhich taught both the Priest and People that there vvas no reconciliation vvith God to be had by the High Priests means any further then both Priest and people had an eye of Faith upon Jesus Christ held out by him so reasons the Apostle in Heb. 7. 26 27. For such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher theâ— the heavens who needeth not daily as those High Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the people So that you see the legal Priest stood in need of a sacrifice for himself and he was to offer a sacrifice for himself as well as for the people there salvation and reconciliation could not be wrought out by the Priest but by another which was only Christ 2. As the thing related to Jesus Christ it shews us thus much that whatever our Lord Jesus Christ hath done doth do or yet shall do in heaven as our great High Priest it takes its rise from the Death and Passion of himself You see the High Priest under the Law could not be a High Priest without he were consecrated so in the death of something which must be slain as a sacrifice to God So did Christ lay down his life as a sacrifice to God here upon the Cross before he could act as our great High Priest in Heaven before ever he could perform the work of Intercession within the Tabernacle he must first offer himself up a slain sacrifice to God for pacification without the camp Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Quest But why was Moses to take a young Bullock to make a sacrifice for the Priests consecration Answ Because any thing when its
in prayer to God thy self in the greatest necessity thou mighst comfort thy self in this thy High Priest is praying for thee for saith the Apostle he ever liveth to make Intercession for us Heb. 7. 25. This is the ground why thy barrel of Meal wasteth not and thy Cruse of Oil spend not it self in time of Famine and why the Plague cometh not nigh thy dwelling place in pestilentious seasons Job 5. 17 18 to 23. Secondly The next thing we are to speak of is the time how long this is to last or how long this interceding work of Christ was to continue for Believers not only for the Saints under the Old Testament seasons but for the Saints under the New Testament seasons also even for us saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 34. And such a High Priest became us Heb. 7. 26. And this will further appear if you consider this work in the Type of it as it s held out to you Exod. 30. 8. And when Aaron lighted the lamps at even he shall burn Incense upon it a perpetual Incense before the Lord throughout your Generations Now observe it was perpetually to burn before the Lord throughout their Generations there was not a Generation but must have the benefit of this Altar of Incense so is Christ an Intercessour for the Elect in all Generations and not only for time either of the day or of the night but Christ is pouring out his interceding groans to the Father for his people Therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 25. He ever liveth to make Intercession for us Use 3. O soul then doubt not thy case goeth on in Heaven well enough there is alwayes prayer going up to God for thee to keep thee night and day from danger so long as Moses his hands were kept up by Aaron and Hur it went well enough with Israel Exod. 17. O but here are the hands of Christ lifted up for thee night and day to keep thee from the Arrow that flieth by day and the shaft which flieth by night Read that place Isa 27. 2 3. In that day sing ye a Vineyard of Red Wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment least any hurt it I will keep it night and day O Christ is interceding night and day for thee against all evils It may be thou fearest that sin and corruption will undo thy soul that the Devil and temptation will be thy ruine that wicked men will swallow thee up in the end O soul look up to Jesus Christ under all this eye him at the Throne of grace wrestling by his strong crys for thee O soul live upon this in doubting seasons O go on in the way of thy duty with chearfulness O remember the Lord is with thee his Spirit shall be with thee his Prayers with thee O fear not O saith David The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me O soul whatever thy danger be that shall beset thee whether it be from Hell or this World it can never seize thee while Christ is at prayer for thee but Christ as thou hast heard ever liveth to intercede on thy behalf Object But some may say then why are men so strict to enjoyn the people to pray is it not enough that Christ their High Priest prayeth for them in Heaven I answer It is true in point of prevailing with God for the Elect so Christ their High Priest prayeth enough for them And in this sense there is no need of Believers praying I mean so as if their prayers did give any strength to the Priestly work or office of Jesus Christ therefore that cursed Tenent of the Papist is to be abhorred by all true Christians which teacheth that the prayers of the Church meriteth or procureth the grace of God by its own strength or efficacy blindly mistaking that place James 5. 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Now in this sense there is no need of Believers prayers for this will be to destroy the Mediator-ship of Christ and to render his Priestly office of no effect for in point of merit oâ— worth God only accepts of the prayers of Christ and of the Elects for his sake according to that word in Matth. 3. 17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased But secondly notwithstanding the Intercession of Jesus Christ yet in point of obedience to God it is a Christians duty to pray So much as this is handed out to you in the Priesthood of old Read Luke 1. 8 9 10. Speaking of Zecharias the Priest While he was executing the Priests office before God in the order of his course according to the custom of the Priests office his lot was to burn Incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord and the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of the Incense Now Zecharias the Priest represents our Lord Jesus in the work of his Priestly interceding office for the Elect and you read that nowithstanding Zecharias was interceding at the Incense Altar within the Temple yet the people were to pray at the same time without strongly proving that although Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest still intercedes in Heaven for the Elect yet notwithstanding it is highly the duty of all the Elect while without the Temple of glory and remain yet in the body to pray This will farther appear if you consider that place in Rev. 8. 3 4. And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a golden Censer in his hand and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne and the smoak of the Incense which came up with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hand If you would know who this Angel was or is you may read Rev. 1. 13. and there you shall as I have said already find him to be Jesus Christ in all his Priestly Formalities as our High Priest And in this Chapter he is set forth to you in the performance of his work of Intercession for the Saints by having a Golden Censer in his hand which was what the High Priest under the Law did administer before the Lord withall Numb 16. 46 47. And the Angel had Incense given him to offer up to God in the Censer which was in his hand which Incense I understand to be meant the infinite worth of his bloud and righteousness which is continually pleaded by Christ as a ground of full satisfaction to God for the Elect It s said there was much Incense given to this Angel that is as the Apostle elsewhere saith in Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell which sheweth the abundant worth and efficacy that lay in the death and righteousness of Christ therefore he is able to save to the uttermost all
the Garments of Christs Righteousness But it s a glory veiled up from the eyes of the most of men there is a covering of Rams skins drawn over it which keeps the sight of this glory from men there is nothing but an eye of Faith can discern this therefore is the glory of the Church said to be a hidden glory from the world men as men see little into it or know little of it Psalm 45. 13. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within all her cloathing is of wrought Gold But however though in the account of men the Church of Christ seems to be poor and mean and worthless yet because of the Righteousness of Christ with which she is cloathed she is very beautiful and glorious and lovely in Gods eyes Cant. 1. 9 10. I have compared thee Oh my love to a company of Horses in Pharoahs Chariots thy cheeks are comely with rows of Ienels thy neck with chains of Gold So ver 15. Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair thou hast doves eyes So Isa 43 34. For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethiopia and Sheba for thee since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life And hence it is the Saints are Gods Jewels Mal. 3. 17. by all which you may perceive what great respects God hath for the Church because of that glorious Tabernacle covering of the Righteonsness of Christ which is put upon them Use 1. O then how should the thoughts of this wonderfully raise and comfort the hearts of the people of God especially in two seasons First in doubting seasons when a poor Soul lieth burthened under the sence of his personal vileness and pollutedness before God which oftentimes weakens the souls confidence in God and keeps the soul at a distance with God who thinks that as he seems in his own eyes so he doth in the eyes of God Oh soul remember the Tabernacle covering that glorious wrought piece which had the Cherubims wrought in it which Cherubims were the Emblems and Signs of mercy in which covering God looks upon all Believers not as they are in themselves but as they are and do appear before him in the righteousness of his Son which covering hides all thy filth and iniquity and infirmities Psal 32. 1. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered So that you see there is that which doth cover transgression and hide iniquity that it cannot appear before God to condemn the soul Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to a soul in Christ Iesus The Robe of Christs Righteousness is such a covering for and to the Church as that it doth not only hide sin pollution and a thousand times ten thousand infirmities but also it presents the soul to God in its own dress and so draws forth the love of God and the delight of God to the creature as if the creature had never sinned Ephes 5. 26. 27. Husbands love your wives as Christ hath loved the Church and given himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by the washing of water and the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Therefore the Spouse in Cant. doth notably distinguish her condition in this case as she saw her self in her self and as by faith she saw her self in the Righteousness of Christ First as she saw her self in her self so she crys out she was black as the tents of Kedar which tents were made of black hair-cloth so black and worse was she in her own eyes by reason of sin and corruption which dwelt within her Cant 1. 