The Figures or Types of Christ, Typological category 11
THE GOSPEL OF THE OFFERINGS and SACRIFICES.
September 10. 1668.Lev. 7.37.
INtending at this time (my brethren) to wind up this Subject of the Legal Offerings and Sacrifices; I have therefore now reſumed this Text, from which you may remember two Doctrins have been formerly obſerved.
1. That there was a divine Inſtitution and command of God, for the Offerings and Sacrifices that were under the Law.
2. That there were ſix kinds or ſorts of propitiatory Sacrifices under the Law, namely, the Burnt-Offering, the Meat Offering, the Peace-Offering, the Sin-Offering, the Treſpaſs-Offering, and the Offering of Conſecrations, in Serm. 1. of Doct. 1. on this Text pag. 232, 233.
Doct. 2. That the propitiatory Sacrifices under the Law, may be referred to theſe ſix kinds or ſorts, viz. &c—
In the proſecution of this Doctrine, we have gone through many of the Offerings and Sacrifices of the old Law, in the way of Expoſition upon the former Chapters of this Book, to verſ. 7. of Cap. 6.
The five firſt ſort of Sacrifices have been ſpoken to at large.
As to the ſixth, the Offering of Conſecrations, there will be occaſion to ſpeak ſomething of it, when we come to the Prieſthood: neither is it handled at large in theſe firſt Chapters of Leviticus, but only ſome of the Laws of it briefly toucht upon; therefore I ſhall refer what I ſhall ſpeak of it, to that other place.
As to what remains of the 6. and 7. Chapters of this Book, they containing ſome additional Laws to the Offerings before treated of, they were ſpoken to under the Offerings to which they belong.
I ſhall therefore now proceed unto two or three Queſtions that remain to be conſidered, before we leave this point.
Queſt. 1. The firſt is, whether the legal Sacrifices may not be otherwiſe diſtributed, and what other diſtributions there be of them?
Anſ. The anſwer is, That the Scripture gives other diſtributions alſo, as well as this in the Text; but I choſe to handle them in this, as the plaineſt for weak memories.
They are ſometimes thus divided into Zebach and Mincha; that is, ſlaughtered Offerings and Meat-Offerings. Dan. 9.27. He ſhall cauſe the Sacrifice and Oblation to ceaſe. The word is, the Slaughter Offering and the Meat Offering to ceaſe; Zebach and Mincha, and in many other Scriptures.
The Meat Offerings, were of Inanimate things offered up to God by fire upon the Altar.
But the Slaughtered Offerings were of living Creatures, and theſe were offered up both by fire and blood, the Beaſt being firſt ſlain, and then burnt with fire.
Some have diſtinguiſhed theſe two, in reſpect of their ends and uſes, thus; That the ſlain Sacrifices reſpected chiefly the ſufferings, and paſſive obedience of Chriſt, as making ſatisfaction for our ſins, by his death and blood: and that the Meat-Offering related chiefly to his active obedience, whereby he fulfilled the Law for us, by his holy and bleſſed life, good works being as it were meat and drink to an holy heart.
In the Meat-Offering therefore (ſay they) was ſhadowed by the burning and aſcending of Inanimate things, the obedience and merits of Chriſt to come: but it is not to be reſtrained to his active obedience only; for the burning and deſtroying the Meat-Offering by fire, did plainly repreſent the ſufferings of Chriſt for the ſatisfaction of divine Juſtice, as was formerly ſhewed more fully in the Expoſition of the Meat Offering.
Moreover the ſlaughtered Offerings may be ſubdivided from their ends and uſes, thus: That they were either ſimply for atonement and pardon of ſin, or for other occaſions alſo.
Thoſe for atonement of ſin, were either for all ſins in general, or with ſpecial reſpect to ſome particulars.
For all ſins in general, was the Burnt-Offering, which therefore was offered every day. There was holocauſtum juge, for thoſe peccata jugia, a dayly Burnt-Offering for thoſe continual dayly ſins, and ſinfulneſs of our hearts and natures. Numb. 28.10. This is the Burnt-Offering of every Sabbath, beſides the continual Burnt-Offering, and its Drink Offering: which was offered every day at morning and at evening, ſaith the Geneva Note: of which Daniel ſaith of Antiochus, that by him the dayly Sacrifice was taken away. Dan. 8.11.
