The Types Unveiled, Chapter 30
CHAP 30. The Conſecrated Garments of the High Prieſt, in which he was to Minister for the people.
THe High Preiſts garments were twofold, there was what was proper to his body, from the neck downward to the feet; and ſecondly there was what was proper to the head of the High Prieſt from the neck upwards.
Now in the garments which were proper to the body of the High Prieſt, from the neck downward, there were theſe things conſiderable.
Firſt, The long Robe it ſelf, which covered the whole body of the High Prieſt from the neck down to the feet, we find it to be a very glorious thing as it will appear if we conſider the matter of which it was made, which was of Gold, blue Purple, and Scarlet, and fine Linen, Exod 27 4, 5. This ſhews us, or ſets forth to us, the glorious Robe of Chriſts Righteouſneſs in which Believers only ſtand juſtified before God. The body of the High Prieſt when clothed with his Prieſtly garments, held out two things to an eye of faith.
Firſt, The head with its Crown and Miter upon it, that held out Chriſt as the head of his Church, therefore that had the Miter and the Crown upon it.
Secondly, The whole body of the Prieſt below the head, that ſignified the whole Church of Chriſt, over whom Chriſt is head: Now as the body of the Prieſt was wholly covered over (in all the parts of it) with this glorious long Robe, ſo it ſhews us how the whole body of the Elect ſtand covered over with Chriſts Righteouſneſs before God, in which alone they are in perſon and performance preſented complete before God: Therefore when the Apoſtle is ſpeaking of the Elects meeting in Chriſt, and covered over with this glorious Robe of Righteouſneſs, ſaith in Col. 2. 10. And ye are complete in him which is the head of all Principalities and Powers: That is, when Believers have by faith put on the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt about them (as the High Prieſt did put on his garments) then are they complete in Gods ſight, and not till then. Hence it is when the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the work of making Chriſt ours, he delivered himſelf in ſuch phraſes as hold analogy with the High Prieſts putting on his long Robe, that you may know the one was a Type of the other: As in Rom. 13. 14. But ye put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſo Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs: ſo Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own Righteouſneſs, which is of the Law: That is, to put him on as a Robe, or to be found in him or his righteouſneſs, wholly covered over with it by faith as with a garment.
Thus you ſee how the Scriptures make the High Prieſts garments, and the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, to agree and harmonize together.
Uſe 1.
Then this ſhews us the uſefulneſs of the Righteouſneſs of Faith, or Chriſts Righteouſneſs; ſoul know this, that there is no covering will either protect thee from the wrath of God, or preſent thee or thy duties acceptable with God, but this covering; ſhouldſt thou make up a covering of the fineſt duties or works of Righteouſneſs that ever was ſpun by the fineſt Phariſee in the world, it would prove but rottenneſs before the Lord; alas my friends, if God had not provided Adam better coverings then his Fig-leave Righteouſneſs, what had there become of Adam, and all us in him. There is nothing will or can cover thy nakedneſs but this Righteouſneſs, your ſpots will ſtill appear and ſhew themſelves, do what you can; you were as good go about to build a ſhip of Paper to ſail through the Ocean withall, as to think to ſail to heaven in a veſſel of your own Righteouſneſs. If you will accept of this Righteouſneſs, well, if not, God will accept of no other from you; this is of Gods providing for you if you like it, 1 Cor. 1. 30. But of him are ye in Chriſt Jeſus, who of God is made unto us Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption.
God will like nothing but what is of his own making, bring him what you will for Righteouſneſs except this of Chriſts, certainly the everlaſting burnings will quickly conſume it into aſhes, and peirce through all: Therefore labour to get into this righteouſneſs, beg hard for it, that thou maiſt be preſented to God without ſpot or blemiſh; its for the ſake of this that the Church is ſo glorious in Gods eye, Cant. 4 9. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter my Spouſe, thou haſt raviſhed my heart with one of thy eyes, with one chain of thy neck: So Cant 1. 15. Behold thou art fair my love, behold thou art fair, thou haſt doves eyes, and Cant. 4. 7. Behold thon art all fair my love, there is no ſpot in thee. All this is ſpoken with reſpect to the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which is upon the Church of Chriſt; this was the Churches great ground of joy and rejoycing, not that ſhe was clothed with the glory of the world, but with the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, Iſa. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation, and hath covered me with the Robe of his righteouſneſs, as a Bridegroom decketh himſelf with ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her ſelf with Jewels: Certainly ſad is the condition of theſe men and women which have left this bleſſed righteous covering, upon what ſpecious pretence ſoever; it may be they think they have found out a better way for their juſtification before God; they think they can provide God a better Robe, a Garment made up of their juſt dealing with their Neighbours, adding to it their outward abſtination from ſome meats, and drink, and ſuperfluity in apparel, together with ſome endeavours to act up to a light within them; Oh this they hug, and embrace, and cry up as the only glorious righteouſneſs, crying out, lo here is Chriſt, he dwells in this light we cry up, he lives in this Robe of righteouſneſs which we have ſpun, come turn to it and hear, incline your ears and your ſouls ſhall live; thus poor blinded (yet very confident) ſouls, they are juſt as the Jews were, carried out by the Devil (being ignorant of Gods righteouſneſs) to eſtabliſh a righteouſneſs of their own in oppoſition to the righteouſneſs of faith as the Apoſtle ſpeaks in Rom. 10. 3.
Dear friends, have a care of parting with that righteouſneſs which is only juſtifying before God, and I do affirm that there is nothing within a man that will juſtifie him before God, there is no light in any man on earth can or will do it, take it either for a natural or divine light, and that ſoul that ſhall make any thing within him a ground for juſtification in oppoſition to this Robe of righteouſneſs, I ſay, according to the voice of Scripture, cannot be ſaved if he lives and dies in that errour; St. Paul and theſe perſons who are for a righteouſneſs within them (for juſtification) were of a vaſt differing judgment; theſe (which are faln from the righteouſneſs of faith) ſay, for their parts they will have a righteouſneſs found in themſelves which ſhall juſtifie them; but S. Paul ſaith, that he deſires that himſelf may be found in that righteouſneſs which ſhall juſtifie him before God, Phil. 3 9. Oh ſoul, keep cloſe to the righteouſneſs of faith, contend earneſtly for it, let it not go from thee, becauſe nothing can preſent thee faultleſs before God if this be wanting.