Three Sermons, Sermon 3 – Title page 2
THE EVANGELICAL WORSHIPPER, Subjecting to the Preſcription and Soveraignty of Scripture-patern.
BEING THE THIRD SERMON: AND Preached on the LECTURE-DAY, APRIL II. 1663.
Heb. 8.5.
Who ſerve unto the Example and ſhadow of Heavenly things; as Moſes was admoniſhed of God, when he was about to make the Tabernacle: for ſee (ſaith he) that thou make all things according to the patern ſhewed to thee in the Mount.
THis Verſe illuſtrates the Argument mentioned in the foregoing words, from an adjunct, or accident accompanying the Legal Prieſt-hood: The Argument there uſed to prove that the Prieſt-hood of Chriſt excelled that prieſt-hood which was after the Order of Aaron, was, becauſe they which were of that Prieſthood miniſtred on Earth, but Chriſt miniſtreth in Heaven: He was a Miniſter of the true Tabernacle while he was on Earth, and he ſtill officiates in his Prieſtly Office now he is in Heaven; the Tabernacle which they miniſtred in, was upon the Earth, and was made of earthly things, and it was a figure or ſhadow of heavenly things: he declares that that Tabernacle was a worldly Tabernacle or Sanctuary, 1. From the quality of it; it was onelyonly a ſhadow, or example of heavenly things, and it was a type; but Chriſt was a Miniſter of the true Tabernacle. 2. It is declared from the certainty of it, for He ſaith this: But how doth that appear? It appears from a Divine Teſtimony; For ſee (ſaith he) that thou make all things according to the Patern ſhewed to thee in the Mount.
For the opening of the words. Firſt, we are to conſider what theſe heavenly things are: They are called in Chap. 9.11. Good things to come. In a word, it means Chriſt, with all his Benefits; theſe are the Heavenly things, that the other were but Shadows of. Therefore it is truely ſaid, that the Ceremonial Law holds forth Chriſt, i. e. it makes known the Goſpel (being rightly underſtood) but after a Legal diſpenſation.
Secondly, it was a ſhadow of good things, i. e. it was a patern that did ſhadow out Heavenly things. God ſhewed Moſes a Patern, or Type, in a Viſion, according to which the Tabernacle was to be framed, and Moſes acts accordingly. The word tranſlated [Patern] intends as much as a likeneſs, or example, or a figure. As for the Divine Teſtimony, you may ſee it in Exodus 25.9. According to all that I ſhew thee, after the patern of the Tabernacle, and the patern of all the inſtruments thereof, even ſo ſhall ye make it. And in Chap. 39. this teſtimony is often given, that All things were done as the Lord had commanded Moſes. But Chriſt was the Miniſter of another Tabernacle, i. e. of his Body, the true Tabernacle.
Doct. Great care muſt be hads in matters of Divine Worſhip, (or Divine Adminiſtrations) that all things proceed according to the Preſcript Word of God. Or, That all things be exactly corresponding to the Preſcript of Gods Word, Hebrews 7.14.
For it is evident, that our Lord ſprang out of Iudah, of which Tribe Moſes ſpake nothing concerning the Prieſthood. The Apoſtle thinks he argueth well, and concluſively, That Chriſt was not of the Levitical Order, becauſe nothing was ſpoken concerning it of that Tribe. This is a good Argument in Divinity to ſay, That there is nothing in Gods Word why you ſhould act ſuch or ſuch a thing: it is not enough to ſay that there is nothing expreſly againſt it; the truth is, there is enough againſt it, if there be nothing for it. The Tribe of Iudah muſt not meddle with the matters of the Prieſthood: Why ſo? becauſe Moſes ſpake nothing of them in that reſpect: and in Exod. 25.9. Moſes himſelf was to act nothing that he found not in the Patern. Exod. 26.30. And thou ſhalt rear up the Tabernacle according to the faſhion thereof, which was ſhewed thee in the Mount: He muſt act nothing that he doth not finde in the Patern. It is true, David (for ſome juſt cauſe) made ſome alteration in the Worſhip of God; for the ſtate of Temple-worſhip, compared with Tabernacle-worſhip, did call for a change. But how did David proceed in it? 1 Chron. 