The Figures or Types of Christ, Typological category 1 · Sermon 5
Sept. 12. 1667.—Who is the Type or Figure of him that is to come, Rom. 5.14.
THe ſecond Conglobation of typical Perſons under the Law is Sampſon, David and Solomon, three famous Rulers amongſt the people of God of old. All which three put together gives … and glorious Repreſentation of the Meſſiah. Sampſon in … and Sufferings, David in his Victories and Conqueſ…, … in the Peace and quiet Eſtabliſhment of his Kingdom.
1. Sampſon, a perſon whoſe Story is famous in the Scripture, and ſome think that the Fame of him went forth amongſt the Heathen; and that their Fables of the Strength of Hercules, and Niſus his purple Locks took their riſe from the Story of Sampſon.
The Grecians commonly turning all into Fables, Graecia Mendax; and being great pretenders to Antiquity, being as drunk with the Pride of that Pretence though as falſe) as the Papiſts are at this day; and therefore making their own Country the Scene and the Stage of every wonderful thing (as ſome have well obſerved of them); they report of Niſus the King of Megaris in Greece, that he had on his head a purple Hair, on which the Preſervation of his Life and Kingdom did depend, which Jewel his Daughter Scylla is ſaid to have delivered unto King Minos, her Fathers Enemy, with whom ſhe fell in Love, &c.
Of which Fables it may be ſaid, Fabula fundatur in Hiſtoria, theſe Fables ſeem to be founded in the Hiſtory of antient times.
That Sampſon was a godly man, it is certain, becauſe he is numbred amongſt thoſe eminent Believers, Heb. 11.
That he was a Type of Chriſt appears by the clearneſs of the Analogy between him and the Antitype; and there ſeemeth to be ſome intimation of it in Jacobs Propheſie, Gen. 49. of which hereafter.
And indeed the Analogy is ſo clear, that I meet with none that have written of the Types, but takes notice of Sampſon for one; ſo doth alſo Calvin and Beza on Matth. 2. ult.
He was a Type in regard of his Death and Sufferings; yet not in that only; but chiefly, as being moſt peculiar and ſignal to him, both above other Types, and above other reſpects wherein himſelf was a Type: For there were other reſpects alſo, beſides this, which I ſhall touch upon, and ſo come to this as the main.
Sampſon therefore was a Type of Chriſt in four reſpects.
1. In regard of ſundry paſſages and circumſtances of his Birth.
2. in ſome ſpecial Actions of his Life.
3. In his Strength and Victories over his Enemies.
4. In his Sufferings, and in the Victoriouſneſs of his Sufferings.
1. The firſt Analogy between Chriſt and him is, in ſome paſſages about his Birth. The time of it, when Iſrael was under great Oppreſſion by the Philiſtines, Judges 13.1. then Sampſon aroſe like a little Sun, as his Name imports foreign Soliculus or Sol parvus, from Shemeſh, Sol, and gave them ſome dawnings of the Day, ſome beginnings of Light and Liberty in that deep night of Darkneſs and Bondage.
Anſwerably Jeſus Chriſt appeared when the Jews were under the yoke of the Romans and both they and the whole world under the ſpiritual thraldom of Sin and Satan. The Pagan world overwhelmed in Idolatry and ignorance of God, the Jews degenerated into Formality and a ſpirit of Bondage: then did this true Sun of Righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his Wings.
His Birth was beyond the ordinary courſe of Nature. And ſo was Chriſts: For Sampſons Mother was barren, the Mother of Chriſt a Virgin.
It was foretold, together with his Office, to his Mother by an Angel, and confirmed by a Sign.
And ſo was Chriſts.
His Office was to begin to deliver Iſrael from the Philiſtines, Judg. 13.5.
Chriſts to ſave his people from their Sins, Matth. 1.21.
The Sign to Sampſons Mother was the Angels appearing again, and aſcending in a flame of Fire, Judg. 13.20.
