Moses and Aaron, Treatise · Chapter 19

Moses and Aaron · Treatise · Chapter 19

p. 195CHAP. XIX.

The Passeover, a type.

THe second ordinary Sacrament of the Jewes, lively representing Jesus Christ, was the Passeover, instituted, Exod. 12. to be a lively type of Christ. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us. The name of this Sacrament hath in it the occasion, for it was (by God) therefore instituted in memoriall of their great deliverance in Egypt, when the destroying angell (who slew all the first born in Egypt in one night) passed over all the Israelites houses, whose doors and posts were striked with the bloud of the Pascall Lamb slain and eaten in that house; wherein the godly Jewes were not to fix their eyes in that externall signe, or the temporary deliverance signified; but to cast their eye of Faith upon the Messiah and true Paschal Lamb; by means of whom, the wrath and revenge of God passed over all those whose soules are sprinkled with his bloud, and who by true p. 196faith feed upon him. And therefore, howsoever the word, Passeover, hath in Scripture many significations, both proper and figurative; I understand by it the whole institution of God concerning the Lamb called Paschall. In which we shall see Jesus Christ most lively pourtrayed before us; and that this one legall Sacrament preached (not obscurely) to the ancient Jews the whole doctrine of the Gospel, and grace of salvation, by the onelyonly suffering of Jesus Christ. This will appear in five things.

1. In the choice of the Sacrifice.

2. In the preparing of it.

3. In the effusion of bloud, and actions about it.

4. In the eating and conditions therein.

5. In the fruits and use.

Sect. I.

I. In the choice of the Sacrifice. The Lord appointed it 1. Paschall Lamb a type in the choice Christ a Lamb. Denominatione. Qualificatione.to be a Lamb, or a Kidd: notably signifying Jesus Christ; whom John Baptist called, the Lamb of God; taking away the sinnes of the world, Joh. 1. 29. Christ is a Lamb.

1. In name, Revel. 5. 6. In the midst of the Elders stood a Lamb.

2. In qualities, in respect of innocency, patience, meekness; humility, obedience to the will of his Father to the death, not opening his mouth, Isai. 53. 7. in fruitfulnesse and profitablenesse to feed us with his flesh, and cloath us with his fleece of righteousnesse.

3. In shadows, being figured in all those lambs slain, especially Adumbratione.in the Paschall Lamb. In which shadowes or figures he was (not yearly onelyonly, but) daily held before the eyes of beleevers; and so here we consider him. In this Lamb for his choice must be four conditions.Choice. Christum fuisse foreign, amici pariter & inimici testati sunt.

I. Condition. It must be a Lamb without blemish, ver. 5, every way perfect, without any spot or defect: signifying the most absolute perfection of Jesus Christ; who was, both in respect of his person and actions, without all spot and exception, p. 1971 Pet. 1. 19. as of a Lamb undefiled and without spot, Heb. 7. 26, Such an high Priest it became us to have, as is Perfection of Christ.holy, undefiled, separate from sinners. The reasons are two.

1. Because else his ransome were insufficient.

2. He must be perfectly righteous that must become a righteousnesse to many.

II. Condition. It must be a male, for three reasons.

1. Reason. To note the excellency, strength, and dignity His excelleency.of Christ, proper to that sex. For although he seemed a most weak man in the state of his humiliation; yet must he be not effeminate, but masculine; strong, stout, and potent to destroy sinne and death, and to foile all the enemies of mans salvation. Christ indeed must be the seed of the woman; but the woman must bring forth a man-child, Rev. 12. 5. And though he must be borne of a Virgin, yet the Virgin must bring forth a sonne, Isa. 9. 6. For he must divide the spoile with the strong, Isa. 5. 3. 12.

2. Reason. Consider Christ in both his natures, it was fit he should be a male as the Lambe was. 1. As he was the Sonne of God it was meet he should be of the more worthy sex of men; for it was unfit that the Sonne of God should be the daughter of man. 2. As being man, he was to be the Messiah, the seed of Abraham, the Sonne of David; and so to be circumcised, to be a fit Minister of Circumcision.

3. Reason. Consider him in his office. He was to be a King, a Priest, and a Prophet of his Church; all which necessarily require him to be a man, a male, a the Lamb was. We conclude therefore hence, that being the head of the whole Church, he must be of as worthy sex as any of his members.

III. Condition. The Lambe must be of a year old, ver. 5. Christus in medio aetatis flore immolatus cujus conditionis rationem vid Iun. in Exod. 12.Exod 12to signifie that Christ dyed at a full and perfect age, in his strength; and therefore had experience also of our infirmities. For a Lambe of a year old is at his state and growth, and a Lamb of a year old is acquainted with many miseries: Even so our Saviour, living to the full strength of a man, was a man full of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmities. See Heb. 4. 15. we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched p. 198with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted like us, yet without sin.

IV. Condition. He must be taken out of their own flocks and folds: For so Moses to Pharaoh, Exod. 10. 25. thou must allow us our beasts for sacrifice to offer to the Lord. Plainly signifying, that Christ was to be an Israelite: and within the fold of Gods own people; for he was to be of the seed of Abraham; and salvation was of the Jewes, Joh. 4. 22. Yea, and the Lords own Law requires, that the King should be taken from among his brethren, Deut. 17. 15. and much more the King of the Church, being King of all Kings.

Sect. II.

II. Jesus Christ was as evidently expressed in the preparation Paschall Lambe a type in the preparation. Where six Observations.of the Paschall Lamb wherein the Jewes were tyed to six observations.

I. Observation. The Lamb must be severed from the flock, v. 6. to signifie Jesus Christ separated by God the Father to the office of mediator; and that two waies.

I. By Gods eternall decree; he was a chosen servant of Christ two wayes set apart to be a Mediator.God to the most excellent service in heaven and earth. Isai. 42. 1. My elect servant. And thus is called a Lamb separarated from before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. 1. 20.

