Why doth the Lord thus Answ. For three reasons 1. Hee will have his people looke for helpe at no hand but his owne who useth in such meanes to helpe as whence no helpe can be expected but onely divine Israel now sees that all the world cannot make a dead serpent prevaile against living serpents but that God of all the world to whom all creatures obey 2. Hee will have his people hereby know and acknowledge the power of his word For it was not the Serpent as it was brasse nor as it was lifted up nor as it was beheld that could heale them but as unto this signe was added the word first of commandement secondly of promise By vertue of which word the infected persons were cured Psal. 107. 20 he sent out his word and healed them Gods word alone can make a Serpent heale and a dead serpent restore to life 3. Hee will shew the mighty power of his arme which hath ever by weake things confounded the mighty See this in examples When God was to save Noah from the deluge one would have thought it fit to have reared him up a mighty turret of iron or Adamant or founded him some invincible building upon some mighty rocke to have resisted the waters But Noah must build himselfe a weak Arke of boords and a little pitch and that must floatal the time and sustane all the waves and billowes without mast sterne or Pilot or any the like meanes to preserve it When God was by Ioshua to demolish the mighty walls of Jericho he bids him not set against it huge engins or warlike Ramms and batteries to batter it seven dayes together but hee must cast downe the walls with looking on them and winne the City by walking about it seven dayes and onely blow upon it with Rammes hornes but not lift an hand or Weapon against it Iosh. 6. When God sends Gideon against an huge army of Midianites to overcome them a man would have thought he would have furnished them with armour of proofe and munition fit for the warre but hee puts into their hands trumpets and pitchers and lampes within the pitchers and bids them not fight but onely make a noyse and so they conquer Iudg. 7. 17. When God is to foyle that mighty Giant Goliah a warriour from his youth who alone at the sight of him made all Israel run away 1 Sam. 17. 24 he chooseth not a man of war and prowess but a poore shepheard David a boy as Saul calls him ver 33. and hee not armed with sword and speare as Goliah was but with a sling and a scrip and five stones with which when he had overthrowne him he borrowed his owne sword to cut off his head These instances in stead of many may serve to shew Gods ordinary custome and delight to effect the greatest matters by weakest meanes and to advance his own power in weakenesse This doctrine may be fruitfully applyed to our present times in which wee see such tumults raysed against the Church such insolencies of the enemy such hopes yea triumphs before victory If God give his Church a check and his people receive a foyle oh how the enemy laughs and boasts and blasphemes as if all were theirs But let us rayse our faith and confidence in considering these grounds 1. God can and doth often worke by unlikely and contrary meanes When he was to multiply Abrahams seed as the starres of heaven he begins his promise with that precept Abraham take thy sonne thy onely sonne and slay him in sacrifice What seemed more diametrally or directly contrary to this promise yet hindred not but furthered it 2. Gods word and promise for the present causes of the Church shall be accomplished either with meanes or without them yea against them God hath determined and in his word foretold the fall of Antichrist and destruction of Babilon Isa. 60. 12 the kingdome that will not serve the Lord shal be destroyed much more that Kingdome which is most opposite to the Lord as this is More specially 2 Thes. 2. 8 whom the Lord shall consume and abolish There is both a consumption and an extinction The former wee have seene the second as certainely remains in short time to be done Rev. 19. 20 21 The beast and the false Prophet shal be taken and their flesh made meat for the fowles of the ayre There is more strength in this word of God then in all Antichristian limbes and captaines All Babylons Physitians shall not heale her for great is the Lord who will destroy her If this be the time it shall forward apace if deferred not forgotten 3. The cause in hand is Gods cause against a Kingdome 1. contrary to Christs whole Kingdome 2. a Kingdome destinated to destruction by God 3. a Kingdome against which Christian Princes are called to sanctifie their swords and to fire her and to retourne double according to the whores workes 4. a Kingdome in which every member is an high blasphemer and ought to dye no eye pittying them 5. a Kingdome an infinite encroacher upon Christian Kings and Kingdomes and disturber of all their common and publike peace by claimes to all Crowns scepters lawes subjection but God is with his cause and therefore it is strong enough 4. The cause is not therefore at an end because foyled nor farther from victory because the party seemes weaker and the meanes incomparable Iudges 20 Israel had the better cause then Benjamin and more number of souldiers and were prudent and expert in warre as it appeares by some stratagems set against the enemie yet was foyled and broken twice because although God had beene sought yet not so seriously as was fit If the Israel of God had sought the Lord so seriously by fasting prayer and sound humiliation the powers of Antichrist could not prevaile But great are the sinnes of the Church which must be corrected and God will be more earnestly sought to be found in so great mercy Againe Salomon observed that the race was not alwaies to the swift nor the battaile to the strong nor for their strength Gedeons armie may be too many for God to give victory by Meanes are to bee used not trusted in and whether they bee likely or unlikely God will save his Church either by them or without them Therefore let the Church looke backe to that of Moses Exod. 14. 14 The Lord shall fight for you and yee shall hold your peace Sect. IV. II. Moses having a commandement shuts his owne eye and makes a brazen Serpent though he had no reason for it And the people having a word of commandement and promise shut the eye of their reason and open the eyes of their faith and by beholding this shape of a Serpent were cured and found life restored not by a thing having life but by a dead thing Learn how the eye of faith must shut up the eye of our reason and having a word
