Christ Revealed, Scriptural typology · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Manna, a Type of Christ.
THere were among the Jewes two extraordinary Sacraments which sealed up unto beleevers their continuall nourishment and preservation in grace by the free Covenant of God in the Messiah. The former was Manna from heaven; the latter, the water out of the rock: Both of them most lively setting forth Jesus Christ, the true bread and water of life to ancient and present beleevers. In which sense the Apostle (1 Cor. 10. 3. 4.) calleth them spirituall meat, and spirituall drink.
The Story of Manna is recorded,Manna a type of Christ. Exod. 16. 14. The proper application of which is in Ioh. 6. 32. 48. where our Saviour shewes that he is the true Manna, of which the other in the wildernesse was but a shadow and dark resemblance. Now for opening this type we shall fruitfully consider two things. I. CHRIST prefigured by it; where we shall see an admirable and pleasant correspondence of the type with the truth; and how Christ was (not obscurely) preached even in this one shadow to old beleevers. II. CHRIST far preferred before this figure, as became the truth to be set above the type.
I. For the resemblance consider MannaMatters of resemblance.
1. in it selfe, in
1. Quality.
2. Quantity.
2 in the Jews, in their
1. Gathering.
2. Use.
Sect. I.
I. The qualities of Manna considered in it selfe were sixe,Sixe qualities of Manna. many of them miraculous.
1. The Manna came down from heaven.Dominus Iesus ipse conviva & convivium: ipse comedens & qui comeditur. Ieron. Ep. ad Hedibiam. God in heaven prepared this food to satisfie the Jewes hunger: so Jesus Christ is the true bread that came downe from heaven, all other bread is from earth, but Christ is from heaven; he hath God for his Father, from whose bosome he is sent into the wildernesse of this world to satisfie the spirituall hunger of his people. And as that was an admirable gift prepared by God for them; and therefore they called it Manna: so nothing was more freely prepared and given by God then Jesus Christ for the life of the world; hee came without the worlds seeking, without merit and deserving, yea or accepting; for he came to his owne, and his owne received him not: And was not this miraculous above that, that he which sent the Manna was the Manna which he sent?
…. The taste of Manna was sweet, and tasted like fresh oyle, Numb. 11. 8. or wafers baked with honey, Exod. 16. 31: So nothing is so sweet as Jesus Christ to an afflicted and hungry heart, The sweet promises of grace are sweeter ther honey, Psal. 19. 10. No fresh and sweet oile can so cherish the face, as they doe the heart which is able to apprehend the sweet consolations and joyes of the Spirit. And as Manna tasted alike to all tastes, and every whit of it was sweet, and every mouth tasted the same sweetnesse, as it never was in any other food in the world: So onelyonly Christ is the same to all that taste him, and every whit of him is sweet, even his yoake, his Crosse, and every mouth that tastes him, can confesse him so to be.
3. The figure of it was round, a figure of perfection: signifying Jesus Christ without beginning or end,foreign. the first and the last, most simple and sincere, without any guilefull corner or angle; most infinite, most perfect, and fit to containe all perfections of grace, meet for the head of the Church.
4. The colour was white, Exod. 16. 31: signifying the most holy and immaculate purity of Jesus Christ in his nature, person, and actions: The holy One of God, fairer then all the sonnes of men, Psal. 45. 2.
5. The generality: It was common to all the Israelites of what state soever: So Jesus Christ is the common Saviour, to rich and poore, to master and servant, bond and free, and to all beleeving in his Name without respect of persons, Act. 10. 34. There is neither male nor female, but all are one in Christ, Gal. 3. 28.
6. The continuance of it: This was all the while they were in the wildernesse: So Christ continues alwayes with his Church, to the end of the world, Matt. 28. 20. But when they came into Canaan it ceased; for where ordinary bread was, was no need of miraculous: So when wee come to our Canaan; wee shall gather no more Manna by the meanes of the word and Sacraments; neither yet shall we lose our Manna, but immediatly enjoy Christ, and see him face to face, which the Apostle calls an open face, 1. Cor. 13. 12.
II. The quantity of Manna considered in it selfe, resembled Christ in foure particulars.Quantity of Manna, figurati…e in 4. things.
1. It was a small graine, as a little seed of Coriander, vers. 14. but full of yeald, sweetnesse, and nourishment: So Jesus Christ was little and humble in his owne eies, and in other mens eies liker a worme then a man. Little in his birth, in his life, in his death, in his followers. Uery weake in shew and appearance; but full of power, strength, and grace to sustaine and uphold his Church; full of nourishment, sweetnesse, and comfort to refresh his Church to eternall life.
