Christ Revealed, Scriptural typology · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
The Passeover, a type.
THe second ordinary Sacrament of the Jews, lively representing Jesus Christ, was the Passeover, instituted, Exod. 12. to be a lively type of Christ. 1. Cor. 5. 7. Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us. The name of this Sacrament hath in it the occasion, for it was (by God) therefore instituted in memoriall of their great deliverance in Aegypt, when the destroying Angel (who slew all the first borne in Aegypt in one night) passed over all the Israelites houses, whose doores and posts were striked with the blood of the Paschall Lamb slaine and eaten in that house. Wherein the godly Iews were not to fixe their eyes in that externall signe, or the temporary deliverance signified; but to cast their eye of faith vponupon the Messiah and true Paschall Lamb; by means of whom, the wrath and revenge of God passeth over all those, whose soules are sprinkled with his blood, and who by true faith feed upon him. And therefore, howsoever the word, Passeover, hath in Scripture many significations, both proper and figurative; I understand by it the whole institution of God concerning the Lamb called Paschall. In which we shall see Iesus Christ most lively pourtrayed before vsus; and that this one legall Sacrament preached (not obscurely) to the ancient Iews, the whole doctrine of the Gospel, and grace of salvation by the onelyonly suffering of Iesus Christ. This will appeare in five things. 1. In the choice of the Sacrifice. 2. In the preparing of it. 3. In the effusion of blood, and actions about it. 4. In the eating and conditions therein. 5. In the fruits and use.
Sect. I.
I. In the choice of the Sacrifice. The Lord appointed it to bee a lamb,Paschall Lamb a type in the choice. or a kidd: notably signifying Jesus Christ; whom Iohn Baptist called, the Lamb of God, taking away the sinnes of the world, Ioh. 1. 29. Christ is a lamb,Christ a Lamb. Denominatione. Qualificatione. 1. In name, Revel. 5. 6. In the midst of the Elders stood a Lamb. 2. In qualities, in respect of innocency, patience, meeknesse, humility, obedience to the will of his Father to the death, not opening his mouth, Isai. 53. 7, in fruitfulnesse and profitablenesse to feed us with his flesh,Adumbratione. and cloath us with his fleece of righteousnesse. 3. In shadows, being figured in all those lambs slaine, especially in the Paschall lamb. In which shadowes or figures hee was (not yearely onelyonly, but) daily held before the eyes of beleevers; and so here we consider him. In this Lamb for his choice must be foure conditions.
1. Condition.Choice. It must bee a lamb without blemish, verse 5. every way perfect without any spot or defect:Christum fuisse foreign, amici pariter & inimici testati sunt. signifying the most absolute perfection of Jesus Christ; who was, both in respect of his person and actions, without all spot and exception. 1. Pet. 1. 19. as of a Lamb undefiled and without spot. Perfection of Christ.Heb. 7. 26. Such an high Priest it became us to have, as is holy, undefiled, separate from sinners. The reasons are two. 1. Because else his ransome were insufficient. 2. He must be perfectly righteous that must become a righteousnesse to many.
2. Condition.His excellency It must bee a male, for three reasons. 1. Reason. To note the excellency, strength, and dignity of Christ, proper to that sex. For although he seemed a most weak man in the state of his humiliation; yet must hee be, not effeminate but masculine; strong, stout, and potent to destroy sinne and death, and to foile all the enemies of mans salvation. Christ indeed must be the seed of the woman; but the woman must bring forth a manchild, Rev. 12. 5. And though he must be borne of a Virgin, yet the Virgin must bring forth a sonne, Isa. 9. 6. For he must divide the spoyle with the strong, Isa. 53. 12. 2. reason. Consider Christ in both his natures, it was fit he should be a male as the Lambe was. 1. as he was the Sonne of God it was meet hee should bee of the more worthy sexe of men; for it was unfit that the Sonne of God should be the daughter of man. 2. as being man, he was to be the Messiah, the seed of Abraham, the Son of David; and so to be circumcised, to bee a fit Minister of Circumcision. 3. reason. Consider him in his office. Hee was to be a King, a Priest, and a Prophet of his Church; all which necessarily require him to be a man, a male, as the Lambe was. We conclude therefore hence, that being the head of the whole Church, he must be of as worthy sexe as any of his members.
III. Condition.Christus in medio aetatis flore immolatus cuius conditionis rationem vid. Iun. in Exod. 12. The Lamb must be of a yeare old, ver. 5. to signifie that Christ dyed at a full and perfect age, in his strength; and therefore had experience also of our infirmities. For a Lambe of a yeare old is at his state and growth, and a Lambe of a yeare old is acquainted with many miseries: Even so our Saviour, living to the full strength of a man, was a man full of sorrowes, and acquainted with infirmities. See Heb. 4. 15. we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted like us, yet without sinne.