28.19. All this (ſaith David) the Lord made me uncenſtand in writing, by his hand upon me, even all the works of this patern: He made no alteration in Gods Worſhip, but it was alſo by a Patern given to him by God. And for Solomon, you finde that David gave him the Patern, ver. 11. to build the Temple according thereunto. And relating to Goſpel-times, the time of the Meſſias, you have an eminent text in Ezek. 43.10, 11. Thou Son of man, ſhew the houſe to the Houſe of Iſrael, that they may be aſhamed of their iniquities, and let them meaſure the patern; and if they be aſhamed of all that they have done, ſhew them the form of the houſe, and the faſhion, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, &c.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe it is the acknowledgement of the Prerogative of Jeſus Chriſt; I mean that he alone hath the honour to inſtitute Divine Worſhip: He in truth was the Author of the Tabernacle, & of the Temple and yet he was the Tabernacle, and the Temple, i. e. the true Tabernacle and Temple. The power of the Keyes, i. e. the inſtituted Worſhip under the Goſpel, you ſhall finde Chriſt is the maker and diſpoſer of thoſe Keyes. Mat. 16.19. It is not for man to make a Key to open Heaven, be will never be able to pick that lock. Ye ſhall reverence my Sanctuary (ſaith God, Levit. 26.2.) and why ſo? I am that Lord: (make a pauſe here) i. e. it's no leſs then the Attribute of his Lordſhip that is demonſtrated in the matters of his Worſhip: as for inſtance, Korah was very near unto the Prieſthood, Numb. 16.1. and yet inferiour to the Prieſthood, (and it may be that was ſome temptation to him to be ſo near it, and yet inferiour to it) but he muſt not offer Incenſe, Numb. 16.40. but the Prieſts, which are the Sons of Aaron, may: Why may not Korah? the reaſon is, I am the Lord, I will have this act to be matter of Divine Worſhip, and not another, and I will have this man to act, and not another; I am the Lord. Might not any man take a little perfume, and ſprinkle it on the coals? No, God will inſtitute what acts, and what perſons he pleaſeth. I have heard (I think) ſome ſay, that any man may adminiſter Baptiſm, or the Lords Supper; and I ſay it may be a Childe is able to do it: what then? But we muſt remember what God ſaith, I am the Lord; and he will be owned in his Inſtitutions. Ʋzzah was a good man, yet he may not touch the Ark; why not? I am the Lord, 2 Sam. 6. It is one of the holy Inſtitutions of God, Ye ſhall all reverence my Sanctuary. Hence it is, that to the holy things of God, reverence is a great part of duty: and if this or that be Gods Worſhip, remember Gods Lordſhip is in his own Inſtitutions, and he will make a difference as he pleaſeth: not that Aaron or Moſes are better then others in themſelves, they may be worſe, but God will have his Lordſhip appear in theſe his holy things. Therfore it is that we muſt be conſcientious in our reverence of the holy things of God, even in regard of bodily reverence by comely geſtures, for our bodyes are the Lords, 1 Cor. 6. Hence [Sitting] is not a Prayer-geſture; it is true, if there be great weakneſs or infirmity of body, &c. that may give an excuſe for the Lord will have mercy, in caſe, rather then Sacrifice. And therefore alſo it is that Chriſt ſtood up when he read the word, Luk. 4.16. and in Nch. 8.5. they ſtood up at the hearing of the Word read. We ſhould ſhew reverence at the holy things of God, becauſe they are his Inſtitutions, and he is the Lord.
Reaſ. 2. Becauſe in Divine Worſhip we acknowledge God to be our Soveraign Lord and that we owe unto him abſolute Subjection and Obedience, and we acknowledge our ſelves to be his abſolute Subjects. The act of Worſhip is an acknowledgement both of his Soveraignty, and of our meanneſs: Who am I, that am but duſt and aſhes, that I ſhould take upon me to speak unto the Lord? Gen. 18. In acts of Worſhip we muſt exalt Chriſt, and depreſs man. Many in theſe dayes are againſt Forms, but in the mean time let us not forget Worſhip. For Iſrael to wait upon a Rock, was a deſpicable thing to the Nations; to ſee ſo many thouſands come and ſtand about the Rock was ſtrange, but that Rock was Chriſt: this is nothing elſe but the acknowledgement of God, who will be known in his own way. And this let me ſay, Chriſt himſelf, that was not onelyonly Man but God, attended the Ordinances while he was here on earth, and ſo did his Apoſtles: this is to ſhew the diſevangelical ſpirit of thoſe that do object againſt external Worſhip.
