The Types Unveiled, Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. I next come to ſpeak of the eating of the Lamb, together with the circumſtances belonging thereunto, which agreeth very well with the Ante-type, as we ſhall ſhew you in the next place.
IN which there are theſe three things to be conſidered.
Firſt, The occaſion of the Lamb.
Secondly, The manner of eating it.
Thirdly, The benefits the people had by eating the Lamb.
Firſt, The occaſion of the Lamb, which was to ſave the people from that generall judgement which was to paſſe over the whole Land of Egypt.
This ſhews the exceeding love and mercy of God to the whole world, who by Adams Garden, tranſgreſſion, and their own actual ſins, all are lyable to the deſtroying Angel of Gods Juſtice, which will certainly paſs over the whole earth with a flaming ſword of God, vengeance, to execute it on offenders, Rom. 1. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed againſt all ungodlineſs, and unrighteouſneſs of men who with-hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs. Heb. 10. 36. For if we ſin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more ſacrifice for ſin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgement, and fiery indignation, which ſhall devour the adverſary: ſo Jude 14. 15. The Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongſt them of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him. 2 Theſ. 1. 7. 8. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flames of fire, rendring vengeance on thoſe that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Thus you ſee the whole world lyeth open to the deſtroying Angel of the juſtice of God, which will pour it ſelf forth to the ſcorching of the earthly minded with the moſt dreadfulleſt of fires, 2 Pet. 3. 10.
Now that men might eſcape this dreadful ſtorm which the heavens look black with, over the heads of ſinners, God in mercy hath provided poor ſinners (which are in their Egyptian ſtate of ſin and uncleanneſs) I ſay he in mercy hath provided them a Lamb to eat, which Lamb is his Son Jeſus Chriſt; upon eating of which they really eſcape the hands of the Juſtice of God, John 3. 16. God ſo loved the world that he gave his onelyonly begoteen Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould have everlaſting life, and not periſh: which Sonne of God is elſe-where called the Lamb of God, John 1. 36. the which, whoſoever takes and receiveth (and eateth in as their food by believing, ſhall live by him) and ſo be free from the deſtroying Angel, John 6. 54.
Secondly, As to the manner of eating the Lamb, we may note theſe things; but firſt it was a Lamb without blemiſh: this Lamb relates (as you have heard) to Chriſt, which ſhews the ſpotleſsneſs of his nature, which was innocent and pure, free from the leaſt tincture of ſin: for though our Saviour took our nature upon him, that ſo he might become a ſacrifice to God for ſinners, yet he took not our nature upon him as ſinful, Luke 1. 35. Therefore doth Peter entitle our Saviour a Lamb without ſpot and blemiſh, 1 Pet. 1. 19. For if he had not been ſo, it had not been poſſible that ever the Law could have been ſatisfied; therefore it is ſaid, that there was no guile found in his mouth.
But then as to the manner of eating this Lamb. Exod. 12. Firſt, they were to roaſt the fleſh with fire, ver. 8. This is that dreadful portion which Jeſus Chriſt paſt under for ſinners, in ſtanding under the curſe of the Law; which bitter agony confl…cted ſo in his ſoul, as if all the torments of all the damned in hell had been upon him at once, Luke 22. 24. And being in an agony, he prayed more earneſtly, and his ſweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. A ſight of which ſufferings of Chriſt Abraham had preſented unto him, Gen. 15. 9. with 17, 18. verſes: for when God made a Covenant, or rather confirmed the Covenant with Abraham, God cauſed a burning lamp, and a ſmoaking furnace to paſs between the ſacrifices, ſhewing of us that none can partake of the Covenant of Grace, but ſuch as have ſatisfied the old Covenant by preſenting it a ſacrifice which will endure the wrath of it: Now none but Chriſt can do this for the ſoul; and this was Chriſt which Abraham in this Type ſaw by the eye of Faith, which as a Lamb was roaſted in the ſmoaking furnace and burning lamp of Gods wrath for ſinners. Therefore when the ſoul would take in Chriſt, he muſt take him as a Lamb roſted with fire, which ſhews the ſufferings of Chriſts ſoul for ſinne.
Secondly, They were to eat all the Lamb, head and legs, with all the other parts belonging to the Lamb; nothing of the Lamb was to be lef to the morrow, Exod. 12. 9, 10, 11. verſes.