IV. Condition. He must be taken out of their own flockes and folds: For so Moses to Pharaoh, Exod. 10. 25, thou must allow us our beasts for sacrifice to offer to the Lord. Plainly signifying, that Christ was to bee an Israelite: and within the fold of Gods owne people; for he was to be of the seed of Abraham; and salvation was of the Jewes, Ioh. 4. 22. Yea and the Lords owne Law requires, that the King should bee taken from among his brethren, Deut. 17. 15: and much more the King of the Church, being King of all Kings.
Sect. VII.
II. Iesus Christ was as evidently expressed in the preparation of the Paschall Lamb▪ Paschall Lamb a type in the preparation. Where 6. Observations.wherin the Iews were tyed to sixe observations.
I. Observation. The Lambe must be severed from the flocke, ver. 6: to signify Iesus Christ seperated by God the Father to the office of Mediator; and that two waies, 1. by Gods eternall decree;Christ two waies set apart to bee a Mediator. hee was a chosen servant of God to the most excellent service in heaven and earth. Isa. 42. 1, My elect servant. And thus is called a lambe seperated from before the foundation of the world, 1. Pet. 1. 20. 2. In due time actually seperated from all the rest of the flocke, by 1. a supernaturall conception by the holy Ghost; whereby he became an high Priest seperated from sinners, all the rest of mankinde remaining sinners. 2. by a miraculous birth of a Virgin, being the seed of the woman. 3. by an unconceivable union of the two natures, divine and humane, in one person; by which he became our Immanuell, God with us. 4. by a solemne and heavenly inauguration into his office at the brinke of …ordaine; by which he was openly proclaimed the chiefe Doctor and Prophet of his Church. Thus it became this lambe of God to be actually seperated from all the rest of the flock: because for all the rest he was to pay a greater ransome and price, then any other that could be found amongst all mankinde.
II. Observation. The lambe thus seperated must be reserved and kept alive foure daies; even from the tenth day of the first month till the fourteenth day of the same month, ver. 6: Wherein was signified the very particles of time of Christs both Ministery and passion. 1. for his Ministery.The time of his Ministery and passion ordered. Christ must not bee sacrificed presently so soone as he is borne, nor so soone as he is baptised and seperated, but after that seperation must live about foure yeares to preach the kingdome of God, and then be offered up; that his death might not be as a seale to a blancke, but might confirme all that holy doctrine delivered by his owne mouth and Ministery to the world. 2. For his passion. The time of it depended not on the will of man, for his enemies sought many a time before to slay him; as Herod in his infancy, Mat. 2. 16. the Jewes tooke up stones to stone him, Ioh. 8. 59: the Nazarites would breake his necke from an hill, Luk. 4. 29. And many other attempts were made against his life; but his time was not then come, the lambe must be reserved foure daies. And this very moment of time was determined and registred in Gods most certaine and unchangeable computation: Act 2. 23. being delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God. Whose wisdome so ordered that,Quia Dominus decima die eiusdē mensis, hoe est ante quinque dies paschae in Civitatem in qua pateretu…, erat ingressurus. 1. as the lambe was taken in the tenth day of the first month: so Christ came into Ierusalem about the tenth day of the same month to suffer; as appeares, Ioh. 12. For upon the sixth day before his passion, he came to Bethany, ver. 1. and the next day he went to Ierusalem, which was the fifth day before his passion, ver. 12. 2. as the lambe must be slaine the fourteenth day of the first month (which answereth to our March) and at the full of the Moone:Anselm. in Math. 21. So, that no man might be deceived in our Paschall lambe, he must be sacrificed at the Passeover, the same day that the lambe must be slaine; In the full Moone to note the fulnesse of time now come which was so long before appointed, and in such a month as when light prevailes against darkenesse, and every thing revives and springs: to signifie that Christ by his suffering chaseth away our darkenesse and death, and brings in light and life, and a blessed spring of grace and glory.
III. Observation. The Lambe must be slaine, ver. 6: signifying that Jesus Christ being (as that Lambe of a yeare old) in his vigour and strength (who by reason of his age and strength might have lived longer) must not onelyonly dye,Christ must die a violent death. but by a violent death, and that by Israell. Noting 1. that Christ must be put to death by the Jews, 2. that the benefit and merit of his death redounds to his Church onelyonly: The Redeemer must come unto Zion, Isa. 59. 20.
Object. How was hee then a lambe slaine from the beginning of the World,How from the beginning of the world. before the Iewes were in beeing?
Sol. Two waies. 1. in regard of Gods decree, whereof a promulgation was made in promises and types, and an acceptation as if it had beene already done: 2. in regard of man:Semel actu, semper sructu. He was slaine onelyonly one time as to the act, but in all times as to the fruit: because the perpetuall power and efficacy of Christs sacrifice was begunne with the world, and extended to all beleevers of all ages, who onelyonly diversly apprehend it.
