A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 50. Of Truths co•…•…ched under Types.

THe other day here mentioned is that which hath been four times before insisted upon. S•…•…e §. 45.

From this other day, which David mentioneth, a question may be moved, whe∣ther* 1.1 there were not a day, in Ioshua's time, and before his time also, to enter into the rest that David afterward cals upon people to enter into. If there were a day before, why doth the Apostle so much urge these words, Afterwards, and Another, after Davids time.

Answ. The main scope of David, and of the Apostle here, (for both were of the same minde, and aimed at the same scope) their scope was to shew that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time was not the only day wherein rest was to be found: nor that rest which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gave in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the only rest to be sought after.

The day for seeking the rest here intended began when God made this •…•…∣ning* 1.2 against Satan, but promise to man, It shall bruise thy head, (Gen. 3. 15.) This is a promise of conquest over Satan, and deliverance from his tyranny, and of the rest here intended following thereupon.

This day was also in Moses and Ioshua's time: and this rest was typified to them under sundry legall rites and types: and under the Land of Canaan.* 1.3

Spirituall and celestiall things were comprised under their externall and leg•…•…ll types.

Their circumcision was, The putting off the body of the sinnes of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Col. 2. 11.

They were all baptized in the cloud, and in the sea. In eating Manna, They did eat the same spirituall meat that we do, and did all drink the same spirituall drink: for they drank of that spirituall rock which was Christ, 1 Cor. 10. 2, 3, 4.

Their Passeover did typifie Christ, 1 Cor. 5. 7. So did all their Sacrifices, Heb. 9. 9, 10 11.

The blood of sprinkling set out the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Heb. 9. 13, 14. 1 Ioh. 1. 7.

The legall Priesthood was a type of Christs Priesthood, Heb. 4. 14.

The Tabernacle set forth heaven, Heb. 8 2.

The Son of man was li•…•…t up before them in the brasen serpent, Ioh. 3. 14, 15.

Not to insist on other particulars, in generall it is said, that the Tabernacle, and the things therein, was a figure, namely of spirituall things, Heb. 9. 9▪ and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had a shadow of good things to come, Heb. 10. 1. Of particular Rites it is said, They are a shadow of things to come: but the body is Christ, Col. 2. 17.* 1.4

Spirituall and celestiall truths and substances were comprised under externall and legall types, for these ends.

• 1. To shew that God being a spirit delighteth in things spirituall, Ioh. 4. 24. In the time wherein legall services were of use, they were detested by God in three 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
  • 1. When they were performed in hypocrisie and shew only. In this respect* 1.5 God thus upbraideth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heare farre from me, iii. 29 13.
  • 2. When they made them a cloak to cover over impiety and iniquity. In this respect •…•…aith God, Your new Moons, and your appointed Feasts, my soul hateth. The reason thereof is thus rendred, Your hands are full of blood, Isa 1. 14, 15. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is noted, Ier. 7. 9, 11. Matth 23. 14.
  • 3. When people rested only on the externall performance of legall Rites, and expected to be accepted for those outward performances, not regarding the in∣ward truth and substance. In this respect it is thus said to God, Sacrifice and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou didst not desire, Psal. 40. 6, &c. and God himself saith, I will not re∣•…•… thee for thy sacrifices, &c Psal. 50. 8, &c.
• ...

  2. To demonstrate the ground of Saints faith: which was not the externall Rites* 1.6 that they performed, but the internall truth which they believed. By faith Abel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto God a more excellent sacrifice then Cain, (Heb. 11. 4) His saith had an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon Christ the truth: not simply upon the sacrifice that was offered. Abra∣•…•… saw Christs day, Joh. 8. 56. Moses esteem•…•…d the reproach of Christ great 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (Heb. 11. 26.) so as he suffered reproach for Christ.

  Of other ends why the legall Rites had their spirituall truths, See §. 49.

  We may from hence inferre, that the believing Jews did not rest in the perform∣ance* 1.7 of outward Rites, nor in the possession of Canaan, nor in externall blessings, but had their eye upon higher, spirituall and heavenly matters.

  We may from hence gather, that it is pains worth the taking, to search after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Evangelicall and Celestiall truths that were comprised under their ex∣•…•… and legall Rites. By this means may we in many respects come to discern sundry particular benefits arising out of those truths, which it may be, we should not so readily discern in a single, simple consideration of the truths themselves.

  For finding out the truth of types, observe these rules,* 1.8

  • 1. Be well acquainted with the Prophets, who were expounders of the Law. A Prophet will tell you, that circumcision intended the taking away of the foreskin of the heart, Jer. 4. 4. Another will tell you, that sacrifices set out the offering of Christ, Psal 40. 6.
  • 2. Observe what applications in the New Testament are made of the legall Rites unto their severall truths. For the Penmen of the New Testament were guided by the same Spirit that Moses was; and knew what was the intendment of his Rites, Thereby we may know, that the Rite of not breaking a bone of the Paschal Lamb, (Exod. 12. 46.) did prefigure the kind of Christs death, and the not breaking of his bones, Ioh. 19. 36. Other types applied to their truths in the New Testament are set down before in this §.
  • 3. By just consequence may sundry truths be found out. For example, from this ground, that the Highpriest prefigured Christ, we may by consequence inferre, that the Highpriest appearing before God for the people, and bearing their names in his Breast-plate, did prefigure Christs appearing before God for us, and present∣ing us by name unto God, Exod. 28. 29. Thus may the Highpriests Robes and Or∣naments be applied to Christ.
  • 4. A perpetuall equity will leade us to finde out the truth of a type; as the equity of th•…•…s, that prayer shall ever be made unto God in the Name of Christ, shews that the daily offering up of incense did typifie as much, Mal. 1 11.
  • 5. A fit analogy and resemblance of a type with the truth: as Israels bondage 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pharach, with our spirituall bondage under sinne. Their deliverance by the red sea, with our Redemption by the blood of Christ. The clouds sheltring them from the parching heat of the sun, with Christs preserving us from the wrath of God, So in other things.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The day of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into rest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in and be∣•…•… Ioshua's time.
• * 1.2

  When day of seeking rest •…•…e∣gan.
• * 1.3

  Truths under types.
• * 1.4

  Why truths under types. See Ch. 8 v. 5. §. 13.
• * 1.5

  In three cases God detested legall 〈◊〉〈◊〉. See Ch. 7. v 16. §. 8•…•…
• * 1.6

  The ground of faith in types.
• * 1.7

  Believers under the Law rested not in exter∣nals.
• * 1.8

  Rules for fin∣ding out truths of types.