The Figures or Types of Christ, Typological category 30
THE GOSPEL of the MINISTRATIONS of the LEGAL MINISTRY.
Feb. 28. 1668. Morning and Afternoon.Numb. chap. 18.
THere were three ſorts of Officers in the old Legal Miniſtry. 1. The Prieſts. 2. The Levites. 3. The Nethinims. Of the Prieſts you have heard four things propounded. 1. The ſpecial Rites and Qualifications of that Order of Prieſthood. 2. Their Prieſtly Apparrel. 3. Their Conſecration. 4. Their Prieſtly Miniſtrations in the Houſe of God. This laſt remains to be ſpoken to; for which this Chapter may be the Text and foundation of our Diſcourſe.
The Chapter conſiſts of two parts. 1. The Work of the Prieſts and Levites. 2. Their Maintenance.
1. Their Work and Office to ver. 8. The ſeveral Work of the Prieſts and of the Levites is here exactly diſtinguiſhed, their ſeveral Offices bounded and diſterminated by the Soveraign Wiſdom and Authority of God, ſetting each their limits, which they might not on higheſt penalties tranſgreſs and violate. The charge of the Sanctuary and the Altar, with the things appertaining thereunto, was committed to the Prieſts: the charge of the Tabernacle to the Levites, ver. 7.
1. For the Prieſts, their work was the charge of the Sanctuary and the Altar, and the holy Veſſels and Services thereof. Theſe they muſt look to, and of theſe God would require and expect an account at their hands. And the Lord ſaid unto Aaron, thou and thy Sons, and thy Fathers Houſe with thee ſhall bear the iniquity of the Sanctuary, and of your Prieſthood, ver. 1. that is, the guilt and puniſhment of whatever is done amiſs in theſe matters. The Stranger that cometh nigh ſhall be put to death, ver. 7. the Stranger here is not meant of other People and Nations only, as in other places; but any other Family beſide the Family of Aaron, the reſt of Iſrael, yea the Levites themſelves were Strangers in this ſenſe.
There are many particulars compriſed under this general head, of the Charge of the Altar and Sanctuary; in each of which I ſhall but briefly ſhew, how they had an eye to Jeſus Chriſt the Prieſt and Miniſter of the true Sanctuary.
1. Firſt then, this includes the holy Veſſels, and all the hallowed things thereof, ver. 7. ſo Numb. 4.5-15. and ver. 16. In like manner hath God committed the whole Church of God, and all the myſteries of our Salvation to the truſt, and care, and charge of Jeſus Chriſt; for the Tabernacle is the Church. All the concernments of his people, all their Graces, and Duties, and Comforts meet in him, and are under his ſpecial care and truſt: therefore they are ſaid to be given to him by the Father. Joh. 3.35.
2. The offering Sacrifice, and ordering that whole matter is here alſo plainly included, as being part of the Charge of the Altar; the Prieſt was to kill and dreſs the Sacrifices, and ſprinkle the Blood thereof, and to manage and diſpoſe of that whole affair, Lev. 1.5. and he, that is the Prieſt, ſhall kill the Bullock before the Lord; and the Prieſts, the Sons of Aaron, ſhall ſprinkle the Blood, &c. Heb. 5.1. Every High Prieſt taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both Gifts and Sacrifices for Sins: and the ſame Apoſtle applies it expreſly to Jeſus Chriſt, Heb. 8.3. For every High Prieſt is ordained to offer Gifts and Sacrifices. wherefore it is of neceſſity, that this man, that is, Chriſt, have ſomewhat alſo to offer, that is, himſelf, his own bleſſed Body and Humane nature. This is the Sacrifice he offered. And ſo he himſelf was both the Sacrifice and the Prieſt; the Prieſt in regard of both his Natures, and the Sacrifice in regard of his human nature; ſee Heb. 10.10, 11, 12. No other can offer any expiatory Sacrifice to make atonement with the Lord, but only he— He trod the Wine-preſs alone in this reſpect, and of the people there was none with him, as Iſai. 63.3.
3. The Prieſts were to light the ſeven ſacred Lamps of the golden Candleſtick, Exod. 27.20, 21. Lev. 24.2, 3. This ſhadows forth Chriſt the true Light, Joh. 1.9. ſhining forth and enlightening his Church by his Spirit in the Miniſtry of the Word: For the Golden Candleſticks are the Churches; the ſeven Stars, or Lights in the tops of the Candleſticks, are the Angels or Miniſters of the Churches, Rev. 1.20. yet the Miniſtry conſidered barely in it ſelf doth not enlighten, but as illuminated by the Spirit. Rev. 4.5.
