Asham though it is used for sin in general yet it seems to imply in a more special sense sins of an higher nature such as are committed with more deliberation or with more consent of will or against more light or with less of temptation or more of injury unto others sins of a more grievous and heinous nature for the same word signifies also desolation and laying waste Isai 24.6 therefore hath the Curse devoured the earth and they that dwell therein are desolate vajeshmu And in the same sense is this word used elsewhere e. g. Psal 5.10 destroy them O God desolato eos tanquam reos Buxtorf Moreover there be Instances given here in the Trespass Offering of gross sins against light and knowledg conscience-wasting soul-desolating sins as lying cheating perjury Cap. 6.2 3. And we may therefore render Asham piaculum The issue then is this That the Sin Offering relates to those involuntary infirmities which are unavoidable while there is a body of sin and death dwelling in us and which are consistent with assurance and sincerity But the Trespass-Offering to those greater conscience wasting and soul-desolating sins which are inconsistent with assurance and true Communion with God though it includes some lesser sins yet it extends to these also 2. The second Law of the Sin-Offering is this That there is a various matter of this Offering for four sorts of persons that sin and miss the way which indeed are the Analysis of this Chapter 1. For the anointed Priest a young Bullock vers 3. 2. For the whole Congregation a young Bullock vers 13. 3. For the Ruler a Kid of the Goats a Male without blemish vers 22. 4. For any particular person a Kid or else a Lamb a Female without blemish vers 27. And so the Chapter divides it self into these four parts 1. The Sin Offering for the anointed Priest is a young Bullock c. vers 3 to 13. There is some difficulty upon this Who is meant by the anointed Priest Some restrain it to the High Priest only because none but he was anointed with material Oyl The word in the Text is Hachohen hammashiach the Priest that is anointed vers 3. But if this be restrained to the High Priest only the question will be what shall become of the other inferior Priests Is there no Sin Offering Is there no Expiation for their sins and sailings Doubtless there is But we cannot well refer them amongst the common people of the Land the Priests and people being so continually distinguished every where throughout the Scripture Therefore it seems more congruous to conceive as some do that all the Priests are here included and that the word anointed intends no more but dedicated consecrated set apart unto that work and office or that it may refer to that first Consecration of them in Aaron their Fore-father Exod. 29.7 And thou shalt take the anointing Oyl and pour it upon his head and anoint him The Law is if he shall sin le ashamath hyam according to the sin of the people as our Translation renders it that is like one of the common people For the Priests were not made infallible or impeccable by their Office and therefore had need to offer for their own sins as well as for the peoples Heb 5.2 3. It is not to be restrained only to such sins of his as wherein he seduceth and draws the people aside to sin with him or whereby he brings publick Judgments upon them as some have rendred it si delinquere fecerit populum and others si deliquerit in populi noxam For then here were no relief for him as to all his other failings in the discharge and execution of his trust and office in the house of God and in his own private and personal walkings Therefore it must be understood in the largest and most comprehensive sense for any sin or failing of weakness in any of the Priests Let him bring a young Bullock for his Sin Offering 2. For the whole Congregation a Bullock vers 13. the whole body of the people collectively taken the same that was appointed for the Priest though with some difference in the Rites There the Priest but here the Elders as in the name of the people being to lay their hands upon the Head of the Sacrifice 3. For the Ruler a Kid a Male vers 22. Nasi Princeps quasi elatus super alios from Nasa exaltavit tulit that is any Civil Ruler that is raised or lifted up above others The word is used not only concerning Kings and chief Magistrates as Ezek. 34.24 but concerning inferior Rulers also Exod. 16.22 And all the Rulers of the Congregation came and told Moses c. Numb 16.2 4. For any of the common people their Sin Offering is a Kid a Female vers 27. or else a Lamb a Female vers 32 to the end of the Chapter Now from this second Law of the Sin-Offering namely this various matter of it for so many sorts of persons that sin we may learn these Instructions before we proceed to the third Law 1. That the anointed Priest may err Therefore the Bishop of Rome if he were an Officer of Christ he might err and miss his Mark though being Antichrist it may be granted to him that he seldom errs from his Scope it being to promote the Devils Kingdom and to obstruct the Kingdom and oppress the Church of Christ I must confess I have wondred at this error of Popery that the Pope cannot err I wonder why he may not err in Doctrine as well as in life Why may he not deny God in words as well as in his works That he may and doth err in his life and that his works are evil themselves have not the impudence to deny therefore he may err in his Faith as well as in his life in his words as well as in his works And if you do but look into a weekly News book you will ever and anon find mention of the Popes Nephews what they do and what preferments he provides for them But who are these It is fit you should know the meaning of it The word Nephew it is an Italian Phrase of Speech for a Bastard and so indeed the Popes Nephewes is nothing else but the Popes Bastards this is he that cannot err Among the Papists Priests you know must not marry and the Pope is not so humble as to own others of his poor Kindred But yet we must believe in this unclean Beast and we must call him his Holiness forsooth whose Leprosy is written in his Forehead and who declares his sin as Sodom and hides it not as Gomorrah For they are not ashamed of all their uncleannesses and abominations having their Consciences seared with an hot Iron and yet this sinful doleful Creature cannot err when his Bones are full of the sins of his youth which shall ly down with him in the dust 2. The second Instruction is this That there are degrees of
all James 2.10 and so needs Christ and his Blood to make atonement even for the least Sins and those which are in some sort involuntary as the original corruption of Nature is and many actual Sins of meer infirmity and frailty 2. Sacrifices of Atonement even when they had fulfilled their Vow ver 13 to 21. It taught the secret and unseen Guiltiness which cleaveth to the most holy men in their best and most perfect works which without atonement by the Blood of Christ Ainsworth in loc cannot be pure and pleasing in the sight of God For though a man know nothing by himself yet is he not thereby justified 1 Cor. 4.4 When we have kept our Vows and done our Duty yet we need Atonement and Pardon 4. A fourth religious Order amongst them of old was their Prophets These also were Types of Christ and Christians Of Christ For as they taught the will of God so doth Christ For he is the great Prophet Deut 18.15 Acts 3.22 Joh. 1.18 no man knows the Father but he to whom the Son revealeth him Matth 11.27 But though there be a resemblance and analogy yet there is also a great disparity in this Type For all the Types as hath been often observed fell short of the Antitype in Glory and so in this for none teacheth like him Job 36.22 in regard of the Authority and Efficacy of his teaching 1. The Authority For the Prophets speak in the Lords Name Thus saith the Lord but Christ in his own Name and the Fathers as a Son over his own House Heb. 3.6 2. The Efficacy All the Prophets could not reach the Heart but Christ he teacheth inwardly and effectually for he sends his Spirit to bring the Truths to remembrance with power and efficacy Joh. 14.26 And as their Prophets were Types of Christ so likewise of all Believers for they are spiritually Prophets 1 Joh. 2.27 1 Cor. 2.15 the spiritual man judgeth all things They are said to prophesie as the Lords Witnesses Rev. 11. 5. A fifth religious Order in those legal times was that of Priesthood Their Priests and especially their High Priests were Types of Christ and Christians Therefore Christ is so often called a Priest and the High Priest Heb. 3.1 of our Profession The Analogy between Christ and them appears chiefly in two things 1. That as they offered Sacrifice and by Sacrifice made atonement so Christ Ephes 5.2 gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling favour 2. There was in them the shadow though but the shadow of an everlasting Priesthood because the Office was settled in the House and Family of Aaron and so though the persons died yet the Office was never vacant for the Son succeeded the Father and was sometimes invested during the Fathers life as Eleazer Numb 20.26 And though Melchizedeks Priesthood was of an higher Order and more illustrious than that of Aaron as the Apostle shews Heb. 7. yet in this also there was but a shadow of Eternity as hath been formerly shewed But Christ is indeed a Priest for ever he is often so called in the Epistle to the Hebrews He was made a Priest not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the Power of everlasting life Heb. 7. The Disparity between Christ and these typical Priests was manifold I shall instance in a few particulars 1. Theirs was but the shadow Christ the true Sacrifice and true Reconciliation with God 2. They offered Sacrifice first for their own Sins but Christ had no Sins of his own to offer for and to make satisfaction for Heb. 7.27 3. All those Priests of old even Melchizedek himself they were but Priests they were not both Priest Altar and Sacrifice But Christ is all three He is Priest as God-man He is the Altar in regard of his Divine nature for this is that that sanctifies the Gift and makes the Sacrifice so infinitely efficacious and meritorious And Christ himself is also the Sacrifice in regard of his Humane nature His Humane nature suffered death and so was offered up as a Sacrifice unto God for us Thus in all things Christ hath the Preheminence I might also shew how all the Saints are Priests He hath made us Kings and Priests unto our God Revel 1. But there will be occasion to speak further of the Priesthood when we come to the Temple and the Temple Ministry 6. A sixth religious Order was their Kings of the House of David It is true Magistracy is a civil Ordinance belonging to the second Table But yet as God was pleased to annex a typical respect unto the Sabbath which is in it self a moral Duty and unto Adams Marriage with Eve which was a civil Relation so he did unto Magistracy or Kingship as stated and settled amongst that people Hence as in the business of Marriage and of the Sabbath the things themselves are not abolished but only the typical respects are taken off so here Kingship as amongst them was both a civil and a religious Order Non dubium est quin caelestis pater in Davide ejusque posteris conspici voluerit vivam Christi Imaginem Calvin Institut l. 2. cap. 6. sect 2. cap. 7. sect 2. See the Analogy in three things 1. In their Inauguration they were anointed with holy Oil Psal 89.20 with mine holy Oil have I anointed him This typified the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit the Spirit of Government Acts 10.38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost which Christ received above his Fellows Psal 45.7 not by measure but above measure Joh. 3.34 2. The Lord settled the Kingdom by an everlasting Covenant in a perpetual Series and Succession of persons in the House of David So with Christ he hath made an everlasting Covenant that his Kingdom shall endure for ever Isai 9.7 of the increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end 3. The moral work and duty of their Office had also a typical use to shadow forth what Christ doth spiritually in and for his Church 1. They made Laws for the people of Israel though they did it still in subordination to and pursuance of the Laws of God as all Magistrates ought to do not in opposition to them So Christ is the Law-giver of his Church Isai 33.22 the Lord is our Judge our King our Law-giver 2. They subdued the Enemies of Israel so did David the Philistines the Moabites c. So doth Christ subdue and tread down the Churches Enemies 3. It was their work to execute Vengeance upon Rebels as Solomon the peaceful King did on Joab Adonijah Shimei So doth Christ the Prince of Peace on Unbelievers and Hypocrites in the Church This King will say Bring forth these mine Enemies and slay them before my face Yet there was a great Disparity between Christ and those Kings His Kingdom is spiritual his Government infinitely better than theirs was 2 Sam. 23.4 5. some understand and render to this
1668. Coloss 2.16 17. Let no man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of an Holy day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath-days Which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ THere are three Doctrines in the words 1. That the Jewish Holy days are of three sorts or may be referred to three general heads Feast days New Moons and Sabbaths 2. That these their holy seasons were shadows of things to come but the Body is of Christ 3. Therefore no Christian should suffer any man to judg him or condemn him for not observing these Jewish times and seasons We are endeavouring to open the substance of these shadows and what were those things to come those things about Jesus Christ and the Gospel which were shadowed forth in them We began first with their Holy days or their Feast days that is their annual Festivals whereof we heard they had five 1. The Passover 2. Pentecost 2. The Feast of Tabernacles 4. The Feast of Trumpets 5. The Feast of Expiation These three the Passover Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles were the three great Festivals which were more solemn then the rest because then all the Males of Israel were to assemble together out of the whole Nation and to appear before the Lord in the place that he should choose in a general Church Assembly We heard something that these things pointed to The Passover did point them to the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ as the true Paschal Lamb who fulfilled this Type even as to the very season and holy time it self for he suffered at the Passover The Pentecost pointed at the time of the effusion of the Holy Ghost after his Ascension The Feast of Tabernacles pointed them to the Birth and Nativity of Jesus Christ when he should come to tabernacle and pitch his Tent in our Nature We heard indeed that this was the time of Christs Birth and not as it is commonly computed to be in December in the depth of Winter It is not like the Shepherds would be watching their Flocks all night then and that Augustus would command his Subjects to travel to their own Cities to be taxed at such a time and that John would choose that time to baptize in There be two more of the Jewish Feasts to be spoken to which were great and solemn Feasts yet not so great as these three because the people were not all bound to come up to Jerusalem to the Temple namely the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Expiation they were both in the seventh month as was also the Feast of Tabernacles the Feast of Trumpets on the first day of it the Feast of Expiation on the tenth day and the Feast of Tabernales on the fifteenth day and from thence to the two and twentieth day which is therefore accounted the greatest of all their Feasts being in the seventh month which was also the first in their old account the chiefest of all the months in the year and called by some the Sabbath of months as the seventh day is the Sabbath of days 4. This month began with the Feast of Trumpets which was upon the first day of the seventh month The first Institution of it we have in Lev. 23.23 24 25. and the Lord spake unto Moses saying c. It was celebrated as a Sabbath they were to do no servile work therein This Feast also had its peculiar Sacrifices appointed for it as in Numb 29. the six first verses It was also solemnized with the blowing of Trumpets which being the special Rite of this Festivity it had its Name from thence Here therefore the old legal Musick may fitly be considered this being as it were their Feast of Musick The Institution of these Trumpets we read in Numb 10. the ten first verses mentioned long after as a very solemn Ordinance in Psal 81.3 4 The first mention we have of Musical instruments in the Worship of God is in Exod. 15.20 21. where we read that Miriam used Timbrels and they praised God therewith and they sang the Song of Moses when they were delivered from Pharaoh And Miriam the Prophetess the Sister of Aaron took a Timbrel in her hand and all the Women went out after her with Timbrels and with Dances And Miriam answered them Sing ye to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the Horse and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea Moses afterwards by order from God appointed these Trumpets to be made and we read of a further increase of such Instruments in after times As to the use and signification of them there be many Gospel Instructions to be considered in this legal shadow we shall mention seven 1. The general scope of them was to signifie and shadow forth the sound of the Gospel the blessed sound of the Gospel which is called the joyful sound Psal 89.15 the Gospel is called glad tidings it is a joyful pleasant sound indeed Hence the Ministers of the Gospel are said to lift up their voice like a Trumpet Isai 58.1 the Tongue of the just is as choise Silver Prov. 10.20 these Trumpets were of Silver the faithful discharge and execution of their Office is expressed by blowing of the Trumpet Hos 8.1 Ezek. 33.3 4 5. it is said in the day when the Jews shall be converted in that day the great Trumpet shall be blown and they shall come which were ready to perish c. Isai 27. last when God shall gather them one by one ye shall be gathered one by one ver 12. in that day the great Trumpet shall be blown c that is saith Calvin the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel to the conviction and conversion of the Jews God will have his Church instructed not by sight only but by voice not by the eye only but by the ear Even under the Law the Lord would not have his people always to look for miraculous and immediate Guidance but they were to order themselves according to the sound of the Trumpet both in War Peace according to the rule of the Word so according to the rules of the Gospel according as that Trumpet sounds so are you to act This is the first namely the joyful sound of the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel 2. The Joys and Graces of the Spirit of God is another thing intimated by this Trumpet and instrument of Musick that spiritual melody of the Joys and Graces of the Holy Ghost in the hearts of Gods people Psal 98.6 with Trumpets and sound of Cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord the King Ephes 5.18 19. There is a melody and joyful voice in the Consciences of Believers the Spirit of God both sanctifying and comforting of them so the Apostle Col. 3.16 Grace and Joy the fruit of Grace so this Musick remains in the Antitype of it the heart-strings of Believers making melody suitable to the profession of their Lips and to the gracious and peaceable