David had a traine 1. Of poore men and received such to him as were in debt 1. Sam. 22. 2. The Sonne of David had a poore traine and not receiveth onely but calleth all unto him that are heavy laden with the burthen of sinnes called debts promising he will ease them 2. Afterwards David had his thirty seven Worthies that valiantly fought his battells 2. Sam. 23. and by their strength carried wonderfull victories So had the Sonne of David his twelve Apostles and seventy two disciples who as worthy and stout Champions fought the Lords spirituall battells and mightily subdued the world under the government of Jesus Christ in whose place are succeeded pastors and teachers to the end 2. His enemies 1. Open and manifest not onely Goliah that defied all Israel but Saul that casts a speare at him that hunts him as a Partridge that sends out for him to bring him to death and the house of Saul Shimei rayling on him and cursing him with an horrible curse besides Amalekites Philistims c. So our Lord Jesus had open hostility against the great Goliah of hell and encountered him hand to hand and conquers him in the wildernesse But Herod hunts his life every where the Pharisees revile him for a deceiver and Demoniack send out for him to take away his life and the people of the Jews pursuing him with all open hatred and hostility even to the death and all the wicked tyrants and enemies as so many Amalekites and Philistims 2. Secret and underhand enemies that should have beene loyall and loving to him even his owne people that flattered him with their mouths but imagined mischiefe against him Psa. 41. 9. Such as Doeg Achitophel Nay he which eat bread with him at his table his familiar that went up to the house of God with him And more then all this he that came out of his owne loynes his owne son Absalom besides the sonnes of his father 1 Sam. 17. 28. So our true David had not onely his owne Jewes and brethren hating him with an horrible hatred and calling his blood upon themselves but his owne Disciple that had beene so familiar with him that went to the house of God often with him that knew all his haunts and waies betraying him and delivering him to bee crucified And thus Christ himselfe expounds that in Psalme 41. 9. of himselfe and Iudas Luk. 22. 21. And therefore Interpretors expound such execrations as Psa. 59. 13. Consume them that they be no more not so much litterally against Saul and other enemies of David as against the Jewes and enemies of Christ shadowed by them and so conceive them as they be Propheticall predictions of Jerusalem and the Jewes forty yeares after Christs ascension and of the present wrath upon the hardened Jewes whose hatred against Christ liveth at this day as the curse liveth on them 3. His deliverances and victories with many of which the Lord honoured him As 1. Saul layes wait every where to take him and pursues him from place to place but Davids feet were made like Hinds feet in expedition to avoid his enemy whether Saul or Absalom who chased him as hunters the silly hare and he escapes them all though narrowly and strangely Christ Jesus was often sought after and laid for by his enemies no kind of snare was undevised to take him in his talke in his doctrine in his life and conversation no meanes unattempted to take his person but hee escaped their hands strangely Sometimes he went through the midst of them all who having strong purpose yet had no power to take him till the time waâ— come that he delivered himselfe 2. Saul having wearied himselfe in pursuit of David sent messengers to take him three severall times 1 Sam. 19. 20. but they among a company of Prophets began to prophecy the spirit of the Lord comming upon them and they went without him So the Pharisees sent messengers to apprehend Christ and bring him before them but comming to him as Sauls messengers to David and hearing his gracious words had no power to take him but went away preaching and proclaiming as they prophecying never man spake like this man Ioh. 7. 46. 3. In the comparison between Saul and David David having slaine Goliah was sung Saul hath slaine his thousand but David his ten thousand 1. Sam. 18. 10. But there is no comparison betweene the victories of David and of this sonne of David who hath slaine the great Goliah the Devill who defied all the host of Israel and not destroyed the devill onely but overcame death hell the grave and chased before him all the armies of sinnes and bands of temptations which come out against the Israel of God 4. in that noble victory David cuts off Goliahs head with his owne sword So in the wildernesse the devill the great Goliah used Scripture against Christ and Christ overthrowes him and cuts off his head by the same sword of the Spirit the word of God And now daily he convinceth the wicked enemies by the testimony of their owne conscience Rom. 2. 15. He needeth no other sword or weapon against them then their owne IV. David was a type of Christ in his Kingdome first in respect of the entrance secondly of the administration thirdly of the continuance or eternity 1. David entred not without strong opposition much contempt and disdaine so our David For of both it was verified the stone which the builders refused is become chiefe stone of the corner No man was more despised of Sauls courtiers then David who was thought farre enough from the Kingdome so no man so much despised and rejected of the Scribes Pharisees chiefe Priests and people as Christ. Barrabas an honest man to him and yet was mightily and unexpectedly invested into his Kingdome by his glorious rising from the dead 2. In his administration David will judge uprightly and sing mercy and judgement he will endure no hatefull person in his presence But our David is the just and righteous Judge of all the world and most sincerely disspenceth mercy to the penitent sinner but feedes the impenitent with judgement 3. In the continuance or eternity God promised mercy to David and his seed for ever which promises are not to be extended to his carnall succession for the princely dignity is taken from them Their glory was eclipsed in the captivity and where be now any of Davids race according to the flesh But the everlasting seed of David is to bee meant 1. Christ himselfe in whom his kingdome is perpetuated 2. The true Israel as well of Gentiles as of Jewes by faith ingrafted into the Messiah in respect of whom shal be no end of his Kingdome Thus in all those speeches wherein David professeth he will praise the Lord among the Gentiles David must be taken as a type of Christ who by his Spirit set forth the praise and true worship of God among
the Nations to the end of the world And so Paul Rom. 15. 9. interprets it of the calling of the Gentiles For David could not doe this literally and in person among whom he never dwelt nor came but onely in him whose type he was V. David was a type of Christ in respect of Christ his propheticall and Priestly office 1. David by his sweet musick allayes Sauls madnesse 1. Sam. 16. 23. Christ by the sweet voyce of the Gospell stills the evill spirits which molest and vexe men and gives them peace and quietnesse in mind and conscience And in the dayes of his flesh how he sought to cure and allay the spirituall madnesse of the wicked Scribes and Pharisees against him is plaine in the story 2. David brings back the Arke to his right place 2. Sam. 6. So did Christ the truth of Gods Law obscured by the false glosses of Scribes and Pharisees and reduced the true sense and meaning of it And freed his Church signified by the Arke from the spirituall thraldome and captivity of the Law 3. David builds an Altar in the grounds of a stranger 2. Sam. 24. 24 namely Araunah the Jebusite The true David builds up a Church among the Gentiles and sets up Gods worship among them that were strangers from the Covenant 4. David offers a sacrifice and the Lord accepts it sending fire from heaven to consume it 2. Sam. 24. 25. Christ offers the most acceptable sacrifice that every was in which both Davids and all ours must be accepted and in which alone the Lord smels a savour of rest I. As the spirit of God came on David after his anoynting 1. Sam. 16. 