4. The Prieſt was to burn ſweet Incenſe upon the Golden Altar when he dreſſed the Lamps, Exod. 30.7, 8. this is Prayer and Interceſſion, and this is Chriſts work: he prays, and he perfumes the Prayers of his people with the ſweet Incenſe of his own Merits and Mediation: and as they are daily praying; ſo Chriſt is daily interceding for them. Rev. 8.3, 4.
5. The Prieſt was to ſet the Shew-bread upon the Golden Table before the Lord every Sabbath, Lev. 24.8. Every Sabbath ſhall he ſet it in order before the Lord continually: ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt preſent, and ſet the whole number of his Elect before the Lord continually, as the Shew-bread upon the Table, where his favourable Eye and Face is always upon them.
6. The Prieſt was to bleſs the people in the name of the Lord: and well he might; for bleſſed indeed are ſuch a people, who have ſuch an Altar and Sanctuary, and ſuch a Sacrifice offered for them; amongſt whom the Lamp of God ſhines, whoſe Prayers aſcend and come up before him, as Incenſe upon the Golden Altar out of the hand of the true High Prieſt, the Angel of the Covenant, and who ſtand before the Face of God, and under the Eye and Care of God continually, Numb. 6.23. and ſo on to the end; and accordingly they did ſo, when they had performed their other Miniſtrations, Lev. 9.22, 23. and God ratified it. For the Glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people: ſo 2 Chron. 30.27. Then the Prieſts the Levites aroſe and bleſſed the people: and their voice was heard, and their Prayer came up to his dwelling place, even unto Heaven: ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt bleſs his people, Luke 24.50. and that moſt really and effectually, Acts 3.26. Theſe were the Prieſtly Miniſtrations.
Objct. But now it may be demanded, wherein then differed the High Prieſt from the other ordinary Prieſts, theſe Miniſtrations belonging to them, as well as him?
Anſw. There were three things peculiar to the High Prieſt, wherein he was advanced by God above his Brethren.
1. He had a ſuperiority of ſpiritual Power and Juriſdiction over all the Miniſters of the Sanctuary, both the Prieſts and Levites, Numb. 4.19. alſo ver. 27. ſee Deut. 17.12. and ſo Aaron was the Archbiſhop, or Primate as it were, to overſee and order all: ſo is Jeſus Chriſt in the Church of God; He is the foreign. 1 Pet. 5.4. And when the chief Shepherd ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away. He only is the chief Shepherd.
2. The High Prieſt was clothed with peculiar Garments of Glory and Beauty, Exod 28. The inferior Prieſts, the Sons of Aaron, had but four Prieſtly Garments; Linnen Drawers, and Coats, and Girdles, and Bonnets, Exod. 28.40. but Aaron the High Prieſt had a Breſt-plate, and an Ephod, a Robe, a broydered Coat, a Mitre, and a Girdle, with the Urim and Thummim, and precious Stones in his Breſt-plate, and on the ſhoulders of his Ephod, and a Crown or Plate of Gold upon his Mitre, Exod. 28. ver. 4. and ſo is Jeſus Chriſt fairer then the Sons of men, more beautiful then any other, Pſal. 45.2.
3. The third Prerogative of the High Prieſt was in his glorious Miniſtration upon the great day of atonement, when he went into the holieſt of all, to make atonement there before the Lord, Lev. 16. which none but he might do. Thus Jeſus Chriſt is entred not into the holy places made with hands, which are the Figures of the true; but into Heaven it ſelf, now to appear in the preſence of God for us, Hebr. 9.24. Neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves; but by his own Blood he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemption for us, ibid. ver. 12.
Here note, as a Corollary, the wickedneſs of the Biſhop of Rome, who calls himſelf the High Prieſt amongſt Chriſtians, as Aaron was amongſt the Jews. His judaizing antichriſtian wickedneſs. And all other ſuch Archbiſhops and Primates and Prelates fall under the ſame condemnation; who differ not ſpecie, but only grad…, not in kind, but only in degree, from the Uſurpations of that Man of Sin.
