Red Sea so will all men unavoidably perish by the guilt of their sinnes without they wade by faith through the red Sea of Christ his Blood 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin Rom. 5. 7. Being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Heb. 9. 12. By his own blood he entered once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us so ver 22. Without shedding of blood there is no remission Rev. 1. 5. Who hath loved us and washed us in his own blood from our sins for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us by thy blood unto God out of every kindred tongue nation and people Revel 5. 9. So that this shews us if ever a soul would have deliverance from his sins which dogs him up and down from place to place he must fetch it in from the blood of Christ held out to his soul in the Gospel O my friends you that have the guilt of sin set open to you would you have it washed away and you that have the anger of God and his wrath flaming hot against you would you have it quenched O then fly you in all haste to the bloud of Christ O drink it in by believing and this will give your hearts ease nothing else will do it O look on Christ on the Cross bleeding for you get as near the Cross as you can in your thoughts and strive to get under his wounds and open thy mouth wide and drink thy fill of bloud adding to it this firm perswasion that the worth and efficacy of this bloud will save thee thou maist assure thy self that it will and if ever thou gettest peace into thy troubled soul it will come and must come in this way for that peace which cometh into the soul which came not in by this way of faith will in the end prove the greatest sorrow Isa 50. 11. Sixthly and Lastly The same waters which proved waters of Salvation to the Israelites were waters of Ruine and utter Destruction to the Egyptians Exod. 14. 27 28. It was a full and total Deliverance to the Jews and a full and total Destruction to the Egyptians This leads us to behold the wonderful benefit that those have by the bloud of Christ that wade through it by believing A full Redemption from all their sins at once the Red Sea took off the whole of Pharaohs Army at once not a man left to carry back tidings what became of his fellow so is it a full Redemption that we have by the Red Sea of Christs bloud a Redemption from the guilt of all sin there is not one left to carry back news what is become of the rest all sin past present and to come original sin and actual sin sins of all sorts and sizes publick and private sins sins of Childhood Youth Manhood and Old Age sins committed in all relations conditions and capacities whatsoever yea all sins with all their circumstances John 1. 1. 7. The bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin there is not one of them shall rise up to a souls Condemnation more Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to a man in Christ Jesus who walketh not after the flesh but after the spirit Secondly It is a total salvation it is for ever the Jews were never troubled with that Army more therefore said Moses stand still behold the salvation of God The Egyptians whom you see to day you shall see no more for ever Exod. 14. 13. Such a salvation hath the Elect by the Red sea of Christs bloud it is a Redemption from sin for ever not for a year or two or ten but world without end Therefore saith our Saviour it is eternal life which I give my people and they shall never perish John 10. 28. Jer. 31. 3. I have saith God loved thee with an everlasting love so John 13. 1. Where it s said of Christ having loved his own He loveth them to the end CHAP. 7. The next condition the Children of Israel was in after their Deliverance from the Red Sea was their travelling through the Wilderness IN which we may take notice of these things First Their cross motion up and down sometimes this way and sometimes that ways sometimes towards their good land and sometimes the quite contray way back again Just so are the dealings of God with and in the spirits of the people that although they are fully justified from all their sins by passing through the Red sea of Christs bloud yet the after-dealings of God many times are very various with his people in point of comfort what up and down leading of God many times do poor souls find within themselves Sometimes they are well-nigh Canaan as they hope within them and they can rejoyce under the shinings of Gods love upon their hearts and they come to conclude pretty well of their spiritual conditions when they find their desires to run forth after God and their affections and love to move out after Jesus Christ then the soul takes to himself the wings of joy and begins to mount upwards in the air of comfort But at another time the soul is wholly at a loss and knows not what to conclude of himself or his condition he sees nothing but confusion within all things out of order the soul can feel little affection or love working towards Jesus Christ little heart to duty all the souls zeal is gone from him his courage gone his faith gone his taste and spiritual savour gone and all seems to fail the soul which makes his hope to die within him and to cry out with the Psalmist Psal 73. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth me Insomuch that the soul cannot believe for one days comfort and then the soul concludes that he goeth quite back again even to the borders of Egypt Thus it was with David sometimes he could say the Lord was his shepherd he should not want that he was made to lie down in green pastures and led besides the still waters Psal 23. 1 2. But at another time he is all off his hope and comfort again and crys out his life is spent in grief and his years with sighing his strength fallen because of his iniquity his bones were consumed Psal 31. 10. Again take him at another time and then you shall up upon the hill of comfort again Psal 23. Lasts crying out surely mercy and goodness shall follow me all the days of my life Look you into the 25. Psalm 17. 18. And there you shall see him down on all four again crying out The troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my distresses so in the 27. Ps 3. v. You have him up in the Mount with God again crying out Though an host should encamp against me my heart shall not fear though war arise on every side against me yetiâ—n this will I be confident Look you again into Psal
new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take awaythe stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh O how excellent is that heart which is dedicated to the use and service of God that Lamp which was set apart for the service of the Tabernacle was worth a hundred Lamps elsewhere because the use and service unto which it was dedicated was both holy and honourable O so is a heart set apart for the Lord it s both holy and honourable its worth a hundred of other hearts in Gods account Prov. 10. 20. The heart of a wicked man is little wâ—rth Let men be never so noble great learned or wise in the worlds eyes yet if their hearts are not Vessels or Lamps dedicated to God for the use of Altar worship you may assure your selves that God values them no more then you value so many heaps of Dung the best service which comes from such unsanctified Vessels or hearts is abominable to God Prov. 15. 8 9. It s a sanctified heart which God calls for in Worship Pâ—ov 23. 26. My Sonne saith God give me thy heart By Son here we are to understand a soul whose heart is renewed by the graces of the holy Ghost Iohn 1. 12. These are the Lamps which God loves should be always flaming and burning before the eyes of his glory as it s spoken of the Lamps in the Tabernacle burning and flaming with love and affection to God with zeal for him with the flame of fervent prayer before him therefore is it sad Prov. 15. 8. The prayers of the upright are his delight Use 1. O therefore how should this teach the Lords people to look to their hearts that nothing but the true Oil of the spirit of grace be found in it you know the exhortation in Jer. 4. 14. O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee for its the pure in heart shall see God Mat. 5. 8 Therefore when Temptation Sin or Lust offers it self to thy soul for entertainment O banish it upon this very account O say to sin my heart is become a dedicated Vessel or Lamp to God set apart for Altar-worship and work prepared for better matter then sin is O therefore sin and corruption depart and get you hence here is no entertainment for you or for such filthy matter as you are saith David Psal 45. 1. My heart is inditing a good matter O so say to thy temptations My heart is inditing a good matter or better matter then sin lust or the world doth amount unto it s about heaven and heavenly things that my heart is now upon it s about God and Christ and glory to come which my heart is taken withall O therefore Sin and Satan the World and Temptation depart depart here is no entertainment for you for ever I have found better food to live upon and better objects to look unto then you are therefore farwel for ever farwel for ever Secondly By the Lamps or Vessels in the Tabernacle which did hold the Oil which was to give out the light in the Tabernacle I understand by them the Ministers or gifted men in the Church who are principally imployed to hold out the light of Gods holy will to the Church for the benefit and comfort of it this you may see more plainly set out unto you in Zachaiahs prophesie Zach. 4. 