This ſhews us after what manner Chriſt, the Lamb of God, is to be cloſed with by a ſoul that intendeth to have real benefit by Chriſt; not a piece or a part of Chriſt (will ſerve the turn) but a whole Chriſt, or no Chriſt at all: Chriſt is diſtinguiſhed in a three-fold reſpect (as a Prieſt, Prophet, and King) the prophane will accept of one part of Chriſt, the hypocrire of two parts of Chriſt, but none but the gracious ſoul cries for a whole Chriſt. The prophane wicked Eſau would cloſe with the Prieſtly office of Chriſt, that ſo the guilt of his ſin might be purged away, and the anger of God for ſin mittigate: but to ſubject to the Kingly office of Chriſt, here he ſticks, he cannot endure Chriſt ſhould reign over his ſoul, he loves his ſins too well then to part with them for Chriſt: ſo that although with Cain and Judas they that are wicked may ſometime ſeem to cry out under ſin, you muſt know that they are not ſo much offended with ſins nature, as ſins puniſhment: ſo when they ſeem to deſire a Chriſt, it is not for love, but fear; it is not that Chriſt ſhould rule in them, but that he ſhould deliver them from Hell, which they fear they are falling into.
2. The Hypocrite can go farther then this, he can take Chriſt in two parts of him (both in his Prieſtly and Prophetical Office.
Firſt, In his Prieſtly, that ſinne may be pardoned, he better agreeth with ſinnes nature then ſinnes puniſhment, though he likes it not upon his back, as the prophane perſon doth; yet he is not much in diſlike with it in his heart: there is ſome ſecret ſin, which is his dellilah in affection, though he ſeem to be an enemy to it in converſation; yet however he could be glad if Chriſt would by his blood get it pardoned, but he loves not that Chriſt as a King, ſhould get it murthered.
Secondly, He takes Chriſt in the other office as a Prophet, if that would do. Now Chriſt as a Prophet, his work is to reveal and make known the deep things of the Father to men. Now ſome hppocrites love to know much, though not to practice any farther then his credit prompts him to it: yet being given to oſtentation, he may covet out after many notions, that ſo he may advance himſelf in the ſpreading of them, as Simon Magus, Acts 8. 18, 19. but no farther of Chriſt can the Hypocrite make choice of.
But now the ſound Beleiver takes a whole Lamb. O give all Chriſt, and every part of Chriſt, ſaith a poor ſoul which taketh Chriſt aright. O not onelyonly Chriſt to dye for me, but to live in me by his holy Spirit: not onelyonly Chriſt to ſave me, but Chriſt to reign over me, and to rule and govern me by his royal Law in my heart. O a Chriſt to get down the power of ſin in me, as well as a Chriſt to raze out the guilt of ſin againſt me. O every part of Chriſt is precious to a ſound Believer, 1 Pet. 2. 7. So ſaith the Church, Cant. 5. 10. Chriſt was the chiefeſt to her of ten thouſand, becauſe he was white as well as ruddy. Chriſt was precious for his holineſs, as well as his merits and ſufferings.
So that this is the thing as to eating the Lamb, the manner of it: the Lamb Chriſt, he muſt be wholly cloſed with, a ſoul muſt take a full of Chriſt, or no Chriſt at all.
Thirdly, The ſauce with which they were to eat the Lamb was bitter herbs, Exod. 12. 8. which ſheweth the frame of Spirit the ſoul is uſually in that truly cloſeth with Jeſus Chriſt: that is, he is under a real repenting frame of heart, becauſe of ſin. O how bitter is the leaſt ſinne to a ſoul which truly receiveth Chriſt: that which was the darling of the ſoul before, is now gall and wormwood to the ſoul: the ſoul looks on his ſins as that which pierced a dear Saviour; therefore it is what pierceth the ſoul, Zach. 12. 10. They ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn over him, and be in bitterneſſe, as one for her firſtborn. Thoſe that think they have eaten the Lamb Chriſt without the bitter herbs of repentance, it is much to be doubted whether they ever eat of Chriſt at all; it is not a bare notional work in the head, but a work attended with a heart broken for ſin, a heart full of godly ſorrow, and repentance, for its rebellion, and ſtubbornneſs againſt Chriſt. Peter wept bitterly for his ſin, Matth. 26. 75. David and others have eaten much of this kinde of bitter ſauce with the Lamb: it is the believers continual ſauce all his life long.