2. In due time actually separated from all the rest of the flock, by,

1. A supernaturall conception by the holy Ghost; whereby he became an high Priest separated from sinners, all the rest of Mankind remaining sinners.

2. By a miraculous birth of a Virgin, being the seed of the woman.

3. By an unconceiveable union of the two natures, divine and humane, in one person; by which he became our Immanuell, God with us.

4. By a solemne and heavenly inauguration into his office p. 199at the brinke of Jordan; by which he was openly proclaimed the chiefe Doctor and Prophet of his Church. Thus it became this Lamb of God to be actually separated from all the rest of the flock: because for all the rest he was to pay a greater ransome and price, than any other that could be found amongst all mankind.

II. Observation. The Lamb thus separated must be reserved and kept alive four daies; even from the tenth day of the first month till the fourteenth day of the same month, vers. 6. Wherein was signified the very particles of time of Christs both Ministery and passion.

1. For his Ministery. Christ must not be sacrificed presently The time of his Ministery and passion ordered.so soon as he was born, nor so soon as he is baptized and separated, but after that separation must live about four years to preach the kingdome of God, and then be offered up; that his death might not be a seale to a blancke, but might confirme all that holy doctrine delivered by his owne mouth and Ministery to the world.

2. For his passion. The time of it depended not on the will of man, for his enemies sought many a time before to slay him; as Herod in his infancy. Matth 2. 16. the Jewes took up stones to stone him, Joh. 8. 59. The Nazarites would break his neck from an hill, Luk. 4. 29. And many other attempts were made against his life; but his time was not then come, the lamb must be reserved four daies. And this very moment of time was determined and registred in Gods most certaine and unchangeable computation. Act. 2. 23. being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Whose wisdome so ordered that,Quia Dominus decima die ej…sdem mensis, hoc est ante quinque dies paschae in Civitatem in qua pateretur, erat ingressurus. Ansem. in Math. 21.Matt 21

1. As the lamb was taken in the tenth day of the first monethmonth: so Christ came into Jerusalem about the tenth day of the same month to suffer; as appeares, Joh. 12. For upon the sixth day before his passion, he came to Bethany vers. 1. and the next day he went to Jerusalem, which was the fifth day before his passion, ver. 12.

2. As the lamb must be slaine the fourteenth day of the first month (which answereth to our March) and at the full of the Moon: So, that no man might be deceived in our p. 200Paschall lamb, he must be sacrificed at the Passeover, the same day that the lamb must be slaine; In the full Moon, to note the fullnesse of time now come which was so long before appointed, and in such a month as when light prevailes against darknesse, and every thing revives and springs: to signifie that Christ by his suffering chaseth away our darknesse and death, and brings in light and life, and a blessed spring of grace and glory.

III. Observation. The Lamb must be slaine, vers. 6. signifying, that Jesus Christ being (as that Lamb of a year 3. Christ must die a violent death.old) in his vigour and strength (who by reason of his age and strength might have lived longer) must not onelyonly die, but by a violent death, and that by Israel.

Noting. 1. That Christ must be put to death by the Jewes.

2. That the benefit aad merit of his death redounds to his Church onelyonly: The Redeemer must come unto Zion, Isa. 59. 20.

Objection. How was he then a Lamb slaine from the How from the begining of the the world.beginning of the World, before the Jewes were in being?

Sol. Two waies.

1. In regard of Gods decree, whereof a promulgation was made in promises and types, and an acceptation as if it had been already done.

2. In regard of man: He was slaine onelyonly one time as to S…mel actu, semper fructuthe act, but in all times as to the fruit: because the perpetuall power and efficacie of Christs sacrifice was begun with the world, and extended to all believers of all ages, who onelyonly diversly apprehend it.

IV. Observation. The lamb must be slain between two 4. The time of Christs death noted.evenings.

1 To put them in remembrance of their deliverance in Egypt, which was in the evening.

2. To note that our Paschall lamb should be slain towards the evening of the world, that is in the last times, Heb. 9. 26.

3. that Christs sacrifice was to succeed in the same time of their evening sacrifices, which were daily to be offered. p. 201Exod 29. 41. and so to put an end to them, Dan. 12. 4. to note the very houre as well as the day of Christs suffering on the Crosse. To understand which, we must know that Iewes division of the day into 4. parts.the Jewes distinguished their artificiall day into four parts. From six to nine, from nine to twelve, from twelve to three, from three to six. This last part was counted the evening of the day, and the next three houres the evening of the night. In this fourth part of the day used the Paschal lamb to be slain, and the rest of the time was little enough to dresse it whole for Supper: even so the true Paschal lamb must be sacrificed the very same day and houre that the Mysticall lamb was. For Christ at the third houre, that is, at three of the clock in afternoon, between the evenings, with a great voyce gave up the Ghost, Matth 27. 50.

V. Observation. The lamb must be roasted with fire, not 5. How Christ is to be conceived and received.raw, not sod, baked, boyled, or otherwise, but all thoroughly roasted with fire, vers. 9.

1. Not eaten raw, to signifie, that we must not grossely conceive, nor unpreparedly receive Christ in the Sacrament, as the Capernaites did of the flesh of Christ, Joh. 6. and the Papists of eating the raw flesh of Christ, as it was born of a Virgine, with their teeth.

2. Roasted, to Signifie two things. 1 The manner of Christs death, he was to be crucified and peirced. As the lamb must be thrust through and fastened to a spit, so must the lamb of God be peirced and fastened to the Crosse. As the brazen Serpent was fixed to a pole Joh. 3. 14. 2. That Jesus Christ was made fit food (as that lamb) for his people by enduring the fire of affliction, but especially by suffering the hot burning fire of his Fathers wrath, which had burnt up all mankind to the bottome of hell, had not Christ endured it.

3. Wholly roasted, to signifie, that Christ endured the whole wrath of God (which is a consuming fire) both in soul and body, as that bitter agony in the garden witnesseth, which made him sweat drops of water and bloud, and complaine that his soule was heavie unto the death.6. A bone of Christ not broken.

