Christ Revealed, Title page – To the reader
CHRIST REVEALED: OR THE OLD TESTAMENT EXPLAINED.
A Treatise of the Types and Shadowes of our SAVIOVR contained throughout the whole SCRIPTVRE: All opened and made usefull for the benefit of Gods Church.
By THOMAS TAILOR D. D. late Preacher at ALDERMANBVRY.
Perfected by himselfe before his death.
HIERON. ad PAVLIN.
In promptu est Leviticus liber, in quo singula sacrificia, imo singulae penê syllabae, & vestis Aaron, & totus ordo Leviticus spirant coelestia sacramenta.
LONDON, Printed by M. F. for R. Dawlman and L. Fawne at the signe of the Brazen serpent in Pauls Churchyard. M DC XXXV.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, Sir MILES FLEETEWOOD Knight, Receiver Generall of his Maties Court of Wards and Liveries: All welfare in Christ IESVS.
Noble Sir:
IT is a truth able to endure the most fiery times & trialls,I. Lambert Martyr. None but Christ, none but Christ. Ignatius expresseth as much, drawing neare to his Martyrdome,Epist. ad Romanos. Let come upon me fire, crosse, meetings of wilde beasts, cuttings, tearings, breakings of bones, rendings of members, dissolutions of the whole body, and all torments of the devill, foreign, only that I may gain Iesus Christ. Thus he, intreating the Romans not to intercede for him, and hinder his …uffering for the Gospell. And thus the servants of God in these last times, when Romanists have thrust them into flames and other calamities.
Christ is all,Col. 3. 11… and in all, said the Apostle.
Look to the Church: he supplies all defects of his people, heales all their infirmities, puts on all comfortable relations, and procures all saving benefits, In the golden chaine of our salvation, which reacheth from eternitie to eternitie, we shal observe, that Christ is the owke or closure that tyeth every linke together: as in these lines.
He is the foundation of our election, Ephes. 1. 4.
He is the price of our redemption, 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19.
He is the cause efficient of our regeneration, Eph. 2. 10.
He is the author of our justification Ier. 33. 16.
He is the beginner and perfecter of our sanctification, Heb. 12. 2. Iohn 15. 4, 5. He is the matter of our consolation, spirituall and temporal, c. 16. 37. Rom. 5. 1. He is the sweetner and sanctifier of all our troubles, Rom. 8. 37. &c. He is the assurance & pledge of our resurrectiō, 1 Cor. 15. 20. He is the procurer & producer of our glorificatiō, Iohn 17. 22. Rev. 21. 23. All of thē good grounds of cō fort, & set forth the happines of Gods people. All of them disgrace merit, & the worthinesse of the creatures, Men and Angels. All of them magnifie Gods love and wisedome, call unto thankfulnesse, and would make us content with little. All invite labour, to make sure of a portion in Christ, without whom all is as nothing. And finally, all command those that are in Christ, to be all unto him, do all for him, give all, suffer all, speake, live, die, rejoyce in all through him, and with him expect all in his heavenly kingdome.
Looke to the Word, wherein all these things are revealed: Christ is evidently the matter and summe of the Gospell: and the Apostle affirmes the like concerning the Law,Rom. 10. 4. Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that beleeveth. First, by similitude, saith Austin: when a man is come to the end of a way, he can go no farther: so when a Christian is come to Christ, he hath no farther excellencie to seek or go unto: in Christ there is enough and enough to reconcile him to God, and bring him to heaven.Cont. Iul. 9. Secondly, for perfection, saith Cyril▪ When a thing is finished, it is said to come to an end, as namely in weaving a garment▪ so Christ hath finished, perfected, and fulfilled the Law: he came not to destroy, but establish it: so that in him we have a perfect righteousnes to present God withall, even as the Law required, Gal. 2. 16. 21. Thirdly, he is finis intentionis: the Law bids us look to Christ, in whom only we can live: both the Morall Law, in the holy precepts of it, impossible in this our weaknesse, therefore have recourse to Christ, Rom. 8. 3, 4. together with the curses and threats of it, whereby it is a sharpe Schoolemaster, leading to Christ, Gal. 3. 24. As also the Ceremoniall Law, all whose shadowes figure out Christ and his benefits, Heb. 10. 1. Now is Christ come (saith Tertullian) who is the end of the Law, Do cibis Iud. cap. 5.opening all the dark matters of it, anciently covered under the mists of Types and Sacraments: An excellent master, an heavenly teacher, Cont. Faust.a setler of truth to the uttermost. Austin calls Moses his ceremonies, prenunciative or foretelling Observations: Advers. Iud.and saith, We are not now constrained to observe things used in the Prophets time, Non quia illa damnata, sed quia in melius mutata sunt; not for any evill in them, but because they are changed for the better.
