Moses Unveiled, Title page – Dedication
Moses Vnuailed: OR THOSE FIGVRES WHICH SERVED VNTOUNTO the patterne and shaddow of heauenly things, pointing out the Messiah CHRIST IESVS, briefly explained.
Where vntounto is added the Harmony of all the Prophets, breathing with one mouth the Mysterie of his Comming, and of that Redemption which by his Death he was to accomplish: To confirme the CHRISTIAN, and conuince the IEVV: very profitable and full of comfort.
By WILLIAM GVILD, Minister of Gods Word at King-Edward in Scotland.
HEB. 10. 1.
For the Law had the shaddow of good things to come, and not the very Image of the things themselues.
LONDON, Printed by G. P. for Iohn Budge: and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyard, at the signe of the Greene Dragon. 1620.
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND, MOST GRAVE, LEARned, and worthy Prelate, and Father in GOD, My Lord Bishop of Winchester.
AS in the Creation darknes went before light, or as the dawning precedes the brightnesse of the day, & as Ioseph obscurely at first behaued himselfe vntounto his Brethren, and Moses couered with a vaile stood before the people: Euen so (Right Reuerend) in the detection of the glorious worke of mans Redemption, mysticall promises went before mercifull performance, darke shaddowes were the fore-runners of that bright substance, obscure types were harbingers to that glorious Anti-type the Messiah, who was comming after, and Leui's Law with its figuratiue and vailed Ceremonies, was the viue resemblance, painting and pointing out that cleere Lampe and Lambe of God, the expresse Image and ingrauen Character of the Father: So that as folded in swaddling clouts, and lying in a Crib, hee was seene and shewne vntounto the Wise-men that came from the East; so inuolued in typicall ordinances, and lurking vnderunder shaddowish signes, hee was offered and exhibited vntounto the Iewes that saw his day but afarre off; the eclipsed and dimme light of the Moone (as it were) as yet onelyonly glimmering, or the twinkling brightnesse of starry Lamps as yet onelyonly dazedly glistering: Vntill the true Phosphorus, that glorious Sunne himselfe did arise in the Horizon of our humanitie, dispersing the beames of his bounty, and manifesting himselfe to be that onelyonly light of the world, promised to them that sit in the Region of darknesse, for comfort and illumination, and to the ioy of all in heauen and earth, the Lambe himselfe onelyonly opening that sealed Booke, and vnfolding the truth of former hid mysteries.
Then that Ladder of Heauen, and Leader to glory, was more brightly seene, then Iacob saw the same formerly in a dreame. Then that true Tree of Life planted in the earth of our nature, was plainly viewed without the limits of that heauenly Paradise. Then that heauenly Manna which the Father gaue from aboue, most aboundantly offered it selfe, vntounto the refreshment of all hungring Israelites. And that blessed Rock from Citie to Citie, and place to place following them, most cleerely gushed out the comfortable waters of Life, for eueryevery one to drinke, and neuer to thirst after. Then the true curing Serpent was graciously re-erected on high for all men to behold with the eye of Faith, and then all the Mosaicall sacrifices, and rudimentall Rites, which like the Baptist, pointed out Christ Iesus to bee that Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world, vnfolded themselues in their former darke shaddowish signification, and while they remained in vigour, albeit (like Zacharie before his sonnes birth) they were dumbe and obscure signers, yet ceasing, and in their departure (the substantiall body filling vp the roome) with their eternall farewell, opening their mouth as it were, they said that which before they signed, and gaue a heartie congratulation and welcome to their accomplishing verity, as night giues place to day; Leui thus yeelding to a more excellent High Priest; and Hagar the bondwoman, vntounto her free Dame Sarah.
Herein how Euangelicall light hath discouered the meaning of Legall obscuritie; and how Aarons Bells sounded neuer but Christ Iesus and him Crucified; nor his siluer Trumpets, but the ioyfull Iubile of soules freedome; his many sacrifices pointing out that one all-sufficient: And how the successiue diuersitie of types of sundry things, places, persons, and actions, &c. from time to time couchedly involued, and cunningly conueyed, the blessed mysterie and deepe secret of the abysse of vnsearchable louelove to mankinde, and extense of mercy past comprehending, as by secret water-spouts from posterity to posterity, for continuance of the vigorous hope of the faithfull; who with Simeon longed to see the Saluation of the Lord Herein, I say, the paines that I hauehave taken, is briefely (for the case of the Reader) to point onelyonly (as it were) at the same in order as they occurre in Scripture, ioyning with succinct breuity to auoid tediousnes, as great plainnesse and perspicuitie as I could, to auoid aMarke.obscurenesse. And comparing some things for conueniencie of case onelyonly (which prettily may be so compared) wherein I acknowledge in the purpose of the Holy Ghost a typicall resemblance euer, of any answerable verity is not to be sought. And keeping still in all (I hope) the Analogy of faith, as the right measure of the Temple, the patterne on the Mount, and iust Ballance of the Sanctuary.
This Treatise then (Right Reuerend and most worthy Prelate) as a testimony of my most indeared affection, I hauehave dedicate to your Lordship, and shrowded the same vnderunder the wings of your Learned patrocinie, by experience hauing in my own person found (especially at your Lordships late beeing in Scotland) yet more thē courteous regard, and most kinde respectiuenesse euer vsuall by your Lordship towards all, but chiefely towards those who are Fellow-labourers in the Sacred dispensation af that holy mysterie with you: Whereby not onelyonly I, but the hearts of many with me, who had that happy occasion of your Lordships acquaintance, are so warmed (though vnderunder a cold Climate) and inflamed with the Reuerend memory of your Lordships humanitie, and other singular holy vertues, and rare gifts (wherewith your good GOD hath indued you; and which as a strong chaine hath linked so that singular regard of your Prince vntounto you, as that sooner, I perswade my selfe, their bodies shall beginne to resolue into ashes, then that fire of affection in their conquered and captiued hearts shall cease, to bee vigorous and burne.
As some sparkles then, (my Lord) hereof for my part, tending and bursting forth towards the place of your Lordships residence, receiue these succinct Lucubrations, consecrate to your Lordships Name: subiected to your Censure, and to bee disposed as your Lordship shall thinke fit thereof. Of whose most gentle and gracious acceptation, as I rest assured: So, as for others, I hope, Christian louelove, and charitable affection shall be my Censurer of all, regarding chiefely my honest ayme herein. And where others are inabled to do better, or to amend my Labours, beseeching the Lord to inable them more & more, and to enlighten my minde with them, that mine eyes being anointed with the eye-salue of his Spirit, with Dauid I may know the secrets of his Law, and that neither I may enuy their rich gift with an euill eye, nor yet despise my owne poore mite with a wicked heart: but indeuouring to gaine something with my small Talent vntounto my bountifull Master, I may not incur neither the bitter reproofe, nor deserued iudgement of an euil or vnprofitable seruant at his hands. Beseeching which God to thrust out many faithfull Laborers into his Haruest, and to continue your Lordship in a long and happy life, with a success-full blessing vponupon your Lordships gouernment & trauels, to the cōfor… and edification of his Church, rests
Your Lordships in all hearty and most affectionate duty in Christ, WILLIAM GVILD