13 So did it on our true David after his baptizing to fit them to their waighty offices Learne 1. That he that is not fitted and furnished with gifts of the spirit in some measure and attempteth any office in the Church or commonwealth is not called by God whose wisdome will not send a blind man for a seer nor a dumb man on his message or errand Would a man know whether hee have received of this spirit for his office A note is when God stirres up his will in that office to performe all the desire of God Isa. 44. 28 he saith to Cyrus Thou art my shepheard thou shalt performe all my desire The Magistrate is a shepheard he must doe in judgement what God himselfe would doe in repressing vice and cherishing religion else the spirit who is not contrary to himselfe leads him not The Minister is a shepheard hee must speake nothing but what God would speake for the incouraging of grace and disgrace of sinne and sinners God speaks peace to his people and feeds the impenitent with judgement and he that in his ministery doth speake sweetly to wicked men and broacheth a vessell of gall and wormewood for godly men to drinke is not sent by God on that errand hee crosseth the spirit which hee pretendeth 2. Art thou a private Christian see that the same spirit rest on thee and that thou hast received of the same anoynting For 1. he that hath not the spirit is none of Christs and 2. what is it to us that the spirit rest and light upon Christ if he should determine all his fruits and graces upon him But in that the sweete oyntment and Balsame poured upon the head of our high Priest runnes downe to the skirt of his garment that is to the lowest member of his Church Psa 133. 2 hence are we sweetly and admirably refreshed Findest thou emptinesse or want of grace fly to this fulnesse but observe the diverse manner To the head is given the spirit in all fulnesse to us members of that fulnesse Ioh. 1. 16. To him beyond all measure to us according to measure II. That Jesus Christ is the right and undoubted King of his Church of whom David was but a shadow And it will be worth our labour to enquire how farre the truth exceeds the type 1. For originall Davids kingdome and all other Kings and kingdomes are mediately from men either from some meane family as Jshais or some greater house in some corner of the earth But the kingdome of Christ is immediatly and unchangeably from heaven Dan. 2. 44. the God of heaven shall raise up a kingdome that is immediately for mediatly all kingdomes Kings and power is from him 2. In respect of unction All they are annoynted 1. by men 2. with materiall oyle 3. to be temporary Saviours 4. from temporary dangers But Christs annoynting was by the Spirit of God with more divine and excellent oyle above all his fellowes Psal. 45. 7. that he might be a spirituall and eternall Saviour a Jesus saving his people from their sinnes and such spirituall evills as pertaine to the life to come 3. Their titles are stately and glorious David as an Angell of God as the woman of Tekoah said so Caesar Augustus Charles the great Constantine Alexander the great to set out their glory But all these are nothing to the true and undoubted title of Jesus Christ who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. And if this were too little he hath another for he is God and man in one Person our Immanuel a style too high for Pope or Potentate for men or Angels Isay 7. 14. 4. Their Scepters are of metal gold or silver which they hold in their hands and by them they save or slay innocent or nocent But his Scepter is but verball which he holds in his mouth the word and breath of his mouth more pure then the gold of Ophir more potent then all the Scepters of all Kings put together By this he slayes the wicked Hos. 6. 5. I slew them with the word of my mouth 2. Thes. 2. 8. he shall slay that wicked man of sinne with the breath of his mouth Other Kings by their Scepters can kill men but cannot make them alive againe when they have done but Christ by his word can quicken and make alive dead soules and bodies They by theirs can be dreadfull to men Christ by his drives backe devils diseases death and all adversary power 5. In port and state 1. Their banners and ensignes expresse their noble acts and the honourable exployts of them and their progenitors which are glorious in the eyes of men Christs banner for his kingdome of grace is his Crosse or rather the Gospell a doctrine of the Crosse to the world foolishnesse or basenesse but in his kingdome of glory the signe of the sonne of man that is such glory and power as agrees to none else 2. Their servants and attendants must be rich stately noble and the sonnes of great Princes must be nearest to attend them Christ Jesus in contempt of what the world admireth will have his servants poore meeke lowly not such lofty Lords as so farre excell the Emperour in worldly glory as the Sunne
the Moone the Popes ridiculous claime and yet they be sonnes of God heires of heaven brethren of Christ and of the royallest blood that ever was 3. When they ride in progresse they shew their state pompe and worldly glory Great Alexander gets upon his Bucephalus Pompey triumphs upon an Elephant Anthony rides upon Lyons Aurelianus upon Harts and bucks Christ had his kingdome beene of this world could have imitated them But while he was in the world to shew that his kingdome had no similitude nor correspondency with the pomps of earthly kingdomes in his progresse hee gets on an asse and instead of a saddle of state he had poore mens clothes spread under him But when he shall shew his glory he shall ride upon the Clouds as on an horse with such attendants and majesty as all the Potentates on earth were never capable of nor shal be able to behold 6. In amplitude and absolutenesse They will be free Monarchs and commanders their will and every word of theirs must be a Law But never was any kingdome absolutely Monarchicall but Christs al earthly Kings ever held in fee of him By me Kings raigne Never any other included all kingdomes of the world in it and under it but this Never any to whom all Princes were subiect but this Never was there any of them which shall not be broken to peeces by this little stone if it stand in opposition against him Dan. 2. 45. 7. In dispensing justice 1. They must judge by evidence and proofe by the sight of their eyes and hearing of their eares but he shall not doe so Isa. 11. 3. For he shall try and discerne the reynes and secrets of all hearts and shall judge things as they be not as they seeme David judged according to the hearing of his eare rashly against Mephibosheth Christ shall not doe so 2. They can pronounce their subjects just and innocent but he can make them innocent and just communicating his owne righteousnesse to them which no Prince can doe 1. Cor. 1. 