Christ Revealed, Scriptural typology · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
5. Ioseph a type of Christ,Ioseph a type of Christ 4. wayes. 4. wayes.
I. IN regard of his person. 1. Ioseph was the first borne of the beloved Rahel, Gen. 30. 24.as Christ was the first borne of the freely beloved Mary. Luke 1. 28.2. Best beloved of his father, Genes. 37. 3. figuring Christ who was declared the welbeloved in whom his Father delighted, Dec…rus facie, pulc…rior mente.Matth. 3. 17. 3. Hee was very beautifull, Gen. 39. 6. and his internall beauty was more then his externall: Christ was more beautifull then the sonnes of men, and making us beautifull in his beauty. 4. Ioseph was endued with such a measure of wisedome and understanding as none was like him, in whom Gods Spirit was.Gen. 41. 38. For which cause hee was called Zaphnathpaaneah, verse 45. that is, an expounder of secrets: figuring Christ in whom were treasures of wisedome, and the Spirit beyond all measure; who is therefore called the great Counseller, and the Lambe onelyonly worthy to open the booke, who onelyonly hath the key of David to open the secret mysteries of salvation. 5. In Iacobs last Testament, Ioseph is called a fruitfull bough, whose branches runne upon the wall, because out of him branched two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, therein hee was a type of Christ,Gen. 49. 22. who is not a fruitfull bough onelyonly, but a root from whom all the tribes of God branch out and flourish. And whereas those tribes are come to nothing; Christ shall see his seed, and prolong his dayes.Isai. 53. 10.
II. In his actions. 1. Ioseph was sent by his father to visite his brethren in the wildernesse:Gen. 37. 15. So was Christ sent to seeke his brethren wandring in the wildernesse, he was sent to the lost sheepe of Israel. 2. As at thirty yeares,Gen. 41 42. Ioseph was preferred to his Office by Pharaoh: So at thirty yeares Christ entred his Office. 3. As by Pharaoh a virgin was given Ioseph to wife, verse 45: So in the Church as a pure Virgin given by the Father to Jesus Christ,Joh. 6. 37. as his Spouse to sanctifie and save: All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that commeth to me▪ I will in no wise cast out. 4. As Ioseph out of Pharaohs garners feeds all Egypt, all his fathers house, and the nations; whence in Gen. 49. 24. he is called the feeder of Israel, and a stone, that is, a rocke or refuge to his brethren: So Jesus Christ is the feeder of Israel, and of all the family of God in all Nations of the earth, not with temporall food onelyonly, but with the Manna from heaven, the Word and Sacraments, and his owne flesh and blood, the incorruptible and indeficient bread and water of life. 5. As Ioseph in his lowest estate was both a Lord in the prison, and a comforter of the prisoners, assuring the Butler of his life, and recovery of his place: So Jesus Christ at his lowest abasement, was Lord over death and the grave, having command of them, and his last breath on the Crosse all most comforted the poore thiefe promising him both life and glory. 6. As Ioseph doth all the good he can for his brethren that had ill deserved it: For 1. Hee teacheth them how to live together, and commends brotherly love and concord,Gen. 45. 24. fall not out by the way. 2. Teacheth them how to speake to Pharaoh, and what to demand. 3. Goes to Pharaoh, and speaks, and obtaines for them whatsoever he would, and placeth them in Goshen the far of the land, till they come to Canaan: So Jesus Christ above all lessons commended to us the new Commandement of love, a badge of his disciples; teacheth us how to pray, and what, in the Lords prayer; himselfe intercedes for us, and obtaineth all that good is, and provides for us in earth till we come to Canaan.