Secondly, The bitter herbs is meant thoſe afflictions and temptations which do accompany the life of a Believer in this life for Chriſt his ſake: our Saviour calls it a taking up the Croſſe, Luke 9. 23. which is a thing moſt bitter and contrary to fleſh and blood: therefore ſaith Paul when he made choice of this Lamb Chriſt, I conſulted not with fleſh and blood, Gal. 1. 16. For fleſh and blood cannot endure the bitterneſs of that ſtate in which Chriſt is to be found. Nothing but perſecution, diſgrace, trouble, loſs of good name, yea, and life it ſelf that attendeth the way of Chriſt; therefore ſaith Paul, 2 Tim. 3. 12 He that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt ſuffer perſecution, he muſt ſuffer: there is a neceſſity you ſee, that the Lamb muſt be eaten with bitter herbs. Thoſe that will not eat the ſauce ſhall not taſte of the fleſh of this Lamb, Luke 9. 23. Unleſs a man deny himſelf and take up my croſs and follow me, he ca…not be my diſciple.
There be a great many would catch at the fleſh of this Lamb Chr…ſt, were it not for the bitter ſauce which lyeth in the diſh with Chriſt: many love to ſhear in a Chriſt, but not in the Croſs; thay love the Crown, but not the ſufferings which belong to the Crown: therefore ſaith our Saviour, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth to life, and few there be that finde it. Job found bitterneſs in the diſh where the Lamb lay, Job 13 26. Thou writeſt bitter things againſt me: but did Job (as many do) leave the meat for the bitter ſauce; no, no, Job 13. 15. Though thou kill me, yet w…ll I truſt in thee. O how happy had ſome been, had they with Job ſtill kept to this reſolution; but the wayes of Chriſt were too bitter for them: but I fear thoſe will finde their ſweet meat of this worlds good, attended with the bittereſt herbs at laſt.
Again, they were to eat the Lamb with unleavened bread, Exod. 12. 8. with Numb. 9. 11. This ſt…ll points at a ſoul eating Chriſt a right, which is the ante-type, which ſhews us thus much.
1. That Chriſt muſt be really cloſed with, and not feignedly; there muſt not be any thing of the leaven of hypocriſie in it, not for any by end, but out of love to Chriſt.
2. It muſt be void of the leaſt love to ſin, if there be any love reſerved to any corruption, Chriſt cannot enter the ſoul upon ſuch terms, 1 Corinthians 5. 8. Let us keep the feaſt, not with the old leaven of malice and wickedneſs, but with the unleavened bread of ſincerity, and truth. Heb. 12. 15. Looking diligently, leſt any man fail of the grace of God, leſt any root of bitterneſs ſpring up and trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,. Heb. 3. 12. Take heed brethren, leſt there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God: therefore ſaith Peter, if you would as new-born babes receive the ſincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby; you muſt firſt lay aſide all guile, and hypocriſies, and envies, and evil ſpeakings, 1 Pet. 2. 1. 2. That is, all ſin muſt be forſaken, and caſt out of the affection, or no Chriſt received into the heart: the love of the world, the love of luſt, pride, honour, pleaſure, eaſe, whatever hath been near or dear to the ſoul, he muſt utterly proteſt againſt, or no Chriſt, Jer. 4. 14. O Jeruſalem, waſh thine heart from wickedneſs, that thou mayeſt be ſaved; how long ſhall vain thoughts lodge within thee. So Iſa. 1. 16. 18. Waſh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings from before me, ceaſe to do evil; come now and let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord, though your ſinnes be as ſcarlet, yet I will make them as white as ſnow, though they be red as crimſon, yet ſhall they be as white as wool.
So that you ſee there muſt firſt be a putting away the leaven of ſin, before there can be a eating of the Lamb Chriſt Jeſus: truly therefore ſuch perſons as dream of having Chriſt, and yet retain the old leaven of ſin, are miſtaken.
Fourthly, The Jews were to eat the Lamb with their loins girded, Exod. 12. 11. Girding of the loins ſometimes ſignifieth reſolution to ſome great work, Pſalm 18. 32, 33, 34. Sometimes it ſignifieth truth and faithfulneſs in the perſon ſo girded, Rev. 15. 6. Here it ſignifieth haſte or readineſs to be gone from the place where they were in before, Exod. 12. 11.
