Moses and Aaron, Treatise · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire, a type.
OF the ordinary Sacraments of the Jewes, pointing at Christ, we have spoken: Now of the extraordinary. Of these some are answerable to the Jewes circumcision and our Baptisme. As 1. the Pillar of Cloud. 2. The red Sea. Some to the Jewes Passeover and our Supper. As 1. Mannah from Heaven. 2. Water out of the rock. The ground of this distinction we have in 1 Cor. 10. 2, 3. where the Apostle leads us by the hand to the distinct consideration Cloud and fire types. Ground.of these Sacraments. First of the Pillar of Cloud and fire, under which the Fathers of the old Testament were baptised. When the Lord in his wise providence appointed to lead the children of Israel (for the space of fourty years) through a drie, uncouth, and terrible wildernesse, himselfe undertooke to be their guide, and for their certaine direction in their way, appointed them this visible signe of his presence for their motion or station, by night or by day, through all their pilgrimage: concerning this Cloud let us enquire
1. Of the kind.
2. Of the difference between it and other clouds.
3. Of the use of this cloudy Pillar.
4. How a type of Christ.
1. Quest. What kind of Cloud was this?
Answ. Not naturall, but supernaturall and miraculous, 1. What cloud it was.yea, one of the four great miracles that the Lord continued all the while of their Journey, which was fourty yeares.
Those four great miracles were, 1. The not swelling of their 4. constant miracles to Israel in the wilderness.feet. Deut. 8. 4.
2. Their aparrells not wearing, or not waxing old, Deut. 8. 4.
3. The feeding of them with daily Mannah, vers. 3. and 16. and water out of a rock, vers. 15.
4. This Pillar.
2 Quest. Was there any diference between this and other 2. How it differed from other cloudsClouds?
Answ. Yes, in five things 1. The Matter. 2. The Fashion. 3. The Motion. 4. The Properties. 5. The Durance.
1. The Matter of it was not of vapours as other Clouds, nor apt to engender raine, but framed by the Lord besides and above the ordinary course of nature.
2. The Fashion: It kept still the figure of a Pillar, whereas other clouds continually alter the shape and figure every moment.
3. The Motion: other clouds are moved by the wind: this moved it selfe, yea, though the winds moved most strongly, it stood still. Besides that the motion of it was certaine, and imi…able, so as they might follow it, but so was it never in any other cloud.
4. It had contrary Properties, of light and darknesse, being a Pillar of cloud and fire.
5. In Durance. For one cloud to continue firme and stable for fourty years long, must needs be miraculous, whereas nothing is sooner dispersed than ordinary clouds by wind and weather. In all which regards it is called the Cloud of the Lord, Numb, 14. 14. Not that all clouds are not his, but Nubes Ichovae.because this was so after a speciall and extraordinary manner.
3. Quest. What was the use of this cloudy Pillar?3. What was the use of it.
Answ. Threefold, the first in respect of God, the second in respect of the Israelites, the third in respect of their enemies, Numb. 14. 14.
I. In respect of God; It was a signe and symbole of the presence of God and Christ. For God often pleased to manifest his presence by the clouds: As when he sets his bow in the cloud, a signe of his favour: God in a cloud appeared to Moses, Exod. 19. 9. God appeared in the cloud upon the Oracle, Lev. 16. 2. So Christ in the Mount was transfigured in a bright cloud: In his ascending he was taken out of their sight in a cloud: And in his comming againe to judgement, he shall appear in the clouds to judge the quick and dead.
2. In respect of the Israelites. 1. To shew and direct them the way as a faithfull and constant guide through the wildernesse, for when it moved, they must move, when it stood, they must stand. Psal. 78. 14. in the day he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire: which seemes the chiefe use of it, Exod. 13. 21.
2. To shine and lighten them in the way, so as they might go by night as well as by day, so in Psal. 78. 14. he led them all night long with a light of fire, noted also, Exod. 13. 21.
3. To coole and comfort them (as a shadow) from the parching heat of the Sunne: Psal. 105. 39. He spread the cloud as a covering or canopy over them. To which the Prophet (Isa. 4. 5.) alluding, calls it a covering cloud, which shadow was no small comfort in that hot countrey, in that drie and parched desart, they still lying and living abroad in it.