I know no other High Prieſt, no other Archbiſhop, or chief Shepherd of our Souls under the Goſpel, but only Jeſus Chriſt. Some thus underſtand that of Paul, Acts 23.5. I wiſt not that he was the High Prieſt, I acknowledg not that there is an High Prieſt. Vide Beza in 1 Pet. 5.4.
Againſt this Primacy which the Pope uſurps, conſider,
1. The High Prieſt in this preeminence above his Brethren was an expreſs Type of Jeſus Chriſt; of whom it is ſaid, that he was the firſt-born among many Brethren, Rom. 8.29.
2. This Eccleſiaſtical preeminence amongſt Miniſters is expreſly forbidden under the Goſpel. How often doth Chriſt reprove his Diſciples for it; for ſtriving who ſhould be chiefeſt, Matth. 18.1, 2, 3, 4. and Matth. 23.8, 10, 11. and Matth. 20.25. and Luke 22.24, 25, 26. And it is the brand ſet upon Diotrephes, 3 Joh. ver. 9. that he did foreign, that he affected the Primacy.
3. Thô the Prieſts Power was eccleſiaſtical; yet the Pope exerciſes a temporal power; and this, not as a Commiſſioner from & under the Civil Magiſtrate, but diſtinct from the Civil Magiſtrate, and without dependance on him, yea indeed ſuperior to him: and ſo do the inferior Prelates too, not only a Civil power derived from the King, as other Barons of the Realm, or Juſtices of the Peace, or the like civil Dignities; but they make the Clergy a Fountain of Power to themſelves, even of temporal Power, (wherein they intrench upon the Prerogative and juſt Rights of the Civil Magiſtrate) as well as of Eccleſiaſtical Power, having never received any ſuch Primacy of Office from Jeſus Chriſt, but uſurping it to themſelves: and ſo they do intrench both upon God and the King, ſhewing themſelves therein to be the true and natural Children of their Father the Pope, the great Antichriſt of Rome. But you ſee how remote this is from the Spirit of the Goſpel, and that it is indeed a Judaizing, for Miniſters to aſſume a diſparity & ſuperiority of Power, and Eccleſiaſtical or Spiritual Juriſdiction over other Miniſters. So much of the Prieſts, and of their Prieſtly Work and Miniſtrations.
2. The ſecond ſort of Temple Officers were the Levites, of whom four things are worthy to be conſidered.
1. Who they were; they were the whole Tribe of Levi, excepting only Aarons Poſterity, who were preferred to an higher Office of Prieſthood; yet they were Levites, but all Levites were not Prieſts. The Prieſts were Levites in regard of their Birth and Extraction out of that Tibe; but they were not Levites in regard of their Office: nor were the Levites Prieſts.
2. The occaſion of their Separation to this Office. And there are two or three occaſions of it noted.
1. The Lords paſſing by the firſt-born of Iſrael, when he ſlew the firſt-born of Egypt, Exod. 13.2. on which occaſion the Lord challenged the firſt-born to himſelf, and required they ſhould be ſanctified to him. But afterwards the Lord was pleaſed to take the Levites from amongſt the Children of Iſrael, inſtead of all the firſt-born. See Numb. 3.11, 12, 13. Therefore the Levites ſhall be mine, ſaith God, becauſe all the firſt-born are mine.
2. The Faithfulneſs of the Levites in a time of great Apoſtacy and temptation; the Story whereof you have in Exod. 32.28, 29. and it is afterwards remembred by Moſes before the Lord in his bleſſing of them. Deut. 33.9.
3. The later Rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, with the lamentations, and ſelf-condemning complaints of the people upon that occaſion. Compare cap. 17. of Numbers, the two laſt verſes, with the firſt verſes of this 18th chapter. That Complaint of the people; Behold we dye, we periſh, we all periſh, is an earneſt deprecation of the danger: for they were under the ſenſe of the dread and Majeſty of the dreadful preſence of God in his Tabernacle, and thereupon they thus ſpake.
From all which we may obſerve, that ſuch as God cals to any Work and Office, he doth uſually give many viſible intimations of it: he doth deſign and prepare them to it by many fore-running Providences.