5. Secondly but as she looked upon her self in Christ covered over with his Righteousness so she cryeth out she was as comely as the curtains of Solomon there she knew she was without spot or wrinkle in Gods sight and in the worst of times could go with boldness to the Throne of grace to ask grace and mercy to help in time of need as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 4. 16. here it was in his covering that Paul desired to be found in above any place or state in the world for justification Phil. 3. 9. To be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Laâ— but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Oh soul study this Tabernacle covering more and more and labour by faith to see thy self in it then thy the doubts and fears will begin to leave thee but not before Secondly this will administer great comfort to the soul in times of Persecution when the Church shall be buffeted and slandered and slighted and scorned and cast out as evil and accounted the dung of the times then may the people of God comfort themselves in this truth though men slight them yet God doth not though they see no beauty in us yet God doth and he saith in all the reproaches we meet with we are honourable and precious in his sight Isa 45 3 4. What if Councils and Parliaments Kings and Princes and Nations shall vomit us up out of the midst of them yet the Lord hath other thoughts of his people and so long it s well enough the world thinks we are not worthy to live with their dogs but God accounts one of his Saints worth a whole Nation of the wicked ones Use 2. Oh then how should this truth press upon men and women to get into this Tabernacle covering Oh Sirs whatever thoughts you may have of your selves it may be you are rich and honourable in this life you may have great names amongst your Neighbours for your Wealth Parts Wisdom or Valour but let me tell you if you be not within this Tabernacle covering of the Lord Jesus his Righteousness God accounts you more worthless then the dung of the streets Prov. 10. 20. The heart of a wicked man is little worth They are the scorn of Heaven Psal 2. 4. They are the burthen of the Earth Rom. 8. 22. and to say no more they are the delight and joy of hell This is thy condition soul while thou art out of Christ thou hast no Tabernacle covering about thee to present thee faultless to God but art under the Law and Curse a poor naked wretched soul Oh therefore my advice to thee is to endeavour to get into this Righteousness O flie to Christ give him no rest untill he hath put this glory upon thy soul that so thou mightst not be found naked when the great and notable day of the Lord shall come I come now to speak unto the outward coverings which covered or comprehended all the rest of coverings or things in the Tabernacle and this covering
is sacrificed for us where you see he gives Christ the very name that was given to the Paschal Lamb. So Peter in his Epistle when he is a treating about the price of mans redemption 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. verses saith Peter in the 18. verse We were not redeemed with silver and gold from our vain conversations received by traditions from our fathers but by the pretious blood of Christ as a lamb slain without spot or blemish verse 19. for so it was required of the Jews in offering of the paschal Lamb that it should be a Lamb without blemish Exod. 12. 5. So read Revel 6. This title of Lamb is given unto Jesus Christ Rev. 6. 15 16 17. The rich men and the great men and the chief Captains cryed to the hills fall on us and cover us from the presence of the Lamb for the great dâ—y of his wrath is come What is the reason think you here that Jesus Christ should be so much dreaded by the great men as well as the poor men at his next coming for these words have relation to his next coming I will not here undertake to determine whether this appearing here of Christ be at or before the general Judgement day as to that I shall refer you to abler judgements who have commented on the thing but without doubt the reason why our Lord is by John in that place set forth so dreadful to men under the metaphor of a Lamb is because the Lamb was a type of his Priestly Office which includeth the greatest of grace and offers of love to mankinde that can be Now for the men of the earth be they rich or poor yet if they shall live or dye abusing of and trampling upon this freely proffered grace and richly offered love this turns this grace and rich love and mercy into the dreadfullest of judgements against men Read Matth. 11. 21 22 23 24 with chap. 12. 42. and 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Thus you see that the Lamb in Exod. 12. was a type of Christ CHAP. 2. I now come to shew you how the action of the Jews in eating the Lamb together with the place time and manner of eating the Lamb doth agree to the work of God upon the souls of his people while on this side Heaven together with his various dealings with their conditions in this life which as in a glass those that are spiritual may see it answer face to face FIrst the place that the people were in when God provided this Lamb for them It was Egypt a Land of darkness abounding with all manner of idolatry and prophaneness a Land which knew not God Exod. 5. 2. a land of bondage of heavy burdens of cruel task-masters that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12. the officers of which place would often beat the people of the Jews ver 14. besides so cruel were the Task-masters to the poor Israelites that they would not hear the peoples cryes Exod. 5. 16 17. To this agreeth as in the ante-type the estate or condition that the creature is in before he comes to Jesus Christ which estate or condition we call natural or carnal which simbolizeth very well with the land of Egypt in which the children of Israel were when they did eat the Lamb. For first of all Egypt was a place of darkness so is the natural condition of mankinde it is full of darkness and ignorance it is wholly deprived of the saving knowledge of God and Christ A man by nature knows little of that blessed life light power which the true knowledge of God teacheth a soul he knoweth not what it is to have Christ dwelling in him by his spirit nor what it is for a man to live in Christ by believing much less doth he know that great and blessed mystery which Paul speaketh of 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Alas to tell a carnal man of living by believing what a mystery is this to him of worshipping God in the Spirit of praying in the Spirit of making the Blood and Flesh and Spirit and promises of Christ his daily food of eating the hidden Manna of having the white stone with a new name written in it that none can read but he that hath it Rev. 2. 17. Alas what a paradox is this to a carnal man to tell such a man of Christ within him and of a spiritual Kingdom within him and a light within him and so from hence to bid him turn to it and live obedient thereunto and to hearken to the teachings of it for salvation Alas one had as good stand over the grave of a dead man and bid him arise or one had as good speak to a blinde man and bid him see therefore I think that such a doctrine preached by many in our dayes is an empty doctrine to help blinde men to see or dead men to a state of spiritual life therefore saith Paul 1 Cor. 2. 14. The carnal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned also Paul tells you speaking of a carnal man that his understanding is darkened and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them through the blindeness of their heart Ephes 4. 18. therefore when the Scripture speaks of the bringing home of a soul to God it calls it a deliverance from the power of darkness Col. 1. 13. a state that affords no light no knowledge of God in Christ it giveth us no acquaintance with God as a reconciled God in Christ to a poor soul therefore it may well be compared to Egypt for the darkness of it that is the first particular Secondly Egypt abounded with all manner of prophaneness and false worship for they knew not God Exod. 5. 2. how well doth this agree with the state or the natural condition of fallen mankinde O what kennel so vile so noâ—some what jakes so foul what Goal so loathsome what hell so black as the hearts and lives of wicked men therefore when our Saviour gives a description of the inward parts of such men saith That out of their hearts proceedeth evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness and blasphemies Mat. 15. 19. and to this agreeth the 14. Psalm ver 2. 3 which saith The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good no not one the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God they are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one so saith John 1 John 5. 19. The whole world lieth in
wife takes her husband she takes her husband and onely him she is not to reserve any part of the marriage-bed to any other so in faithfulness is the soul to take Christ resolving that no cursed sin or lust shall shear in the marriage-bed of its affection with Jesus Christ so saith the spouse speaking of Christ her Husband My beloved is the chiefest to me among ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. He is mine and I am his Cant. 2 16. 2. The Wife taketh the Husband to be hers for ever during life not to part and fling him off at her pleasure therefore saith Paul Rom. 7. 2. The woman that hath a Husband is bound by the Law to her husband as long as he liveth So in like manner is Christ to be closed with by a Christian never to part more either in this world or that which is to come to be Christs in sickness as well as in health in poverty as well as in prosperity to be Christs in bad times as well as in good times to winter and summer with Christ There be a great many that can put on Christ and pretend to Saintship and can call him Husband in good dayes but they can as quickly cast their Christ and all away again in bad dayes when Christ seemeth to be cloathed with the riches honours credit and gain of this world then it is he that can court him with some seeming service but when he comes to be uncloathed again of those things and with Job to be set on a Dunghil of reproach and scorn through poverty then they flye back as fast again from Christ as ever they come to Christ and with Peter cursing and swearing they never knew such a man Mat. 26. 73 74. And like the Jews who could cry Hosanna to Christ when he was set by the people upon the Ass colt but when in a suffering state upon the Crosse Crucifie crucâ—fie him but let such know this not to eat the Lamb with the loins girded in truth and faithfulness Lastly Girding of the loins signifieth haste or readiness to be gone from the place where we were before therefore it is observed that the Jews went out of Egypt speedily upon the girding of their loins Exod. 12. 