2. 3. I looked and behold a Candlestick of pure gold with a boulâ— upon the top of it and his seven Lamps thereon and his seven Pipes to the seven Lamps which were upon the top thereof and olive-trees by it one on the right hand and the other on the left side of the boul Here you see the Prophet puts a clear difference between the Candlestick and the seven Lamps the Candlestick and the Lamps are not one and the same thing Now by the Candlestick as have been shewed already is meant the Church of God and by the seven Lamps on the Candlestick must be meant the Ministers and gifted men in the Church which are gifted by the spirit of God for the accomplishing of the Worship and Service of the Gospel-tabernacle both as to Doctrine and Discipline for as the two Olive-trees Zach 4. 11 12 Standing on each side of the Lamps did convey their Oil through the seven Pipes into the seven Lamps to continue their burning always in the Candlestick so do Jesus Christ by his spirit for Christ is called the tree of life nd the apple tree and the tree in the midst of the Paradise of God constantly conveying the sap and oil of light and truth into his Lamps the Ministers through the Pipes of the Scriptures or the writings of the Prophets and Apostles for the information of the Candlesticks his Churches therefore saith St. Paul to Timothy 1. Tim. 4. 13. with 15. Untill I come give a tendance to Reading Exhortation and Doctrine meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profitting may appear to all Now if you compare Zach. 4. 2. with Rev. 1. 20. It will the more appear that the seven Lamps do intend the Ministers of the Church and such as are gifted for Church work they are called there the seven Stars of the seven golden Candlesticks that as Stars are fixed in the Firmament for the help of mankind in the absence of the Sun against temporal darkness so are the Ministers set in the Firmament of the Church to help men in the absence of â—hrist the Son of Righteousness against spiritual darkness therefore saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5. 20. We are Embassadours in Christ stead that is we as the lesser Lights are left with you in stead of Christ the great Light who is the Son of Righteousnesse so Eph. 4. 10 11 12 13. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ untill we all come to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Lastly They are said to be seven Lamps this number seven was given them or the reason why the Lamps were seven in number it s with respect to the plentifulness of the gifts of the spirit which the Lord Jesus doth pour out into his Church through these Lamps for the word or number seven was a note of perfectness amongst the Hebrews which they called a perfect number so that by the seven Lamps we understand such a plentiful measure of the spirit and through supply of gifts as that there shall not be any wanwant of it in the Church upon any occasion whatsoever either to enlighten guide comfort and strengthen it unto its journeys end therefore you have it Isa 27. 2 3. A vineyard of
eye it was rejected Levit. 22. 22. The eye you know is the discerning part of a Beast and surely God hath no more regard for an eye-less sacrifice under the Gospel then he had under the Law for if knowledge which is the eye of the sacrifice be wanting it is an imperfect sacrifice and much blemished in Gods account therefore saith S. Paul in â— Cor. 14. 15. What is it then when I pray I will pray with the spirit and with understanding and when I sing I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding so that you see S. Paul was very careful to binde what sacrifice he had to offer God withall very fast to the Horns of the Altar Christ with this cord of understanding and indeed so should all Believers else labour for such a measure of knowledge and spiritual understanding of and discerning into the things of God so as to acquaint themselves with the nature use end vertue and excellency of the work and worship of God in which they are imployed as that they may be able to give God a reason of what they do as that when God shall ask them this question in their consciences as once he did the Jews in Isa 1. 12. Who hath required this at your hands They may be able to answer again with the Church in Isa 26. 13. O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us but by thee onely will we make men ion of thy name You know how God disregarded the Corinthians duties and sacrifices for want of a true discerning of the things in Worship which they adventured upon 1 Cor. 11. 29 30. Therefore my Brethren take S. Peters advice 2 Pet. 2 18. But grow in grace and knowledge that through the exercise of which grace you may so binde your duties to the horns of your Altar Christ as that through the not starting aside of your sacrifices you may be sure not to miss of the reward of your work 3. A third cord with which believers should bind their duties to the horns of their Gospel-Altar Christ is the cord of love and affection Love is and ought to be the spring of action it is not what services we do for God as the principle from whence they flow forth to God is the thing God looks at for did we offer God in one sacrifice the cattel upon a thousand hills yet if this comes not freely to God from a principle of love and affection God hates all when done notable is that place in the Psalms Psal 40. 6 7 8 sacrifice and offerings thou didst not desire mine ear hast thou opened burnt offerings and sin offerings thou didst not require then I said lo I come as it s written of me in the Volume of the Book I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is in my heart Though this Prophesie do principally concern Christ whose bloud was preferred before all the Sacrifices in the world with respect to the taking away of sin yet this Scripture may not be unfitly applyed to the Saints with respect to their right performing of duty which teacheth us thus much that unless that principle of delight or Law of love here spoken of be in the heart as a bottom to all our duties all our Sacrifices are of little value with God therefore in Levit. 1. 3. who ever they were that would offer any thing to God in Sacrifice he was to offer it with a willing mind the reason of it is given you by the Apostle 2 Cor. 9. 7. For God loveth a chearful giver Use O then my friends labour after this grace of the holy Spirit O make it much of your business at the throne of grace that God would shed abroad much of his Spirit and Grace of love upon your hearts that so you might not miscarry in your work and service and for want of this blessed cord to tie your services fast at the horns of the Altar Jesus Christ O this is a blessed grace of the Spirit of God he that hath much of this in his heart is a rich man The world accounts those rich that have much of the wealth of this world in their houses but the word accounts them rich which have much of this grace shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost This makes duty acceptable this grace of love to God if in the heart will make a little Goats hair that is offered to God pleasing and acceptable in Gods sight Read Exod. 35. 23. and this will make thy weakest of groans very sweet to God O therefore forget not to labour after this precious grace and Jewel of the spirit of God for the more you have of this to love God withall the more God will love you the more will God delight in your duties love as we use to say is the loadstone of love it draws the heart of the object beloved to love again The Fourth Cord with which Believers should tie their duties to the Horns of the Altar Christ is sincerity and uprightness of heart in the things of God sincerity of heart to God is varnish to all our other gifts of the Spirit therefore doth Saint Paul prefer this beyond the highest gifts and parts and learning which men may be endowed with in this world 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. Though I had the Tongues of men and Angels to speak with all yet if I had not Charity I am become a â—ounding Brass and a tinkling Symbal and though I have the gift of Prophesie and all Knowledge and understand all Mysteries and have faith so as to remove mountains and have not Charity I am nothing Alas Brethren for men to get a headful of notions and to covet after gifts and parts to be able to talk and discourse much amongst the people of God or to be able to pray and preach much or to be able to speak well from a Text of Scripture If this be all that God sees in a man truly that man is but in an ill Case its true he may be of use to the benefit of others but all in vain as to himself therefore saith S. Paul I desire so to preach Christ â—hat I my self be not a cast-away As if Paul had said true I my self may be very useful with my gifts and parts to tie on the Sacrifices of others to the Horns of this Altar Christ yet all this while I may want the cord of sincerity to tie on my own Sacrifice therefore it is that God requireth so often in his word the heart My Son give me thy heart this God calls for often in his word as in Prov. 23. 26. By the heart is meant the uprightness and sincerity of the Soul concerning those things which the Soul shall set about for God hence you have it in 1 Samuel 16. 7. The Lord seeth not as man seeth man looketh at the outward appearance but God looketh at the heart Use O labour for this