IV. Observ.The time of Christs death noted. The lamb must be slain between two evenings: 1. to put them in remembrance of their deliverance in Aegypt, which was in the evening: 2. to note that our Paschall lambe should be slaine towards the evening of the world, that is, in the last times, Heb. 9. 26. 3. that Christs sacrifice was to succeed in the same time of their evening sacrifices, which were daily to be offered, Exod. 29. 41. and so to put end to them, Dan. 12. 4. to note the very houre as well as the day of Christs suffering on the Crosse.Iewes division of the day into 4. parts. To understand which we must know that the Jewes distinguished their artificiall day into foure parts: From sixe to nine, from nine to twelve, from twelve to three, from three to sixe: This last part was counted the evening of the day, and the next three houres the evening of the night: In this fourth part of the day used the Paschall lamb to be slaine, and the rest of and all their heaviest burthens. 3. All that sprinkling of blood in their houses, so long as they despise the blood of Jesus Christ, shall never get them protection from the revenging Angel. We must pray that God would please at length to remove their vaile from their hearts, that they may submit themselves to the righteousnesse of God. Rom. 10. 3: that so all Israel may bee saved by acknowledging the deliverer out of Zion; of whom was prophecied (Isai. 59. 20,) That he shall turne away the ungodlinesse from Iacob.
Sect. III.
III. The Paschall lamb directly aimed at Christ our true Passeover,Paschall Lamb a type in effusion of blood. in respect of the blood and actions about it, which were three.
1. The blood of the lamb must be saved in a basen,Actions. verse 22. It must not bee shed upon the ground to bee troden under foot:The preciousnesse of Christs blood. signifying the preciousnesse of the blood of Christ: 1. in respect of God; 2. of Christ; 3. of the Church. For, 1. God the Father highly prizeth this blood, and saves it in a golden vessell, that it may be ever before him; and that the streames of it may pacifie his displeasure, and confirme the Covenant of grace with his Church, Whence it is called the blood of the Covenant, Heb. 9. 18 2. It was precious in regard of Jesus Christ; seeing every drop of it was the blood (not of an innocent man onelyonly, but) of one that was God as well as man, Act. 20. 28. God with his owne blood purchased the Church; and therefore it was a blood of infinite vertue and infinite merit. 3. Every true member of the Church doth most highly esteeme it, as the most precious thing in all the world; and with great care and reverence receives it into the vessell of precious and saving faith, and there keepes it safely, as men doe their most precious commodities.
2. The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled upon the lintell and side posts of the doores of the Israelites, vers. 22. 1. In that it must be sprinkled,Blood of Christ sprinkled, or applied. it signified that the blood of Christ must be applied unto us; for our righteousnesse stands not in the shedding of Christs blood, but in sprinkling and application of Christs blood shed and sprinkled upon our soules and consciences to purge them from dead works. 2. It must be sprinkled upon the posts and doores, so as the Israelites could neither go out of doores nor in, but they must see on all sides the blood of the lamb: signifying that they and wee should both at home and abroad, going forth and comming in, and on all occasions have the passion of Jesus Christ before our eyes, in the holy meditation and deep contemplation of it. 3. It was not enough for the Jew that the lamb was slaine, and the blood shed within the house; but it must be sprinkled without doores, that every man might see it: and signifyed, that if Christ blood and the merit of it be shed in the houses of our hearts for justification and righteousnesse, the sprinkling of it will appeare and bee seene without, in holy life and practise of sanctification.
3. This blood of the lamb must not bee sprinkled with the bare hands, but with a bunch of hyssope dipt in the blood,Faith resembled by hyssope, how. vers 22: which signified, that every one which puts forth his hand, is not sprinkled with Christs blood, unlesse he have provided this bunch of hyssope. Hyssope is faith: Hyssopus fides est Augan 4. Num. 33.and faith resembles this herbe in foure things. 1. It is a ground herbe, low and weake: so faith in it selfe,Herba humilis. and in us, is weake, fraile, feeble, and of most despised. Neither hath every man that hath hyssope in his garden, this bunch of hyssope in his heart. 2. Rooting in a rocke. Radicibus …aerens in petra.(for so it used among the Jews) whence some thought it to bee Pellitory of the wall. Faith roots it selfe upon the rocke Jesus Christ, and cannot grow or prosper in any other soile. Other hyssope roots in earth,Purgans, & sanans. this in heaven. 3. It is an herbe cleansing and curing. Faith onelyonly is an herbe of soveraigne vertue both to purifie the heart, Act. 15. 9: and to heale all the wounds of conscience. Act. 16. 31. the Gaoler wounded and pricked in heart must beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ, and bee saved. Our Lord himselfe was wont to say to distressed persons, According to thy faith bee it to thee.Praecaeteris recipiendo & aspergendo liquori valde apta. 4. It was fitter then other herbes for the receiving and sprinkling of liquor: so faith, although a low and weake plant, is onelyonly fit to receive the precious liquor of the blood of Christ. OnelyOnly faith draws vertue from Christ; as in the poore woman that stood behind Christ, Marke 5. 34. And the want of this bunch of hyssope disables Christ from doing thee any good. Christ could doe nothing in Capernaum for their unbelief.
I. Note hence,Vse. 1. Christs blood, to be highly prized. how wee are to prize and magnifie the blood of Christ. For if the shadow of this precious blood must be so preserved, so carefully saved in a costly vessell: how much more ought the blood it selfe?