them that heard it THE scope of this Epistle is to perswade them to persevere in their Christian profession and not to fall off to Judaism from the Gospel to the Law To this end he sets before them the excellency of the Gospel above the Law the excellency of Christ above Moses In the prosecution whereof he inserts many wholesom exhortations and applications of those former truths and dispensations of old to us in Gospel times And having from Psalm the 95th spoken of their being shut out of Gods rest because of their Unbelief in cap. 3.18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not he applies this cap. 4.1 Let us therefore fear least a promise being left us of entring into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it And inforceth this caution by paralelling their state with ours in the words of the Text. For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them You see how the Text comes in as an inforcement of that exhortation take heed of falling short of entring into rest seeing the Gospel is preached unto us as it was unto them and it became unprofitable unto them because they did not take heed of that sin which is here dehorted from even the sin of Unbelief In the words are three Propositions 1. That the Gospel was preached both under the Old and New Testament to them as well as to us to us as well as them The Apostle joins these together unto us as well as unto them 2. That there be some who though they hear the Gospel yet do not profit by it they are but high-way ground stony ground thorny ground hearers as Matth. 13. The word may be preached to many that live under the clear and powerful dispensations of the Gospel yet they not profit by it There is but one sort of good ground of fruitful hearers many there are to whom the Gospel is preached but they hear it unfruitfully and unprofitably 3. That the main cause of this unprofitableness under the Gospel is because of their Unbelief The reason of unfruitfulness and barrenness under the preaching of the Gospel is for want of Faith in them that hear it The word did not profit them not being mixed with faith Unbelief is the cause of this unprofitableness Many complain of their own unprofitableness and many take no notice of the cause of it It is for want of Faith It is the first of these three that I design to speak unto the Lord assisting Doctr. 1. That the Gospel was preached to them under the Old Testament as well as to us under the New I put it so as best suiting with the scope I intend The Apostle here supposeth it as a known and granted truth that they had the Gospel and he adds that we have it too as well as they But that they had it he supposeth it as a thing beyond all question as a thing received and believed and understood amongst them and that needed no dispute For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them As if he should say no doubt it was preach'd to them and so it is to us also Gal. 3.8 And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the Heathen through Faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying in thee shall all Nations be blessed The Gospel is the glad tidings of Man's Recovery by Jesus Christ out of the state of Sin and Death into which he was fallen into a state of Favour and Communion with God again into a state of Life and Happiness Now this was made known to them of old these glad tidings sounded in their ears as well as ours Psal 89.15 Blessed are the people that hear the joyful sound The Reasons for the proof of it may be such as these Reas 1. Because they had the same Gospel blessings and mercies promised preached and revealed unto them that we have now that are revealed and made known unto us and in the same way and upon the same account as we have them now There be two Branches of this Argument 1. That they had the same Gospel mercies preached and held forth and this 2. In the same way and upon the same account 1. They had the very same Gospel blessings and mercies that we have in these latter days This will be easily made out and appear if we enquire what the good things of the Gospel are we shall find that they were exhibited unto them as well as unto us And what are they In general That God would be their God How oft is this promise made to them and so he is to us Now this includes three things 1. Regeneration 2. Reconciliation and Remission of Sins 3. Everlasting Salvation I. Regeneration or the New Heart the Heart of Flesh the writing of Gods Law in the heart You know most of these are Old Testament phrases Jer. 31.33 I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people This was preached and held forth to them by that Seal of Circumcision Deut. 30.6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live and by all their legal washings and purifications which signified their cleansing from sin from the filth and power as well as from the guilt of it Ezek. 36.25 26 27. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them This includes the whole frame of Saving Grace a new disposition in the heart new principles new walkings This succeeds the Old man corrupt Nature this is one great Gospel blessing common to them with us II. A second great blessing of the Gospel is Reconciliation and Remission of sins Isai 1.18 Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll Jer. 33.34 I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more And innumerable more promises they had of this throughout the Old Testament This part of the Gospel was preached and shadowed forth to them by all their Sacrifices and Oblations which are thefore said to make atonement for them It is a phrase often used in the nine first Chapters of Leviticus He that sinned shall bring such or such an Offering and the Priest shall
and not of an Angel For he saith the Tree which I commanded c. But the most famous Instance hereof was at the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai Exod 19 and 20. where the Lord spake with an audible Voice from Heaven chap. 19. 9 20. so that the People might hear and chap. 20. 22. and see that the Lord talked with them from Heaven Deut. 5.22 23 24. These words the Lord spake unto all your Assembly in the Mount out of the midst of the Fire of the Cloud and of the thick Darkness with a great Voice And when ye heard the Voice Heb. 12.26 Whose Voice then shook the Earth So Matth. 17.5 A Voice out of the Cloud said this is my beloved Son But they saw no similitude Deut. 4.12 1 Kings 19.12 13. A still small Voice 4. By an inward Instinct by immediate Inspirations and Impulses of the Holy Ghost So to David 1 Chron. 28.12 19. though he had it in Writing also and left it to his Son But it was revealed to him by the Spirit of God So to Philip Acts 8.29 The Spirit said unto Philip To Peter Acts 10.19 The Spirit said unto him and Acts. 11 12. the Spirit bade me go with them To Paul and Silas Acts 16.7 Not to go into Bithynia but the Spirit suffered them not 5. By legal Types and Shadows These were speaking things And what did they speak They spake forth Gospel Truths and Mysteries The Ceremonial Law was the Gospel in Types and Shadows Heb. 10.1 The Law having a shadow of good things to come A Type is a legal shadow of Gospel Truths and Mysteries These were the standing Ordinances and Instructions of those times 6. By Signs and Wonders These had a Voice and did speak the Mind of God These were attestations to the Truth and Mind of God and to the Authority of the Messenger See Exod. 4.8 If they will not believe thee nor hearken to the Voice of the first Sign they will believe the Voice of the latter Sign Joh. 3.2 We know that thou art a Teacher come from God For no man can do these Miracles that thou doest except God be with him The Lord may work Miracles now But he doth not now send forth any person with a Commission to do it as he did of old 7. By a special and peculiar kind of intimacy and familiarity as it were mouth to mouth without Parable or Riddle without Obscurity with all possible familiarity And this was Moses his Priviledg Numb 12.8 with him will I speak mouth to mouth apparently and not in dark speeches Exod. 33.11 23. The Lord spake to him face to face as a man speaketh to his friend thou shalt see my back parts That phrase of speaking mouth to mouth notes the clearness and certainty and familiarity of it as when Joseph saith ye see it is my mouth that speaketh unto you Gen. 45.12 This was a priviledg peculiar unto Moses Deut. 34.10 There arose no Prophet like him since whom the Lord knew face to face That that comes nearest to it seems to be the ineffable things that Paul saw and heard in the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.1 2 3 4 and the Revelation given to the Apostle John in the Isle of Patmos which is the clearest and yet withal the deepest and most wonderful of all the Prophesies recorded in the Scripture There be two Questions may arise here which would be briefly spoken to Quest 1. Whether there were not counterfeits of these things and if there were how did they discern the Lords voice in these extraordinary dispensations from Satans voice in his delusions Answ It is true there were counterfeits of them there were Visons Dreams seeming Miracles Impulses from Satan as well as from God Diabolus est Dei simia Hence that Caution of Moses Deut. 13.1 And hence are those complaints of the Prophet Jeremy cap. 14. 13 14 15. 1 Kings 22.22 23. That famous Instance of a lying Spirit in the mouths of Ahabs Prophets Therefore to have a Vision to dream strange and supernatural Dreams to have a powerful Impetus and afflatus from a Spirit are not things simply peculiar to the true Prophets of God But though Satan did partly out of Craft to deceive thereby the more effectually and partly out of Blasphemy and Malice to put an affront as it were upon God use ways and means of deceiving that had some resemblance of Gods own ways and Ordinances yet there were manifest and palpable differences between them I shall name but these four 1. The Lord did not usually suffer Satan to transform himself so far into an Angel of Light as to come in these ways unto his own people unto such as were truly Godly Search the Scriptures and you will not find that Satan did appear to give Satanical Dreams and Visions and the like to such as were Godly It is true he did tempt them but in a more spiritual manner as he tempted David to number the people Or by other outward means As when the young Prophet that came from Bethel was deceived by the old one But when Satan did inspire any with Dreams and Visions c. it was done to wicked and ungodly men As to Saul when he raised up the Devil he and and the Witch saw the Gods that is Spirits infernal Spirits ascending up out of the Earth And to the false Prophets of Ahab those four hundred-Idolaters they spake as Prophets and were acted by a Spirit but it was a lying Spirit and they were lewd and wicked men so that there was a great difference in the Person or Subject recipient of Divine Revelations and of Satanical Delusions 2. In Divine Discoveries there was an holy Elevation of their Minds when they did receive them but in the Organs and Instruments of Satan there was only a stupefaction and depression of them As when John did receive the Revelation he was in the Spirit chap. 1. 10. Sometimes they were so far elevated and raised and acted by the Spirit that they did not attend to any other thing but were transported above Sense and sensible things to attend wholly to the Visions and Revelations of God So Peter fell into a Trance Acts. 10.10 Paul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 22.17 Hence oftentimes they fell upon their Faces being astonish'd at the Majesty and Glory of the Lord both gratious and natural Fear concurring Ezek 1.28 Dan 10.8 9. Matth. 17.6 7. But this Ravishment of Spirit was not a stupefaction but an holy Elevation of their Minds whereby they were taken off and lifted up above all these low things to the highest exercise of Faith and spiritual Reason and so better fitted and composed to receive those Divine Irradiations and Manifestations of God So Daniel 10.1 He understood the thing and had understanding of the Vision So Balaam when the Lord was pleased in an extraordinary case to act him after the manner of a true Prophet Numb 24.4 16. falling into a
disputable But it is probable enough that it might be altogether new yea though we suppose the Rainbow to arise from natural causes For a years Deluge could not but cause a great alteration in all the Elements and in the Clouds and in the Air whereby there might new Phaenomena new appearances in the Heavens which never were before Moreover it might be produced by a new creating Power of Providence beyond the force of any natural causes and also instituted for a Sign of the Covenant It could not have afforded any great assurance to them if they had only the seeing and beholding of it which was all that was to be done in this Sacrament to see nothing but what they had seen before could yield but small comfort and assurance to that new World And that this Covenant had a further Mystery in it than meerly outward Preservation from another Deluge See Caryl on Job 37.15 See Isai 54.9 For this as the is Waters of Noah unto me The Covenant of my Peace shall not be removed The Rainbow therefore was a Sign of the Covenant of Grace Hence Revel 4.3 Behold a Throne was set in Heaven and one sate on the Throne and there was a Rainbow round about the Throne Confer on Rom. 5.14 of Noah as a personal Type Revel 10.1 Christ the Angel of the Covenant is described as having a Rainbow upon his Head 3. He inlargeth their provision of Food to eat by giving them a Commission to eat the Flesh of the Brute creatures Gen. 9.3 At first there is no mention of any other provision but the Fruits of the Earth Gen. 1.29 But there was need of some further supply because it is probable that the Vigor of the Earth and the Virtue of the Herbs and Plants and Fruits thereof could not but be somewhat impaired and decayed by that whole years Winter Therefore for men upon a Religious account to forbid the eating of some Meats as the Papists forbid Flesh in Lent it is a superstitious Infringement of the Liberty here granted and given by the Lord unto all the Sons of Noah 4. The Blood was wholly reserved and excepted Gen. 9.4 But Flesh with the Life thereof which is the Blood thereof shall ye not eat This seems to be done partly upon a moral and partly upon a spiritual and Ceremonial account Moral for mans Health and to prevent that Ferity and Savageness which Mankind is so apt to degenerate into as in some barbarous Nations they would drink the living Blood out of the Horse they rode upon opening a Vein with an Instrument when they were thirsty This is barbarous and savage and this Prohibition here given excludes and forbids such a Practice which those Gyants of wickedness before the Flood it is not improbable but that to other barbarous and raging sins they might add the eating of living Creatures alive therefore the Lord doth so directly and expresly interdict and forbid it And it is the Judgment of some very learned men that the eating of Blood cold and drest as other Meat was not at all forbidden For the Prohibition lies not directly against Blood but against the eating of living Flesh Flesh animated with the living Blood For the Blood is the Seat and Chariot of the Life and Vital Spirits Some think it was done upon a Ceremonial account The Blood was reserved as a sacred thing unto the Lord till such time as that precious Blood was shed which hath put an end to all Types and Shadows This is expressed Levit. 17.11 I have given it to you upon the Altar to make an atonement for your Souls For it is the Blood that maketh an atonement for the Soul as the former moral Reason is expressed v. 14. It is true the Ceremonial Law came by Moses but the meaning is not that there were no parts at all of it before his time for there were Sacrifices from the Fall of Man But the meaning is that Moses did incorporate and sum them all up together with many divine enlargements and additions into that great body of Ceremonial Laws by him established and setled in that Church and People of Israel Therefore there might be a Ceremonial Prohibition of Blood even from Noahs time 5. The Lord now gave unto Mankind that great Ordinance of Magistracy Gen. 9.6 Whoso sheddeth Mans Blood by Man shall his Blood be shed Of which Divines say truly that it is Remedium corruptae Naturae But yet corrupt Nature so far as appears out of the sacred History never had the Use and Benefit of it till now but rather on the contrary the Lord secures Cain as it were by special Dispensation Gen. 4.15 The Government of the World before seems to have been only domestical and paternal which might easily be Parents then living so long as to see whole Towns and Cities of their own Children and Posterity But this paternal way of Government was so mild that it was not effectual and sufficient to restrain Vice and Wickedness but it grew to such Gigantick strength and height that there was a necessity to cut them down with a Flood But therefore now to prevent the like Degeneracy and Destruction the Lord puts a stronger Bridle of Restraint upon the outragious Wickedness and Corruption of mans Nature namely this of Magistracy or Civil Government whereby some are intrusted with the Power of the Sword to take away the Lives of others in grosser cases especially that of Murther 6. God divided the World amongst them Gen. 10. which consisted of three parts then known though not by these names to wit Asia Africk and Europe whereof Sems Posterity dwelt chiefly in Asia Chams in Africk and to Japhets Posterity Europe fell known in Scripture by this name The Isles of the Gentiles Gen. 10.5 of whose Posterity we our selves are And now one would think Mankind was happy when God thus sets them up again begins with them upon a new score as it were But there were three or four things especially that did ruine all and brought this Dispensation to an end 1. The Apostacy of Cham and his Posterity Gen. 9.22 an unnatural sin to despise and dishonour his Parents Calvin apud Wallet in Cor. and himself not a Child when he did this but above a hundred years old ver 25. the Curse is thundred forth against Canaan so the Punishment answers the Sin Cham is an ungratious Son to his Father therefore he hath a cursed Son And perhaps Canaan might be present and Partner in his Fathers Sin or the most delightful of his Children being the youngest and so the Cursing him would be most likely to pierce and grieve his Fathers hard Heart and it may be so express'd for the greater comfort of the Israelites that the Nation they were to expel were a Generation of the Curse of God But certain it is that C ham himself was intended and cursed in that Curse This fell out about forty years as some reckon after the
