Moses and Aaron, Treatise · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
The Red Sea, a type.
THe second extraordinary Sacrament of the Old Testament, pointing unto Jesus Christ, was the Red Sea; Red Sea a type of Christ.which being miraculously divided by God, the Israelites (pursued by the Egyptians) passed through the midst of it, Exod. 14. 22. Now for our profitable and fruitful beholding this great work of God, we will consider it,
1. As a miracle in it self.
2. As a type and signification of Christ.
3. As applyable to our selves in some profitable observations.
I. In this great miracle are many miracles:Miracles in the miraculous dividing of it.
As 1. That so vast a sea should be divided with the lifting up of a rod. For the breadth of that Sea, where Israel went over, was (by computation of Ptolomy and other Geographers) twelve or fifteen German miles, at least thirty six of ours; so Chytraeus upon this place.
2. That the Lord should open a way, and lead Israel Psa. 106. 9.through the deep, as in the wildernesse; for their passage was not over the Sea, but through it. Neither did they walk upon the waters as upon the land, which had not been so much, for in cold countries it is ordinary for men and cariages to passe upon the Ice and congealed water as upon firme land: but they walked in the bottome of the Sea as on dry land. Who could deny, but it had been a work of omnipotency, for the Lord to have made the sea (on a sudden) a pavement for Israel (as hard as Christal) to have walked firme upon? but because every strong frost congeales the water according to nature, that had been lesse glorious, more questionable. But he provides for the clearness of his own glory, by effecting a work above (yea against) the whole frame of nature.
3. That the waters should stand as a solid wall on both sides, which are naturally fluid, and seeing nothing is so hardly contained within bounds as liquid waters, it was exceeding miraculous. And that the bottome of the Sea should on the suddain become firme and dry ground, (Exod. 14. 22.) and even as an high way, was not the least of these miracles.
4. That the same Sea at the same time should be both calm and tempestuous: For the mighty winds and tempests were so strong against the Egyptians, that it brake their Chariot wheeles, and they could hardly move or stirre against it; yet all the same time it was a peaceable calm to Israel; who were very near them.
5. The time of the standing of the waters on so vast an heap (whereon learned men agree not) any way concluded, is most miraculous. Some think (as Chytraeus) that for so many thousands, yea, hundred thousands of men, women, and children, to walk a soft pace, and to drive their cattel so many miles, must needs take them four or five dayes time, and then the waters to stand so long, was admirable. Others think they went through in one night, (for the text mentioneth but one night) and then was it no lesse miraculous, to convey so much people and cattel so much way in so small time.
6. That the same Sea at the same time should be both a gulfe and devourer; and yet a saver from devourers. That the same Sea at the same time should both retire back, and yet return to its course, for the Waters returned upon the Egyptians on the one side of the Sea, when Israel was not fully over on the other, as appeareth by comparing verse 26. with verse 29. That the same Sea at the same time should move and stand with such judgement and distinction, as not one Egyptian was saved, verse 28. not one Israelite drowned, verse 30.
II. Now consider this great work of God as a signification and type of Christ; which it must needs be as it is a Sacrament, How signified Christ.which we must consider, both in the constitution, and in the consequents or effects of it, in all directly pointing us to Jesus Christ hereby typified. In the first to the Corin. 10. 2. the Apostle saith, that all the Fathers were baptized in the sea; whence I gather three conclusions.
I. Conclusion: That this was a Sacrament figuring our baptisme, and that all necessary institutions of a Sacrament In three conclusionsconcur in it:
As 1. The Author was God, the Institutor both of the Covenant and seales, Exod. 14. 30.
2. The Minister was Moses, verse 31.
3. The Covenant sealed was Gods promise and word for their deliverance, verse 15.
4. The sign of the Covenant was Moses stretching of his hand, both for the dividing of the Sea, verse 16. and the returning of it again, verse 27.
5. The thing signified was salvation by the Messiah, and all spiritual and eternal benefits and deliverances procured by him sealed up in this miracle.
6. The faith of the Israelites was the same hand with ours to receive the same benefits, and things signified: verse 31. They believed God: Heb. 11. 29, By faith they passed thorough the Red Sea, &c.
II. Conclusion: There was not one of these actions in this temporal deliverance, but it signified and sealed such actions to the believing Israelites, as both confirmed their faith in the Covenant, and set forward their salvation meritted by the Messiah, and so still led them to Christ. As in these examples.
