The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

3. The Brazen Serpent sensibly expressed the manner of his Death and the benefits derived from it. Therefore Jesus being the Minister of the Circumcision chose this Figure for the Instruction of the Jews. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have Eternal Life. ¹The Sacred Story relates, that the Israelites by their rebellious murmuring provoked God to send Serpents among them, whose Poison was so fiery and mortal, that it brought the most Painful Death. In this affliction they adderest themselves to the Father of Mercies, who World by their Repentance, Commanded Moses to make a Serpent of Brass, and erect it on a Pole in the view of the whole Camp, that whosoever looked on it should be healed. By this account from Scripture we may clearly understand something of greatest consequence was represented by it: For the only Wise God ordains nothing without just reason. Why must a Serpent of Brass be elevated on a Pole? could not the Divine Power recover them without it? Why must they look towards it? could not a healing virtue be conveyed to their wounds but through their eyes? All this had a direct reference to the Mystery of Christ. For the biting of the Israelites by the ⟨p. 494⟩fiery Serpents, doth naturally represent the effects of Sin, that torments the Conscience, and inflames the Soul with the apprehensions of Future Judgment. And the erecting a Brazen Serpent upon a Pole, that had the Figure not the Poison of those Serpents, doth in a lively manner set forth the lifting up of Jesus Christ on the Cross, who only had the similitude of sinful flesh. The looking towards the Brazen Serpent is a fit resemblance of Believing in Christ Crucified for Salvation. The Sight of the eye was the only means to derive virtue from it, and the Faith of the heart is the means by which the Sovereign efficacy of our Redeemer is conveyed. This is the will of him that sent me, saith our Saviour, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him, may have Eternal Life. As in the camp of Israel, whoever looked towards the Brazen Serpent, whatever his wounds were or the weakness of his sight, had a present remedy: so how numerous and grievous soever our Sins be, how infirm our Faith, yet if we sincerely regard the Son of God suffering, he will preserve us from Death.