2. It was freely and abundantly given to Israel as the raine, and fell downe with the dew: So Jesus Christ is freely given to the Church, and in him abundant grace and plentifull redemption. God never expressed such bounty, nor ever opened the treasury of his rich grace in any thing so much as in giving his Christ, who never comes any where without the sweet dewes of comfort, joy, and happy graces which distill from him into every beleeving heart.
3. Manna fell every morning round about the campe, and no where else; and so much every morning as was sufficient for sixe hundred thousand men besides women and children: signifying that Jesus Christ is no where to bee found without the campe and bounds of the Church; and that of his fulnesse all beleevers receiue grace for grace; and that in Christ is sufficiency of merit for all his Church; and there need no other supply for health and safety of soule, but out of this heape.
4. It fell on the evening of the Sabbath in double quantity, because they must not breake the Sabbath in gathering any: signifying the double diligence that we must use to get Christ while wee are in this life, which is as the Even of our eternall Sabbath; and the incessant labour after a farther degree of grace, giving all diligence to make our election sure before we goe hence; for when that eternall rest commeth there is no more gathering, but a ceasing from all labour. And upon condition of our diligence and care here below, wee shall have supply enough of all grace without labour and gathering when Christ shall be all in all to all Israel gathered unto him.
Sect. II.
Now wee are to consider this miraculous food, both in the Jews gathering of it, as also in their use of it.
I. In their gathering are three things; the place, the time,Three things in the Iews gathering. the measure.
1. The place where: It was about the campe and tents of the Jews in the wildernesse: signifying that Christ the heavenly Manna is given to us in this our wildernesse, and while we are in this world wee must procure him to our selves, or never: And farther that his grace is rained downe in the Church; and no where else is saving grace ordinarily to bee found. OnelyOnly the Israel of God enjoy Christ in the meanes; his abode is among the tents of shepherds.
2. The time of gathering is: 1. The weeke day; the sixe dayes, not the Sabbath, for it came not on the Sabbath; but as knowing and distinguishing times it would, as feed them, so teach them; namely to rest on the Sabbath day, as it did: and signified that in that eternall Sabbath wee shall enjoy Manna without meanes; and shall eate our fill of that hidden Manna, laid up and prepared for the Saints, Revel. 2. 17. 2. Every day in the weeke: to signifie that we must daily feed on Christ and his grace; and that wee must daily renew the care of the salvation and sustenance of our soules. 3. Every morning of every day; early must they gather it, the first thing they did: To signifie, that wee must embrace Christ speedily, while the meanes last and offer themselves. Christ is worth our first care; and his commandement is, first to seeke the kingdome of God. The foolish virgins sought Oile and Manna too late.
3. The measure: 1. Every man hath a measure out of the common heape: signifying that Christ is the same treasury to poore and rich, small and great; and every beleever and Israelite hath his portion and measure measured out unto him, (for he must live by his owne faith) and a severed measure of knowledge and sanctification from others.Hab. 2. 4. 2. Every man hath the same measure. There was one measure for all, a Gomer for every person: So every Christian hath his Gomer, and the same measure. For although there is difference in the graces of sanctification (some being in the higher formes of knowledge, some in lower; some of little faith, some of great faith; some whose zeale is as a smoaking flaxe, in some a bright flame) yet justification by Christ is equall to all, and doth not admit a more or a lesse. Non suscipit magis & minus.The youngling in grace is as truely and fully justified as the ancient beleever, though not so fully sanctified, 3. Every man hath a full Gomer a full measure: to signifie that in Christ is no want, but wee are compleat in him, Col. 2. 10. And as the gathering Israelite (though he gathered lesse then some other) had his Gomer full: so hee that hath the weakest grace, and weakest faith (if true and sound) shall attaine the same salvation which the stronger beleever attaines. For the same precious faith attaines the same common salvation.
II. Wee must consider this Manna in the Jews use of it. 1. In respect of the dressing.Their use of it. It must be ground and baked before it could bee fit food for the Israelites: signifying that Jesus Christ must first be ground and broken upon the Crosse, and pounded with passion before hee could become a …it food and Saviour of his Church. Every graine of Manna must be ground and broken: so must Christ bee broken and bruised in the wine presse of Gods wrath. Every graine of Manna must bee baked in the Oven: so must Christ bee parched and baked, yea and dried up in the Oven of his Fathers displeasure. And this was extraordinary and above nature in it, that one heate (namely of the Sunne) melted it; another heate (namely of fire) baked it; very strange, but significative of the same in Christ. The heat of his love to mankind melted him, but the heat of his Fathers wrath (as hot as fire) baked him, and fitted him for our spirituall food. 2. The Manna being dressed must be eaten, that is, applied to their substance, and digested for their nourishment: signifying Jesus Christ, who although (like the Manna) he must be gathered in common, and must bee received whole (as Manna must bee gathered whole) yet he must be eaten in severall, that is, specially applied to every beleever for his food and strength; by which application hee becomes food in our hunger, and physicke in our weak…esse as the Manna was to them, and other had they none. 3. They must use it all, and reserve none till the morning; for if they did, it putrified, and wormes grew in it, vers. 19. 20: To signifie, that not the profession of Christ profits any thing without faithfull applying of him. Yea and as Manna reserved, putrified: so Christ becomes a scandall and a rocke of offence to the unbeleeving of the world, that content themselves to heareof Christ and have the word among them, but apply it not to their hearts and lives. The sweetest Manna becomes a rottennesse and a favour of death to carnall professours.