1. God in leading his people to Canaan made them a safe way through the Sea: signifying to their faith, that God offered them Jesus Christ the promised Messiah, through the red sea of whose death and passion, they should find a sure and safe way to passe them through a full sea of troubles to the true celestial Canaan, and by him, as by a firme way, to walk forward to eternal life.
2. When they saw the same Jehovah to divide the sea into his division (Junius calleth them cuttings off) and to drive Segmenta.away the raging waters from overflowing them; this action signified to their faith, that the Son of God by his merit and mediation would carry them through all difficulties and dangers as deep as the bottome of the sea, unto eternal rest, and so rebuke the seas of their sorrows, and drive back the raging waves of terrors and temptations that threaten their destruction, that they shall safely and happily passe through the sea as it were on dry land.
3. When they saw Jehovah the Sonne of God present with them in the voyage, and that he made the sea return to his force again, both to save themselves and to overthrow the Egyptians: It signified to their faith the action of Christ, freeing his elect from all spirituall forces and armies pursuing them, as also by a mighty overthrow swallowing up and devouring (in the bottomlesse sea of his wrath) all those that come out and stand against them.
III. Conclusion: There is no Evangelicall blessing by Christ sealed to us by baptisme, which was not signified and sealed to them in the Red Sea. So as Christ was as truly represented to them as to us, though not so clearly; and the truth and substanre of his merits exhibited to them as to us, onelyonly in a manner more obscure and clouded. As in examples,
1. If the waters of Baptisme seal up to believers, that the bloud of Christ alone saveth and defendeth the people of Benefits sealed up by baptisme.God from eternal death and damnation: What could be more plainly signified by the waters of the Red Sea saving Israel from present death and destruction?
2. Baptisme signifieth to us, that by the bloud of Christ (in which Red Sea all believers must be baptised) there is a dying and a burial unto sin, and a rising unto newnesse of life: What could be more plainly signified by the Baptisme of the fathers in the Red Sea, who were (after a sort) buried in the waters, but after raised to the shoare, and restored to land and life?
3. By the benefit of Baptisme (in which the Red Sea of Christs bloud is truly applyed) our old man and flesh is truly mortified, buried, and destroyed; but the new man is quickned and repaired; and now new motions, desires, affections are stirred up and preserved in the hearts of believers: what could be more expresly signified to the Fathers by the overthrow of Pharaoh and his hoste in the Red Sea, and the escape of the Israelites safe and sound?
4. When they did see themselves (by the benefit of the Red Sea) freed from Pharaohs servitude: how easily might they gather, that by the bloud of Christ every believer of Jewes and Gentiles are freed from the slavery of hellish Pharaoh, and all his Armies of sinnes and corruptions? And when they did see how the Egyptians (once dead and slain) could hurt them no more, how could they but gather, that all the armies of sin (once remitted and buried in the death of Christ) can no more rise up to condemnation, than a drowned Egyptian to drown an Israelite?
I. To note the mighty power of God, who can still and over-master the mighty raging of the Sea: which we see Use 1. Observe the power of God.here in that its water, dry land, sands, and shoare observe the providence of God, and serve for his peoples safety. Israel saw the mighty power of God herein, Exod. 14. 31. Let us also behold the glory of God herein, and fear before him as they did. Let not us be more senseless than the senselesse creatures, but hear his voice, runne out of our own nature to observe his voice sounding in the Scriptures and Ministry of the Gospel.
II. To see and consider the state of the Church and people Use. 2. The way to heaven filled with difficulties.of God. Canaan (whither they goe) is a fine and fertile countrey, but the way is asperous and dangerous. They are still as it were in the bottome of the sea: enemies implacable at their heeles in infinite numbers: Seas of waters dreadful to behold on both hands, yea, rising over their heads as mountaines threatning to fall over them: and after a deep sea, a terrible wildernesse takes them, in which is no meanes for meat, drink, nor cloath. A man would think, no man could deal so with his children: and yet Gods wisdom sees this the fittest way to Canaan. He sees how, 1. Every small And why.content glewes us to our Egypt. 2, What sluggs we are in the way, farther than we are chased out. 3. How little we care for dependance on himself, when we are full of naturall comforts. 4. That Canaan is so rich a land as is worthy all our labour and suffering.
Apply this note to awake thee out of thy ease and carnall slumber. If thy way be so easie and pleasing to flesh, sure it leads not to Canaan, suspect it. The Israelites going into Egypt had no enemies nor troubles meeting them; but going into Canaan, they had nothing else. Strait is the way that leads to life, and all the way to heaven is strowed with crosses. Apply it also to secure thee in thy troubles. Art thou in a deep danger or sorrow like the bottome of the sea? It is no worse with thee than with the rest of the people of God. No affliction overtakes thee, but the same hath befaln the Saints in the world. Hold on to Canaan, and all is safe: Canaan is worth all. Happy thou if thou canst get to Canaan, though thy passage be through the bottome of the sea.