sheep of Christ and to none else This is not for him that will catch at any comfort to protect himself in a trade of sin but this truth chiefly belongs to those that are indeed truly humbled under and burthened with the sense of the weight of sin To such only I speak do your sins press you down as a Cart is pressed with sheaves Do your iniquities so weigh down your heads as that you cannot look up Dare not you come to God nor stand in his presence Do you fear that your sins have provoked God against you Do you doubt the Plague is begun against you are you fearful the wrath of God is coming out upon you and that it may prove such a storm as may sink you into the lowest Hell Yet O look up to your interceding High Priest who is now in Heaven for you who labours to prevail upon the heart of God for pardoning grace on your behalf who likewise makes it his business to observe his Fathers countenance towards Believers that if at any time his face of Justice begins to look grim and he perceives that wrath begins to come forth he may as Aaron did step quickly in between God and the people and so by his interposing presence of grac eand powerful Intercession he may allay the anger of his Father again Hence it is that John comforts doubting drooping souls in his day with this truth because indeed it is a truth proper to that end and purpose and farther John the Divine doth not only apply this truth as a Cordial to bear them up under the sense of sin but likewise as a notable preservative against the act of sin 1 John 2. 1 2. My little children I write unto you that you sin not and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is a propitiation in his blood for our sins and not onely for ours but for the sins of the whole world O Soul live upon this blessed truth stay thy self here under all thy doubtings O consider sin may vex and disquiet thee but all cannot hurt thee so long as Christ keeps up his praying hands to God for thee it shall not do thy soul the least injury Christ doth prevail and he will prevail in heaven for thee against sin and wrath Christ lies in the way of his Fathers wrath as it were if any of it run forth it must pass through Christ he stands between the Father and thy Soul in a time of the Fathers displeasure and cryes out good Father stay thy wrath O hold thy hands strike not this poor sinner if thou strikest I am resolved the blows shall alight all on my back I will bear all and suffer all and take all both fault and punishment upon my self This the Father tried once and it proved true when the Father went to strike the Elect the blows fell all upon Christs own back which bruised him very much Isa 52. 1. which leads me to a fifth use of the Point Use 5. Which is to exhort thee O soul from what hath been said about the intercession of Jesus Christ for thee Oh! to love Jesus Christ with all thy heart and with all thy strength and with all thy soul O who can love such a friend as Christ is too much O therefore strive to love with the love of service and obedience with the love of delight with the love of communion and with the love of desire so as to part with Father Mother Wife Husband Children Honours Lands Livings yea all that 's near and dear for Jesus Christ O account nothing too much you do for him in his Worship in his Ordinances as in Prayer Hearing Reading in Meditating Mourning Weeping Repenting Oh account nothing too much you administer unto him in his People in his Ministers in the mannaging of his Cause and Gospel in the world O with Mary think not your Alablaster Box and Oyntment too good to bring forth in a time of need for Jesus Christ Oh account nothing too much you suffer for Christ account no prison to bad to go into for Christ no dungeon too deep to lie in for Christ no death too disgraceful for Christs sake because he thought nothing too much he suffered for you nor any thing too much which he now doth for you CHAP. 25. Of the Brazen Laver. I Now come to speak of the brazen Laver which was for this purpose that the Priests might wash themselves therein before they went into the Tabernacle to perform the Worshp and Service thereof Exod. 30. 18 19 20. Thou shalt also make a laver of Brass and his foot also of Brass to wash withal and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the Altar and thou shalt put water therein for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat when they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall wash with water that they die not or when they come near unto the Altar to minister to burn offerings made by fire unto the Lord. This brazen Laver was a Type of Jesus Christ and the cleansing water which was in it typed out the Blood of Jesus Christ which onely can cleanse poor souls and wash them from their sinful guiltiness and sinful filthiness for as the Priests under the Law were to wash themselves in the brazen Laver before they were thought fit to have to do either with the holy God of Worship or the holy things of the Worship of God so are all the Elect first by Faith to wash themselves in the Blood of Christ this spiritual brazen Laver before they are thought fit to have to do either with God or his Worship Hence is that cleansing attributed to the Blood of Christ so often in Scripture to shew you it performs the same use to the Gospel Priests for so doth the Gospel term every Believer now Rev. 1. 6. as the Laver water did to the legal Priests 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin so Rev. 1. 5. To him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Now in this chapter of Revelations you may see by the order of the words in verse 5 6. how the Holy Ghost makes the type and the antitipe to agree In Exod. 30. 19. you have the brazen Laver set up now in the 5. verse of this chapter you have Christ set out to you performing the same use and office in washing and cleansing In Exod. 30. 19. you have the subjects spoken of who they should be which should wash in the brazen Laver and these were Aaron and his sons now you know these were Priests Now look into Rev. 1. 6. there the subjects spoken of which must wash in the Laver of Christs Blood they are called Priests likewise which intends all believers in and under the Gospel all those which have washed in the Blood of Christ our
is sacrificed for us where you see he gives Christ the very name that was given to the Paschal Lamb. So Peter in his Epistle when he is a treating about the price of mans redemption 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. verses saith Peter in the 18. verse We were not redeemed with silver and gold from our vain conversations received by traditions from our fathers but by the pretious blood of Christ as a lamb slain without spot or blemish verse 19. for so it was required of the Jews in offering of the paschal Lamb that it should be a Lamb without blemish Exod. 12. 5. So read Revel 6. This title of Lamb is given unto Jesus Christ Rev. 6. 15 16 17. The rich men and the great men and the chief Captains cryed to the hills fall on us and cover us from the presence of the Lamb for the great dâ—y of his wrath is come What is the reason think you here that Jesus Christ should be so much dreaded by the great men as well as the poor men at his next coming for these words have relation to his next coming I will not here undertake to determine whether this appearing here of Christ be at or before the general Judgement day as to that I shall refer you to abler judgements who have commented on the thing but without doubt the reason why our Lord is by John in that place set forth so dreadful to men under the metaphor of a Lamb is because the Lamb was a type of his Priestly Office which includeth the greatest of grace and offers of love to mankinde that can be Now for the men of the earth be they rich or poor yet if they shall live or dye abusing of and trampling upon this freely proffered grace and richly offered love this turns this grace and rich love and mercy into the dreadfullest of judgements against men Read Matth. 11. 21 22 23 24 with chap. 12. 42. and 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Thus you see that the Lamb in Exod. 12. was a type of Christ CHAP. 2. I now come to shew you how the action of the Jews in eating the Lamb together with the place time and manner of eating the Lamb doth agree to the work of God upon the souls of his people while on this side Heaven together with his various dealings with their conditions in this life which as in a glass those that are spiritual may see it answer face to face FIrst the place that the people were in when God provided this Lamb for them It was Egypt a Land of darkness abounding with all manner of idolatry and prophaneness a Land which knew not God Exod. 5. 2. a land of bondage of heavy burdens of cruel task-masters that required brick to be made without straw Exod. 5. 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12. the officers of which place would often beat the people of the Jews ver 14. besides so cruel were the Task-masters to the poor Israelites that they would not hear the peoples cryes Exod. 5. 