37. This shews the speedy motion souls are to make from that cursed state of nature sin and ignorance after their closing with Jesus Christ the soul is not to stay there one night longer there must be not onely a total but a speedy separation from sin and nature the soul that truly closeth with Christ never looketh back again upon his former condition but he loatheth himself for it he never thinks on it but he hates it as Paul speaks What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed Rom. 6. 24. O when the soul looks back upon his carnal Egyptian state and seeth what a blinde mad fool he was together when he considereth what sad ignorant works he alwayes brought forth when he looketh back upon his drunken roaring mad singing bouts in the Alehouse his running to so many Wakes Revels Bull-baitings May-pole Dancings O how much doth that soul which eateth the Lamb indeed mourn for it O how doth he blush before the Lord under the thoughts of it wondering at the infinite patience of God that he should be now out of Hell wondering that God should accept of such a rebellious wretch such a sinful slave as he seeth himself now to be to such a blessed Banquet and rich feast as the roasted Lamb comes to now on goes the girdle about his loins and away he goes flying out of this condition as Hell it self an instance you may take for this purpose in Luke 15. 17. In the Prodigal Son And when he came to himself he said How many hired servants of my Fathers have bread enough and to spare and I perish for hunger I will arise and go to my Father and will say I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired servants Luke 15. 17 18 19. You see the Prodigal could no longer stay in this condition when he comes to be sensible of the evil of it but he girdeth up his loins and puts himself into a posture fit to be gone from all his old delights and sinful pleasures his old filthy companions he flyes from all he dares not stay an hour longer with them Psalm 45. 10. saith Christ in that Psalm Hearken O daughter and consider encline thine ear forget also thy own people and thy fathers house Thus you see the soul is to leave its old carnal estate and condition if he means to eat the Lamb Christ Jesus Therefore those that are so confident they have taken Christ and yet are not come off their old Egyptian carnal condition truly are much mistaken saith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature all old things are past away and behold all things are become new For a man to make an account he is in Christ and is a good Christian and yet to live a drunkard a swearer and a cheater a hater of Gods people a despiser of godliness to live in adultery and uncleanness to live loose in his family if this man have closed with Christ then so hath the Devil also it cannot be light and darkness cannot dwell together 2 Cor. 6. 15. What concord hath Christ with Belial so ver 17. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing Certainly my Brethren there is no more fellowship wiâ—h the unfruitful works of darkness after eating the Lamb the soul must immediately arise and be gone from his old sinful condition Our Saviour would not allow the young man so much time as to go to bury his Father Mat. 8. 21 22. therefore the language of the Lord to such is Micah 2. 10. Arise ye depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted it shall destroy you with a sore destruction The next thing we are to take notice of before we leave this particular is the other two parts of the Travellers accoutrements which is his staff in his hand and his shoes on his feet Exod. 12. 11. First the staff Now you know the use of a staff in a Travellers hand is to help him on in his journy it succours him it stayes up his body from falling it helps him over difficult and dangerous place This staff leads us to the use of the grace of believing which a soul should beg earnestly for at Gods hands that so after he hath eaten of the Lamb Christ he might be enabled to travel his journey from Egypt thorow the wilderness of this life to his Canaan of rest and glory hereafter for it is less possible that a soul should travel through the wilderness of this world to Heaven hereafter without the grace of believing then it
therefore saith Job The heavens shall reveal his sin and the earth shall rise up against him Job 20. 27. Thus you see both the distress and the cause of it upon a poor soul under an awakened conscience and how it answers to the Jews distress at the red Sea 3. We may take notice of the next particular which is this That that means which proved a ground of relief to the Jews in their distress the peoyle were guided thereunto by Moses from whence we may note these things First That though man knows how to sin himself into trouble yet he knows not how to get himself out of it The Jews knew no way out of this trouble therefore begun to cry out for graves to bury themselves in the place so is it with the soul under the sence and sight of sin knows no way to escape out of that dreadful condition in which he seeth himself to be nothing but death on every hand wrath gone out from above against him hell beneath openeth its mouth to receive him and thus the soul is oftentimes put upon to seek out for his grave to bury himself in knows no other way to save himself but eternally to destroy himself both in soul and body like Judas Second If the soul have met with any relief in his distressed condition let him know it came not from himself but he was guided thereunto by a special hand of Christ The Jews were led to their means of refreshment by Moses who was a Type of Jesus Christ Hast thou met with comfort and refreshment from such a Sermon from such a Minister such a Christian Friend such a Meeting or in reading of such and such a Book consider thou wert led unto that means for comfort by the special hand of Christ and thou shouldst eye his hand in it that love and praise and obedience might be rendered him for it therefore saith Christ With loving kindeness have I drawn thee Jer 31. 3. Third If any soul wants relief in such a condition then let him make unto Jesus Christ for it for he is thy leader in this case as Moses was the Jews in the other Read Deut. 18. 15. A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from among your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear Now where were the Jews to go in a time of danger buâ— to Moses So soul if ever thou wouldst have ease and refreshment thou must go to Christ alone some run to creatures and think to finde comfort there others run to their duties and works of mercy and thinks to get it from thence again there be some that will send thee to thy inward quallifications or work of God within thee as they call it or the light within the soul I am not hereby undervaluing the works of grace as they are signs or evidences of our union with Christ but I send thee to thy true leader Christ who is at the right hand of God to make daily intercession for such as thou art Rom. 8. 24. O look out and look up to him by faith for this is the way to it Isaiah 45. 22. and chap. 44. 3 4. Fifthly The next particular is this Moses stretched out his hand over the waters and the waters divided Exod. 14. 21. This act in Moses leads to behold the necessariness of outward means contrary to the opinion of many in our dayes which because we read in the Scriptures of God his teachings within in the heart and of the holy anointing that shall teach them all things from hence they conclude against all outward teaching Question What was the reason that God had not caused the waters to go back without the stretching out of Moses hand Answer Not but that God could have done it but God thereby shews us thus much that it is his pleasure in the effecting of the greatest salvation and deliverance for his people ordinarily to bring it about to them by outward means Our Saviour was able to open the blinde mans eyes without clay and spittle a way more likely to put out a mans eyes then to recover any mans sight John 9. 6. But it is to shew his pleasure touching the use of outward means why could not God have thrown down the walls of Jericho without sounding of the Rams horn and why could not God have caused water to come out of the Rock without striking of it but to shew it is his pleasure ordinarily to use it in his administrations to the sons of men therefore it is our duty to wait upon God in it Now to the stretching out of Moses hand in this outward salvation answers the preaching of the Gospel by God his Ministers which is the outward means of the eternal salvation for therein is the arme of divine grace and love revealed and stretched out to poor sinners This Isaiah calleth the revealing of Gods arme Isaiah 53. 1. Lord who hath believed our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord revealed So that whatsoever some men say to the contrary yet God hath had a special regard in all ages to the outward means of teaching the word If God had been minded onely to have left men to the inward teachings of his Spirit why did he take so much care to supply the ages of the world with Prophets and Apostles was he not as well able to teach the world by those inward teachings onely as now why doth the Apostle say in Ephes 4. 8. with 12. 13. that he gave both gifts and Apostles Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry until the Saints be perfected and come unto the measure of the fulness in Christ If God were not minded to teach his people that way why did God bid Philip joyn himself to the Eunuchs Chariot to instruct him Acts 8. 29. If God had been minded onely to have left men to the inward teachings was he not as well able to have taught the Eunuch by his Spirit onely Again could not God have taught Cornelius Acts 10. 3 4 5 6. onely by his Spirit and so have saved Peter a labour yet you see God would do nothing until Peter was come I do not plead for outward teaching without the inward but both must go together so that the stretching out of God his arme in the Gospel may well be compared to the stretching out of Moses hand over the red Sea for as the one was a means to let the Israeliâ—es through the red Sea for a temporal salvation so is the other a means to let a soul into the red Sea of Christs Blood for an eternal salvation which leadeth me to the next particular Fifthly The people go through the waters and are saved from their enemies Exodus 14 22. This leadeth us to the usefulness of the Blood of Jesus Christ through which all that are saved do pâ—ss by believing for as the Jews had perished without mercy by Pharaohs Army had they not passed through the