III. In his sufferings and passions. 1. The archers grieved him, Gen 49. 23. that is, not his Mistris onelyonly and Master, but his brethren also conspire against him, although sent from his father in love, and comes in love to see how they doe, and to know their wants; yet they scorn him, behold yonder dreamer comes; they consult to kill him, let us kill him and see what will become of his dreames: So Jesus Christ came among his owne, sent from his Father in love, pitying the wandrings and wants of men; but the Jews scorne him for a deceiver, plot to kill him, conspire against his life. 2. As his brethren sold him for twenty pieces, stript him naked, cast him into a pit, sent him as a slave into Egypt, where hee (being indeed free) became a servant: So Jesus Christ in his infancy was sent into Egypt, sold by the Jews for thirty pieces, stript naked of his apparrell, and in the forme of a servant cast into the pit of death and the grave, whence they thought never to have heard more of him, as Iosephs brethren did. 3. As in this service Ioseph was tempted to whoredome by his wanton Mistris when they were alone, and that often and dayly; but by strength of grace stoutly resisted, yea conquered her and himselfe: So was Jesus Christ in the entrance of his Ministery strongly assailed by Satan to spirituall whoredome when he was alone in the wildernesse, and that often set upon; yet by the power of the Spirit overcame and conquered, so as the evill one found nothing in him. 4. As in this service (notwithstanding his faithfulnesse and innocency) Ioseph was falsely accused, condemned, cast into prison with the Butler and Baker: So was Jesus Christ, notwithstanding all his innocency falsely accused, they lay things to his charge he never knew, as falsely condemned, bound yea fastened to the Crosse betweene the thieves, and cast into the grave as into a prison, till the time of his deliverance came, that he was taken out from prison and judgement, as Isai. 53. 8.
IV. In his advancement and preferment. For, 1. As Ioseph was separate from his brethren, Gen. 49. 26. that is, advanced by God to honour above them all: So Christ was separate and advanced in glory above men and Angels, Heb. 1. 4. hath obtained a farre more excellent name then the Angels. 2. Though Ioseph was shot at by the archers, yet his arme was strengthened, the bonds and fetters were loosed, and he not onelyonly brought out of prison, but advanced to bee Lord over the whole land, and next unto Pharaoh, having all administration delivered unto him: So Jesus Christ, although he was a But or signe of contradiction▪ yet his arme was strengthened to raise himselfe out of the grave, to loose all chaines of sin, to loose all sorrowes of death, and being ris…n againe was advanced and exalted above all creatures, all power given him in heaven and earth, his throne set next unto his Fathers, the Lord of his Church, and ruler of the whole earth, to him is committed the governement, and his bounds are the utmost hills, Psalm. 2. yea the whole Church in heaven and earth is his to whom all power belongs. 3. As Pharaoh every way honoured Ioseph; As 1. He richly decks and attires him, puts a golden chaine on his necke, Gen. 41. 42. 2. They must cry before him, Abrech, that is, every man must bow to him. 3. Every man must depend on his word, Gen. 41. 55. Goe to Ioseph (saith Pharaoh) and what he faith to you, doe yee: So God the Father hath highly exalted his Sonne Jesus, and given him not onelyonly the rich robes of immortality and glory, but a Name above all names, that at his Name every knee shall bowe. He appointed not Iohn Baptist onelyonly to be his fore-runner to make way for him, but all the Apostles and Evangelists cry before him Abrech. Yea all faithfull pastours and teachers whose office is to bring men to stoope under the subjection of Jesus Christ. Yea he hath given his Sonne plenary authority to governe his kingdome, and commands us, as another Ioseph to heare him.
I. From the type and truth learn.Vse 1. No newes for good men to be hated for their excellency. It is no new thing for the best men to be hated and wronged for their excellency and innocency. Ioseph was therefore hated of his brethren, because most loved of his Father, Gen. 37. 4. Christ was hated because he was the light, and gave witnesse unto it. This is a certaine truth, if God will testifie to a man, the world will testifie against him, whose judgements are contrary to his. If God will advance a man in grace, the world will depresse him. If God be extraordinary to Moses, Aaron and Miriam his brother and sister will hate him. If David be respected, Saul will envy him. Who can stand before envy? not naturall brothers. No marvaile if men say as of old: If we let this man alone all men will beleeve in him. Well: an evill eye is a signe of an evill man, that dares in his thoughts check the Almighty for doing with his owne as he will. And a good man cannot expect a surer confirmation in goodnesse, then to be hated for it; as in our type and truth. Let us on the contrary there love most where God sheweth most love: nor let any Ioseph leave his goodnesse for the hatred of the brethren.
