A manuel of the Bibles doctrine for law and Gospell, letter and spirit, signe and thing signified reduced to the first chapter of Leuiticus: Wherewith (occasionally) be plainely considered, and briefelie concluded, the most mayne questions wherewith the christian churches be combied. By H.C.

Section. 2.

THe ceremoniall Persons are of 2. * 1.1 sorts, the first is God himselfe, the secōd is the people of God: the terme Ceremoniall I giue as an Attribute vn∣to God, for that he ma∣nifests himselfe vnto his people, no otherwise then by ceremony or sa∣cramentall signes. Such Ceremonyes or signes of his presence, as

were the fiery piller and clowd in the wildernes: And such was the exter∣nall sound of the word, in the eares of Adam and al the anciēt patriarchs, as also to vs at this day. But here in this book of Leuiticus he plentifully declares his might, iu∣stice, mercy &c. vnder types and ceromoniall shadowes. And how shold the creatur which is finite, attaine to anie knowledge of the crea∣tor in whome all is infi∣nite, sauing by his hum∣bling himselfe vnto vs by some finite forms (for

so the Gentiles behoul∣ding * 1.2 the visible creature came to som knowledge of the inuisible creator) and that argues also his exceeding loue towards vs, who will vouchsafe (as vnto Moses) a view of his back, when other∣wise wee coulde not be∣hold his face and liue.

The ceremoniall peo∣ple be the twelue tribes of Israell, whereof one tribe is of the Lord assu∣med for the work of the ministry, & that is Le•…•…i: the other eleauen trybes are left to bee admini∣stred vnto, and they bee

the trybes of Iudah, Ben∣iamin, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Nephtali, Ioseph; which one of Io∣seph, is somtimes consi∣dered in the families of his two sons, Ephraim & Manasses.

Now for the mini∣string Tribe, Leui, euery familye thereof did not minister alike, for those that came of his Sonne Kohath, were deputed to the peculiar function of priesthood; but such as came of his other two sons, Gershom and Merari * 1.3 they were allotted vnto

inferior seruices, as ap∣peareth largelye in the booke of Nombers: nei∣ther these that came of Kohath, were all alike in∣teressed in the priestlye function, for Aaron (and so the eldest after him, by ordinarie rule) were preferred in the office, as going before the rest, in daily alter-duty: as al∣so onely appointed and allowed to enter into the thirde part (the most secret part) of the Taber∣nacle, called the holy of holies. All which (not to presse the misteries large ly handled in my thirde

and fourth parte of my laboures on Salomons songue) doth commend to the Church for euer, the Equity, first of suffici∣ency; secondly of order for publique administration of diuine duties.

Sufficiency of these Leuites appeared, first in being free from all bodi∣ly * 1.4 vnsoundnesse and vn∣proportionability; seing filthy diseases and lacke of some member, would debarre them, though Leuites. This no doubt in Figure did fignifie, that the Archprieste of our profession, shoulde bee

voyde of blemish and lackes, for the integrall worke of our redempti∣on. But yet not only this but that the subordinate of Christ should bee (as Paule speaketh) Kosmi∣os, turned somtimes Mo∣dest; * 1.5 but in the nature & propriety of the word, it signifieth a seemlinesse, neatnesse, and all in pro∣portion & good order; such as the frame of the World is, set out of Gods hand: whereupon man is tearmed in the good sense, Micro-cosmos, a little world. And cōsider anye of the prophets or

Apostles, or Euangelists called of God and christ Iesus, & it seemeth that the rule was sanctified by their example, seing wee neuer heare of any vnfea∣tured person, allotted vnto such superintēden∣cy. The peoples weaknes (doubtles) was in such case tendered, for that they be ouerready to ex∣cept and flout at any in∣firmitye in the minister. But yet, this beeing a let to the entrance (whereas necessity causeth not a dispensation from the common rule) it inten∣deth not a lawfull occa∣sion

of remoouing any from the ministry, who since their entrāce haue accidentally mette with such wants, while they haue behaued thēselues worthy their function.