the soul to question his condition many times saying surely if I did belong to God why is it thus with me O if I had true grace my corruptions could never be so strong in me as they are O soul remember thou art in thy Wildernesse condition and that affords great enemies and tall Anakins and cursing Balaams which will very often afright thee with their raging blasphemy How often doth the soul find within him not only an opposing warring fighting Og within him but also a cursing dreadful blasphemous Balaam as it were daily cursing the holy seed of God within the soul which often times makes the soul to despair of ever getting home to his â—anaan of rest and peace Thus it was with David Psal 39. 4. All my iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me Psal 65 3. Iniquities prevail against me Thus it was with St. Paul how sensible was he of the wildernesse-assaulting Og and the Amalekites like corruption which very often rose up against him in his travelling through his spiritual wildernesse which made him to cry out in Rom. 7. 24. O wretchedman that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Which leads me to the next particular of the souls condition while on this side his Canaan of everlasting rest and true peace which is this The Wilderness of old was a place of discouragements for there the false spies brought up that discouraging report about the good Land and so weakened the hope and confidence of the people which put them upon chusing a captain to go back again to Egypt How much of this kinde of experience do poor souls meet in their way to their spiritual and eternal Canaan what sad discouraging reports doth the Devil and his agents bring up upon the good Land of Canaan to this very day and hour First The Devil how often doth he tell the soul that he were as good go back again from the good wayes of God as to go on any further in them for all the souls duties shall be as rewardless as they are worthless and that God taketh no notice of him and as for his sins they are too great for God to pardon them and therefore let the soul never think saith Satan to get out of my kingdom and power of darkness for doest thou believe saith the Devil that if God could pardon thy sinnes that ever he would look on such a worthless vile sinful poluted wretch as thou art who doest all things in hopocrisie of heart no no do not deceive thy self thou shalt finde it otherwise and therefore thou wert as good go back again to thy old conversation and live as thou didst before Besides saith Satan doest thou ever think to enter so strait a gate as leadeth to heaven doest thou not know that the Anakims both great and tall are in the way doest thou not know that if thou goest this way any farther thou wilt lose the favour of all thy friends and relations doest not thou see what a gazing stock thou wilt make thy self to all thy neighbours and acquaintance round about thee dost not thou see the taunts flouts scoffs and jeers which they will fling daily after thee besides thou art now pretty well to live in the world and hast things full and whole about thee but by those fines and sequestrations which the world will lay upon thee this will quickly be gone from thee and thou and thine forced to perish in a miserable condition Moreover doest thou not see before thine eyes how some are whipt others imprisoned and at last hanged up by the neck assure thy self this will be thy portion if thou goest any farther this way Come come sayes the Devil I will shew you a better way be advised by me come turn back again save your self and what you have you do but dream of building Tabernacles in the air assure your self by going the way you are a going you do but wade through impossibilities and all shall fail you in the end therefore get thee back again to the Land of Egypt the old carnal condition from whence thou hast been travelling a while and fed upon onyons leeks the garlick and cucumbers which thou hast been a planting for many years and eat the fat of thy flesh pots and take thy pleasure here for there is nothing better under the Sun then that a man should rejoyce in his own works for that is his portion for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him Thus the poor soul hangs in doubt and is oftentimes put to a stand not knowing what to do nor which hand to take whether it be best to go back or forth in the wayes of God because of his discouragements Secondly Satan will not leave the soul thus but labours to set before the eyes of the soul the apostasie of back-sliding professours who have both their principles and practises in the wayes of God from whose conversation he labours to argue the soul into the same practice of leaving the good wayes of God and tells the soul that in so doing or in going back to Egypt he doth no more then others have done before his face persons of greater parts and gifts then ever he yet had and surely such knew well enough what they did and in doing what they have done they have testified themselves to be persons that were acted by a wise prudent spirit such who make provision for their families according to Gods holy ordinance Thirdly If Satan the old Serpent cannot prevail with these secret whisperings upon the soul then he will send in his agents to deal farther with the soul as Father Mother Husband Wife Children and servants too which cry out as Peter did once to Christ Good master save your self And if all these cannot discourage the soul then will Satan adde to all the rest one or two apostatizing professours who with the rest hang all together about the soul crying out Sir what mean you to do what have you a minde to ruine your self and all your family do not you see that the Law of the Nation will not endure your Religion nor those wayes of Worship which you set up and walk in Have not you had warning enough in others who have lost all they had and themselves in prison to desist your work and retreat your ground and come back again Then in comes the prudent apostate not that he is such but he and such as he is thinks themselves so and he undertakes to give the soul arguments from Scripture to save himself his Wife and Children and all his family by telling him that he ought to be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake and that if he be commanded either to do or not to do which conscience at any time cannot let down yet however he may satisfie himself with this consideration that its the Magistrates sin in commanding the thing
out O what manner of love is this that we should be called the Sons of God CHAP. 19. I shall in the next place speak of the Candlestick which was placed in the Tabernacle IN this Tabernacle there was placed a Candlestick which was made of pure Gold and the fashion of it was thus It parted from a foot high in the stem into six branches three of the branches going one way and three of the branches going another way there were three bowls made like unto three almonds with their knobs and their flowers to every branch but in the stem of the Cnadlestick below their parting were four bowls with their knobs and their flowers Exod. 27. 17. Exod 37. 18 19 20. By the Candlestick in this place we are to understand to be meant the Church of God which Church is made up of true Believers which truly and sincerely profess and own Christ and his Worship being redeemed by his Blood from all the earth Rev. 7. 14. This is the signification of the Candlestick the truth of which you may read Rev. 1. 20. where the seven Churches are compared to seven golden Candlesticks which answereth to the Candlestick in the Tabernacle for that was made of pure beaten Gold Ex. 27. 17. Now the Church of God may be compared to a Candlestick several manner of wayes First As a Candlestick is made to mount or hold up the light that all in a time of darkness may see so doth the Church and people of God they hold up the light of truth and the bright shinings of the word and Gospel that all that are in the dark world who sit in the Region and shadow of death might behold the face of God in Jesus Christ shining through the Saints gifts graces and holy conversations in upon their souls Isaiah 2. 3. The Law shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem by which means Isa 9. 2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light and they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined Though this latter prophesie doth principally belong to Christ yet it is to be applied to his Church also for it s through them Christ shineth upon the dark world therefore saith our Saviour to his Dissciples Matth. 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world meaning they were the Candlestick prepared of God to hold up and hold out the light of truth to the dark blinde miserable world Use 1. This informs then what a deal of duty lieth upon the Church both Ministers as well as others First For Ministers what care should they take and what pains should they expose themselves unto in order to the keeping up and holding forth the light and word of the Gospel to the dark nations of the earth what care did Paul take to fulfil his ministry and to discharge his duty this way Acts 20. 24. He counted not his life dear unto himself so that he could fulfil his ministry with you which ministration he had received from the Lord Jesus and that he might be useful this way you may take notice of Pauls practice Acts 20. 20. I have kept back nothing which was profitable to you but have shewed you and taught you openly and throughout every house But O good God how few such house preaching lights doth the eart afford us in this our age but contrariwise instead of men that should make it their business with Paul and the rest of the Apostles to go from house to house to enlighten the dark famiâ—ies of the earth in the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ they rather bend their forces parts wits and purses to darken and put out the light of truth and the knowledge of God in all the families they meet withal where they go like unto those teachers of old spoken of in Ezek. 34. 18 19. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures and to have drunk of the deep waters but you must foul the residue with your feet and as for my flock they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet How far these or such as these are from being of the true Candlestick appointed to hold up and hold out the light of truth in the world let the reader judge But again this should teach all the Saints for they are a part of the Candlestick also to endeavour in their several places and callings to promote the glory of God in their generations to study godliness and which way they may be useful with their gifts and graces amongst their relations and neighbours and in their families in order to the bringing in of their souls to Jesus Christ therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5 16. Let pour light so shine before men that they seeing your good works might glorifie your Father which is in heaven To this agreeth the words of Paul Phil. 2 16. with ch 15. ver 15. He exhorts all true Christians that they would labour to hold forth the word of life and that they would labour to live unblameable in their lives and spotless in their conversations and that they would keep themselves without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation amongst whom they were to shine as lights so verse 16. The reason of the former exhortation is given you viz. because they are to hold forth the word of life even as a Candlestick they are to hold up or hold forth the light of truth Secondly A candlestick is appointed to hold fast as wel as to hold up the light that it fall not down because the fall of which many times puts out the light so is the Church of God prepared and fitted to succour and keep up the light of Gods holy truth in the earth that it might not be thrown down by the malice of the devil and wicked men who labour night and day to put it out in the world There be two wayes by which God fitteth the Church as a Candlestick to keep up the light of truth in the world The first is by pouring forth upon them the gifts of the Spirit by vertue of which they are enabled to discover detect and finde out all errour and whatsoever may be contrary to sound doctrine as in Rev. 2. 2. Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars Hence it is that the adversaries of truth are said not to be able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which St. Stephen spake Acts 6. 10. The reason you may perceive lay in this the Church of which Stephen was a member had a very great measure of the gifts of the Spirit which came upon them but a little before read Acts 2. 1 2 3 4. Secondly God fits his Church as