The Virgin Mary had the Meſſage confirmed alſo by a Sign, though not ſo terrible a Sign as this: But the Angels acquainting her with her Couſin Elizabeths Conception, and the Babe leaping in her Womb, and ſhe breaking forth into thoſe bleſſed expreſſions; Bleſſed art thou among Women, and bleſſed is the Fruit of thy Womb, and whence is this, that the Mother of my Lord ſhould come unto me, Luke 1.36, 42, 43.
Moreover, they were both Nazarites from the Womb.
Sampſon by the Law of Nazarites, Numb. 6.2.
Chriſt by ſpecial Sanctity fulfilling that Type; that holy thing that ſhall be born of thee, Luke 1.35.
As alſo by the place of his Reſidence, being born indeed at Bethlehem, but bred at Nazareth, Matth. 2.1, 5, 23. and thence called a Nazaren, or a Nazarite.
2. There is a ſecond Analogy between Chriſt and Sampſon in ſome ſpecial Actions of his Life.
As in his Marriage with a Philiſtine, and the Text ſaith, it was of the Lord; therefore ſome think that his firſt Match was not ſinful; but that he had a ſpecial Diſpenſation for it, Judg. 14.4.
So Chriſt took a Spouſe unto himſelf out of the Gentiles, Hoſ. 2.20.
At his Marriage Sampſon put forth his Mind in Parables and Riddles to the Philiſtines, Judg. 14.12.
And ſo did Chriſt to the Phariſees, Matth. 13.34.
3. There is a third Analogy, in their Strength and Victories over their Enemies, eſpecially in this circumſtance; That Sampſon wrought his Victories alone, by his own perſonal Strength, his Countrymen would not ſtand by him, Judg. 15.10, 11, 12,
So Chriſt trod the Wine-preſs alone, when all forſook him.
Sampſons firſt exploit was, the ſlaying of a Lyon in the Deſart, that roared upon him, Judg. 14.6.
So the firſt Work of Chriſt at his entrance into his Miniſtry was, the conquering that roaring Lyon that aſſaulted and tempted him in the Wilderneſs, and roared upon him with thoſe three hideous Temptations, Matth. 4.
And as upon the Lyon Sampſon ſlew, he gave this Riddle; Out of the Eater came forth Meat, and out of the ſtrong came Sweetneſs.
So ex Corpore Diaboli myſtico, out of the Devils Body, being ſlain, out of the Devils Deſtruction comes the ſweet and bleſſed tidings of the Goſpel; and Flocks, or Churches, or Societies of Chriſtians, like ſo many Swarms of Bees. The Saints were onco in an unregenerate condition, Children of Wrath, Limbs of Satan; but Satan being ſlain and conquered, they are transformed; and it is as great a change, as for a Bee to be bred of a dead Carkaſs.
Some Interpreters have obſerved,Engliſh Annot. on Judg. 14.8. that this was extraordinary: For Naturaliſts obſerve, that Bees do not uſe to breed in the Carkaſs of a Lyon; but rather of an Ox or Bullock. We may apply it to the Diſpenſations of Providence. God works by unlikely, yea contrary means; Meat out of the Eater. The Canaanites, our Enemies, they are Bread for us, Numb. 14.9. their very Sins, Corruptions, Temptations, the Lord in his unſearchable Wiſdom produceth good out of them; Light out of Darkneſs, yea Life out of Death, out of the Death of the Lord of Life.
Moreover, Sampſon ſlew a thouſand men with the Jaw-bone of an Aſs, a very weak and unable and unlikely Inſtrument to effect ſuch a Work by; yet the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him, what ſlaughter doth he make! Judg. 15.14, 15.
So Chriſt by the Fooliſhneſs of Preaching, through the Power of his Spirit, ſubdues and overcomes the Souls of men unto himſelf, and ſlays the Enmity.