II. All the sufferings of Gods children are ordayned and ordered by him.Vse. 2. All sufferings of the godly come of God. Ordained by him. 1. They are ordayned by God. So in the type Ioseph sees Gods decree: It was not you, but God sent me afore you. So did the true Ioseph: It is not thou Pilate that couldst have any power over me, unlesse it were given from above, Ioh. 19. 11. and Acts 4. 27. 28. against thy holy Sonne Jesus, Herod, Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel gathered themselves together, to doe whatsoever thy hand and counsell had determined. Let not us looke so much at mens malice as at Gods decree. So did David when he said; Shimei curseth because the Lord hath bid him curse David, 2. Sam. 16. 10. If for brethren wee find enemies, let us say as Ioseph; It was not you, God hath an hand in it.Ordered, and how. 2. Our suffrings are ordered by God. 1. For their measure, as in the type; Come, say they, let us kill the dreamer, but they could not: So in the truth; come let us kill the heire, and then the inheritance shall be ours; let us bury him, and lay stones, and watch and seale, yet with all these they could not keepe him under. Feare not evill men, they shall not doe as much as they will, but as God will. 2. For the end, they cannot frustrate the counsell of God, nor his dreames. Neither Gods glory nor Iosephs preferment can be prevented: So the Jewes, Let us put this seducer to death, and we shall well shift our hands of him, what will become of his doctrine, of his Disciples: But all turned to his greater exaltation, as Iosephs. Conclude hence, that all the hatred of evill men, unjust accusations, false sentences, cruell executions shall not hurt, but one way or other set forward our truest good. As both Iosephs and Christs turne to their greatest advancement, both their innocencies breake out as the light. And innocency is innocency, and will be so knowne, and shall be as the Sunne at noone day.
III. A singular comfort.Vse 3. Comfort by Christ our Joseph, manifold. Is Christ the true Ioseph our brother? Hee will 1. know us when we know not him, as Ioseph. He will love us before we can love him, he will love us when we shall not know it, his bowels will earne within him towards us, 2 Cor. 6. 9. as unknowne, and yet knowne. He is a stone of refuge to all his brethren, and though he be rough for a while and try us with temptations and afflictions of sundry sorts as Ioseph did, yet he will at length make himselfe knowne to bee Ioseph; he will say, I am Ioseph, I am Jesus your brother. 2. As Ioseph tooke order that his brethren should bee washed in his house, and set at his owne table: So our Ioseph washeth us in cleaner water, even the pure streames of his blood, and makes us cleane by the water of sanctification, sealing it to us in baptisme, and after feeds us at his owne table, and sets before us the bread and water of life, as in the sacrament of the Supper. 3. As Ioseph sent his brethren home with victualls without money, and with Chariots and all necessaries for their journey till they came againe to be fully provided for by him: so our Ioseph furnisheth us in this our journey and travell with all necessaries without our money or merits, untill we come to dwell with him, and he be all in all unto us. 4. As when Iacob and his sonnes came into Aegypt, and at that joyfull meeting of Father and all the sonnes, Ioseph went out to meet them: So our Ioseph meets us now in our way by his grace and spirit: and at that great meeting of all his brethren shall make ready the clouds as his Chariot, and come in person in state, and we shall meet the Lord in the ayre and be ever with him.
IV. As Iosephs brethren behaved themselves to him,Vse 4. Do to Christ as Iosephs brethren to him. Gen. 50. 17. So let us behave our selves to Christ. 1. Humble our selves, bee ashamed that we have so wronged our brother, pray for pardon; and as it is in Zachery, looke upon him whom we (that is our sinnes) have pearced; and lament and be sorry for him, as one mourneth for his onelyonly sonne. 2. Honour him. All our sheafes must bow to his; he hath that extraordinary blessing from above and below, the blessing of his father is strong with the blessing of his Elders, Gen. 49. 26. Christ is blessed in himselfe, and in his posterity in all ages. 3. Depend on him for food as they, and say with Peter, Ioh. 6. 68. Master to whom shall we goe? thou hast the words of eternall life; and for all supplyes apply that to him which is spoken of Ioseph, Gen. 50. 19. Is not he for us under God? 4. Let his gracious promises comfort and feede us, as Iosephs brethren were comforted by his, Gen. 50. 21. 5. Offer him such gifts as wee have, prayer, prayses, duty, endeavour. Be encouraged, Ioseph will accept small and meane gifts from brethren, although he need them not, Gen. 43. 15. Our Ioseph despiseth not a graine of grace, not smoaking flax.