3. The Rites and manner of their Separation and Conſecration to their Office. This is recorded and declared at large in Numb. 8. where you will find it was, by ſprinkling them with Water, by ſhaving their Hair, by waſhing their Clothes, and by offering Sacrifices for them. And laſtly by the Children of Iſraels laying their hands upon them. But I ſhall not ſpeak to theſe things, though it would be worth the while; Becauſe there hath been occaſion to ſpeak to ſundry of theſe Rites in other places formerly.
4. Their Work and Office which they were thus ſeparated and ſet apart unto, which was in general to be adjoyned, as ſubordinate Miniſters to the Prieſts, in the outer Services and Miniſtrations of the Temple: ſo here, ver. 2. that they may be joyned unto thee: alluding to the name of Levi, which bears that ſignification, though the name was given upon another occaſion. I ſay [outer] becauſe they are excluded from the Miniſtrations of the Sanctuary and the Altar, ver. 3.
Their Work might be diſtinguiſhed into Synagogue-work and Temple-work; into temporary, or occaſional, and ſtanding work. But I ſhall put all together in ſeven heads.
1. They were to bear the Tabernacle, and all the holy Veſſels, Numb. 4.15. ſo Chriſt ſupports and bears the Church: but this work was but temporary and occaſional, while the Tabernacle was in that ambulatory poſture; but when the flitting moving Tabernacle was changed into a fixed Temple, then this part of their Miniſtration was at an end.
2. The Levites were to aſſiſt the Prieſts in offering Sacrifices, 1 Chron. 23.28-31. 2 Chron. 29.34. and 2 Chron. 30.16. to burne them on the Altar, and ſprinkle the Blood, was peculiar to the Prieſts: but the Levites might help in killing them, and other preparatory Adminiſtrations.
As to the Goſpel of this, you know the true Sacrifice is Chriſt, and he is the Prieſt and the Levite too; he did all himſelf alone without any … aſſiſtance.
3. The Levites were to teach the people in the Law of the Lord: therefore ſcattered and diſperſed in their habitations up and down among them, Deut. 33.10. they ſhall teach Iſrael thy Law— Mal. 2. ver. 7. the Prieſts Lips ſhould keep Knowledge, and and they ſhould ſeek the Law at his Mouth, for he is the Meſſenger of the Lord of Hoſts. 2 Chron. 17.7, 8, 9. Jehoſophat ſent Levites to teach. It is the Magiſtrates duty to provide for the teaching and inſtructing of his Subjects in the good knowledge of the Lord. This Chriſt doth, and this Goſpel-Miniſters alſo do; they ſhould teach the people, what the Lord hath taught them.
4. They were to judge of Cauſes, and to determine Controverſies among the people, Deut. 17.8, 9-12. the ſupream Judgment lying in the High Prieſt, ver. 11. Amaziah the Prieſt in thoſe things which belong to God ſhall preſide. 2 Chron. 19.8, 10. ſo there is ſpiritual Judgment of Diſcipline in the Church under the Goſpel, Ezek. 44.23, 24. 1 Cor. 5.12.
5. They were to ſing the Songs of the Temple. That buſineſs of the Temple-Muſick was committed to them, partly, as to the Pſalteries, Harps and Viols, though the Prieſts were to ſound the Trumpets, 1 Chron. 15.16, 17. 2 Chron. 5.12, 13. That which anſwers this, is the inward melody of the Joys and Graces of Gods Spirit.
6. Others of them were Treaſurers, 1 Chron. 26.20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28. there is a Treaſure alſo in the Church of the New Teſtament, for which the Lord hath appointed Deacons whom he hath intruſted with it.
7. Others were Porters to keep and watch the Gates of the Houſe of the Lord, which they did both by day, to keep back unclean perſons that they might nor enter into the Temple: ſo we find in Jehoiada's time, 2 Chron. 23.19— Ezek. 22.26. and Ezek. 44.7, 8. and by night, Pſal. 134.1. Theſe ſeem to have been, as the Prieſts and Singers were, divided into four and twenty courſes, 1 Chron. 23.4, 5, 6. 2 Chron. 8.14. ſo the Gates of the Goſpel-Churches ſhould be kept and guarded, that enemies and unclean perſons may not enter in, Rev. 21.27.
3. The third ſort of Temple-Officers were the Nethinims or Gibeonites, Joſh. 9. for the ſervile work of the Temple, ver. 21, 23, 27. And Joſhua gave them that day to be Hewers of Wood, and Drawers of Water, for the Congregation, and for the Altar of the Lord. Hence they are called Nethinims, from Nathan, dedit. They were afterwards methodized by David for the Temple-ſervice, Ezra 8.20. and had Lodgings neer the Temple, Nehem. 3.26. though their dwellings were in their own Towns and Cities, Nehem. 7.73. the Nethenims dwelt in their Cities.
