But these outward shadows and ceremonies had their time and place long ago, and were not instituted to the end they should continue irrevocable, but for a season, to represent as it were a superficial view unto us of more excellent things. Even as the kingly Throne of David, and all that politic government of the Israelites did prefigure nothing else unto us, but the everlasting kingdom of Christ, and were as certain principles, wherewith the minds of the beholders might be raised up to a more deep consideration of far high mysteries: in so much that the very same, which was but figured in king David, we plainly perceive to have been expressly discovered in the king of the new Jerusalem, which is the Church of Christ. The same which was prefigured in Abel, in Noah, in Abraham, Melchizedek, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Sampson, ⟨image 46⟩David, Elijah, Jonah, Jesus the great Priest,1 in the Paschal Lamb, in the brazen Serpent, in the Rock, in Manna, in the feast of Pentecost: briefly whatsoever exercises were practiced in shadows, types & figures, we do unfeignedly acknowledge to have met, concurred, & bin accomplished in one body. And this body truly is Christ Jesus, who is also the end & consummation of all the whole Law. In like manner the sacrifices and ceremonies, trimmings and deckings of the old Law, contained in them selves no sound nor permanent matter, but were shadows and forerunners of more excellent graces. For what is he so purblind in this our age, that knoweth not, that God doth not dwell in Temples made by mens hands? that consciences are not cleansed from sins with the blood of goats & of bulls? But these bloody offerings obtained a certain resemblance only of the true purging of sins. What doth the commandment of the prophet imply, when in your Passover he charged a lamb of a year old, clean & undefiled to be slain by families & tribes? Can your senses be so blockish to think, that so great & effectual operation lurketh in the blood of beasts, as may avail ⟨image 46⟩to deliver you from cruel thraldom, & translate you to the land of promise flowing with milk & honey, if there were no kernel of deeper mystery enclosed within the outward shell of the letter?
But these outwarde shadowes and ceremonies had their tyme and place long agoe, and were not instituted to the ende they should continue irreuocable, but for a season, to represent as it were a superficiall viewe vnto vs of more excellent thinges. Euen as the kingly Throne of Dauid, and all that politique gouer•ement of the Israelites dyd prefigure nothing els vnto vs, but the euerlasting kingdome of Christ, and were as certaine principles, wherewith the mindes of the beholders might be raysed vp to a more deep consideration of farre highe mysteries: in so much that the very same, which was but figured in king Dauid, we playnly perceiue to haue bene expressely discouered in the king of the newe Ierusalem, which is the Church of Christ. The same which was prefigured in Abel, in Noah, in Abraham, Melchisedech, Ioseph, Moyses, Aaron, Iosuah, Sampson, ⟨image 46⟩Dauid, Elias, Ionas, Iesu the great Priest,1 in the Paschall Lambe, in the brasen Serpent, in the Rocke, in Manna, in the feast of Pentecoste: briefely whatsoeuer exercises were practized in shadowes, types & figures, we do vnfainedly acknowledge to haue met, cōcurred, & byn accōplished in one body. And this body truely is Christ Iesu, who is also ye ende & consummation of al the whole Lawe. In like maner the sacrifices and ceremonies, trimminges and deckings of the olde Law, conteined in them selues no sounde nor permanent matter, but were shadowes and forerunners of more excellent graces. For what is he so poreblinde in this our age, that knoweth not, that God doth not dwel in Temples made by mens handes? that consciences are not cleāsed from sinnes with the blood of goats & of bulles? But these bloody offrings obteined a certaine resemblance only of the true purging of sinnes. What doth the commandement of the prophete emply, when in your Passeouer he charged a lambe of a yere olde, cleane & vndefiled to be slayne by families & tribes? Can your senses be so blockishe to thinke, that so great & effectuall operation lurketh in the blood of beasts, as may auayle ⟨image 46⟩to deliuer you from cruel thraldome, & translate you to the lande of promise flowing with milke & hony, if there were no cornell of deeper mysterie enclosed within the outwarde shell of the letter?
- 1•he end of •he Law & of •he prophets •nd types, is Christ.•he ende of •he Law & of •he prophets •nd types, is Christ.