Moses and Aaron, Treatise · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
5. Ioseph a type of Christ. 4. waies.Ioseph a type of Christ 4. wayes. 1. Gen. 30. 24 Luke 1. 18.
I. IN regard of his person. 1. Joseph was the first borne of the beloved Rahel, as Christ was the first borne of the freely beloved Mary. 2. Best beloved of his father, Gen. 37. 3. figuring Christ who was declared the well-beloved Decorus facic, pulchrior mente.in whom his Father delighted, Matth. 3. 17. 3. He was very beautifull, Gen. 39. 6. and his internall beauty was more than his externall: Christ was more beautifull than the sons of men, and making us beautifull in his beauty. 4. Joseph was endued with such a measure of wisedome and understanding as none was like him, in whom Gods Spirit was. For which cause he was called Zaphnathpaaneah, verse 45. Gen. 41. 38.that is, an expounder of secrets: figuring Christ in whom were treasures of wisedome, and the Spirit beyond all measure; who is therefore called the great Counseller, and the Lambe onelyonly worthy to open the book, who onelyonly hath the key of David to open the secret mysteries of salvation. 5. In Jacobs last Testament, Joseph is called a fruitful bough, whose branches runne upon the wall, because out of him branched two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, therein he was a type of Gen. 49. 22Christ, who is not a fruitfull bough onelyonly, but a root from whom all the tribes of God branch out and flourish. And whereas those tribes are come to nothing; Christ shall see Isai 53. 10.his seed, and prolong his dayes.
II. In his actions. 1. Joseph was sent by his father to visite 2. Gen. 37. 15.his brethren in the wildernesse: So was Christ sent to seek his brethren wandering in the wildernesse, he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. 2. As at thirty years, Joseph was preferred to his Office by Phanaoh: so at thirty years Gen. 41. 42.Christ entered his Office. 3. As by Pharaoh a virgin was given Joseph to wife, verse 45. So is the Church as a pure Virgin given by the Father to Jesus Christ, as his spouse to sanctifie and save: All that the Father giveth me, shall come Ioh. 6. 37.to me: and him that commeth to me I will in no wise cast out. 4. As Joseph out of Pharaohs garners feeds all Egypt, all his fathers house, and the nations; whence in Gen. 49. 24. he is called the feeder of Israel, and a stone, that is, a rocke or refuge to his brethren: So Jesus Christ is the feeder of Israel, and of all the family of God in all Nations of the earth, not with temporall food onelyonly, but with the Manna from heaven, the word and Sacraments, and his owne flesh and bloud, the incorruptible and indeficient bread and water of life. 5. As Joseph in his lowest estate was both a Lord in the prison, and a comforter of the prisoners, assuring the Butler of his life, and recovery of his place: So Jesus Christ at his lowest abasement, was Lord over death and the grave, having command of them, and his last breath on the Crosse almost comforted the poor thiefe promising him both life and glory. 6. As Joseph doth all the good he can for his brethren that had ill deserved it: For, 1. He teacheth them how to live together, and commends brotherly love and concord, fall not out by the way. 2. Teacheth them how to Gen. 45. 24speake to Pharaoh, and what to demand. 3. Goes to Pharaoh, and speaks, and obtaines for them whatsoever he would, and placeth them in Goshen the fat of the land, till they come to Canaan: So Jesus Christ above all lessons commended to us the new Commandement of love, a badge of his disciples; teacheth us how to pray, and what in the Lords prayer; himselfe intercedes for us, and obtaineth all that good is, and provides for us in earth till we come to Canaan.