things to the comers read Jeremiah 3. 33 34. with Ezekiel 26. 27. Read Proverbs 1. 22. 23. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and scorners delight in scorning and fools haâ—e knowledge turn ye at my reproofs behold I will pour out my spirit upon you and I will make known my words unto you Therefore soul let not the father of lyes keep thee any longer from Jesus Christ thy Gospel Altar but come with the greatest freedom and do not dispute so much thy unworthiness as the Lord Chtists sufficiency in point of righteousness for whatever thy life hath been though never so notoriously wicked yet in the name of God and by special commission from Christ we are to tell thee that neither the number of thy sins nor yet the greatness of thy sinnes can hurt thee but thy coming â—o the Altar of satisfaction where attonement is to be made for sinne this is it that will prove thy soul-destroying sinne for ever if thou take not heed of it Hence it is that David made the greatnesse of sin the onely ground of coming to the Altar Psal 25. 11. Lord pardon my Iniquity for my sinne is wondrous great Thirdly A third season when a Christian should have regard to the Altar of satisfaction is in corruption-prevailing seasons when the heart is overcome with the strength of corruption then is it a fit time for the soul to have much recourse to ths Altar corruption can never live if thou bring it to this place that altar upon which Christ died for sin will of all places in the world yield thee the greatest death to sin this is the sword of Goliah which hath none like it Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin But worthy of note is that place of the Apostle in the 1 John 3. 8. For this purpose was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the work of the Devil As if the Apostle should say for this purpose was the Son of God manifested or for this purpose was the Altar of satisfaction erected and set up that poor souls might as well get sin and corruption mortified and subdued in them as to have the guilt of sin removed out of their souls O this is the tree of Life which standeth in the Paradise of God the leaves whereof will heal the Nations O therefore soul wouldst get down the power of sin in thy soul as well as to get out the guilt of sin from thy soul O then when ever corruption gets head be sure to bring thy soul to the Altar of satisfaction and atonement and there lay thy soul down at the feet of the Altar and beg of Jesus Christ that he would yield forth the blessed effects of his death upon thy soul that as he died upon the Cross to remove out of the way the guilt of thy sins so likewise he would be pleased out of his infinite mercy and love to drop something of his sufferings some vertue of his death into thy soul which might kill sin in thy mortal body Now this being done adding faith to the work thou needst not doubt but a blessed issue in time will proceed to the great joy and comfort of thy soul only labour for a waiting frame of spirit give God his own time to effect this work in thy soul for in time thou shalt Reap if thou faint not Objection But doth not the Apostle say in Hebrewes 13. 10. That we have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle then it seems all may not come with that boldnesse to the Altar of satisfaction as you say Answer The Apostle is not to be understood so much in treating about the guilt of sin as above the use of Ceremonies Now the dangerous condition of the Hebrewes was two-fold not only was their Case sad with respect to their distance from God upou the account of sinnes guilt But their danger did farther appear in this they having their Ceremonies for a Christ to rest upon this kept them from Christ indeed by which means they were deprived of the benefit of Christs Merits Bloud and Righteousnesse which only takes away the guilt of sin as the Apostle elsewhere saith Galatians 5 4. For Christ is become of none effect unto you whosoever of you are iustified by the Law you are faln from grace As if the Apostle should say certainly so long as you stick to your Ceremonies and Jewish Rights you are at a great distance with Christ Christ can profit you nothing for you have Converted the Tabernacle Service into a Christ and you rest here and you live upon the Shadow in the neglect of the true Substance Christ unto which these Types and Legal Shadows should lead you Therefore while you serve the Tabernacle in this sense you have no right to eat of the Altar Christ but otherwise let the souls condition be never so desperate by reason of sinne yet here is an open door for him to step into the Tabernacle and fall upon this Altar Christ with boldnesse according to that word of the Apostle in Hebrewes 9 13 14 14. So that there is no sinne how great soever makes the soul uncapable of partaking of the Altar Christ who hath a desire to make out after Christ but only the souls resting upon some thing else on this side Christ and shall make that and not Christ his bottom for Salvation CHAP. 24 Of the Grate of Network made to this Altar I Now come to speak about the Grate of Network which was made to the Altar and placed under the compass of the Altar which was about the midst of the Altar underneath Exod. 27. 4 5. The use of which was to let forth the Ashes through the small holes of the Grate when the Sacrifice or Burnt Offering should be offered before the Lord upon it Now the Ashes of any thing which is burnt we look on it as the Dross or Excrements of the thing burned so it is in this case therefore was the Grate prepared to convey the Ashes of the sacrifice under the Altar which was to be carried forth without the Camp This shews us this much First of all the exceeding rich usefulness of Jesus Christ every way for Believers First In point of Justification From hence Believers may assure themselves that when Christ became a Sacrifice to God for them in order to their Justification that God was well pleased with it which was for the great comfort of Believers publickly witnessed from Heaven Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased To this agreeth the words of S. Paul Ephes 5. 2. Christ gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour So much as this you may read in this blessed Type for there was nothing which was offered upon this Altar to
the Body united to the Head and so he is to be understood as our interceeding High Priest praying to God for us against the evil of death So ver 10. This was done as he was called of God according to the Order of Melchisedeck That is as he is a High Priest for so was Melchisedeck Heb. 7. 1. whose work was to bless Abraham a Member of this Priesthood grace and mercy Gen. 14. therefore saith the Apostle Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them therefore saith the Apostle ver 26. Such an High Priest became us And as Christ did pour out his crys and supplications with tears here on earth it was to give Believers a comfortable view and sight of what he is ever doing for them in heaven of which they may assure themselves to the utmost Therefore doth S. Paul so much comfort Believers against all fear of a total miscarriage for it cannot be because Christ as our great High Priest did not only interceed against it on earth by pouring out strong crys and supplications with tears Heb. 5. 7. but he is doing of the same work now he is in heaven with as much fervency of Spirit for us Rom. 8. ver 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again and sitteth at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us Now that the Intecession Christ makes is a work of prayer which he poureth forth for his people to God evermore as that which the Golden Altar for Incense was a Type of will appear if we consider that place in Rev. 8. 2 3 4. 5. with chap. 1. 13. And I saw the seven Angels which stood before God and to them were given seven Trumpets and another Angel came and stood at the Altar which Angel was Christ having a golden Censer in his hand and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne and the smoak of the Incense which came up with the prayers of the Saints ascending up before God out of the Angels hand Now look into Rev. 1. 13. and you may see who this Angel was And in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks one like unto the Son of men clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle Here you have the Son of man representing himself to John after he ascends up into Glory standing in the garb of the High Priest for so the legal High Priest was attired when he was to administer before the Lord. That so we might understand for our great comfort that he is doing the great work of the Priesthood now in Heaven for his people that are yet without the Tabernacle as to their being in this life even for those that are not entred within the veil of blessed glory and immortality So that you see that Christ is an interceeding High Priest now in heaven pouring out his prevailing prayers to God for his And this is the matter of the work of Intercession Use 1. O then what cause have Believers to bless God for his mercy that there is an Intercessour provided for them that can and will prevaile on their behalf if loud crys and strong supplications attended with many tears will do it O my Brethren this is an inestimable blessed privilege to Believers that they have such an interceeding High Priest as Jesus is who is heard in all things and denied in nothing that he shall request the Father for on the behalf of Believers We use to say that man is happy that hath a Friend in Court to speak if need be on his behalf O but how much more happy are Believers that have a Christ a High Priest in heaven to agitate all their matters and concernments for them there Hence it is that the Psalmist doth affirm that there can be no want to them which fear God Psal 34. 10. And S. Peter wonders who can harm such as be followers of that which is good Pet. 1. 3. 13. And saith S. Paul who can lay any thing to the charge of such and who can condemn such or can separte such from the love of God Rom. 8. 