Reaſ. 3. Becauſe Divine external Worſhip is a means of conferring heavenly things. The Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven open or ſhut Heaven, Mat. 16.19. Naaman muſt know (if he be cured) whence the Cure comes; be muſt acknowledge the Waters of Iordan, and he muſt acknowledge the Prophet: God could have cured him without either, but he was not pleaſed ſo to do. You feed your Hens and Chickens, but you throw their meat upon the ground, and make them take it from thence: ſo God feeds us with heavenly food, but we muſt receive it in a lowly manner. You can have no Faith to expect Gods bleſſing in any way but his own; any Inſtitutions, ſo farre as they are Humane, you cannot have Faith for Gods bleſſing to go with them.
Inſtructions. 1. The Ceremonial Law underſtood, teacheth Chriſt; the truths of Chriſt are laid up under the types of the Ceremonial Law. When you reade the Ceremonial Law, if you underſtood it, you would ſee Chriſt through it; as for inſtance, Heb. 9. the Tabernacle was a figure of Chriſts Body, and ſo was the Vail: Heb. 10.20. when they went into the firſt Court, they remembred the Incarnation of the Meſſias, and ſo when they looked on the Vail, &c. they who looked on theſe types, whoſe eyes were opened, they ſaw Chriſt Reade Lev. 16.15. compared with Heb. 9.24 26. As Chriſt ſhed his blood, and ſo entred into Heaven, ſo the High-prieſt ſlew the Sacrifice, and then entred into the holy of holies. And the efficacy of the Merit of Chriſt, was figured in the incenſe: this is to let us ſee, how clearly we are taught the ſame truths above what they of old were, comparing our times with theirs.
Inſtr. 2. It is the part of thoſe who are Conſcientious, to keep themſelves unto Scripture-bounds in holy, or Church-adminiſtrations. 2 Cor. 10.13. the Apoſtle would have them walk by a line (it relates to the Graecian exerciſes, to which the Apoſtle doth delight to allude:) it comes to one with that which the Apoſtle doth elſewhere ſay, (viz. 2 Tim. 2.5.) He that ſtriveth is not Crowned, except he ſtrive lawfully. There is a line of motion to regulate all adminiſtrations, eſpecially Church-adminiſtrations; there is a line that doth regulate the Elderſhip, and a line alſo to regulate the Brotherhood: ſo that all Church adminiſtrations, are to be carried on according to that line. This was Moſes his charge; See thou make all things according to the patern; and do you think there is not as much Conſcience to be made of it now under the Goſpel, to make all things according to the patern, as in the dayes of the Legal diſpenſation? 1 Cor. 14.40. Let all things be done according to Order: the caſe may be ſo, that though a thing be done, that is for the matter of it good, there may yet be more hurt in the diſorder of it, then there is good in the doing of it. If we exerciſe our own Notions and Apprehenſions in matters of Worſhip, this is Will-worſhip. Mat. 15.9. In vain do they Worſhip me, teaching for Dectrines the traditions of men. Mark the oppoſition [Me], and [Men]: can mens traditions be an act of Divine Worſhip? No, its but Will-worſhip, Col. 2.23. there may be that which is plauſible to man, yet it's but Will-worſhip; there may be parts, and excellencies, but if they are out of place, it is that which God will not bear with: Exod. 20.25. He that lifts up his tool upon mine Altar hath pollutedit: it is enough to pollute it, becauſe it is a mans tool: we muſt not turn to the right hand nor to the left, but keep our way right on. The Corinthians turned to the left hand, when they would not Excommunicate the inceſtuous perſon; and they turned to the right hand, when they would not receive him in, being a penitent: it was an errour on the right hand, in Peter, when he would not have Chriſt ſuffer, but a fearful ſcandalous one. You ſhall not adde thereto, nor take therefrom, ſaith the Lord, Deut. 4.2. & 12.32. neither Elders nor Brethren muſt take upon them that which belongs not to them, nor the Council take that which belongeth not to it, nor the Magiſtrates what belongeth not to them; we muſt do nothing but according to the Patern.