Now all which ſignifications may be taken into one head and applied to the eating of the Lamb Chriſt Jeſus. For firſt of all, the loins of a ſouls minde muſt be girded as to reſolution, that intendeth to eat the Lamb Chriſt. A ſoul muſt reſolve to go thorow thick and thin with him, through a thouſand diſcouragements with Chriſt, ſometimes from within, ſometimes from without; what from inward doubts, and what from outward troubles, a ſoul will find it a hard thing to go on in this way for heaven; thoſe daily taunts, ſcoffs, and jeers, that the ſoul paſſeth under for Chriſt, from day to day; ſometimes from its relations, ſometimes from its fellow ſervants who live in houſe with him, and ſo likewiſe from its wicked deriding neighbours.
I ſay theſe things conſidered, the ſoul is many times caſting away its hope, and crying out with the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 73. 13. Verily, I have cleanſed my heart in vain, and waſhed my hands in innocency to no purpoſe. Therefore the loins had need be girded, that ſo the ſoul might not caſt away his confidence which hath great recompence of reward, Hebrews 10. 35.
Now it is the overcoming ſoul ſhall wear the Crown, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. Rev. 2. 10. and the ſoul that endureth to the end the ſame ſhall be ſaved, Mat. 24. 13. Therefore ſaith our Saviour, a ſoul muſt firſt count up the coſt (when he makes out after this Lamb Chriſt, whether he can hold out to the end with him, whether he can run the loſs of fathers love, mothers love, brothers, ſiſters, husband, wife, children, kinſmen, and neighbours love for this Chriſt; whether a ſoul can part with credit, honour, riches, carnal eaſe for Chriſt, whether he can follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth, Rev. 14. 4. For he that looks back is unfit for the kingdom of God, Luke 9. 62. So Heb. 10. 38 If any draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him; and ſaith Peter, The laſt eſtate of ſuch men is worſe then the beginning, 2 Pet. 2. 20.
Therefore when Peter would exhort againſt faintings and diſcouragements, …e bids men gird up the loins their minde, and be ſober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto them at the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1. 1, 13.
Secondly, take girding of the loins as it importeth truth and faithfulneſs: In this ſence the ſoul ought to gird up his loins, if he really intendeth a thorow and full cloſing with Chriſt, he muſt reſolve to be Chriſts in faithfulneſs; as the wife takes her husband, ſhe takes her husband, and onelyonly him, ſhe is not to reſerve any part of the marriage-bed to any other; ſo in faithfulneſs is the ſoul to take Chriſt, reſolving that no curſed ſin or luſt ſhall ſhear in the marriagebed of its affection with Jeſus Chriſt: ſo ſaith the ſpouſe ſpeaking of Chriſt her Husband, My beloved is the chiefeſt to me among ten thouſand, Cant. 5. 10. He is mine and I am his, Cant. 2, 16.
2. The Wife taketh the Husband to be hers for ever during life, not to part and fling him off at her pleaſure; therefore ſaith Paul, Rom. 7. 2. The woman that hath a Husband is bound by the Law to her husband as long as he liveth.
So in like manner is Chriſt to be cloſed with by a Chriſtian, never to part more, either in this world or that which is to come; to be Chriſts in ſickneſs, as well as in health, in poverty as well as in proſperity, to be Chriſts in bad times as well as in good times, to winter and ſummer with Chriſt.
There be a great many that can put on Chriſt, and pretend to Saintſhip, and can call him Husband in good dayes, but they can as quickly caſt their Chriſt and all away again in bad dayes: when Chriſt ſeemeth to be cloathed with the riches, honours, credit, and gain of this world, then it is he that can court him with ſome ſeeming ſervice; but when he comes to be uncloathed again of thoſe things, and with Job to be ſet on a Dunghil of reproach and ſcorn through poverty, then they flye back as faſt again from Chriſt as ever they come to Chriſt; and with Peter, curſing and ſwearing, they never knew ſuch a man, Mat. 26. 73, 74. And like the Jews who could cry Hoſanna to Chriſt, when he was ſet by the people upon the Aſs colt; but when in a ſuffering ſtate upon the Croſſe, Crucifie, cruc…fie him; but let ſuch know, this not to eat the Lamb with the loins girded in truth and faithfulneſs.
Laſtly, Girding of the loins ſignifieth haſte or readineſs to be gone from the place where we were before; therefore it is obſerved that the Jews went out of Egypt ſpeedily upon the girding of their loins, Exod. 12. 37.
