Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 5 · Part 13
Chriſt our Paſſeover.
1 Cor. 5.7. For Christ our Paſſeover is ſacrificed for us.
THe Paſſeover, or Paſchal Lamb, being a moſt eminent Type of the Meſſiah, of which ſee our Sacred Philology, in the Chapter of Sacred Rites, where you have the Reaſon of its Typical and Metaphorical Repreſentation, we ſhall here run an apt Parallel betwixt that illuſtrious Type, and the moſt holy Anti-type.
| Type. | Parallel |
| THe Paſchal Lamb muſt be without blemiſh, entire, whole, ſound, not blind, nor broken, not ſick, nor bruiſed. | SHadowing forth the Perfection and Innocency of Chriſt, in whoſe Lips were found no Guile: As a Lamb, without blemiſh, and without ſpot. |
| II. He was to be a Year old. | II. Signifying the Experience Chriſt ſhould have of our Miſeries, whereof even a Day's continuance yields ſufficient proof; as alſo that Perfection of Chriſt in like ſort: And that in fulneſs of time he ſhould come and ſuffer; a Year being a perfect Revolution of the Sun's Courſe. Guild. |
| III. It was to be taken out of the Flock. | III. Chriſt was taken from amongſt Mankind:Heb. 2.14. Foraſmuch then as the Children are Partakers of Fleſh and Blood, He alſo himſelf likewiſe took part of the ſame, &c. |
| IV. It was to be ſeparated from the Flock. | IV. Chriſt was ſeparate from Sinners. |
| V. It was to be ſlain, and that in the Evening. | V. So Chriſt died (ſaith Mr. Ainſworth) in that ſeaſon, viz. in the Evening of the Day; alſo in the Evening of Time, in the latter Age of the World. |
| VI. The Blood was to be ſprinkled on the Lintel,Exod. 12.7 and Door-Poſts, that the Angel ſeeing the ſame, might paſs by. | VI. Signifying, that Chriſt's Blood muſt be applied by us; and where Chriſt is received,1 Cor. 1.30 and the Soul ſprinkled by Faith, Sanctification outwardly will appear in the Practice of the Life. |
| VII. The Lamb was to be roaſted with Fire.Verſ. 8. | VII. Moſes unvailed, p. 62. Signifying (ſaith Mr. Guild) the Agony of Chriſt in the Garden, and the Wrath of his Father, which he did endure both in Soul and Body. It was a Sign either of the Spirit of God, which is compared to Fire, through which Chriſt offered himſelf; or of the Fire of God's Wrath,Heb. 9.14. which he ſuffered when he was made a Curſe for us. |
| VIII. It was to be roaſted with Head and Legs, and the Appurtenances thereof; that is, it muſt be roaſted all and whole, not cut in pieces. | VIII. This ſignifies our full Communion with Chriſt, whole and undivided.Ainſworth 1 Cor. 13. Gal. 2.20. |
| IX. No Bone of the Lamb was to be broken. | IX. Os nullum illius Agni frangi voluit Deus, &c It ſignifies, that not a Bone of Chriſt ſhould be broken, as it was propheſied of him. |
| X. The Lamb was to be eaten. | X. Chriſt is ſpiritually to be received, and fed upon.Joh. 6.55. My Fleſh is Meat indeed, &c. |
| Verſe 9.XI. It was not to be eaten raw. | XI. Noting, that we ſhould be well prepared, when we come to the Sacrament. Guild. |
| XII. It was to be eaten all, and with unleavened Bread. | XII. Signifying, that in Chriſt nothing is unprofitable, or to be rejected; and that we ought to eat with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth. |
| XIII. It was to be eaten with bitter Herbs. | XIII. Which typified forth the bitter Sorrows and Sufferings of Chriſt; and that we ſhould eat our Paſſeover with a ſenſe of, and bitter ſorrow for our Sins, wherein we were captivated. |
| XIV. It was to be eaten in every Family, and each Family to this purpoſe had a Lamb. | XIV. Shewing the Unity that ought to be among God's People, they being all Fellow-Commoners in, and Partakers of the Privileges and Bleſſings of Chriſt. Every Church and Family of the Faithful, yea, each particular Soul, hath a whole Chriſt. |
| XV. The Houſe was to be prepared. | XV. To ſignify how we ſhould prepare our Hearts. 1 Cor. 11.28. |
| XVI. If the Houſe was too little, the Neighbour's Houſe was to be aſſumed; yea, the Strangers were to partake, if they were circumciſed. | XVI. To ſignify, firſt, the ſuperabundant Virtue of Chriſt's Death, (for the Houſe may be too little for the Lamb, but not the Lamb for the Houſe) as alſo the ſweet Communion of the Saints in Love, the joyful Vocation alſo of the Neighbour-Gentiles, and their Admiſſion into the Fellowſhip of the Faith, being inwardly circumciſed, &c. |
| XVII. They were to eat it with their Loins girded. | XVII. This ſignifies the girding the Loins of our Minds with Juſtice, Strength, and Verity. |
| XVIII. They were to have their Shooes on. | XVIII. This was to figure out the Preparation of the Goſpel of Peace, wherewith our Feet ſhould be always ſhod. |
| XIX. They were to eat it in haſte. The original word ſignifies to haſte away, as with fear and amazement. | XIX. They that come to Chriſt, muſt be ready to walk in the way of Salvation, with the Staff of true Faith in their hands, as Strangers and Pilgrims, to make a daily progreſs towards the Land of everlaſting Happineſs. |
| XX. Laſtly; In that the Blood of the Lamb was firſt ſprinkled on them. | XX. It ſhews, that firſt Chriſt was made a Sacrifice to God, and then a Sacrament to us. Guild. |
| Type. | Diſparity. |
| THe Paſſeover ſignified Chriſt was to come. | OUr Paſſeover ſhews he is come, and hath been crucified for us. |
| II. The Paſſeover only fed the Body. | II. Chriſt ſpiritually feeds the Soul. |
| III. The Lamb being ſlain and eaten, periſhed, and nothing of it remains. | III. But Chriſt, tho he was ſlain, and became thereby ſpiritual Food for our Souls, yet he is no whit impaired thereby, but liveth and abideth for ever in perfect Bliſs and Happineſs, and remaineth as perpetual Nouriſhment to his Choſen. |
| IV. That was a Type or Shadow. | IV. Chriſt is the Antitype and Subſtance of it. |
Inferences.