Quest. How may I prize the blood of Christ?How.
Answ. 1, Consider, with the dignity of the person, the infinite value of it: That it is able to purchase the whole Church of God, Act. 20. 28. which a thousand worlds of wealth could not doe. No wealth in heaven or earth besides this can redeeme one soule: And therefore the Apostle, 1. Pet. 1. 19. sets this precious blood against all corruptible things, as gold and silver, and things so much set by amongst men. 2. Consider the precious things which it procures us both in earth and in heaven.
1. Here below it procures us foure things.Precious things procured by it: On earth. 1. Reconciliation and peace with God, Rom. 3. 25. and Ephes. 2. 13. wee which were farre off, are made neere by the blood of Christ. 2. A sweet tranquillity of mind and peace of conscience, which all worldly treasure cannot purchase; because now wee are within the Covenant of God, living in his love which is better then life; and in this love is no lacke, but an abundant supply of all needfull things. All which Covenant of grace is made and ratified by this blood, therefore called the blood of the Covenant, Heb. 9. 3. Victory against all the malignity of our spirituall enemies even the greatest: Satan himselfe who is overcome by the blood of the lamb, Revel. 12. 11. 4. Immunity and safety from all the judgements and dangers threatned against our sinnes; else had we died without mercy for despising Moses law, Heb. 10. 28. For if there were such force in the blood of the type, that by the effusion of it the Israelites lay safe and untouched of the revenging Angel, Heb. 11. 28: much more in this blood of Jesus Christ to cover beleevers in his Name, from the hand of Gods revenge due to our transgressions.
2. This precious blood now in heaven procures us the most needfull and excellent good things above all that wee can imagine:In heaven. Especially two wayes. 1. By opening heaven for our prayers; for this blood pleads for us now in heaven, and speaks better things for us then the blood of Abel, Heb. 12. 24. That called for vengeante against the sinner: this intreateth for daily grace for daily sinnes, and procures daily mercies for daily supplies. 2. As to our prayers, so this blood openeth heaven to our persons. This blood onelyonly rents the vaile asunder, and makes a way into the holy of holies, and gives entrance into the kingdome of heaven. Heb. 10. 19. by the blood of Jesus we are bold to enter into the holy place. This blood is the onelyonly key that unlocks heaven; for else the Lord dwells in light which no flesh can have accesse to, 1 Tim. 6. 16. namely without Christ and the shedding of his blood.
II. Is the blood of Christ so precious?Vse. 2. Profane not the blood of Christ. take heed of prophaning this precious blood; take heed of sinning against it. Consider of that sore punishment which he is worthy of, that treads under foot the sonne of God, and counteth the blood of the Testament unholy, Heb. 10. 29: He cannot expresse the greatnesse of the punishment in words, but leaves it to all mens mindes to consider of.
Quest. How may a man prophane this blood?How that may be done.
Answ. 1. By undervaluing it; as Papists, who thinke it insufficient to ratifie the Covenant unto them without other additions and supplies from themselves and others; yea ascribe as much to the blood of Thomas Becket and other traytors,Tu per Thomae sanguinem, quem pro te impendit, &c. as to this blood. 2. To be ashamed of Christ and his sufferings. The Jewes must strike the lintells of their doores with the blood of the Paschall Lambe, that all might see they were Israelites: signifying that we must openly professe Christ, and not be ashamed of his death and ignominy, which is the life of the world, at which, notwithstanding, the greatest part of the world stumbleth at this day. To shame at the profession of Christ, is to contemne his blood. 3. To contemne it in the meanes in which the Lord would hold it before our eyes: To reject or neglect the preaching of the word, wherein Christ is crucified before our eyes, as he was to the Galatians, chap. 3. 1. To neglect and despise the Sacrament, in which his blood is after a sort powred out to the mind and sences: Or unpreparedly to receive the Sacrament, and in the unworthinesse of a guilty conscience; is to make ones selfe guilty of the blood of Christ; as Pilate, Iudas, and the soldiers were. 4. To despise and wrong the godly, descended of the blood of CHRIST: redeemed with the blood of CHRIST: To hate the Church of God, and abuse the members of Christ; is to crucifie againe the sonne of God, and despise the price of our purchase.Mat. 25. 40. In that ye do it to one of these little ones, ye did it to me. Thou canst not draw blood of the Saints, but thou sinnest against the blood of Christ. 5. To prophane it in gracelesse swearing, as those branded bell-hounds that sweare commonly by wounds or blood, as if this precious blood were to be engaged on every base occasion. Well, they carry wounds in their consciences, and powre out the life blood of their soules.
Sect. IV.
IV. In eating the Paschall Lambe,Paschal Lamb, a type in the eating. Jesus Christ was typified. To this eating many conditions are required, concerning 1. time. 2. place. 3. persons. 4. manner. 5. measure.5. Conditions.