As to particular ſins, they being of two ſorts either leſſer or greater; there were two ſorts of Sacrifices provided for them. For ſins committed through ignorance and infirmity, the Sin-Offering: but the Treſpaſs-Offering, extended even to ſins committed againſt light and knowledg. Theſe were the Sacrifices meerly for atonement and expiation of ſin.
As to other occaſions alſo, there were two Sacrifices appointed and ordained of old.
1. As to aſſurance of peace, and of the love of God; the Peace-Offering, which was a Sacrifice both of atonement and of thankſgiving.
2. As to acceptance and entrance into Office in the Church, the Milluim, or the Offering of Conſecration, wherein, beſides atonement of ſin, this was ſuperadded, the Inveſtiture of the perſon into truſt and office in the houſe of God.
Queſt. 2. A ſecond Enquiry may be this; whether there were not other Sacrifices, beſides what are comprehended under theſe diſtributions.
Anſ. There were ſome others, but they were peculiar Sacrifices; theſe were the ordinary ſort of them.
As for the reſt, either they may be ſome way reduced and referred to ſome of theſe, or elſe they will come in and may be fitly handled in other places. As for Inſtance; the two Sparrows in the cleanſing of the Leper…, were a peculiar kind of Sacrifice, Lev. 14. And they will come in among the Laws and Ceremonies of Purification, when we ſpirit of ceremonial cleanneſs and uncleanneſs: ſo will alſo the Sacrifice of the red Heifer and the holy Water, or water of Purification made of the Aſhes, of that Sacrifice. Numb. 19.
The Paſchal Lamb alſo was a peculiar Sacrifice, but it will fitly come in to be handled in the Feaſt of the Paſſover, when we come to the Feſtivals: and there alſo the Sacrifices of the yearly Feaſt of Expiation, on the tenth day of the ſeventh month will come to be conſidered: one part whereof is the Scape Goat. Levit. 16. But the ordinary Sacrifices, were theſe that have been handled.
Queſt. 3. The third Quaere may be this; Theſe ſix here enumerated in the Text, being the ordinary ſorts of propitiatory Sacrifices; what other Sacrifices had they, beſides theſe of propitiation or atonement?
I anſwer as to that; when I entred firſt upon the Subject, you may remember I diſtributed the Offerings at the Brazen Altar into two ſorts: Holineſs of Holineſs, and Holineſs of Praiſes; or Sacrifices of Atonement, and of Thankſgiving.
You find this diſtinction of double Holineſs and ſingle Holineſs, in Lev. 21.22. he ſhall eat the Bread of his God, that is, of the Sacrifices, both of the moſt Holy, and of the Holy: ſo the Fruit of the Land after it was Circumciſed, is ſaid to be Holineſs of Praiſes to the Lord, Lev. 19.24. Quodeſh Hillulim, is contradiſtinguiſhed unto Quodeſh quodeſhim.
The former ſort of Sacrifices, namely thoſe that were Holy of Holineſſes for atonement, were made by fire: but the latter ſort, viz. ſuch as were meerly Sacrifices of Thankſgiving, or Holineſs of Praiſes, were not offered up to God in the fire, but by other Ceremonies.
Of theſe there were two ſorts, the Heave-Offering, and the Wave Offering; of both which we ſhall ſpeak a word briefly, both concerning the matter, the manner, and the ſignification of them.
The firſt mention we have of them, is in Exod. 29.24, 26, 27. in the Offering of Conſecration.
The Shoulder is an Heave Offering, and the Breſt a Wave-Offering. Again in Lev. 7. the right Shoulder and the Breſt, is reſerved out of all the Peace-Offerings for a Wave Offering, and an Heave-Offering to the Lord for the Prieſts, ſee verſ. 34.
Again in Lev. 23.10, 11. we read of a Wave-Sheaf of the Firſt Fruit of your Harveſt unto the Prieſt. And ye ſhall wave the Sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you. This was to be done the morrow after the Sabbath of the Paſſover, and fifty days after, at the Feaſt of Pentecoſt, they were to offer two Wave-Loaves, verſ. 17, 20.