33 34 35. the Reason of all is given you in the 34. ver For we have a High Priest at Gods right hand making Intercession for us Use 2. O then let this blessed Doctrine administer comfort to the people of God at all times in all conditions that they have a High Priest in Heaven interceding for them at Gods right hand O Brethren of whom should Believers be afraid that have such an interceding Priest as Christ is what if all the Tyrants in the world and Devils in hell should set themselves together against the poor Lambs of Christ O fear them not there cannot a hair of your heads fall to the ground O you Saints lift up your heads and be not so fearful of your Adversaries it is your High Priests work in heaven to pray you down deliverance from the hands of Men and Devils Read that comfortable place Exod. 17. 8 9 10 11 12. When Amaleck came out to fight against Israel it s said that all the while that Moses lifted up his hands to God in a way of Prayer and Intercession for Israel Israel prevailed over Amaleck O then shall the liftings up of the hands of a Moses so much prevail for Gods Israel in a time of danger and yet Moses was but a servant Heb. 3. 5 and shall we think that the lifting up of the interceding hands of Christ who is the Son shall not prevail over these Amalekites which Believers stand in doubt of here O Brethren do not dishonour the interceding Office of Jesus Christ your High Priest in giving way so much to your fears Remember what our Saviour spake in his own case the same he can and will do in the case of his people so far as it shall stand with his glory and a Believers good Matth. 26. 53. Think you not and I can pray to my Father and he can give me more then twelve Legions of Angels What work did that Angel make which Christ prayed down for the relief of his Church in the time of their distress Isa 37. 36. How did the Angel scatter in one night that proud Blasphemous Army and shall we think that Christs Prayers have lost their Efficacy through length of time No no he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. And so in all other exigencies and straits whether in Famine Plague Pestilence or what ever the providence be which may occasion fear Here is a sufficient Balm for the soul in these conditions yea in a word if thou wert brought so low with thy distress as that thou couldst not put up one word
those that come to God by him Heb. 7. And to be a propitiation in his bloud for the sins of the whole world John 1. 2 2. That is there was so much Incense given this Angel by the Lord or so much vertue put into the death of Christ that although it was never intended for all the world yet there is a vertue or a sufficiency in his death able to save all the world at once And it s said the Angel offered Incense that is the Lord Jesus Christ was interceding at the Throne of grace for the Saints Now pray observe all this was done with the prayers of all Saints so that the Saints are set forth as a praying people as well as Christ is set forth as an interceding High Priest Christs prayers and his peoples prayers going up together before the Lord make up the great cloud of Incense which went up from the Altar Thus you see the point cleared that Christs interceding in Heaven at his Fathers right hand for Believers doth not give any liberty to the least neglect in prayer here on earth therefore doth our High Priest himself enjoyn prayer to be made by the Saints that live under his Priesthood Matth. 26 41. And farther says that men ought to pray always Luke 18. 1. So likewise the Apostles of Christ they tell you that the subjects of this Gospel Priesthood must pray James 5. 13. and that they must pray every where 1 Tim. 2. 8. and that without ceasing 1 Thes 5. 17 and that men should continue instant in it Rom. 12. 22. and that men should pray always night and day Eph 6. 18. Thes 2. 3 10. and for one another James 5. 16. with this advice that it must be in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. likewise this hath been made the Character of a good man Acts 9. 11 and on the contrary a prayerless heart is looked upon in Scripture to be a wicked heart Job 27. 10. Thirdly and lastly I come to speak of the end or main purpose of the work of the Incense Altar or of the work of Christs Intercession which he driveth on in Heaven for Believes Now the purpose of this glorious work of Christs Intercession it was to make Reconciliation for sin or amongst many other things one mainâ— thing was this viz. the keeping up a constant peace between God and the Soul therefore it was called the office for atonement Exod. 30. 10. And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of the Incense Altar once a year with the bloud of the sin offering of atonements once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your Generations its most holy to the Lord. This the Apostle applies to Jesus Christ Heb. 2 17. where you have the Apostle speaking of Jesus Christ as our Gospel High Priest succeeding Aaron of old the Apostle hath this saying about it in Verse 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God and that he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people Note here That he might make Reconciliation for the sins of the people or an atonement which is all one so that this was the end or purpose of the High Priests atonement it was to keep peace between God and the people under the Law this you may see read Numb 16. 46 47 48. And Moses said to Aaron take the Censer and put fire therein off the Altar and put on Incense and go quickly unto the Congregation and make an atonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the Lord the Plague is begun And Aaron took as Moses commanded him and ran into the midst of the Congregation and behold the Plague was begun among the people and he put on Incense and made an atonement for the people and he stood between the dead and the living and the Plague was stayed Thus you see clearly what the purpose and end of the Priests interceding or making atonement for the people amounts unto it is to interpose between Gods wrath and the people or to keep God at peace with the people which is the proper work of Jesus Christ now in glory to make peace for the Saints and to interpose by his Intercession between the anger of God and their sinning souls who labours by those strong cries sighs and groans with many tears which cannot be uttered to prevail with God that he would be pleased for his own death and righteousness sake to pass by those many sins failings and infirmities which his people are apt to commit And as in the like case we read of Moses Exod. 32. 11 12 13. So doth Christ of whom in the work of Intercession Moses was the Type cast himself at the feet of God praying begging intreating that he would be pleased to pass by the sins and daily infirmities of his people and not remember their iniquities against them but that he would extend his Love Favour and Grace to their souls as afore-time and would lead them and conduct them by his special grace to the good land of Canaan the land of promise which was purchased for them by his own bloud upon the Cross at Jerusalem and begs his Father that he would be pleased to look more upon his bloud and righteousness for them and less upon their sins And doth confess as Moses did that the people are and ever have been a stiff-necked and rebellious people ever since he knew them but yet still crys good Father put up all the injuries done against thy glory by this people and let not thy wrath wax hot against the sheep of thy pasture O remember the promises which thou hast made to me concerning this people That a seed should serve me a Generation of men should call me blessed Psal 22. 30. and Psal 72. 17. And that I should see of the travel of my soul and be satisfied Isa 53. 11. and therefore prays that the Father would consider what loss it would be to him who was his Son should the people miscarry how all his sufferings would be lost the end of his coming in the flesh would be lost the fruit of all his Sermons works of Miracles and works of Righteousness would be lost therefore in John 17. 24. Prays saying Father I will that they whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold â—y glory which thou hast given me for thou hase loved me before the Foundation of the world Use 4. O then soul thou seest where to fly under the guilt of sin O what comfort wlll this afford a poor doubting soul that shall well digest this truth into his soul that Jesus Christ is interceding for him now in Heaven how will the knowledge of this feed the hearts of Gods people in times of doubts O let not the Wolves catch any comfort from hence this is what belongs to the true
There you have the same promise applyed to his proper subjects which were suffering Saints and I saw thrones and they that sate upon them and Judgement was given unto them and I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Iesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads nor in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Now the Question will be whether this Text do neither relate to the Kingdom of ultimate glory taking its rise from the general Judgment day mentioned Math. 2. 5. 31 32. Or whether it relates to the setting up of Christs Kingdom here on Earth which is mentioned Dan. 2. 44. And in the days of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Now certainly it cannot relate to that Kingdom which takes its rise from the general Judgment day because we find the general Judgment day pointed at by the Holy Ghost to be a thousand years after this Kingdom begins Rev. 20. Where you read after a thousand years time spent in the management and ordering of the Son of mans Kingdom then the general Judgment day takes its place as appears from Verse 11. 12 13 14 15. Secondly Because this Kingdom is to have an end before the other begins Rev. 20. 7 8 9. Thirdly The great glory resolves this into it self 1 Cor. 15. 24. Then cometh the end meaning the end of the Son of mans Kingdom which answereth to that in Rev 20. 7 8 9 When he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and Power Fourthly Because this glorious Kingdom of the Son of man promised to the Saints as the reward of their faithfulness in holding out and suffering for him is so far from being any part of the ultimate glory above I mean so as to be enjoyed above that its what is expresly said to come down from that which is above Rev. 21. 2 3. And I John saw the holy City the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband and I heard a great voice saying the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Another Text of Scripture which speaks of the Son of mans Kingdom of glory here on Earth is in Rev. 2. 