true Religion Adam to Methuselah who lived with him two hundred forty two years Methuselah to Sem who lived almost an hundred years after Sem was born and then Sem to Isaac for Sem lived five hundred and two years after the Flood which reached to the fiftieth year of Isaac And then all the world had but one Language whereby they could speak and communicate their thoughts to whomsoever they would yet as to the generality of mankind the knowledg of God was quite lost and forgotten by some and by others corrupted with Fables and Superstitions Moreover the Lives of men came now to be much shortened For before the Flood they lived eight or nine hundred years after the Flood but four or five hundred years About the time of Peleg when the Tower of Babel was built there was a further decurtation of mens Lives unto two hundred years or thereabout And lastly in Moses his time unto threescore or thereabout and there it hath stood ever since Moreover there was a confusion of Languages which did much increase the Darkness and obstruct the Communication and Diffusion of Light among them The way of Oral Tradition is a very insufficient way and found by experience so to be as upon other accounts so upon these occurring at this time 1. In general Knowledg of God in a manner lost 2. The Decurtations of mens Lives 3. Through the Confusion of Tongues Upon all which Occurrences the Lord thought it fit to intrust his Truth no longer with the frail and careless Memories of men but to leave it upon Record in Writing a much safer and surer way for the Preservation and the Propagation of it There is a threefold advantage of this way 1. It is an help to the weakness of Memory For if a thing be written there it is and a man may recall it by reading when he doth not well remember it 2. For the further Propagation and Diffusion of the Light for there may be opportunity of writing to persons absent and and in after times who may read when they have not opportunity of hearing 3. To prevent Corruption In the way of Oral Tradition some may say one thing and some another 2. A second preheminence and advantage of this Dispensation above the former was this that now the Gospel and the true Religion and Worship of God was settled in a whole Nation and People by divine Promise and Institution whereas before it seems to have been only in Families and Congregations formed chiefly according to the Light of Nature wherein the Ordinances of Worship were celebrated by the Fathers and Heads of Families but now a whole Nation are made the Testes Custodes of it the Witnesses and the Keepers of it as a Depositum committed to their trust Rom. 3.2 As to the Occasions of introducing this new Dispensation they were partly the defections under the former but chiefly the Lords own Love and Goodness For he had engaged himself by his Promise and by his Oath wherein he had pawned his Truth and Faithfulness to Abraham Isaac and Jacob that he would do great things for their Posterity Therefore he is said to remember that Promise in the things he did for Israel See Psal 105.8 9 10. he shews that God remembred his Covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Then followeth a large Rehearsal of his Dispensations towards Israel And then he concludes again ver 42 43. For he remembred his holy Promise and Abraham his Servant and he brought forth his People with joy and his Chosen with gladness And there was need of some recovering Dispensation because of those defections that had been from under the Grace and Covenant made with Abraham If you look back a little unto Abrahams Dispensation you will find that some of his Seed fell off viz. Ishmael and Esau And the Seed of Jacob when they were in Egypt they learned too much of their manners It is thought their Calf in Exod. 32. Geneva Note on Exod. 32.4 was made in imitation of the Egyptian Idol Apis which was an Ox They smelled of the Leaven of Egypt where they saw Calves Oxen and Serpents worshipped See Ezek. 23.8 Neither left she her Whoredoms brought from Egypt And what is meant by this is more clearly and expresly held forth Ezek. 20.8 neither did they forsake the Idols of Egypt Josh 24.14 put away the Gods which your Fathers served on the other side of the Flood and in Egypt Hereupon it was time for God to work that he might not lose his People and to put things into some better way And so he brought in another great Dispensation viz. that which was under the Law And as we subdivided the former Dispensation before the Law into three lesser pieces and parcels namely Adams Noahs and Abrahams Dispensation so we must subdivide this also into some lesser pieces This whole Dispensation under the Law may be subdivided into four particulars under each of which there were remarkable Changes made by God in the state of Religion and of his Church and People 1. The Dispensation of the Tabernacle and the Judges 2. The Dispensation of the Temple and the Kingdom 3. That sad Dispensation of Captivity in Babylon 4. The Dispensation of the second Temple after their Return The first these was from Moses to the Temple The second from the Temple to the Captivity in Babylon The third from the Captivity to the Return The fourth from the Return to the Messiah 1. The first part of the Lords Dispensation to his people under the Law was from Moses to the building of the Temple most of which time they were under the Government of Judges What the Lord did for them and how and what he spake what further Discoveries of himself he gave them during this Period you may see in these five particulars 1. The Lord in remembrance of his ancient Promise delivered them out of Egypt with a high Hand and with an outstretched Arm with great Signs and Wonders and Plagues upon Pharaoh and all his Host and all his Land dividing the Sea before them the History of all which is recorded in the Book of Exodus in the first fifteen Chapters of that Book and so often celebrated with triumphing Praises in the Psalms and Prophets who often speak of all his Wonders in the Land of Egypt which it is thought were within two months before their departure and of his dividing the Sea of Edom that his redeemed might pass through upon dry ground All which was a Type of Spiritual Redemption also and therefore it was a Dispensation of much Mystery and Glory 2. He gave them his Law by Word of Mouth from Heaven and in Writing in the Tables of Stone and in the five Books of Moses Both the Moral Judicial and Ceremonial Law The Moral Law The Lord came down upon Mount Sinai in much Majesty and Terror with an Host of Angels and thundred forth with an audible voice from Heaven those
second Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of liberty and freedom not liberty to sin but liberty of spirit in and unto Duty The first Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of Persecution Gal. 4.29 the second Covenant-Spirit is a Spirit of Love Let those Professors look to it and take heed to their Spirits who have a rigid a violent an imposing spirit towards the people of God the Children of the Promise take heed least you prove Hagarites and meer legal Professors 2. It is true as Abraham did turn aside unto Hagar so a Believer that is in the Covenant of Grace may possibly turn aside in some particular actings to a Covenant of Works when through unbelief and neglect of the Promise they act according to the Law in their own strength or in a way of violence not of love to their Brethren 3. But the Bondwoman and her Seed must be cast out Gen. 21.10 Gal. 4.30 Away with the Law of Works we must renounce the old Covenant and get free from the snares of such a Spirit 3. If we consider Abraham as the Head of the Covenant to that Church and People so he is a Type of Christ the Head of the second Covenant You know God covenanted with Abraham for his Seed so he doth with Christ for all his Elect. Gods Promise to Abraham was to give a Seed to him and an Inheritance to his Seed viz. the Land of Canaan the Land of Promise so God did promise to Jesus Christ that he should see his Seed Isai 53.10 11. and to bring them to Heaven Heb. 2.10 Jesus Christ is the true Head of the second Covenant he engageth and undertakes for all his Seed Abraham was but a typical Head thereof 4. Abraham was a Type of Christ in regard of his absolute Obedience to the Will of God coming from his own Land and from his Fathers House submitting to that painful and unto carnal Reason shameful and contemptible Ordinance of Circumcision dismissing Ishmael a thing grievous to a tender-hearted Parent yea which was yet more sacrificing and offering up his Isaac his only Son Isaac there was nothing so difficult but if God require it Abraham will do it there is not such another Example there is not an higher instance of Obedience in all the Scripture than in Abraham save only in Jesus Christ who was obedient to his Fathers Will in all things even unto Death it self Joh. 6.38 8.29 10.18 As God tryed Abraham in his Isaac so will he try every Son of Abraham in what is dearest to him 5. Abrahams Intercession for the Righteous in Sodom and the efficacy of it with the Lord is some shadow and resemblance of the Prayers and Intercession of Jesus Christ and the prevailing efficacy thereof for the Salvation of the Elect Gen. 18.25 For as Lot was saved by means of Abrahams Prayer from the Destruction of Sodom so are we for Christs sake from everlasting Damnation For Sodom was a Type of Hell which is therefore called a Lake of Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21.8 Lastly That he who was the Father of the Faithful should be so great a Souldier and Conqueror of five Kings and indeed Abraham is the first godly Warrior we read of in Scripture It was a good Omen and a Presage what Believers the Sons of Abraham should do and especially in the latter days when the Kingdom of Christ shall prevail as Dan 2. and chap. 7. 2. Isaac the Scripture takes notice of him as a Type of Christ when it calls both him and Christ the promised Seed and saith he rose from the dead and so he dyed also in a Figure or as a Type He was therefore a Type of Christ in three respects 1. In his Birth 2. In his Death and Sufferings 3. In his Resurrection from the dead 1. In regard of his Birth which was extraordinary and incredible not by the power of Nature but by virtue of the Promise of God Isaac was the Seed of the Promise made to Abraham Gal. 4.28 in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed But Christ was indeed the promised Seed he was chiefly and principally intended in that Promise see Gal. 3.16 in whom alone we are truly blessed Psal 72.17 Isaac was born by virtue of the Promise believed on against and above the ordinary course of Nature of Sarahs dead Womb Rom. 4.19 So Christ was born of the Womb of the Virgin Mary in a miraculous unconceivable manner not according to the ordinary course of Nature but by the power of the Holy Ghost overshadowing her Luk. 1.35 An Angel did reveal the Birth of Isaac to Sarah and she thought in her self it was impossible Gen. 18.11 12. Sarah heard it and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of Women and Sarah laughed within her self saying after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also So did an Angel reveal to the Virgin Mary that Christ should be born of her and she admires and saith how can this be seeing I have not known Man Luk. 1.34 Isaac's Birth was promised and waited for many years from the first Promise of a Seed made to Abraham to the Birth of Isaac was five and twenty years For he was seventy five years old when he left Haran Gen. 12.4 and he was an hundred years old when Isaac was born Gen. 21.5 So Christ the promised Seed was long expected and waited for from the first Promise of Christ in Gen. 3.15 Vid. Ainsworth in loc to his coming in the Flesh was well nigh four thousand years 2. Isaac was an eminent Type of Christ in regard of his Death and Sufferings Isaac without resistance without repining or reply willingly yields himself to his Father even unto Death So was Christ obedient to his Father even unto Death So each of them was led away like a Lamb to the slaughter as is said of Christ Isai 53.7 Act. 8.32 Isaac carried the Wood whereon he was bound to Moriah Gen. 22.6 so did Christ carry the Cross whereon he was nailed to Golgotha Joh. 19.17 and so the Wood was first laid upon them both and then they were laid upon the Wood. Isaac was to be offered alone the Servants being left behind at the foot of the Hill Gen. 22.5 So Christ must tread the Wine-press alone his Disciples being fled and scattered from him Joh. 16.32 The place where Isaac was offered was Mount Moriah Gen. 22.2 and there was the Temple built a Type of Christs Body and there also his Body was crucified upon another part of the same Mountain And as to the time something of analogy may be noted some accommodated it thus that as Isaac came the third day to the place of his Immolation so Christ came to his Sufferings the thirty third year of his age consisting of three tens and three units And it was three years after his Entrance upon his publick Ministry which is three days putting a day for a year according to the
Providence that ever was excepting that of our Redemption by Jesus Christ Yea so famous was the History of Moses that though it was very antient yet the Heathen Historians and Poets have said something of it And he is thought by some to be their Mercurius Trismegistus of whom they spake out of some broken remembrances and traditions though corrupted with fabulous Inventions intermix'd wherein yet some footsteps of the Truth may be discerned They call their Mercurius Interpres Divum and paint him with a Rod twined with Serpents c. Now that Moses was a Type the Scripture is clear Deut. 18.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee Heb. 3.2 Jesus Christ who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his House But how or wherein was Moses a Type The Answer is in two respects For Moses may be considered two ways 1. In regard of his Dispensation and so he was a type of the Law 2. In regard of his Person and so he was a Type of Jesus Christ And so we have two things to inquire into 1. What of the Law and 2. What of Jesus Christ was shadowed forth in Moses I shall begin with the lower Notion first 1. Moses was a Type of the Law in regard of the Dispensation wherein the Lord was pleased to use him and to introduce by his Ministry into the Church For as hath been formerly shewed the Types are not always to be restrained only to the Person of Christ But there were legal shadows of all other Truths which are more clearly and fully revealed under the New Testament And so they had their Types and Shadows even of the Covenant of Works as was shewed in Abrahams Wives and Children So likewise Moses his Administration of the Mind of God shadowed forth the same thing Hence the Scripture speaks so much of the Law of Moses under the notion of Works The Law came by Moses Joh. 1.17 that is as contradistinguished unto Gospel Grace and Truth for it follows but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Not that Moses his Dispensation was indeed a Covenant of Works but a shadow or representation of it For had it been indeed a Covenant of Works it would have been their Duty to seek Salvation by their own Merits but they were saved by Grace as well as we and not by Works they were saved by Faith in Christ and in his Righteousness whereof they had some discoveries they were under a Dispensation of Grace but it was like a Covenant of Works and did very much resemble that legal way in many respects Quest But wherein was the Mosaical Dispensation so like unto the Covenant of Works what of the Law was shadowed forth in Moses Answ Something was hinted as to this in the first Sermon on Heb. 4.2 But now to speak a little further to it 1. In regard of the dreadful Majesty and Terror and Glory of that Administration Herein it was like the old Covenant Heb. 12.18 21. God acts as a Soveraign Lord in the Covenant of Works and appears in the dreadful Glory of his absolute Soveraignty and Dominion over his Creatures 2. There was a darkness also in that Dispensation Heb. 12.18 Ye are not come unto blackness and darkness and Tempest Hence Moses had a Veil upon his Face Exod. 34.29 30 33. But there was a further mystery in this Veil it signifieth a spiritual Veil a Covering upon the Heart 2 Cor. 3.13.14 a Veil upon their Minds Act. 13.27 the Prophets they understood them not though read every Sabbath day 3. There was a Yoke of Bondage which neither we nor our Fathers saith Peter were able to bear Act. 15.10 so the Law genders unto Bondage Gal. 4.24 25. Such as are under the Law their Spirits are under continual Bondage but the Gospel is spiritual Liberty 4. The abiding Strength and Power of the Law to condemn 1 Cor. 3 the Letter killeth It is the Ministration of Death And as Moses his natural Force was not abated Deut. 34.7 so neither is the Strength of the Law as to its condemning Power over Sinners Hereby the continual force of the Law is signified the Power whereof decayeth not in the Conscience of Sinners by number of Days or mutitude of Works Answorth in lec till God take it away and abolish it by Grace in Christ 5. The Weakness of it to save Moses might not enter into Canaan though he did much desire it see Deut. 32.52 And the Reason alledged is his failing in that one point Numb 20.12 What was Moses his error and mistake at that time There is something of difficulty to discern and make it out Three things the Scripture seemeth to intimate 1. He smote the Rock twice Numb 20.11 when his Instructions were no more but to speak unto it v. 8. 2. Something of inordinate Passion seems to be noted Psal 106. he spake unadvisedly with his Lips v. 33. 3. His Unbelief is expresly taxed because ye believed not my Word Numb 20.12 But what was this Unbelief or how came it to be working in him at this time Some have guessed at it thus This Occurrence fell out eight and thirty years after their first murmuring for Water and their was a new Generation now risen up and they falling into the very same sin and that at the same place upon the Borders of Canaan and upon the same occasion want of Water for which the Lord had rejected and excluded their Fathers Moses was afraid that the Lord would now take advantage against this Generation also as he did against their Ancestors causing them to wander forty years and as indeed he might justly have done against these also But yet Moses should not have given way to such Fears unless the Lord had declared it which as to this Generation he did not But for this one failing Moses could not enter into Canaan So the Law if but one Sin be admitted keeps the Soul of Heaven the Law is strong to condemn and destroy Sinners but it is unable and weak to save them The Law cannot save Rom. 8.3 Yea 6. The abrogation of it through Grace As Moses's Body was buried that it could not be found Deut. 34.6 and Satan would have brought it forth again but Michael opposed him Jud. 9. so he hath buried the Law though Satan would revive it in the Spirits of Men. 7. Moses did prepare the people for Joshuahs Dispensation So the Law prepares and sits the Soul for Christ Gal. 3.24 wherefore the Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by Faith It doth not put us into Christ but it prepares us for Christ Thus in regard of the Terror of that Dispensation and the Darkness and Bondage of it the Strength to condemn the Impotency of it to bring them into Rest and the Abrogation of it and that nevertheless it did prepare and fit them for it Moses did
