SERM.

Yet notwithstanding their (affected) blindness, XIX. there is no particular concerning the Messias, in the ancient scripture, either more frequently (in way of mystical insinuatión, or adumbration) glanced at, or more clearly (in direct and plain language) expressed, or which also by reasonable deductions thence may be inferred more strongly than this. St. Peter Acts iii. 18. affirms, that God had foreshewed it by the mouth Luke xxiv. of all his prophets (not only of some, but of all his

44.

prophets:) the same our Lord himself did signify before his departure to his disciples out of Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms, shewing them this particular, and opening their minds to understand the scriptures concerning it; concluding his discourse to them thus, "Οτι οὕτω γέγραπται, καὶ οὕτως ἔδει παθεῖν Tov XpIoTov, Thus it was written, and thus ought Christ (according to the prophetical presignifications and predictions) to suffer.

For the explaining and confirming of which truth, let us presume here to make a preparatory discourse or digression (not unseasonable perhaps, or improper to our purpose) concerning the nature of divine presignifications, which may serve to declare the pertinency of many citations produced out of the ancient scripture in the New Testament, (the which, together with others connected to them, or bearing analogy to them, we also, being assured of their design by the authority of our Lord and his apostles, may safely presume after them to apply to the same purposes.) We may then consider, that the allwise 2 Tim. i. 9. God, (who worketh all things after the counsel of 1 Cor. ii. 7. his own will, and to whom all things are present) Eph. i. 3. having before eternal times, as St. Paul speaketh, Rom. xvi. determined in due time to send the Messias for ac

Eph. i. 11.

Tit. i. 2.

iii. 9.

Col. i. 26.

complishing the greatest design that ever was to be SERM. managed in this world, (which should bring the XIX. highest glory to himself, and procure the greatest benefit to the principal of his creatures here,) did by his incomprehensible providence so order things, that all the special dispensations preceding it should have a fit tendency and advantageous reference thereto; so that when it came upon the stage, it might appear, that the main of the plot consisted therein, and that whatever before was acted, had a principal respect thereto. As therefore from the beginning of things God did in a gradual method make real preparations toward it, by steps imparting discoveries of his mind about it, or in order to it, (somewhat to Adam himself, more to Abraham and the patriarchs, somewhat further to Moses, much more yet to divers of the prophets among his chosen people, who not only foretold largely concerning it, but delivered several instructions conformable to it, and nearly conducing to the promoting thereof;) so he did also take especial care by many apposite resemblances, handsomely inserted into all his dis- Nonrà ρήματα Εupensations, to set it out, and to insinuate his mean- sebius calls them, Eccl. ing about it; that so at length it might shew itself Hist. i. 3. with more solemnity, and less surprise. The most eminent persons therefore, whom he raised up and employed in his affairs tending to that end, as they Heb. viii. 6. did resemble the Messias in being instruments of his Neh. ix. 27. particular grace and providence, (being indeed inferior Christs and mediators, and partial saviours of his people, as they are sometimes called,) so they Eixo were ordered in several circumstances of their per- (Christs in sons, in divers actions they did, in the principal sebius calls effigie) Euaccidents befalling them, to represent him; as also them, Eccl.

Gal. iii. 19.

Acts vii.35.

Χριστοί

Hist. i. 4.

5.

Exod. xxv.

40.

Rom. v. 14.

SERM. the rites and services instituted by them were adaptXX. ed to the same purpose; they and all things about *Heb. viii. them being *fitted by God's especial wise care, so as to be congruous emblems and shadows presignifying the Christ, and what appertained to him; his circumstances and accidents, his performances, his institutions. Thus was Adam, as St. Paul calls him, a type of Christ; Abel, Melchizedek, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Zorobabel, are also intimated to have been such; the most signal things done by them, or befalling them, having been suited to answer somewhat that was remarkable concerning him; we may say of them all, as the apostle to Heb. viii. 5. the Hebrews says of the Jewish priests; They served to the subindication and shadowing of heavenly things (οἵτινες ὑποδείγματι καὶ σκιᾷ λατρεύουσι τῶν ἐπου pavíwv.) In David particularly this relation is so plain, that because thereof often (as we before noted) in the prophets, (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea,) the Messias is called by his name. It indeed well suited the dignity of this great Person, and the importance of his business, that he should have such notable Heb. viii. 5. ushers, heralds, and harbingers going before his Gal. iv. 24. face; furnished with conspicuous badges and ensigns Col. ii. 17. denoting their relation to him; it was proper that

x. I. ix. 23.