VI. Observation. Though the lamb must be wholly drest, p. 202yet a bone of it shall not be broken. Noting, that wonderfull accident in the passion of Christ, that when the souldiers came purposely to break his legs, (as they had done the others that were crucified with him) yet by Gods secret providence they were restrained, so as the antitype might exactly answer to the type, as the Evangelist applieth it, Joh. 19. 36. This lamb by dying when he would, hindered the breaking of his bones.

For, 1. His body was most holy, and must not be prophaned And why.and torne ignominiously, as if it were the body of a thiefe or malefactor.

2. His Fathers care that keeps the bones of the Saints, that not one of them is broken, Psal. 34. 20. will much more keep safe the bones of his onelyonly Sonne.

3. His bones were to be whole buried, because he was to rise againe with his whole body; and so the faith of believers, in the article of his resurrection, was more easily confirmed.

We must cast our eyes upon Jesus Christ the true Paschall Use In all worship look to Christ.lamb, in all the worship of the old Testament. For further than Christ was found and seen in it, it was then but as an empty shell without a kernell: and how much more now? The Jews at this day celebrate the Passeover, kill the Lamb, sprinkle V. Buxtorf. Syn. Iudaic. c. 12, 13, & 14.the bloud, eat the flesh, observe the rites; but refusing Jesus Christ, what sweetnesse can be in that feast? What do they else than cast away the kernell to gnaw upon the shell, or as a mad man, who casts away the graine, and choakes himselfe with the husks? Oh how is the wrath of God come upon them to the uttermost, who think that they have done a good service when they have slain a number of lambs taken from earth, rejecting the Lamb of God, who came from heaven from the bosome of his Father, infinitely surpassing them all!

For their madnesse. 1. What sence or what spirituall worship is it, to feed their bodies with the flesh of lambs, and to refuse Christ the lamb of God separated from all the flock for the food and refreshing of the soule?

2. What weak and cold comfort to eat a number of lambs p. 203in memory of their deliverance out of Egypt, and the thraldome of Pharaoh; and yet not endure to hear of, much lesse to taste of that lamb that hath wrought a more powerfull deliverance from the Pharaoh of Hell, from sinne, from damnation, and all their heaviest burthens.

3. All that sprinkling of bloud in their houses, so long as they despise the bloud of Jesus Christ, shall never get them protection from the revenging Angel. We must pray that God would please at length to remove their vaile from their hearts, that they may submit themselves to the righteousnesse of God. Rom. 10. 3. that so all Israel may be saved by acknowledging the deliverer out of Zion; of whom was prophecied (Isai. 59. 20.) That he shall turne away the ungodlinesse from Jacob.

Sect. III.

III. The Paschall lamb directly aimed at Christ our Paschall Lamb a type in effusio of bloud Actions. The preciousnesse of Christs bloud.true Passeover, in respect of the bloud and actions about it, which were three.

1. The bloud of the Lamb must be saved in a Basen, vers. 22. It must not be shed upon the ground to be troden under foot: signifying the preciousnesse of the bloud of Christ.

1. In respect of God. 2. Of Christ. 3. Of the Church.

For, 1. God the Father highly prizeth this bloud, and saves it in a golden vessell, that it may be ever before him; and that the streames of it may pacifie his displeasure, and confirme the Covenant of grace with his Church. Whence it is called the bloud of the Covenant. Heb. 9. 18.

2. It was precious in regard of Jesus Christ; seeing every drop of it was the bloud (not of an innocent man onelyonly, but) of one that was God as well as man, Act. 20. 28. God with his own bloud purchased the Church, and therefore it was a bloud of infinite vertue and infinite merit.

3. Every true member of the Church doth most highly esteem it, as the most precious thing in all the world, and with great care and reverence receives it into the vessell p. 204of precious and saving faith, and there keeps it safely, as men do their most precious commodities.

2. The bloud of the Lamb must be sprinkled upon the lintle and side posts of the doores of the Israelites, vers. 22.

1. In that it must be sprinkled, it signified that the bloud Bloud of Christ sprinkled, or applied.of Christ must be applied unto us; for our righteousnesse stands not in the shedding of Christs bloud, but in sprinkling and application of Christs bloud shed and sprinkled upon our soules and consciences to purge them from dead works.

2. It must be sprinkled upon the posts and doores, so as the Israelites could neither go out of doores nor in, but they must see on all sides the bloud of the lamb: signifying, that they and we should both at home and abroad, going forth and comming in, and on all occasions have the passion of Jesus Christ before our eyes, in the holy meditation and deep contemplation of it.

3. It was not enough for the Jew that the lamb was slain, & the bloud shed within the house, but it must be sprinkled without doores, that every man might see it: and signified, that if Christs bloud and the merit of it be shed in the houses of our hearts for justification and righteousnesse, the sprinkling of it will appear and be seen without, in holy life and practise of sanctification.

3. This bloud of the lamb must not be sprinkled with the 3. Faith resembled by hyssope, how.bare hands, but with a bunch of hyssope dipt in the bloud, vers. 22. which signifyed, that every one which puts forth his hand, is not sprinkled with Christs bloud, unlesse he have provided this bunch of hyssope. Hyssope is Faith: and Faith Hyssopus fides est. Aug. in 4. Num. 33. Herba bumilis.Num 33resembles this herbe in four things.

1. It is a ground herbe, low and weake: so Faith in it selfe, and in us, is weak, fraile, feeble, and of most despised. Neither hath every man that hath hysope in his garden, this bunch of hysope in his heart.

2. Rooting in a rocke (for so it used among the Jewes) R…dicibus haerens in pe…ra.whence some thought it to be Pellitory of the wall. Faith roots it selfe upon the rock Jesus Christ, and cannot grow or prosper in any other soile. Other hysope roots in earth, this in heaven

p. 2053. It is an herb cleansing and curing. Faith onelyonly is an Purgans, & sanans.herbe of soveraigne virtue both to purifie the heart, Act. 15. 9. and to heal all the wounds of conscience. Act. 16. 31. the Goaler wounded and pricked in heart must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved. Our Lord himselfe was wont to say to distressed persons, According to thy Faith be it unto thee.