4. As a shield to defend them against their enemies, for the cloud came between the host of Israel and the host of the Egyptians to separate between them. And therefore it is called (Numb. 9. 19.) the watch of the Lord, actively, watching over their safety; passively, which they carefully watched and attended.
3. In respect of enemies: It was darknesse to the Egyptians, Exod. 14. 20. For the Lord used two of his creatures against the Egyptians especially; water, and the cloud, as meanes of execution of his justice upon his enemies: As the cloud and fire shall be serviceable for the execution of his last and generall judgement at Christs second appearing.
IV. Quest. Wherein was this cloudy pillar a type of 4. How it vvas a type of Christ.Christ?
Answ. In five respects. 1. As a Pillar. 2. Of Cloud. 3. Of Fire. 4. Of Cloud and Fire. 5. In the Use of it.
I. As a Pillar it signified Christ; who as a Pillar is firme, stable, straight, strong, and as a Pillar able to support his Church, and to beare up all the living stones layd on this foundation.
II. As a Pillar of cloud. 1. As the Cloud naturally engendereth fruitfull raines and showres: so Christ properly, by the influence and raine of grace, makes the field of the Church fresh, fruitfull, flourishing.
2. As the Cloud mitigates the heat of the Sun: so Jesus Christ quencheth and allayeth the parching heat of his Fathers wrath, and is the covering of his Church in this drie and parched wildernesse. So as when the soul of a man is dried up and fainteth within him through heat of his sinne, then he refresheth it with the sweet and comfortable doctrine of the Gospell (as with a sweet raine) the distressed conscience. He it is, that speaketh a word to the weary in due season.
3. As the Cloud covered Israel from the Egyptians fury, so Jesus Christ defends his Church, 1. From the fiery, darts and assaults of Satans temptations. 2. From the furious rage of our own lusts, and inflammation of sinne. 3. Shelters it from the heat of the Sun of persecution, and from all bodily foes, that they cannot do what they will but what he permits.
III. Christ was signified by the fiery part of the Pillar.
For, 1. As fire hath a quickning heat in it: so hath Jesus Christ, who is the life of the world; but especially of his Church and elect.
2. As fire hath light: So Christ is the true light of the world; whom, whosoever believeth, he needs no other light nor knowledge to salvation, no more than Israel needeth any light in the night but this. All Gods people walk by this fiery Pillar and by no other.
3. As fire purgeth and purifieth metalls from drosse: so doth Jesus Christ purge his people from all their sinnes; partly by the fire of his spirit within, Matth. 3. 11. and perfectly by his bloud which cleanseth from all sinne. 1 Joh. 1. 7.
IV. As a Pillar both of Fire and Cloud, it signified, Christ in his 1. Person. 2. Actions.
1. In his Person: being a Pillar both of fire and cloud, it was both light and darknesse; signifying Christ Jesus, God and man; both shining in the brightnesse of the glory of his deity, and at the same time clouded, veiled, darkned, and obscured in a base and despicable humanity, in which to the blind world, was no forme nor beauty, Isa. 53. 2. And as both fire and cloud make but one Pillar, so God and man one Christ.
2. In his Actions. For, 1. As the Pillar of fire and cloud, Christ both enlightens the Israel of God to salvation, and is darknesse, at the same time, to all Egyptians, that is, a stumbling block and stone of offence to unbelievers.
2. As the same Pillar, Christ both openeth the way of the red sea to believers, giving the grace of Baptisme through the red sea of his bloud: as also justly shutteth obstinate sinners from his grace and favour; the meanes of which (being offered unto them) they wilfully tread under foot, turning all the grace of Christ to their deeper damnation.
3. As the same Pillar of cloud and fire, Christ is the guide of all the Israel of God; whom we must follow in all our journey through our wildernesse, both in the rules of his holy doctrine, and also of his blessed example. Therefore himselfe saith (Matth. 11. 29.) follow me: as they were to follow that cloud; for that was but a type of this, leading us unto our Canaan.