former Employment and Place to do this Work Exod. 3.10 Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh that thou maist bring forth my people the Children of Israel out of Egypt But by Jesus Christ he redeemeth us out of the spiritual Bondage of Sin and Satan which is worse than Egyptian Bondage and he was sent by his Father and was content to come down from Heaven and to leave his Glory to do this great Work wherein Christ hath the preheminence For Moses was a Mediator only of temporal and typical Redemption but Christ is the Mediator of spiritual and eternal Redemption By Moses his Mediation also the Law was delivered upon Mount Sinai Gal. 3.19 it was ordained in the hand of a Mediator or a middle person that stood and transacted between God and the people Act. 7.38 who received the lively Oracles to give unto us But by Jesus Christ the Gospel is published In this respect he is the Mediator of a better Testament Moses gave the moral judicial and ceremonial Laws But Christ reveals the Gospel and Gospel-Worship Moses appoints the Passover Sacrifices builds the Tabernacle made with hands But Christ gives the Lords Supper a most lively Representation of himself and his own Death the true Sacrifice And he is himself also the true Temple and Tabernacle which the Lord hath pitched and not Man so that Christ hath the preheminence in all things inasmuch as Gospel-worship excels Legal worship and Truth and Substance excels Figures and Shadows Lastly Moses did mediate between God and the people as an Intercessor by his Prayers and Supplications and did prevail for them for the Destruction of Amalek Exod. 17. And again when they murmured upon the evil Report of the Spies Numb 14.12 13 20 and when they made the molten Calf Exod. 32.10 11 14. then with much wrestling he prevailed with the Lord for them Psal 106.23 Moses stood in the breach So doth Christ intercede and pleads for us with the Father when we provoke him by our Sins 1 Joh. 2.1 2. yea he lives for ever to intercede Heb. 7.25 2. Moses his Sufferings and Conflicts in the Discharge of his Trust and Exercise of his Office had in them a Shadow of the like to be undergone by Christ Moses fasted forty days and forty nights in the Mount So did Christ in the Wilderness He suffered many Contradictions both from his Enemies and from his Friends professed Enemies Jannes and Jambres and the Magicians of Egypt 2 Tim. 3.8 His Friends the people to whom he was sent rejected him Exod. 2.14 often murmured at him forty years he bore their manners Acts 13.18 yea his neerest friends sometimes Aaron and Miriam So Christ he was rejected of the Builders Psal 118.22 came to his own and his own received him not Joh. 1.11 His own Disciples sometimes thought his Doctrines hard sayings as when he spake against Divorces they thought a man had better never be married than submit to such a yoke and all along how weak and wayward were they But the Scribes and Pharisees like Jannes and Jambres openly resisted and opposed his Doctrine and Miracles 3. The Lords owning and bearing witness to him by Miracles Signs and Wonders Deut. 34.10 11 12. So to Jesus Christ Acts 2.22 a man approved of God among you by Miracles Wonders and Signs some note in all about five and forty of them recorded by the four Evangelists and wrought in the three years and an half of his publik Ministry viz. three in his first year nineteen in his second year and thirteen in his third year and ten in his last half year before Judas betrayed him besides those at his Death and after his Resurrection Only there were these two differences between Moses his Miracles and Christs 1. That Moses his Miracles were wrought in Christs Name but Christs Miracles were wrought in his own Name 2. That Moses his Miracles had more of Terror and Majesty Christs more of Love and Sweetness Christ seldom wrought any Mirales for the hurt of his Enemies in a way of righteous Wrath and Judgment but ordinarily only for the help both of Friends and Enemies as for instance the healing of Malchus his Ear. I remember but two Miracles wrought by Jesus Christ in a way of Wrath and Punishment against his Enemies the suffering the Devil to enter into the Gadarenes Swine and causing his Enemies to fall backward when they came to apprehend him All the rest were Miracles of Mercy and Kindness But by the Hand of Moses there were no less than ten miraculous Plagues upon Egypt There were Thunderings and Lightnings at Mount Sinai The Earth opened her mouth upon Corah Dathan and Abiram and swallowed them up quick with other such dreadful and terrible things in righteousness The reason of this difference was because Moses was the Minister of the Law which is a voice of Words and Terror and Fear and genders unto Bondage but Jesus Christ is the Minister and Author of the Gospel which is Grace and Peace Therefore these two different kinds of Dispensations were attested with two different kinds of Miracles But as to the general the working of Miracles by Moses and so being owned by the Lord and born witness to by him herein there was a resemblance and prefiguration of what was done by Jesus Christ 4. And lastly Moses was a Type of Christ in the end and close of his Life viz. in his Death Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven He dyed willingly he went up to Mount Nebo which was a part of Mount Abarim and there surrendred up his Soul So Christ No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self no man taketh it from me see Joh. 10.18 I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again He went to Mount Golgotha and there gave up his Soul to his Father Moses after his Death and Burial rose again buried he was Deut. 34.6 and that he rose again and ascended into Heaven may be gathered from Matth. 17. For he did appear and talk with Christ at his Transfiguration together with Elias So you know Jesus Christ rose again from the dead and ascended into Heaven Thus Moses was a Type of Christ all along In his Birth in his personal Qualifications in the whole course of his Life his Office his Sufferings his Miracles and finally in his Death Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven But yet though there was such a full analogy and so great a resemblance between them yet there was a disparity Christ having the preheminence above Moses Heb. 3.5 6. Moses was faithful as a Servant in his Lords House but Christ as a Son in his own House Thus much as to Moses Now for Joshuah his Successor That he was a Type appears because Christ was called by that name in the Hebrew And Joshuah is called Jesus in the Greek in the New Testament Acts 7.45 Heb. 4.8 that is a Saviour though he be but
so much for the explication of this Distinction of the Types into Occasional and Perpetual You see the true sense and meaning of it and what clear Scripture ground there is for it These perpetual Types or everlasting Statutes are no other but that which we call the Law of Moses or the Ceremonial Law whereof this Text speaks and lays down this Proposition Doct. That the Law hath a shadow of future good things but not the very Image of the things themselves The same thing is asserted and held forth though in other words but to the same scope and sense in other Scriptures As Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Joh. 1.17 The Law came by Moses that is the Law as opposed to Grace and Truth but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Truth here is not opposed to falshood for Moses spake no lyes but to Shadows and shadowy Promises and so the truth of them is the performance or accomplishment of them in opposition to the bare shadow and typical Promise of them And this is called Grace because there is so much of that in the Gospel and so little of it but on the contrary much of rigor and terror in the Law of Moses So the sense amounts to thus much That Moses delivered Law that is Shadows and Ceremonies which were but legal and dark and rigorous but Christ brought in Grace and Truth that is the real and sweet accomplishment and performance of all the good that Moses had promised in that dark and low and legal way which is consonant to that we have here in the Text that the Law hath the shadow but not the very Image of the things themselves Here be Four things to be cleared 1. What is meant by the Law 2. What by these future good things 3. What by the Shadow which the Law hath and the very Image of them which the Law wanted 4. What are the particular several parts of this Law of Ceremonies these perpetual or everlasting Statutes Quest 1. What is here meant by the Law Ans A Law is a rule of Acting given by a Superior who hath Authority and Power of commanding to his Inferior this is the general nature of a Law God therefore being the supreme Lord and absolute Sovereign over all his Creatures is the Great Law-giver James 4.12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy All those to whom God commits Power over others may be said to give Laws to them except ordinary Officers in the Church whom he hath intrusted no further but only with the execution of his Laws promulgated and recorded by himself by his extraordinary Officers in the written Word But Magistrates may be said to be Legislators as to Civil Laws of whom Moses was the first that delivered Laws in Writing to the People under him which he received from the Mouth of God Now the Laws delivered by Moses are referred in the Scripture to three Heads Moral Ceremonial and Judicial which are expressed by three words Thorah or Mitsvah Chuquim and Mishpatim which words are sometimes used and put together in the Scripture to signifie these three sorts of Laws Deut. 6.1 Mitsvah Chuquim and Mishpatim the same words Deut. 26.17 see Ezra 7.10 Mal. 4.4 Thorah Asher Tsivithi the Law which I commanded The first sort of Laws viz. Moral respects them as Men the second as a Church the third as a Common-Wealth The first sort viz. the Moral Laws are still in force and binding unto all men in all Ages The third sort viz. Judicial Laws are of a mixt nature some being Hedges as it were and Fences to the Moral Law and some to the Ceremonial and so they participate of the nature of those Laws to whose defence they serve The Judicials that serve to the defence of the Moral Law have something of moral equity and reason in them and so are still in force As that he that sheds mans blood by man shall his blood be shed this is a Fence which God hath set about the sixth Commandment and so remains in force in all Nations to all times and Ages unto this day But others of these Judicials are set as Fences about the Ceremonial Law and so must needs be fallen together with it Now the Law of which the Text speaks it is not the Moral nor the Judicial as such but the Ceremonial Law of Moses called Ephes 2.15 the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances and Col. 2.14 the Hand writing of Ordinances This Text cannot intend the Moral Law for that had no shadow of Gospel benefits nor the Judicial Law as such for part of it was an Appendix to the Moral Law and the other part was only for the defence of the Ceremonies But the Ceremonial Law is here intended for that was of a shadowy nature it had a shadow of good things to come Quest 2. What are these future good things Ans It is the good things of the Gospel which may be said to be future upon a double account 1. Future in respect of the Law and Old Testament times 2. Future in respect of this life So future good things is eternal good things Calvin in loc see 1 Joh. 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be Though we have the foretastes and beginnings of them already yet the perfection of them is future reserved in Heaven for us Quest 3. What is meant by the shadow of these future benefits And what by the very image of the things themselves Ans In a word a Shadow here is a dark and weak resemblance and representation of things But the very Image of the things themselves is a clearer and better representation of them The Apostle useth this Metaphor of a shadow concerning the Mosaical Ceremonies Col. 2.17 In opposition to Christ the body and substance thereof Here he opposeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alluding as it seemeth to the rude draught and first delineation of a Picture by the Painter and to the full perfection thereof when drawn forth in all its Lineaments and Colours and whole Proportion So the Shadow is the first rude Draught The Image is a more lively and exact representation So the dark Shadow is ascribed to the Law The more lively Image to the Gospel The things themselves are in Heaven So some Interpreters carry it Vid. Mayer Calvin in loc And the Apostle hath some expressions looking that way in other Scriptures as when he saith that here we see but in a Glass darkly that is the Glass of Gospel Administrations wherein we see the lively Image and Picture as it were of Christ crucified Gal. 3.1 2. Cor. 3.18 see as in a Glass He is there comparing the Law and the Gospel But in heaven we shall see face to face see 1 Cor. 13.12 Under the Law they had no more but the Shadow but now under the Gospel we have the very Image we
see things as in a Glass but in Heaven we have the things themselves And now to sum up all that hath been said in Explication the Doctrine amounts to thus much That the Ceremonial Law hath a shadow or a dark and weak representation of the good things of that eternal future happiness the more lively Image and Portraiture whereof we have under and by the Gospel Quest 4. What are the several parts of this Law of Shadows and Ceremonies these perpetual Types or everlasting Statutes Ans This is a large Field I shall refer them at present to five several Heads omiting Sub divisions lest they be troublesome to weak memories 1. The initiating Seal to wit Circumcision 2. Their Sacrifices and Purifications of sin and of uncleanness 3. The Temple and Tabernacle and other holy places 4. The Priesthood with the whole legal Ministry 5. The Festivals or Legal Times and Seasons These five general Heads will carry us through this whole Subject of the Types For the whole Ceremonial Law and all or most of the Statutes of it will come in under some of these Heads 1. The initiating Seal of those times which was Circumcision the first Institution whereof we have in Gen. 17.10 11. This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee Every man child among you shall be circumcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin and it shall be a token of the Covenant betwixt me and you Which is contracted and epitomized into a few words by Stephen Act. 7.8 And he gave him the Covenant of Circumcision and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat the twelve Patriarchs Wherein he briefly tells us the substance of this Shadow and the meaning of this Type namely that it signified and shadowed forth the Covenant of Grace 2. Their Sacrifices and Purifications for sin and for uncleanness of which Psal 40.6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required with Heb. 10.5 10. Many things will come in under this Head for they had both Sacrifices of Expiation for moral sins and Ceremonies of Purification for legal uncleanness and impurity I put them both together because they did both aim at one Scope namely the cleansing and purging away of sin They had burnt-offerings meat-offerings peace-offerings sin-offerings trespass offerings They had legal Uncleannesses of several sorts they had unclean Meats unclean Persons unclean Houses unclean Garments unclean Vessels the saddest of all their ceremonial Uncleannesses was the Leprosy for all which they had Purifications answerable The general scope of all which was to shadow forth Jesus Christ in his purifying cleansing power and virtue as cleansing us from the guilt of sin by his Blood shed and sacrificed for us and from the filth and power thereof by his Spirit dwelling and working in us Therefore he is said to offer up himself a Sacrifice for us Ephes 5.2 and to wash us and cleanse us vers 26 27. 3. The Temple and Tabernacle and the Utensils thereof with all their holy places For they had many and divers of them the whole Land of Canaan was an holy Land They had Cities of Refuge Jerusalem was an holy City Mount Sion was an holy Hill the Temple was an holy House And before they had a sixed Temple they had which was equivalent in signification as well as like unto it in outward form the Tabernacle Heb. 9.1 to vers 6. All which signified and shadowed forth both Christ and the Church Christ in his humane nature the Church both as visible and as militant and mystical and likewise as triumphant in Heaven Therefore the Church of God is called his House 1 Tim. 3.15 4. The Priesthood with all the rest of the Temple Ministry Heb. 8.2 They had beside the High-Priest the other Priests and the Levites some whereof were Porters some Singers And here the Temple Musick comes to be considered the High-Priest was an eminent Type of Christ the true and great High-Priest of his Church And all this Temple Ministry was a shadow of the true Gospel Ministry which though they cannot be called Priests in the Popish sense yet they may be called Antitypical Priests The further mysteries of all which legal Ministry we shall open more particularly afterwards the Lord enabling us 5. A Fifth of these perpetual Types was the Festivals or Holy Times appointed by the Law whereof they had many their weekly seventh day Sabbaoths their New Moons their yearly Feasts That of Tabernacles Passover and Pentecost their seventh year their Jubilee of fifty years containing the Revolution of seven times seven all which were a shadow of good things to come Col. 2.16 17. Vse 1. This Text and Doctrine gives much light for the resolution of that question whether the Law of Moses was a Covenant of Works or Grace The answer is That the Law hath a shadow of the good things of the Gospel but not the very Image of the things themselves There was a mixture in that Dispensation you may take the Answer more fully in three Propositions 1. The thing it self adumbrated and shadowed forth in this Law of Ceremonies is the future good things of the Gospel so that it was indeed a Covenant of Grace that they were under 2. The manner of representation of them was legal and in the way of a shadow not of a full and lively Image so that it was a kind of legal Gospel they had in those times Vid. on Heb. 4.2 3. The carnal Jews made it meer Law by sticking in the shell and shadow and rejecting the Gospel or the thing it self that was adumbrated and shadowed forth unto them Vse 2. See the Justice of God in the rejection of the Jews For might not Israel have understood They did not want a competency of outward means but they wanted hearts Deut. 29.2 3 4. Vse 3. Encouragement in the search we are now upon as to the Types for it is the Gospel and the good things of the Gospel that we look into when we enquire and search into the Types The Law having a shadow of them Vid. on Rom. 5.14 Serm. 1. Vse where there are three Rules for the better understanding of them To which let me add this as an Appendix to the first seek Light from God Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law You may see wondrous things indeed Jesus Christ and the Gospel and many precious mysteries in this part of the Law of God this Law of Ceremonies if God open your eyes but otherwise all will be dark to you Vse 4. Encouragement to believe and receive the Gospel for it hath been held forth to the Faith of Gods people all along and they have rested upon it and found peace We have it declared in the clearest way and indeed every way for we reap the Fruit