Their coming to the Iſraelites was to ſave their own Lives, a lawful end; but the means they uſed was very evil: for they came with a Ly in their mouths, as you all know the Story, Joſh. 9. And as their means was bad: ſo the motive was but low; for they were under a legal work of fear and terror, and under guilt and guile of Spirit, as indeed guilt is uſually accompanied with guile and deceitfulneſs of heart. Yet out of this legal principle, this legal fear and terror, they came to make their peace, I may call it in a ſenſe, their peace with God; for it was with the people of God, with the people of the true God: and God by his Providence did ſo order it, that their Lives were preſerved; and not only ſo, but they were devoted, though in a very low and mean way, to the Service of the Tabernacle of the true and living God. Joſhua and the Princes (as ſome alledge) might have baniſhed them, being engaged by their Oath no further, but to the ſaving of their Lives: but they ſuffered them ſtill to dwell in the Land, and devoted them as the firſt Fruits of the Slaves or Servants to the Lord. Their work was to provide and bring in Water to the Lavers and molten Sea, and to provide Wood for the Fire of the Altar of Burnt-offering. The time when they did this their ſervice, ſeems to have been early in the morning, and late at night; before the Morning Sacrifice, which was at nine a clock in the morning, and after the Evening Sacrifice, which was not till three a clock in the afternoon. But by this means having ſuch acceſs into the Courts of the Temple, they came to ſee and know ſomething of the Worſhip of the true God. And, as David ſaith, Pſal. 84.10. better be a Door-keeper in the Houſe of God, then to dwell in the Tents of wickedneſs; better be but a Gibeonite to the Worſhip of the true God, then the High Prieſt of Baal or Apollo.
Theſe Gibeonites, or Nethinims, were ſo incorporated into the Commonwealth of Iſrael, that as they were carried away to Babylon with the reſt of Gods people, ſo they returned with them, and accordingly are ſeveral times mentioned in Ezra and Nehemiah.
This we may learn from the whole Hiſtory of them; that it is much better for men to ſeek after God, though they do it meerly out of legal fear and terror, as theſe poor creatures did, then wholly to neglect him. The Lord in the bringing home of his Elect, uſually begins with legal works, and then by degrees carries it on further in ſuch as belong to the Election of his Grace.
And now you have ſeen the ſeveral kinds of theſe Temple-Officers. The next thing to be ſpoken to, is their Maintenance. For you may ask,
Queſt. How was all this large and numerous Hierarchy of Temple-Officers maintained?
Anſw. There was a large and plentiful proviſion made for them, which is the ſecond part of this Chapter, from ver. 8. to the end; no leſs then five and twenty verſes are employed upon this, beſide which, if you will have a full account of it, we muſt borrow Light from other Scriptures. Their Maintenance conſiſted chiefly in theſe eight particulars, the three firſt whereof are mentioned in this Chapter.
1. All the Offerings and Sacrifices that were given to the Lord, the Lord gave part thereof to theſe his Miniſters: ſo here, ver. 9, &c. Hence the Apoſtle ſaith, Do ye not know, that they that wait at the Altar, are partakers with the Altar, and they which miniſter about holy things, live of the things of the Temple. 1 Cor. 9.13. The Meat-offerings, Sin-offerings, Treſpaſs-offerings, Heave-offerings, Wave-offerings were theirs, the right Shoulder, and the Wave-breſt was theirs, the two Cheeks and the Maw, Deut. 18.3. and in the Burnt-offerings the Skin.
2. They had the firſt Fruits of all things, and that of the beſt: ſo here in Numb. 18. ver. 12, 13, 15, 16, 17. of Corn, Oyl, Wine, of men and Beaſts, whereof men, the firſt-born of men, and of beaſts that were not clean for Sacrifice, were redeemed with mony, five ſhekels a head, Deut. 18.4. and they had three ſorts of firſt Fruits. 1. Of the firſt ripe Ears of Corn offered at the Paſſover, which was Barly; becauſe that was firſt ripe in that Country, Lev. 23.10. Lev. 2.14. 2. Firſt Fruits of Bread at Pentecoſt, and this of Wheat, which was then ripe, Lev. 23.15. 3. Firſt Fruits of all the other Fruits of the Earth, of which Numb. 18.13. Deut. 18.4. and Deut. 16.2.
