Christ Revealed, Scriptural typology · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire, a type.
OF the ordinary Sacraments of the Iewes, pointing at Christ, we have spoken: Now of the extraordinary. Of these some are answerable to the Iewes circumcision and our Baptisme; as 1. the Pillar of Cloud, 2. the red Sea: Some to the Iewes Passeover and our Supper; as 1. Mannah from Heaven,Cloud and fire types: ground. 2. water out of the Rocke. The ground of this distinction we have in, 1 Cor. 10. 2, 3: where the Apostle leads us by the hand to the distinct consideration of these Sacraments. First of the Pillar of Cloud and fire, under which the Fathers of the old Testament were baptised. When the Lord in his wise providence appointed to lead the children of Israel (for the space of forty yeares) through a dry, uncouth, and terrible wildernesse, himselfe undertooke to be their guide, and for their certaine direction in their way, appointed them this visible signe of his presence for their motion or station, by night or by day, through all their pilgrimage: concerning this Cloud let us enquire 1. of the kind, 2. of the difference betweene it and other clouds, 3. of the use of his cloudy Pillar, 4. how a type of Christ.
1. Quest. What kinde of Cloud was this?
Answ. Not naturall,What Cloud it was. but supernaturall and miraculous, yea one of the foure great miracles that the Lord continued all the while of their Iourney, which was forty yeares.4. constant miracles to Israel in the wildernesse. Those foure great miracles were. 1. the not swelling of their feet. Deut. 8. 4. 2. their apparrells not wearing, or not waxing old, Deut. 8. 4. 3. the feeding of them with daily Mannah, ver. 3. and 16, and water out of a rock, ver. 15, 4. this Pillar.
2. Quest. Was there any difference between this and other Clouds?How it differed from other clouds.
Answ. Yes in five things, 1. the matter, 2. the fashion, 3. the motion, 4. the properties, 5. the durance. 1. The matter of it was not of vapours as other clouds, nor apt to engender raine, but framed by the Lord besides and above the ordinary course of nature. 2. The fashion: It kept still the figure of a Pillar, whereas other clouds continually alter the shape and figure every moment. 3. The motion: other clouds are mooved by the winde: this mooved it selfe, yea though the windes mooved most strongly, it stood still. Besides that the motion of it was certaine, and imitable so as they might follow it, but so was it never in any other cloud. 4. It had contrary properties, of light and of darkenesse, being a Pillar of cloud and fire. 5. In durance. For one cloud to continue firme and stable for forty yeares long must needs bee miraculous, whereas nothing is sooner dispersed then ordinary clouds by winde and weather. In all which regards it is called the Cloud of the Lord,Nubes Iehovae. Numb. 14. 14. Not that all clouds are not his, but because this was so after a speciall and extraordinary manner.
3. Quest. What was the use of this cloudy Pillar?
Answ. Threefold,What was the use of it. the first in respect of God, the second in respect of the Israelites, the third in respect of their enemies,Numb. 14. 14. Numb. 14. 14.
I. In respect of God; It was a signe and symbole of the presence of God and Christ. For God often pleased to manifest his presence by the clouds: As when he sets his bowe in the cloud, a signe of his favour: God in a cloud appeared to Moses, Exod. 19. 9. God appeared in the cloud upon the Oracle, Lev. 16. 2. So Christ in the Mount was transfigured in a bright cloud: In his ascending he was taken out of their sight in a cloud: And in his comming againe to judgement, hee shall appeare in the Clouds to judge the quick and dead.
2. In respect of the Israelites, 1. to shew and direct them the way as a faithfull and constant guide through the wildernesse, for when it mooved they must moove, when it stood they must stand. Psa. 78. 14, in the day he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire: which seemes the chiefe use of it, Exod. 13. 21. 2. to shine and lighten them in the way, so as they might goe by night as well as by day, so in Psa. 78. 14. he led them all night long with a light of fire, noted also, Exod. 13. 21, 3. to coole and comfort them (as a shadow) from the parching heat of the Sunne: Psa. 105. 39, He spread the cloud as a covering or canopy over them. To which the Prophet (Isa. 4. 5.) alluding, cals it a covering cloud, which shadow was no small comfort in that hot countrey, in that dry and parched desert, they still lying and living abroad in it. 4. as a shield to defend them against their enemies, for the cloud came betweene the host of Israel and the host of the Aegyptians to seperate betweene them. And therefore it is called (Numb. 9. 19. the watch of the Lord, actively, watching over their safety; passively, which they carefully watched and attended.