III. In his sufferings and passions. 1. The archers grieved 3.him, Gen. 49. 23. that is, not his Mistris onelyonly and Master, but his brethren also conspire against him, although sent from his father in love, and comes in love to see how they do, and to know their wants; yet they scorne him, behold yonder dreamer comes; they consult to kill him, let us kill him and see what will become of his dreams: So Jesus Christ came among his own, sent from his Father in love, pitying the wanderings and wants of men; but the Jewes scorn him for a deceiver, plot to kill him, conspire against his life. 2. As his brethren sold him for twenty pieces stript him naked, and cast him into a pit, sent hin as a slave into Egypt, where he (being indeed free) became a servant: So Jesus Christ in his infancy was sent into Egypt, sold by the Jewes for thirty pieces, stript naked of his apparrel, and in the form of a servant cast into the pit of death and the grave, whence they thought never to have heard more of him, as Josephs brethren did. 3. As in this service Joseph was tempted to whoredome by his wanton Mistris when they were alone, and that often and daily; but by strength of grace stoutly resisted, yea conquered her and himself: So was Jesus Christ in the enterance of his Ministery strongly assailed by Satan to spiritual whoredome when he was alone in the wildernesse, and that often set upon; yet by the power of the Spirit overcame and conquered, so as the evill one found nothing in him. 4. As in this service (notwithstanding his faithfulnesse and innocency) Joseph was falsely accused, condemned, cast into prison with the Butler and Baker: So was Jesus Christ notwithstanding all his innocency falsely accused, they lay things to his charge he never knew, as falsly condemned, bound, yea fastned to the crosse between the theeves, and cast into the grave as into a prison, till the time of his deliverance came, that he was taken out from prison and judgement, as Isai. 53. 8.
IV. In his advancement and preferment. For, 1. As 4.Joseph was separate from his brethren, Gen. 49. 26. that is, advanced by God to honour above them all: So Christ was separate and advanced in glory above men and Angels, Heb. 1. 4. hath obtained a farre more excellent name than the Angels. 2. Though Joseph was shot at by the archers, yet his arme was strengthened, the bonds and fetters were loosed, and he not onelyonly brought out of prison, but advanced to be Lord over the whole Land, and next unto Pharaoh, having all administration delivered unto him: So Jesus Christ, although he was a But or signe of contradiction, yet his arme was strengthened to raise himselfe out of the grave, to loose all chaines of sinne, to loose all sorrowes of death, and being risen againe was advanced and exalted above all creatures, all power given him in heaven and earth, his throne set next unto his Fathers, the Lord of his Church, and ruler of the whole earth, to him is committed the government, and his bounds are the utmost hills, Psal. 2. yea, the whole Church in heaven and earth is his to whom all power belongs. 3. As Pharaoh every way honoured Joseph; As 1. He richly decks and attires him, puts a golden chaine on his neck, Gen. 41. 42. 2. They must cry before him, Abrech, that is, every man must bow to him. 3. Every man must depend on his word, Gen. 41. 55. Goe to Joseph (saith Pharaoh) and what he saith to you, do yee: So God the Father hath highly exalted his Sonne Jesus, and given him not onelyonly the rich robes of immortality and glory, but a Name above all names, that at his Name every knee shall bowe. He appointed not John Baptist onelyonly to be his fore-runner to make way for him, but all the Apostles and Evangelists cry before him Abrech. Yea, all faithfull pastours and teachers, whose office is to bring men to stoope under the subjection of Jesus Christ. Yea, he hath given his Sonne plenary authority to govern his kingdome, and commands us, as another Joseph to hear him.Use 1. No newes for good men to be hated for their excellency.
I. From the type and truth learn. It is no new thing for the best men to be hated and wronged for their excellency and innocency. Joseph was therefore hated of his brethren, because most loved of his Father, Gen. 37. 4. Christ was hated because he was the light, and gave witnesse unto it. This is a certain truth, if God will testifie to a man, the world will testifie against him, whose judgements are contrary to his. If God will advance a man in grace, the world will depresse him. If God be extraordinary to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, his brother and sister will hate him. If David be respected, Saul will envy him. Who can stand before envy? not naturall brothers. No marvail if men say as of old: If we let this man alone all men will beleeve in him. Well: an evill eye is a sign of an evill man, that dares in his thoughts check the Almighty for doing with his own as he will. And a good man cannot expect a surer confirmation in goodnesse, than to be hated for it; as in our type and truth. Let us on the contrary there love most where God sheweth most love: nor let any Joseph leave his goodnesse for the hatred of his brethren.