Secondly, the suffici∣ency of these Leuits ap∣peared * 1.6 by their fulnes of age, in that, first they might not enter into the seruice of the Taberna∣cle, vntill they were fiue and twenty yeares aged; nor secondlie, might the Kohathites attend the al∣tar, vntill they were thir∣tie; nor were they to continue in that labour∣som

seruice, after once they were fifty, howsoe∣uer afterwards to be tru∣sted with things cōmit∣ted to their charge, con∣cerning the good of the sanctuary. Their experi∣enced faithfulnes, deser∣ued such trust: but their weaker years, deserued a freedom frō killing the sacrifices & other labo∣rius trauails. The equity hereof continueth still * 1.7 in the new testament; for our sauiour came not to breake, but to fulfi•…•…l the law: and accordingly for example (for otherwise, who doubts of his abili∣tye

at twelue yeares of age?) who entred not in∣to the publique admini∣stration of ministry, vntil hee begon to bee about 30. Nor can the phrase of Presbyter or Elder in∣tend lesse, which was a terme giuen to the Euan¦gelical ministry, and not to Lay-aldermen. I know that Timothy was a yong man, but not a young scholer (hauing bin trai∣ned vp in scriptures of a child) and in like case, I doubte not the Church now may dispence with the generall Canon. But for the common rule,

it requireth sufficient a∣gednes, seing commonly very few in few years at∣taine to sufficiency; else the order of vniuersities should be held supersti∣tious, where after the study of Arts & tongs. so many years are requi∣red for attaining degrees worthy the profession of diuinity. For the other point namely, of beeing allowed to surcease such trauaile at 50. I doubt not of the lawfulnes stil (for who in their best yeares are sufficient for these things?) seeing or∣dinarilye about these

years, quick conceipt is dulled, memory weake∣ned, and strength vtterly is lacking for preaching in season and out of sea∣son, publiquely and pri∣uately thorough euerye housholde. But while they rest, som other must take paines. The worke of the Lord must not be done negligently. Me thinks I now doe heare som Nouelists say, neuer was sincere preacher of this latter opinion. Yes forsooth, not to alleadge others, one whome you cannot (or at leaste, will not) except against, was

so minded. Master Green∣ham leauing his pastoral cure at Draiton by Cam∣bridge (as publick bruite went then amongst his welwillers) did alledge this lawe of 50. as a very sufficient cause of desi∣sting his former labori∣ous charge: howsoeuer hee afterwardes heere at Londō, imploied himself in dooing good as hee could. 3. The sufficiencie of these Leuits require•…•… that their lipps should pr•…•…∣serue * 1.8 knowledge, that so the people might f•…•…teh the lawe from their mouth. And the apostle teacheth Timothy

that all such as desire ec∣clesiastick superintēdency, they shold be apt to teach no Neophyt, able to stop the mouth of gainsaiers &c. for that without such qualifi catiō, there cā be no true Bishop or Presbiter, that being the very life & es∣sence of a Pastor or el∣der. The apostle requires sundrye other particular vertues to the more com mendable beeing of a Pastor, but not to his es∣sentiall beeing (for then, where should we meete with one true Minister?) it being a perfect example for shaping foorthe a

minister; euen as there is a perfecte example of a common Christian, wher∣after hee is to contend, when as Christ saieth, Be perfect as your heauenly fa∣ther is perfect. And as it were grosse absurdity to * 1.9 conclude thus, No one that is not perfect as God is perfect, can be held for a true Christian: euen so ab∣surd it is to say, No one is a true Pastor or Presbyter, that is not absolutely quali∣fied in all vertues as the A∣postle requireth. Tully defi∣neth an Orator at such a pitch of perfection, as none could euer attayne

to, & Plato draweth out such a common wealth, as none euer in this worlde did or shall see: was it Tullies meaninge therefore to conclude there was no true Ora∣tor to be found; or Pla∣toes meaning that there∣fore there was no true respublique in the whole world? Ierom conceiuing * 1.10 better of the rule then do a nomber of our fan∣tasticks, doeth therefore call it Speculum Sacerdotij the priests looking-glas, to the end that daily loo∣king therein, they may dolere ad deformitatem,

sorrowe at the sight of their deformity, and gau∣dere ad pulchri•…•…udinem, reioyce at what was beautifull in them. So much for the minister•…•… sufficiency.

Touching Order o•…•… degrees amongst the L•…•… uites, it was briefly tou∣ched before, where one was principall, as Aaron, to whom in greatest ca∣ses recourse was to bee had. Others again (as the sons of Aron) were a seat vnder the former, and in the time of Dauid were diuided for the publique seruice into 24. rankes,

two in likelihood for a moneth. So there were seuerall orders for the Quier-men, & orders of subordination betweene the Leuites that came of G•…•…rshom and Merari. Nor can it euer be prooued, that all of these Orders were giuen by immedi∣ate note from the Lord, but sundry of them deri∣ued from the Maiest∣raies discretion, as were afterwardes also, some festiuall ordinaunces, and Synagogicall or∣ders thorough the com∣mon wealth of Israel.