4. It was fitter than other herbes for the receiving and sprinkling Prae caeteris recipiendo et aspergendo liquori valde apta.of liquor: so Faith, although a low and weak plant, is onelyonly fit to receive the precious liquor of the bloud of Christ. OnelyOnly faith drawes virtue from Christ; as in the poor woman that stood behind Christ, Mark. 5, 31. And the want of this bunch of hyssope disables Christ from doing thee any good. Christ could do nothing in Capernaum for their unbelief.

I. Note hence, how we are to prize and magnifie the Use 1. Christs bloud to be highly prized How.bloud of Christ. For if the shadow of this precious bloud must be so preserved, so carefully saved in a costly vessel: how much more ought the bloud it self?

Quest. How may I prize the bloud of Christ?

Answ. 1. Consider, with the dignity of the person, the infinite value of it: That it is able to purchase the whole Church of God. Act. 20. 28. which a thousand worlds of wealth could not do. No wealth in heaven or earth besides this can redeem one soule: And therefore the Apostle, 1 Pet. 1. 19. sets this precious bloud against all corruptible things, as gold and silver, and things so much set by amongst men.

2. Consider the precious things which it procures us both in earth and in heaven.

1. Here below it procures us four things.Precious things procured by it. On earth.

1. Reconciliation and peace with God, Rom. 3. 25. and Ephes. 2. 13. we which were farre off, are made near by the bloud of Christ.

2. A sweet tranquility of mind & peace of conscience, which all worldly treasure cānot purchase, because now we are within the Covenant of God, living in his love which is better than life; and in this love is no lack, but an abundant supply p. 206of all needfull things. All which Covenant of grace is made and ratified by this bloud, therefore called the bloud of the Covenant, Heb. 9.

3. Victory against all the malignity of our spirituall enemies, even the greatest: Satan himself who is overcome by the bloud of the lamb, Rev. 12. 11.

4. Immunity and safety from all the judgements and dangers threatned against our sinnes; else had we died without mercy for despising Moses law, Heb. 10. 28. For if there were such force in the bloud of the type, that by the effusion of it the Israelites lay safe and untouched of the revenging Angel, Heb. 11. 28. much more in this bloud of Jesus Christ to cover belieuers in his Name, from the hand of Gods revenge due to our transgressions.

2. This precious bloud now in heaven procures us the most In heaven.needfull and excellent good things above all that we can imagine: Especially two waies.

1. By opening heaven for our prayers; for this bloud pleades for us now in heaven, and speaks better things for us than the bloud of Abel, Heb. 12. 24. That called for vengeance against the sinner: this intreateth for daily grace for daily sinnes, and procures daily mercies for daily supplies.

2. As to our prayers, so this bloud openeth heaven to our persons. This bloud onelyonly rents the vaile asunder, and makes a way into the holy of holies, and gives entrance into the kingdome of heaven, Heb. 10. 19. by the bloud of Jesus we are bold to enter into the holy place. This bloud is the onelyonly key that unlocks heaven; for else the Lord dwels in light which no flesh can have accesse to, 1 Tim. 6. 16. namely, without Christ and the shedding of his bloud.

II. Is the bloud of Christ so precious? take heed of prophaning Use. 2. Prophane not the bloud of Christ.this precious bloud; take heed of sinning against it. Consider of that sore punishment which he is worthy of, that treads under foot the sonne of God, and counteth the bloud of the Testament unholy, Heb. 10. 29. He cannot expresse the greatnesse of the punishment in words, but leaves it to all mens minds to consider of.

p. 207Quest. How may a man prophane this bloud?How that may be done.

Answ. 1. By undervaluing it; as Papists, who think it insufficient to ratifie the Covenant unto them without other additions and supplies from themselves and others; yea, ascribe as much to the bloud of Thomas Beck…t and other traytors, Tu per Thomaesanguinem, quem prote impeudit, &c.as to this bloud.

2. To be ashamed of Christ and his sufferings. The Jewes must strike the lintels of their doors with the bloud of the Paschall Lambe, that all might see they were Israelites: signifying, that we must openly professe Christ, and not be ashamed of his death and ignominy, which is the life of the world, at which, notwithstanding, the greatest part of the world stumbleth at this day. To shame at the profession of Christ, is to contemn his bloud.

3. To contemne it in the meanes in which the Lord would hold it before our eyes: To reject or neglect the preaching of the word, wherein Christ is crucified before our eyes, as he was to the Galatians, chap. 3. 1. To neglect and despise the Sacrament, in which his bloud is after a sort poured out to the mind and senses: Or unpreparedly to receive the Sacrament, and in the unworthinesse of a guilty conscience; is to make ones self guilty of the bloud of Christ; as Pilate, Judas, and the Souldiers were.

4. To despise and wrong the godly, descended of the bloud of Christ: redeemed with the bloud of Christ: To hate the Church of God, and abuse the members of Christ; is to crucifie again the Son of God, and despise the price of our purchase. In that yee doe it to one of these little ones, yee did it to me. Mat. 25. 40.Matt 25:40Thou canst not draw bloud of the Saints, but thou sinnest against the bloud of Christ.

5. To prophane it in gracelesse swearing, as those branded hell-hounds that swear commonly by wounds or bloud, as if this precious bloud were to be engaged on every base occasion. Well, they carry wounds in their consciences, and poure out the life bloud of their souls.

p. 208Sect. IV.

IV. In eating the Paschall Lambe, Jesus Christ was typified. Pasc…ll Lamb, a type in the eating. 5. Conditions. 1. Time.To this eating many conditions are required, concerning 1. Time. 2. Place. 3. Persons. 4. Manner. 5. Measure.