16 17. To this agreeth as in the ante-type the estate or condition that the creature is in before he comes to Jesus Christ which estate or condition we call natural or carnal which simbolizeth very well with the land of Egypt in which the children of Israel were when they did eat the Lamb. For first of all Egypt was a place of darkness so is the natural condition of mankinde it is full of darkness and ignorance it is wholly deprived of the saving knowledge of God and Christ A man by nature knows little of that blessed life light power which the true knowledge of God teacheth a soul he knoweth not what it is to have Christ dwelling in him by his spirit nor what it is for a man to live in Christ by believing much less doth he know that great and blessed mystery which Paul speaketh of 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Alas to tell a carnal man of living by believing what a mystery is this to him of worshipping God in the Spirit of praying in the Spirit of making the Blood and Flesh and Spirit and promises of Christ his daily food of eating the hidden Manna of having the white stone with a new name written in it that none can read but he that hath it Rev. 2. 17. Alas what a paradox is this to a carnal man to tell such a man of Christ within him and of a spiritual Kingdom within him and a light within him and so from hence to bid him turn to it and live obedient thereunto and to hearken to the teachings of it for salvation Alas one had as good stand over the grave of a dead man and bid him arise or one had as good speak to a blinde man and bid him see therefore I think that such a doctrine preached by many in our dayes is an empty doctrine to help blinde men to see or dead men to a state of spiritual life therefore saith Paul 1 Cor. 2. 14. The carnal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned also Paul tells you speaking of a carnal man that his understanding is darkened and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them through the blindeness of their heart Ephes 4. 18. therefore when the Scripture speaks of the bringing home of a soul to God it calls it a deliverance from the power of darkness Col. 1. 13. a state that affords no light no knowledge of God in Christ it giveth us no acquaintance with God as a reconciled God in Christ to a poor soul therefore it may well be compared to Egypt for the darkness of it that is the first particular Secondly Egypt abounded with all manner of prophaneness and false worship for they knew not God Exod. 5. 2. how well doth this agree with the state or the natural condition of fallen mankinde O what kennel so vile so noâ—some what jakes so foul what Goal so loathsome what hell so black as the hearts and lives of wicked men therefore when our Saviour gives a description of the inward parts of such men saith That out of their hearts proceedeth evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness and blasphemies Mat. 15. 19. and to this agreeth the 14. Psalm ver 2. 3 which saith The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good no not one the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God they are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one so saith John 1 John 5. 19. The whole world lieth in
accompany the life of a Believer in this life for Christ his sake our Saviour calls it a taking up the Crosse Luke 9. 23. which is a thing most bitter and contrary to flesh and blood therefore saith Paul when he made choice of this Lamb Christ I consulted not with flesh and blood Gal. 1. 16. For flesh and blood cannot endure the bitterness of that state in which Christ is to be found Nothing but persecution disgrace trouble loss of good name yea and life it self that attendeth the way of Christ therefore saith Paul 2 Tim. 3. 12 He that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution he must suffer there is a necessity you see that the Lamb must be eaten with bitter herbs Those that will not eat the sauce shall not taste of the flesh of this Lamb Luke 9. 23. Unless a man deny himself and take up my cross and follow me he caâ—not be my disciple There be a great many would catch at the flesh of this Lamb Chrâ—st were it not for the bitter sauce which lyeth in the dish with Christ many love to shear in a Christ but not in the Cross thay love the Crown but not the sufferings which belong to the Crown therefore saith our Saviour Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth to life and few there be that finde it Job found bitterness in the dish where the Lamb lay Job 13 26. Thou writest bitter things against me but did Job as many do leave the meat for the bitter sauce no no Job 13. 15. Though thou kill me yet wâ—ll I trust in thee O how happy had some been had they with Job still kept to this resolution but the wayes of Christ were too bitter for them but I fear those will finde their sweet meat of this worlds good attended with the bitterest herbs at last Again they were to eat the Lamb with unleavened bread Exod. 12. 8. with Numb 9. 11. This stâ—ll points at a soul eating Christ a right which is the ante-type which shews us thus much 1. That Christ must be really closed with and not feignedly there must not be any thing of the leaven of hypocrisie in it not for any by end but out of love to Christ 2. It must be void of the least love to sin if there be any love reserved to any corruption Christ cannot enter the soul upon such terms 1 Corinthians 5. 8. Let us keep the feast not with the old leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth Heb. 12. 15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb. 3. 12. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God therefore saith Peter if you would as new-born babes receive the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby you must first lay aside all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evil speakings 1 Pet. 2. 1. 2. That is all sin must be forsaken and cast out of the affection or no Christ received into the heart the love of the world the love of lust pride honour pleasure ease whatever hath been near or dear to the soul he must utterly protest against or no Christ Jer. 4. 14. O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee So Isa 1. 16. 18. Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before me cease to do evil come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sinnes be as scarlet yet I will make them as white as snow though they be red as crimson yet shall they be as white as wool So that you see there must first be a putting away the leaven of sin before there can be a eating of the Lamb Christ Jesus truly therefore such persons as dream of having Christ and yet retain the old leaven of sin are mistaken Fourthly The Jews were to eat the Lamb with their loins girded Exod. 12. 11. Girding of the loins sometimes signifieth resolution to some great work Psalm 18. 32 33 34. Sometimes it signifieth truth and faithfulness in the person so girded Rev. 15. 6. Here it signifieth haste or readiness to be gone from the place where they were in before Exod. 12. 11. Now all which significations may be taken into one head and applied to the eating of the Lamb Christ Jesus For first of all the loins of a souls minde must be girded as to resolution that intendeth to eat the Lamb Christ A soul must resolve to go thorow thick and thin with him through a thousand discouragements with Christ sometimes from within sometimes from without what from inward doubts and what from outward troubles a soul will find it a hard thing to go on in this way for heaven those daily taunts scoffs and jeers that the soul passeth under for Christ from day to day sometimes from its relations sometimes from its fellow servants who live in house with him and so likewise from its wicked deriding neighbours I say these things considered the soul is many times casting away its hope and crying out with the Psalmist Psal 73. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency to no purpose Therefore the loins had need be girded that so the soul might not cast away his confidence which hath great recompence of reward Hebrews 10. 35. Now it is the overcoming soul shall wear the Crown 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Rev. 2. 10. and the soul that endureth to the end the same shall be saved Mat. 24. 13. Therefore saith our Saviour a soul must first count up the cost when he makes out after this Lamb Christ whether he can hold out to the end with him whether he can run the loss of fathers love mothers love brothers sisters husband wife children kinsmen and neighbours love for this Christ whether a soul can part with credit honour riches carnal ease for Christ whether he can follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Rev. 14. 4. For he that looks back is unfit for the kingdom of God Luke 9. 62. So Heb. 10. 38 If any draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him and saith Peter The last estate of such men is worse then the beginning 2 Pet. 2. 20. Therefore when Peter would exhort against faintings and discouragements â—e bids men gird up the loins their minde and be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto them at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 1 13. Secondly take girding of the loins as it importeth truth and faithfulness In this sence the soul ought to gird up his loins if he really intendeth a thorow and full closing with Christ he must resolve to be Christs in faithfulness as the