Inſtr. 3. A Religious Worſhipper, or a man truly religious, doth not reſt in this, That externals do anſwer the Preſcript Rule of the Word, without proceeding to internal Worſhip. You finde that God doth not onelyonly bear teſtimony againſt our Worſhip, but alſo againſt hypocritical Worſhip. Firſt, againſt our Worſhip, or our Adminiſtrations; that (as you ſee) is Will-worſhip, and it is vain Worſhip, all the Inſtitutions of men are ſo; they are Will-worſhip, i. e. there is ſin and defilement in them: we muſt not ſet our poſts by Gods poſts. But then ſuppoſe we are brought to external worſhip, doth God reſt here? no: do you think that God liveth on goat's bloud? Pſal. 50.13. And hence alſo, Amos 5.25. ſaith the Lord, you did not offer unto me your ſacrifices during the space of fourty years, ſpeaking of the time in the Wilderneſs: It is like there was a ceſſation, in reſpect of the condition that they were in; as who ſhould ſay, then I can be without Sacrifices. Ier. 7.22, 23. God ſaith there, He did not command Sacrifices, or external Worſhip, i. e. Comparatively, in reſpect of Obedience he commanded it not, but I Commanded them, ſaying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye ſhall be my people: So God will ſay to us, He did not Command us to come hither, to ſet up the external Worſhip of the Goſpel, i. e. comparatively, in ſtead of Obedience, Holineſs and Righteouſneſs: this is that which Stephen pleads, Acts 7.42, 43. Oh houſe of Iſrael, you have not offered to me ſlain beaſts; but you had the Tabernacle of Moloch, &c. but they could not bear with Stephen when he came to this: So our Saviour Chriſt tell's them, They have made my Houſe a den of thieves. Thoſe among you that are given to injuſtice, drunkenneſs, or other ſcandalous wayes, this, or that, I tell you, God requires not your Sacrifices, but Obey my voyce, that I may be your God: this is the thing God aime's at. As for our external worſhip, it ought indeed to be according to the Rule, but this may be, and yet as it is in Iſai. 1.13, 14, 15. Your Incenſe is an abomination, and your ſolemn meetings iniquity, my ſoul hates them, ſaith the Lord, they are a trouble unto me, and when ye make many Prayers I will not hear them, your hands are full of blood, &c. It would be a dreadful thing if God ſhould ſay to any of us that are full of duties, and concerning our Sabbaths, Lords Supper, our Faſts, our Feaſts, I am weary of your Worſhip, bring no more vain Oblations, &c. God forbid that we ſhould forget the internal part of worſhip, whileſt we are exerciſed in the external. Amos 5.21. I hate and deſpiſe your feaſts, I will not ſmell in your ſolemn Aſſemblies. Look not onelyonly to external regularity, but look we unto inward piety, leſt God hate and deſpiſe our Worſhip. Joſhua (ſaith God) Why lyeſt thou upon the ground? Chap. 7.10, 11. Iſrael hath ſinned, and tranſgreſſed my Covenant, &c. we have been much in faſtings, and in external duties many years, but what reformation is there? are we brought sny more unto the Rule in Church and State? I beſeech you know, that God aimes at Obedience as the internal ſubſtantial part of his Worſhip.
Inſtr. 4. That the external Order of the Goſpel (Church-order) is no other then the external Throne of Chriſt Jeſus. Worſhip that is mixt, partly Divine, and partly Humane, this is ſo much defilement in Gods Worſhip; but when it is according to the Rule, that is Chriſts Throne. Satan hath his throne, that is where Antichriſt reignes; and Chriſt hath his Throne, that is where his Inſtitutions are in force: there Chriſt ſits as Lord. If the Polity be according to the Goſpel, Jeſus Chriſt is there acknowledged Lord, and there is never a Member but is a Subject: there muſt be an Order, and according to that Order there muſt be ſubjection: do you think it an eaſy thing to be ſubject to Order? Remember it was matter of tryal to thoſe that came out of Egypt, and through the Sea (as we have done) yet there were men of renown that could not bear Church-Order. Let me tell you; it is a greater matter to be ſubject to Order, then to come over the Seas, or to endure the troubles of a Wilderneſs; many will bear a Priſon, before they will endure the Government of Chriſt, and Goſpel-order in his Church.