The Time. It must be eaten at the sametime; and in one evening must all Israel eat the Passeover.

1. In the evening, to signifie our estate of darknesse and misery by sinne and death, till Christ came, and when Christ came to be our ransome.

2. In one and the same evening, to note the holy agreement and consent of the whole Church in the faith of Christs death and passion: to which well agrees the constitution of our Church, ordaining the Supper succeeding it in the same time, so all superstition and formality be avoided.

The Place. 1. Every particular Lambe must be eaten in 2. Place.one house: to signifie the unity of the Church of God, the house of the living God, and the spirituall conjunction and agreement of all the faithfull in one bread and one body, 1 Cor. 10. 17.

2. If one house sufficed not to eat up one Lambe, they might call in their neighbours to a competent number; which might be about a dozen, as in our Saviours family: to signifie 1. That the Gentiles in time, by the voice of the Gospel, should be called in to the participation of Christ the Lambe of God, and to the fruition and feeding of the same Lambe with the Israelites. 2. No number is assigned, because the Lord onelyonly knowes who are his. 3. Because there were many Lambes to be slain, they must be eaten in many houses; so as no man must abstain from the Passeover in pain of death: signifying the speciall application of the same Christ to severall persons, families, and houses; that every one might taste the sweetnesse of Christ in his own heart, and no man expect to be helped or saved by another mans cating, that is, by the faith and devotions of others without p. 209his own. This is contrary to Romish doctrine.

The Persons. 1. OnelyOnly Israelites, no stranger from the 3. Persons.Covenant. For what have they to doe with the seales, that are excluded the writing? To signifie, that none without the bounds of the true Church have any part of the redemption of Christ; neither are capable of the priviledges of Gods people. This Lambe gives his life for his sheep onelyonly: the merit of his death is childrens bread onelyonly.

2. No uncircumcised person might eat the Passeover: signifying, that no unsanctified person can truly partake of Christ and his merits, and that none is fit to come to the Lords table (our Evangelicall Passeover) that is not first baptised, which Sacrament is come in the room of Circumcision.

3. Yet a stranger Proselite, if he would be Circumcised, and joyn himself to the people of God, might eat the Passeover as a Jew: to signifie both the calling in of the Gentiles, (of whom divers came in still, as Jethro, Rabab, Ruth, the Queen of Saba, Job, as first fruits of them) as also that the Lord is no accepter of persons, but in every Nation he that feareth him is accepted of him, Acts 10. 34, 35. Gal. 3. 27, 28.

The Manner, which was twofold. 1. Proper to the first 4. Proper manner of the first Passeover.Passeover in AEgypt. 2. Common to that and all other that followed.

I. Proper to the first Passeover in four things.

1. They must eat it standing, now on the suddain departing out of Egypt, This was a law of the first Passeover (for Christ and his Disciples sate, and stood not in celebrating the Passeover, and yet broke no law, as all the Evangelists observe) to signifie, that Christians must stand before God as prest and intent upon his service, but especially at the time of our departure out of this AEgypt. See we be in a readinesse to receive our full deliveries from the servitude of sin, Satan, and all their present oppressions, of which theirs was but a type.

2. They must eat it in haste: To admonish them not to stay or dwell any longer in that AEgypt: And to teach us, 1. To hasten out of our spirituall AEgypt quickly, least we p. 210partake of her plagues; and 2. To hasten to our Canaan and Countrey; even that heavenly Countrey, as they must to their earthly.

3. They must eat it like Pilgrims, with their loynes girt, staves in their hands, and shooes on their feet, ver. 11. signifying how we must eat and enjoy Christ our Paschall Lambe; esteeming our selves strangers and pilgrims here in the AEgypt of the world, to stand with our loynes girt with verity and truth, Eph. 6. 14. alluding to this very occasion, with the shooes of the preparation of the Gospel on our feet, and with the staffe of Gods heavenly Word in our hands, both to strengthen us in our way, to defend our selves in our right, and propulse whatsoever is in doctrine or manners contrary to heavenly doctrine. Thus must Christians acknowledge their condition on earth, and frame themselves to it, as the Rechabites, Jer. 35. 7. not forgetting the commandement of our Father. This was the third condition proper to the first Passeover, of which we read nothing in Christ and his Apostles.

4. They must not goe forth of the house all night till the morning, nor ever mingle themselves again with the AEgyptians, ver. 22, 23. This was also proper to that Passeover, for our Saviour Christ after the Passeover went out into the garden. This signified, 1. Our perseverance and continuance in the family of Christ the Church of God, not going out any more in action or affection to the AEgypt of this world. 2. That we can lie hid and safe onelyonly under the bloud of Christ, and in the house of Christ the Church of God, whereon and wherein that bloud is sprinkled, the revenging Angel is abroad, and out of the Church is no salvation. 3. In the night of errors, heresies, afflictions, and persecutions for the truth (when God revengeth the worlds contempt of his grace) if we would be safe, we must keep our selves within the Church, not departing from the particular house or Church in which we are, to joyn to Idolatry or errors, least Gods revenge overtake us, as the waters overwhelmed all that were without the Arke.

p. 211II. The manner prescribed to all Passeovers ensuing, stood Manner common to all Passeovers.in three observations.

1. They must eat it with unleavened bread: signifying, that if we would feed on Christ our Passeover, we must purge out all old leven, and become a new lumpe, 1 Cor. 5. 7. This old leaven is the fusty, swelling, and spreading corruption of our own wicked nature, the leaven of sinne, false doctrine, heresie, corruption of manners, soure and tart affections, that will not stand with the receiving of Christ and his benefits. All this we must purge out, and study for sincerity and truth in judgement, in affection, in action.