Quest. But why did the Lord cause the Manna daily to putrifie,Why Manna putrified, if reserved. if kept?
Answ. 1. He will have them daily depend upon his hands and provision; that was no time nor place to shift covetously for themselves, neither was there any need, seeing every day supplied them with a new harvest. 2. To signifie to them, that man lived not by bread onelyonly, but by every word of God. Matt. 44.How could they thinke that such corruptible food could preserve them, that it selfe could not be preserved above a few houres but by Gods institution? 3. That they might acknowledge God a free and extraordinary worker in all his administration with them. For even this Manna (which kept an houre beyond a day, suddenly rotted) if God command to keep it two dayes every weeke for his worship sake, it shall bee miraculously preserved sweet and savoury. Yea if for a monument of his mercy he shall command to lay a sample of it in the Arke; it shall last and bee kept in the Holy of holies many ages, yea many hundreds of yeares sweet and savoury as at first. And all this not without signification: that although Jesus Christ was in his flesh and humane nature subject to sorrow, death, and passion, yet even in that humanity (now glorified) he is set in the Holy of holies (as the Manna in the golden pot) before the Lord for ever, Exod. 16. 33. and abides for ever in the heavens for all eternity, not subject to corruption any more, as that golden pot of Manna was.
Sect. III.
II. Now let us see how Christ is infinitely preferred before this type or figure, in sixe severall advancements.Christ infinitely better then Manna. 1. That Manna had no life in it selfe, but this hath, Ioh. 5. 26. As the Father hath life in himselfe, so hath he given to the Sonne to have life in himselfe. Ioh. 6. 35. I am that bread of life. 2. That Manna not having life in it selfe, cannot give to others what it selfe hath not; it could onelyonly preserve life given of God: But this can conuey and give life to others, Ioh. 6. 33. The bread of God is he which commeth downe from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 3. That Manna preserved onelyonly naturall and temporall life, as other bread: but this preserves spirituall and eternall life in the soule and inward man. 4. That manna could not preserve this temporall life for ever, Ioh. 6. 49. Your father did eate Manna in the wildernesse, and are dead; nay it could not keepe them from hunger above one day to an end: But this bread once tasted makes a man live for ever, hee shall not die, vers. 50. yea he shall never hunger more, vers. 35. 5. If a man were dead, that manna could not raise him againe to life▪ but this raiseth dead to life, as Lazarus; which all the food, physicke and meanes on earth cannot doe, Iob. 11. 25. He that beleeveth in me, though hee were dead, yet shall hee liue. 6. That manna did corrupt, it melted daily when the Sunne arose; it lasted not beyond a day▪ it continued not beyond the wildernesse; and that small portion which the Lord reserved in the Holy of holies, perished and was lost after the captivity: But this manna is not subject to corruption, but abideth sweet and precious to every hungry heart; nor subject to violence, but abides in the Holy of holies without all change or feare of danger; nor onelyonly lasts in this journey through our wildernesse, but is the sweetest and most delicious in our Cannan; when hee shall bee food, physick, raiment, delight, and all in all, to all the Saints and sonnes of God.
Sect. IV.
Now to application:
I. To note in God foure things:Vse in respect of God. 1. Patience and love. 2. Watchfulnesse and care. 3. Bountifulnesse and benificence. 4. Wisedome and judgement. And all these to his Church, both Jewish and Christian, and to all the Israel of God, Legall and Evangelicall. Every one of these affordeth us speciall matter of instruction.
