Exposition of the Laws of Moses, Dedication 1 – Table of contents 4

Exposition of the Laws of Moses · Dedication 1 – Table of contents 4

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SIR ROBERT KER of Ankerhome, Knight, Gentleman of his Ma. Bed-Chamber.

Honourable Sir,

WHen the Lord was to give unto his people the Tables of the Law, the ſecond time, he commanded the people to ſtand at the foot of the Mount, Aaron, Nadab, Exod. 24.2, 3, and 18.Exod 24:2Exod 24:3Exod 24:18and Abihu, and the ſeventy Elders of Jſrael, to worſhip a farre off in the middle of the Mount, and that Moſes ſhould aſcend to the top of the Mount, & enter within the cloud; Theſe three repreſented very well the three eſtates of the Church: they who ſtood at the foot of the Mount, reſembled the Iewiſh Church; Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, & the ſeventy who aſcended to the middle of the Mount, reſembled the Chriſtian Church; and Moſes who aſcended to the top of the Mount, and entred into the cloud, reſembled the glorified Church; and the Fathers ſay of thoſe three, that the Iewiſh Church was in extimis, and and that the Chriſtian Church is in atrijs; and that the triumphant Church is in intimis; that is, the Iewiſh Church was in the utter court; the Chriſtian Church is in the middle court, and that the glorified Church is in the inner court. Let us make a compariſon betwixt the Iewiſh Church ſtanding at the foot of the Mount, and the Chriſtian Church which ſtandeth in the middle of the Mount, and we ſhal ſee a great difference betwixt them two. Firſt, let us compare them in the Prieſthood, Melchizedeck and Aaron. Heb. 7.3.Heb 7:3Melchiſedeck had neither beginnng of his dayes, nor end of life, he was borne before the flood, and none who lived after the flood could tell when he was borne, and he lived five hundreth yeares after the flood; ſo that he ſeemed neither to have beginning nor end of dayes; but the Prieſt who were after the order of Aaron, behooved to deduce their genealogies, and of whom they were deſcended,Nehem. 7.64.Neh 7:64 or elſe they were ſecluded from the Prieſthood.Eleaz. in Num. 4.Num 4 Secondly, the Hebrewes ſay, when the Tabernacle removed, that Eleazar the Prieſt carried the oyle for the Lampes in his right hand,Luc. 4.8. and 28.45.Luke 4:8Luke 4:28Luke 4:45 and the anointing oyle in his left hand, the incenſe in his boſome, and the meat offering upon his ſhoulder. Eleazar was but a figure of Ieſus Chriſt the Highprieſt in the Chriſtian Church, who giveth grace,Ioh. 1.16. Revel. 8.3. 1 Timot 2.5. Epheſ. 5.26. 1 Cor. 5.7.John 1:16Rev 8:3Rev 8:1Eph 5:261 Cor 5:7 the oyle of the Spirit, for the underſtanding of the Scriptures, who putteth the odours of ſweet incenſe to our prayers; and laſtly, he preſenteth the Church as a pure meate-offering to his Father. Next let us compare the people under the Law with theſe under the Goſpell; firſt, their rites were carnall rites, conſiſting in theſe, touch not, taſte not, handle not, and even as Fathers forbid their little children to eate of ſuch and ſuch things, or handle them not, they ſpecially reſtraine their baſeſt ſenſes; but when their ſonnes are come to maturity and age, they forbid them to hearken unto evill, or looke unto evill, they reſtraine their noble ſenſes eſpecially; ſo becauſe the Iewes were but infants, he trained thē up this way, forbidding them to touch, taſte, or handle, but he forbiddeth the Chriſtian Church, things of greater moment; againe, let us compare them them in holineſſe; under the Law, holineſſe was written but upon the forehead of the Highprieſt, but under the Goſpell, the Prophet Zachariah ſaith, that holineſſe ſhall bee written upon the horſe bridles, to ſignifie the great meaſure of holineſſe that ſhould bee in the Church under the Goſpell. Thirdly, compare them in the meaſure of their love; under the Law every ſeventh yeare they were to let their land reſt, and to pardon their debtors, and to give a full remiſſion to them: but ſee how farre the Goſpell exceedeth the Law in this, Peter asked of Chriſt if he ſhould pardon his brother ſeven times, as the Iewes pardoned their debtors the ſeventh yeare; what anſwered Chriſt to him? thou ſhalt not pardon ſeven times, nor ſeven times ſeven times, but ſeventy times ſeven times; and as farre as the Iubile exceeded the ſeventh yeare, as farre ſhall your charity exceede the Iubile, that is. to ſeventy times ſeven times. Fourthly, compare them in the meaſure of their knowledge; their meaſure of knowledge under the Law was very ſmall, all things were covered and wrapped up to them, when they carried, the brazen Altar in the Wilderneſſe,Numb. 4.13.Num 4:13 they covered it with a purple cloath. When they carried the Arke, it was covered with three coverings, with a vaile, Badgers skins,Numb. 4 6.Num 4:6 and a cloath wholly of blew. So the table of the Shewbread had three coverings, all was covered ſave onelyonly the Laver, and Moſes face was covered to them with a vaile, when hee came from the Mount; the Prieſts bare the things which they might not ſee, To ſignifie a concealing of a part of the myſteries of the Goſpell, afterwards to be revealed;Coloſſ. 