A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Thus of the benefits, which come by the blood of Christ: Now it followeth, that I should open the meaning of those ceremonial legal sprinklings, and show, how they did in their kind fore-signify the mystery of this sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

Thus of the benefits, which come by the blood of Christ: Now it followeth, that I should open the meaning of those ceremoniall legall sprinklings, and shew, how they did in their kinde fore-signifie the mystery of this sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

There was a fourfold legal sprinkling. 1. the first was of the blood of the red Cow, and of a water made of the ashes of the red Cow, Num. 19. 2. the second was of the blood of the Paschal Lamb, Exod. 12. the third ⟨p. 23⟩was of the bullock by the High Priest, cleansing the Tabernacle, Levit. 16. the fourth was of the blood of the burnt offering at the ratification of the covenant: and that these things may be made more plain, I would take liberty to explain those types, as they lye in the text, though the explication thereof will in some things contain a little digression from this Text. And first for the sprinkling mentioned Numb. 19.

There was a •ourefold legall sprinkling. 1. the first was of the blood of the red Cow, and of a water made of the ashes of the red Cow, Num. 19. 2. the second was of the blood of the Paschall Lambe, Exod. 12. the third ⟨p. 23⟩was of the bullock by the High Priest, cleansing the Tabernacle, Levit. 16. the fourth was of the blood of the burnt offering at the ratification of the covenant: and that these things may be made more plaine, I would take liberty to explaine those types, as they lye in the text, though the explication thereof will in some things containe a little digression from this Text. And first for the sprinkling mentioned Numb. 19.

The Israelites by their wicked murmurings had brought the plague of God upon themselves: In their distress they cry and seek reconciliation:¹ the Lord makes an ordinance, and shows a way, how he may be pacified, where many things may be noted.

The Israelites by their wicked murmurings had brought the plague of God upon themselves: In their distresse they cry and seeke reconciliation:¹ the Lord makes an ordinance, and shewes a way, how he may be pacified, where many things may be noted.

1. 1An explication of the whole Ceremony of the sprinkling of the blood of the red Heifer, Numb. 19.

2. That this expiation belongs only to the house of Israel.

3. That they of the house of Israel, that is, the members of the true Church need to be called upon in this point, he must speak to the children of Israel, verse 2.

3. That they of the house of Israel, that is, the members of the true Church need to be called upon in this point, he must speake to the children of Israel, verse 2.

4. That Christ, that should be the true sacrifice, must be one taken out of the Congregation: one that lived amongst men on earth, and should be offered up in the flower of his youth, and should likewise take the very infirmities of our nature upon himself: This was shadowed by the Heifer taken out of the heard.

4. That Christ, that should be the true sacrifice, must be one taken out of the Congregation: one that lived amongst men on earth, and should bee offered up in the flower of his youth, and should likewise take the very infirmities of our nature upon himselfe: This was shadowed by the H•ifer taken out of the heard.

5. The Heifer was red, to shadow out the bloody passion of Christ: The Church says of Christ, my love is white, and ruddy: white, in respect of the righteousness of his life; and ruddy, in respect of his passion unto blood.

5. The Heifer was red, to shadow out the bloody passion of Christ: The Church sayes of Christ, my love is white, and ruddy: white, in respect of the righteousnesse of his life; and ruddy, in respect of his passion unto blood.

6. The Heifer was without spot, and blemish, to signify, that Christ should be without sin: He was indeed in the similitude of sinful flesh, but had no sin in his flesh: It is somewhat, that the Heifer must be such, as had in her self no blemish: Note, in her self; for it is true, Christ had no fault in himself, but his members were not without fault. For no flesh in this life is without sin, but the flesh of Christ.

6. The Heifer was without spot, and blemish, to signifie, that Christ should be without sinne: He was indeed in the similitude of sinfull flesh, but had no sin in his flesh: It is somewhat, that the Heifer must be such, as had in her selfe no blemish: Note, in her selfe; for it is true, Christ had no fault in himselfe, but his members were not without fault. For no flesh in this life is without sin, but the flesh of Christ.

7. The Heifer must be such, as upon which never came yoke, and that fitly and significantly required. For such was Christ: for he never bare the yoke, in that he never sinned; he came to deliver those, that were under the yoke, and servants of sin, but knew no sin himself. Besides, the yoke was not put upon his flesh, because he had power uncompelled to lay down his life, and to take it up again. Some say, that a Heifer was to be offered to expi••e the idolatry in the Calf, and it was to be brought to Moses ▪ because Aaron had sinned: and must be without yoke, to note, that the Israelites had cast off the yoke of Gods law, but the former sense is the right.