4. A fourth Analogy between Chriſt and Sampſon is, in his Sufferings, and the Victoriouſneſs thereof againſt his Enemies, eſpecially his Death; I ſay Sampſon was made like unto the Son of God, in regard of his Sufferings from his Enemies.
Some have ſummed them up briefly thus.
That they were both ſold for Mony, under pretence of Love, apprehended by their Enemies, led away bound, brought forth at a great Feaſt, blinded, (Chriſt was blindfolded) ſcorned, faſtned to a Poſt, offered themſelves willingly to death, died amongſt wicked men, and thereby deſtroyed the Power of the Churches Enemies.
And as there were many circumſtances in his Death, which did evidently prefigure what befel the Antitype: ſo let me deſire you to take notice of theſe three.
1. That it was voluntary: ſo Chriſt, no man taketh it from me, Joh. 10.18. I lay it down of my ſelf.
2. That it was by his Enemies, not a natural Death, but violent: ſo was Chriſts.
3. That he was victorious in his Death, he did ſuffer, and conquer, yea he conquered in and by his Sufferings: he ſlew more at his Death, than in his Life, Judg. 16.30.
So Chriſt by his Death gave the moſt deadly blow to Satans Kingdom, Col. 2. In his Death he ſpoiled Principalities and Powers. This propheſied of by Jacob, Gen. 49.16, 17, 18.
Sampſon was a Serpent, by the way to the Philiſtines in the Foxes, and in the Jaw-bone of an Aſs: and the Pillars of the Houſe are compared by ſome to the Heels of the Horſe whereupon three thouſand Philiſtines rode and fell backwards.
And I have waited for thy Salvation, ſaith Jacob, that is, for Chriſt, whom in the Spirit of Propheſie, he ſaw afar off.
And as Sampſon, when he was in Azzah, when the Philiſtines thought they had him ſure enough, he roſe at midnight, Judg. 16.3.
So when the Enemies thought they had Chriſt ſure enough, he aroſe in his might, carried away the Gates and Bars of Death, and broke the Bonds of it, Rom. 1.4. Acts 2.24.
2. David, that he was a Type appears by this, that Chriſt is called by his Name, Hoſ. 3.5. Ezek. 34.23, 24. My Servant David ſhall reign over them for evermore.
Sampſon began, David went on with the Work.
See the Analogy between David and Chriſt in theſe four particulars.
1. He was eminently ſitted for the Work, to rule, to feed Gods people Iſrael, though he was the meaneſt of his Family.
So Chriſt came when the Family was brought low into obſcurity.
David was eminent for Holineſs, a man after Gods own heart.
So Chriſt, holy, harmleſs and undefiled, ſeparate from Sinners.
A perſon of ſuch worth, that the Story of his Life is more fully and largely recorded in holy Writ, than any other perſon in all the Old Teſtament.
So Chriſt is the perſon treated of throughout the whole Scripture.
David beloved of God.
So Chriſt, Matth. 3. this is my beloved Son.
2. He had many Enemies both open and ſecret, Saul, Doeg and Achitophel, treacherous Dealers, Types of Judas, who dealt treacherouſly with him; and for open profeſſed Enemies, the Philiſtines, and the Ammonites, and the Syrians engaged by the Ammonites, ſee 2 Samuel 10.6. and 2 Samuel 8.
So had Jeſus Chriſt the Scribes and Phariſees, the Jews, the Romans, Men and Devils for his Enemies.
3. His Kingdom had but ſmall and weak beginnings; firſt a Shepherd, then an Officer in Sauls Army, then an Exile with a matter of ſix hundred men, afterward King over Judah and Benjamin at Hebron, laſtly King over all Iſrael at Jeruſalem.
So the Kingdom of Chriſt grows from ſmall beginnings; it is therefore compared to a grain of Muſtard Seed: It is at firſt like a River breaking forth at the Foot of a Mountain in a little Stream, that you may ſtride over it: but in its progreſs it enlargeth, and grows to a deep and broad River, and at laſt ends in the Ocean, as all Rivers do: ſo doth the Kingdom of Grace in the Ocean of eternal Glory.