I. His grace and patience appeares in the time of his giving both the typicall and the true manna from heaven.Gods patience and love, to be noted. Then hee pleased to give the manna to Israel, 1. When Israel had great need of Gods helpe, and had no power to helpe themselves, when they were even ready to starve: Even so when the Church was in extreme need of Christ, and altogether helplesse in herself, it pleased God to give his Sonne from heaven to save and refresh her. Which the Apostle notes, Rom 5. 6. For Christ when we were yet of no strength, at his time died for the ungodly. 2. Then God gave Israel manna, when Israel (murmuring) had deserved nothing but wrath and vengeance; when they could looke for nothing but fire from heaven, hee gives them food from heaven, and such food as was Angels food, sweet as honey: Oh what a tender Nurse is the Lord become to a froward people? hee will still the frowardnesse of his first borne rather with the breast then with the rod: Even so when by our hatefull sinnes of many sorts wee could neither deserve nor expect any thing but revenge from heaven, God sent his Sonne from heaven, the true manna and bread of life, who hath more sweetnesse in him then the honey combe; which one gift sweetneth all blessings, which else had beene so many curses. For what had the Israelites deliverance, victory, lives been worth in the wildernesse without food and manna, which kept them in life and strength? Even so had all our outward blessings been to us (without Jesus Christ) onelyonly a lingring death and misery. Oh who would deale thus with his enemy, but hee that hath an Ocean of mercy? Which the same Apostle (in the same Chapter ver. 8) leadeth us unto; where hee magnifieth and heightneth Gods love unto us; that, while wee were yet sinners, Christ died for us, yea while we were yet enemies (ver. 10.) he sent us this manna, by whom he reconciled himselfe unto us.
Let this consideration be of use: 1. To stirre up in us a fervent love of God, who loved us with a pitifull love when wee were in so pitifull a case;And how it should work in us. as also with so seasonable love, when our extreme need urged us; yea with such effectuall love; as spared us the greatest gift of love, and the richest mercy that heaven and earth can containe to relieve our want. 2. To labour to love our enemies, as God did us being his enemies. For naturall men and hypocrites can love those that love them, Matt. 5. 45. but if we love them that hate us, we shall be the sonnes of our heavenly Father. 3. To move us to cease from our sinnes; for who would goe on to provoke so good a God, that still prevents us with love and mercy? And if hee please to reserve love for us while wee are yet in our sinnes, and in love with them; how sweet will his love be, when we cease to love them? How strong will it bee, and how constant? For, doth hee not cast us off when wee are enemies, and deserve hatred, and will hee ever cast off those whom he thus loveth? This love shall be stronger then death, for that shall not quench it.
II. See the watchfulnesse and care of God over his Church. The manna fell with the dew;Gods watchfulnesse and care over his Church, to be noted. and while the people of Israel slept, the Lord watched to spread a table for them: because, 1. he that keepeth Israel slumbreth not nor sleepeth. The eye of the Lord (saith Basil) is without all sleepe, ever watchfull: 2. because hee is a tender father, and Israel is his sonne and first borne. A carefull father is waking for his childs good while it sleeps and takes no care: In like maner hath this watchfull eye kept it selfe waking, from the beginning of the world till this day. How did it watch over Abraham and all his beleeving posterity; whilest he and we were all in the night of sinne and death? And whilest wee were in a dead sleepe, how carefully did hee provide this heavenly manna, and spread it about the tents of the Church in all ages? 1. In the promise of the blessed seed. 2. In the types and shadowes signifying and exhibiting Jesus Christ. 3. In the holy Ministery of Prophets and Apostles, in which it was plentifully showred. 4. In the spirituall worship of beleevers both in the old and new Testament. 5. In the blessed incarnation and appearance of the truth it selfe, who rose as a glorious sunne of righteousnesse, but as it were at midnight when the world lay in such palpable darkenesse as was thicker then the darkenesse of Aegypt: as manna fell in the night, and was readier for them every morning then they were for it.
Apply this observation for thy particular comfort.Comfort thereby. If thou beest an Israelite, no night shall befall thee nor sleep in any night, but this carefull eye of God shall watch to supply thee.Instances. 1. As in three instances. 1. The godly passing through this wildernesse of this world, although they be in Covenant with God (as Israel was) yet often are cast into the night of sinne, and in this night they often nod and slip into a sounder sleepe of sinne sometimes then they thinke off: but then this eye watcheth them, that they sleepe not in death and so fall into extreame ruine. For they being written on the palme of the Lords hand, being as a signet upon his finger, as a jewell on his heart, and (which is neerer) as the apple of his eye, he watcheth a season to waken them, to raise them, and erect them in faith to watchfulnesse and salvation. 2. Many times the godly fall into the night of affliction, and are cast into the darke of many deadly dangers which they should never (by themselves) be wound out off. Now while they are thus surprised with a dead and dangerous sleep, the Lord watcheth to prepare some meanes of evasion, which they never dreame off. How did the Lord watch over Jonah while he slept under hatches not dreaming of so present a danger? Nay when he seemes dead and buried in the Whales belly (as in a grave of silence) how miraculously did the Lord watch to bring him to dry land as sound and safe as if he had beene kept in a strong castle? How did the Lord watch Mordecai while he slept, Hest. 6. 1. he slept, but the King shall not sleepe till he have advanced Mordecai? How did he watch over Peter (Act. 12. 7.) whilst he slept so fast in the night as scarce an Angell could waken him, and brought him through the sleepie watch? Our experience can tell us every morning how the Lord keepes our houses, our selves without feare against robbers, fires, dangers, in the night he makes us sleepe in safety, and while we are helplesse, naked, sencelesse, becomes a wall of protection round about us. 3. In the night of death he gives not over his watch, but watcheth the very bones of the Saints, that in the morning of the resurrection they may mory fully enjoy Christ the true Manna, and attaine a full measure and gomer, and a perfect satiety and fulnesse of this sweet bread of life. Psa. 17. 15. David calls it, a satisfying with Gods Image, when he shall awake.