3. In respect of enemies: It was darkenesse to the Aegyptians, Exod. 14. 20. For the Lord used two of his creatures against the Aegyptians especially; water, and the cloud, as meanes of execution of his justice upon his enemies: As the clouds and fire shalbe serviceable for the execution of his last and generall judgement at Christs second appearing.
IV. Quest. Wherein was this cloudy pillar a type of Christ?How it was a type of Christ.
Answ. In five respects; 1. as a Pillar, 2. of cloud, 3. of fire, 4. of cloud and fire, 5. in the use of it.
I. As a Pillar it signified Christ; who as a Pillar is firme, stable, straight, strong, and as a Pillar able to support his Church, and to beare up all the living stones layd on this foundation.
II. As a Pillar of cloud, 1. as the cloud naturally engendreth fruitfull raines and showers: so Christ properly, by the influence and raine of grace, makes the field of the Church fresh, fruitfull, flourishing; 2. as the cloud mitigates the heat of the Sunne: so Jesus Christ quencheth and allayeth the parching heat of his Fathers wrath, and is the covering of his Church in this dry and parched wildernes; So as when the soule of a man is dryed up and fainteth within him through heat of his sinne, then hee refresheth it with the sweet and comfortable doctrine of the Gospell (as with a sweet raine) the distressed conscience. He it is, that speaketh a word to the weary in due season. 3. as the cloud covered Israel from the Aegyptians fury: so Jesus Christ defends his Church, 1. from the fiery darts and assaults of Satans temptations; 2. from the furious rage of our owne lusts, and inflammation of sinne: 3. shelters it from the heat of the Sun of persecution, and from all bodily …oes that they cannot doe what they will, but what he permits.
III. Christ was signified by the fiery part of the Pillar. For 1. as fire hath a quickning heat in it: so hath Jesus Christ; who is the life of the world; but especially of his Church and elect: 2. as fire hath light: so Christ is the true light of the world; whom whosoever beleeveth, he needs no other light nor knowledg to salvation, no more then Israel needed any light in the night but this. All Gods people walke by this fiery Pillar and by no other, 3. as fire purgeth and purifieth metals from drosse: so doth Iesus Christ purge his people from all their sinnes; partly by the fire of his spirit within, Mat. 3. 11. and perfectly by his blood which cleanseth from all sinne. 1. Ioh. 1. 7.
IV. As a pillar both of fire and cloud, it signified Christ in his 1. person. 2. actions. 1. In his person: Being a Pillar both of fire and cloud, it was both light and darknesse; signifying Christ Jesus, God and man; both shining in the brightnesse of the glory of his deity, and at the same time clouded, veiled, darkned, and obscured in a base and despicable humanity: in which to the blinde world, was no forme nor beauty, Isa. 53. 2. And as both fire and cloud make but one pillar, so God and man, one Christ. 2. In his actions. For 1. As the Pillar of fire and cloud, Christ both enlightens the Israel of God to salvation, and is darknes, at the same time, to all Egyptians, that is, a stumbling block and stone of offence to unbeleevers. 2. As the same pillar, Christ both openeth the way of the red sea to beleevers, giving the grace of Baptisme through the red sea of his blood: as also justly shutteth obstinate sinners from grace and favour; the meanes of which (being offered unto them) they wilfully tread under foot, turning all the grace of Christ to their deeper damnation. 3. As the same Pillar of cloud and fire, Christ is the guide of all the Israel of God; whom wee must follow in all our journey through our wildernesse, both in the rules of his holy doctrine, and also of his blessed example. Therefore himselfe saith (Mat. 11. 29.) follow me: as they were to follow that cloud; for that was but a Type of this, leading us to our Canaan. 4. as that same Pillar of cloud and fire, Jesus Christ protecteth his Church from all enemies: Hee steps betweene the Camps of Israëlites and Aegyptians, becomming their sure defence, Psal. 18. 1. 2. This Pillar shall never rest till the dead bodies of the Aegyptians and enemies become a spoile and spectacle to his people.
