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 ...

§. 115. Of types being in themselves but shadowes.

THe nature of legal types, is set out in this phrase, Patterns of things in the heavens. It setteth out both the meannesse of them, and also the excellency of them.

Their meannesse is manifested in this word, patterns; which implyeth resem∣blances of things: and if they be compared with the truths which they do resemble, they will be found to be dark and obscure. Hereupon the Apostle joyneth these two together, example (or pattern) and shadow. See Chap. 8. v. 5. §. 12.

The types themselves were but of external, and earthly things: and in that re∣spect called carnal ordinances, v. 10. §. 50.

Surely they who of old used the legal rites, meerly as outward rites, without re∣ference to their truths, did rest upon meer shadows, and manifested therein a childish disposition. Much more did they, who addicted themselves to those rites, after their date was out: so as then they had no heavenly truth to typifie. But most chil∣dish are they who dote upon such external ordinances as never had any spiritual truths for them to be a pattern of. Of these see Chap. 7. v. 16. §. 82.

The excellency of the foresaid types is manifested in this, that they were pat∣terns of things in the heavens: that is, of heavenly things. See more here∣of Chap. 8. v. 5. §. 13.