4. As that same Pillar of cloud and fire, Jesus Christ protecteth his Church from all enemies: He steps between the Camps of Israelites and Egyptians, becoming their sure defence, Psal. 18. 1, 2. This Pillar shall never rest till the dead bodies of the Egyptians and enemies become a spoile and spectacle to his people.
V. In the infallible instruction of it, it typified Christ. For as the Lord spake to Moses out of the cloudy Pillar, when it descended on the Tabernacle, and delivered his Oracles in it, Exod. 33. 9. So Jesus Christ alone is the cloudy Pillar by whom the Lord delivers to us his whole counsell concerning our happy passage through this our wilderness to that blessed Canaan, the happy rest of all the Saints. And as they must hear and obey absolutely those Oracles, so we are commanded to hear him. Mat. 17. 5.
Application followes.
I. Is Christ the Pillar? Here is comfort for the people of Use 1. Comfort by Christ as our guide.God; who shall want no good things, but this Pillar of cloud and fire shall supply it. For,
I. The Cloud was a generall guide for all and every particular of Gods people, Isa. 4. 5, 6. The cloud was every where seen: and Christ is every where present to be seen and found in his Church. Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middest of them, Matth. 18. 20. Jer. 51. 5. Israel hath been no widow.
II. The Cloud was an unerring guide; because the Lord went in the Cloud: so that (except the Lord could mislead them) they must needs go aright. Jesus Christ is the way as well as the truth; follow him in the direction of his word, in the motions of his spirit, agreeing thereto: in his blessed example, both in doing and suffering walk as he did: and as be passed by his Crosse to the Crown, so shall he lead thee through this wildernesse to that Canaan and rest, to which he hath gone before to take thee in.
III. As the Cloud was a safe guide and a covering cloud, so is Jesus Christ the vaile and cover of his Church. When the Pharaoh of hell pursues us at heels, and is even ready to snatch us back into eternall slavery; now this Angell of the Covenant interposeth himselfe to defend us, and steppeth between us and dangers. This Cloud of Gods protection (seem it never so farre off) is the sure wall and defence of the Church, the strongest munition, and will not suffer the Egyptian armies to come near the Israelites to hurt or destroy them, but onelyonly to exercise them, & drive them more hastily to God for safety, and to Canaan for rest. This is a sure comfort, when we know that all the enemies of grace, Papists, apostates, recusants, drunkards, scorners and atheists reach at us to hurt and hinder us in our way, this cloud shall make them further us.
IV. The Cloud was a powerfull guide, strengthning Israel, weakning and discomforting all the power of Egypt; powerfully and miraculously opening the red sea for a passage to the one, and shutting it for the others perdition. Our Lord Jesus is a potent guide, the Michael and Captain of Gods Armies, getting himself a name upon Pharaoh and his forces, discomfiting and destroying all adversary power of our salvation, perfectly conquering for us all the powers of darknesse, and triumphing upon all the externall enemies that pursue his people, and making them the dust of his footstool. Besides that, this cloud powerfully opens the red sea, and makes a way for the Saints through a sea of afflictions. Oh the sweet comfort hence, both in the view of the trouble of the Church in generall, beset with so many huge armies of Antichrist and his adherents; as also in sence of our own particular tryals! Both whole and parts are under this powerfull cloud.
V. The Cloud was a comfortable guide, a cooling covering Cloud: Jesus Christ is the well, yea, and sea of consolation: without whom is nothing but scorching heat, which would burn up and consume the Church. But he cools the fire of his Fathers wrath for us, he cools the fiery darts of Satans temptations, and quencheth them in us; he refresheth and cheareth us in the sunne of persecution and afflictions, which Satan and his instruments kindle against us; he is our onelyonly shadow for the heat, and a cover for the storm, and for the rain, Isai. 4. 6. Now therefore get to him by prayer, faith, and repentance.