30. He is made to us righteousnesse 8. In meanes of upholding and maintaining 1. They must winne holds as David Sions for t and enlarge themselves by force of armes dint of sword multitude of souldiers But Christ sends but twelve unarmed poore men who wonne and subdued the whole world with the word onely in their mouths such a word as was the greatest enemy to the world and corrupt fashions of it This is the weapon mighty under God to cast downe holds 2. They if they want men money munition must despaire of attaining or retaining their rights But Christs kingdome being neither set up nor held up by military power shall be upheld by the invisible and secret power of the spirit If all worldly power be against it never despaire it thrives best in opposition 9. In things to be attained In them the best things are honour pleasure externall prosperity and this for a time But Christs Kingdome stands not in meat or drink but in righteousnesse peace of conscience joy in the holy Ghost in grace here and glory hereafter The wealth of Christs subject is to be rich in grace rich in good works his honour to be of the stock and linage of Christ his pleasure a patient and painfull expectation of the pleasures at Gods right hand And these being eternall the kingdome of Christ must needs be eternal now this being the glory of the kingdom of Christ we have need of faith to discerne it and a great measure of humility before wee can resolve to become subjects of it The theefe on the Crosse asking Christ to remember him in his Kingdome Augustine askes him What Royalty doest thou see Seest thou any other crowne then that of thornes any other Scepter then Iron nayles any other purple then blood any other Throne then a wooden Crosse any other gard then executioners Was there now so great faith in Israel Let our faith touch the top of this Scepter let us submit our selves to his word for the present and cast our eye beyond the present upon his second comming when wee shall see him ride upon a white horse not upon garments but upon the Clouds in power and great glory entring not Jerusalem but the stage of the whole world to render unto every man even Kings according as they have done in the flesh good or evill III. David was called and annoynted to bee King but betweene that and the installing or enjoying of his Kingdome he had many troubles doubts and feares that made him stagger and say I shall surely one day fall by the hand of Saul So was the true David Jesus Christ annoynted with the fulnesse of the Spirit and called to be King of his Church but before his installation into his Kingdome many afflictions persecutions feares yea death it selfe overtooke him for our sakes Isa. 53. Wherein he said My God why hast thou forsaken me So must it be with us who must be content to suffer before we can raigne to be crowned first with thornes as Christ was and stand with Christ on Mount Golgotha before we come to Mount Olivet see Acts 14. 22. It is so ordained by God that we should make our way through a straite to state through thornes to Roses through troubles to rest through stormes to the haven through vertue to glory through conquest to triumph through warre to peace through the Crosse to heaven And this processe God the father strictly observed with his beloved son as was necessary Luk. 24. 26. Phil. 2. 8 9 he was humbled therefore God exalted him And this is the Lords honour to honour his servants raised from the dunghill that they may know the way to glory lyes by humility IV. It was ever the lot of the Church to have in it secret and inbred enemies as David and Christ had even such as eat bread at his table and dipped in the dish and these have alwaies prooved more mischievous then open and forraigne enemies The Church ever had hypocrites and false brethren Satans spyes who professing the same Christ and religion eating bread at the same table of the Lord and making shew of friendship in the communion of Saints joyning in the hearing of the word and prayer yet watch the haunts of Gods servants to spy their weakenesse and where they lye open to advantage Every one sees they advantage not themselves but by all meanes undermine the Gospell and professors so as the silly dove of Christ can find no rest for the soale of her foot And never was the Church so wounded as in the house of her friends Cant. 1. 5. The sonnes of my mother were angry against me This being the estate of the Church to be hunted as the silly hare from one Mush to another and no where safe it must make us 1. more wary 2. desire our rest 3. love that promise Come with me from Lebanon
In the building 1. Salomon according to the wisdome and large heart which God gave him built God an house wherein he dwelt at Jerusalem for God kept house and fire in Sion Isa. 31. 9. and Salomon set him up a standing house Our true Salomon builds an house for God even for the blessed Trinity to dwel in Not a materiall house of stones or of gold silver wood marble but a spiritual house of living stones And as the house is spirituall so are the meanes and instruments he useth His rule is the word of God Psa. 19. 4. Their line is gone forth through all the earth and their words into the ends of the world The hammer by which he hewes and polisheth these rugged stones is the same word or doctrine of the Law The cement by which he couples them to the head is faith and to the members is love and charity 2. Salomon being to build his Temple could not find matter enough for his building in his owne country of Judea but sent abroad to Hiram a Gentile and to Pervaim now Peru as some thinke and to other farre and remote parts for supply So our Salomon for his spirituall building gathers matter not onely out of Judea his owne ancient people but contracts friendship with the Gentiles and these come in out of the most remote parts of all the world to set forward that building therefore the Church is now Catholike 3. Salomon prepared great stones to lay in the foundation of the house 1. King 5. 17. but as great and costly as they were they could not uphold that house but it must fall to ruine and destruction Our true Salomon by inimitable art layes himselfe a foundation in Sion an elect precious and chiefe corner stone Vpon which firme foundation he so aptly layes and knits every living stone that is every beleever that all the gates of hell cannot prevaile against any one of them Mat. 16. 18. 4. Salomon in that building prepared and hewed stones in Mount Lebanon 1. King 6. 7. and being so squared and fit not an axe or hammer nor any toole of Iron was heard while the house was a building Our Salomon admits no stone into his building which is not first prepared and initiated by the word and Sacraments and being fitted layes them on the foundation without any more shaking by hammer or hatchet and knits them to the other stones by the durable cement of Christian love and charity so as now the noyse of contention nor blowes of bitternesse and hatred are heard among them any more 2. In dedication of the Temple 1. Salomon consecrated that house to the service of God by solemne prayer imploring his eye of protection upon it and his presence with it upon all occasions and necessâ—ties 1. King 8. 14. Our Salomon hath also dedicated his house and by solemne prayer commended it to the care and custody of his heavenly father Nothing needfull for his Church hath hee forgotten to procure for it not onely by that most effectuall and meritorious prayer but also by his continuall intercession now in heaven for it 2. In that dedication Salomon framed a most excellent prayer the forme of which is registred in Scripture but our Salomon hath delivered us a forme and patterne of prayer which is a great part of the riches of the new Testament above the old 3. In ordering the Temple that is in the constitution of Gods true and publike worship in that Temple in appointing the severall offices and officers of it A type of Jesus Christ who ascending on high appointed the officers of his Church some Prophets some Apostles some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the building up of the body of Christ Eph. 4. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 5 there are many administrations but the same Lord. VI. Salomon was a type of Christ in wise dispensing and administring justice 1. in respect of gifts 2. of execution or manifesting them 1. For the gifts they are notably signified in Salomons Throne which was exalted above all the Thrones of all Princes described 1. King 10. 18. 1. The matter was Ivory and gold wherewith it shined Signifying the sincere and upright disposition of Salomon to justice and equity shunning all corruption and by-respects which make men pervert Justice And as these vertues made Salomons throne to shine so the royall throne of Christ is a throne of Justice a great white Throne Rev. 20. 11. Nothing but sincerity and purity proceeds thence Hee justifies no wicked person or cause nor takes the ungodly by the hand 2. The state of it The King ascended to it by sixe stayres signifying that the King riseth above all his subjects many degrees in practise of many vertues wisdome prudence justice fortitude piety So Christs Throne is infinitely exalted above all Princes above men Angels dominations principalities thrones and set at the right hand of God and himselfe as infinitely transcendeth all creatures in practice of all graces in perfection of all holinesse 3. The figure was round signifying the perfection and simplicity of the minde in the Judge discerning causes who could not abide any deceitfull fraudulent or hypocriticall courses or corners Such is the Throne of Christ in whom was never found guile nor deceit neither can he abet or not hate it in any 4. There were two pillers or barres to beare up the armes of Salomon signifying the rewards and defence of good men and the punishment and repressing of evill men by the power of his arme whereby Kings and kingdomes are sustained So our Lord Jesus upholds his kingdome by reward and punishment and in the last day shall set the sheepe at his right hand and the goats on his left 5. Two Lyons of gold standing by the stayes noting the power and fortitude of the King whose strength is as the strength of Lyons against enemies and to put in execution wise and soveraigne counsells But Salomons strength was weakenesse to the strength of Christ who as a couragious Lyon of the tribe of Judah shall teare and spoyle his enemies and none shall rescue Hos. 5. 14. 6. The foote stoole of it was of gold 2. Chr. 9. 18. to note the freedome of the King from covetousnesse that he ought to have his wealth under his feet and so master them as they neither overcome nor corrupt him So Christ the Judge of the world most perfectly despised the world and at his appearing shall set it under his feet and burne it 2. For administring according to those gifts Salomon did with such admirable wisdome judge betweene the two harlots for the living child as all Israel hearing the judgement feared the King for they saw that the wisdome of God was in him to doe justice 1. King 3. 28. But our Salomon is the just Judge of all the world who shall passe a righteous sentence betweene the godly and the wicked in that great
in thy calling and the rocke shall yeeld thee water rather then thou shalt be destitute in Gods way or worke V. In both learne to contemne the greatest and extreamest perill in Gods causes Sampson offered himselfe to death so did Christ hee went out to meet his enemies so must thou learne not to love thy life to the death Revel 12. 11. and with Paul not count thy life deare to finish thy course with joy For a man to thrust himselfe in hazard or venture his life without warrant from God or by his owne private motion is rash but God calling in standing against the enemies of the Church it is honourable In both learne to prepare for death approaching by faithfull and fervent prayer So did both these Sampsons And the issue will bee comfortable as theirs that all thy life and combat shall not give such an overthrow to thy enemies as such a death though enemies seeme never so much to prevaile CHAP. X. 9. David a type of Christ in 5. respects AS all the Kings of Israel were expresse types of Jesus Christ the head of his Kingdome and of all the people of God as they in their times were So were there two of them that were more manifest figures of him then all the rest I meane David and Solomon Of both which wee are to enquire wherein the resemblance consisteth David was so speciall a type of Christ as scarce is any thing noted of Christ but some shadow of it might be observed in David I. For his person David the son of Iesse Christ the true rod out of the stocke of Iesse Isai. 11. 1. Both of obscure and low parentage Both out of dry and despicable roots Both Kings Both Kings of Israel Both their Kingdomes raised out of humility Both men after Gods owne heart Both Davids for even this roote of Iesse was not onely commonly called by the name of the sonne of David but of the name of David himselfe Ezech. 34. 24. My servant David shall bee the Prince among them which was longafter David was dead Ieremiah 30. 9. they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them Hosea 3. 5. they shall seeke the Lord their God and David their King that is not the typicall King David dead long before but the Messiah the true David to whom onely prayer and spirituall worship belongs II. For his vocation and calling 1. Both called to be the head of nations Psal. 18. 43. thou hast made me the head of nations which was not literally true of David who was properly King of one little corner in Iudea but of Christ the true David whose Kingdome was from sea to sea and to the worlds end David of a shepherd of sheepe was raised to bee a shepherd of men even of Gods people So was Christ raised of God to be the chiefe shepherd of the flocke 1. Pet. 5. 4. And not of bodies as David but of soules 1. Pet. 2. 25. 2. The time when David was anointed about the thirtieth yeare of his life 2. Sam. 5. 4 and Christ was baptized at thirty yeares and invested into his Office 3. The place where David made choice of Ierusalem for his royall seate and Metropolis being anointed of God to the Kingdome of Israel So Christ being anointed the everlasting King of all the Israel of God makes choice of Ierusalem there to rule and shew his power upon the Crosse his chariot of triumph crowned with a crowne of thornes and after in his glorious resurrection ascension sending the Spirit the Gospel And as David added some of the borderers to the kingdome of Israel as himselfe saith strangers were subdued to him So the true David adds to the Church the whole body of the Gentiles and hath by the preaching of the Gospel the sword of his mouth subdued the world to himselfe 4. The gifts fitting him to this function As when David was anointed the Spirit of God came upon him 1. Sam 16. 13. and fitted him to the governement of Gods people So our true David Jesus Christ anointed with oyle above all his fellowes had the Spirit of God descending upon him in a visible shape and by that anointing filled and furnished with the Spirit and all needfull graces for the administring of his Kingdome 5. As David was preferred above all his brethren in foure speciall graces So was Jesus Christ above David himselfe 1. In wisedome and prudence 1. Sam. 16. 