The time. It must be eaten at the same time; and in one evening must all Israell eat the Passeover.Time. 1. In the evening to signifie our estate of darkenesse and misery by sinne and death, till Christ came, and when Christ came to be our ransome. 2. In one and the same evening, to note the holy agreement and consent of the whole Church in the faith of Christs death and passion; to which well agrees the constitution of our Church, ordaining the supper succeeding it in the same time, so all superstition and formality be avoided.
The place. 1. Every particular Lambe must be eaten in one house:Place. to signifie the unity of the Church of God, the house of the living God, and the spirituall conjunction and agreement of all the faithfull in one bread and one body, 1 Cor. 10. 17. 2. If one house sufficed not to eate up one Lambe, they might call in their neighbours to a competent number; which might bee about a dozen, as in our Saviours family: to signifie 1. that the Gentiles in time, by the voice of the Gospell, should be called in, to the participation of Christ the lambe of God, and to the fruition and feeding of the same lambe with the Israelites. 2. no number is assigned, because the Lord onelyonly knowes who are his. 3. because there were many lambes to bee slaine, they must be eaten in many houses; so as no man must abstaine from the Passeover in paine of death: signifying the speciall application of the same Christ to severall persons, families, and the Church is no salvation. 3. In the night of errors, heresies, afflictions, and persecutions for the truth (when God revengeth the worlds contempt of his grace) if we would bee safe wee must keepe our selves within the Church, not departing from the particular house or Church in which we are, to joyne to Idolatry or errors, least Gods revenge overtake us, as the waters overwhelmed all that were without the Arke.
II. The manner prescribed to all Passeovers ensuing stood in three observations.Manner common to all Passeovers.
1. They must eate it with unleavened bread: signifying, that if we would feed on Christ our Passeover, wee must purge out all old leaven, and become a new lumpe, 1 Cor. 5. 7. This old leaven is the fusty, swelling, and spreading corruption of our owne wicked nature, the leaven of sinne, false doctrine, heresie, corruption of manners, sowre and tart affections, that will not stand with the receiving of Christ and his benefits. All this we must purge out, and study for sincerity and truth in judgement, in affection, in action.
2. They must eate the Passeover with sower herbs, as sawce: signifying, 1. true repentance and godly sorrow of heart to bee inseperable with the true apprehender of Jesus Christ: 2. that Christ and his Crosse are inseperable, and that afflictions (as sowre herbs) are the most whole some sawce of Christianity: Sowre indeed, and unpleasing to the flesh, but profitable 1. to prepare and provoke the appetite with more cheerefulnesse and ardency to all godly duties of prayer, hearing, Sacraments, mercy, patience, hope, &c. Rom. 5. 3, 4. 2. to whet and provoke to the practise of all Christian duties of mercy and love. 3. to excite the desire to bee fully fed with that sweet tree of life, and that blessed Mannah (in which is no sowrenesse) in the kingdome of glory, Rev. 2. 17.
3. They must alwaies in eating repeate and conferre of their deliverance out of Aegypt, and in memory of that benefit provoke their thankfulnesse of God, ver. 26. 27. adding as it were to the Sacrament a word of instruction: signifying 1. that we should alwaies remember the death and passion of Christ with due thankefullnesse for so great a deliverance by it: if they must still speake of their temporall deliverance: much more we of so great and eternall deliverance by it, from the spirituall servitude of sinne, death, the divell, and damnation: 2. it shadowed herein its successor in the new Testament, for the Sacrament of the Supper was therefore instituted to keepe in remembrance the death of Iesus Christ. 1 Cor. 11. 26. As often as ye shall eate this bread, and drinke this cup, ye shew the Lords death till he come. 3. to be a rule for all Sacraments,Vt accedat verbii ad elementum. wherein it is necessary, that the word be ioyned to the Element: I meane the word of Institution, and (if it may be conveniently) of exhortation, that the seale may goe with the Charter, as (even in these shadowes) the Lord himselfe straitly enjoyned: these were the Lawes prescribed for the Anniversary Passeover, both in Exod. 12. 14, and Numb. 9. in neither of which is any mention of any of the former Lawes proper to the first Passeover.
The last condition in eating concerned the measure. The Lambe must be whole eaten: Measure of eating it.signifying 1. Our perfect communion with Christ, who are as neerely united unto Christ, as the meat we eate, which is turned into our owne substance. 2. That nothing in Christ is unprofitable. 3. That Christ must be received wholly without dividing of his natures, or destroying any of his offices. Arrius divides the Lambe in denying his Godhead. Manichoes, impugned his humanity. Neither eate the whole lamb. The Papists destroy all his Offices. Whosoever deny any fundamentall Article of Religion, they divide the lamb. To eate the whole lamb, is to beleeve whole Christ;Fides est una Copulativa. according to the rule, Faith is but o…, yet a copulative: Deny one, overthrow all. Hitherto served that Iniunction, that no part of the lamb must bee reserved till the morrow; but if any remained it must bee burnt with fire, vers. 10. The Lord in his infinite wisedome would prevent all the occasions of idolatry, which is easily admitted in the reservations of holy things: As in Popery, what a deale of idolatry is crept into the Church by reserving superstitious relicks, and especially their consecrated or conjured bread; as if this condition did not condemne expresly that Popish reservation of the hoast or breaden god? Add hereunto, that the Jewes requiring the body of Christ on the Crosse to be taken away that night before the Sabbath, Ioh. 19. 31. fulfilled (against their knowledge) this Prophecy: Nothing of the Paschall lamb must be left till the morning.
