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 ...

§. 13. Of the Shew-bread typifying Christ.

THe third special type in the Sanctuary, was the shew-bread: hereof there is a brief expression thus, Thou shalt set upon the Table Shew-bread before me alway, Exod. 25. 30, &c. But a more large description, Lev. 24. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. There is de∣clared.

• 1. The matter whereof it was made, fine flower.
• 2. The quantity of that matter; Two tenth deales in one cake or loaf.
• 3. The number of cakes, twelve.
• 4. The place where they were set, upon the pure Table before the Lord.
• 5. The order wherein they were set, in two rowes, six on a row.
• 6. An appurtenance belonging to them, pure Frankinsence upon each row.
• 7. The renewing of them, every Sabbath.
• 8. The persons to partake of them, The Priests, namely, Aaron, and his Sons.
• 9. The place where they were to be eaten, the holy place.
• 10. The vessels wherein they were to be set.* 1.1

In general this Shew-bread was a type of Christ, who stileth himself the bread of life, John 6. 33, 35. As bread is to the body, the means of life, so is Christ to the soul. This doth Christ suther demonstrate by instituting bread to be one of the sacramental elements of the Lords supper, of which he saith, This is my body, Matth. 26. 26.

The soul standeth in as great need of Christ, as the body doth of bread: and no∣thing* 1.2 but Christ can satisfie the soul, Act. 4. 12. This is that bread for which we should labour: even that which endureth to everlasting life, John 6. 27.

The title given to this bread is in our English translated shew-bread. in a 1.3 He∣brew word for word, bread of faces. They were so called, because being dedicated and offered to God, they were set before the Ark, which was an especial type of Christ the Lord, and of his presence among them. The plural number, faces, is u∣sed in reference to the two sides of mans face. Now this bread stood before, or in the presence of the Lord. For so saith the Lord, Thou shalt set upon the Table shew∣bread before me (or at my faces) alway, Exod. 25. 30. The LXX traslate it b 1.4 breads set before: wherein they have reference to the Ark, the type of Gods presence. Our Apostle here stiles it, proposition of breads: but by a rhetorical figure which is cal∣led, Hypallage, a change of one thing for another: c 1.5 Proposition of breads for d 1.6 breads of proposition: (as they are called, Matth. 12. 4.) that is bread set before, or in the sight, namely of the Lord.

This title typifieth Christ appearing before God for us continually.

• ...

  The first particular about the shew-bread, was the matter whereof it was made, fine flower. This was a type of Christs incarnation and passion. He was as grain* 1.7 that grew out of the ground: and as grain ground in a mill and bolted. The break∣ing of the bread, and pouring out of the winde at the Lords Supper sets forth as much. Thus commeth Christ to be the proper object of our faith. To this pur∣pose saith Christ, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth 〈◊〉〈◊〉: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit, Joh. 12. 24.

  The flower was fine to shew the purity of Christs nature,, Heb. 7. 26.* 1.8

• ...

  The second particular was the quantity of flower: two tenths deal, in one loa•…•… or cake. One tenth deal, was an Omer full (Exod. 16. 36.) which was about three* 1.9 pi•…•…ts: so as there were about three quarts of flower in one loaf: which was almost half a peck. Thus there was more then a bushel of flower for all the twelve 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

  This typified the plenty of food which we have by Christ. They who have him shall feel no want, for Christ himself faith, I am the bread of life: he that commeth to me shall never hunger, Joh. 6. 35.

• 3. The number of loaves were twelve, Lev. 24. 5. This was in relation to the* 1.10 twelve tribes, which mystically comprise the whole Church under them, which the Apostle calls the Israel of God, Gal. 6. 16.
• 4. The place where they were set, is said to be before the Lord, Exod. 25. 30.* 1.11 Le•…•…. 24. 6. This typifieth Christ as a body containing all the elect under him: and

• ... 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and appears before God. Thus the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Priest, wi•…•…h the names of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tribes, appeared before the Lord, Exod. 28 21. This is a point of admira∣•…•… comfort, whereby our faith may be much comforted in Gods respect to Christ.* 1.12
• 5. The order in which they were set was in two rowes; six in a row. This typified 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unity or order which is in the Church of God: which is the body of Christ. This unity and order of the Church is elegantly described, Cant. 4. 2. &c. They that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 carefull to preserve this unity by keeping their rank and place, do thereby shew 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they are of the Church of Christ, and that his Spirit ruleth in them. See more 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Chap. 13. v. 23. §. 188.
• 6. An especial appurtenance was Frankincense on every row. This prefigured* 1.13 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 acceptation which all the members of Christs body have with God in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Eph. 1. 6. This is that incense which is offered up with the prayers of all Saints, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. 3. By vertue hereof the Lord smelleth a sweet favour upon all the oblati∣•…•… of his people, even as he did upon Noahs burnt offering, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. 21.
• 7. The renewing of the shew-bread every Sabbath (Lev. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 8.) was, that bread* 1.14 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alway appear before the Lord, Exod. 25. 30. Thus is Christ continually be∣•…•… God for us, Heb. 10. 12.
• 8. The persons that were to eat that bread were Priests only. Lev. 24. 9. Mat. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 This typified that they only have a right to feed on Christ, who were of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and royall Priest-hood, 1 Pet. 2. 5, 9. Behold here the prerogative of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 By feeding on Christ we are made partakers of eternal life, Ioh. 6. 51.* 1.15
• 9. The shew-bread was to be eaten in the holy place, Lev. 24. 9. Christ is fit to be fed upon only in sanctified hearts. He dwelleth in our hearts by faith, Eph. 3. 17. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are the everlasting doors which must be lift up for the King of glory to come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to them, Psal. 24. 7.* 1.16
• 10. The vess•…•…ls wherein these were to be s•…•…t, were of sundry sorts, Exod. 25. 29. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were four 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sorts of dishes: two for the bread, and two for incense. One 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to hold the bread: the other to cover it. And again, one sort to hold the in∣•…•…, the other to cover it. This shewed that holy things must be charily kept, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. 6. Our hearts are these dishes: which ought to be as pure as Gold. In 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this bread of life, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 incense must be kept. They must be kept close from the dust of wickednesse, yea, and of worldlinesse. Of Incense, and of the typi∣call application thereof: see The Plaister for a Plague, on Numb. 16. 46. §. 25, 37, 38.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What the shew-bread signifieth.
• * 1.2

  Why called shew-bread.
• a 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 facierum pa∣nis.
• b 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; panes praesentes vel exposit•…•…s.
• c 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.7

  The matter of the shew∣bread was was flower.
• * 1.8

  The shew∣bread of fine flower.
• * 1.9

  The quantity of flower.
• * 1.10

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of lo•…•…ves.
• * 1.11

  The shew∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lord.
• * 1.12

  Shew-bread set in order.
• * 1.13

  Frankincense upon the Shew-bread.
• * 1.14

  Shew-bread renewed eve∣ry Sabbath.
• * 1.15

  Shew-bread eaten in the holy place.
• * 1.16

  Vessels of Shew-bread.