16. 7. Use 1. Therefore soul if ever thou wouldst have comfort in thy troubled seasons look not for it in any thing below Jesus Christ read that of Isa 50. 11. Behold all ye which kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that you have kindled but this shall ye have at my hand ye shall lie down in sorrow As Israels water springs lay altogether in their Canaan so the believers springs lyeth altogether above in his heavenly Canaan Rev. 22 2. Therefore if thy springs of comfort and refreshment are but few O consider thou art in thy Wildernesse while here a place which affords great droughts but little water but it is enough that thou art travelling to a land of Rivers and Springs of water and fountains of living pleasures which are at the Fathers right hand that runneth for evermore CHAP. 12. The Wildernesse attended with doubts and fears Again the Wildernesse afforded many doubts and fears which arose First From the barrenness of it And secondly on the other hand because of the several attempts which the Inhabitants of the Country daily made in order to their utter Ruine and Destruction THis leads us still to behold the condition of the soul while on this side his Heavenly Canaan of Rest and Peace where do that Christian live that cannot speak more or less of this kind of condition here in this life O the doubts and fears that do arise in the heart of a poor soul about his eternal condition when the soul is under the withdrawings of these sensible enjoyments of the love and favour of God to his spirit when the soul feels not these inward stirrings of the spirit of God as formerly the soul had and could once experience O what doubts and fears do this many a times create upon the heart of the Christian which makes the soul to cry out Now I shall perish now God hath forsaken me and is angry with me and intends to cast me off for ever O I shall never have his love more I thought once that I should never have inherited eternal life O how have my soul been comforted heretofore concerning the truth of this But now all my hope and comfort is gone my grace is gone from within me my God is gone my heart and my flesh faileth me because the favour of God is departed from me and I left a miserable poor wretched soul destitute of all help hope and comfort so that like as the Israelites hearts would fail them for want of bread and water in their Wildernesse so doth the poor soul in his spiritual Wilderness condition when his bread of life and water of life fails him when grace seems weak and comforts fail and the inward springs of supply grows low then the soul dies as it were within himself Thus it was with David Lord saith he â—hou didst hide thy face and I was troubled Psal 30. 7. And thus it was with the Spouse in Cant. 5. 6. I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone my soul failed when he spake I sought him but I could not find him I called but he gave me no answer Look how it was with the Jews in their temporal and litteral wilderness no longer then they could see their bread and water could they have peace within but were alwayes complaining and murmuring and doubting what would become of their conditions and the condition of their generations to come insomuch that they displeased God oftentimes against them and made him to slay the fattest of them Psal 78. 31 32 For they could not believe for a day but still doubted of Gods faithfulness every moment Thus it is with the soul in the spiritual wilderness no longer then the soul is feeding upon the sensible enjoyments of Gods Holy Spirit the soul is ready to conclude destruction to its self Now the duty of the soul is to believe and to trust God that although we never feel or taste or discern any thing within us yet still to rely upon this promise that God will ever be mindeful of his Covenant so did David 2 Sam. 23. 5. O what a blessed frame of spirit was the Prophet Habakkuk in c. 3. 17. 18 19. When he uttered these words Although the fig-tree should not blossom neither should fruit be in the vine the labour of the olive should cease and the field should yield no meat and the flock should be cut off from the fold and there should be no herd in the stall yet will I rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my salvation the Lord is my strength he will make my feet like hindes feet and he will make me to walk upon high places Truly my friends the best life is a life of believing O this brings you in the most solid comfort and peace therefore saith Habakkuck cap. 2 4. The just man shall live by his faith and saith the Apostle We walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. O souls my exhortation to you is what was the Apostles to the Hebrewes Heb. 3. 12. Take heed of suffering in you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God O labour to live more and more by believing and lesse by sense because its a life that best suits the state you are in remember you are in the Wilderness a place which affords great grounds of fears and many doubtings and therefore you had need of a great deal of faith in the promises of God and the faithfulnesse of God or you may faint by the way and at last die in the Wildernesse and so never see the good land Heb. 4. 1. Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entring into his rest any of us should seem to come short of it Now what is it that so much endangers a souls falling short of the good land the Canaan of rest look you into the 3. chap. of this Epistle and the 18. ver You shall see it was want of a believing spirit Again the Israelites fears did arise from those enemies which assaulted them in the Wildernesse as Og King of Bashan and the Amalâ—kites Thus it is with the soul in his spiritual Wildernesse O what out-cries doth the soul oftentimes make with respect to these horrid assaults the souls enemies oftentimes makes against him in his inward man How doth sin and lust and temptation assault the poor soul with what violence and strength doth worldly mindednesse break in upon the soul what sad assaults doth Pride Revenge Concupiscence and Unbelief oftentimes visit the soul withall which makes the soul cry out with David many times I shall one day perish by the hands of these Sauls which pursue my soul night and day like a Partridge upon the Mountains I say what sad fears do the risings of these corruptions oftentimes occasion in the souls of Gods people which makes
that God might love you and pardon sin in you and that he might give you an inheritance amongst them which are sanctified but because all this is freely procured by Jesus Christ for you already and is freely by the grace of God made over to the soul as his through sound believing Like 1. 74 75 That we being delivered mark that not that we might be delivered might serve him without fear in righteousness and holinesse all the dayes of our lives so Hebrewes 12. 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved mark that a Kingdom already received Let us have grace whereby we may serve God with reverence and godly fear so Titus 2. 11 12. The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men mark that which hath already appeared This teacketh them that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts should live soberly righteously and godlily in this present world So that a believer is so far from being set free by Christ from the Law or ten Commandments as that he is the more obliged to the strict observation of it Therefore saith Saint Paul Romans 3. 31. Do we then make void the Law through faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Romans 7. 12. Wherefore the Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good The form of the Old Covenant is taken away by Christ from a Believer but the matter still remains itceaseth to be a Law commanding for life to a Believer but it still requires obedience in all manner of Coversation at a Believers hands because he doth live and so it s a Rule to walk by as binding as ever Thus you may see if you will but consider the place where the Tables of the Law were placed they were placed in the Ark which Ark typed out Christ as you have heard before so that by Moses his placing the Tables of the moral Law in the Ark under the Mercy-seat both which places being types of Christ it is very clear that the moral Law or ten Commandments are become the Law of Christs mediatory Kingdom CHAP 19. I now come to speak of the Table for the Shew bread placed in the Tabernacle THis Table called the Shew-bread Table was placed by Moses in one side of the tabernacle Exod. 40. 22. The use of this Table was to hold the bread called the Shew-bread this bread was made into little loaves or cakes and set upon the Table and they were in number twelve which was proportionable to the number of their tribes The bread was set in two Rows upon the Table six on one side and six on the other side of the Table The bread was set new on the Table every Sabbath day and when the new was to be set on the Table the Priests were to eat the old as you may see in Lev. 24. 5 6 7 8 9. Now this bread was typical two ways and both held out Christ to the people First It figured forth Christ one who constantly abideth under the eye of God for the people or in the behalf of beliervers for as the Shew-bread was always to stand on the Table before the Lord therefore called the Shew-bread so Jesus Christ who is called The bread of life John 6. 