Sect. V.
III. See in this gift,Gods bounty toward his Church, to be noted. Gods bountifulnesse and freenesse to his Church in three things. 1. He offers Israel Mannah without the asking, seeking, or buying; it costs them nothing but gathering: even so he offers us salvation by Jesus Christ while wee aske not after him. He is found of them that seeke him not. The first Adam runs away from Gods presence: the second Adam runnes after him to seeke and recall him out of his bushes. Now what desert or merit could there bee in the first Adam to be followed with grace in his flying from it? And if there be none in him; how come wee his posterity to more possibility to merit any thing but death, more then he? No, here is no merit, no buying of Mannah, but onelyonly a faithfull and thankfull acceptance of it. 2. He raines it downe in abundance, his hand is not short; he opened the windowes of heaven, and rained downe manna to eate, Psal. 78. 24. For 1. It is for the honour of God to be bountifull and rich in mercies, and to powre down his blessings upon his people. 2. Israel needed daily abundance and store of mannah, which need he is carefull to supply. But oh what great goodnesse hath God stored for them that love him! In his Sonne Jesus Christ he hath rayned downe bread of life, the greatest arme and streame that ever flowed from that Ocean. A mercy covering all the tents of beleevers. A mercy that lets the true Mannah fall enough for a whole world of beleevers, not on one Nation of Israel onelyonly, but on all the Nations of the world. For he did not so then to any other Nation, but now to all. Nay in this mannah is a mercy not only covering the earth, but a mountaine of mercy reaching to heaven. 3. His hand is not weary, but every morning lets fall enough to feed and fill so many hundred thousands of mouths and bellies: so the grace of God in Christ is an unweariable grace. At he gave more mannah then all the Israelites were able to gather: so he is more infinitely able to give, then all beleevers are able to receive. Hence wee may (with David) stirre up our selves to blesse the Lord that lodeth us with blessings daily.
IV. The wisdome of God in administring his mercy to his Church.Gods wisdome in ministring to his Church, to be noted. 1. In that he gives them Manna from heaven not from earth, they cannot now expect an annuall harvest of corne from the earth, but must expect every day an heavenly showre to bee fed by; because the Lord will not have them fixe their eyes and sēces on earth, but know they were now to live of Gods allowance, and for their whole meanes depend on his hand. Let it teach us Christians to lift up our eyes and sences from earth and earthly desires, and affect that manna which is from heaven; every day desire to be fed with some heavenly shower for the nourishment of the soule, and preserving the life of grace in it. Let it teach us to acknowledge the hand of our heavenly father in the gathering of the mannah, and good things for our temporall life. Hee is the father of lights from whom descendeth every good and perfect gift. The Israelite must looke to heaven for every morsell of bread that hee puts in his mouth: and shall the Christian (as the swine) eate up the mast, and never looke up to the tree whence it falls.
II. In that hee gives them manna every day. Hee might have given them an harvest of it once a yeere; or hee might have rained it once a month; but hee gives it daily.Manna, why given daily. To shew 1. that hee had undertaken for their daily maintenance, whose continuall supplyes challenged the continuall dependance upon his providence. 2. that they must bee content with daily bread. 3. that it should bee a part of their calling and exercise in the wildernesse, where other temporall businesse had they none. Let us hence learn. 1. to acknowledge Gods wisdome; if he give us earthly manna and meanes but from hand to mouth, he knows to supply it with true manna. He allowes us to pray but for daily bread; and if we have food and rayment we must be content, 1 Tim. 6. 8. 2. to confine our cares within the day, not so solicitous to lay up for many yeeres, as the rich glutton. Care not for to morrow, that is, inordinatly, distrustfully. 3. to take notice of our daily need of the true mannah, whereof seeing God hath given us daily meanes, wee must not erosse Gods wisdome to thinke the reading of Gods word once in a yeare, or month, or weeke enough; but be daily gathering, and answering the daily meanes afforded by Gods gracious wisdome, as did the Jews.
