A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London

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 gouerement 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,