4. Glorious Succeſſes, and Victories, and Deliverances, all his Enemies fell before him. He ſlew the Bear, the Lyon, Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.37. conquered all his Enemies round about, ſee 2 Sam. 8.12, 14.
Moreover, Saul and his bloody Houſe were rooted out before him: He never fell into his Enemies hands; though in this there is ſome diſſimilitude.
For Chriſt was content to yield up himſelf into their hands, to let them try their Strength, and do their worſt upon him; therefore he gave up himſelf to Death: But he roſe again from under the power of Death, and prevailed againſt them all; and after his Reſurrection Death hath no more dominion over him. All his Enemies ſhall fall and periſh ſooner or later; but he ſhall reign for ever and ever.
3. Solomon; I ſhall but mention a threefold Analogy between Chriſt and him.
1. In his perſonal Wiſdom, 1 Kings 4.29, 30.
So Chriſt, Col. 2.3. in him are hid all the treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg.
2. In the glorious Peace and Proſperity of his Kingdom: The Kingdom was peaceably ſetled in his hand, 1 Chron. 22.9. 1 King. 4.24, 25. And ſo he fell to the work of building the Temple: as Chriſt doth the Church; but of that hereafter, when we come to the real Types.
So Chriſt, Iſai. 9.6. he is the Prince of Peace, the great Peace-maker, Epheſ. 2.
3. In his Marriage with Pharaohs Daughter.
Some obſerve, that the Daughter of Pharaoh never ſeduced him; neither is there any mention made of the Egyptian Idols, 1 Kings 11.5, 7. In his other Outlandiſh Marriages he did ſin; but this is mentioned as by way of ſpecial exception, 1 King. 11.1.
He took others beſides Pharaohs Daughter. For ſhe was a Proſelyte, and ſo it was no ſin to marry her.
And the Love between her and Solomon is made a Type of the Love between Chriſt and the Church.
Chriſt hath took us Gentiles to be a Spouſe unto him, Pſal. 45.
Ʋſe 1. Reſolution of that great Caſe of Conſcience, whether you do belong to Chriſt or no.
Is his Kingdom ſet up in thee? art thou conflicting? art thou conquering?
Ʋſe 2. Comfort againſt the low and weak beginnings of Chriſts Kingdom. Sampſon did but begin to deliver Iſrael; but David carried the work through: But in Solomons time there was glorious Peace.
You ſee here, as in a Glaſs, the method and progreſs of Chriſts Kingdom: It begins in War, it is carried on in Victory, it ends in Peace.
Ʋſe 3. Here is Comfort and Support, as to all the Conflicts and Enemies that God is pleaſed to exerciſe his people with, whether particular Saints, or whole Churches.
1. They had ſo: Chriſt had ſo, ſecret as well as open Enemies, ſecret Underminers as well as open Oppoſers.
2. Theſe Conflicts will end in peace and quiet eſtabliſhment, Pſal. 37.37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright man, for the end of that man is peace.
This is the difference between Chriſts Peace and Satans Peace; for they both give Peace to their ſubjects.: But Satans Peace is a Peace of freedom from trouble, and of ſinful ſecurity in ſin.
Chriſts Peace is a Peace after and out of trouble, by War and Victory over Sin and ſpiritual Enemies, Iſai. 9.3. His Servants rejoyce as thoſe that divide the ſpoil after the Victory.
Queſt. But how may I know, that Peace will be the end of all my preſent Conflicts.
Anſw. Doſt thou get the Victory? then the end will be Peace. Are there any beginnings of Victory? whatever thou doſt, do not lay down thy Weapons, but fight ſtill, this is the beginning of Victory, and the end will be Triumph, and Peace, and Joy.