III. His wisdome is seene in that he giveth them no manna on the Sabbath;Why not on the Sabbath day. but for the Sabbath a double portion on the day before. For 1. the Sabbath day is not to seeke temporall food and manna, but spirituall and eternall. 2. He will not have his Sabbath and service interrupted, therefore he gives them a double portion the day before. 3. Hee will not have them losers by being intent in his service; but as a liberall paymaster, allowes them as largely as any other day.
Let this teach us, 1. to nourish the care of Gods worship above the care of our life, and more intend the businesse of the soule then of the body. So our Saviour, first seeke the kingdome of God, and then other things. 2. to become more conscionable in the keeping of the Sabbath, not seeking this day after earthly but heavenly things alone. For consider, 1. The Lords liberality in giving thee (not a sixt day, but) sixe whole daies wherein to gather earthly manna; and wilt thou encroach his day too? 2. his liberality in giving thee manna for the seaventh day, blessing the labour of the sixe daies, and thereby binding thy hands from labour on the seventh.
IV. His wisedome is seene in giving to every man his Gomer;Measure thy desires in naturall things. and every man hath his measure. 1. to measure their desires by Gods measure. 2. that no man should have just cause of discontent; for hee had a sufficient measure for necessity, and God was not bound to provide for their wantonnesse. 3. that no man might envy another mans disproportion; seeing no man had want, no man might have superfluity. Let us learne hence 1. To gather no more of this earthly Manna then God would have us to gather.
Quest. How shall I know Gods measure for me?
Answ. 1. That which his blessing by good and warrantable meanes affordeth,How to know Gods measure. is his measure; and to transgresse Gods word in seeking or getting wealth, is to goe beyond Gods measure. 2. Neither to lay up, nor to keep any of this manna without or against God. Goods well gotten shall stand and prosper (as manna gathered in the sixe dayes.) But gather this manna on the seaventh day, or lay up without and against Gods commandement, that is to say, that which thou gettest falsly, or well gotten which thou shouldst expend for Gods glory and the charitable reliefe of the poore members of Jesus Christ, but doest not, all that shall rot and stinke, as stolen manna did.
Sect. 6.
II. In respect of our selves also we learne sundry instructions from the consideration of both the mannahs,Vse in respect of our selves. the typicall and the true manna. These instructions concerne 1. our estate. 2. our duty.
1. Concerning our estate:Man of himselfe senselesse of the things of Iesus Christ. To note how senselesse and void of understanding every man is by nature in the things of God and Jesus Christ, Exod. 16. 15. None of the Jewes knew what the manna was: No more doth any man know by nature the things of the Spirit of God. 1. Cor. 2. 14. The naturall man perceiveth not the things of God. If he perceive them not in his understanding, much lesse can he receive them in his affection. Tell the Jew of Christ, or let the Jew heare Christ himselfe speaking of himselfe (the manna and bread of life) they conceive he is bread for the belly, they must eate him up straight, Ioh. 6. 52. Tell Nicodemus of the new birth, he can conceive no second nativity, but of going into his mothers w…mbe againe being old, Ioh. 3 4. Tell the Samaritan of the water of life, she cannot conceive whence to have it, if not out of Iacobs well, which hee and his cattell dranke, Ioh. 4. 12. Nay such is our palpable blindnesse in spirituall things, as we cannot onelyonly not finde them, but even offered unto us (as the manna to them) we cannot apprehend them, nay wee cannot but reject them, as that woman of Samaria; Jesus Christ offers himselfe unto her, she scorns him, and will not make nor meddle with him, Ioh. 4. 9.
The reason whereof is partly in the things themselves,Reason 1. and partly in our selves. 1. The things are things of Gods spirit, and cannot be reached or judged by any rule in nature. For the things of creation, the heathen knew them in part from God as God, Rom. 1. 19: But for the things of Sanctification (as that God the Father by his Sonne made the world, or that God the Sonne by his Spirit made a new world) here they are blind as moles. Nay even in this part of knowledge, the naturall man asketh what engines or tooles could God get to reare such a frame, and will not beleeve it could be made with a word, It will aske, of what prejacent matter, and will not beleeve that so great a thing could be made of nothing: whereas we by faith understand, that the world was framed by the word of God, Heb. 11. 3. How blind then must they needs be in spirituall things, that are blind in things naturall? 2. The reason in our selves is that we are wedded to our own apprehensions, and not easily led out of our conceits; as vessels hardly let goe the savour of the first liquor; wee will measure all by the standard of naturall reason, and by the scantling of our owne senses.