3. They had the tenths of all the Increaſe of the Land, ver. 20, &c. the tenth of which tenth went to the Prieſts, ver. 26.
4. They had Gleab-lands, forty eight Cities with their Suburbs, for themſelves, and their Cattel. The Inſtitution whereof is in Numb. 35. the eight firſt verſes. The Performance is recorded in Joſh. 21. throughout the Chapter, whereof thirteen were given to the Prieſts, the reſt to the Levites, ſix of them were Cities of Refuge.
5. They had voluntary Preſents and Contributions at the three ſolemn Feaſts, Deut. 16.16, 17.
6. They had Poll-mony, of a half ſhekel at every general Muſter of the people, and of the third part of a ſhekel yearly. Of the former you have the Ordinance, Exod. 30.12-16. it is there ſaid to be for the Service of the Tabernacle; which ſhews that the Levites had it, though withall the Lord there puts another reſpect alſo upon it. The ordaining of the latter you find, Nehem. 10.32.
7. The Reſtitution-mony for Treſpaſſes and Injuries, often fell into their hands; which was the principal, with a fifth part ſuperadded, Numb. 5.8.
8. They had a priviledge of exemption from all publick Taxes and Aſſeſſments, that were laid on others, granted them by Artaxerxes, Ezr. 7.24.
All which put together amounts to a very large and ample Maintenance. Some have obſerved, that though the Levites were not equal in number to the one and fortieth part of the people; yet their Revenue and yearly Income was above four times as much, as fell to the lot of the richeſt Tribe in all the Land of Canaan; and that the Temple, and theſe ſacred Officers of it, had above a third part of the Income of the whole Land.
The Inſtruction which the Apoſtle teacheth us out of all this, is the Maintenance of Goſpel-Miniſters. He diſputes the point at large, 1 Cor. 9. as from arguments of all ſorts, ſo from the equity and reaſon of this old Temple-ordinance.
Object. But what neceſſity is there that Miniſters ſhould be maintained by others? For, can they not follow ſome other honeſt Calling, and yet preach too?
Anſw. For a man to follow another Calling, and yet to be a conſtant Preacher, is neither lawful, nor poſſible ordinarily.
1. It is not lawful; becauſe it is the Ordinance and Appointment of Jeſus Chriſt, that the Miniſtry ſhould be a particular Calling; that is, that Miniſters ſhould employ their whole time upon it, 1 Tim. 4.13, 14, 15. Be thou wholly in them, give thy ſelf to reading, &c. To think otherwiſe, argues a ſecret contempt of this Calling; and blindneſs of heart concerning the nature of it. Is it ſuch a ſmall thing in your eyes to preach the Goſpel? that this muſt be done as a foreign, as a work upon the by, which is of ſo great weight and concernment, that it requires the whole man, and the utmoſt improvement of all his abilities, and of all his time and talents for the right diſcharging of it.
2. As it is not lawful, ſo it is not poſſible ordinarily: as no man may preach conſtantly, ſo no man can preach conſtantly, that follows another Calling.
Object. But they may, by the immediate aſſiſtance of the Spirit, ſay ſome.
Anſw. I anſwer, the Spirit of God doth not give any ſuch immediate aſſiſtance in theſe times: and therefore it is preſumption to expect it. I ſay, it is not Faith, but preſumption to expect it: for Apoſtolical Gifts are ceaſed. A Miniſter that is called to that work, and is diligent in reading and meditation, and in Prayer to God, may expect aſſiſtance from the Spirit in this way: for God hath promiſed it. But he cannot expect it in the way of immediate Revelation, becauſe there is no ſuch promiſe. Now then, ſeeing God hath ordained, that the Miniſtry be a particular Calling, ſo that it is not lawful for men that follow their Callings, to take upon them to be conſtant Preachers: and it is not lawful for one that is a conſtant Preacher to follow another Calling. It follows, that Miniſters either muſt be maintained, or elſe they muſt ſtarve.
Queſt. There is alſo another Queſtion concerning the way and manner of Maintenance, whether it may be in any of theſe ways that were uſed under the Law, or whether they be not all ceaſed and aboliſhed.