And here comes in that Quoere concerning the Peace-Offerings whether they were of the Holy of Holies whether they had the double or only the single Holiness They are not called most holy as the other five sorts are The reason whereof is because that some part of them was eaten by the people but yet a part also was burnt upon the Altar and another part eaten by the Priests and these parts were most holy though the whole was not Therefore some have called the Peace Offering Sacrificium varium a divers Sacrifice as being partly holy and partly most holy And the other sorts they call simplex by a simple Sacrifice intending that which was all of it most holy and the whole was to shadow out the Sacrifice and satisfaction of Jesus Christ so Mede Disc 49. 2. The second Ceremony of the Peace-Offering was the limitation of time for the eating of it The parts belonging to the Priest and to the Offerer must be eaten by them the same day or the next but if any was left till the third day it must be burnt with fire Lev. 7.15 16 17.18 And here there is a distinction in the Rule between the two sorts or occasions of Peace-Offerings namely That if it were for Thanksgiving it must be eaten the same day that it is offered but if it were for a Vow or a voluntary Offering it must be eaten within two days The former Rule is in vers 15. The Rule for the latter is in vers 16. But how if they did not observe this Rule see the penalty in vers 17.18 To eat any of it upon the third day was very detestable and abominable see vers 17 18. It is forbidden under the penalty of utter Extermination There might be something of a natural Reason for this because the flesh might putrefy in that hot Climate if kept longer But surely this is not all that was intended in such a severe and vehement Prohibition Therefore there be also two spiritual Mysteries that seem to be intended and aimed at by the Spirit of God in this Ceremony 1. To teach us that we should make haste and not delay Communion with God in the exercise of Faith and thankful obedience Do not delay and put off the work of Believing but receive Christ and Communicate of him in this our day This Instruction is clear and evident out of this Ceremony for seeing eating signifies our feeding upon Christ by Faith and to day and to morrow denotes a short time therefore this instructs us speedily to lay hold upon the Mercy of God in Christ and to feed upon this our Peace-Offering while it is called to day according to that Psal 95.7 8 Heb. 3.12 13 15. So for other duties of obedience we should not delay the expressions of our joy and thankfulness to God Psal 119.60 I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments They had a like Rule touching the Passover Exod. 12.10 Ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire One scope whereof was to teach us to lay hold on present opportunities Do not protract the time there is a day of Peace after which when once expired it is too late God will not accept thy Peace-Offerings then 2. It is thought to have respect unto Christs Resurrection which was upon the third day therefore he saith Luk. 13.32 Behold I cast out Devils and I do Cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected Then he ended his work and state of humiliation for our Redemption and had no more to do in a way of Sacrifice and Peace-Offering for our sins In which respect the number of three was a mystical number under the Law as well as the number seven the Scripture often sets a mark upon it Isaac was offered the third day Gen. 22.4 Against the third day they were to be ready to receive the Law upon Mount Sinai Exod. 19.10 11. Sanctify the people to day and to morrow and let them wash their Clothes and be ready against the third day for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai so the Ark went before them three days before it rested Numb 10.33 And they departed from the Mount of the Lord three days journey and the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days journey to search out a resting place for them And after three days to pass over Jordan into Canaan Josh 1.11 In the third day the unclean person was to purify himself but if he purify not himself the third day then the seventh day he shall not be clean Numb 19.12 In the third day Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord and recovered from the sentence of death 2 King 29.5 Hos 6.2 After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight With many other memorable things all which intimates something of mystery in the third day And the greatest Dispensation that ever was upon that day was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after he had layn part of three days in the Grave Then he was perfected and had no more to do in way of Sacrifice and satisfaction for our sins as after the third day there was no more of the Peace-Offering remaining 3. A third Ceremony in the Peace-Offering was this That they were to offer leavened bread with it Cap. 7. vers 13. This is the more remarkable for that in all their other Sacrifices Leaven was usually very strictly and severely forbidden but here it is required Here we may learn first That it is not the nature of the thing it self but meerly the will of God that makes a thing good or evil in his worship To put Leaven into any other Offering it makes the Sacrifice odious unto God and like a smoak in his Nostrils all the day but if it please him to require it in the Peace-Offering then it must be used So for Honey he forbids it in other Sacrifices Lev 2.11 But in the First Fruits they were to offer Honey 2 Chron. 31.5 The Children of Israel brought in abundance of the First Fruits of Corn Wine Oyl and Honey and of all the Increase of the Field God herein manifesting his Authority and the supremacy of his Will If it had pleased our Lord Jesus Christ to command us to sign men in his Name with the sign of the Cross it would have been a duty and a blessed thing to do it and if he had not commanded us to wash men with Water in his Name it would have been a sinful and an unlawful Administration to baptize More particularly Leaven is taken both in a good and in a bad sense and I find Interpreters do accommodate and apply it both ways as to the Sacrifice of the Peace Offerings 1. In
speaks of Fat in deteriorem partem in an evil sense so it is said of wicked men their heart is as fat as Grease but I delight in thy Law Psal 119.70 So Deut. 32.15 But Jesurun waxed fat and kicked thou art waxen fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness Isai 6.10 Make the heart of this people fat lest they understand with their heart and convert and be healed So it denotes a senseless hard heart the Fat in the body having little sense A Fat heart in this sense is opposed to a fleshy heart so it denotes hardness insensibleness unbelief Now then the Fat being burnt upon the Altar teacheth us That our Corruptions must be burnt up by the Spirit of God as a Spirit of Burning and of Judgment And it is the Fat of the Inward parts and of the Kidneys and Liver which are the seat of Lust and Concupiscence We may learn from hence that even secret sins in the Inward parts must be destroyed and mortified It is not enough to avoid open and outward sins but inward heart hypocrisy secret lusts they must be burnt before the Lord upon the Altar destroyed and mortified by the Spirit God trys the Heart searcheth the Reins sees into the Inward parts That fatness of the heart must be consumed those Inward lustings unto sin destroyed and mortified 5. The last Ceremony was the forbidding of blood vers 10. This Prohibition was more general than the former of Fat for that was only some kinds of Fat But all manner of blood is forbidden without any restraint or specification of this or that kind The first Prohibition of blood that we read of in Scripture was to Noahs Sons Gen. 9.4 But flesh with the life thereof which is the blood thereof ye shall not eat And now again by Moses here and afterwards in other places As Cap. 7.26 27. and Cap. 17. from vers 10 to the end very largely and vehemently under the forest pains and penalties even utter extermination and cutting off by the immediate hand of God But that Prohibition in Noahs time seems to differ from this by Moses in that it was living blood which was there forbidden but here it is all manner of blood As to the mysteries and reasons of it there be two things expressed in Lev. 17.11 1. Because the blood is the life of the Beast vers 11 14. That is it is the Seat and Vehicle of the Spirits which are the Soul and the Life of it as Philosophers say Anima rationalis equitat in sensitivâ sensitiva equitat in vegetativâ The sensitive Soul is the Chariot of the rational Soul and the vegetative of the sensitive so their Blood is the Chariot of the vegetative and vital Spirits The scope seems to be this to forbid and prevent cruelty it argues too much greediness and it tends to make the Spirits of men salvag and barbarous to drink living blood or to eat the flesh if it be not fully killed and cleansed of the blood 1 Sam. 14.32 33 34. Some report that it hath been a custom used in some barbarous Nations amongst the Old Tartarians they would open a Vein with an Instrument in the Beast they rode upon and so quench their thirst by drinking warm blood out of the Veins of a living Creature This is forbidden to Noahs Sons Gen. 9. as a salvage cruel thing Cruelty is abominable at all times but especially when you come with your Peace-Offerings before the Lord. It concerns you then especially to take heed of harshness towards your brethren How can men expect Peace from God when ready to drink the blood of their brethren A violent persecuting Spirit is as black a Mark as any I know To use violence to their Consciences this is to eat or drink their blood which God abhors 2. The second reason there assigned is because I have given it to you upon the Altar to make an atonement for your Souls Lev. 17.11 that is typically as representing the blood of Christ So that here is a mystical Intimation of reverence to that precious blood to keep men in a reverend expectation of it therefore they must abstain from blood as sacred to the Lord. As David refused to drink of the Waters of the Well of Bethlehem 2 Sam. 23.17 because it was per equivalentiam the blood of them that fetcht it with the peril of their Lives So here blood was typically the blood of Christ and therefore sacred to the Lord they must not use it to other common use The Lord would hereby teach them a reverential esteem and high valuation of the blood of Jesus Christ Some go a little further and observe this in it That look as eating and drinking signifies Communion so 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ And forbidding to eat is a forbidding Communion Act. 10.13 14. In Peters Vision rise kill and eat It is meant of exercising Communion with the Gentiles and Peters objecting Not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean His meaning is he refuseth Communion with them So this Prohibition of eating blood which was given upon the Altar to make atonement for mens Souls and of Fat which was given upon the Altar to be consumed there with Fire and so was the Lords seemeth to forbid figuratively all ascribing and assuming unto our selves the work of our Redemption which is only by the blood of Christ or the work of our Sanctification to our selves which Christ by his Spirit performeth in us Aynsw in Lev. 3. ult To take this work to our selves is to eat the blood as it were which the Lord will not endure There is a further reason given by some That the Lord did it to distinguish his people from the Heathen who were wont to drink the blood of their sacrifices Psal 16.3 As indeed in all these ancient Institutions the Lord had a special eye unto that to keep them off from the heathenish Customs and Idolatries Thus you see the reasons why blood was forbidden under the Law the chief whereof is the respect it had to the blood of Christ From all which you have a clear resolution of that scruple of Conscience that hath troubled some concerning that Prohibition of blood under the New Testament by the Synod in Act. 15. But the Answer is That the main reason why blood was forbidden of old being because the Lord had given blood to them for atonement and this use being figurative which had its end and accomplishment in Christ who by his death and blood shedding hath caused the Sacrifices and Oblations to cease Dan. 9. Therefore now this Law must needs be expired and not still in force upon the Consciences of Believers And as for that Decree of the Council Act. 15. It is forbidden by them meerly upon the account of love which is tender and loth to give offense The sins there forbidden may
and answered See the blood upon the Horns of the Incense-Altar Would you see Heaven Gates opened and way made for you into the Holy of Holies an abundant entrance opened for you into Heaven See the blood sprinkled before the Vail See the blood of Jesus Christ influencing all the concernments of your Souls 4. The fourth Law of the Sin-Offering is concerning the burning of it vers 8 9 10 11 12. And again vers 19 20 21. The inward parts of it were to be burnt upon the Altar as in the Ordinance of the Peace-Offering All the rest the whole Bullock was to be burnt in a clean place without the Camp This Law is peculiar to the Sin-Offering of a Bullock whether for the Priest or for the whole Church But in the Sin-Offering of Goats or Sheep for the Ruler and for any individual of the common people this Ceremony of burning without the Camp was not required There is this reason given for burning the whole Sin Offering if it were a Bullock and not allowing any of it to be eaten namely because the blood of it was brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place Lev. 6.30 You may see the practice of this Ceremony in the Sin Offering at the Consecration of the Priests Exod. 29.14 And as it was burnt without the Camp in their present unfixed posture so when the Temple was fixed at Jerusalem it was burnt without the Gates of the City The Apostle explains it at large Heb. 13.10 11 12 13 14. and educeth three great Gospel Truths and Mysteries out of it 1. That they which serve the Tabernacle have no right to eat of our Altar under the Gospel vers 10. Our New Testament Altar is Christ To eat of the Altar is to partake of the Offerings offered upon it They that serve the Tabernacle that is the old worldly Tabernacle such as serve that that is such as adhere still to legal ways and Observations have no right to Christ the Altar and to the Sacrifice he hath offered and to Salvation by him Such as cleave to their own Righteousness and to their own Wisdom in the things of God they deprive themselves of Communion with Christ 2. As the Sin Offering was burnt without the Camp where they did cast forth the Ashes so Christ suffered without the Gates of the City They carried him out of Jerusalem to Golgotha to the place of dead mens Sculls Mat. 27.33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha that is to say a place of a Skull which is called Luk. 23.33 Calvary That as it is said of the Sin-Offering in the place where they pour out the Ashes there shall it be burnt Lev. 4.12 So Christ suffered without the Gate Heb 13.12 3. This Ceremony teacheth also the mystery of our Communion with Christ in bearing his Reproach Heb. 13.13 For it was because sin was upon the Offering which carries shame along with it that it was carried forth Malefactors were to be put to death without the Camp so the Blasphemer Lev. 24.14 so the presumptuous Profaner of the Sabbaoth Numb 15.35 If you cannot be content to bear the disgraces and reproaches of the world to be accounted a simple Heretick a Fanatick no true Son of the Church but a Schismatick against the Church and a Rebel against the King an enemy to Caesar for so they said of Christ you refuse to go forth with him out of the Camp bearing his reproach The Apostles were accounted the very filth of the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 4.9 to 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as by sweeping is gathered together saith the marginal Note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod detergere significat Beza Wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did their Fathers to the false Prophets Luk. 6.26 To these add 4. Whereas he that did perform this Ministration about the Sin-Offering was to be unclean until the Even so in the Sin-Offering of the yearly Feast of Expiation Lev. 16.27 28. The same Law we find concerning the red Heifer whereof they made the water of separation Numb 18.9 And he that burneth her shall wash his Cloaths in water and bath his Flesh in water and shall be unclean until the Even Hereby was shadowed forth not only the imperfection of the legal Priesthood and Ministrations in that the Priests themselves which prepared the Means of Sanctification for the Church were themselves polluted in the preparing and doing of them so Ainsw in Numb 19.8 9. But it may instruct us also in a more general Truth concerning the Iniquity of our holy Offerings our best duties and services There is something of secret spiritual defilement cleaving to them even when we are making our Peace with God when we are atoneing or receiving the Atonement and acting about it Lava lachrymas meas Domine Lord wash even my tears 5. The last Law of the Sin-Offering is concerning the eating of it of this see Cap. 6. vers 24 to the end This did not concern those Sin Offerings whose blood was brought into the holy place and whose flesh was burnt without the Camp but only the Sin-Offerings of the Ruler and private persons as Lev. 6.30 There be three Ceremonial Laws and Ordinances about this 1. The Priests are to eat it in the holy place vers 26. Moses expostulates with Aaron for the neglect of this Lev. 10.19 20. And he there hinteth at some part of the mystery of it vers 17. The Priest by eating the Sinners Offering did typically bear the iniquity of the Sinner and so abolish it as in a figure It holds forth our Communion with Christ our Sin-Offering as the Food of our Souls whom by Faith we eat and feed upon Joh. 6.56 2. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy vers 27. This Rite was peculiar to the Sin-Offering and seeing the Sin-Offering was a Type of Christ who was made sin for us This teacheth us the holiness that should be in them who have any thing to do with Christ God reproves the Priests as Hos 4.8 they eat up the sin or the Sin Offering Chattaah of my people The old Note is this the Priests seek to eat the peoples Offerings and flatter them in their sins Every one of us should know how to possess our Vessels in holiness and honour 1 Thess 4.4 3. The Vessel wherein it is boyled must be cleansed by rinsing with Water or by breaking it in pieces Vers 27 28. The like Levit. 11.32 33. and 15.12 The earthen Vessels were to be broken in regard of the cheapness of them the loss would not be great the more costly to be scoured and rinsed The Apostle speaks of those Heb. 9.10 divers Washings and carnal Ordinances imposed on them till the time of Reformation The Pharisees in such Observations as these went beyond the Rule as Superstition is apt to do but Christ severely rebukes them for