VI. The Cloud was a patient and respective guide. It waited all their necessities, it rested that they might rest, it moved slowly according to their pace, it stayed for them till they had ground their Manna, and baked it; till they had eaten and refreshed themselves; till they had offered sacrifices, and whatsoever was necessary to be done, it waited for them. Oh what a patient and respective Lord have we, who not onelyonly waits on our necessities, but beares all our needs and weaknesses on himself; not onelyonly beares with our infirmities, but beares them on himself, and helpes them in us! He stretcheth his hands all day long, waiting for our return: He knows our mould and weaknesse, and covers it with his own strength and righteousnesse: He would be in all things like us, that he might in all things help us.
VII. The Cloud was a constant guide. The Lord never took away his Pillar by day, nor by night from before the people, Exod. 13. 22. not all their journey till they came into Canaan. Jesus Christ is constant to his Church, never leaves it without light and direction, without comfort and consolation, without safety and protection. Nay he not onelyonly leads and covers them in this wildernesse, but never failes them, no not in the land of their rest. That cloud, which now is like the cloud which Elias saw, like the bignesse of an hand, then shall cover, or rather fill the whole heavens.
II. Here is a ground of confidence and security in the greatest perils. What a marvellous thing is it, that a Pillar Use. 2. Confidence and security by Christ.of fire should sit upon the Tabernacle, and not burn it? What a strange thing, that a Pillar of fire must cool the Israelites, and save them from fire? So shall all fires kindled, and all extream dangers threatned against the Church, tend to the saving and comforting of it.
For 1. God never kindles a fire to consume his Church, but (as the Pillar of fire) to enlighten it, and direct it to Canaan.
2. The Church is that bush which burnes with fire, but is not consumed, Exod. 3. 2. The members of this Church are not chaffe and stubble, but pure metall, the longer in the fire, the better tryed, and the purer.
3. There is no Pillar of fire in the Church without the pillar of cloud: God mingleth his corrections with consolations, and in judgement remembreth mercy.
4. Nature must run out of her self to doe homage to her Creator. Fire must c…ase to burn at his word, Dan. 3. 27. The fire burnt onelyonly the bonds of the three children, but not their bodies: it not onelyonly saves their lives, but sets them at liberty, being cast in bound.
5. The power of God makes all the creatures serviceable to his Church; the love of God to his Church makes them comfortable, and the presence of God with his Church makes them profitable: as the presence of the Angell in the bush: the presence of a fourth (like the Sonne of God) in the furnace, Dan. 3. and the Pillar of fire was a sign of the presence of God in it, who made a pillar of dreadfull and unmercifull fire a great mercy to his people, yea, and most beneficiall.
6. The wisdome of God can put understanding into these senselesse creatures, to distinguish between an Israelite and an Egyptian. The fire shall give light to the Israelites, and deny it to the Egyptians. The sea shall give way to Israel, but shut up the way to Egypt. The cloud shall hide, cover, and comfort the Israelites, but deny it to the Egyptians. The fire shall come out and destroy the Captains and their fifties, and send them to hell, but a Chariot of fire shall hoyse Eliah to heaven. Make use of this observation for the present; in the greatest dangers remembring that gracious promise, Isai. 43. 2. When thou passest through the fire I will be with thee, and it shall not burn thee, no more than the Pillar did the Israelites. Doe the enemies come out against us as strong as pillars, as furious and fiery as fire it self? Never was there so not a Pillar of fire, but there was a cooling and covering Cloud as near us. The Cloud that makes the Red sea give way, can conquer Canaanites too, and all the furious enemies that come out against us. Were it not for this Cloud of Gods gracious protection, there were no standing against the heat and rage of such fiery enemies. Lay up this meditation for time to come: Time shall be, when our Lord Jesus shall appear in flaming fire, 2 Thess. 1. Heb. 10. 7. he comes with a violent fire: Psal. 50. 3. a fire shall devour before him. This shall burn up the studs of heaven and earth; and now how shall any man be able to stand before these great burnings.
Now know, 1. That that dreadfull fire shall attend Christ the head as a servant, for the finall salvation of his members.
2. It shall be commanded to be comfortable to the elect; as most dreadfull to the wicked, driving them to their wits end; even as this Pillar of fire was: And as the waters of the deluge, which (while they drowned the world of the ungodly) lifted up the Ark, and saved that from drowning.