2. They must eat the Passeover with soure hearbs, as sauce: signifying, 1. True repentance, and godly sorrow of heart, to be inseparable with the true apprehender of Jesus Christ: 2. That Christ and his Crosse are inseparable, and that afflictions (as soure hearbs) are the most wholsome sauce of Christianity: Soure indeed, and unpleasing to the flesh, but profitable, 1. To prepare and provoke the appetite with more chearfulnesse and ardency to all godly duties of Prayer, Hearing, Sacraments, Mercy, Patience, Hope, &c. Rom. 5. 3, 4. 2. To whet and provoke to the practise of all Christian duties of mercy and love. 3. To excite the desire to be fully fed with that sweet tree of life, and that blessed Mannah (in which is no sourenesse) in the kingdome of glory, Rev. 2. 17.

3. They must alwayes in eating repeat and conferre of their deliverance out of AEgypt, and in memory of that benefit provoke their thankfulnesse to God, ver. 26, 27. adding as it were to the Sacrament a word of instruction: signifying,

1. That we should alwayes remember the death and passion of Christ, with due thankfulnesse for so great a deliverance by it: if they must still speak of their temporall deliverance, much more we of so great and eternall deliverance by it, from the spirituall servitude of sinne, death, the devill, and damnation.

2. It shadowed herein its successor in the new Testament, for the Sacrament of the Supper was therefore instituted, to keep in remembrance the death of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 11. 26. p. 212As often as yee shall eat this bread, and drink this cup, yee shew the Lords death till he come.

3. To be a rule for all Sacraments, wherein it is necessary, that the word be joyned to the Element: I mean the word of Institution, Ut accedat verbum ad elèmentum.and (if it may be conveniently) of exhortation, that the seal may goe with the Charter, as (even in these shadowes) the Lord himself straitly enjoyned: these were the Lawes prescribed for the Anniversary Passeover, both in Exod. 12. 14. and Numb. 9. in neither of which is any mention of any of the former Laws proper to the first Passeover.

The last condition in eating concerned the measure. The Lambe must be whole eaten: signifying,5. Measure of eating it.

1. Our perfect communion with Christ, who are as nearly united unto Christ, as the meat we eat, which is turned into our own substance.

2. That nothing in Christ is unprofitable.

3. That Christ must be received wholly without dividing of his natures, or destroying any of his offices. Arrius divides the Lambe in denying his Godhead. Manichees impugned his humanity. Neither eat the whole Lambe. The Papists destroy all his Offices. Whosoever deny any fundamentall Article of Religion, they divide the Lambe. To eat the whole Lamb, is to believe whole Christ; according to the rule. Faith is but one, yet a copulative: Deny one, overthrow all. Hitherto served that Injunction, that no part Fides est unā Copulativa.of the Lambe must be reserved till the morrow; but if any remained it must be burnt with fire, verse 10. The Lord in his infinite wisdome would prevent all the occasions of idolatry, which is easily admitted in the reservations of holy things: As in Popery, what a deal of idolatry is crept into the Church by reserving superstitious relicks, and especially their consecrated or conjured bread; as if this condition did not condemn expresly that Popish reservation of the hoast or breaden god? Add hereunto, that the Jewes, requiring the body of Christ on the Crosse to be taken away that night before the Sabbath, Joh. 19. 31. fulfilled (against their knowledge) this Prophecy: Nothing of the Paschall Lambe must be left till the morning.

p. 213Sect. V.

V. The Paschall Lambe is an expresse type of Christ, in respect of the fruit and use of it, which is security and safety Paschall Lamb a type of Christ in the benefits.from Gods revenge, ver. 23. For as by the sprinkling of the bloud, and eating of the flesh, the Jewes were defended from the revenging Angel, and the destroyer passed over the house where he espied the bloud sprinkled: So the bloud of Christ applied to the conscience, causeth the wrath of God to passe by those that are so sprinkled. And as they could sit in the house safe, and not fear the stroke of the destroyer, because of the bloud sprinkled; so whosoever by true faith feeds upon Jesus Christ, and are died with his bloud, rest secure, and fear not the destruction and revenge due to wicked men. Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in assurance of faith, sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience.

1. As the Jewes dwelling in Egypt were in great danger Use. 1.of the revenging Angel, who was to passe through the land: So all the Israel ot God, dwelling in the midst of the Egypt Danger of the scul: and how it is to be avoided.of the world, and too too much tainted with the fashions of it, have no small cause to fear the judgements and revenge of God, which must pursue the sinnes of it; and also to use meanes for their own safety in the night of trouble and revenge, as the Israelites did.

Quest. What meanes?

Answ. The same that Israel did. We must, 1. Sprinkle the house of our hearts with the bloud of the Lambe, Heb. 10. 22. sprinkled in our hearts, &c. Whosoever were sprinkled with the bloud of the Lambe, were safe. Was there so much power in the bloud of the type; and not much more in the bloud of the truth?

2. Get into the house of the Church, and fellowship of the faithfull; for such as are true members of the Church (which is the house of Saints) are secure from the plagues of wicked men. Isai. 27. 3. I the Lord doe keep the vineyard: I p. 214will water it every mom…nt: lest any assaile it, I will keep it night and day: and …sai. 37. …8. My people shall dwell in the Tabernacle of peace, and in sure dwellings, and in safe resting places. Noah can be safe no where (in the deluge) but in the Ark: And out of the Church is no salvation, or safety.

3. Thou must abide in the house all night, and goe not forth. Except the Israelites abide in the house, they cannot be safe: except thou abidest in the ship of the Church, thou canst not be safe, no more than any of Noahs company if they had stepped out of the Ark. We must adhere constantly to the true Church, and not forsake the fellowship, or depart from it by Apostacy, or revolt; which brings certain shipwrack of faith. Consider, Heb. 10. 25.

4. Patiently wait for the morning, even the bright rising and appearing of Jesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse; coming again to our deliverance; whether publikely to generall judgement, or personally in speciall to our selves. For he shall bring health under his wings, Mal. 4. 2.

II. In the whole precedent discourse is a fruitfull direction Use. 2. Directions for receiving the holy Communion.for Christians for their holy use of the Sacrament of the Supper, which is come in place of the Passeover.

