The Types Unveiled, Chapter 4 – Chapter 5
CHAP 4. The next thing to be noted in the Type (or Hiisory) is this, the Lamb was to be eaten by every particular Family, unleſs the Family were too big; then they were to take the next adjoyning to it, and ſo they were to eat it together, Exod 12. 4.
THis in the Ante-type ſhews us thus much by way of information.
Firſt. That all the particular Churches of God in the world have a like right to Jeſus Chriſt; for though there be one body or Church Univerſal ſpread over the earth, yet this univerſal body is diſtinguiſhed into ſo many little bodies or Churches, as Providence thinks good: Hence it is that you have the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaking of ſeven Churches in Aſia, Rev. 1. 4.
Like wiſe we read of a particular Church, which was in Aquilla and Priſcilla's houſe, 1 Cor. 16. 15. A ſlender foundation for a national Church; and yet all theſe diſtinct ſocieties have all aright alike to Chriſt, as the families of the Jews were all alike to eat the Lamb: therefore ſaith Paul, There is one body, and one ſpirit, even as ye are called by one hope of your calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptiſme, one God, one Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all, Epheſ. 4. 4, 5, 6. Through all ages in the world every Church in particular hath had a like benefit by Chriſt (ſo that the weakeſt Church in the world, if it be a true Church, may claim as large a portion in the heart of Chriſt, as the flouriſhing'ſt Church in the primitive times, when the Apoſtles were living. You ſee though Iſrael were a great body, yet they muſt be divided into ſeveral little Bodies when they come to eat the Lamb, and yet a Lamb for every family or little body of eaters; ſo that none need to doubt in any age of the world, though the number be great, which have eaten of Chriſt, yet there is enough in Chriſt to ſatisfie all that are to come: therefore is Chriſt called a fountain ſet open for ſinne and for uncleanneſſe, Zach. 13. 1, 2. In that day there ſhall be a fountain opened to the houſe of David, &c.
2. It ſhews the benefit we have by eating the Lamb Chriſt, for we are by it made partaker of families right and order; every ſoul by Chriſt may ſay, (now I am through grace) of the Family of Heaven, and I ſhall have a childes portion with the reſt of the true Iſraelites: though it goes hard with me in this life, though I am poor and low in the world, yet its enough that I am of the houſhold of Faith, my name is liſted in heaven for my daily allowance, both for me and mine in this life, and I ſhall have my full portion of glory with the reſt of my Brethren hereafter, [I ſhall have that inheritance that fadeth not away.] O to be an adopted Son of God, what a priviledge is this, O how ſhould this bear up the heart under all diſcouragements, to have a right to all the excellency of glory and glorious attendance, that there is laid up for the heirs of it, as Paul ſaith, That which eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for thoſe which love him.
Thus much is to be obſerved by the Jews eating the roaſted Lamb apart (by particular families.)
One thing more is worth our noting, which is, that the Lamb was to be eaten that night, nothing of the Lamb was to be left until the morning, Exodus 12. 10. Which ſhews us thus much, that delayes are dangerous in this caſe, for a ſoul to put off any thing of Chriſt (after he is convinced of the need of him) though it be but for the morrow; the ſoul may never have the proffer more: read that place in Hebrews 3. 7, 8. In which place a ſoul is called upon to take Chriſt to day, meaning at the firſt offer, or elſe you may never ſee a Chriſt more in mercy for ever: read Iſaiah 55. 6. Therefore the exhortation is for men to ſeek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near; men will know that God will not alwayes be found, and if any are like to finde it ſo, they are ſuch ſouls as put by Chriſt until to morrow, they have not time to minde the thing; there is yet ſomething of more weight to be minded, ſome worldly intereſt, which muſt be ſet on wards farther firſt, before they can attend this matter. Read the danger of ſetting Chriſt aſide until to morrow, or of ſetting ſomething more neceſſary (as ſuch think) before Jeſus Chriſt; read Luke 14. 16, 17, 18. 19, 20. with 24. Therefore take this along with thee ſoul, remember the Jews were to eat the Lamb at the firſt offer, that which they ſet aſide until the morrow they were not to eat, but to burn with fire, not to eat it again: read Exod. 12. 10. O Chriſtian have a care thou doeſt not undo thy ſoul this way, by ſetting aſide ſome of Chriſt in a diſh until to morrow, crying out, you are too young yet, or, you would ſport your ſelves a little longer with your corruptions, or your merry companions, I ſay, take heed of that.
CHAP. 5. The occaſion of eating the Lamb.
I Now come to ſpeak ſomething about the occaſion of the Lamb, which was this, becauſe of the deſtroying Angel which was to paſs over Egypt on purpoſe to deſtroy their firſt-born; for the ſafety of the Iſraelites, God in mercy to them, ordered them to take a Lamb, and kill him; the blood of which they were to take, and ſtrike the door poſts of their houſes, which was for a ſign to the deſtroying Angel, that in his paſſing through the land, where ever he ſhould ſee that blood on the door of the houſe, he might paſs over that without doing the leaſt injury to it; and ſo from thence to the next houſe where the blood was not on the doors; there the Angel was to do his work of execution, Exod. 12. 7. with 12, 13, and 22. verſes.
This thing ſhews us the great reaſon why God the Father ſent Chriſt into the world, it was that ſinful mankinde might not periſh by the deſtroying Angel of his Juſtice, which will certainly paſs through the Egppt of this world, and eternally ſlay all thoſe that ſhall be found in their ſins Chriſt ſhall come in flames of fire, rendring vengeance on thoſe that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Theſ. 1. 8. 9 Who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction, from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Now to prevent this miſchief, and the execution of this plague upon miſerable men and women, the Lord ſent in a Lamb into the world, which was his Son Jeſus Chriſt, that ſo men might be delivered from wrath through him, John 3. 16. Acts 4. 12. But this muſt be done, the Blood of this Lamb Chriſt muſt be taken, and by the hyſop of Faith dipped in the Baſon of Goſpel Ordinances, ſtriking the door poſts of the heart therewith: this done, the deſtroying Angel of Gods Juſtice looking upon it, cometh to be ſatisfied, and hurteth not that ſoul, and becomes that ſouls friend: Therefore ſaith John, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the ſins of the world, John 1. 29.
But not a bare looking upon the Lamb will content the Juſtice of God, but the taking of his Blood out of the baſon of the Goſpel, or dipping therein the hyſop of believing, and applying of it to the heart and conſcience; ſo to do contents the Juſtice of God: therefore ſaith the ſame Apoſtle, The blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin, 1 John 1. 7. Meaning the guilt of our ſins.
To this agreeth the words of the Apoſtle, Heb 9. 13, 14. For if the blood of Bulls and Goats, and the aſhes of an Heifer, ſprinkling the unclean, ſanctifieth to the purifying of the fleſh, how much more ſhall the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, who through the eternal Spirit offered himſelf without ſpot to God; purge your conſciences from dead works to ſerve the living God.
Thus have I ſhewed you the myſtery of Egppt, and of the Lamb eaten by the Jews there; likewiſe you have ſeen the manner of eating the Lamb, together with the bread and ſauce with which the Jews were to eat the Lamb: alſo you have ſeen the myſtery of their ſtriking the door poſts of their houſes with the blood of the Lamb; as alſo the myſtery of the deſtroying Angel you have ſeen opened; together with the ſweet harmony it makes to the work of God upon the hearts of his people; which when well conſidered will make a ſoul cry out with the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 77. 19, 20. Thy way is in the ſea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy foot-ſteps are not known: thou leadeſt thy people like a flock by the hand of Moſes and Aaron.