1.26.Col 1:26 ſo the people ſaw but through a grate,Heb. 9.1.Heb 9:1 but now the Temple of God is opened in the heaven, and there is ſeene in his Temple the Arke of the Teſtament; they ſtood a farre off,Revel. 11.19.Rev 11:19 things which are hid and obſcure, are ſaid by the Hebrewes to be far off,Deut. 30.14.Deut 30:14 and things w^ch are cleare and manifeſt, are ſaid to be neare at hand; thus we ſee how farre the Goſpell exceedeth the Law; but yet we are not to vilifie and count baſely of thoſe ceremonies, for the holy Ghoſt hath regiſtred the leaſt inſtrument and the baſeſt things in the Sanctuary, and David gave to Salomon a patterne of the table, Candleſticke, Lampes, fleſh-hookes and bowles, 1 Chron. 28.11, 17. It may be ſaid perhaps that they had ſome uſe then,2 Cot. 5.10. but old things are paſt away, and all things are become new, what uſe then can they have in the Church now; they have no uſe for ſignification now in the Church, or to fore-ſhadow things to come, ſeeing Chriſt the Body himſelfe is come; yet they have many other good uſes, firſt, we ſhould delight to looke backe to ſee the antiquitie of them, for even as men delight to behold the cloathes and Armour of their predeceſſors which they wore long agoe; So ſhould we delight to ſee the cloathes in which Chriſt was wrapped in his infancy, and the Cradle in which Chriſt lay. Secondly, this ſhould teach us to be thankefull to God, that we have ſo cleare a light under the Goſpel, which they had not under the Law; it was a great benefit to learning, when the obſcure Hieroglyphicks in Egypt were changed into letters, and the darke and myſticall writings of Plato, were changed by Ariſtotle into a cleare and plaine forme of writing; farre greater is the benefit that the Church hath now, when the Lord hath changed theſe figures and ceremonies into the cleare light of the Goſpell. Thirdly, theſe doe let us ſee that God will performe the reſt of his promiſes as he hath fulfilled all theſe types already, and laſtly, they let us ſee the miſerable eſtate of the Iewes, who cleave ſtill to theſe ceremonies as yet. Hierom compareth the Iewes before Chriſt came into the world, to theſe that eate the fleſh, and he compared Chriſtians under the Goſpell, to thoſe who eate the marrow, but he compareth the Iewes after they had rejected Chriſt to the dogges who gnaw the bones, cleaving onelyonly to the killing letter, but not ſeeking to Ieſus Chriſt the quickning Spirit. And now Sir, I dedicate this part of my labours to you, that it may remaine a note of my thankefulneſſe for your favours to me. I know Sir, that ye will make better uſe of it, then moſt men in theſe dayes doe with ſuch Treatiſes, caſting them by, and rather reade any trifle, than that which conduceth to the informing of the ſoule to God-ward, yea preaching it ſelfe they are weary of, except perhaps ſome new mans odde elocution invite them for a fit, but by and by they looke after a new ſtraine, as it were for new faſhions of cloathes. But I know Sir your breeding craveth another thing of you, who was bred up under ſo wiſe and religious a mother, who for the educatiō of her children, was another Monica, as your ſelfe and your vertuous ſiſter, Miſtris Katherine, are ſufficient proofes. I cannot paſſe by her name upon this occaſion, whoſe life and death was to mean inſtruction. Good cauſe have you to keepe that methode, as yee have begun it in your eldeſt ſonne, ſo to proſecute the ſame with your many hopefull children which GOD hath given you by your Noble match, which is one of the beſt borne Ladies of this Land, who dignifieth her birth by her Chriſtian, humble, and godly life. Sir, beleeve me that godlineſſe is more true Honour to you than your birth, although you be never ſo well deſcended, and to be more eſteemed, than the place which yee have about our Gracious King, and more than all morall vertues whatſoever, which are but ſplendida peccata, without piety; your Honour and worldly credite are but trifles compared to this, they cannot keepe a man alive in this world, nor doe him any good in the world to come,Eccleſ. 12.…3.Eccl 12:3 for this is the whole man, this makes up a complete man, and he is but the ſhadow of a man that wants this:Pſal. 34.7.Ps 34:7 The Angels of the Lord pitch round about them that feare him, and deliver them, and hath any man in this Court gotten more remarkeable deliverances than you have, I am ſure ye will not let theſe benefits of the Lord ſlip out of your minde, reade often the ſixty two Pſalme, Heb. 12.20.Heb 12:20and meditate upon it. The God of peace that brought againe from the dead, our Lord Ieſus, that great Shepheard of the ſheepe, through the blood of the everlaſting covenant, make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will, working in you that which is pleaſing in his ſight, through Ieſus Chriſt, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Now, for theſe my labours, if they ſerve for any Chriſtian uſe in the Church, I am ſatisfied, and that I may doe ſo, I humbly pray to God, and ſhall ſtill for your proſperity,