1. As he must be circumcised that must eat the Passeover: so must he be baptized that must be admitted to the Supper; that is, a reverent professed Christian. For holy things must not be cast to dogs, Mat. 7. 6. The Word and Sacraments are childrens bread, and must not be cast to dogs, that is, obstinate enemies, scorners, blasphemers, to men of uncircumcised lips and eares, who wilfully repell the meanes of their cleansing. So much the more pity is it, that all sorts of notorious evill men thrust into the presence chamber of the great King, yea, sit down at the Lords Table, and like swine swill in his cup without controul, or any rebuke in many places: Open blasphemers, common-drunkards, scoffing Ishmaels, noted adulterers, obstinate sinners: And where is the care to preserve the holythings of God from pollution, contempt, and prophanation? Would a man spread a table for dogs or swine? If the shadows of these holy things might not be cast to dogs: is it nothing to expose to them the body p. 215and substance it self? 1 Cor. 11. 30. for this cause many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep

2. As the Lamb was taken in the tenth day, but was not slain till the fourteenth, that it might be before their eyes all the four dayes before, for the helping of their meditation, and due preparation to the eating of it: So no man must come to the Supper without due preparing himself. For if so long preparation was by God thought fit for the shadow: what preparation can be thought fit and sufficient for the substance, 2 Chron. 35. 6? It was the counsell of Solomon, Prov. 23. 1. When thou sittest down at a great mans table, consider diligently what is set before thee: Much more here at the great Gods Table, no consideration, of the Author, matter, manner, end, fruit, and use, can be sufficient. What a fearfull thing is it to come as most men do, not considering the Lords body? How miserable was the sentence of that guest, that sate down at the Kings table without his wedding garment? Our common preparation is, to put on our best Mat. 22. 13.Matt 22:13clothes, and to cover our bodily nakednesse in most curious manner: In the mean time the Lord seeth, and mens own consciences witnesse against them, how naked their soules lie, and filthily discovered. The due preparation to this ordinance would be attended with more comfort within, and more reformation without, than we can espie in most communicants.

3. As the Paschall Lamb must never be eaten without soure hearbs: so we must never come to the Sacrament without true humiliation and sorrow for sinne. There can be no sweetnesse in the bloud of Christ, till the heart be full of bitternesse for sin. For as soure sauces whet the stomack, and provoke the appetite: so true sorrow for sin stirreth up our desire and appetite after Jesus Christ, and prepares us to all good duties, and holds us in a fitnesse to pray, to hear the Word, to the Sacrament, to works of mercy, &c. What a sweet sourenesse and bitterness is that, which brings such delectable sweetnesse and refreshing after it? Any man of reason would make hard shift to drink down a bitter potion to help his bodily health: and much more a godly man will p. 216be contented to digest godly sorrow for the procuring of heavenly joy, and the sweet comforts of Gods salvation.

4. As the Jew might not eat the Lamb, till he had purged all leaven out of his house: So we must not come to the Sacrament without the forsaking of our sin. Never can a man expect any comfort by Christs Sacrifice, that hideth the old leaven in the corners of his heart. Whence the Apostle, 1 Cor. 5. 7. exhorteth the Saints, to purge out the old leaven; because Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us. Here is to be considered,

1. What this leaven is.

2. What is the purging of it.

1. This leaven is not onelyonly the leaven of corrupt doctrine, which suddenly soureth the truth and lumpe of the Gospel, as leaven doth a lump of dough: but also the leaven of sin, both in the corruption of nature; (which is the old leaven in our selves, and hath soured all the lump of whole mankind, and every man, and every faculty of man) as also in corrupt and vicious conversation, which soureth and leaveneth others with himself in societies.

2. The purging of this leaven is, 1. In correcting and repenting sin past; when a constant care is nourished to find it out, and to cast it out: 2. In serious conversion and turning to God; both which are expressed in Psal. 34. 14.

Sest. VI.

Quest. How may we purge out this leaven?

Answ. Imitate the Jew. For why should a Jew be more carefull in the shadow and ceremony, than a Christian in the truth and substance?Similitude of purging out leaven and sin.

I. The Jew begins to purge within, and banish it out of his house: So begin thou to purge the inside first, Jer. 4. 4. Wash thy heart, O Jerusalem. An hypocrite can wash his face, but a found Christian looks to his heart. Many can purge their mouthes and outward man about the time of the Sacrament; but the heart is stuffed with maliciousnesse, envie, p. 217prophaneness, and ungodliness. Many can be busie to purge other mens houses; but the Jew must purge his own house.

II. The Jew purged out all leaven, and spared none, not a morsell or a crum: And shall not a Christian count every sin a pollution, and hatefull to God? Shall any say, Is it not a little one? I may swear a little; be drunk, if seldome: I may not kill; but rail and revile, and speak my mind: I may not be an adulterer, but wanton in speeches, looks, behaviours, and in my company: I may not goe to plough on the Sabbath, but may buy and sell, ride abroad, or be idle at home. Why? Is not a little serpent a serpent; or a little poison poison? Is not a little leaven enough to soure a whole lump?

III. The Jew carefully and narrowly searched and swept every corner and cranny of his house, that not the least crum might escape him: And shall not we as carefully throw out this leaven out of every power of the soul, and every part and member of our bodies? That every one may possess his whole house in holinesse and honour, 1 Thes. 4. 4. How doth the Scriptures teach us to purge this leaven out of all corners?

As 1. Out of the conscience; to serve God with a pure Entire purging of the soul.conscience, 2 Tim. 1. 3.

2. Out of the affections; prescribing love out of a pure heart, 1 Tim. 1. 5. and to take heed to our feet coming to the Eccles. 5. 1.Eccl 5:1house of God.