7. The Heifer must be such, as upon which never came yoke, and that fitly and significantly required. For such was Christ: for he never bare the yoke, in that he never sinned; he came to deliver those, that were under the yoke, and servants of sin, but knew no sin himselfe. Besides, the yoke was not put upon his flesh, because he had power uncompelled to lay downe his life, and to take it up againe. Some say, that a Heifer was to be offred to expi••e the idolatry in the Calfe, and it was to be brought to Moses ▪ because Aaron had sinned: and must be without yoke, to note, that the Israelites had cast off the yoke of Gods law, but the former sense is the right.

8. This Heifer was to be brought to Moses, and why that? not only to signify, that Christ should be condemned under pretence of the breach of Moses law; not only because he should dye by the appointment of the Magistrate; but to import, that Christ must be offered up to God the Father, the Law-giver, who was the party offended.

8. This Heifer was to be brought to Moses, and why that? not onely to signifie, that Christ should be condemned under pretence of the breach of Moses law; not onely because he should dye by the appointment of the Magistrate; but to import, that Christ must be offred up to God the Father, the Law-giver, who was the party offended.

9. Who must bring this Heifer to Moses? Answ. All the Congregation of Israel, they must all get them a red Heifer, that is, a bloody Saviour, or else they can never be accepted: This is the best, yea the only present they ⟨p. 24⟩can bring to God to pacify his displeasure toward them.

9. Who must bring this Heifer to Moses? Answ. All the Congregation of Israel, they must all get them a red Heifer, that is, a bloody Saviour, or else they can never be accepted: This is the best, yea the onely present they ⟨p. 24⟩can bring to God to pacifie his displeasure toward them.

10. Ver. 3. It is said, He shall give her to Eleazar the Priest. Who delivered up Christ to be slain? In the letter, the Jews; in the mystery, the Elect. But why delivered to the Priest? to note (as in all other sacrifices) the priesthood of Christ by his eternal spirit offering up himself to God, Heb. 9.14. perhaps to foretell, that the Priests should kill Christ. But why to Eleazar, rather then to Aaron? Some say, because Aaron had offended in the Calf: But other say, to note, that the passion of Christ should not only serve for that time, or the time under the law; but for their successors, and all successions to come; and to note, that this was a doctrine to be delivered down by all Ministers one after another.

10. Ver. 3. It is said, He shall give her to Eleazar the Priest. Who delivered up Christ to be slaine? In the letter, the Iewes; in the mystery, the Elect. But why delivered to the Priest? to note (as in all other sacrifices) the priesthood of Christ by his eternall spirit offering up himselfe to God, Heb. 9.14. perhaps to foretell, that the Priests should kill Christ. But why to Eleazar, rather then to Aaron? Some say, because Aaron had offended in the Calfe: But other say, to note, that the passion of Christ should not only serve for that time, or the time under the law; but for their successors, and all successions to come; and to note, that this was a doctrine to be delivered downe by all Ministers one after another.

11. It must he without the camp, to prefigure, that he should suffer without Jerusalem, and thereby leave us a warning to withdraw our selves from conversation with this world, and bear our reproach, Joh. 19. Heb. 13.

11. It must he without the campe, to prefigure, that he should suffer without Hierusalem, and thereby leave us a warning to withdraw our selves from conversation with this world, and beare our reproach, Ioh. 19. Heb. 13.

12. She must be slain before Eleazar's face: The flesh of Christ was slain before the face of the Priests of the Lord in the new Testament; or rather Christ was offered up before the face of God the Father: that which in the sight of the world was a punishment, in the sight of God was a sacrifice.

12. Shee must be slaine before Eleazars face: The flesh of Christ was slaine before the face of the Priests of the Lord in the new Testament; or rather Christ was offred up before the face of God the Father: that which in the sight of the world was a punishment, in the sight of God was a sacrifice.

13. Ver. 4. Eleazar must take of this blood with his finger, to note, that men may not rudely with blind hopes thrust in their hands into this sacred blood: it must be touched, or applied with great discretion, and reverence; and the blood of Christ is to be touched with our fingers, or hands, not with our mouths, or hearts only: To note, that our practise should be dyed in the blood of Christ, and savour of the virtue of his death, and our applications of it, that so we may imitate his passion as well as know it: 1 Pet. 2.21.

13. Ver. 4. Eleazar must take of this blood with his finger, to note, that men may not rudely with blinde hopes thrust in their hands into this sacred blood: it must be touched, or applyed with great discretion, and reverence; and the blood of Christ is to be touched with our fingers, or hands, not with our mouthes, or hearts onely: To note, that our practise should bee dyed in the blood of Christ, and savour of the vertue of his death, and our applications of it, that so wee may imitate his passion as well as know it: 1 Pet. 2.21.