35. Is never off the Fathers sight in the behalf of believers in whose humane nature the Father was fully satisfied and in whom he professeth himself to be well-pleased with us Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Christ is always in readiness to present his Father with the view of his Righteousness on the Altar of his sufferings presenting his Father with his nailed feet and hands with his pierced sides with his hanging down head upon the Cross with his drops of blood in the Garden with the pourings forth of his soul unto death that so the sight of these things might endear believers to the heart of God Use 1. It may be some soul may think that he is cast out of the sight of God and out of the favour and love of God O but thy Christ is not and so long it is well enough Remember and recover thy self with these thoughts Christ thy Shew-bread abideth in Gods eye for ever Christ is alwayes standing upon the Table of acceptation before God for thee so saith the Apostle Heb. 9. 24. Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands but into heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us And therefore soul if thou hast union with Christ thou needest not doubt of thy condition for if the Father do accept the head certainly he cannot reject the members Again whereas the Shew-bread was put into twelve loaves according to the Tribes of Israel as that there was not a loaf more or less This teacheth us that though the number of those that shall lay hold on Christ by real faith be many yea very many yet they need not doubt here is bread enough for them all here is a loaf for every Tribe a piece for every Christian O Christ is an inexhaustible treasure which will not be wasted a fountain which cannot be drawn dry a loaf that can never be eaten Although there hath been many a thousand that have been a feeding upon Christs Flesh and Blood throughout all generations of the world yet our Lord writes himself still Heb. 13. 8. Jesus Christ tke same yesterday to day and for ever Again This Shew-bread signified the great bounty and goodness of God to the Israelites in their wilderness condition in that he gave them to understand that he could and would provide for them a table in a barren Land where no corn was grown that from thence they might be led the more to admire God in his power love and grace manifested to them in that condition and that their hearts might be raised up to a pitch of thankfulness so likewise should it teach Believers to make the same use of Gods bounty and goodness to them in the gift of his Son Jesus Christ that such provision should be made for them that the Table of his grace and love should be so deckt with the flesh blood merits and righteousness of his own onely Son as you have it in the parable Luke 14. 16 17. A certain man made a great supper and bid many and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are ready Thus you see a great supper is provided much provision made a table furnished no want at all on Gods part all the want lieth on our parts we are not ready O how should this cause Christians to admire God in his wonderful acts of grace to their souls that as John speaks John 3. 16. He should so love the world as to send into it his onely begotten Son that whosoever seeth him and shall believe in him shall have everlasting life And with 1 John 3. 1. To break forth into a holy admiration and cry
you cannot see the Sun in the Heavens so this smoke of Errour and Antichristianism which arose from Hell did wholly put out the Lamp lights of truth amongst them every where through out the Romish Church so that this is one way of offending the light in the Churches of Christ which hinders it from shining forth for the profit of others Secondly A thing that hinders the light in shining is the corruptness of the Teachers hearts men that are ambitious of honour or are covetous of gain being greedy after much of this world these are such as prove offensive to the light of truth and very much hinder the shinings of it in the Church such were the Sons of old Eli the Priest whose filthy greedy covetous conversation made the sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred in Israel 1 Sam. 2. 12 13 14 15 16 17. so Ezek. 34. 2. 3. with 18. 19. Likewise Jude tells you of a sort of greedy Teachers who run greedily after the way of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Corah you see the Apostle makes the covetousness of Balaam and the gainsaying of Corah to link together and well he may because the one is such a notable Introduction into the other sin for a man to grow greedy of gain with Balaam is the ready way for him to become the truths gainsayer with Corah Dâ—than and Abiram Now by such things as these is the light of Gods pure work oftentimes darkned in the Church But secondly what these snuffers are or what that provision is which God hath provided to correct these corruptions in order to the keeping pure the light of truth in the Churches of Christ and this consists of three things First Sound Arguments preached and prest upon the Consciences of men from the word of God convincing men of the errour of their notions who shall endeavour to vent any thing of an unsound or hurtful concernment in the Church of Christ by holding forth to them the judgments of God as they are laid down in his word against such as shall persist and go on in their obstinacy hence you have these words from S. Paul to Titus Tit. 1. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as have been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsaver You may adde unto this of Titus the whole Epistle of Jude which may very well be compared for its usefulness this way which to me doth wonderfully agree with the end of the snuffers of gold in the Tabernacle which was made to preserve the Lamp light while shining in the Churches of Christ Secondly That means which in a second place is to be added to the former in order to the making up the snuffers in the Tabernacle of Gods Church is a faithful admonishing of the erroneous person for his errours and mistakes not favouring of him either for his place or greatness you are to know truth is the greatest of all he is not worthy to be a professour of truth much less a Preacher of truth who regards not truth above the person of any man in the world this is the rule 2 Thes 3. 14 15 If any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed that is be not so intimate with him as you are and ought to be with those that are sound Christians that he may understand by your carriage that he is not right in the faith of our Lord Jesus Yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a friend Thirdly The third and last thing to be added to the making up the snuffers in the Gospel tabernacle is this that if nothing of the above said means will prevail to the correcting of errour in the maintainers thereof then cast him out for a Heretick that he may do no more mischief in the Church of Christ giving notice to all the Churches what hath been done to such a one that the Churches may avoid and shun him where ever they meet with him therefore is this rule given the Saints Tiâ—us 3. 10. A man that is a heretick after the first and second admonition reject Were this rule carefully observed in the Churches of Christ how wonderfully would it conduce to the keeping truth free from those mixtures of errour which otherwise will cleave to it do men what they can Use 1. O Brethren how infinitely should we admire the wisdom of God in these things O how much of the Divine pollicy of heaven is there which lieth wrapt up in these golden Misteries O who can read these secrets and not have a heart deeply affected with them My dear Friends let not Gods ancient contrivements from eternity go void of its great observations amongst us O peep a little into these great Misteries of the Tabernacle-worship and ask your selves what infinite reason you have to admire God in all surely if some of the heathen Phylosophers could so gaze in a way of admiration on that Divine wisdom of God which so gloriously compacted the frame of the whole world O what cause have Christians to adore the wisdom of God in framing together so glorious a piece as the Tabernacle with the several vessels of it as that there was not a vessel in the whole Tabernacle without its special signification as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 10. 1. Ther were all shadows of good things to come so likewise how much is the love and goodness of God seen to his poor people in this world that he should provide them with such spiritual necessaries to help them out in all exigencies and to relieve themselves by upon all occasions if they want light and comfort they know where to have it he hath fixed his burning Lamps amongst them if they should find their oil to grow slack their oil of comfort their oil of peace and refreshment they know where the Olive-tree Christ stands they have him with them Thy name is in the midst of us saith the Prophet it s but to call upon him and he hath promised to hear Psal 50. 15. And if their Lamp light at any time prove dimme through any corruptions cleaving to it they have their snuffers made up of sound Scriptural Arguments together with these two Ordinances of admonition and excommunication to correct the evil at pleasure that the lights may keep their shining in the midst of them still Use 2. Lastly The Use of lamentation O how little of this means have the Lords people made use of for the protecting of the light of truth in the midst of us how have the snuffers been laid by as wholly uselesse of late years by which means errour hath gotten the ground of truth in an aboundant measure insomuch by the neglect of Christians herein though truth was sent into the world to get ground of errour the truth is errour hath almost weeded out truth truly for redress in this