GOd gave ſpecial Charge to the Iſraelites, concerning their eating the Paſſeover; He was greatly provoked by the Neglect of it. Numb. 9.13. But that Man that is clean, and is not in a Journey, and forbeareth to keep the Paſſeover, even that Man ſhall be cut off from his People, &c. What then will become of them who refuſe to come to Chriſt, and eat of this ſpiritual Paſſeover? Alſo it may ſtir up ſuch ſincere and godly Souls to look about them, and cauſe them to tremble, who live in the great Neglect of coming to the holy Supper of our Lord. Surely there is as good Ground and Reaſon for you to obey the Lord Jeſus in this Ordinance, as there was for Iſrael to obey Moſes in keeping the Paſſeover; nay, I may ſhew much greater.
1. From the conſideration of what the one was a Sign of, and what the other ſhews forth, and is a Sign of.
2. From the conſideration of the Excellency of Chriſt (whoſe Law this is) above Moſes, who received that Law, and delivered it to Iſrael.
3. From the Threats that are denounced againſt thoſe who refuſe to hear Chriſt in whatſoever he ſhall ſay to them. If the Word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, &c. If they eſcaped not, that refuſed him that ſpake on Earth; how ſhall we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from Heaven?
And for further Motives, conſider,
1. The ſtrict and poſitive Injunction of Chriſt, Do this in remembrance of me. He that ſaid, Do not ſteal, do not commit Adultery, &. Repent, believe, pray always, be holy, &c. ſaid, Do this, &c.
2. It is a perpetual Ordinance, till Chriſt comes the ſecond time. Paul received it from Chriſt, after his coming in Spirit according to his Promiſe, &c. And the Primitive Saints continued in it after that time likewiſe; therefore the Coming he ſpake of, muſt intend his ſecond Coming at the laſt Day.
3. Conſider the great Need there is to remember Chriſt's Death, and of thoſe profitable Inſtructions and Bleſſings comprehended in this Ordinance.
4. Is not the Neglect of a known Duty a great Sin?
5. Is not this in effect to ſet light by Chriſt, and to caſt contempt upon his Commands, and in effect to ſay there is no need of them? What ſignifies, ſay ſome, the eating a little Bread, and drinking a little Wine? Wilt thou take upon thee to teach Chriſt, and exalt thy own Wiſdom above his, who is the moſt wiſe God?
6. Conſider how faithful and ready the Saints in former Ages were to walk in the Commandments of God; and is it not left upon Record to their everlaſting Commendation? Moſes did all things according to the Pattern ſhewed him in the Mount, &c. Zachary and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameleſs.
7. Doſt thou know what ſpiritual Bleſſings thou loſeſt by thy Neglect hereof? Is not Loſs of Communion with Chriſt a great Loſs?
Pſal. 119.6 Joh. 14.158. Is not univerſal Obedience a Demonſtration of Grace? Then ſhall I not be aſhamed, when I have reſpect to all thy Commandments. If ye love me, keep my Commandments.
9. Will not the Thoughts of a wilful Neglect of known and indiſpenſible Duties, be bad Death-bed Companions?
10. This preacheth the Goſpel to the very Sight of your Eyes; is it not neceſſary to make uſe of all Means God hath ordained for your Eſtabliſhment in the Truth of the Goſpel?
11. Will not Omiſſion of known Duties exclude Men and Women the Kingdom of Heaven? Read Mat. 25. Is it not for Sins of Omiſſion, that Chriſt will condemn and ſentence many Souls to eternal Burnings in the great Day?