III. Who they he that may expect to partake of all these Use. 3. Notes of them that receive comfort by this Pillar.comforts from this Pillar.
Answ. The Cloud is not the same to all: But the same Cloud that lightned Israel, cast darknesse on the Egyptians; so Christ is not the same to all, not sweet, not comfortable to all: But to such as are,
1. Of mount Sion, Isai. 4. 5. true members of the Church, sonnes of the Church, known by eleaving to the Assemblies. Upon Sion and the Assemblies thereof shall be a cloud, in Sion shall be deliverance. And as the hills compass Jerusalem, so doth the Lords protection his people.
2. Such as be in the Lords wayes, gotten out of the Egypt of their darkness and earthliness, and moving still towards Canaan; for so did the Israelites: so Psal. …1. 11. they shall keep thee in all thy wayes. All the while Israel was in Egypt they had no Pillar of Cloud and Fire, and when they came into Canaan they had none, nor needed any; but while they were walking in the wilderness in unknown wayes, in danger of enemies; We are without protection while we are in the state of nature, not called out of our Egypt; and when we shall come into our Canaan we shall need none, because we shall be set quite beyond danger and enemies: But now in our moving towards heaven, in so many dangerous wayes, among so many mortall enemies, we need the Cloud, and the Lord supplies our need.
3. Such as life up their eyes to this Cloud and Pillar for direction. Had Israel refused to move according to the motion of it, it would not have sheltred and comforted, but revenged them: Such onelyonly shall obtain the mercy of God in Christ, who obediently follow Christ, and submit themselves to his direction. If thou waitest upon him for duty, thou mayest wait upon him for mercy; for such onelyonly shall attain it, Gal. 6. 16. Psal. 121. 1. I will lift mine eyes up to the mountains, and then verse 6. the Sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the Moon by night: alluding to this place, in which the Cloud abates the heat of the Sun by day, and the fire the coldness of the Moon by night.
4. Such as persevere and goe on forward in grace. For therefore was the Pillar light in the night to Israel, that they might goe forward day and night: And therefore was it a dark cloud to the AEgyptians, that they might not hinder the Israelites in their way. Gods favour and protection belongs to such as desire to prosper and profit in grace, and get every day nearer their happiness.
Object But this seems to be the way to lose all peace and And how this comfort is to be esteemed.joy of our lives, seeing none are more assailed by Satan and wicked men, than godly men, sonnes of the Church that walk in Gods wayes, that take Gods directions, and desire to proceed and persevere in godliness; how then are all these promises accomplished?
Answ. 1. All promises of temporall good things are made with exception of the cross: this exception impeacheth not the promise.
2. It is a common condition of good and bad, to sustain many evils, and undergo many difficulties; but with this difference, that the wicked have no Pillar to sustain them, no Cloud, no refuge or hiding place: but the godly hath God for his refuge, his Pillar and Cloud.
3. The Pillar still stands over the Tabernacle, and saves the Army of Israel: the whole Church is ever saved by Gods protection, though some souldiers may fall in the battell: as Martyrs, who receive not alwayes corporall deliverance, to receive a better resurrection.
4. If this Pillar put not off some evils, it ever supplies some greater good: If it deliver not from death, it delivers by death: If our state seem not so good, it will turn it to good, Rom. 8. It led the Israelites to Marah, a place of bitternesse; but the next remove was to Elim, where were twelve fountains of water, Exod. 15. 23. 27. It suffers the Israelites to want meat in the wilderness, but to feed them with Manna: If to want drink, it is to supply them by miracle; to refresh their souls as well as bodies by water out of a rock.
IV. In the same Pillar of the Cloud, see Justice and Mercy Use. 4. Mercy and justice met in this type.met together and tempered.