18. the servants of Saul observed David to bee wise in matters and the Lord was with him and Chap. 18. verse 14 15. when Saul saw that David was very wise hee was afraid of him Our true David had all treasures of wisedome and knowledge the Spirit of wisedome and understanding the Spirit of counsel rested upon him Isai. 11. 2. who is therefore called the great Counseller Isai. 9. 6. whose counsels are farre beyond Ahitophels his werâ— as the Oracles of God Christs were so And our true David gets beyond his type David in many things by his owne confession did very foolishly Our true David never did any thing but the wisedome of God shined in it with whom not onely God was but because hee was God 2 In fortitude and magnanimity without which counsell were bootlesse by which hee was able to encounter with a Lion a Beare with Goliah and all that rose up against him or his people A man fitted for peace or warre with counsell and strength Whose description in part is contained in the forecited place 1. Sam. 16. 18. strong valiant a man of warre and wise in matters A type of our true David who for fortitude is the invincible Lion of the tribe of Iudah and not a valiant man onely but the strong God Isai. 9. 6. the mighty God See Tit. 2. 13. 3. In gifts of prophecy He was able to sing divine Psalmes and hymnes to the praise of God an holy pen-man of the Scripture A type of Christ the true Prophet of his Church not a pen-man but the Authour of all the holy Scriptures David a Prophet Christ the Lord of all holy Prophets 4. In gifts of true sanctification and holinesse being a man after Gods owne heart commended for his uprightnesse in all matters save that of Vriah A type of Jesus Christ who by the devils confession was the holy One of God 1. Himselfe being sanctified beyond all measure 2. Being the sanctifier of his people the Authour meritour and applier of all sanctifying graces to his members of whom himselfe is head 3. In his type were many foule spots In him no spot nor staine Therefore the Church sings out his holinesse from topp to toe Cant. 5. 10. and concludes him wholly faire and delectable verse 16. III. David was a type of Christ in his warres First in respect of his followers secondly of his enemies thirdly of his victories 1. His followers
bee troden under foot signifying the preciousnesse of the blood of Christ 1. in respect of God 2. of Christ 3. of the Church For 1. God the Father highly prizeth this blood and saves it in a golden vessell that it may be ever before him and that the streames of it may pacifie his displeasure and confirme the Covenant of grace with his Church Whence it is called the blood of the Covenant Heb. 9. 18 2. It was precious in regard of Jesus Christ seeing every drop of it was the blood not of an innocent man onely but of one that was God as well as man Act. 20. 28. God with his owne blood purchased the Church and therefore it was a blood of infinite vertue and infinite merit 3. Every true member of the Church doth most highly esteeme it as the most precious thing in all the world and with great care and reverence receives it into the vessell of precious and saving faith and there keepes it safely as men doe their most precious commodities 2. The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled upon the lintell and side posts of the doores of the Israelites vers 22. 1. In that it must be sprinkled it signified that the blood of Christ must be applied unto us for our righteousnesse stands not in the shedding of Christs blood but in sprinkling and application of Christs blood shed and sprinkled upon our soules and consciences to purge them from dead works 2. It must be sprinkled upon the posts and doores so as the Israelites could neither go out of doores nor in but they must see on all sides the blood of the lamb signifying that they and wee should both at home and abroad going forth and comming in and on all occasions have the passion of Jesus Christ before our eyes in the holy meditation and deep contemplation of it 3. It was not enough for the Jew that the lamb was slaine and the blood shed within the house but it must be sprinkled without doores that every man might see it and signifyed that if Christ blood and the merit of it be shed in the houses of our hearts for justification and righteousnesse the sprinkling of it will appeare and bee seene without in holy life and practise of sanctification 3. This blood of the lamb must not bee sprinkled with the bare hands but with a bunch of hyssope dipt in the blood vers 22 which signified that every one which puts forth his hand is not sprinkled with Christs blood unlesse he have provided this bunch of hyssope Hyssope is faith and faith resembles this herbe in foure things 1. It is a ground herbe low and weake so faith in it selfe and in us is weake fraile feeble and of most despised Neither hath every man that hath hyssope in his garden this bunch of hyssope in his heart 2. Rooting in a rocke for so it used among the Jews whence some thought it to bee Pellitory of the wall Faith roots it selfe upon the rocke Jesus Christ and cannot grow or prosper in any other soile Other hyssope roots in earth this in heaven 3. It is an herbe cleansing and curing Faith onely is an herbe of soveraigne vertue both to purifie the heart Act. 15. 9 and to heale all the wounds of conscience Act. 16. 31. the Gaoler wounded and pricked in heart must beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ and bee saved Our Lord himselfe was wont to say to distressed persons According to thy faith bee it to thee 4. It was fitter then other herbes for the receiving and sprinkling of liquor so faith although a low and weake plant is onely fit to receive the precious liquor of the blood of Christ. Onely faith draws vertue from Christ as in the poore woman that stood behind Christ Marke 5. 34. And the want of this bunch of hyssope disables Christ from doing thee any good Christ could doe nothing in Capernaum for their unbelief I. Note hence how wee are to prize and magnifie the blood of Christ. For if the shadow of this precious blood must be so preserved so carefully saved in a costly vessell how much more ought the blood it selfe Quest. How may I prize the blood of Christ Answ. 1 Consider with the dignity of the person the infinite value of it That it is able to purchase the whole Church of God Act. 20. 28. which a thousand worlds of wealth could not doe No wealth in heaven or earth besides this can redeeme one soule And therefore the Apostle 1. Pet. 1. 19. sets this precious blood against all corruptible things as gold and silver and things so much set by amongst men 2. Consider the precious things which it procures us both in earth and in heaven 1. Here below it procures us foure things 1. Reconciliation and peace with God Rom. 3. 25. and Ephes. 2. 13. wee which were farre off are made neere by the blood of Christ. 2. A sweet tranquillity of mind and peace of conscience which all worldly treasure cannot purchase because now wee are within the Covenant of God living in his love which is better then life and in this love is no lacke but an abundant supply of all needfull things All which Covenant of grace is made and ratified by this blood therefore called the blood of the Covenant Heb. 9. 