his house We see of what an infectious nature it is therefore keep off at the greatest distance have nothing to do with it We should hate the very Garments spotted with the flesh Obs 6. Note from the whole what an intricate and cumbersome Dispensation the people of God were then under in those Legal times in regard of the Law of Ceremonies Here was beside the bodily Disease a Ceremonial uncleanness in it which was very burthensome and difficult to judge of and to keep themselves from it and to cleanse it And it was such a burthen as might light upon a Child of God a Godly man might possibly be a Leper As it is not improbable by some expressions but that might be Hâ—mans Case Psal 88. he saith he was shut up an abomination to them and that Lover and Friend were gone They had this burthen of Ceremonial uncleanness besides all their other burthens That as Peter speaks Act. 15. were a Yoke which neither we nor our Fathers are able to bear We are free from all this we have no further care or burthen lying on us but to look to the health of our bodies and the moral uncleanness of sin but the Ceremonial uncleanness is vanisht away Vse It should stir us up to thankfulness and as the best expression of it to love and prize and keep close to the Ordinances and Institutions of the Gospel which are but two which are plain and easy and spiritual viz. Baptism and the Lords Supper with some few other things for the order and way of enjoying these as a Church-Estate and Ministry to dispense them As he said to Naaman if the Prophet had required some great thing wouldst thou not have done it How much rather when he saith to thee wash and be clean So if the Lord had put that old Yoke upon our Necks and Consciences which he hath been pleased to remove should we not have taken it upon us How much more when he required only so few such plain easy simple spiritual things We should love and prize them and the Lord in them and bring forth the fruit of Gospel Dispensations THE GOSPEL OF THE LEGAL PURIFICATIONS September 20. 1668. Hebr. 9.13 14. HAving spoken of the Ceremonial Uncleannesses and the Moral Uncleanness figured thereby It follows in the next place to speak of the Ceremonial Purifications and the Spiritual Cleansing signified thereby together with the means thereof If the blood of Bulls and Goats sanctified to the purifying of the flesh These general expressions include all But the Apostle specifies one particular viz. The ashes of an Heyser sprinkling the unclean The Law for it is in the 19. Chapter of Numbers There be two things chiefly to be considered in it as in other Sacrifices 1. The matter of it 2. The Ceremonies or actions about it for Purification 1. The Matter and under this there be four things observable 1. That it was an Heyser 2. A Red Heyser 3. Without spot or blemish 4. On which never came Yoak 1. It must be an Heyser So in the Text so in Numb 19. vers 12. The Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying this is the Ordinance of the Law which the Lord hath commanded saying speak unto the Children of Israel that they may bring thee a red Heiser without spot wherein is no blemish and upon which never Yoke came Here is Gods Authority so appointing that it should be an Heifer though ordinarily they were to offer Males yet here the Law you see is expresly otherwise it must not be a Bullock but an Heifer therefore this was a peculiar kind of Sacrifice God by his sovereign Authority did and might appoint what he pleased to be offered in his Sacrifices 2. It is particularly required that it be a red Heifer a colour often and fitly applied to Christ in a mystical sense My Beloved is white and ruddy Cant. 5.10 so Isai 63.1 Who is this that cometh from Edom with red Garments from Bozrah Red with his own blood and with the blood of his conquered Enemies And Rev. 19.13 his Vesture dipt in blood The redness of the Heifer did also point at the humane nature of Christ which he had from Adam who was made out of red Earth Gen. 2.7 from which also he took his name Adam Thus Christ is red and that in regard of his sufferings and in regard of his victories and of the blood of his conquered Enemies and also in regard of his beauty and lastly in regard that he took part of flesh and blood was really and truly man 3. It is further required in this Sacrifice that it must be without spot and blemish Numb 19.2 This was required in all the Sacrifices as Lev. 1.3 10. without blemish And it speaks forth the purity and perfection of Jesus Christ therefore it is said 1 Pet. 1.19 We are redeemed by his blood as of a Lamb without spot and blemish And him that knew no sin hath God made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God by him 2 Cor. 5.21 So he is both white and ruddy Ruddy in regard of his bloody Sufferings but white in regard of his pure and perfect Righteousness 4. It must be such an Heifer on which never came Yoke Numb 19.2 So Christ was free from the bondage of sin and did never come under the yoke of mens Inventions and Commands nor did he suffer by compulsion but freely and willingly when he died for us Sin and the punishment of it is compared in Scripture to a Yoke Lament 1.14 The Yoke of my Transgressions is bound by his hand they are wreathed and come up upon my neck And so Joh. 8.33 34 35 36. He that lives in sin and commits and makes a Trade of it he is the servant of sin They boasted that they were free and never in bondage to any man but he tells them of a spiritual servitude which they understood not This was Christ free from And yet further as there was not this Yoke of sin upon him so neither was there any Yoke of constraint or compulsion in his Sufferings in any thing he underwent for us all he did and suffered was spontaneous and voluntary Joh. 10.17 18. I lay down my life that I might take it again No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again So here is a Heifer a red Heifer a Heifer without spot and one upon which never came Yoke 2. Consider the Actions and Ceremonies about the Heifer which were also very significant and full of spiritual mystery Not to insist upon the bringing of her to the Priest which was common to all the Sacrifices there were four especially remarkable 1. That she must be slain without the Camp 2. The blood sprinkled seven times towards the Tabernacle 3. The body burnt with Cedar Scarlet and Hyslop call into to the fire 4. The Ashes
It is called the Feast of Weeks because they were to reckon seven weeks from the morrow after the Passover and then they were to offer to the Lord their two Wave-loaves Lev. 23.17 there was a threefold mystery in this Feast 1. To testifie their Gratitude and Thankfulness unto God for the Land of Canaan and for the Harvest of the Fruits of the earth therefore they were to present the first Fruits thereof to him at this Feast Hence it is called the Feast of Harvest Exod. 23.16 and the Feast of First Fruits Numb 28.26 and the Feast of Weeks of the first Fruits of the Wheat-harvest Exod. 34.22 As in the former the first Fruits of their Barley-harvest so in this the first Fruits of their Wheat-harvest must be offered to God This was as it were the compleating of that There are four Instructions to be learned from hence 1. That God must be acknowledged in outward mercies in the Fruits of the Earth we must pay him the Rent of Thankfulness as our great Landlord and that is all the Rent that he requires He is in giving so liberal that he gives us all things richly to enjoy but in taking so sparing that he requires but a Sheaf for the whole Harvest For Act. 14.17 it is he that giveth us Rain and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness and would it not be strange ingratitude to receive from God whole harvests of his Benefits and return nothing not not so much as one Sheaf to him 2. The second Instruction is this this Feast instructs when it is that the Soul becomes truly fruitful and thankful to acknowledg God indeed namely when the Blood of Ghrist hath been sprinkled upon the Soul when his Death hath been applied and not before For they were first to eat the Passover and so to begin that Feast and then upon the morrow after the Passover they were to offer the first Fruits of Barley and from thence to reckon fifty days to the Feast of Weeks so that their first expression of their thankfulness to God for the Fruits of the earth was immediately after they had killed and eaten the Passover It is that which many complain of a carnal dead insensible unthankful frame of heart but you see here both the cause of it and the cure and remedy against it The Soul will come to own God to dedicate it self and all it hath unto God when first sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God but not till then 3. They were to begin these their acknowledgments of God on the sixteenth day of the first month Lev. 16.10 11. for then Barley was ripe in those climates at another season then in these Northern Countries Then they were to begin their acknowledgments of God they were not to delay their thankfulness till they had gotten in their whole Harvest but they must bring the first unto God It is a lovely thing to see men acquaint themselves with God betimes to give him the first ripe Fruits and it is but equal reddere illi prima qui nobis dedit omnia that we should render the first unto him who giveth all unto us 4. As they begun betimes so they were to proceed as in their Harvest so in their Thankfulness for they offered first but a Wave-sheaf of Barly Exod. 16. but now two Wave-loaves of Wheat then but one Lamb now seven Lambs Lev. 23.18 far greater Offerings then the former To teach us that a Christians Thankfulness and Fruitfulness should be increasing till at last he be made perfect We should not sit down in some imperfect beginnings but go forward and make continual progress in the ways of God as their time goes on so should their thankfulness The greater Gods Blessings are to us the greater must our Thankfulness be to him as he doth increase his Benefits so should we augment and increase our Obedience A good Note saith one writing upon this Feast for all them to think of to whom God hath extended a more liberal hand then to their brethren Many rise up early go to bed late and part from their beloved sleep yet fare hardly eat brown Bread as we say and drink the Water of Affliction Is thy condition better then theirs art thou fed with the finest of the Wheat instead of their Barly Remember then that to whom much is given of him shall be required much Luk. 12.48 seven Lambs for their one and for their one Sheaf two Loaves 2. A second end and mystery of this Feast of Pentecost was in reference to the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai That this was one part of the mystery of this Feast of Pentecost the time it self speaks with other circumstances For they came out of Egypt to serve the Lord and to keep a Feast to him in the Wilderness Exod 5.1 3. And they had the Law first given to them at this time of the year for it was in the third month after they came out of Egypt Exod. 19.1 2 3. Now they came out at the Passover which was on the fourteenth day of the first month from whence if you reckon fifty days from the sixteenth day of the first month it will bring you to the sixth day of the third month in which they received the Law at Mount Sinai the memorial whereof was celebrated by this Feast For God to give his Law and Ordinances to a people and to reveal his Mind and make known his Will to them it is an inestimable mercy to be kept always in precious remembrance and to be celebrated with everlasting thankfulness especially for them who before were tyed to the cruel Laws of Egyptian Tyrants and Taskmasters now to receive not only a Law of their own but a Law from Heaven a Law from God was an ineffable mercy 3. A third mystery of Pentecost was the pouring forth of the Spirit at this time Acts 2.1 2 3 4. as at this time God gave the Law under the Old Testament so it pointed us to the time when he would give the first fruits of his Spirit under the New which he poured forth upon the Apostles who thereupon went forth to preach the Gospel and to gather that which the Prophets before had sown reaping fruit unto eternal life and bring Wheat of God into his Garner As at this Feast he gave the Law by Moses so at the same time he gave his Spirit by Jesus Christ To teach us that under the Gospel we receive the Spirit of Christ to enable us to 〈◊〉 fulfil the Law and do the Will of Christ Vnto this Feast there was added another Precept of leaving for the poor Lev. 23.22 teaching them that with their Sacrifices to God they should joyn love to their brethren and that as Gods hand opened to them so their hands should be opened to the poor and needy But this was a general rule in all the yearly Feasts not to appear before the Lord empty-handed as
here the Lords Instruments of Musick And indeed had there not been such a Stamp of God upon them they had been abominable and those words of God by the Prophet Amos 5.23 might justly have been applied unto them Take away from me the noise of thy Songs for I will not hear the melody of thy Viols or of thy Organs as some translate that word vid. Tarnov in loc For the Lord rejects with loathing whatever he hath not commanded respuit quicquid non praecepit as Calvin observes upon that text A text which condemns the mutterings of the Mass-Priests and the bellowings of the Friars and Nuns wherwith the Churches and Chappels in the Papacy eccho to use the words of the learned Lutheran Tarnovius upon that place But there is not one word of Institution for them under the Gospel neither expresly nor by Consequence but on the contrary they are clearly cashiered and excluded out of the Gospel-worship by that general Rule which the Apostle lays down concerning all the parts of Gods Worship 1 Cor. 14 26. let all things be done unto edifying with ver 15. I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with Vnderstanding also and vers 11. If I know not the meaning of the Voice he that speaketh shall be a Barbarian to me From all which the Rule is evident that no Voice is now to be heard in the Church of Christ but such as is significant and edifying by signification which the voice of Instruments is not Mr. Cott. of Singing Psalms cap. 1. pag. 6. The Chaunters and Choristers are to use the Apostles phrase Barbarians to all the people for they play and sing no body knows what the understanding cannot edifie by it being not an articulate voice And therefore those Comparisons of Mr. B. when he parallels the use of Organs in Gods Worship with a Cup of Wine and with the Tune and Meter and Melody in Singing are most incongruous and unmeet comparisons For what communion hath Light with darkness and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols So when Bellarmine de Bonis Operib partic lib. 1. cap. 1.7 mingles the Question of Organs with that of Singing Psalms handling them both together in one It is too much boldness thus to confound and parallel the Inventions of men with the Institutions of Jesus Christ We know there is an Institution of Chist for the use of Bread and Wine in his Worship in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as also for the singing of Psalms to which the Tune and Meter are as necessary as Cups and Vessels for the Bread and Wine But where hath Christ appointed Organs and Cathedral Musick who required these things at your hands The time when this Corruption was first invented and introduced into the Church is not certainly known neither is it much material to dispute Certain it is that they are a very late Invention They were not used in Justin Martyrs time who lived in the second Century and it is generally thought by learned men and not without ground that that Book though it bear his Name was indeed much later then his time where they are thus witnessed against the Testimony is very plain and punctual and therefore let us hear it in English Singing saith he in it self is not a childish thing but to sing with instruments of Musick and with Dancing and Timbrels And therefore in the Churches the use of such Musical instruments and other things fit for Children is laid aside in their Songs and Praises and nothing left but only singing with the Voice Justin Mart. Quaest Resp 107. Neither were they used in Chrysostoms time who lived in the fourth Century for he saith Judaeis fuerat permissum propter infirmitatem cordis sui It was permitted to the Jews because of their weakness Chrys in Psal 150. Platina refers the original of them to Pope Vitalianus about 690 years after Christ or as others 770 others about 820. Zepper Pol. Eccles lib. 1. cap. 13. pag. 106. But that they are much later then any of these Aquinas his Determination against them is a sufficient evidence Aqu. secund secundae Qu. 91. art 2. ad 4. who durst never have condemned them as Jewish and typical and carnal if they had been generally received in the Church of Rome in his time who lived about 400 years ago And it is Cajetans observation upon him Nota quod tempore Divi Thomae Ecclesia non utebatur Organis Cajet in Thom. And Bellarmine himself de Bon. Oper. in partic l. 1. c. 17. confesseth in Ecclesiâ sero admitti caepisse the primitive and purest times knew them not so that they are a very late invented Superstition And this is the first Consideration against them There was a clear word of Institution for them under the Law but not so but the contrary under the Gospel 2. We do not find that these Musical instruments amongst the Jews were a part of their Synagogue-worship which was moral and perpetual but rather of their Temple-worship which was ceremonial and is now vanished away We find in the Scripture that they had in their Synagogues the publick moral Worship of God as reading and expounding the Law c. every Sabbath day Luke 4.16 20 21. Acts 13.15 and 15.21 Some think they used Trumpets there also to call the people together but if they did this was a moral use of them for which we use the ringing of a Bell. But the Scripture is clear and express that their instruments of Musick were appointed to be used in their extraordinary solemn Feasts as in the year of Jubile in the day of Atonement Levit. 25.9 and continually before the Ark 1 Chron. 16.4 5 6. And the Singers and Trumpeters stood at the East end of the Altar at the Dedication of the Temple in Solomons time 2 Chron. 5.12 And in Hezekiahs time when the Burnt-offering began the Song of the Lord began also with the Trumpets and with the instruments of Musik ordained by David King of Israel 2 Chron. 29.27 28. But therefore seeing Christ is come and hath caused the Sacrifice and the Oblation to cease and the City and the Sanctuary being both destroyed as Dan. 9.26 27. All the Appendices thereof all the Worship that was affixed thereto is ceased with it Are the Sacrifices of the Temple the Priests of the Temple the Altars of the Temple and all the other parts of Temple-worship ceased and doth the Musick of the Temple continue 3. There was a typical signification in them And upon this account they are not only rejected and condemned by the whole Army of Protestant Divines as for instance by Zuinglius Calvin Peter Martyr Zepperus Paraeus Willet Ainsworth Ames Calderwood and Cotton Zuingl Act. disp 2. pag. 106. Calvin in Psal 33. Pet. Mart. in 1 Cor. 14.7 8. Zepper de leg Mos lib. 4 c. 9. p. 346. de Pol. Eccles lib. 1. cap. 13. p. 106. Paraeus in 1 Cor. 14.7 Willet Synops Papis
