The Types Unveiled, Chapter 14 – Chapter 15
CHAP. 14. I come now to ſpeak of thoſe Types which were handed out to the Jews in the time of their being in the Wilderneſs.
THe firſt was the cloud, which alwayes led them up and down in the Wilderneſs, Exod. 40. 3, 4. with 36, 37, 38. verſes. Now this Cloud was undoubtedly a Type of Jeſus Chriſt, in theſe two reſpects.
Firſt, In that the cloud guided the people from place to place, up and down in the Wilderneſs; ſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he it is that leadeth the Church up and down in the preſent Wilderneſs of this World, 1 Cor. 10 2. And as the Jews were not to move any way until the Cloud went before them; ſo it ſhould teach all Chriſtians not to move any way (in what condition ſoever they be in) until they can ſay, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt their ſpiritual Cloud goes before them, and leads their way for them: that ſoul loſeth the honey of the condition he is in, that wanted patience to tarry for Chriſts leadings, as in the caſe of King Saul, 1 Sam. 13. 9, 10, 11. Therefore the advice and councel of the Lord to all his people is this, Iſa. 52. 12. For ye ſhall not go out with haſte, nor go by flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Iſra…l will be your reward: ſo Iſa 28. 16. And he that believeth ſhall not make haſte.
Secondly, The Cloud was a Figure or Type of Chriſt, for its protecting and ſheltering uſe which it afforded the Church in the Wilderneſs of old, by which means they were hid from danger: ſo is Jeſus Chriſt ſuch a cloud of protection to his Church and people in their wilderneſs condition in this life, as that though Satan, the world, and the fleſh, ſet upon the Church with a purpoſe to overthrow and devour them at once, yet they cannot overcome them. Hence it is that David calls Chriſt a defence, and a refuge to his people: ſaith David, Pſalm 58. 16. I will ſing of thy power, yea I will ſing aloud of thy mercy in the morning, for thou haſt been my defence and refuge in time of trouble: ſo Pſalm 94. 22. But the Lord is my defence, my God is the rock of my refuge: ſo ſaith the Church in Iſa. 12. 2 Behold, God is my ſalvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my ſong, he is alſo become my ſalvation: Therefore doth Paul make it to appear, that the Cloud in the Wilderneſs was a Type of Chriſts great care of, and protection over his Church, 1 Cor. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4. For we were all Baptized unto Moſes in the cloud, and in the Sea, and did all eat the ſame ſpiritual meat, and did all drink of the ſame ſpiritual rock that followed them, which Rock was …hriiſt.
Thus you ſee not I onelyonly, but the Apoſtle alſo applies the Wilderneſs Cloud to Jeſus Chriſt, which muſt hold out, and intend the great ſafety which Chriſt doth daily adminiſter to his Church, as the Saviour of it.
Uſe 1.
Then this ſhould teach thee ſoul, when ever thou art aſſaulted by temptation ariſing either from the Devil, the World, or thine own corrupt heart, then to get in under this Could, and there to ſhelter thy ſelf; here wilt thou be covered in the day of battle, and thou needeſt not fear what men or Devils can do againſt thee, Pſalm 26. 3. 5. Though an hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me my heart ſhall not fear though war ſhould ariſe againſt me, yet in this will be confident, for in the time of trouble he ſhall hide me in his pavilion, in the ſecret of his tabernacle ſhall he hide me, he ſhall ſet me upon a rock.
Thus you ſee how confident David was, and thought himſelf to be under this covering and cloud of defence. O ſoul, ſo will it be with thee if thou flieſt to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and art careful to make him thy covering and protecting hiding cloud: thou ſhalt then be far from trouble, no evil ſhall come nigh thy tabernacles. Job 11. 17. 18, 19. Thine age ſhall be clearer then the noon day, thou ſhalt ſhine forth, thou ſhalt be as the morning, thou ſhalt be ſecure, becauſe there is hope; yea, thou ſhalt dig about thee, and thou ſhalt take thy reſt in ſafety; alſo thou ſhalt lie down, and none ſhall make thee afraid, yea many ſhall make ſuit unto thee. But if on the other hand thou ſhalt neglect to get under the ſpiritual cloud and covering; what ever covering elſe thou ſhalt hide thy ſelf under, it will certainly fail thee in the time of trouble, for God will tear it to pieces, and thou wilt be found naked; then woe, woe to thee in the day of Gods wrath, when he ſhall come forth to render vengeance upon all that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 2 Theſ. 1. 7. 8, 9.
O ſoul, who ever thou art that ſhalt read theſe lines, I beg thee therefore to hearken to that good advice given thee from the Lord in Iſa. 55. 6. Seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near.
CHAP 15. I come in the next place to ſpeak of the Brazen Serpent, another Type which was given out to the Children of Iſrael in the VVilderneſſe: read Numb. 21. 6, 7, 8, 9.
THe occaſion of which was this: becauſe of thoſe hot fiery ſtinging Serpents, which in the Wilderneſſe had deſtroyed ſo many of the Iſraelites up and down in the Countrey; therefore did the Lord out of compaſſion to the Jews cauſe a thing to be made called a Serpent; and it was to be ſet upon a pole for this end (viz.) that if at any time any of the people ſhould be ſtung by any of the Serpents in the Wilderneſs; if they at the ſame time ſhould but look up at the Brazen Serpent ſet upon a pole in the midſt of the Camp for that purpoſe, this would bring them home an immediate cure upon their perſons at the ſame inſtant.
Now this Type had (as to its uſe) ſpecial reference to Jeſus Chriſt; for ſuch a remedy is Jeſus Chriſt to ſpiritual ſtinged ſouls. God in mercy to the elect hath ſent his Son into the world, and advanced Chriſt his Son upon the pole of the Goſpel, that he might cure them of their ſpiritual ſtingings (occaſioned by Sinne, and the Devil, the worſt of Serpents.) If we look up to this Serpent upon the pole of the Goſpel with an eye of faith, John 3. 16. God ſo loved the world, that he ſent his onelyonly begotten Son into the world, tha… whoſoever believeth on him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting l…fe: ſo John 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the ſins of the world. Alluding to the uſe of the brazen Serpent in the Wilderneſs, which was to be looked up unto, or to be beheld, ſo ſaith John of the Lamb Chriſt Jeſus; behold the Lamb or look up to him if you ever intend to be cured of your ſpiritual ſtingings: therefore for this purpoſe Chriſt is called the healer of the nations, Rev. 22. 2.
Uſe 1.
O then ſoul, whoever thou art that at any time art bit with the guilt of ſin, or by the prevalent working of any corruption.
O ſoul, if thou wilt but look up to Jeſus Chriſt the ſpiritual Serpent by an eye of faith, thou mayeſt as certainly expect a cure to be wrought on thy ſoul, as the Iſraelites who in looking up to their brazen Serpent in the Wilderneſs might expect a cure to be done on their bodies: therefore is ſalvation tendred upon this act of the ſoul in looking up to Chriſt by an eye of faith, Iſa. 45 22. Look unto me all ye ends of the earth, and you ſhall be ſaved.
O therefore ſoul have a care thou doeſt not loſe looking up to Chriſt; there is nothing elſe will, or can damn thy ſoul but this thy not looking up to Chriſt as a Saviour and Redeemer, and reſting upon him alone for life and ſalvation, as one that is able to ſave to the utmoſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in Heb. 7. 25.