Anſw. To this the Anſwer is eaſie; that ſeeing the Maintenance of the Prieſts and Levites under the Law, was raiſed all manner of ways; the Maintenance of Goſpel-Miniſters muſt be in ſome of theſe, or there can be no Maintenance at all. For if Miniſters do receive Maintenance by the Free-will-offerings and voluntary Contributions of the people: ſo did the Levites under the Law. If Miniſters have Houſes to dwell in provided for them, the Legal Miniſtry had ſo too: If Miniſters have it by the Edict of the ſupream Magiſtrate, ſo had the Levites too, Ezr. 7.24. If Miniſters have their Maintenance ſetled by Law, by the conſent of the people, as by Act of Parliament. This way was uſed under the Law likewiſe, Joſh. 21.1, 3. Nehem. 10.32. If Miniſters under the Goſpel receive Tythes, ſo did they alſo under the Law: only concerning Tythes it's obſervable, that the moſt of the other ways were not uſed till firſt inſtituted under the Law; yet Tythes were paid long before, as a Due to God, and to his uſe, long before the Aaronical Prieſthood, or Levitical Miniſtry was inſtituted and appointed: For Abraham paid Tythes to Melchizedek, Gen. 14.20. and Jacob, Gen. 28.22. reſolves, of all that thou ſhalt give me, I will ſurely give the tenth unto thee.
Such ways and parts of their Maintenance, as were inſeparable appendants to the Types, as their parts of the Sacrifices, muſt needs be ceaſed, becauſe there are no ſuch Sacrifices under the Goſpel. But for the other ways of Maintenance, which were not of ſuch a nature, they may be lawful ſtill, for ought I know to the contrary. Thus I have gone through the Temple-Officers, both their kinds and their Maintenance.
And now to wind up all, I ſhall but briefly recapitulate and gather up the heads of things, and ſo conclude.
All theſe old legal Types and Shadows may be ranged into theſe ſeven Claſſes, or general heads.
1 Perſonal Types, ſundry individual perſons before the Law, ſuch as Adam, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, and Joſeph.
There were divers alſo under the Law, ſuch as Moſes and Joſhua, Sampſon, David and Solomon, Elijah, Eliſha and Jonah, Zerubbabel and Jehoſhuah.
And beſides theſe individual perſons that were Types, there were alſo typical Ranks and Religious Orders of men under the Law, ſuch as their Nazarites, their Prophets, Prieſts and Kings.
All theſe were perſonal Types, and this is the firſt Claſſis.
2. Occaſional Types, ſuch things as Jacobs Ladder, Moſes his burning Buſh, the Pillar of Cloud and Fire, Manna, and Water out of the Rock, the Brazen Serpent, the Pool of Betheſda.
And beſide ſuch typical things, there were typical actions and diſpenſations of Providence, as their deliverance out of Egypt, their paſſing thorough the red Sea, and thorough the Wilderneſs, and thorough Jordan, and poſſeſſing the Land of Canaan, and their Captivity and Deliverance out of Babylon.
And there were not only ſuch typical Mercies and Deliverances, but typical Vengeance and Deſtruction upon Enemies, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt, Jericho, Babylon, Edom, were Types of Rome and Hell.
This is the ſecond general head of Types, theſe tranſient and occaſional Types.
3. The third is, that initiating Seal of the Old Teſtament, Circumciſion; that famous Ordinance which ſtood in force about two thouſand years, much longer then the Temple and Temple-Ordinances.
4. The fourth is, the holy Places; as the Tabernacle and Temple, with all the holy Veſſels and Utenſils belonging to them, the Brazen Altar of Burnt-offering, the molten Sea and Lavers, the two Pillars of the Temple, the Golden Candleſtick, the Tables of Shew-bread, the Golden Altar and Cenſer of Incenſe, the Ark, with all the glorious appurtenances thereof— This is the fourth Claſſis of them.
5. The fifth is, the Prieſthod, with all the Legal Miniſtry, and all the concernments thereof, the Rules of theſe Religious Orders, their holy miniſtring Garments, the Ephod, the Breſt-plate, the Urim and Thummim, the Mitre, the holy Crown, their Conſecration to their Office, their Adminiſtrations in their Office.
And to the Prieſts belonged (as ſubordinate to them) the Levites, who were Porters, Singers, Treaſurers, Judges. And laſtly the Nethinims.