3. Out of our senses, Psal. 119. 37. turn away mine eyes from regarding vanities; Job 31. 1. I made a covenant with mine eyes. So to shut the ear from hearing blasphemy against God, or men; and not to be agents and abetters of blasphemers

4. Out of our speeches, Psal. 39. 1. I said I will look to my wayes, that … not in my tongue: And instead of this leaven to accustome, our selves to the language of Cannaan, Esay 19. 18.Isa 19:18and …ous speeches tending to edification, ministring grace to the heare…s.

IV. A Jew must begin his purging seven dayes before, p. 218and hold on all the feast on pain of death: How much more should we begin to purge our selves betimes, and hold on so long as our Passeover lasts? And because our Passeover is not annuall, as that was, but continuall; we must continue our cleansing and separating from this leaven which is not easily washed out. Thou hast but trifled in this busines, that hangest down thy head for a day, and art penitent for the time of the Sacrament, unlesse thou continuest to reform and renew thy heart and life, and conscionably avoidest all leaven of sin, all thy life; which is, or ought to be a continuall Christian Passeover.

V. As the Jews must eat the Passeover with their loines girt, with staves in their hands, eating in haste as tending to their Countrey: So we must never come to the Sacrament, but with holy hearts and meditations.

1. Seriously considering what strangers and pilgrims we are here below; not having any continuing City here, but are seeking a Countrey, Heb. 13. 14. He that is a true eater of our Paschall Lamb, must not pitch down his staffe here; but as Christian Rechabites, Jer. 35. esteem themselves strangers, content themselves to dwell in tents, ever ready to remove; not distracting themselves in building houses, or planting vineyards, or seeking great things for themselves. Hence was that commendable admonition of the ancient Church, in the time of the Sacrament, used in our Liturgy: Lift up your hearts.Sursuns corda.

2. We must eat the Lamb hastily, hastning unto Christ the true Passeover; and not insist in these Sacraments of ours, which are still but as shadows of good things to come; yet serving us through this our strange Countrey, and speeding us into our own Canaan and Countrey, and that with all expedition; seeing that to be dissolved hence, and to be with Christ, is best of all, Phil. 2. 23.

3. We must celebrate our Passeover with staves in our hands, that is, the doctrine of the Law and Gospel held in our hearts, as a staffe to defend our selves in the right track and path of holy doctrine, and holy conversation; to repulse our adversaries that come out against us, for it is the sword of p. 219the Spirit; and to lean upon, as a staffe, in our weaknesse and wearinesse. This staffe must not lie by us in our books, but be held by us in our hands and hearts, and be (not in possession onelyonly, but) in our daily use. He hath no comfort of this Sacrament, that hath not this staffe in his hand.

VI. As the Jewes in eating the Passeover must repeat and recite the memory of that great deliverance out of Egypt by a mighty and miraculous power: so must we in our Sacrament commemorate and remember our great deliverance from hell, and that spirituall Pharaoh, wrought by the bloud of our Paschall lamb. 1 Cor. 11. 26. so often as ye shall eat this bread and drink this cup, ye shew the Lords death till he come, And therefore it is very fit the Word and Sacrament should go together, as the seal together with the deed and Indenture. Hence those, that are so devout at the Sacrament, and neglect or despise the Word, are meer hypocrites and ignorants; their folly is like his that makes much of a seale, but teares the Indenture all to pieces, which onelyonly can convey his inheritance unto him.

VII. As the Jewes came together to eat the whole lamb: so must we to receive whole Christ.

Quest. When do we receive whole Christ?Whole Christ must be received.

Answ. First when we reverently receive the signes appointed by Christ according to his own institution.

Secondly, when we receive faithfully the thing signified, which is Christ and all his merits.

I. For the former, 1. As it had been a great sinne for Note. 1. Popish abuses taxed.the Jewes to divide the lamb which God commanded to be eaten whole: no lesse grievous a sinne is it in Popery to administer the bread without the cup; of which Christ hath said expressely, Drink ye all of this.

2. As the Lamb was appointed to no other use by Moses but to be eaten: so was the bread and wine in the Sacrament ordained to no other end by Christ but to be eat and drank: all other holy use of them out of the action of the Sacrament is Idolatrous, superstitious, and unlawfull.

3. As it had been a grievous sinne to reserve any of the lamb till the morning, against so expresse a commandement p. 220appointing it to be wholly eaten: so grievous a sinne is it to reserve the consecrated host (as they foolishly call it) either to boxe up, or to hang up, or to worship and adore it, or pray unto it, or carry it in procession, or lift it up with both hands above the Priests head, that it may be worshipped with divine and Idolatrous worship; or yet (if it be possible) with more blasphemy to offer it upon an Altar, as an unbloudy sacrifice for the sinnes of the quicke and dead, which abolisheth (at once) the whole Priesthood of Christ. All which the Lord would prevent in this constitution, that no part of the lamb must be reserved, but if any were left it must be burnt with fire.

II. We eat the whole lamb, when with the signes we receive the thing signified, which is Christ and all his merits. We must feed upon and digest whole Christ; that is, be united so straitly and undividedly to Jesus Christ, as the meat which is changed into the same substance with our bodies; and this by the faith of our hearts, which so streightly knits us to Christ as a marriage bonde; and he becomes a perfect nourishment to us unto eternall life. Neither could our Lord fitlier expresse this straite union, than by feeding and eating; seeing there cannot be astraiter union in nature, than between the thing nourishing and nourished.

Question. What may I doe thus to receive the whole Lamb?

Answ. 1. Come hungry in sence of the want of faith, And how we may receive whole Christ.and desire of supply.

2. Labour to feele the sweetnesse of Christ; take heed of despising this sweet Manna: Let not the hunger of the Onyons, garlick, and flesh-pots of Egypt thrust down the desire of this Manna which comes down from heaven; to which the other Mannah was not halfe so sweet.

3. Thinke it not enough to eat the flesh of Christ Sacramentally if not spiritually. Conceive what a fearfull delusion it is to eat the Sacrament of the flesh of Christ in the Supper, and not eat the flesh of Christ by the Sacrament: Thou hast been at the Supper of the Lord, but hast not tasted of his Supper.