V. In the infallible instruction of it, it typifyed Christ. For as the Lord spake to Moses out of the cloudy Pillar, when it descended on the Tabernacle, and delivered his Oracles in it, Exod. 33. 9. so Jesus Christ alone is the cloudy Pillar by whom the Lord delivers to us his whole counsell concerning our happy passage through this our wildernesse to that blessed Canaan, the happy rest of all the Saints. And as they must heare and obey absolutely those Oracles,Mat. 17. 5. so we are commanded to heare him.
Application followes.
I. Is Christ the Pillar?Vse 1. Comfort by Christ as our guide. Here is comfort for the people of God; who shall want no good things, but this Pillar of cloud and fire shall supply it. For,
1. The Cloud was a generall guide for all and every particular of Gods people, Isa. 4. 5. 6. The cloud was every where seene: and Christ is every where present to be seen & found in his Church. Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, Mat. 18. 20. Ier. 51. 5. Israel hath beene no widow.
II. The Cloud was an unerring guide; because the Lord went in the Cloud: so that (except the Lord could mislead them) they must needs goe aright. Jesus Christ is the way as well as the truth; follow him in the direction of his word, in the motions of his spirit, agreeing thereto: in his blessed example both in doing and suffering walke as he did: And as he passed by his Crosse to the Crown, so shall he lead thee through this wildernesse to that Canaan and rest, to which he hath gone before to take thee in.
III. As the Cloud was a safe guide and a covering cloud, so is Jesus Christ the vayl and cover of his Church. When the Pharaoh of hell pursues us at heels, and is even ready to snatch us back into eternall slavery; now this Angell of the Covenant interposeth himselfe to defend us, and steppeth betweene us and dangers. This Cloud of Gods protection (seeme it never so farre off) is the sure wall and defence of the Church, the strongest munition, and will not suffer the Aegyptian armyes to come neere the Israelites to hurt or destroy them, but onelyonly to exercise them, and drive them more hastily to God for safety, and to Canaan for rest. This is a sure comfort, when we know that all the enemies of grace, Papists, apostates, recusants, drunkards, scorners and Atheists reach at us to hurt and hinder us in our way, this cloud shall make them further us.
IV. The Cloud was a powerfull guide, strengthning Israel, weakning and discomforting all the power of Egypt; powerfully and miraculously opening the red sea for a passage to the one, and shutting it for the others perdition. Our Lord JESUS is a potent guide, the Michael and Captaine of Gods Armies, getting himselfe a name upon Pharaoh and his forces, discomfiting and destroying all adversary power of our salvation, perfectly conquering for us all the powers of darknesse, and triumphing upon all the externall enemies that pursue his people, and making them the dust of his footstoole. Besides that, this cloud powerfully opens the red sea, and makes a way for the Saints through a sea of afflictions. Oh the sweet comfort hence, both in the view of the trouble of the Church in generall, beset with so many huge armies of Antichrist and his adherents; as also in sence of our owne particular tryalls! Both whole and parts are under this powerfull cloud.
V. The Cloud was a comfortable guide, a cooling covering Cloud: Jesus Christ is the well, yea and sea of consolation: without whom is nothing but scorching heat, which would burne up and consume the Church. But he cooles the fire of his Fathers wrath for us, he cooles the fiery darts of Satans temptations, and quencheth them in us; he refresheth and cheereth us in the sunne of persecution and afflictions which satan and his instruments kindle against us; he is our onelyonly shadow for the heat, and a cover for the storme, and for the raine, Isa. 4. 6. Now therefore get to him by prayer, faith, and repentance.
VI. The Cloud was a patient and respective guide. It waited all their necessities, it rested that they might rest, it moved slowly according to their pace, it stayed for them till they had ground their Mannah, and baked it; till they had eaten and refreshed themselves; till they had offered sacrifices, and whatsoever was necessary to be done, it waited for them. Oh what a patient and respective Lord have we, who not onelyonly waits on our necessities, but beares all our needs and weaknesses on himselfe; not onelyonly beares with our infirmities, but beares them on himselfe and helpes them in us! He stretcheth his hands all day long, waiting for our return: He knows our mould and weaknesse, and covers it with his owne strength and righteousnesse: He would be in all things like us, that he might in all things helpe us.