Thus you ſee the matter of theſe Offerings.
The Rite and Ceremony with which they were offered, was Waveing and Heaveing, from whence they have their names of Wave-Offering and Heave-Offering.
Waveing, that is, moving it to and fro round about towards the Eaſt, Weſt, South, and North. Tenuphah agitatio, from the Verb Nuph, which in Hiphil is agitavit, ventilavit.
Heaveing, that is, lifting it up towards Heaven. Terumah, from Rum elevari, extolli.
Theſe were Geſtures (ſome may think) ſomewhat ſtrange, and hardly grave enough in the Worſhip of God.
But what was the myſtery and meaning of them?
You will find that clearly expreſſed, in Numb. 8.11. And Aaron ſhall offer the Levites before the Lord, for an Offering of the Children of Iſrael, that they may execute the ſervice of the Lord.
The Hebrew reads it (as your Margin tells you) thus, and Aaron ſhall wave the Levites befor the Lord for a Wave-Offering of the Children of Iſrael.
This then was the end and the meaning of theſe Geſtures, to preſent and dedicate the thing to the Lord, who, if he will have it done by ſuch or ſuch a Geſture, who, or what is vain man, that he ſhould controle or find fault with the unſearchable Wiſdom and ſovereign Authority of the Lord God Almighty.
Theſe words are uſed generally concerning all things given or dedicated to God; as Exod. 35.22. And every one that offered, offered an Offering of Gold unto the Lord Heniph Tenuphath, agitavit agitationem: he waved a Wave-Offering of Gold unto the Lord: even Land it ſelf, Ezek. 48.8, 9, 10, 20.
Perſons alſo are ſaid to be waved as a Wave-Offering, when dedicated to the Lord. Numb. 8.11.
For Wave, the Greek tranſlateth ſeparate; which word Paul uſeth, ſpeaking of his Deſignation to the Miniſtry. Rom. 1.1.
Some have obſerved ſomething more in theſe Geſtures, eſpecially that of waveing to and fro round about.
The original word is ſometimes uſed for ſifting in a Sieve, Iſai. 30.28. That ſignifies Tryals and Afflictions, Luk. 22.31. And ſo the Prophets apply this word unto Troubles, Iſai. 10.32. and 13.2. and 30.28.
The ſenſe then will amount to thus much, That the Saints and Miniſters are ſpiritual Prieſts, are conſecrated to the Lord through ſufferings. As it is ſaid of Chriſt the Captain of our Salvation, Heb. 2.10. ſo the Saints 2 Cor. 6.4, 10. As the Wave-Offering was toſt and waved to and fro, and thereby dedicated to the Lord.
There is ſome Controverſy upon theſe,Mede Diſc. 49. pag. 384. ſtarted by a learned man, and one of much Light in other things, however he miſt it in this, there being aliquid humanum in the beſt of men: and humanum eſt errare, no man but is ſubject to error and miſtakes.
The Queſtion is, whether they were Ceremonial and ceaſed, or Moral and Perpetual.
But the caſe is clear and eaſy concerning them both; both the Heave-Offerings and the Wave-Offerings, they were Ceremonial, and they are aboliſhed.
Object. They were not Types of Chriſt.
Anſ. If they were Types or legal adumbrations of Chriſtian duties, or of any of the Benefits of Chriſt, this ſufficeth, and is enough to make them Ceremonial, and conſequently aboliſhed. For the Types (as hath been often ſaid and proved, and muſt be now again repeated) do not relate only to the perſon of Chriſt, but to all Goſpel Truths and Myſteries.
Object. They might be eaten by others beſides the Prieſts, and in other places, not in the holy place only: therefore could not be typical, unleſs all the people and every Corner of the Land were typical.
Anſ. So might the Peace-Offerings in this Chapter, Lev. 7.15, 16. The Offerer had a ſhare in them, and yet they were Ceremonial, and not Moral.