II. All the sufferings of Gods children are ordained and Use. 2. All sufferings of the godly come of God. Ordained by him.ordered by him. 1. They are ordained by God. So in the type Joseph sees Gods decree: It was not you, but God sent me afore you. So did the true Joseph, It is not thou Pilate that could have any power over me, unlesse it were given from above, Joh. 19. 11. and Acts 4. 27, 28. against thy holy Sonne Jesus, Herod, Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel gathered themselves together, to doe whatsoever thy hand and counsell hath determined. Let not us look so much at mens malice as at Gods decree. So did David when he said, Shimei curseth because the Lord hath bid him curse David, 2 Sam, 16. 10. If for brethren we find enemies, let us say as Joseph; It was not you God hath an hand in it. 2. Our suffrings are ordered by God. 1. For Ordered, and how.their measure, as in the type; Come, say they, let us kill the dreamer, but they could not: So in the truth; come let us kill the heir, and then the inheritance shall be ours; let us bury him, and lay stones, and watch, and feal, yet with all these they could not keep him under. Fear not evill men, they shall not doe as much as they will, but as God will. 2. For the end, they cannot frustrate the counsell of God, nor his dreames. Neither Gods glory, nor Josephs preferment can be prevented: So the Jewes, Let us put this seducer to death, and we shall well shift our hands of him, what will become of his Doctrine, of his Disciples: But all turned to his greater exaltation, as Josephs. Conclude hence, that all the hatred of evill men, unjust accusations, false sentences, cruell executions shall not hurt, but one way or other set forward our truest good. As both Josephs and Christs turn to their greatest advancement, both their innocencies break out as the light. And innocency is innocency, and will be so known, and shall be as the Sun at noon day.
III. A singular comfort Is Christ the ture Joseph our brother? He will 1. know us when we know not him, as Use. 3. Comfort by Christ our Ioseph, manifold.Joseph. He will love us before we can love him, he will love us when we shall not know it, his bowels will earn within him towards us, 2 Cor. 6 9 as unknown, and yet known. He is a stone of refuge to all his brethren, and though he be rough for a while, and try us with temptations and afflictions of sundry sorts as Joseph did, yet he will at length make himself known to be Joseph; he will say, I am Joseph, I am Jesus your brother. 2 As Joseph took order that his brethren should be washed in his house, and set at his own table: So our Joseph washeth us in cleaner water, even the pure streames of his bloud, and makes us clean by the water of sanctification, sealing it to us in baptisme, and after feeds us at his own table, and sets before us the bread and water of life, as in the sacrament of the Supper. 3. As Joseph sent his brethren home with victuals without money, and with Chariots and all necessaries for their journey till they came again to be fully provided for by him: so our Joseph furnisheth us in this our journey and travell with all necessaries without our money or merits, untill we come to dwell with him, and he be all in all unto us. 4. As when Jacob and his sonnes came into AEgypt, and at that joyfull meeting of Father and all the sonnes, Joseph went out to meet them: So our Joseph meets us now in our way by his grace and spirit: and at that great meeting of all his brethren, shall make ready the clouds as his Chariot, and come in person in state, and we shall meet the Lord in the air, and be ever with him.
IV. As Josephs brethren behaved themselves to him, Gen. Use 4. Doe to Christ as Iosephs brethren to him.50. 17. So let us behave our selves to Christ. 1. Humble our selves, be ashamed that we have so wronged our brother, pray for pardon; and as it is in Zachary, look upon him whom we (that is our sinnes) have peirced; and lament and be sorry for him, as one mourneth for his onelyonly sonne. 2. Honour him. All our sheafes must bow to his; he hath that extraordinary blessing from above and below, the blessing of his Father is strong with the blessing of his Elders, Gen. 49. 26. Christ is blessed in himself, and in his posterity in all ages. 3. Depend on him for food as they, and say with Peter, Joh. 6. 68. Master to whom shall we goe? thou hast the words of eternall life; and for all supplyes apply that to him which is spoken of Joseph, Gen. 50. 19. Is not he for us under God? 4. Let his gracious promises comfort and feed us, as Josephs brethren were comforted by his, Gen. 50. 21. 5. Offer him such gifts as we have, prayer, praises, duty, endeavour. Be encouraged, Joseph will accept small and mean gifts from brethren, although he need them not, Gen. 43. 15. Our Joseph despiseth not a grain of grace, not smoaking flax.