Christ I am meek and towly in heart therefore come unto me Math. 11. 29. And also tells thee that fury is not in him Isa 27. 4. He means towards such as are burthened with corruption there is no fury in him against such but rather wounderful love and tender pity and compassion yea so much that Christ could and will bear the burthen himself rather then it should sink his poor people therefore if there be no other help or remedy to be had against the burthen of corruption we are by Christs word exhorted to cast the burthen upon his shoulders Psal 55. 23. Cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved Is it the violence of temptation makes thee to doubt come to Christ look up to him he is merciful and full of compassion it s not thy temptations shall alienate Christs heart from thee but rather work his heart to compassionate thy condition Christ is so merciful as to distinguish between thy temptation and thy allowing of it and delighting in it as a tender-hearted Husband would do in the like case about his wife suppose a woman should be violently set upon by some wicked person and he should be too strong for her and get her under him and should abuse her body her Husband coming in the mean time and finds her in the act yet when he beholds her strugling and striving with the man to get from him and when he sees the tears which dropt from her eyes about it do you think that this Husband will put her away from him no no but rather embrace her in his arms with all tenderness and affection imaginable Take one comfortable instance for this in our Saviours carriage of old in the like case and assure thy self what he was in his carriage then he is the same ever since and ever will be to his people under their temptations For he is the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. The instance you have in Zach. 3. 1 2. Where you have Joshua the High Priest who personates the whole Church of Christ violently set upon by the tempter who was said to resist Joshua that is tempted him and strugled and strived with Joshua to have his pleasure of him to make him sin and transgress against Christ but did Christ reject Joshua for this and cast him off no sure but it rather wrought forth his heart towards him with the greatest pity and tenderness the bowels of Christ wrought toward Joshua all the while of the temptation and pray observe where and upon whom did our Saviour charge the guilt of the temptation was it not upon Satan the tempter or Joshua the tempted not a word spoken against Joshua but all the blows fell upon Satan ver 2. And the Lord said unto Satan the Lord rebuke thee Satan even the Lord which hath chosen Ierusalem rebuke thee is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire But it may be you will say when Christ stood up so much for Ioshua it was at a time when Christ had nothing to accuse him withall he had kept his garments pure and unspotted but this is not my case I have my filth publickly upon me my temptations have made me very black and uncomely in his presence I answer its true Christ did not accuse him wiâ—h any thing that was the effect of his compassion as a High Priest but that he had nothing to accuse Ioshua withall you may read the contrary Verse 2 3. For first our Saviour was forced to confess that his temptations had made him as black as a brand pluckt out of the fire and you know when a brand is newly pluckt out of the fire it s then a sad thing to look upon it s then full of smoak and filth apt to stain any thing it toucheth Secondly he had then at the same time very filthy garments upon him a great deal of pollution enough to render him as bad in Christs sight as bad may be yet all this was buried up in the bowels of his Priesthood and then why shouldst thou not expect the same grace upon coming for it for all this was to shew the carriage of Christ to his Church for Ioshua was but a Figure of the Church then as it was newly come out of Babylon which came up to Ierusalem with abundance of pollution cleaving to her yet Christ undertakes with the Father that in time he will present it a more glorious Church For he wâ—uld cause her iniquity to pass from her and give change of garment to her and he would put a fair Mâ—ter on her head ver 5. Again is it the weakness of thy grace makes thee to doubt Oh look up to thy High Priest Jesus there is infinite compassion for thee under all this Was Davâ—ds Faith weak which sometime made him to cry out Psal 73. 26. My flesh and my heart fails me and at another time I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul and again when it drove him to feign himself mad to escape the danger which he feared might come upon him amongst the Philistians yet Christ had bowels for these weaknesses and this David could set to his seal that nothing of this nature had made a separation between him and Christ for Christ continued the same in bowels toward him as aforetime Ps 103. 2 3 4. Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities and healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies who satisfieth thy soul with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles Was St. Peters grace of faith weak when he began to sink down in the water and had it not a compassionating hand held out to succour and help it Math 14 29 30 31. Was it weak when he denied his Master but was his Masters bowels so close shut up against him for it as to renounce him Oh the care that our Saviour takes to remove out of the way all the discouragements which Satan might throw in St. Peters way to the making any farther use of Christ as High Priest First before ever he came amongst his Disciples when after his Resurrection he sent them word of his rising he sends not the least hint to Saint Peter of his Apostasie or as if ever such a thing had been Iohn 20. 17. Again when he appeared in person amongst the Disciples what care did our Saviour take to prevent Saint Peters fears not one ill word could St. Peter hear from him or ill look could St. Peter discern in him but all his weaknesses forgotten because all forgiven infinite compassion at work for a weak Peter I have prayed that thy faith fail not Luke 22. 32. No no Christ cannot part with his people upon slight terms it s not weakness in grace will out a soul of Christs
Righteousness of Faith or Christs Righteousness soul know this that there is no covering will either protect thee from the wrath of God or present thee or thy duties acceptable with God but this covering shouldst thou make up a covering of the finest duties or works of Righteousness that ever was spun by the finest Pharisee in the world it would prove but rottenness before the Lord alas my friends if God had not provided Adam better coverings then his Fig-leave Righteousness what had there become of Adam and all us in him There is nothing will or can cover thy nakedness but this Righteousness your spots will still appear and shew themselves do what you can you were as good go about to build a ship of Paper to sail through the Ocean withall as to think to sail to heaven in a vessel of your own Righteousness If you will accept of this Righteousness well if not God will accept of no other from you this is of Gods providing for you if you like it 1 Cor. 1. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption God will like nothing but what is of his own making bring him what you will for Righteousness except this of Christs certainly the everlasting burnings will quickly consume it into ashes and peirce through all Therefore labour to get into this righteousness beg hard for it that thou maist be presented to God without spot or blemish it s for the sake of this that the Church is so glorious in Gods eye Cant. 4 9. Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes with one chain of thy neck So Cant 1. 15. Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair thou hast doves eyes and Cant. 4. 7. Behold thon art all fair my love there is no spot in thee All this is spoken with respect to the righteousness of Christ which is upon the Church of Christ this was the Churches great ground of joy and rejoycing not that she was clothed with the glory of the world but with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ Isa 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation and hath covered me with the Robe of his righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with Jewels Certainly sad is the condition of these men and women which have left this blessed righteous covering upon what specious pretence soever it may be they think they have found out a better way for their justification before God they think they can provide God a better Robe a Garment made up of their just dealing with their Neighbours adding to it their outward abstination from some meats and drink and superfluity in apparel together with some endeavours to act up to a light within them Oh this they hug and embrace and cry up as the only glorious righteousness crying out lo here is Christ he dwells in this light we cry up he lives in this Robe of righteousness which we have spun come turn to it and hear incline your ears and your souls shall live thus poor blinded yet very confident souls they are just as the Jews were carried out by the Devil being ignorant of Gods righteousness to establish a righteousness of their own in opposition to the righteousness of faith as the Apostle speaks in Rom. 10. 