Moreover, not only the Temple and the Prieſts there, but the whole Land of Canaan and the people of Iſrael, were a typical Land, and a typical people: and (as hath been formerly and ſhall be further ſhewed) all the Fruits of the Land had a typical Holineſs; the Firſt Fruits being virtually the whole, they were a typical dedication of the whole.
Object. The Scripture expreſly rejects other Sacrifices and Offerings, and doth not mention theſe.
Anſ. Yet theſe are included by a parity of reaſon; if the chief be rejected, much more the leſſer and inferior.
Object. But Chriſtians under the New Teſtament, are bound to give part of their ſubſtance to the Lord, and to his uſe and ſervice: therefore theſe are Moral.
Anſ. I anſwer, it follows not; for this is a moral duty to give part of our ſubſtance to the Lord: but yet the Heave-Offerings and Wave Offerings are ceaſed, that is, the Ceremony is ceaſed: but the ſubſtance or thing ſignified remains.
The formalis ratio of theſe Offerings, did not conſiſt (as ſome have thought) in prayer and thankſgiving: for there was prayer and thankſgiving in other Offerings alſo, as well as theſe, yea in all their Offerings.
Are they not commanded to lay their hands upon the Sacrifice of Atonement, by way of prayer and confeſſion? Cap. 1.4.
But the formalis ratio of this and other Offerings, doth conſiſt chiefly in the Ceremonies ordained to be uſed about them, which is a great part of that which diſtinguiſheth one Offering from another, as you have formerly heard: therefore if Waveing and Heaving be not to be uſed under the Goſpel, as ſacred and ſignificant Ceremonies in the preſenting and dedicating of our ſubſtance to the Lord, the Wave, and the Heave Offering are ceaſed.
But the Geſtures of waving and heaving are not to be uſed, as ſacred and ſignificant Ceremonies under the Goſpel: therefore the Wave and Heave Offering are ceaſed.
Ʋſe 1. Remember thoſe great Goſpel Myſteries which are the ſcope of all Sacrifices, which (as you have heard) are chiefly theſe two, Atonement and Thankſgiving.
1. Atonement and Reconciliation; this was the great Myſtery taught and held forth in all the propitiatory Sacrifices, that we are reconciled unto God, by the death and ſufferings of his Son: and that they had ſo great a multitude and variety of Sacrifices, plainly taught them two things.
1. The imperfection of all thoſe legal Sacrifices; it taught them to look beyond theſe, for a more perfect Sacrifice then any of theſe, which might ſerve once for all.
The Apoſtle expreſly ſpells out this Leſſon to us, from the multitude and iteration of the Sacrifices. Heb. 10.1, 2.
2. This great variety of Sacrifices, taught them alſo the various and manifold Benefits of Chriſt, and of his death and blood. Though Chriſt be one, and dyed once for all; yet the Benefits that come by him are many: no one thing alone was ſufficient to repreſent the fulneſs that is in Chriſt.
2. The ſecond great thing held forth by their legal Offerings, is Praiſe and Thankfulneſs: This was the intent of the holy Offerings, as Atonement was of the moſt Holy.
This was the meaning of the Heave-Offering and the Wave-Offering; a thankful frame of ſpirit, to dedicate and give up our ſelves unto the Lord, to be owning God, acknowledging and admiring God in every thing, receiving it as from his hand, and returning it to him again, by uſing it to his Glory.
Ʋſe 2. We ſee here the riſe, and withal the ſinfulneſs of divers of the Popiſh Superſtitions; they borrow many of them from the Jews, and from the Ceremonial Law.
As when they talk of a Sacrifice, a propitiatory Sacrifice in the Maſs for Quick and Dead: and ſo to call the Communion-Table an Altar.
It is true, we have an Altar and a Sacrifice under the Goſpel: but this Altar is the Deity of Jeſus Chriſt: this Sacrifice is the blood of Chriſt: this is the true Atonement between God and ſinners, whereof the blood of Bulls and Goats, was but a weak and low and ſhady repreſentation.
So the Prieſt his lifting up the Hoſt over his head, as if it were an Heave-Offering: and that late Abomination, that they muſt do it on the north ſide of the Communion Table or Altar, as they love to have it called.