3. The Priest must be free from gross deformities and blemishes though he was subject to common humane infirmities Lev. 21 17. Say unto Aaron whosoever it is that hath any blemish let him not approach to offer Sacrifice for whatsoever man it is that hath any blemish he shall not approach a blind or lame or broken-footed or broken-handed c. he shall not come to offer the Offering of the Lord made by fire he hath a blemish he shall not come nigh to offer the Bread of his God These natural infirmities which the Priests under the Law must be free from taught us the absolute freedom of Jesus Christ from moral infirmities there is no blemish no spot found in him He wants no parts no gifts or sufficiency to discharge his whole Office and Function For such an High Priest becomes us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the Heavens Heb. 7.26 as they were to be free from those natural blemishes and defects so is Jesus Christ free from all sinful defects and blemishes That is a third Rule as to the qualifications of the Priests 4. They must be called unto this Office and must not intrude and thrust themselves into it The Lord said unto Moses take Aaron and his Sons with him from among the people that they may minister unto me in the Priests Office Exod. 28.1 The Apostle applies this also to Jesus Christ Heb. 5.4 5. he doth not take this honour to himself as no man should take the honour of the Priesthood to himself but he that was called as was Aaron so Jesus Christ was called of God the Father to this Office as the Priests were by Moses to their Levitical Ministry Christ glorified not himself to be made High Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son 5. The Priest must abstain from the use of Wine and Strong Drink when he is to do the Service of God in the Sanctuary and to minister before the Lord Lev. 10.9 And the Lord spake unto Aaron saying do not drink Wine nor Strong Drink thou nor thy Sons with thee when ye go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation lest he die c. so it is said in Ezek. 44.21 neither shall any Priest drink Wine when they enter into the inner Court The end of this was that they might be sure to administer and execute their Office aright lest they drink and forget the Law Prov. 31.5 lest they should err through Wine and be out of the way through Strong drink and stumble in Judgment Isai 28.7 Whoredom and Wine and new Wine take away the heart Hos 4.11 Thus they were to abstain from the use of Wine and Strong drink This represents that undisturbed Sobriety and Wisdom of Jesus Christ in the whole execution of his Office as the great High Priest of his Church He was never forgetful of or unready for any part of his Office but he had clearness of Judgment and Wisdom at all times So the Ministers of the Gospel there is a secondary application of these things to them though first and chiefly it is applied to Jesus Christ himself Whatsoever is set forth concerning Jesus Christ doth secondarily point at Ministers and Christians in whom the Graces and Excellencies of Jesus Christ appear The Ministers of the Gospell must be sober and not men given to Wine 1 Tim. 3.3 A Bishop must not be given to Wine no striker or given to filthy lucre c. and the Apostle requires it also in other places that they should take heed of that sin they must be sober and watchful in all things 2 Tim. 4.5 But watch thou in all things endure afflictions do the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministry So all Believers likewise for it belongs likewise to them they should be sober and watch to the discharge of their Christian duty Be ye therefore sober 1 Tim. 4.7 and watch unto Prayer 1 Pet. 5.8 be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour It is a woful thing and a shameful thing when Ministers are given to Wine and Strong drink these are not Gods Ministers these are such as do not correspond with the Type And it is the fruit of the Wrath of God upon a people when he sets up such Ministers among them Mich. 2.11 If any man shall prophesie of Wine or of Strong drink he shall be the Prophet to this people Isai 56.10 11 12. his Watchmen are blind they are ignorant c. come say they we will fetch Wine and fill our selves with Strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundantly It is usually the prologue and introduction to great Desolations or Land-devouring Judgments when they have Priests that love Wine and Strong drink it brings Land-devouring Judgments And that is a fifth Rule concerning these Levitical Priests that they must abstain from Wine and Strong drink when they were to minister before the Lord. 6. The Priest might not marry a Widow or a divorced Woman or a Harlot but a Virgin of his people This is another peculiar observation required of men in that Order under the Law Lev. 21.13 14. And he shall take a Wife in her Virginity a Widow or a divorced Woman or profane or an Harlot these shall he not take but he shall take a Virgin of his own people to Wife c. The same thing is spoken also in Ezek. 44.22 neither shall they take to wife a Widow c. What is the meaning of this it cannot be a moral precept It is not unlawful for a Minister to marry a Widow Therefore look at the High Priest herein The Spouse of Jesus Christ ought to be a Virgin chaste and undefiled whose first and best Love is to be bestowed on him 2 Cor. 11.2 I am jealous over you with godly Jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ And in Matth. 25. we find that Professors in some respects they are all Virgins though there be foolish Virgins as well as wife but it is especially applied to the sincere to the wise Virgins Rev. 14.4 These are they that are not defiled with Women for they are Virgins these follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Purity and Holiness is the property of true Believers an entire dedication of themselves to Jesus Christ alone The Virgins love thee Cant. 1.3 7. The seventh Rule and Observation about the Priesthood was this that he was not to mourn for the dead no not for his Father and Mother nor to attend their Funeral or to go out of the Sanctuary to intermit his Ministry Lev. 21.10 11 12. And he that is the High Priest among his Brethren he shall not uncover his head nor rent his clothes neither shall he go in to any dead body nor defile himself for his Father or for his
expect it I say it is not Faith but presumption to expect it for Apostolical Gifts are ceased A Minister that is called to that work and is diligent in reading and meditation and in Prayer to God may expect assistance from the Spirit in this way for God hath promised it But he cannot expect it in the way of immediate Revelation because there is no such promise Now then seeing God hath ordained that the Ministry be a particular Calling so that it is not lawful for men that follow their Callings to take upon them to be constant Preachers and it is not lawful for one that is a constant Preacher to follow another Calling It follows that Ministers either must be maintained or else they must starve Quest There is also another Question concerning the way and manner of Maintenance whether it may be in any of these ways that were used under the Law or whether they be not all ceased and abolished Answ To this the Answer is easie that seeing the Maintenance of the Priests and Levites under the Law was raised all manner of ways the Maintenance of Gospel-Ministers must be in some of these or there can be no Maintenance at all For if Ministers do receive Maintenance by the Free-will-offerings and voluntary Contributions of the people so did the Levites under the Law If Ministers have Houses to dwell in provided for them the Legal Ministry had so too If Ministers have it by the Edict of the supream Magistrate so had the Levites too Ezr. 7.24 If Ministers have their Maintenance setled by Law by the consent of the people as by Act of Parliament This way was used under the Law likewise Josh 21.1 3. Nehem. 10.32 If Ministers under the Gospel receive Tythes so did they also under the Law only concerning Tythes it's observable that the most of the other ways were not used till first instituted under the Law yet Tythes were paid long before as a Due to God and to his use long before the Aaronical Priesthood or Levitical Ministry was instituted and appointed For Abraham paid Tythes to Melchizedek Gen. 14.20 and Jacob Gen. 28.22 resolves of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee Such ways and parts of their Maintenance as were inseparable appendants to the Types as their parts of the Sacrifices must needs be ceased because there are no such Sacrifices under the Gospel But for the other ways of Maintenance which were not of such a nature they may be lawful still for ought I know to the contrary Thus I have gone through the Temple-Officers both their kinds and their Maintenance And now to wind up all I shall but briefly recapitulate and gather up the heads of things and so conclude All these old legal Types and Shadows may be ranged into these seven Classes or general heads 1 Personal Types sundry individual persons before the Law such as Adam Enoch Noah Melchizedek Abraham Isaac Jacob and Joseph There were divers also under the Law such as Moses and Joshua Sampson David and Solomon Elijah Elisha and Jonah Zerubbabel and Jehoshuah And besides these individual persons that were Types there were also typical Ranks and Religious Orders of men under the Law such as their Nazarites their Prophets Priests and Kings All these were personal Types and this is the first Classis 2. Occasional Types such things as Jacobs Ladder Moses his burning Bush the Pillar of Cloud and Fire Manna and Water out of the Rock the Brazen Serpent the Pool of Bethesda And beside such typical things there were typical actions and dispensations of Providence as their deliverance out of Egypt their passing thorough the red Sea and thorough the Wilderness and thorough Jordan and possessing the Land of Canaan and their Captivity and Deliverance out of Babylon And there were not only such typical Mercies and Deliverances but typical Vengeance and Destruction upon Enemies the Flood Sodom and Gomorrah Egypt Jericho Babylon Edom were Types of Rome and Hell This is the second general head of Types these transient and occasional Types 3. The third is that initiating Seal of the Old Testament Circumcision that famous Ordinance which stood in force about two thousand years much longer then the Temple and Temple-Ordinances 4. The fourth is the holy Places as the Tabernacle and Temple with all the holy Vessels and Utensils belonging to them the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering the molten Sea and Lavers the two Pillars of the Temple the Golden Candlestick the Tables of Shew-bread the Golden Altar and Censer of Incense the Ark with all the glorious appurtenances thereof This is the fourth Classis of them 5. The fifth is the Priesthod with all the Legal Ministry and all the concernments thereof the Rules of these Religious Orders their holy ministring Garments the Ephod the Brest-plate the Urim and Thummim the Mitre the holy Crown their Consecration to their Office their Administrations in their Office And to the Priests belonged as subordinate to them the Levites who were Porters Singers Treasurers Judges And lastly the Nethinims 6. The Legal Sacrifices and Purifications Their Burnt-offerings Meat-offerings Peace-offerings Sin-offerings Trespass-offerings the Purifications of unclean Touches unclean Meats unclean Issues and chiefly the Leprosie both the Signs and Indications and likewise the Purifications of it they were all typical 7. The seventh and last is the Jewish Festivals or holy times and seasons as the Passover Pentecost the Feast of Tabernacles the Feast of Trumpets the Feast of Expiation their New Moons their Sabbaths weekly every Saturday as also every seventh year and every fiftieth year seven times seven which is the Jubile These are some of the general heads of things which you have heard spoken to and the Gospel-mysteries included in them briefly opened and unfolded This is the proper and genuine method and order of them which to have thus rehearsed may a little help and refresh your memories There are three things more which must needs be added and annexed unto all that hath been said each of which might have deserved a distinct Discourse by it self But I shall but name them because I would conclude at this time 1. That all this typical Dispensation is expired and abolished by the exhibition of Jesus Christ the truth and substance and scope of all these Shadows are vanished away by the rising of that Sun of Righteousness this is that which the great Apostle doth expresly assert Col. 2.14 He hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross This the Jews do not believe 2. The Gospel-dispensation doth succeed and is substituted instead thereof so the same Apostle Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Instead of Moses the Servant of the Lord we have Christ himself the Son of God instead of the Law and the Prophets we have the Gospel and Evangelists who give us an History instead of Prophesie they tell us that Christ is come whereas the Law and the Prophets only said he shall come The Jewes do not believe this neither as they adhere to the Law so they reject the Gospel 3. This Gospel-dispensation is far more glorious then that old legal Dispensation For is not the substance better then shadows The Law from Mount Sion is more glorious then the Law from Mount Sinai the Spirit is better then the Letter 2 Cor. 3.6 to ver 11. The Letter there is not the written Word and the Spirit the Enthusiasms of a deluded fancy as some have understood it but the Letter is the Law and the Spirit is the Gospel as the whole Context shews And look as the Jews do not believe the two former so the Papists and other superstitious Christians do not believe this third and therefore they seek to adde an external legal Pomp and Splendor which is carnal to the Worship of the Gospel to the spiritual Majesty and Glory of the Gospel and Gospel-Ordinances which their carnal eyes are not able to see and to discern Remember these three things and carry them along with you The Abolition an Expiration of the Law with all the Types thereof The Succession and Substitution of the Gospel And the preeminence of Glory in the Gospel above the Law And now blessed be God who hath carried me through this Subject of the Types and Shadows of the Old Testament a Subject in it self useful and edifying were it handled according to its worth I must confess I have found some experience of assistance and help from God since first I entred upon it much beyond my own weakness and unworthiness I hope through the influence of your Prayers and through the Grace of Christ shining into a dark heart But I have been but brief in divers things which have deserved a much larger and better explication If you can say concerning any part or portion of holy Scripture that now you understand it something better and that you see a little more into it then you did before if you have found any refreshings by what you have heard any enlightenings and increasings of Gospel-light by it live up thereto and bless the Lord who hath taken off the Veil from off Moses's Face and the Veil from off your Hearts FINIS