For the ministry of the

newe Testament, I haue * 1.11 spoken at large vpon Sa lamons songue, onely for Order but thus much: Som were Apostles, som Prophets, som Euange∣listes, some Pastors and doctors; seueral degrees for order sake, and yet all preachers of one and the same Gospell. The seuen Churches of Asia to whom S. Iohn writ, each of them had one superi∣our teacher, tearmed by the name Angel (in sense one with the term Apo∣stle) which is in English a Messenger, or one thats sent, namely to preache

the Gospell. Can it easi∣ly be thought that there were no moe in anye of them churches, to assiste the other in teaching? It possible cannot bee: the Churches in al probabi∣lity, being of some large continuance, and the Churches being also ci∣ty churches, not country Churches: and therefore of the Greeks called Me tropolitan Churches: for in the chiefest cities, the first churches were plan∣ted. Nay, to put it out of doubt, when the Apostle S. Paul sent from Miletum * 1.12 to Ephesus for the pres∣byters

of that Church, loe there came diuerse, that were Elders or ouer seers in that Church, all apt to teach, & therefore all of them charged with the same worke hee had there vndergone. One of these being particularly charged by Saint Iohn, it argueth he had a superi∣ority ouer the rest of the ouerseers, so wel as ouer the people; or else Saint Iohn would haue direc∣ted his Epistle, not to the angell, but To the angels of the Church of Ephesus. Worthilye therefore is that parity of ministrye

hissed out of the church. And if King Dauid might (out of his sancti∣fied discretion) consti∣tute seuerall Orders as before: yea, if Mordecai might ordaine a festiuall day for their deliuerāce from Hamans Pur, and Iudas Machaheus a (a) * 1.13 longer festiuall, in me∣moriall of the Temples clearing; what shold let, that Christian Princes out of their sacred dis∣cretion, may not doe the like? If they lay a yoake vppon the peo∣ple which they them∣selues will not beare,

therein they shal sin. But for their Right in such cases, it is no waye lesse∣ned by the appearaunce of Christ, but rather en∣larged: seing the former wer in their state of non-age: but these (so well as the whole Christian church) are by Christ Ie∣sus, com to their Ful-age to the further ripening of their discretion. And thus I haue briefly clea∣red the harmonye abi∣ding between the anciēt and new ministry.

For the second sort of Ceremoniall people, it was the eleuen Trybes

of Israel afore spoken of, which figured out the whole of Gods people, that were to be gathered vnto Christ (the perfecte Preuatler with god, figured by that one Israel or Iaa∣cob, whereof all the 12. tribes came) in respecte whereof the apostle ter∣meth * 1.14 all such, the Israell of God. And therefore the seuerall Cognisaunces and qualities attributed by Iacob and Moses vp∣on their propheticall deathbeds, doe liuely fi∣gure out, the diuersity of guifts and qualities in the new testamentes

Church; one and the same spirit working diuersly: not to speake of discom∣mendable qualities, which were neuer worse in the first, then be in the last. But what the people represented, the Taber∣nacle represented; and therefore to that.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ceremonial persons.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 1. Psal. 19. 1.
• * 1.3

  Nom. 3. & 4. & 18.
• * 1.4

  Leuit. 21. 17. &c.
• * 1.5

  1 Tim. 3. 2. The word Kosmios, is expounded.
• * 1.6

  Nom. 4 43. compared with chap. 8. 24. &c.
• * 1.7

  Cyprian. d•…•… •…•…ici. m. & ten •…•…t. Non con•…•…enit a•…•…∣nis impubi bus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…n Ca•…•…hedra.
• * 1.8

  Malachi 2. 5. 6. &c.
• * 1.9

  Mat. 5. 48.
• * 1.10

  Hieronym. ad Oceanum
• * 1.11

  7. Lectio•…•… on Salomons Songue, par•…•… 2. See also my abstract of faith.
• * 1.12

  Act. •…•…0. 17. &c.
• * 1.13

  For the vn∣derstanding hereof, read Tremellius his note on Iohn 10. 22
• * 1.14

  Galat. 6. 15. 16.