To reintroduce theſe old legal Ceremonies, and to talk of literal Sacrifices under the Goſpel, is to dig Moſes out of his Grave, and to deny Jeſus Chriſt: there is more evil in ſuch things, then many do imagine or will believe.
Ʋſe 3. Exhortation to keep cloſe to the Command of God, in all the matters of his Worſhip. Conſider the 38 Verſe of this Chapter: This is the Law of the Burnt-Offering, and of the Meat-Offering, (and ſo of all the reſt of their Offerings) which the Lord commanded Moſes in Mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the Children of Iſrael to offer their Oblations to the Lord, in the Wilderneſs of Sinai.
The manner of Worſhip is under a Command, as well as the matter: the Mode of Worſhip hath a Law, which muſt be attended and obſerved and kept cloſe unto.
Let me preſs this Exhortation, that you would in all your Worſhip keep cloſe unto the Rule of the Word, with theſe four Motives.
1. It hath been the great deſign of Satan in all times and Ages, to defile and corrupt the Worſhip of God: if he cannot perſwade men to be downright Atheiſts, and to ſay, there is no God; he labours then to drive them into the other extream of Idolatry and Superſtition, and to impoſe upon them with an Image, with an Idol, in ſtead of God; and the hearts of men are like Tinder, to the fire of theſe temptations.
The Stratagem hath been I think, as ſucceſsful and as advantageous to the Devils Kingdom, as any that ever came into that Old Serpents head.
When, or how ſoon this deluſion came into the world, I need not here diſpute. Certain it is, it was very early; for we have expreſs mention made of it amongſt Abraham's Anceſtors, Joſh. 24.2. Now the Call of Abraham, was but four hundred twenty-ſeven years after the Flood, or thereabout; as you will find, if you compute and put together the Ages of thoſe ten Patriarchs, recorded Gen. 11, with Gen. 12.5. So that mankind having been cut down with a Flood but a little before, for Atheiſtical profaneneſs and wickedneſs; they were loſt again, and the whole world in a manner overwhelmed, and drowned (as it were) with another and worſer Deluge of Idolatry, within that ſhort ſpace of four hundred years or thereabouts: for unto that Period as I conceive, the Riſe of Idolatry muſt be referred. And what was the great ſin amongſt the Jews? Was it not this? And amongſt the old Heathens and Pagans, and amongſt the Papiſts, and other ſuperſtitious Chriſtians at this day? What is the great Deſign and Work of Chriſt in this Age, the work of this Generation, but to bring forth his Worſhip into purity, that the new Jeruſalem may come down from Heaven? This therefore Satan ſtudies chiefly to oppoſe, and ſo to countermine the Lord Jeſus in his great Work. And will you take part with him, and be on his ſide againſt the Lord?
2. It will be varniſhed over with fair colours and plauſible pretenſes; departing from the Will of God, revealed in his Word, in the matter of his Worſhip, hath ever been ſo. The Image that fell down from Jupiter, (cryed they Act. 19.35.) this was given out for that Epheſian Diana: ſo the Whore of Babylon, gives the Wine of her Fornication in a golden Cup. Rev. 17.4. And as the Light increaſeth: ſo the Crafts and Methods of Satan are more refined, and more ſubtile and ſpiritual. In the firſt times of the New Teſtament, he did appear almoſt like himſelf in the ſhape of a great Red Dragon in the Roman Pagan Emperors: but when Michael and his Angels overcame and overthrew him in this appearance, Rev. 12. Then he puts on a new Vizard, and appears in another ſhape of two wild Beaſts, Rev. 13. but ſtill purſues the ſame deſign, though under new pretences, and by other Inſtruments, viz. by the Church and Pope of Rome. For he hath made it his buſineſs ever ſince the time of Conſtantine the Great, to revive the old Heatheniſh Idolatry under other names, that the world might not be ſaid Idola relinquere, but ſimulacra mutaſſe; that whereas before they worſhipped the Devil under the names of Jupiter, Diana and Apollo, &c. now they commit the ſame Idolatry, and worſhip the ſame Devil ſtill; but under the names of popiſh Saints. Now it is not Jupiter and Diana any more, but St. Francis, and St. Becket, and the Vicar of Chriſt, and the holy Catholick Church of Rome; thus doth that Harlot paint her face: ſo the prelatick Superſtitions at this day, thoſe Reliques of Popery are painted over with thoſe glozing pretences of Antiquity, Fathers, Councils, Order, Decency, Edification, the Peace of the Church, and ſuch like.
