First; That Christ is a Believer's City of Refuge, or the alone Sanctuary for distressed Souls. These Cities are spoken of, Numb. 35.11, 12, 13, 14. Joshua 20. and Deut. 19. Now the Comparison or Resemblance between Christ and these Cities is very obvious. Look as God appointed Cities of Refuge to fly to; so Christ is of God's appointing to be a Sanctuary for distressed Souls. These Cities were built upon Hills and Mountains, that they which fled to them might ever keep them in Sight: so Jesus Christ is set forth, Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation for our Sins. And the Apostles which did hold forth Christ, are compared to a City upon a Hill, Mat. 5.14. Christ is lifted up in the Preaching of the Gospel, to be seen of all. There was a Cause-way, with Stones set up to guide them, a direct Path, that the Man-slayer might fly thither; Deut. 19.3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the Coasts of thy Land into three Parts, that the Slayer may flee thither. The Cities were so established, that they might have a short and direct way to them, and that their Escape might be more easy: So the way to Christ is clear and open, that we may not miss of him who is alone the Support of our Souls; and God hath appointed some that were as Stones to signify to us, that this is the way, Zech. 9.12. Turn ye to the strong Holds, ye Prisoners of Hope! By the Ministry of Man he holloweth, as it were, after us, Isa. 30.21. Thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right Hand, and when ye turn to the left. Again, they were ordered so that in half a Day one might recover one or other of them from any Part of the Land, or Corner of the Land: so God is made near to us in Jesus Christ; Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. Say not in thine Heart, who shall ascend into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) Or who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead) ⟨p. 228⟩But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, that is, the Word of Faith which we preach. Our Refuge doth not stand at a Distance, the Gospel hath brought him near to us; in the Gospel God doth so plainly and fully show the way of Salvation, that we need not seek further, Christ is at hand to do us good. Once more, these Cities of Refuge were all Cities belonging to the Levites;
First; That Christ is a Believer's City of Refuge, or the alone Sanctuary for distressed Souls. These Cities are spoken of, Numb. 35.11, 12, 13, 14. Ioshua 20. and Deut. 19. Now the Comparison or Resemblance between Christ and these Cities is very obvious. Look as God appointed Cities of Refuge to fly to; so Christ is of God's appointing to be a Sanctuary for distressed Souls. These Cities were built upon Hills and Mountains, that they which fled to them might ever keep them in Sight: so Jesus Christ is set forth, Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation for our Sins. And the Apostles which did hold forth Christ, are compared to a City upon a Hill, Mat. 5.14. Christ is lifted up in the Preaching of the Gospel, to be seen of all. There was a Caus-way, with Stones set up to guide them, a direct Path, that the Man-slayer might fly thither; Deut. 19.3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the Coasts of thy Land into three Parts, that the Slayer may flee thither. The Cities were so established, that they might have a short and direct way to them, and that their Escape might be more easy: So the way to Christ is clear and open, that we may not miss of him who is alone the Support of our Souls; and God hath appointed some that were as Stones to signify to us, that this is the way, Zech. 9.12. Turn ye to the strong Holds, ye Prisoners of Hope! By the Ministry of Man he holloweth, as it were, after us, Isa. 30.21. Thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right Hand, and when ye turn to the left. Again, they were ordered so that in half a Day one might recover one or other of them from any Part of the Land, or Corner of the Land: so God is made near to us in Jesus Christ; Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. Say not in thine Heart, who shall ascend into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) Or who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead) ⟨p. 228⟩