Your Honours ſtill to be commanded in the Lord, Iohn Weemes.

A Table of the Contents of the Exercitations of this Booke,

EXERCITAT. I. OF the reducing of the ceremonies of the Law in generall unto the Commandements. Pag. 1.

Firſt Commandement.

EXERCITAT. II. Of the purification of the woman after her childbirth. Pag. 4

Second Commandement

EXERCITAT. III. Of the place of Gods worſhip. Pag. 7

EXERCITAT. IIII. Of the Arke. Pag. 11

EXERCITAT. V. Where they worſhipped, when the Arke, and Tabernacle were ſeparated. Pag. 15

EXERCITAT. VI. Of the ſituation of the City of Ieruſalem. Pag. 19

EXERCITAT. VII. In what tribe the Temple ſtood. Pag. 23

EXERCITAT. VIII. Of the Temple of Ieruſalem. Pag. 28

A compariſon betwixt the firſt, and ſecond Temple. Pag. 30

A compariſon betwixt the Temple, and Chriſt. Pag. 32

A compariſon betwixt the Temple, and Heaven. Pag. 33

EXERCITAT. IX. Of the Churbims. Pag. 34

EXERCITAT. X. Of the golden Candle ſticke. Pag. 39

EXERCITAT. XI. Of the table of Shewbread. Pag. 42

EXERCITAT. XII. Of the Altar, Pag. 45

EXERCITAT. XIII. Of the Sacrifices in generall, Pag. 51

EXERCITAT. XIIII. Of the Sacrifices in particular, and first of the burnt offering. Pag. 56

Of the meat offring. Pag. 58

Of the peace offring. Pag. 59

Of the ſinne offring. Pag. 63

Of the treſpaſſe offring. Pag. 68

EXERCITAT. XV. Of the Prieſts apparrell. Pag. 69

EXERCITAT. XVI. The Lord would not have his people uſe the cuſtomes of the heathen Prieſts, Pag. 73

EXERCITAT. XVII. That a woman might not weare a mans apparrell. Pag. 76

Third Commandement.

EXERCITAT. XVIII. Of the Nazarite Vow. Pag. 78

Fourth Commandement.

EXERCITAT. XIX. Of the paſſeover. Pag. 84

EXERCITAT. XX. Of the pentecoſt. Pag. 93

EXERCITAT. XXI. Of the feaſt of Tabernacles. Pag. 96

EXERCITAT. XXII. Of the new Moones. Pag. 100

EXERCITAT. XXIII. Of the day of expiation. Pag. 106

EXERCITAT. XXIIII. Of the ſeuenth yeeres reſt, and the Iubile. Pag. 110

Of the Iubile. Pag. 114

Fift Commandement.

EXERCITAT. XXV. Of the maintenance of the Prieſt under the Law. Pag. 121

EXERCITAT. XXVI. The Iewes might not kill the damme ſitting upon the young ones. Pag. 128

Sixt Commandement.