3. If once you leave the Rule of the Word, the will of God revealed there, and begin in a way of Superſtition, you will never know where to ſtop or ſtay, nor where to make an end; but you will multiply your Idols, and increaſe your Idolatries, and grow worſe and worſe.
As in thoſe ſenſual luſts of drunkenneſs and uncleanneſs, the poor Creature ſaith, I will ſeek it yet again: ſo in theſe ſpiritual luſts they are unſatiable, Ezek. 16.28. becauſe thou waſt unſatiable. It is an endleſs ſin.
If you do but wear a Surplice for peace ſake, why not as well admit the Sign of the Croſs in Baptiſme, or bow to an Altar? And then within a little while, the ſame reaſon is as ſtrong for bowing to an Image, to a Crucifix; and why not as well ſay Maſs too, for the peace of the Church? And then at laſt, ſwallow down every thing, ſubmit your Conſciences to the Pope, worſhip the Beaſt, and ſo be damned and go to Hell, and all for the peace of the Church. O there is no end here, but like a man that is tumbling down a ſteep Hill, that cannot ſtop till he come to the bottom.
Popery came in by degrees; the firſt four Trumpets made way for the perfection of that Apoſtaſie that came in by the fifth.
Among the Idolatrous Kings of Iſrael, thoſe in ſucceeding times were worſe then their wicked Predeceſſors.
Jeroboam was bad enough; but he only ſets up the two Calves at Dan and Bethel: but Omri went beyond him, for it is ſaid, he did worſe then all that went before him. 1 King. 16.25. We read of the Statutes of Omri. Mic. 6.16. Idolatrous and perſecuting Laws. But his Son Ahab was worſe then he. For, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the ſins of Jeroboam, he did ſet up the Worſhip of Baal, and did more to provoke the God of Iſrael to anger, then all the Kings of Iſrael that went before him. 1 King. 16.31, 32, 33. So that you ſee it is an increaſing and an endleſs ſin.
4. All the honour men do, or think they do to God by worſhip of their own invention, doth redound indeed, and in truth to the honour of the Devil, which is a fearful thing to conſider.
Superſtition is a ſin directly againſt the means of worſhip; but it is ultimately againſt the Object of worſhip. Strange worſhip ſets up a ſtrange God:Ames Med. Theol. lib. 2. cap. 13. Theſ. 14, 15, 42. for it neceſſarily ſuppoſeth and feigneth to it ſelf, ſuch an Object of worſhip as is well pleaſed with ſuch manner of worſhip, as Superſtition offers up: and to whoſe will ſoever we ſubmit our Conſciences, as the Rule of our religious worſhip, him we ſet up as our God. Though it be not ſo in mens intentions; yet it is ſo indeed, and in Gods Interpretation. The Lord ſo interprets falſe worſhip, that a new God is deviſed for the Object of it: ſo of the Heatheniſh Idolatry, the things which the Gentiles ſacrifice, they ſacrifice to Devils, and not to God. 1 Cor. 10.20. And ſo the Lord interprets the Jewiſh Idolatry; Jeroboam ordained Prieſts for the Devils which he had made. 2 Chron. 11.15. Lev. 17.7. Deut. 32.17.
And he puts the ſame conſtruction upon the Popiſh Idolatry, they repented not of worſhipping Devils. Rev. 9.20. And their Factors and Emiſſaries are called Spirits of Devils. Rev. 16.14. they think they worſhip St. Peter and the Virgin Mary, yea God himſelf and Jeſus Chriſt; but it is indeed and in Gods account, the Devil whom they worſhip.
It is true, you cannot honour God too much, his Name is above and beyond all praiſe: but you may miſtake and honour the Devil, when you think you honour God. A fearful miſtake indeed it is; but yet it is that which all thoſe fall into, who in their worſhip, depart from the will of God revealed in his Word, and turn aſide to any of the Inventions of men.