God should appear always to have had an express care and especial regard toward him. It consequently serves for our edification; for that we duly comparing things, and discerning this admirable correspondence, may be somewhat instructed thereby, and somewhat confirmed in our faith; may be excited to the admiration of God's wisdom and goodness, (so provident for our good;) may also be induced thereby the more highly to adore the Messias,

XIX.

11, 6.

Script. Obs.

Chrys.

tom. vi. p.

et 658, &c.

and to esteem his design. All these things (saith SERM. St. Paul, having compared divers things concerning Moses to things concerning Christ) happened as 1 Cor. x. types, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come. It is also (for illustration, and also for proof of these things) to be observed, that because those eminent Vid. de servants of God were representatives of Christ, many et Proph. things are spoken of them as such; many things are ascribed to them, which only or chiefly were intend-649, &c. ed of him; their names are used as veils to cover divers things concerning him, which it seemed not to divine wisdom convenient or seasonable in a more open and clear manner to disclose promiscuously to all men, (why God should choose to express things of this nature in such a manner, we need not to determine; it may be perhaps for reasons best known to himself, and above our ken or cognizance; yet probable reasons may be assigned for it, yea some Rev. ii. 7, more than probable being hinted in scripture; it may be for a decent and harmonious distinction of Matt. xiii. times, of dispensations, of persons; it may be from Dan. ix. . the depth of things to conciliate a reverence to them, Luke xxiv. and to raise the price of knowing them, by the dif-Cor. xii. ficulty of doing so; it may be to exercise and im- 10. xiv. 26. prove men's understanding, to inflame their desire, to excite their industry, to provoke their devotion, to render them humble; it may be to reward an honest and diligent study of God's word; it may be for occasion of freely conveying special gifts of interpretation; it may be to conceal some things from Matt. xiii.

&c. xiii. 18.

xvii. 9.

9. xxiv. 15.

John v. 39.

Eph.i. 9,10.

13. xi. 25.

ε Οτι δὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ τῆς τοῦ μόνου καὶ ἀληθοῦς Χριστοῦ τοῦ κατὰ πάντων vii. 6. βασιλεύοντος θείου λόγου βασιλικῆς καὶ ἀρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τοὺς τύπους δι ̓ ἑαυτοῦ ἔφερον. (Euseb. 16, &c.)

SERM. some persons unfit or unworthy to know them, espeXIX. cially from persons haughty and self-conceited; it

I Cor. ii. 8.

may be to use the ignorance of some as a means to Acts iii. 17. produce some great event, (If they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;) it cannot be supposed necessary that all things should be plainly discovered to all persons; it is evident that some things are purposely couched in parabolical and mysterious expression; it is particularly the manner of prophetical instruction frequently to involve things, the full and clear knowledge of which is not congruous to every season and every capacity: but to return from out of this parenthesis to our case.) That under the names of persons representing Christ (or of things we may add adumbrating his things) many things are intimated concerning him and his dispensations, may be collected and confirmed from hence, that many things are attributed to persons (and to things also) which do not agree to them; many things were promised, which appear never accomplished, except after a very improper and hyperbolical manner of expression, or according to an enormous wideness of interpretation; such as doth not well suit to the nature of true histories Isa. xxv. 8. and serious promises. Thus, for instance, are many things foretold concerning the large extent and prosperous estate of the Jewish church, which history and experience testify never (according to strictness of literal acception, yea not in any tolerable degree near the height of what the words import) to have Heb. x. 4. happened. Thus also, as the apostle to the Hebrews well argueth, effects are attributed to the Jewish rites and sacrifices, which according to the nature of the thing cannot belong to them, otherwise than