26 27 And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron as the vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I have received of my Father Now Reader pray read well and consider these words then give thy thoughts whether any thing in them can be applied to the ultimate glory not but that I believe the Saints shall enter there at last but whether there be not a glorious Kingdom on this side that for the Saints to enjoy as the reward of their sufferings which hath its foundation in the Scriptures Now observe in the abovesaid words of John it s said in ths Kingdom the Saints shall have power over the Nations so as to rule some and to break others in pieces with rods of Iron Now if this must relate to the glory of the Saints after the last and great general Judgment day behold as I said before what Nonsense we put upon the Scriptures for according to the Description given of the great and general Judgment day the wicked must immediately after sentence given depart into hell and the godly shall be taken up into heaven where each party shall be to eternity and shall never see the face of each other more Math. 25. 33. with 41. Well then according to that of Math. 25. The wicked and the godly shall be so totally separated as that they shall never see the face of one another more then where be the Nations and who are they that the Saints must rule over with Iron rods and break to pieces Besides over whom shall the Saints rule in Heaven for there only God shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 28. Again Iron rods notes severity and bitterness now what of this do you promise your selves in Heaven Heaven knows nothing of that in the least and to say any shall rule with Iron rods there is to say that which the word doth not say Therefore be content Christian to travel to the end of thy appointed wilderness-journey when the time cometh that thou must enter into this good land and much promised Kingdom then expect thy Spiritual Solomon to turn thy Tabernacle state of deformity into a famous Temple of glory CHAP. 28. I come now to speak of the High Priest under the Law which was a Type of Jesus Christ also IN the handling of which I shall observe this method First Speak something as to the place out of which the High Priest was to be chosen Secondly I shall speak of the Qualifications which he was to be endued withall Thirdly I shall speak of the Consecrated Garments which he was to administer in Fourthly I shall speak of the manner of the Priests Consecration Fifthly Of the Work he was to do for the people when chosen for them First As to the place out of which the High Priest was to be chosen by being chosen I do not mean that there was such a Custom or Rule amongst the Jews before the Corruption crept into the Jewish Church for the people to chuse their High Priests but I intend the thing as it respects the first setting apart of a High Priest for the people Now the place from whence the High Priest was to be taken it was from amongst the Children of Israel not from a strange people or Country Exod. 28. 1. And take thou unto thee Aaron thy Brother and his Sons with him from amongst the Children of Israel that he may Minister unto me in the Priests Office This Particular affords us these two Uses Use 1. It serves to remove out of the way two great Objections which may abide upon the hearts of some tender Souls who may be unwilling to adventure their case in Christs hands First Because of their unacquaintance with him he is too much a stranger to them therefore some make no use of him for their High Priest Secondly Others call in Question his faithfulness therefore others make no use of him that which they have to commit to the High Priests care is of an infinite value it s the price of a Soul which if it should miscarry through want of faithfulness in the Priest they lose their all and
more then the whole world is worth Now to prevent these Fears and Objections the Priest was to be taken from amongst his own Brethren it shall be no stranger whom you know not or that knows not you but of your own selves from amongst his Brethren bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh this yields great relief against Fears Suppose the King should send an Army over Sea into some strange Country now if he shall make choice of some Alien or Outlandish man to be General over them how would this discourage the Army in their way and work for who knows but that a stranger may sell them into their Enemies hands or should he not do so yet he being an Alien they not known to him what ever their necessities with respect to want of food clothing or any other necessaries may be he cannot understand their complaints and they perish without remedy but now if the General be one of their own Nation they will not so much fear the being betraid into the hands of their enemies because their General and they are all alike hateful to the enemy they engage against besides when ever they have any request to put up to him or matter of moment to inform him withall they are sure he knows their language and understands their tongue and they his for he is born of the same Nation a General made of his Brethren Now as the High Priest under the Law was a Type of Christ in all respects so in this very respect likewise that so Believers might have great encouragement to apply themselves to him at all times hence it is that Moses alluding to Christ saith Deut. 18. 15. A Prophet shall â—he Lord your God raise up unto you from amongst his Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things So Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren So that you see the Apostle as well as Moses speaking about Christ alludes to the High Priest under the Law which was to be taken forth from amongst his Brethren Use 2. Oh then what comfort and encouragement should this afford the soul against the former Objections First as to their non-acquaintance with him Oh soul thou needst not fear for thy High Priest is no stranger to thee he is not an Alien which cannot understand thy speech thou maist freely lay open thy mind to him in prayer what ever distress or want thou art in come to him in prayer and thou needst not fear he will well know what it is thou supplicatest him about this it was that encouraged David to come to him and freely pour out his soul to him he knew that Christ was no stranger nor a man of an unknown tongue to him and he knew that Christ could as well understand what he had to express on his part of Christ Psal 139. 4. Lord there is not a word in my tongue but thou knowest it altogether Besides Christ is so well skilled in our tongue that he can throughly judge of our meaning and broken sighs and groans delivered up before him if we want expressions he can help the soul out in the thing for he doth not only know what we should speak but what we would speak before him and so helps us out in the matter Rom. 8. 26 27. Likewise the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with groans which cannot be uttered and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the will of God For Christ is made a High Priest for this end to spread the complaints of his people before the Lord therefore is it recorded in Rev. 8. 3. And another Angel stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and there was given him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints So that you see Christ did offer up the complaints sighs and groans of his people to God therefore must he be taken from amongst his Brethren a member of the same Nation born and trained up amongst the people that so he might be fully capable to do them that service for which he was ordained a Priest Use 3. What encouragement should this Doctrine give a soul to adventure his all in the hands of this Christ in point of that faithfulness we may expect to find in him meerly upon this account that he is a High Priest called forth to the work from amongst his Brethren and then this would remove the other Objection which some poor soul may make against Christ O! That which I have to entrust the High Priest withall is of infinite value and if it should miscarry through the unfaithfulness of the Priest I am for ever undone and shall never recover my self more Now to prevent these fears the High Priest was to be taken from amongst his Brethren a man interested with them in all the proyerties together whose happiness is bound up in the peoples one who must stand and fall with those he is a Priest unto who promotes but his own in seeking the peoples good for whom he undertakes therefore must he be taken from amongst his Brethren to assure us of his faithfulness and diligence in the work he hath undertaken for Believers you know that Christ our High Priest is called an Advocate that is one that pleads a case in Law 1 John 2. 1. Now what an encouragement would this afford a person to make use of such a man in his case who is concerned in the same case himself so as that if it goes ill with the Client it must go ill with the Advocate Oh soul thus much maist thou draw out of this particular of the High Priests being taken from amongst his Brethren it is to encourage thee to make use of Jesus Christ for a High Priest to God in the behalf of thy soul thou maist assure thy self that he will be faithful to thee No bribes offered him can pervert or corrupt him therefore is he called a righteous Advocate 1 John 2. 1. We have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous the Inheritance which Christ as a High Priest intercedes for and as an Advocate pleads for in Heaven its what Christ and thee are co-heirs and joynt-heirs of together Rom. 8. 17. If Children then heirs heirs of God and joynt-heirs with Christ So that thou standest and fallest with Jesus Christ Christ promotes his own Interest in promoting thine if he prove unfaithful it s as well to himself as to thee Oh therefore doubt of nothing put thy all into his hands adventure whole soul and body upon his Priesthood thou canst not do better that which was Peters Exhortation to the Saints in his day is mine to thee Pet. 1. 4 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God