Apply this observation 1. To see our impotency,Application. nay the contrariety of our nature to Gods grace. Where is our free will to good? In what disposition stands darknesse to entertaine light, which fights against it? But yee were darknesse (saith the Apostle) not darke or darkned,Eph. 5. 8. but darknesse it selfe. Nay yee were dead in trespasses and sinnes (Eph. 2. 5.) not halfe dead (as the Samaritan) but whole dead. Now let all the Papists in the world teach us, how a dead man can dispose and prepare himselfe to life. And let us know how a privation of it selfe can regresse to an habit. 2. To see what neede wee have of the Ministery to helpe us unto the true Manna. Moses must tell the people (Exod. 16. 15.) This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eate: So must the ministers of the Gospell acquaint all the Israel of God with Christ (the true manna) by the word preached; and say, This is the bread of life which came downe from heaven, in whom aloneis full nourishment to eternall life. Nothing is good to salvation, but by Gods revelation. If the word preached doe not teach thee Christ (the true manna) thou never knowst him of thy selfe. Let us pitty and pray for the lamentable blindnesse, not of Popish recusants only, but of wilfull and carelesse absenters of themselves from the house of God; whose Judgement is just if they never come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 3. Hath Christ beene made knowne to thee, that thou hast tasted the sweetnesse of him in the Gospell? As Christ said to Peter, so I say to thee, Happy art thou, for flesh and blood hath not revealed him to thee, but the Father which is in heaven.
Sect 7.
2. Concerning our duty we learn sundry instructions,Our duties in respect of this Manna. which may be reduced to sixe heads.
I. To get in us an hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ; in whom alone is full nourishment,Hunger and thirst for Christ. and without whom we are farre more miserable then Israel had been without manna.Motives. For 1. OnelyOnly this hunger makes us value him, and see our need of him. It is hunger that is the best sawce that makes manna sweet; and without hunger a full belly despiseth an hony combe. It is hunger that makes the prodigall sonne looke towards home. 2. It is the note of a blessed man, to hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, Mat. 5. 6. And this man will not rest till he be satisfied. David was an happie man in such hungry desires, when hee desired after God, as the chased Hart after the waters. This thirst would eate out and thrust out the thirst after the world; that dropsy thirst after gold and silver, which is never satisfied: As also the thirst after the puddlewater of earthly pleasures: And this thirst would devoure and consume the thirst after revenge,Take paines for him. as Moses his rod consumed the rods of the sorcerers.
II. To goe out of our tents,Motives. and take paines to gather our manna daily, as Israel did theirs. For 1. Christ enjoynes labour for this unperishing food, Ioh. 4. 14. and 2. Pet. 1. 10. give all diligence to make your election sure. 2. It is worth much paines and cost to procure Christ to our selves and others. In bodily famine how farre will men runne and ride for corne? Iacob sends all his sonnes out of Canaan into Aegypt for food, Gen. 42. 2. 3. Idlenesse is every where blameworthy, especially in matters of greatest importance. God might have rained manna into their laps or mouthes as well as about their tents, if he had pleased; but would not for the tryall of their diligence: besides he is well acquainted with our corruptions, who think that worth nothing which costs us nothing. Give me leave to apply this to many idle Christians among us, who have this sweet manna round about their tents, but will not stir out of doores for it. If it raine not downe within their owne tents, though it doe round about, they will not stir out of their tents: Like idle husbandmen that would have a harvest, but will not stirre out into the fields to plow, nor sow, nor reape, unlesse it grew at their owne doores, or in their owne streets. Alas how lamentable and unanswerable to God is our high unthankfulnesse; who with lesse labour then the Jewes may gather better food, and have as expresse a commandement as they; gather every man of this manna according to his eating. But in stead of gathering we ingratefully reject it, yea thrust it off with both hands, as the Jewes did, Act. 13. 46. Take heed in time, lest the doome come out against us, as did against them: Because you have made your selves unworthy of eternall life, we turne from you to the Gentiles.
III. As Israel, so must wee daily and diligently observe the times and places of gathering manna. 1. The place is the wildernesse, not Canaan; and all the while that they are in the wildernesse they must gather manna: So we, so long as we are in this world, must gather this true manna. Many seeme to gather when they be young, but are weary and give up when they are elder:Observe times and places to meet with Christ. But even the oldest man of the Israelites must gather if he would eate; hee must starve here that ceaseth to gather. Many have gathered enough, know as much as the best Preacher of them all, have strong faith, are sound Christians; and so was the Church of Laodicea: But be it known to thee, thou canst scarce gather enough of this manna for the day; and he that sees his daily weaknesse will conclude with me, that his faith, hope, love, knowledge, and all his graces need daily repairing; and that he hath got but a little of Christ, that feares to get too much. Againe, the place of seeking true manna is about the tents of the Israelites; it is confined to the Camps of the true Church; where two or three are gathered, there is Christ to be found: his parents found him in the Temple. Therefore 1. it is no marvaile if Christ be not to be met with among Antichristian Synagogues. If men had learning to admiration, and above the Angels, they should not finde the truth of Christ but among the tents and congregations of Christ. No marvaile if an Aegyptian misse of manna be he never so learned. 2. Let us learne to wait in the Temple (as the ancient beleevers Anna and Elizabeth) if we would meet with the consolation of Israel. 2. The time and season of gathering manna was while it lay on the ground. We must apprehend the season of grace, that is, while the Church hath peace make use of the peace of the Gospell; as the Churches did, Act. 9. 31. Little know wee how soone the sunne of persecution may arise, and melt away our manna. But Christ may make as pittifull a complaint over us, (and with weeping eyes) as that over Jerusalem, O Ierusalem! Oh England! if in this thy day thou knewest the time of thy visitation! Oh how rich in grace hadst thou beene by knowing this season! but it hath beene (in great part) hid from our eyes.Apply and feed on Christ.