Sect. V.
V. The Paschall Lamb is an expresse type of Christ in respect of the fruit and use of it,Paschall lamb, a type of Christ in the benefits. which is security and safety from Gods revenge, ver. 23: For as by the sprinkling of the blood, and eating of the flesh, the Jews were defended from the revenging Angel, and the destroyer passed over the house where hee espied the blood sprinkled: So the blood of Christ applied to the conscience, causeth the wrath of God to passe by those that are so sprinkled. And as they could sit in the house safe, and not feare the stroke of the destroyer, because of the blood sprinkled; so whosoever by true faith feeds upon Jesus Christ, and are died with his blood, rest secure and feare not the destruction and revenge due to wicked men. Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw neere with a true heart in assurance of faith, sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience.
I.Vse. 1. As the Jews dwelling in Aegypt were in great danger of the revenging Angel, who was to passe through the land: So all the Israel of God, dwelling in the midst of the Aegypt of the world,Danger of the soule: and how it is to be avoyded. and too too much tainted with the fashions of it, have no small cause to feare the judgements and revenge of God, which must pursue the sinnes of it; and also to use meanes for their owne safety in the night of trouble and revenge, as the Israelites did.
Quest. What meanes?
Answ. The same that Israel did. We must, 1. Sprinkle the house of our hearts with the blood of the Lamb, Heb. 10. 22. sprinkled in our hearts, &c. Whosoever were sprinkled with the blood of the lamb, were safe. Was there so much power in the blood of the type; and not much more in the blood of the trueth? 2. Get into the house of the Church, and fellowship of the faithfull; for such as are true members of the Church (which is the house of Saints) are secure from the plagues of wicked men. Isai. 27. 3. I the Lord do keep the vineyard: I will water it every moment: lest any assaile it, I will keepe it night and day: and Isai. 37. 18. My people shall dwell in the Tabernacle of peace, and in sure dwellings, and in safe resting places. Noah can bee safe no where (in the deluge) but in the Arke: And out of the Church is no salvation, or safety. 3. Thou must abide in the house all night, and goe not forth. Except the Israelites abide in the house, they cannot be safe: except thou abidest in the ship of the Church, thou canst not bee safe, no more then any of Noahs company if they had stepped out of the Arke. Wee must adhere constantly to the true Church, and not forsake the fellowship, or depart from it by Apostacy, or revolt; which brings certaine shipwrack of faith. Consider, Heb. 10. 25. 4. Patiently await for the morning, even the bright rising and appearing of Jesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse, comming againe to our deliverance; whether publikely to generall judgement, or personally in speciall to our selves. For hee shall bring health …der hir wings, Mal. 4. 2.
II. In the whole precedent discourse is a fruitfull direction for Christians for their holy use of the Sacrament of the Supper,Vse. 2. Directions for receiving the holy Communion. which is come in place of the Passeover.
1. As hee must bee circumcised that must eate the Passeover: so must hee be baptized that must be admitted to the Supper; that is a reverent professed Christian. For holy things must not bee cast to dogs, Matt. 7. 6. The word and Sacraments are childrens bread, and must not be cast to dogs, that is, obstinate enemies, scorners, blasphemers, to men of uncircumcised lips and eares, who wilfully repell the meanes of their cleansing. So much the more pity is it that all sorts of notorious evill men thrust into the presence chamber of the great King, yea sit downe at the Lords Table, and like swine swill in his cup without controll, or any rebuke in many places: Open blasphemers, common-drunkards, scoffing Ishmaels, noted adulterers, obstinate sinners: And where is the care to preserve the holy things of God from pollution, contempt, and profanation? Would a man spread a table for dogs or swine? If the shadows of these holy things might not bee cast to doggs: is it nothing to expose to them the body and substance it selfe? 1. Cor. 11. 30. for this cause many are weake and sicke among you, and many sleepe.
2. As the Lamb was taken in the tenth day, but was not slaine till the fourteenth, that it might be before their eyes all the foure dayes before, for the helping of their meditation, and due preparation to the eating of it: So no man must come to the Supper without due preparing himselfe. For if so long preparation was by God thought fit for the shadow: what preparation can be thought fit and sufficient for the substance, 1. Chron. 35. 6? It was the counsell of Sol…mon, Prov. 23. 1. When thou sittest downe at a great mans table, consider diligently what is set before thee▪ Much more here at the great Gods Table, no consideration, of the Author, matter, maner, end, fruit, and use can be sufficient. What a fearefull thing is it to come as most men doe, not considering the Lords body? How miserable was the sentence of that guest, that sate down at the Kings table without his wedding garment? Matt. 22. 13.Our common preparation is, to put on our best clothes, and to cover our bodily nakednesse in most curious manner: In the meane time the Lord seeth, and mens owne consciences witnesse against them, how naked their soules lie, and filthily discovered. The due preparation to this ordinance would be attended with more comfort within, and more reformation without, then wee can espie in most communicants.