3. Dear friends have a care of parting with that righteousness which is only justifying before God and I do affirm that there is nothing within a man that will justifie him before God there is no light in any man on earth can or will do it take it either for a natural or divine light and that soul that shall make any thing within him a ground for justification in opposition to this Robe of righteousness I say according to the voice of Scripture cannot be saved if he lives and dies in that errour St. Paul and these persons who are for a righteousness within them for justification were of a vast differing judgment these which are faln from the righteousness of faith say for their parts they will have a righteousness found in themselves which shall justifie them but S. Paul saith that he desires that himself may be found in that righteousness which shall justifie him before God Phil. 3 9. Oh soul keep close to the righteousness of faith contend earnestly for it let it not go from thee because nothing can present thee faultless before God if this be wanting CHAP. 31. I next come to speak of these Mysterious things which belonged to the Robe or Garment which the High Priest did wear about him when he was to administer for the people before the Lord FIrst there was a brest-plate made for the Robe made of a plate of Gold four-square in breadth and length about a span every way Exod. 39. 9. In this brest-plate of Gold there was engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel in Letters set in rows with precious stones Exod. 39. 10 11 12 13. 14. There was likewise set in this brest-place the Urim and Thummim Exod. 28 30. This plate was tied about the High Priests long Robe with chains of Gold that so the plate which had the names of the twelve tribes written in it might set strait upon the High Priests heart Exod 39 19 20 21. with Exod 28 29 30. The use and purpose of this brest-plate was to shew all believers for their great Consolation these things First Concerning the deep sense that Christ hath of the several conditions that his people are liable unto in this world for you see that the names of the twelve tribes were written upon this brest-plate which was placed upon the High Priests heart Now by the names of the twelve tribes in Exod. 28. 29. We are not to understand precisely of the Israelites but more generally of the whole body of the Elect both of Jews and Gentiles as elsewhere it is so understood Rev. 7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Now all the names of the body of the Elect was the High Preist to carry upon his heart Exod. 28. 29. And Aaron shall bear the names of the Children of Israel in the brest-plate of judgement upon his heart when he goeth into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually I say it shews us how deeply the several conditions of the Elect are stamped upon the heart of Christ he bears them all upon his heart he keeps to this day though in glory a naked place in his heart to affect himself with his peoples conditions saith David Psal 40. 5. Many O Lord are thy wonderous works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee I would declare and speak of them they are more
to be come in the flesh who is the Anti-Christ then think you The next thing we are to take notice of is the plate of Gold which was placed upon the fore-head of the High Priest fastned to the Mitre wherein was engraven in Letters these words Holiness to the Lord Exod. 28. 36 37. The purpose of this very plate with the Letters written in it was for the High Priest to take upon him all the failings imperfections and weaknesses of the peoples duties in the Worship of God The Plate was to bear upon it the peoples sins which they would contract in the Worship of God and the Letters engraven upon the Plate was to bear out the Priest before the Lord that he died not Exod. 28. 36. 37 38. And thou shalt make a plate of pure Gold and grave upon it the engravenings of a signet Holiness to the Lord and thou shalt put it on a blue lace that it may be upon the Mitre upon the fore-front of the Mitre it shall be and it shall be upon Aarons forehead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hollow in all their holy gifts and it shall alwayes be upon his forehead that they may be accepted before the Lord. This still looks to Jesus Christ our Gospel High Priest and tells us what he is to do and doth do for Believers he takes upon him all the failings and infirmities of his peoples duties O what a blessed ground of comfort is this to a doubting soul I know some poor souls have had their backs bowed down with this kinde of guilt who when they have been in the Worship of God as in Prayer hearing of the Word or breaking of Bread when they have considered with what sad frames they have been in the Worship how hath that troubled them when they have minded the hypocrisie that appeared in their hearts while in the work those vain wandering thoughts that deadness and dull drowsie tiredness of spirit with which their work was mixed withal besides when they have considered with how much ignorance and little saith and want of love to God and his work in hand they were attended with O how hath this perplexed some poor souls and how deeply hath this sunk others into the pit of despair putting them upon resolving never more to hear the Word or Pray or receive the Sacrament O they never Worship God but they sin against him and make their case worse then it was before All this hath been for want of knowledge in this blessed mystery of the plate fastened upon the fore-front of the High Priests Mitre The Devil keeps them in suspence about this thing shews the soul his guilt but will not suffer him to see the plate upon the fore-front of the Priests Mytre which was appointed on purpose for them to lay up their gilt upon O therefore for thy comfort poor soul when ever thou comest into the Worship of God thou mayest come boldly without fear as to that what guilts thou either hast or shall contract upon thy soul in the Worship of God provided they are not wilful guilts there is a plate of Gold prepared to bear all thou shalt bear none of them thy self O bless God for this great mercy to thy soul and rejoyce in it as thy great favour make much use of it as thy best of priviledges study it as the highest of comforts and live up to the God of this mercy with the greatest of faithfulness and to the highest pitch of holiness Secondly This was to be a standing priviledge at all times for all Believers to such a continual sweetness and comfort from in point of acceptation with God for Aaron the Priest was to wear it alwayes upon the fore-front of the Mitre that they might be accepted before the Lord. This was not to be worn once or twice but alwayes before the Lord so that until Christ puts off his Mitre and layes aside his priestly work thou mayst assure thy self until then those sins of infirmity which will cleave to thy duties shall not render them or thee disacceptable before God if thou reliest faithfully upon this High Priest in this case We now come to speak of the Crown which this High Priest was to wear as well as this Mitre and the Crown was to be set upon the Mitre on the Priests head Exod. 29 6. And thou shalt put the Mitre upon his head and put the holy crown upon the Mitre The Crown upon the Priests head set forth to you the Kingly Office of Jesus Christ which springs from the Priestly office of Christ he is a King to rule in and over his Church because he is a High Priest to the Church therefore the Crown must stand upon the Mitre the Mitre doth keep up the Crown not the Crown the Mitre The Mitre being under the Crown shews you that the Kingly Office of Christ hath its foundation in the Priestly Office of Christ as was shewed you before from the first of the Revelations This shews first that Christ hath power to give out what Laws Rules Customes and Ordinances he please for his Church and people to walk by for he hath a Crown upon his head as well as a Mitre Secondly That all duty and subjection and obedience ought to be given to him both in soul and body for he is a King Psalm 2. 6. I have set my king upon my holy hill Sion We do not read that any of the Priests besides the High Priest did wear a Crown we read that they did wear Bonnets but not a Crown Exod. 28. 40. The Crown was only for the High Priest shewing us as the Priest was a Type of Christ that all Rule and chief Authority belongs to Christ its Christ onely can make or impose any Laws upon the consciences of his people so saith the Spirit Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created And yet how common is it to see the inferiour sort of Priests that should content themselves with wearing the Bonnet to catch the High Priests Crown from off his head and to leave the High Priest nothing to wear but their Bonnets and given him to understand if he will not wear them he must sit bare headed before them I mean how do men who pretend to be the Ministers and Vicars of Christ pull his priestly Diadem from off his head and so rob him of his principle glory in arrogating a power to themselves of making and imposing spiritual Laws upon the consciences of his poor people as rules for them to walk by which customs and traditions the word of Christ never knew or spake of in the least O what greater indignity can there be offered to the Crown of Christ then this not onely so but if the poor Lambs of Christ who are as dear to him as