IV. As Israel must bring home the manna, and bake, and grinde it, and feed upon it; for else what had it beene better for them that manna had laine about their tents in never so great abundance, had they not brought it home and sustained their lives with it? so must every Christian specially apply to himselfe Christ crucified, and by the faithfull application of Christ and all his merits become one with him, as the meat or bread wee eate becomes one with our bodies; thus will an hungry Christian doe. An hungry man is not content with onelyonly comming to a Cooks shop where meat is; it is not the sight, smell, or handling of meat which contents him; he must eate and fill his belly: So it is not a bare comming to the place of the word and Sacraments (which yet many doe not) to see, and heare, and taste; but thou must feed by faith, or starve to death eternall. Heb. 4. 2. The word they heard was unprofitable, because not mingled with faith.
Quest. How may I know if I apply Christ crucified to my selfe?
Answ. 1. The right application of Christ crucified,And how this may be. is not to know that Christ was crucified; but when we are crucified with him, Gal. 2. 19. as Elisha (2. Kings 4.) applyed his eyes, face, and hands to the dead child that it might quicken. 2. So much as thou truely beleevest, so much thou eatest of Christ, saith August: Looke how much strength thou gettest by the word, so much nourishment thou receivest from Christ. And so much as thou refusest, contemnest, or neglectest that, so much thou refusest Christ himselfe.
V. We must beware of being weary of this manna. The Jewes esteemed manna sweet at first,Be never weary of this Manna. and went out cheerefully to gather it, yea the Sabbath and all (which was a prohibited time) so greedy were they of it: but within a little while (although it retained the sweetnesse) they waxed weary of it. Wee must take heed of this ficklenesse in goodnesse, which hath ever bewrayed it selfe in most forward people. At the first building of the Tabernacle men brought too much, but after tooke it away as fast againe.Ioh. 5. 35. Iohn was a burning and shining light, and they rejoyced in his light, but it was but for a season: and few shining lights but find it so. The Galatians at first received Paul as an Angell, but soone revolted from him. What flocking and thronging was there after Christs doctrine and miracles, that the kingdome of God suffered violence, but soone they had enough of him, and in short time did tumult as fast against him? The like was observed in our owne land; at the first falling of this manna, and beginnings of the Gospell: men were earnest, glad, joyfull, forward: then was a sweet time of the happy welcome of this Manna; happy was hee could get his Gomer first and fullest: But now what voices heare wee other then of the ungracious Israelites? Oh our soules are dryed up with this manna, here is nothing but manna: so much preaching, so many Sermons, and it was better with the world in Aegypt, before all this preaching! And whereas our fathers would have ridden far to a Sermon, wee, their lazie off-spring, will scarce steppe over our thresholds.
Let us consider here for our incitement,Motives. 1. how hard it is to begin well, but harder to hold out; and not holding out we lose all our labour. 2. that manna is as sweet as ever, though wee see not our owne neede; which if we did see, wee would be no more weary of Gods word were it daily preached, then wee are of our bread we daily eate.
VI. We must be so far from wearinesse, as that we must highly esteeme this true Manna,Prize and magnify this Manna. as the sweetest gift that ever God gave from heaven, and never forget so miraculous a mercy. That Israel might not forget Gods extraordinary mercy in this type, they must for ever keepe a pot of Manna; which was preserved so long as the Temple stood for many hundred yeeres. And that wee might not forget this mercy in the true manna, hee hath and doth for ever preserve his word preached; and instituted Sacraments in which he perpetually holdeth this mercy before the eyes of the Church. Let us raise monuments of Gods mercies to our selves, and not forget lesser favours if we would not forfeit them: But such a mercy as this is in Jesus Christ the true Manna, let it live in our hearts, in our memories, sences, affections, actions, in walking worthy of it; for thus it becommeth the just to be thankefull.