VII. The Cloud was a constant guide. The Lord never took away his Pillar by day, nor by night from before the people, Exod. 13. 22. not all their journey till they came into Canaan. Jesus Christ is constant to his Church, never leaves it without light and direction, without comfort and consolation, without safety and protection. Nay he not only leads and covers them in this wildernesse, but never fayles them, no not in the land of their rest. That cloud which now is like the cloud which Elias saw, like the bignesse of an hand, then shall cover, or rather fill the whole heavens.
II. Here is a ground of confidence and security in the greatest perils.Vse. 2. Confidence and security by Christ. What a marveilous thing is it that a Pillar of fire should sit upon the Tabernacle, and not burne it? What a strange thing that a Pillar of fire must coole the Israëlites, and save them from fire? So shall all fires kindled, and all extreame dangers threatned against the Church, tend to the saving and comforting of it. For 1. God never kindles a fire to consume his Church, but (as the pillar of fire) to enlighten it, and direct it to Canaan. 2. The Church is that bush which burnes with fire, but is not consumed; Exod. 3. 2. The members of this Church are not chaffe and stubble, but pure metall, the longer in the fire the better tryed, and the purer. 3. There is no Pillar of fire in the Church without the pillar of cloud: God mingleth his corrections with consolations; and in judgement remembreth mercy. 4. Nature must runne out of her selfe to doe homage to her Creator. Fire must cease to burn at his word, Dan. 3. 27. The fire burnt only the bonds of the three children, but not their bodies: it not onelyonly saves their lives, but sets them at liberty, being cast in bound. 5. The power of God makes all the creatures serviceable to his Church; the love of God to his Church makes them comfortable, and the presence of God with his Church makes them profitable: as the presence of the Angell in the bush: the presence of a fourth (like the Sonne of God) in the furnace, Dan 3. and the Pillar of fire was a signe of the presence of God in it, who made a pillar of dreadfull and unmercifull fire a great mercy to his people, yea and most beneficiall. 6. The wisedome of God can put understanding into these senselesse creatures to distinguish betweene an Israelite and an Aegyptian. The fire shall give light to the Israëlites, and deny it to the Aegyptians. The sea shall give way to Israel, but shut up the way to Aegypt. The cloud shall hide, cover, and comfort the Israelites, but deny it to the Aegyptians. The fire shall come out and destroy the Captaines and their fifties, and send them to hell, but a Chariot of fire shal hoyse Eliah to heaven. Make use of this observation for the present; in the greatest dangers remembring that gracious promise Isa. 43. 2. When thou passest through the fire I will be with thee, and it shall not burne thee, no more then the Pillar did the Israelites Doe the enemies come out against us as strong as Pillars, as furious and fiery as …ire it selfe? Never was there so hot a Pillar of fire, but there was a cooling and covering cloud as neere us. The Cloud that makes the Red sea give way, can conquer Canaanits too, and all the furious enemies that come out against us. Were it not for this Cloud of Gods gracious protection, there were no standing against the heat and rage of such fiery enemies. Lay up this meditation for time to come: Time shall bee when our Lord Jesus shall appeare in flaming fire, 2. Thess. 1: Heb. 10. 7. hee comes with a violent fire: Psal. 50. 3. a fire shall devour before him. This shall burne up the studs of heaven and earth; and now how shall any man bee able to stand before these great burnings? Now know, 1. That that dreadfull fire shall attend Christ the head as a servant, for the finall salvation of his members. 2. It shall bee commanded to bee comfortable to the elect; as most dreadfull to the wicked, driving them to their wits end; even as this Pillar of fire was: And as the waters of the deluge, which (while they drowned the world of the ungodly) lifted up the Arke, and saved that from drowning.
III. Who they bee that may expect to partake of all these comforts from this Pillar.Vse. 3. Notes of them that receive comfort by this Pillar.