3. As the Paschall lamb must never bee eaten without sower herbes: so we must never come to the Sacrament without true humiliation and sorrow for sinne. There can bee no sweetnesse in the blood of Christ, till the heart bee full of bitternesse for sinne. For as sower sawces whet the stomacke, and provoke the appetite: so true sorrow for sinne, stirreth up our desire and appetite after Jesus Christ, and prepares us to all good duties, and holds us in a fitnesse to pray, to heare the word▪ to the Sacrament, to works of mercy, &c. What a sweet sowernesse and bitternesse is that which brings such delectable sweetnesse and refreshing after it? Any man of reason would make hard shift to drinke downe a bitter potion to helpe his bodily health: and much more a godly man will be contented to digest godly sorrow for the procuring of heavenly joy, and the sweet comforts of Gods salvation.
4. As the Jew might not eate the lamb, till he had purged all leaven out of his house: So we must not come to the Sacrament without the forsaking of our sinne. Never can a man expect any comfort by Christs Sacrifice that hideth the old leaven in the corners of his heart. Whence the Apostle, 1. Cor. 5. 7. exhorteth the Saints, to purge out the old leaven; because Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us. Here is to bee considered, 1. What this leaven is, 2. What is the purging of it. 1. This leaven is not onelyonly the leaven of corrupt doctrin, which suddenly sowreth the truth and lumpe of the Gospel, as leaven doth a lump of dowe: but also the leaven of sin, both in the corruption of nature; (which is the old leauen in our selves, and hath sowred all the lump of whole mankind, and every man, and every faculty of man) as also in corrupt and vicious conversation, which sowreth and leaveneth others with himselfe in societies. 2. The purging of this leaven is, 1. In correcting and repenting sinne past; when a constant care is nourished to find it out, and to cast it out: 2. In serious conversion and turning to God; both which are expressed in Ps. 34. 14.
Sect. VI.
Quest. How may we purge out this leaven?
Answ. Imitate the Jew. For why should a Jew be more careful in the shadow and ceremony,Similitude of purging out leaven and sin. then a Christian in the truth and substance?
I. The Jew begins to purge within, and banish it out of his house: So begin thou to purge the inside first, Ier. 4. 4. Wash thy heart, O Ierusalem. An hypocrite can wash his face, but a sound Christian looks to his heart. Many can purge their mouthes and outward man about the time of the Sacrament; but the heart is stuffed with maliciousnes, envie, profanene…se, and ungodlinesse. Many can bee busie to purge other mens houses; but the Jew must purge his owne house.
II. The Jew purged out all leaven, and spared none not a morsell or a crumme: And shall not a Christian count every sinne a pollution, and hatefull to God? Shall any say, Is it not a little one? I may sweare a little; be drunke, if sildome: I may not kill; but raile and revile, and speake my mind: I may not be an adulterer, but wanton in speeches, looks, behaviours, and in my company: I may not goe to plough on the Sabbath; but may buy and sell, ride abroad, or be idle at home. Why? Is not a little serpent, a serpent; or a little poison, poison? Is not a little leaven enough to sower a whole lump?
III. The Jew carefully and narrowly searched and swept every corner and cranny of his house, that not the least crumme might escape him: And shall not we as carefully throw out this leaven out of every power of the soule, and every part and member of our bodies? That every one may possesse his whole house in holinesse and honour, 1 Thess. 4. 4. How doth the Scripture teach us to purge this leaven out of all corners?Entire purging of the soule. As 1. Out of the conscience; to serve God with a pure conscience, 2. Tim. 1. 3: 2. Out of the affections; prescribing love out of a pure heart, Eccles. 5. 1.1. Tim. 1. 5. and to take heed to our feete comming to the house of God: 3. Out of our senses, Psal. 119. 37. turne away mine eyes from regarding vanities; Job 31. 1. I made a covenant with mine eyes. So to shut the eare from hearing blasphemy against God, or men; and not to be agents and abetters of blasphemers: 4. Out of our speaches, Psal. 39. 1. I said I will looke to my wayes, that I offend not in my tongue: And in stead of this leaven to accustome our selves to the language of Canaan, Esay 19. 18.and gracious speaches tending to edification, ministring grace to the hearers.
IV. A Jew must begin his purging seven dayes before, and hold on all the feast on paine of death: How much more should wee beginne to purge our selves betimes, and hold on so long as our Passeover lasts? And because our Passeover is not annuall, as that was, but continuall; wee must continue our cleansing and separating from this leaven which is not easily washed out. Thou haste but trifled in this businesse that hangest downe thy head for a day, and art penitent for the time of the Sacrament, unlesse thou continuest to reforme and renew thy heart and life, and conscionably avoidest all leaven of sin all thy life; which is, or ought to be a continuall Christian Passeover.