This ſhews the ſpeedy motion ſouls are to make from that curſed ſtate of nature, ſin, and ignorance; after their cloſing with Jeſus Chriſt, the ſoul is not to ſtay there one night longer; there muſt be not onelyonly a total, but a ſpeedy ſeparation from ſin and nature: the ſoul that truly cloſeth with Chriſt never looketh back again upon his former condition, but he loatheth himſelf for it, he never thinks on it but he hates it, as Paul ſpeaks, What fruit had ye in thoſe things whereof ye are now aſhamed, Rom. 6. 24. O when the ſoul looks back upon his carnal Egyptian ſtate, and ſeeth what a blinde mad fool he was (together when he conſidereth what ſad ignorant works he alwayes brought forth, when he looketh back upon his drunken, roaring mad, ſinging bouts in the Alehouſe, his running to ſo many Wakes. Revels, Bull-baitings, May-pole Dancings: O how much doth that ſoul which eateth the Lamb indeed mourn for it, O how doth he bluſh before the Lord under the thoughts of it, wondering at the infinite patience of God, that he ſhould be now out of Hell, wondering that God ſhould accept of ſuch a rebellious wretch, ſuch a ſinful ſlave as he ſeeth himſelf now to be) to ſuch a bleſſed Banquet and rich feaſt, as the roaſted Lamb comes to: now on goes the girdle about his loins, and away he goes, flying out of this condition as Hell it ſelf: an inſtance you may take for this purpoſe in Luke 15. 17. In the Prodigal Son, And when he came to himſelf he ſaid, How many hired ſervants of my Fathers have bread enough, and to ſpare, and I periſh for hunger: I will ariſe and go to my Father, and will ſay, I have ſinned againſt heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son, make me as one of thy hired ſervants, Luke 15. 17, 18, 19. You ſee the Prodigal could no longer ſtay in this condition, when he comes to be ſenſible of the evil of it; but he girdeth up his loins, and puts himſelf into a poſture fit to be gone from all his old delights and ſinful pleaſures, his old filthy companions, he flyes from all, he dares not ſtay an hour longer with them, Pſalm 45. 10. ſaith Chriſt in that Pſalm, Hearken O daughter, and conſider, encline thine ear, forget alſo thy own people, and thy fathers houſe. Thus you ſee the ſoul is to leave its old carnal eſtate and condition, if he means to eat the Lamb Chriſt Jeſus: Therefore thoſe that are ſo confident they have taken Chriſt, and yet are not come off their old Egyptian carnal condition, truly are much miſtaken, ſaith Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 1. If any man be in Chriſt he is a new creature; all old things are paſt away, and behold all things are become new.
For a man to make an account he is in Chriſt and is a good Chriſtian, and yet to live a drunkard, a ſwearer, and a cheater; a hater of Gods people, a deſpiſer of godlineſs, to live in adultery, and uncleanneſs, to live looſe in his family; if this man have cloſed with Chriſt, then ſo hath the Devil alſo, it cannot be; light and darkneſs cannot dwell together, 2 Cor. 6. 15. What concord hath Chriſt with Belial; ſo ver. 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.
Certainly my Brethren, there is no more fellowſhip wi…h the unfruitful works of darkneſs after eating the Lamb; the ſoul muſt immediately ariſe, and be gone, from his old ſinful condition.
Our Saviour would not allow the young man ſo much time as to go to bury his Father, Mat. 8. 21, 22. therefore the language of the Lord to ſuch is, Micah 2. 10. Ariſe ye, depart, for this is not your reſt, becauſe it is polluted, it ſhall deſtroy you with a ſore deſtruction.
The next thing we are to take notice of before we leave this particular, is the other two parts of the Travellers accoutrements (which is) his ſtaff in his hand, and his ſhoes on his feet, Exod. 12. 11.
Firſt the ſtaff, Now you know the uſe of a ſtaff in a Travellers hand is to help him on in his journy, it ſuccours him, it ſtayes up his body from falling, it helps him over difficult and dangerous place? This ſtaff leads us to the uſe of the grace of believing, which a ſoul ſhould beg earneſtly for at Gods hands, that ſo after he hath eaten of the Lamb Chriſt, he might be enabled to travel his journey from Egypt thorow the wilderneſs of this life; to his Canaan of reſt and glory hereafter: for it is leſs poſſible that a ſoul ſhould travel through the wilderneſs of this world to Heaven hereafter, without the grace of believing, then it was poſſible for the Jews to travel to their temporal Canaan without their ſtaff. O how doth Faith ſuccour and relieve the ſoul all along in his way to Heaven; when the ſoul is ready to give over, and is yielding up the ghoſt, how doth this ſtaff of believing raiſe him up again, and putteth a new life of confidence into the ſoul again. Thus it oftentimes ſet up David upon his legs again, Pſalm 27. 13. I had fainted unleſs I had believed to ſee the goodneſs of God in the land of the living, like a ſtaff under wearineſs it did ſtay up and ſupport David. O how did this ſtaff of Faith ſuccour and relieve Habbakuck, Hab. 3. 17, 18. Although there be no fruit in the vine, and although the fig-tree doth not bloſſom, and there be no herd in the ſtalls, and the flock ſhould be cut off from the fold; yet will I joy in God, and rejoyce in the God of my ſalvation.