3. Victory against all the malignity of our spirituall enemies even the greatest Satan himselfe who is overcome by the blood of the lamb Revel 12. 11. 4. Immunity and safety from all the judgements and dangers threatned against our sinnes else had we died without mercy for despising Moses law Heb. 10. 28. For if there were such force in the blood of the type that by the effusion of it the Israelites lay safe and untouched of the revenging Angel Heb. 11. 28 much more in this blood of Jesus Christ to cover beleevers in his Name from the hand of Gods revenge due to our transgressions 2. This precious blood now in heaven procures us the most needfull and excellent good things above all that wee can imagine Especially two wayes 1. By opening heaven for our prayers for this blood pleads for us now in heaven and speaks better things for us then the blood of Abel Heb. 12. 24. That called for vengeante against the sinner this intreateth for daily grace for daily sinnes and procures daily mercies for daily supplies 2. As to our prayers so this blood openeth heaven to our persons This blood onely rents the vaile asunder and makes a way into the holy of holies and gives entrance into the kingdome of heaven Heb. 10. 19. by the blood of Jesus we are bold to enter into the holy place This blood is the onely key that unlocks heaven for else the Lord dwells in light which no flesh can have accesse to 1 Tim. 6. 16. namely without Christ and the shedding of his blood II. Is the blood of Christ so precious
Aegyptian to drowne an Israelite I. To note the mighty power of God who can still and over-master the mighty raging of the sea which we see here in that its water dry land sands and shoare observe the providence of God and serve for his peoples safety Israel saw the mighty power of God herein Exo. 14. 31. Let us also behold the glory of God herein and feare before him as they did Let not us be more senselesse than the senselesse creatures but heare his voice runne out of our owne nature to observe his voice sounding in the Scriptures and Ministery of the Gospell II. To see and consider the state of the Church and people of God Canaan whither they goe is a fine and fertile country but the way is asperous and dangerous They are still as it were in the bottome of the sea enemies implacable at their heeles in infinite numbers seas of waters dreadfull to behold on both hands yea rising over their heads as mountaines threatning to fall over them and after a deepe sea a terrible wildernesse takes them in which is no meanes for meat drinke nor cloath A man would thinke no man could deale so with his children and yet Gods wisedome sees this the fittest way to Canaan He sees how 1. Every small content glewes us to our Aegypt 2. What sluggs we are in the way farther then we are chased out 3. How little we care for dependance on himselfe when we are full of naturall comforts 4. That Canaan is so rich a land as is worthy all our labour and suffering Apply this note to awake thee out of thy ease and carnall slumber If thy way be so easie and pleasing to flesh sure it leads not to Canaan suspect it The Israelites going into Aegypt had no enemies nor troubles meeting them but going into Canaan they had nothing else Strait is the way that leads to life and all the way to heaven is strowed with crosses Apply it also to secure thee in thy troubles Art thou in a deepe danger or sorrow like the bottome of the sea It is no worse with thee then with the rest of the people of God No affliction overtakes thee but the same hath befalne the Saints in the world Hold on to Canaan and all is safe Canaan is worth all Happy thou if thou canst get to Canaan though thy passage be through the bottome of the sea III. To observe what a many comforts this great worke of God will load us withall that are willing to carry them away For I. The Lord in strange and unwonted dangers can worke new and unwonted remedies for his children As we heard before that fire shall not burne them so here the sea at his word of restraint shall not drowne them He can make a wall of water more strong for them than a wall of Adamant yea himselfe according to their need will be to them either a wall of fire or water II. What danger can prevaile against the Church if all these dangers on all hands above them below them afore them behind them at once cannot sinke them No All the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it Every maine affliction is like a maine Red sea which threatens to swallow us up but it shall in the issue onely preserve the Church What we have most cause to feare the Lord maketh most helpfull and soveraigne The very raging sea rather then they shall perish shall open her lappe as a tender mother to receive them from the rage of Pharaoh and his pursuing army Nay the land of Goshen shall not be halfe so bountifull to them as these waters which gave them freedome victory and the spoiles and riches remaining upon the dead bodies of their enemies III. How unweariably the Lord sets himselfe to overcome all difficulties for his servants What had it beene to have passed the oppressors of Aegypt and to have beene swallowed up of the sea Therefore hee makes a new way where never any way lay before in the bottome of the sea Afterwards he makes a dry and barren wildernesse comfortable to them dryes up Jordan as strangely for their passage gives them a daily harvest of Mannah from heaven breaks a rock to give them water and happily in time finisheth their long and tedious journey Even so the godly going out of Aegypt departing from the kingdome of the devill and hastning out of the world towards heaven come presently into a deepe sea not pursued onely by the fury of tyrants and enemies but every where threatned with dangers wants and death it selfe yet the Lord breakes for them one toyle after another and happily guides them through a deepe sea of miseries and never leaves them till they recover the shoare and arrive safely at the haven of salvation where their songs shall be louder then their cryes were and a mighty deliverance shall swallow up all their danger IV. Here is comfort against the feare of enemies 1. Spirituall enemies For here we have both a confirmation and resemblance of the eternall delivery of the Church from the tyranny of the hellish Pharaoh which in spight of him is led through a sea of tribulation every where ready to overwhelme it into the promised rest of everlasting life Againe wee see here our sinnes also cast into and drowned in the bottome of the Red sea Mic. 7. 19. These are the strongest and fiercest enemies that pursued us to death but these our furious sinnes as so many Aegyptians are drowned in the sea of Christs blood and extinct in the waters of Baptisme Aug Psal. 113. 2. Temporall enemies How can the Aegyptians hope to stand before Israell to whom the waters give way so strangely The enemy shall find the same sea a wall and a well a safety and a death Let enemies looke here as the heathen did and let their hearts saint as theirs to see God make the sea a wall a lane yea a lappe for his people Let them behold the ordinary worke of God who commonly joynes the salvation of his Church with the destruction of the enemies So for Mordecaies advancement and the Churches deliverance Haman must be hanged and his posterity destroyed as in a ballance if one scoale goe up downe goes the other IV. The godly to partake of these comforts must learne 1. To labour for increase of faith for by faith they passed through the Red sea Heb. 11. 29. So must thou get faith for thy vessell to passe thee through Faith in tryall is a great victory in the bottome of the sea in deepest afflictions it is most glorious It is nothing to beleeve in prosperity but in desperation to beleeve in the bottome of the sea to stand still yea in the bottome of hel to hope for heaven there is faith 2. To joyne to Gods people Let not the Aegyptian thinke the way is made for him Except thou goest out with Israell as Exod. 12. 38. the sea will know thee for an