Christ of doing that work which as a Priest he was sent into the world to do O where wilt thou go to have thy case bettered or who shall cure these wounds sicknesses sores leprosies and guilts which Sin and Satan hath created upon thee if thou come not to Jesus Christ O this is the good Samaritan that takes up the soul wounded by the spiritual thieves and bounds up his wounds and pours oyl into his griefs and healeth all his diseases Luke 10. 36. O therefore come to Christ make use of him as thy High Priest bring thy soul with all its corruptions sores and plagues and running griefs upon thee to him lay it down at his door tell him that thou hast brought a soul full of the plague and leprosie full of unbelief full of the sores of pride hardness of heart impenitency revenge hypocrisie lust worldly mindedness a soul full of the issues of vain thoughts and plead with Christ for a cure tell him that he is the High Priest appointed by the Father for this very end and purpose not to reject thee for thy misery but to pitty thee under it and to shew mercy to thee about it and to help thee out of it Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren in all things that he might be a merciful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people in that himself hath suffered being tenâ—ted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 5. 2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the war for that he himself also is compassed with infirmities Here it was David run in the like case when his sores and griefs of corruption run upon him He did not do as a great many troubled souls have done namely then to run from Christ Ps 38 3 4. 5 6 7 8. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thy anger neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin for mine iniquities are gone over my head as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me My wounds â—stinck and are corrupt because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundnesse in my flesh But did this drive David from Jesus Christ no surely but rather put a necessity upon him to make the more haste towards him in order to cure therefore in the 9. Verse and 15. Verse Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee for in thee Lord do I hope thou wilt hear O Lord my God Secondly As the Priest was to take notice of their personal uncleanness so also of the uncleannesse in their houses Lev 14 35 36. And he that oweth the house shall come and tell the Priest saying it seemeth to me that there is as it were the Plague in the house then the Priest shall command that they empty the house before the Priest goeth into it to see the Plague that all that is in the house be not made unclean and afterward the Priest shall go into see the house Now the end for which the Priest was to view the house you may see in the same Chapter it was that he might endeavour the cleansing of it if the plague were in it of the same use is Christ to his Gospel-house which is his Church if the plague enter into it the plague of discention and discord the plague or leprosie of formality or the plague of a luke-warm spirit or the plague of errour and unsound Doctrine its proper to Jesus Christ to take notice of this in his Churches and he doth so read Rev. 2. 1 2 3. 4 5. with Rev. 3. 16 17 18. Therefore in all such Cases it s the duty of the Churches of Christ to apply themselves to him for redress if Christians in the use of fasting and fervent prayer would more press upon Christ for help in this case I doubt not but we should have more purer and unstained Churches by far then we have amongst us Was there ever more need for Churches to make use of Christ upon this account then now had ever the Israelite more cause to go to the Priest and say it seemeth to me the plague is in the house then Christians have to go to Christ and say it seemeth to me the plague is in the house is not the plague of a formal cursed lukewarm spirit in the Churches of Christ are not the walls of it over-spread with the hollow greenish and reddish strakes to be seen there Levit 14. 37. Are they not over-spread with the plague of Contention and Discord was there ever more of this plague reigning over the Churches of Christ then at this day O how deeply have this plague rooted it self in the hearts of the Lords people that four years affliction will not yet fetch it out but God will fetch it out of their hearts or else he will fetch their bodies out of their warm houses besides what a fearful spirit and plague of Apostasie have their over-spread the minds of the Churches of Christ I will not say this hath leavened every one but sure I am too many of them Then what cause have the Church and house of Christ to make to Christ with all haste for cure and were it the will of God how could it be wished that Christ our High Priest were more visited upon this account by his people Fifthly If any man had sinned either ignorantly or wilfully the Priest upon his coming to him was to offer sacrifice for him and it was pardoned Levit. 5. 17 18. The same work is Christ to do for believers for he is their High Priest for this very purpose saith the Apostle speaking of Christ he is to make Reconciliation for the sins of the people Heb. 2. 17. It s as much the mark and office of Jesus Christ to do so for believers as ever it was the work of the legal High Priests to do it for the Israelites therefore soul when ever thou hast been over taken in a fault do not fly from Christ but away to him for he is thy High Priest in Heaven on purpose to make an atonement for that sin and Reconciliation to God for that sin only when thou hast been with Christ believe that for his sake it shall be pardoned and the father will be pacified and doubt not of it it will be so soul thou maist apply as really as the Jews that very word in Levit. 5. 18. And the Priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist not and it shall be forgiven him to this agreeth the words of the Apostle in 1 John 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocaâ—e with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our
of ultimate glory comes to take place that all the Nations shall be gathered together before God and the Godly taken up into Heaven and the wicked at the same time sent away into eternal darkness Now if the wicked must go down into Hell at the same time that the Godly must be received up into Heaven where then will the Nations be for the Saints to Rule over with Iron Rods so in Luke 11. 2. You are bid to pray for a Kingdom saying when thou prayest say Thy Kingdom come Now this very Kingdom must be on Earth for is not the Kingdom of grace as the Kingdom of grace is commonly understood because the Kingdom of grace was then in being and had been in being all along in all ages of the world before But this Kingdom which Christ bids his Disciples to pray for was a Kingdom yet to come Thy Kingdom come Neither can it be the Kingdom of glory for that is not said to come to us but we are said to be carryed up to it 1 Thes 4. 17. Yea it s so far from being the Kingdom of ultimate glory that its a Kingdom which cometh down out of glory upon the Earth Rev. 20. 2 3. And I John saw the holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband and I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God This you see how Canaan of old and this Gospel Canaan which the Apostle calls a rest to the people of God do agree for matter of place Secondly They are made to agree for the conditions upon which the subjects were to enter each place faith was required as necessary to the entring of old Canaan Heb. 3. 18 19. The same is required as necessary to this Gospel Canaan Heb. 4. 1. Again a following of God fully was required as necessary to enter the old Canaan Numb 14. 21 22. 23 24. The same is required as necessary to the entring of this Kingdom Mat. 19. 28. Thirdly They do agree for priviledges only in the general Canaan of old was a very pleasant delightful good land which afforded aboundance of comfort wealth and safety a full reward for all their travels temptations and afflictions which they went under for the Lord so is it with this Kingdom or Canaan much more full of glory will this be found to have I shall briefly present you with some of the glory and excellency of it in some few particulars In the general it is set forth to you as a glorious thing or a great piece of glory Isa 60. 1. Arise for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee But to be a little more particular about this Kingdom and here we must take notice of these First Something done or is to be done by Christ at the setting up of this Kingdom Secondly Then the priviledges of it But as to the first there will be a general and total destruction fall upon all the enemies of the Lord which shall be found in a way of hostile opposition against the setting of this kingdom for if you observe you may see how excellently well Israels coming into Canaan doth agree to this particular with respect to what the Scripture saith shall be done upon the wicked at the setting up of this kingdom for it is to be observed that just before their entering into the good Land the greatest slaughter that ever was made of the enemies of the Lord was at that time as you may see Josh 10. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. This was but a type of what shall be the portion of the wicked at the Saints entrance into their great Canaan priviledges Read Isa 43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. So Isa 63. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Isa 66. 15 16. Joel 3. 2. with 14. Revelations 19. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Secondly when this is done and the great battle fought and the Lord Jesus hath strook through the loins of his enemies then will he take their kingdoms from them and give them unto the Saints in the whole world made up of both Jews and gentiles Dan. 2. 44. with Dan 7. 22. 27. Rev. 20 4. Matth. 19. 28. Rev. 2. 26 27. In which Kingdom it is clear that the Saints shall rule the Nations of the earth as the earth hath governed them for many years together in this world Psalm 45. 16 The Kingdom being delivered up into their hands then are they freed from the oppression and the oppressour which evil will never anoy the Saints more the Lord will so much restrain and moderate the rage of the wicked Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. Isa 35. 9. Isa 6. 18. Isa 54. 14. Secondly the Saints shall then in an eminent manner be a righteous holy people no hypocrite shall be there Isa 35. 8. Isa 60 21. Zach. 14. 20 21. Revelations 22. 15. Revelations 21. 17. Thirdly The Saints shall be then set wholly free from a timmerous and distracting fearful spirit in duty Zach. 12. 8. Isa 35. 4. Fourthly Their knowledge in all divine as well as in humane things will be wonderful to the administration of those which shall have to do with them yea so great shall the wisdom of the Saints be at that day that those persons who have been accounted the learned and wise of the times before shall be ashamed to acknowledge that ever they were such men Zach. 13. 4. 5. Isa 29. 24. Fifthly There shall so great a spirit of fear and dread drop from their countenances upon the wicked as that the very majesty of their presence will daunt them through the whole earth Cant. 6 10. Sixthly There shall be a mighty spirit of glory upon all the attempts and atchievements which the Saints shall bring forth at that day though now it be clothed with shame and disgrace in the eyes of the world yet then it shall seem otherwise Isaiah 54. 11 12. Isaiah 16. 14 15. Isaiah 66. 10 11 12. Seventhly This Canaan shall afford the Saints all manner of riches plenty and peace Isaiah 60. 78. with 12. 13. verses Zach. 14 14. Revel 21. 7. Revelations 22 2. Psalm 72. 6 7. Eighthly The very heavens and the earth shall receive their primitive excellency and first purities Ezek. 34. 27. Isa 65. 17. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Ninthly In this Canaan God will so bless the substance of it as that he will remove out of the way all these thorns and prickling briars which did any way render our comforts unpleasing to us or did any way imbitter them to our taste as the shortness of life God will take away that Isaiah 65. 20. with ver 22. As likewise God will remove all occasions of loss either as to goods or estate Isa 65. 21 22 23. Also