What they foretold, and how they are changed for the better, this Treatise in part discovereth, and I purpose not now to discourse. These glorious times of the Gospel shew evidently, how much the truth excelleth the shadow: the vertue common to the ancient beleevers, as well as unto us: Christ Iesus yesterday, Heb. 13. 8.and to day, and the same for ever: but as the manifestation is more cleare, so the grace is more plentifull and comfortable. The same Testator made both Testaments, and these differ not really, but accidentally; the Old infolding the New with some darknesse, and the New unfolding the Old with joyous perspicuitie.
This glorious dispensation of grace, as it stands by the good pleasure of God, so also by his manifold wisedome, who in severall approches of his mercy and goodnesse drawes still nearer to his Church, and yet reserves the greatest for his Kingdome of glory. Even now, in this marvellous light of the Gospell, we have our divine ceremonies and sacraments, see him afarre off, know but in part, darkly as in a glasse, and receive our best contentment by the acts of faith, while the Word and Spirit make us know the things freely given us of God in Christ Iesus. But time shall bee, when (to say nothing of the estate of the Church after the ruine of Antichrist, and calling of the Iewes) we shall in heaven see him whom we beleeved, face to face, clearly, perfectly, immediately, without Sacraments or Types, in the fullest vision, nearest union, and absolutest fruition. Never till then shall we comprehend wholly what is the marrow of that text,John▪ 14. 6. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
To your Worship I commend this Treatise of that illuminate Doctor, excellent sometime in following and opening an Allegory, and now more excellent in enjoying the Truth it selfe: of whom, while here a Preacher, you shewed your selfe a joyfull Hearer (as of other faithfull Pastors at this day) with obedience of the truth, religious care of your family, integrity in your office, love of good men, both in the Ministery and private estate, and all Christian behaviours; as the fame of your sweet savour goes forth in the Church of God, to which I doubt not but this Treatise will be the more welcome, because of your worthy name prefixed. It is an Orphane, and the Widow desires it should be your Ward, who in your love can best tender it, and by your authority defend it sufficiently. The God of heaven increase all heavenly graces and comforts in your noble heart abundantly, and adde unto your dayes, honours, and blessings of all sorts, till these shadowes flie away, and the true Day-starre arise upon you in glory: the hearty prayer of one, who is, and desires to be reckoned among
Isleworth Iune 20. 1635. Your Wo: truest friends, in every good service, WILLIAM IEMMAT.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
I Have heard of a demurre made, as though something were put forth under this Authors name, which it none of his. I assure thee in the word of a Minister, that for the workes that have my Epistle prefixed (and I heare of no other published with his name) there is not one note nor notion which is not the Authors owne, according to his papers. And the like I affirme concerning this Treatise of Types, which now I publish. The use of it is manifold: To open divers places of Scripture: To shew the meaning of legall shadows and ceremonies: To declare the faith of the Elders, Heb. 1…. 2.who received a good report: To manifest our faith,Eph. 4. 5. one with theirs, one faith, one Lord, one Baptisme, one salvation: To magnifie and commend Christ to every soule, that it may be saved, and he honoured. To discerne and bewaile the blindnesse of Gods ancient people, the Iewes, and pray for their returne to the truth not catching at shadowes: Of whom, in present I may say with detestation of their madnesse, as he said against the Philosophers, Nos qui non habitu, M. Min. Fel. Octav.&c. Wee Christians, whose excellencie stands not in outward things, but spirituall, glorie that we have found what they (with all their diligence) have sought, and could not finde. Why are we unthank…full? Why doe we stand in our owne light, if the truth of the Deitie hath in this our age attained to maturitie? Let us enjoy and make use of our owne good, and follow the truth in truth: avaunt superstition, be packing all impietie, let true religion be preserved and flourish. Yet withall,Rom. 11. 26. seeing there is a promise that all Israel shall be saved, let us pray for the performance, and that with all earnestnesse, as that converted Iew gave exhortation to his sonne, So long poure forth thy prayers for the remnant of Israel, Ludov. Ca…retus: 1553.till God looke from his high habitation, and see, and have mercy on his people for the Lords sake, his Anointed, that in our daies Iudah may be saved, and the children of Israel may dwell safely in their owne land, and spend their daies in good, the Lord making his good Spirit to rest upon them.
William Jemmat.