1. Mercy to the Church and believers; that now we behold Gods presence in a cloud. The brightness of his goodness to us shines in this dark cloud, in which we see him as we are able. His Majesty hath attempered himself to ou… debility and weakness. For such is our infirmity here below, that unlesse the glory of God be vailed and covered, we can never be able to behold it: no more than the Priests could stand before the brightness of the cloud that filled the Temple, 1 King. 8. 11. nor the Disciples abide the brightness of Christ, when a bright cloud shadowed them in his transfiguration. For as no man can endure to see the Sun in his brightnesse and strength, but in and through a cloud he Mat. 17. 5, 6may: so no man can behold the glorious Majesty of God and live. Hence hath he pleased to let us behold him here, not in his own glory, but in his Christ; in whom his excellent Majesty is vailed and covered with our humanity. This is his mercy, that we see now as we may, as in a glasse or mirrour; preparing us to a farther mercy, than which no mercy goeth farther, namely to see him as we would, and face to face; when with our frailty and corruption all clouds and vailes shall be removed.
2. His justice against sinners; whose misery it is, that there is alwayes a cloud between God and them. A cloud of ignorance, that hinders them from the knowledge of God and holy things; they see no true light: A cloud of darkness and misery, that suffers them not to enjoy one spark of sound comfort or consolation: A thick cloud of lusts and sinnes, which hinders the passage of their prayers. They may truly use that speech of the Church, Lam. 3. 44. Thou hast covered thy self with a cloud, that our prayers should not passe through. As this cloud was a means of greatest mercy to Israel; so was it of extream misery and destruction to the Egyptians.
V. Is Christ this Pillar of Cloud and Fire? Then we must Use. 5. Follow Christ as a guide.follow Christ our guide. The Saints in earth are as Israel in their pilgrimage marching out of Egypt into the promised land. God of his mercy affords us as he did them, a comfortable cloud to lead us through to Canaan. We must depend on this Pillar; For light of instruction against the blindnesse of our minds: For light of consolation in sorrows and terrours of heart, that we may say with the Church, Mic. 7. 8. When I shall sit in darkness the Lord is my light: For spirituall heat and warmth; seeing this Pillar onelyonly can kindle true love of God, true zeal for God and his glory, servency in prayer, and inflame us with all ardent desires after God We must follow this Pillar for safety, security, direction, &c.
Quest. How may we follow this Pillar?And how.
Sol. As the Israelites carefully followed the Cloud, in this manner.
1. Because the Cloud was placed on high, they must still look upwards: So must we still look upwards, not fixing our eye on any other direction about us, or beside us. We must not walk by examples of men never so great, never so wise, never so rich, never so near us; but onelyonly so far as they follow this Cloud. The Sunne of the world, and the Sonne of the Church herein agree, that both of them are set infinitely above our heads; that we should expect our direction from above, not from below; from the heavens, not from the earth.
2. As the Israelites contented themselves with that Pillar, as being sufficient: So must we with the light ftom Christ our Pillar. They needed no artificial lights of their own devising; the Pillar of fire was sufficient (although at midnight) to enlighten them. The Sunne at noon day was not more useful to them than this Pillar at midnight: So Christ in the Scriptures is a most bright and shining light; not (as the Papists say) obscure, dark, imperfect, unlesse there be an addition of traditions, Fathers, and mens devises. As that Cloud was no natural direction: so we must not walk by direction of nature, dictate of reason, or command of our own wills and senses. Follow this Pillar onelyonly, and (as Goshen was light when all AEgypt was darkness) thou shalt have light when all the world else sits in darkness, Joh. 8. 12. But as for such as kindle themselves a fire, or set up a Pillar to themselves, and walk in the light of it, and in the sparkes themselves have kindled; the Lord threatens what they may expect from his hands; They shall lie down in sorrow, Isaiah 50. 10.
3. As Israel must watch this Pillar night and day, and frame their whole course unto it for motion or station, for action or for rest: so must we to Christ (our Pillar) in the Scripture. Blessed is the man that meditates in the Law of the Lord night and day. And as they must give diligent heed both day and night, to be ready for their journey whensoever the Cloud should move; and therefore are said to keep the Lords watch, Numb. 9. 19. so must we alwayes watch, and be in a readiness; because we know not when the Master of the house will come, at even or at midnight, at the cock-crowing or in the dawning, Mar. 13. 35. Remember for conclusion; that blessed shall that servant be (and he onelyonly) whom his Master (when he cometh) findeth well doing.