6. The Legal Sacrifices and Purifications; Their Burnt-offerings, Meat-offerings, Peace-offerings, Sin-offerings, Treſpaſs-offerings; the Purifications of unclean Touches, unclean Meats, unclean Iſſues, and chiefly the Leproſie; both the Signs and Indications, and likewiſe the Purifications of it, they were all typical.
7. The ſeventh and laſt is, the Jewiſh Feſtivals, or holy times and ſeaſons; as the Paſſover, Pentecoſt, the Feaſt of Tabernacles, the Feaſt of Trumpets, the Feaſt of Expiation, their New Moons, their Sabbaths, weekly every Saturday, as alſo every ſeventh year, and every fiftieth year, ſeven times ſeven, which is the Jubile.
Theſe are ſome of the general heads of things, which you have heard ſpoken to, and the Goſpel-myſteries included in them briefly opened and unfolded.
This is the proper and genuine method and order of them, which to have thus rehearſed may a little help and refreſh your memories.
There are three things more which muſt needs be added and annexed unto all that hath been ſaid, each of which might have deſerved a diſtinct Diſcourſe by it ſelf. But I ſhall but name them, becauſe I would conclude at this time.
1. That all this typical Diſpenſation is expired and aboliſhed by the exhibition of Jeſus Chriſt the truth and ſubſtance and ſcope of all; theſe Shadows are vaniſhed away by the riſing of that Sun of Righteouſneſs; this is that which the great Apoſtle doth expreſly aſſert, Col. 2.14. He hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordinances that was againſt us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his Croſs. This the Jews do not believe.
2. The Goſpel-diſpenſation doth ſucceed, and is ſubſtituted inſtead thereof: ſo the ſame Apoſtle, Heb. 1.1, 2. God, who at ſundry times, and in divers manners ſpake in time paſt unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in theſe laſt days ſpoken unto us by his Son. Inſtead of Moſes the Servant of the Lord, we have Chriſt himſelf the Son of God; inſtead of the Law and the Prophets, we have the Goſpel and Evangeliſts, who give us an Hiſtory inſtead of Propheſie: they tell us that Chriſt is come; whereas the Law and the Prophets only ſaid, he ſhall come. The Jewes do not believe this neither: as they adhere to the Law, ſo they reject the Goſpel.
3. This Goſpel-diſpenſation is far more glorious then that old legal Diſpenſation. For is not the ſubſtance better then ſhadows? The Law from Mount Sion is more glorious then the Law from Mount Sinai: the Spirit is better then the Letter, 2 Cor. 3.6. to ver. 11. The Letter there is not the written Word, and the Spirit the Enthuſiaſms of a deluded fancy, (as ſome have underſtood it;) but the Letter is the Law, and the Spirit is the Goſpel, as the whole Context ſhews.
And look, as the Jews do not believe the two former: ſo the Papiſts and other ſuperſtitious Chriſtians do not believe this third; and therefore they ſeek to adde an external legal Pomp and Splendor, which is carnal, to the Worſhip of the Goſpel, to the ſpiritual Majeſty and Glory of the Goſpel, and Goſpel-Ordinances, which their carnal eyes are not able to ſee and to diſcern.
Remember theſe three things, and carry them along with you.
The Abolition an Expiration of the Law, with all the Types thereof.
The Succeſſion and Subſtitution of the Goſpel.
And the preeminence of Glory in the Goſpel above the Law.
And now bleſſed be God, who hath carried me through this Subject of the Types and Shadows of the Old Teſtament; a Subject in it ſelf uſeful and edifying, were it handled according to its worth.
I muſt confeſs, I have found ſome experience of aſſiſtance and help from God, ſince firſt I entred upon it, much beyond my own weakneſs and unworthineſs, I hope, through the influence of your Prayers, and through the Grace of Chriſt ſhining into a dark heart.
But I have been but brief in divers things, which have deſerved a much larger and better explication. If you can ſay concerning any part or portion of holy Scripture, that now you underſtand it ſomething better, and that you ſee a little more into it then you did before; if you have found any refreſhings by what you have heard, any enlightenings and increaſings of Goſpel-light by it, live up thereto, and bleſs the Lord, who hath taken off the Veil from off Moſes's Face, and the Veil from off your Hearts.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Mather, The Figures or Types of Christ (1683)