EXERCITAT. XXVII. That the Iewes might eate no blood, Pag. 132

EXERCITAT. XXVIII. The Iewes might not ſeeth a kid in the mothers milke, to teach them not to be cruell. Pag. 136

Seventh Commandement▪

EXERCITAT. XXIX. When a baſtard might enter into the Congregation under the Law. Pag. 140

EXERCITAT. XXX. The Prieſts daughter that defiled her ſelfe with fornication was to be burnt. Pag. 147

EXERCITAT. XXXI. How the woman ſuſpected of adulterie was tryed by her jealous husband. Pag. 150

Eight Commandement.

EXERCITAT. XXXII. Of devouring of holy things. Pag. 154

EXERCITAT. XXXIII. Of the Iewes Phylacteries, a ceremony for keeping of all the Commandements. Pag. 158

EXERCITAT. XXXIIII. A ceremony for a breach of all the Commandements. Pag. 161

EXERCITAT. XXXV. Of the Iewes logicall helpes for the underſtanding of the ceremoniall Law. Pag. 164

EXERCITAT. XXXVI. How to underſtand the ſignification of the ceremonies of Moſes Law. Pag. 154

EXERCITAT. XXXVII. Of the abrogation of the ceremoniall Law. Pag. 171

How to make uſe of the ceremonies of the Law in opening of a Text, and reducing them to practiſe. Pag. 177

Of the priviledge of the firſt berne in Iſrael. Pag. 192

Of Satans accuſation of Ioſhua the Highprieſt. Pag. 225

Of the eating of holy things. Pag. 245

Of the pollution by the dead. Pag. 250

Of the Comforts in death. Pag. 251

A Table of the places of Scripture explained in this Booke, of the explanation of the Ceremoniall Law; the firſt number ſheweth the Chapters, the ſecond the, Verſe, and the third the Page.

Geneſis.

Exodus.

Levit.

Numb.

Deut.

Ioſh.

Iudg.

Ruth.

1. Sam.

2 Sam.

1 King.

2 King.

1 Chron.

2 Chron.

Ezra.

Nehem.

Eſth.

Iob.

Pſal.

Prover.

Eccleſ.

Cant.

Eſay.

Iere.

Lament.

Ezek.

Dan.

Hoſea.

Ioel.

Amos.

Ionah.

Micah.

Hagg.

Zach.

Malach.

Matth.

Mark.

Luc.

Ioh.

Act.

Rom.

1 Cor.

2 Cor.

Galat.

Epheſ.

Philip.

Coloſſ.

1 Theſ.

1 Tim.

2 Tim.

Heb.

1 Pet.

2 Pet.

1 Ioh.

Iude

Revel.

A Table of the Hebrew words expounded in this booke.

א

foreign 38

foreign 146

foreign 13

foreign 63

ב

foreign 123

נ

foreign 14

foreign 159

foreign 185

ד

foreign 11

foreign 194

foreign 35

ה

foreign 40

foreign 9

foreign 20

foreign 5

ז

foreign 196

foreign 162

ח

foreign 100

foreign 63

foreign 144

ט

foreign 22

foreign 159

foreign 160

י

foreign 114

foreign 21

foreign 24

ב

foreign 1…

foreign 57

foreign 77

foreign 75

foreign 100

foreign ibid

foreign 106

foreign 34

foreign 26

ל

foreign 121

מ

foreign 52

foreign 68

foreign 125

foreign 8

foreign 116

נ

foreign 79

foreign 82

ם

foreign 165

foreign 97

ע

foreign 56

foreign 124

foreign 22

foreign 156

פ

foreign 35

foreign 122

צ

foreign 159

ק

foreign 23

ר

foreign 110

foreign 123

foreign 17

ש

foreign 199

foreign 178

foreign 98

foreign 12

foreign 77

foreign 34

foreign 52

foreign 196

ת

foreign 13

foreign 33

A Table of the Greeke vvords expounded in this Booke.

Α

foreign 108

foreign 81

foreign 63

foreign 76

foreign 160

foreign 63

foreign 243

foreign 52

foreign 102

foreign 90

foreign 228

foreign 245

foreign 114

foreign 122

Β

foreign 109

Δ

foreign 94

foreign ibid

foreign 79

foreign 102

Ε

foreign 231

foreign 143

foreign 63

foreign 114

foreign 103

Κ

foreign 94

foreign 159

foreign 5

foreign 109

foreign 102

foreign 259

foreign 75

Μ

foreign 102

foreign 52

Ν

foreign 83

foreign ibid

foreign 200

Ο

foreign 89

foreign 71

Π

foreign 200

foreign 106

foreign 63

foreign 28

foreign 160

Σ

foreign 90

foreign 111

Φ

foreign 102

foreign 108

foreign ibid

foreign 152