Ʋſe 2. Of Exhortation to us all (in our Churches eſpecially) to ſanctifie God according to this truth, viz. That our polity may be a Goſpel-polity, and may be compleat according to the Scriptures, anſwering fully the Word of God: this is the work of our generation, and the very work we engaged for into this Wilderneſs; this is the ſcope and end of it, that which is written upon the forehead of New-England, viz. The compleat walking in the Faith of the Goſpel, according to the Order of the Goſpel.
1. And for your direction; firſt, remember that we have the patern in the mount; I mean, we have the Scripture as a Rule, and you have the Platform of Church-Diſcipline given to you in way of Council, as the Confeſſion of our Faith to this way of Church-government: you know in what manner it was; that which (for the ſubſtance of it) ownes the cauſe Congregational: if any are departed from it, let them look to it, I know none of the Elders that have receded from it. It was given many years ago as the Confeſſion of our Faith, to this Country, and to the World: it is diſtinct from the Epiſcopacy, and from the Presbyterian way, from the Morellian way, from that of Separatiſm: and it is for the ſubſtance of it preciſely the way Congregational. And as David ſaid to Solomon, 1 Chron. 28.10, 11. I give unto thee the patern of the Houſe of God, &c. what God will do with us he knows beſt; David lived not to build the Temple himſelf, but he left the patern thereof to his Son Solomon: And ſo we have the patern, only this is complained of, that it is not practiſed, though we have had it many years ago; now practice is the end of Doctrine.
2. Conſider, that we are all concerned in this ſervice, I mean in ſetting up the Throne of Chriſt. Moſes is concerned, and it is his commendation that he was a man of God, who erected the Tabernacle, and ſet up the Worſhip of God according to the Patern in the Mount: and ſo David and Solomon, &c. Thou Solomon my Son, if thou doeſt hold here, the Lord will be with thee (and let the Churches look to it, we are all concerned herein, our Fidelity in this cauſe is our Crown; ſee that it be not taken from us.
3. It is a matter of very good Policy; times of trouble & danger may approach: and we read in Ezr. 3.3. that they ſet the Altar upon its Baſes, for fear was upon them, becauſe of the people of the land: one means to ſecure them from fear in time of trouble, was with the firſt to proceed with the things of Religion, and to be in good earneſt to ſettle them. 1 Chron. 28.20, 21. Do it (ſaith David unto Solomon) and the Lord God, even my God will be with thee: and not only ſo, but the prieſts, & the princes, & the people will be with thee, &c. But when Solomon falls off from God's Worſhip, then ariſeth againſt him the ſpirit of Hadad, and the ſpirit of Rezin, and the ſpirit of Ieroboam, &c. 1 Kings 11. It is a great point of policy, in troubleſome times, viz. the attending to the Cauſe of Religion, Without Order the Ark could not move in Davids time, but you ſee what trouble follows upon it; and Churches cannot likewiſe move, untill the Order of the Churches be proportionably ſettled: Haggai 1.5, 6. Now therefore ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, conſider your wayes; when the Worſhip of God was neglected, things went ill with them; You have ſown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; and again ver. 7th. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, conſider your wayes: and in Chap. ſecond, they do hearken to him, the Lord ſtirred up the ſpirit of Zerubbabel, and Joſuah, and from the time that they ſet themſelves about the work of the Lord, all things went well with them. How farre the drought, and the laſt years and other troubles are here conſiderable, referring to our ſelves, let the Scripture be the interpreter. The matters of outward proſperity have much dependance upon the carrying on the cauſe of Religion, and that according to the Order of the Goſpel, or by the Scripture-patern; our ſafety lies in keeping there, not turning to the right hand, nor turning to the left hand. In Exod. 39. you have it mentioned about ten times in that Chapter in way of Commendation, that what was done was ſo according as the Lord had Commanded Moſes. Let this ſtand with us I beſeech you (beloved) that for the motion of Elders, of Brethren, of Councils, of Magiſtrates, of Churches, ſettle the ſame as the Lord hath. Commanded, i. e. according to Scripture-preſcript and patern; we are then a ſafe People.
FINIS
A COPY OF THE LETTER Returned by the MINISTERS of NEW-ENGLAND TO MR. JOHN DURY ABOUT HIS PACIFICATION.
Faithfully Tranſlated out of the Original Manuſcript written in Latine, By the Reverend AƲTHOR of the Three former SERMONS.
With ſome Conſiderations premiſed about that Subject, neceſſary for theſe Times.
By a Lover of Truth and Peace.
Publiſhed in the Year 1664.