O what a deep ditch did the Pſalmiſt leap over by this ſtaff of believing, Pſalm 73. 25. My fleſh and my heart faileth me, but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Hence it is that Habakkuk ſaith, The juſt man ſhall live by his faith, Hab. 2. 4. That is for the ſupport it gives a ſoul in dangerous times; it is this grace that keeps a ſoul above water: this was it which carried David through all his trouble, this was it lifted him up out of the horrible pit, Pſalm. 40. 2, 3. this was the ſtaff that led the Jews through the Red Sea, this led Jacob over the Jordan of his difficulties, Gen. 3…. this ſtaff led him into Egypt, and this ſtaff brought out Joſeph his bones (Jacob his ſon) out of Egypt again, Hebrews 11. 22.
And this was the ſtaff the Apoſtles travelled by all along in their journey (in this life) 2 Cor. v. 7. For we walk by faith, not by ſight. Mark, we walk by faith, It is what the travelling Chriſtian muſt carry in his hand at all times, in the pilgrimage he ſpendeth in this life.
Laſtly, The Jews had their ſhooes on their feet, Exod. 12. 11. The ſhooes you know are what greatly helps a man to a comfortable going on in his journey [without which well he cannot travel.
Now Paul ſhews you what it is to have the feet well ſhod, Epheſ 6. 15. Having your feet well ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace; that is, a ſoul that takes in the Lamb of God, and thereby hath bound himſelf to flye out of his carnal, prophane, Egyptian ſinful life and converſation, had need firſt of all well furniſh himſelf with the word of God, with the threatning part of it to drive him, and prick him on, with the examples of others lives therein written to draw, him with the promiſes therein to perſwade him, and with the hope of eternal life, true joy, and ſweet felicity, to allure him, or elſe he will finde it a hard matter to come quit of his old condition and carnal converſation.
Therefore ſaith Paul, Let the word of Chriſt dwell in you richly, Col. 3. 16. So ſaith David, Thy word have I hid in my heart, Pſalm 119. 11.
O you young Chriſtians, for to you I ſpeak, you that would eat the roaſted Lamb Chriſt, and would come out of the Egypt of your carnal, ignorant, blinde conditions. O hearken to my advice, you muſt be well ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace. O ſaith Chriſt, Search the Scriptures, John 5. 39. O be much in reading of your Bibles, let them not lie idle, get as much of them as you can into your hearts, that you may be able to wreſtle with fleſh and blood, againſt the rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpiritual wickedneſſe got into high places, Epheſians 6. 12.
O beg hard at Gods hand, that he would imprint his word upon your hearts, and cauſe you to grow in the knowledge of it more and more, that ſo you may have to anſwer every temptation that you ſhall meet with in your way to your ſpir…tual Canaan. You know the ſhooes are uſeful to keep the feet from the gauling; truly ſo is the word of God well applyed, very uſeful to keep the conſcience from gaulding and corrupting. for look how it is with a man with ſore feet, he halts and tumbles, not able to keep his ground; ſo it is with a man under a gaulded conſcience, he cannot ſtand ſteddy in any place, but reels from thing to thing, from place to place, and cannot ſtand long any where at a time: now the word of God will help this, either as applyed, or eyed.
1. As applyed, ſo will it help the gaulded conſcience, Pſalm 107. 20.
2. As it is applyed by the ſoul as its rule to walk by, ſo it prevents from corrupting; for as the ſhooes keeps the feet from gauling, ſo will the word of God keep the conſcience from corrupting (if it be carefully obſerved as the ſouls rule to walk by.)
So you ſee what it is to eat the Lamb (a Lamb roaſted) to eat him with the loins girt, the ſtaff in the hand, and the ſhooes on the feet.