Answ. The Cloud is not the same to all: But the same cloud that lightned Israel, cast darknesse on the Aegyptians; so Christ is not the same to all, not sweet, not comfortable to all: But to such as are,
1. Of mount Sion, Isai. 4. 5. true members of the Church, sonnes of the Church, known by cleaving to the Assemblies. VponUpon Sion and the Assemblies thereof shall be a cloud. In Sion shall be deliverance. And as the hills compasse Jerusalem, so doth the Lords protection his people.
2. Such as be in the Lords wayes, gotten out of the Aegypt of their darknesse and earthlinesse, and moving still towards Canaan; for so did the Israelites: So Psal. 91. 11. they shall keepe thee in all thy wayes. All the while Israel was in Aegypt they had no Pillar of cloud and Fire, and when they came into Canaan they had none, nor needed any; but while they were walking in the wildernesse in unknowen wayes, in danger of enemies: We are without protection while wee are in the state of nature, not called out of our Aegypt; and when wee shall come into our Canaan we shall need none, because wee shall be set quite beyond danger and enemies: But now in our moving towards heaven, in so many dangerous wayes, among so many mortall enemies, wee need the Cloud, and the Lord supplies our need.
3. Such as lift up their eyes to this Cloud and Pillar for direction. Had Israel refused to move according to the motion of it, it would not have sheltred and comforted, but revenged them: Such onelyonly shall obtaine the mercy of God in Christ, who obediently follow Christ, and submit themselves to his direction. If thou waitest upon him for duty, thou mayest waite upon him for mercy; for such onelyonly shall attaine it, Gal 6. 16. Psal. 121. 1. I will lift mine eyes up to the mountaines; and then, verse 6. the Sunne shall not smite th…e by day, nor the Moone by night: alluding to this place, in which the cloud abates the heat of the Sunne by day, and the fire the coldnesse of the Moone by night.
4. Such as persevere and goe on forward in grace. For therefore was the Pillar light in the night to Israel, that they might goe forward day and night: And therefore was it a darke cloud to the Aegyptians, that they might not hinder the Israelites in their way. Gods favour and protection belongs to such as desire to prosper and profit in grace, and get every day neerer their happinesse.
Object. But this seemes to be the way to lose all peace and joy of our lives,And how this comfort is to be esteemed. seeing none are more assailed by Satan and wicked men, then godly men, sonnes of the Church that walke in Gods wayes, that take Gods directions, and desire to proceed and persever in godlinesse; how then are all these promises accomplished?
Answ. 1. All promises of temporall good things are made with exception of the crosse: this exception impeacheth not the promise. 2. It is a common condition of good and bad to sustaine many evils, and undergoe many difficulties; but with this difference, that the wicked have no Pillar to sustaine them, no cloud, no refuge or hiding place: but the godly hath God for his refuge, his Pillar, and Cloud. 3. The Pillar still stands over the Tabernacle, and saves the Armie of Israel: the whole Church is ever saved by Gods protection, though some souldiers may fall in the battell; as Martyrs, who receive not alwaies corporall deliverance, to receive a better resurrection, 4. If this Pillar put not off some evills, it ever supplies some greater good: If it deliver not from death, it delivers by death: If our state seeme not so good, it will turne it to good, Rom. 8. It led the Israelites to Marah, a place of bitternesse; but the next remove was to Elim, where were twelve fountaines of water, Exod. 15. 23, 27. It suffers the Israelites to want meat in the wildernesse, but to feed them with Manna: If to want drinke, it is to supply them by miracle; to refresh their soules as well as bodies by water out of a rocke.