Ten Commandments Exod. 19.9 that the people might hear and cap. 20.22 he talked with you from Heaven and he wrote them in two Tables of Stone and in the five Books of Moses The Ceremonial and Judicial Laws were delivered in this last way viz. by Writing being left upon Record in the Books of Moses This is celebrated as a choice Mercy Psal 103.7 He made known his ways unto Moses his Acts unto the Children of Israel yea as a peculiar and distinguishing Mercy Psal 147.2 last v. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation And now seems to have been the first Invention of the Art of Writing The first mention we find of it is in Moses his time In Jacobs time it may seem they had no knowledg of it because in the Covenant between him and Laban instead of any Articles in Writing between them or signing or sealing of it they only erect an heap of Stones as Monuments of Remembrance of it Gen. 31.45 seq And the Invention is so admirable that it seems to transcend all humane Wit and Industry The reducing of all audible and articulate Sounds unto visible Marks and that in so familiar and short a way by twenty or thirty Letters without any further load to the Memory that we may well ascribe it unto God himself as the blessed Author and Inventor of it to help his poor people to and in the knowledg of himself according to that in Prov. 8.12 I Wisdom dwell with Prudence and find out knowledg of witty Inventions 3. The Lord accepted the whole Nation to be his own peculiar people erecting a glorious Frame and Fabrick of Church and Common-wealth amongst them wherein the Lord himself was King and did immediately preside and therefore it hath been fitly called a Theocracy so Gideon Judg. 8.23 The Lord shall rule over you Isai 51.16 that I may plant the Heavens and lay the foundations of the Earth and say unto Zion thou art my People 4. He gave them glorious and visible symbols and tokens of his Presence amongst them walking before them in a Pillar of Cloud and Fire Exod. 13.21 22. which Pillar rested upon the Tabernacle after that the Tabernacle was built Exod. ult ult which also was a symbol of his Presence with them and so was the Ark and the Manna from Heaven Exod. 16.14 15. with the Rock that followed them Exod. 17.6 1 Cor. 10.4 5. The Lord himself conducted and led them through the Desarts of Arabia by the Hand of Moses and into the Land of Promise by the Hand of Joshuah drying up Jordan for them subduing the Inhabitants before them raising up Judges and Rulers for them and finally training them up by many instructing Providences to fit them for the further Mercies he had yet in store for them One would think all things were now well setled but there were two or three things partly defects in this Dispensation it self and partly some provoking evils on their part under it by reason whereof the Lord brought in a further and an higher Dispensation afterwards 1. There had been strange Rebellions and Provocations in the Wilderness which have had an influence into all the sorrows and troubles that have befallen them ever since Murmuring against God Mutining against Moses and Aaron which the Lord took very hainously and therefore destroyed Corah Dathan and Abiram by miracle For to disobey the just Commands of a lawful Magistrate is to rebel against God himself And above all Idolatry Exod. 32.34 35 In the day when I visit I will visit their Sin upon them and the Lord plagued the people because they made the Calf which Aaron made From whence the Jews have a proverb that in every affliction in every calamity that comes upon them there be some grains of the Molten Calf in it 2. There were frequent Degeneracies and Oppressions under the Judges 3. The Tabernacle was unfixed Upon all which accounts the Lord had not yet satisfied himself in the expressions of his own Love towards them but his Heart was full and he was resolved to do yet more for them and so to try them to the utmost Therefore he was pleased to put a period unto this Dispensation which began about the year of the World two thousand five hundred and thirteen and lasted about four hundred eighty seven or eighty eight years 1 Kings 6.1 2. The Lords second Dispensation under the Law was from the Temple to the Captivity in Babylon In this Period the Glory of the Legal Dispensation rose up to the greatest height and splendor and that chiefly in two particulars the Glory of the Kingdom and Temple 1. The Kingdom was setled in the House of David as the Type and Progenitor of the Messiah And in his days and Solomons it extended to the utmost bounds that God had spoken of to Abraham though afterwards for their own sins they were cut short the neighbour Nations shaking off the yoke and the Kingdom it self divided into two parts two Tribes only left to Solomons Posterity The Lord had promised Abraham that his Seed should possess all the Land to the River Euphrates Gen. 15.18 And it was performed in Davids time and in Solomons 1 King 4.21 24. 2 Chron. 9.26 And this Kingdom was a Type of the Kingdom of Christ 2. The other piece of their Glory was the Temple Before God had dwelt in Tents but now he had an House built unto his Name The Lord turned his flitting Tabernacle into a fixed Temple for which David made plentiful Preparation Solomon did erect and set it up He did it in seven or eight years time or more precisely seven years and an half for he began it in the second month and finished it in the eighth 1 King 6.1 and ult and he began it in the fourth year of his Reign and finished it in the eleventh moreover he began it in the 480th year after the coming out of Egypt and dedicated it seven or eight years after which fell into the year of the World three thousand or three thousand and one as you will find if you take the pains to compute and put all the former Periods together And their Kingdom and Temple stood in some degree of outward Glory about four hundred years from the finishing and dedicating of it to the beginning of their Bondage under the Yoke of Babylon And now one would think they had been setled in such a condition as might have stood for ever But the Apostacies were very great which brought this high and prosperous Dispensation to an end to a sad end For 1. The peoples hearts being not so with God as became a people crowned with such Glory God left them and their Princes the first and wisest of them the very Founders of their Kingdom and Temple unto very great and enormous transgressions David committed Adultery and Murther a very unparallell'd case for which the Lord threatneth the
a temporal Saviour Christ a spiritual Saviour Author of eternal Redemption Heb. 9. The Analogy appears chiefly in five things 1. Joshuah brought the people into Canaan after Moses his death which Moses could not do being alive He divided the Land among them assigning to every one his Portion So Christ brings us to Heaven which the Law could not do Rom. 8.3 And as Joshuah went in himself before them So Christ to Heaven Joh. 14. I go to prepare a place for you in my Fathers House are many Mansions Heb. 6. ult whither the Forerunner is entred for us And as when Joshuah did this the Cloud and Manna ceased which had been in Moses his time Of the Manna it is expressed and the time when Josh 5.12 of the Pillar of Cloud and Fire that it did cease is evident by many passages afterwards in the sacred History but the time when is not set down Probably it might be after they had passed Jordan being divided by the Ark and were on shoar on the other side So shall Ordinances cease when we come to Heaven Rev. 21. God himself is instead of all 2. Joshuah was a Type of Christ in regard of the Miracles wrought by him we read of three 1. He divided Jordan Josh 3. But herein as in all things Christ hath the preheminence for Christ in the same Jordan divides the Heavens when he was baptized Matth. 3. And he commanded the Winds and Seas and walked upon the waters as upon dry ground 2. Moreover Joshuah threw down the Walls of Jericho by the sounding of Rams Horns a weak and an unlikely means for so great a Work yea ridiculous and contemptible in the eye of Reason Josh 6. but it was done by Faith Heb. 11.30 So Christ by the Foolishness of Preaching subdueth Souls unto himself and throws down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. And as Joshua did it again and again six days seven days before the Walls fell So it is in the preaching of the Gospel There must be Assiduity in that work Line upon Line and Precept upon Precept and at last the strong holds are won and the Sinner subdued unto the Lord. 3. Joshuah commanded the Sun to stand still till he had slain his Enemies Josh 10.12 13 ver 14. and there was no day like that before it or after it that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a Man So Jesus Christ when fighting with Principalities and Powers upon the Cross Matth 27.45 when the Sun was ashamed and the Moon confounded and all the Angels in Heaven stood agast Thus you see how great a Person this Joshuah was in that all the Creatures all the Elements obeyed him the Earth the Walls of Jericho prostrate themselves and fell before him the Waters also viz. in Jordan were at his Command yea the Heavens also the Sun and Moon obeyed him thus God magnified him in the sight of all Israel as it is said Josh 4.14 But behold a greater than Joshuah is here For it is said of Christ That God hath given him a Name above every Name Phil. 2.9 that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under the Earth ver 10. 3. Joshuah was a Type of Christ in regard of his Conquests and Victories over his Enemies We read of five Kings at once subdued by him Josh 10. and he bids his Captains tread upon their Necks and cap. 12. of one and thirty Kings which he smote yet notwithstanding there were some few Enemies left though weak and inconsiderable but not one that durst or could oppose or disturb the publick peace of Gods people yet they were left for a time for their good least the wild Beasts should multiply upon them Deut. 7.22 So Christ Jesus is a mighty Conqueror he subdueth all the enemies of his people see him described Rev. 6.1 2. conquering and to conquer not only five nor one and thirty but thousands of them One man was possest with a Legion of Devils but they are all cast forth by Jesus Christ And as Christ so his Followers are as Joshuahs Conquerors with and through him and he gives Believers to tread upon the necks of their own Lusts and of the Devils Temptations yet however there be some Canaanites left in the Land some Corruptions in the Hearts of Gods people in this Life to exercise their Graces and to keep them humble which yet if it be not through their own careless negligence shall not disturb their Peace with God But there were some Enemies that were devoted unto everlasting Ruine and Destruction irrecoverable by Joshuah in the spirit of Prophesie viz. Jericho cap 6.26 which Curse did not fall to the ground but was fulfilled in Hiel the Bethelite 1 King 16.34 a shadow of the irreparable Ruines and everlasting Destruction of all the implacable Enemies of God and his people and especially Rome and Antichrist Rev. 18.21 Babylon shall be cast down like a Milstone into the Sea never to rise more The Curse of Christ will fall upon such as endeavour to restore Rome again and raise up the Ruines that he hath brought upon it For it is devoted by our Lord Jesus the true Joshuah to irreparable everlasting Destruction 4. Though Joshuah conquered and destroyed resisting Enemies yet he saved those who submitted themselves as Rahab and the Gibeonites Rahab cap. 6. the Gibeonites cap. 9. Though they acted very sinfully they came out of slavish fear and they dissembled but yet they did submit themselves So Christ resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble that yield up themselves unto him though there be a mixture of much slavish Fear and sinful Selfishness and Unbelief in their so doing as Mark 9.24 5. Joshuah gave them rest fulfilling and accomplishing all the good promised cap. 21.45 and 23.14 Joshuah appeals to all their Knowledges and Consciences about it So when we come to Heaven we shall see the Truth and Faithfulness of God we shall have all the Promises accomplished through Christ the true Joshuah and be able to say with Joy unspeakable not a word hath failed and all through Christ the true Joshuah For in him all the Promises are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 and this will be Rest for ever As they had Rest so now Believers enter into an everlasting Rest Heb. 4.9 10 11. But yet withal there is a great disparity between Christ and Joshuah and the Rest they bring their Followers into Joshuah brought them but into a state of outward Rest in the Land of Promise but this was not the true Rest But Christ gives us an higher Rest in Heaven by bringing us into a state of Grace and Glory Thus you see how eminently Joshuah was a Type of Jesus Christ Sept. 12. 1667. Who is the Type or Figure of him that is to come Rom. 5.14 THe second Conglobation of typical Persons under the Law is Sampson David and Solomon three famous Rulers amongst
the people of God of old All which three put together gives 〈…〉 and glorious Representation of the Messiah Sampson in 〈…〉 and Sufferings David in his Victories and Conquesâ—◠〈◊〉 in the Peace and quiet Establishment of his Kingdom 1. Sampson a person whose Story is famous in the Scripture and some think that the Fame of him went forth amongst the Heathen and that their Fables of the Strength of Hercules and Nisus his purple Locks took their rise from the Story of Sampson The Grecians commonly turning all into Fables Graecia Mendax and being great pretenders to Antiquity being as drunk with the Pride of that Pretence though as false as the Papists are at this day and therefore making their own Country the Scene and the Stage of every wonderful thing as some have well observed of them they report of Nisus the King of Megaris in Greece that he had on his head a purple Hair on which the Preservation of his Life and Kingdom did depend which Jewel his Daughter Scylla is said to have delivered unto King Minos her Fathers Enemy with whom she fell in Love c. Of which Fables it may be said Fabula fundatur in Historia these Fables seem to be founded in the History of antient times That Sampson was a godly man it is certain because he is numbred amongst those eminent Believers Heb. 11. That he was a Type of Christ appears by the clearness of the Analogy between him and the Antitype and there seemeth to be some intimation of it in Jacobs Prophesie Gen. 49. of which hereafter And indeed the Analogy is so clear that I meet with none that have written of the Types but takes notice of Sampson for one so doth also Calvin and Beza on Matth. 2. ult He was a Type in regard of his Death and Sufferings yet not in that only but chiefly as being most peculiar and signal to him both above other Types and above other respects wherein himself was a Type For there were other respects also besides this which I shall touch upon and so come to this as the main Sampson therefore was a Type of Christ in four respects 1. In regard of sundry passages and circumstances of his Birth 2. in some special Actions of his Life 3. In his Strength and Victories over his Enemies 4. In his Sufferings and in the Victoriousness of his Sufferings 1. The first Analogy between Christ and him is in some passages about his Birth The time of it when Israel was under great Oppression by the Philistines Judges 13.1 then Sampson arose like a little Sun as his Name imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soliculus or Sol parvus from Shemesh Sol and gave them some dawnings of the Day some beginnings of Light and Liberty in that deep night of Darkness and Bondage Answerably Jesus Christ appeared when the Jews were under the yoke of the Romans and both they and the whole world under the spiritual thraldom of Sin and Satan The Pagan world overwhelmed in Idolatry and ignorance of God the Jews degenerated into Formality and a spirit of Bondage then did this true Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings His Birth was beyond the ordinary course of Nature And so was Christs For Sampsons Mother was barren the Mother of Christ a Virgin It was foretold together with his Office to his Mother by an Angel and confirmed by a Sign And so was Christs His Office was to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines Judg. 13.5 Christs to save his people from their Sins Matth. 1.21 The Sign to Sampsons Mother was the Angels appearing again and ascending in a flame of Fire Judg. 13.20 The Virgin Mary had the Message confirmed also by a Sign though not so terrible a Sign as this But the Angels acquainting her with her Cousin Elizabeths Conception and the Babe leaping in her Womb and she breaking forth into those blessed expressions Blessed art thou among Women and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb and whence is this that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me Luke 1.36 42 43. Moreover they were both Nazarites from the Womb. Sampson by the Law of Nazarites Numb 6.2 Christ by special Sanctity fulfilling that Type that holy thing that shall be born of thee Luke 1.35 As also by the place of his Residence being born indeed at Bethlehem but bred at Nazareth Matth. 2.1 5 23. and thence called a Nazaren or a Nazarite 2. There is a second Analogy between Christ and Sampson in some special Actions of his Life As in his Marriage with a Philistine and the Text saith it was of the Lord therefore some think that his first Match was not sinful but that he had a special Dispensation for it Judg. 14.4 So Christ took a Spouse unto himself out of the Gentiles Hos 2.20 At his Marriage Sampson put forth his Mind in Parables and Riddles to the Philistines Judg. 14.12 And so did Christ to the Pharisees Matth. 13.34 3. There is a third Analogy in their Strength and Victories over their Enemies especially in this circumstance That Sampson wrought his Victories alone by his own personal Strength his Countrymen would not stand by him Judg. 15.10 11 12 So Christ trod the Wine-press alone when all forsook him Sampsons first exploit was the slaying of a Lyon in the Desart that roared upon him Judg. 14.6 So the first Work of Christ at his entrance into his Ministry was the conquering that roaring Lyon that assaulted and tempted him in the Wilderness and roared upon him with those three hideous Temptations Matth. 4. And as upon the Lyon Sampson slew he gave this Riddle Out of the Eater came forth Meat and out of the strong came Sweetness So ex Corpore Diaboli mystico out of the Devils Body being slain out of the Devils Destruction comes the sweet and blessed tidings of the Gospel and Flocks or Churches or Societies of Christians like so many Swarms of Bees The Saints were onco in an unregenerate condition Children of Wrath Limbs of Satan but Satan being slain and conquered they are transformed and it is as great a change as for a Bee to be bred of a dead Carkass Some Interpreters have observed English Annot. on Judg. 14.8 that this was extraordinary For Naturalists observe that Bees do not use to breed in the Carkass of a Lyon but rather of an Ox or Bullock We may apply it to the Dispensations of Providence God works by unlikely yea contrary means Meat out of the Eater The Canaanites our Enemies they are Bread for us Numb 14.9 their very Sins Corruptions Temptations the Lord in his unsearchable Wisdom produceth good out of them Light out of Darkness yea Life out of Death out of the Death of the Lord of Life Moreover Sampson slew a thousand men with the Jaw-bone of an Ass a very weak and unable and unlikely Instrument to effect such a Work by yet the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him what slaughter