enough but be daily gathering and answering the daily meanes afforded by Gods gracious wisdome as did the Jews III. His wisdome is seene in that he giveth them no manna on the Sabbath but for the Sabbath a double portion on the day before For 1. the Sabbath day is not to seeke temporall food and manna but spirituall and eternall 2. He will not have his Sabbath and service interrupted therefore he gives them a double portion the day before 3. Hee will not have them losers by being intent in his service but as a liberall paymaster allowes them as largely as any other day Let this teach us 1. to nourish the care of Gods worship above the care of our life and more intend the businesse of the soule then of the body So our Saviour first seeke the kingdome of God and then other things 2. to become more conscionable in the keeping of the Sabbath not seeking this day after earthly but heavenly things alone For consider 1. The Lords liberality in giving thee not a sixt day but sixe whole daies wherein to gather earthly manna and wilt thou encroach his day too 2. his liberality in giving thee manna for the seaventh day blessing the labour of the sixe daies and thereby binding thy hands from labour on the seventh IV. His wisedome is seene in giving to every man his Gomer and every man hath his measure 1. to measure their desires by Gods measure 2. that no man should have just cause of discontent for hee had a sufficient measure for necessity and God was not bound to provide for their wantonnesse 3. that no man might envy another mans disproportion seeing no man had want no man might have superfluity Let us learne hence 1. To gather no more of this earthly Manna then God would have us to gather Quest. How shall I know Gods measure for me Answ. 1. That which his blessing by good and warrantable meanes affordeth is his measure and to transgresse Gods word in seeking or getting wealth is to goe beyond Gods measure 2. Neither to lay up nor to keep any of this manna without or against God Goods well gotten shall stand and prosper as manna gathered in the sixe dayes But gather this manna on the seaventh day or lay up without and against Gods commandement that is to say that which thou gettest falsly or well gotten which thou shouldst expend for Gods glory and the charitable reliefe of the poore members of Jesus Christ but doest not all that shall rot and stinke as stolen manna did Sect. 6. II. In respect of our selves also we learne sundry instructions from the consideration of both the mannahs the typicall and the true manna These instructions concerne 1. our estate 2. our duty 1. Concerning our estate To note how senselesse and void of understanding every man is by nature in the things of God and Jesus Christ Exod. 16. 15. None of the Jewes knew what the manna was No more doth any man know by nature the things of the Spirit of God 1. Cor. 2. 14. The naturall man perceiveth not the things of God If he perceive them not in his understanding much lesse can he receive them in his affection Tell the Jew of Christ or let the Jew heare Christ himselfe speaking of himselfe the manna and bread of life they conceive he is bread for the belly they must eate him up straight Ioh. 6. 52. Tell Nicodemus of the new birth he can conceive no second nativity but of going into his mothers wâ—mbe againe being old Ioh. 3 4. Tell the Samaritan of the water of life she cannot conceive whence to have it if not out of Iacobs well which hee and his cattell dranke Ioh. 4. 12. Nay such is our palpable blindnesse in spirituall things as we cannot onely not finde them but even offered unto us as the manna to them we cannot apprehend them nay wee cannot but reject them as that woman of Samaria Jesus Christ offers himselfe unto her she scorns him and will not make nor meddle with him Ioh. 4. 9. The reason whereof is partly in the things themselves and partly in our selves 1. The things are things of Gods spirit and cannot be reached or judged by any rule in nature For the things of creation the heathen knew them in part from God as God Rom. 1. 19 But for the things of Sanctification as that God the Father by his Sonne made the world or that God the Sonne by his Spirit made a new world here they are blind as moles Nay even in this part of knowledge the naturall man asketh what engines or tooles could God get to reare such a frame and will not beleeve it could be made with a word It will aske of what prejacent matter and will not beleeve that so great a thing could be made of nothing whereas we by faith understand that the world was framed by the word of God Heb. 11. 3. How blind then must they needs be in spirituall things that are blind in things naturall 2. The reason in our selves is that we are wedded to our own apprehensions and not easily led out of our conceits as vessels hardly let goe the savour of the first liquor wee will measure all by the standard of naturall reason and by the scantling of our owne senses Apply this observation 1. To see our impotency nay the contrariety of our nature to Gods grace Where is our free will to good In what disposition stands darknesse to entertaine light which fights against it But yee were darknesse saith the Apostle not darke or darkned but darknesse it selfe Nay yee were dead in trespasses and sinnes Eph. 2. 5. not halfe dead as the Samaritan but whole dead Now let all the Papists in the world teach us how a dead man can dispose and prepare himselfe to life And let us know how a privation of it selfe can regresse to an habit 2. To see what neede wee have of the Ministery to helpe us unto the true Manna Moses must tell the people Exod. 16. 15. This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eate So must the ministers of the Gospell acquaint all the Israel of God with Christ the true manna by the word preached and say This is the bread of life which came downe from heaven in whom aloneis full nourishment to eternall life Nothing is good to salvation but by Gods revelation If the word preached doe not teach thee Christ the true manna thou never knowst him of thy selfe Let us pitty and pray for the lamentable blindnesse not of Popish recusants only but of wilfull and carelesse absenters of themselves from the house of God whose Judgement is just if they never come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 3. Hath Christ beene made knowne to thee that thou hast tasted the sweetnesse of him in the Gospell As Christ said to Peter so I say to thee Happy art thou for flesh and blood hath