V. As the …ews must eate the Passeover with their loines girt, with staves in their hands, eating in haste as tending to their Countrey: So we must never come to the Sacrament, but with holy hearts and meditations: 1. Seriously considering what strangers and pilgrims we are here below; not having any continuing City here, but are seeking a Countrey, Heb. 13. 14 Hee that is a true eater of our Paschall Lamb, must not pitch downe his staffe here; but as Christian Rechabites, Ier. 35. esteeme themselves strangers, content themselves to dwell in tents ever ready to remove; not distracting themselves in building houses, or planting vineyards, or seeking great things for themselves. Hence was that commendable admonition of the ancient Church, in the time of the Sacrament,Sursum cord…. used in our Liturgie: Lift up your hearts: 2. Wee must eate the Lamb hastily, hastning unto Christ the true Passeover; and not insist in these Sacraments of ours, which are still but as shadows of good things to come; yet serving us through this our strange Countrey, and speeding us into our owne Canaan and countrey, and that with all expedition; seeing that to be dissolved hence, and to be with Christ, is best of all, Phil. 2. 23: 3. We must celebrate our Passeover with staves in our hands, that is, the doctrine of the Law and Gospel held in our hearts, as a staffe to defend our selves in the right track and path of holy doctrine, and holy conversation; to repulse our adversaries that come out against us, for it is the sword o… the Spirit; and to leane upon, as a staffe, in our weaknesse and wearinesse. This staffe must not lie by us in our books; but be held in our hands and hearts, and bee (not in our possession onelyonly, but) in our daily use. Hee hath no comfort of this Sacrament, that hath not this staffe in his hand.
VI. As the Jewes in eating the Passeover must repeate and recite the memory of that great deliverance out of Aegypt by a mighty and miraculous power: so must we in our Sacrament commemorate and remember our great deliverance from hell, and that spirituall Pharaoh, wrought by the blood of our Paschall lambe. 1 Cor. 11. 26, so often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup, yee shew the Lords death till he come. And therefore it is very fit the word and Sacrament should goe together, as the seale together with the deed and Indenture. Hence those, that are so devoute at the Sacrament and neglect or despise the Word, are meere hypocrites and ignorants; their folly is like his that makes much of a seale, but teares the Indenture all to peeces, which onelyonly can convey his inheritance unto him.
VII. As the Jewes came together to eate the whole Lambe:Whole Christ must be received. so must wee to receive whole Christ.
Quest. When do we receive whole Christ?
Answ. First when we reverently receive the signes appointed by Christ according to his owne institution. Secondly when we receive faithfully the thing signified, which is Christ and all his merits.
I. For the former,Notes. 1 Popish abuses taxed. 1. as it had beene a great sin for the Jewes to divide the Lambe which God commanded to be eaten whole: no lesse grievous a sinne is it in Popery to administer the bread without the cup; of which Christ hath said expressely, Drinke ye all of this. 2. as the Lambe was appointed to no other use by Moses but to be eaten: so was the bread and wine in the Sacrament ordained to no other end by Christ but to be eate and drank: all other holy use of them out of the action of the Sacrament is Idolatrous, superstitious, and unlawfull. 3. as it had beene a grievous sinne to reserve any of the lambe till the morning, against so expresse a commandement appointing it to be wholly eaten: so grievous a sinne is it to reserve the consecrated host (as they foolishly call it) either to boxe up, or to hang up, or to worship and adore it, or pray unto it, or carry it in procession, or lift it up with both hands above the Priests head, that it may be worshipped with divine and Idolatrous worship; or yet (if it be possible) with more blasphemy to offer it upon an Altar, as an unbloody sacrifice for the sinnes of the quicke and dead, which abolisheth (at once) the whole Priesthood of Christ. All which the Lord would prevent in this constitution, that no part of the lambe must be reserved, but if any were left it must be burnt with fire.
II. Wee eate the whole lambe, when with the signes we receive the thing signified, which is Christ and all his merits. Wee must feede upon and digest whole Christ; that is, bee united so straitly and undividedly to Iesus Christ, as the meat which is changed into the same substance with our bodies; and this by the faith of our hearts, which so straitly knits us to Christ as a marriage bonde; and he becomes a perfect nourishment to us unto eternall life. Neither could our Lord fitlier expresse this strait union, then by feeding and eating; seeing there cannot be a straiter union in nature, then betweene the thing nourishing and nourished.
Quest. What may I doe thus to receive the whole lambe?
Answ. 1. Come hungry in sence of the want of faith,And how we may receive whole Christ. and desire of supply. 2. Labour to feele the sweetnesse of Christ; take heed of despising this sweet Mannah. Let not the hunger of the Onyons, garlick, and flesh pots of Aegypt thrust downe the desire of this Mannah which comes downe from heaven; to which the other Mannah was not halfe so sweet. 3. Thinke it not enough to eate the flesh of Christ Sacramentally, if not spiritually. Conceive what a fearefull delusion it is to eate the Sacrament of the flesh of Christ in the Supper, and not eate the flesh of Christ by the Sacrament: Thou hast beene at the Supper of the Lord, but hast not tasted of his Supper.