III. To observe what a many comforts this great work Use. 3. Many comforts by this great work of God.of God will load us withal, that are willing to carry them away. For.
I. The Lord in strange and unwonted dangers can work new and unwonted remedies for his children. As we heard before that fire shall not burn them, so here the Sea (at his word of restraint) shall not drown them. He can make a wall of water more strong for them than a wall of Adamant: yea, himself (according to their need) will be to them either a wall of fire or water.
II. What danger can prevail against the Church, if all these dangers on all hands, above them, below them, afore them, behind them at once, cannot sinke them? No, All the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Every main affliction is like a main Red▪ Sea, which threatens to swallow us up, but it shall in the issue onelyonly preserve the Church. What we have most cause to fear, the Lord maketh most helpful and soveraign. The very raging Sea (rather than they shall perish) shall open her lap as a tender mother, to recieve them from the rage of Pharaoh and his pursuing army: Nay, the land of Goshen shall not be half so bountiful to them as these waters, which gave them freedome, victory, and the spoiles▪ and riches remaining upon the dead bodies of their enemies.
III. How unweariably the Lord sets himself to overcome all difficulties for his servants. What had it been to have passed the oppressours of Egypt, and to have been swallowed up of the sea? Therefore he makes a new way, where never any way lay before, in the bottome of the Sea. Afterwards he makes a dry and barren wildernesse comfortable to them; dryes up Jordan as strangely for their passage; gives them a daily harvest of Manna from heaven; breaks a Rock to give them water; and happily in time finisheth their long and tedious journey. Even so the godly (going out of Egypt, departing from the kingdome of the devill, and hastning out of the world towards heaven) come presently into a deep sea; not pursued onelyonly by the fury of tyrants and enemies, but every where threatned with dangers, wants, and death it self: yet the Lord breakes for them one toyle after another, and happily guides them through a deep sea of miseries, and never leaves them till they recover the shoare, and arrive safely at the haven of salvation, where their songs shall be louder than their cryes were, and a mighty deliverance shall swallow up all their danger.
IV. Here is comfort against the fear of enemies.
1. Spiritual enemies. For here we have both a confirmation and resemblance of the eternal delivery of the Church from the tyranny of the hellish Pharaoh; which in spight of him is led through a sea of tribulation every where ready to overwhelme it, into the promised rest of everlasting life. Again we see here our sinnes also cast into, and drowned in the bottome of the Red Sea, Mic. 7. 19. These are the strongest and fiercest enemies that pursued us to death; but these our furious sinnes (as so many Egyptians) are drowned in the sea of Christs bloud, and extinct in the waters of Baptisme, Aug. Psal. 113.
2. Temporal enemies. How can the Egyptians hope to stand before Israel, to whom the waters give way so strangely? The enemy shall find the same sea a wall and a well, a safety and a death. Let enemies look here as the heathen did, and let their hearts faint as theirs, to see God make the Sea a wall, a lane, yea, a lap for his people. Let them behold the ordinary work of God, who commonly joynes the salvation of his Church with the destruction of the enemies. So for Mordecaies advancement, and the Churches deliverance, Haman must be hanged, and his posterity destroyed: as in a ballance, if one scoal goes up, down goes the other.
IV. The godly to partake of these comforts must learn,Use. 4. Duty of them that will enjoy these comforts.
1. To labour for increase of faith: for by faith they passed thorough the Red Sea, Heb. 11. 29. So must thou get faith for thy vessel to passe thee through. Faith in tryall is a great victory; in the bottome of the Sea, in deepest afflictions it is most glorious. It is nothing to believe in prosperity: but in desperation to believe, in the bottome of the Sea to stand still, yea, in the bottome of hell to hope for heaven, there is faith.
2. To joyn to Gods people. Let not the Egyptian think the way is made for him. Except thou goest out with Israel (as Exod. 12. 38.) the sea will know thee for an Egyptian, and cover thee.
3. To get God their guide, and to follow him. Neither Noah upon the top of a world of seas, nor Israel in the bottome of the sea shall miscarry, if …od become the Pilot. Follow thy guide, goe on forward, fear not, rest in God for safety in extream danger, and thou art the fittest for his help and deliverance. See 2 Chron. 20. 12. We know not what to doe, but our eyes are towards thee.