IV. In the same Pillar of the Cloud,Vse. 4. Mercy and justice met in this type. see justice and mercy met together and tempered. 1. Mercy to the Church and beleevers; that now wee behold Gods presence in a cloud. The brightnesse of his goodnesse to us shines in this darke cloud, in which wee see him as wee are able. His Majesty hath attempered himselfe to our debility and weaknesse. For such is our infirmity here below, that unlesse the glory of God be vailed and covered, wee can never bee able to behold it: no more then the Priests could stand before the brightnesse of the cloud that filled the Temple, 1. King. 8. 11. nor the Disciples abide the brightnesse of Christ, when a bright cloud shadowed them in his transfiguration. Matt. 17. 5, 6.For as no man can endure to see the Sunne in his brightnesse and strength, but in and through a cloud hee may: so no man can behold the glorious Majestie of God, and live. Hence hath hee pleased to let us behold him here not in his owne glory, but in his Christ; in whom his excellent Majesty is vailed and covered with our humanity. This is his mercy, that we see now as wee may, as in a glasse or mirrour; preparing us to a farther mercy, then which no mercy goeth farther, namely to see him as wee would, and face to face; when with our frailty and corruption all clouds and vailes shall be removed. 2. His justice against sinners; whose misery it is, that there is alwayes a cloud betweene God and them. A cloud of ignorance that hinders them from the knowledge of God and holy things; they see no true light: A cloud of darknesse and misery that suffers them not to enjoy one spark of sound comfort or consolation: A thick cloud of lusts and sins, which hinders the passage of their prayers. They may truely use that speach of the Church, Lam. 3. 44. Thou hast covered thy selfe with a cloud, that our prayer should not passe through. As this cloud was a meanes of greatest mercy to Israel; so was it of extreme misery and destruction to the Aegyptians.
V. Is Christ this Pillar of Cloud and fire?Vse. 5. Follow Christ as a guide. Then we must follow Christ our guide. The Saints in earth are as Israel in their pilgrimage marching out of Aegypt into the promised land. God of his merciemercy affords us as hee did them, a comfortable cloud to lead us through to Canaan. Wee must depend on this Pillar: For light of instruction against the blindnesse of our minds: For light of consolation in sorrows and terrours of heart, that we may say with the Church, Mic. 7. 8. When I shall sit in darknesse the Lord is my light: For spirituall heat and warmth; seeing this Pillar onelyonly can kindle true love of God, true zeale for God and his glory, fervency in prayer, and inflame us with all ardent desires after God. Wee must follow this Pillar for safety, security, direction, &c.
Quest. How may we follow this Pillar?And how.
Sol. As the Israelites carefully followed the cloud, in this manner. 1. Because the clould was placed on high, they must still looke upwards: So must wee still looke upwards, not fixing our eye on any other direction about us, or beside us. We must not walke by examples of men never so great, never so wise, never so rich, never so neere us; but onelyonly so farre as they follow this Cloud. The Sunne of the world, and the Sonne of the Church herein agree, that both of them are set infinitely above our heads; that wee should expect our direction from above, not from below; from the heavens, not from the earth. 2. As the Israelites contented themselves with that Pillar, as being sufficient: So must wee with the light from Christ our Pillar. They needed no artificiall lights of their owne devising; the Pillar of fire was sufficient (although at midnight) to enlighten them. The Sunne at noone day was not more usefull to them then this Pillar at midnight: So Christ in the Scriptures is a most bright and shining light; not (as the Papists say) obscure, dark, imperfect, unlesse there bee an addition of traditions, Fathers, and mens devises. As that cloud was no naturall direction: so wee must not walke by direction of nature, dictate of reason, or command of our owne wills and senses. Follow this Pillar onelyonly, and (as Goshen was light when all Aegypt was darkenesse) thou shalt have light when all the world else sits in darknesse, Ioh. 8. 12. But as for such as kindle themselves a fire, or set up a Pillar to themselves, and walk in the light of it, and in the sparks themselves have kindled; the Lord threatens what they may expect from his hands; They shall lie downe in sorrow, Isai. 50. 10. 3. As Israel must watch this Pillar night and day, and frame their whole course unto it for motion or station, for action or for rest: so must we to Christ (our Pillar) in the Scripture. Blessed is the man that meditates in the Law of the Lord night and day. And as they must give diligent heed both day and night to be ready for their journey whensoever the cloud should moove; and therefore are said to keepe the Lords watch, Num 9. 19. so must we alwaies watch, and be in a readinesse; because we know not when the Master of the house will come, at even or at midnight, at the cockcrowing or in the dawning, Mar. 13. 35. Remember for conclusion; that blessed shall that servant be (and he onelyonly) whom his Master (when he commeth) findeth well doing.