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 ...

§. 23. Of the name, the Author, the place, and kind of food p•…•…efigured under Manna.

ABout this third type sundry particular circumstances are to be duly ob•…•…erved▪

• 1. The Title given to it.
• 2. The Author of it.
• 3. The Place whence it came.
• 4. The Kind of food.
• 5. The Manner of giving, gathering and using it.
• 6. The Meanes of reaping benefit by it.

• ...

  1. The title is thus expressed, It is Manna, Exod. 16. 15.* 1.1

  The word is an Hebrew word, and retained in the Greek, Latine, English, and o∣ther languages.

  a 1.2 The Verb whence it commeth signifieth to prepare, Ionah. 2. 1. It signifieth also to distribute, or appoint, Dan. 1. 10. This word according to the derivation of it, intendeth a portion prepared, Wisdome, 16. 20.

  This typified Christ as a portion prepared for us. Of Christ it may well be said as was said of that portion, which Elkanah gave to Hannah, it was a worthy porti∣on (1 Sam. 1. 5.) no such portion was ever given to children, to men. Herein we may well rest, and say, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, &c. Psal. 16. 5. So as we may count all things but losse for this portion, Phil. 3. 8.

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  2. The Author of this Manna was the Lord. For Moses said unto them▪ This* 1.3 is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat: and withall the Lord said hereupon, ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, Exod. 16. 12, 15.

  The people of Israel were at that time, when Manna was first given, in such di∣stresse for want of food, as none could help them, but the Lord himself. That di∣stress so moved his bowels, as he gave evidence of his extraordinary power in pro∣viding for them.

  Christ himself thus applyeth this point, my Father giveth you the true bread, Joh. 6. 32.

  This world is as destitute of spiritual food, as the wilderness was of corporal: and God was as much moved with our spiritual need, as with their corporal.

  Much doth this commend both the type and the truth. Things given by great persons, especially if they be seasonably given, in great need, and for singular use, are highly esteemed.

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  3. The place from whence Manna came, is said to be heaven, Exod. 16. 4. Psal.* 1.4 78. 23, 24.

  It was so ordered, to shew that it came from God: yea, also to give evidence of the excellency thereof: in which respect it is also called Angels food, Psal. 78. 25.

Object. Christ saith that Moses gave them not that bread from heaven, Joh. 6. 31.

Answ.

• 1. Christ speaketh of the highest heaven: but Moses of the lowest heaven, where the clouds are. For from thence Manna fell.
• 2. Christ especially intendeth the quality of that Manna, that is was not, as he himself heavenly.

Yet by the place from whence that Manna fell was typified, that Christ the truth thereof, was truly and properly from the highest heaven. For the bread of God is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which commeth down from heaven and giveth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto the world, Joh. 6. 33, 51. In this respect it is said of Christ, that he is the Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15. 47.

Christ was true God, and by assuming our humane nature, he came down from heaven.

This addeth somewhat more to the commendation of this food. Things farre 〈◊〉〈◊〉, are highly esteem d. This food is fetchr as far as from heaven: yea, it is heavenly food, and therefore the more highly to be esteemed.

• 4. For the kind of food, Manna is thus described a small round thing, as small as the hour frost on the ground. It was like Coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey, Exod. 16. 14, 31.

In this description, four points are observable.

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  1. The quantity of the grain, It was small.

  Thus Christ, that he might become food for us, was made smal, that is, mean and of* 1.5 no reputation, Isa. 43. 2, &c. Phil. •…•…. 7. As Christ became poor to us (2 Cor. 8. 9.) So he became smal to make us great.

• ...

  2. The figure of the grain, it was round: not as wheat, but Coriander seed. This* 1.6 figure •…•…oteth out a kind of fulness and perfection: as four square setteth out steadi∣ness and stability, Rev. 21. 16.

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 typifieth that fulness of grace, which is in Christ, Col. •…•…. 19.

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  3. The colour of it was white. This colour in Scripture is used to set out purity,* 1.7 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 51. 7. Rev. 7. 14.

  This typified the purity of Christ, Heb. 7. 26. My beloved is white, saith the Church, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

• ...
  • On this ground we may more perfectly trust to what he did, and endured for us: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we may more boldly in him appear before God: though we be black, yet he is white.
  • 2. On this ground we ought to endevour to purge our selves as he is pure, 1 Ioh. 3. 3.
• 4. The taste of Manna was like, wafers made with honey: that is sweet and plea∣s•…•…re,* 1.8 Wisd. 16. 20. It had abundance of all pleasantness in it, it was pleasing to every mans taste.

Thus it was the better relished: yea, thereby the bounty of God was the better •…•…eemed: who did not only provide wholsome, but also delight some food.

This typified the delectableness that is in Christ: to them especially that have their spiritual appetites well ordered. These are they that say, Oh taste and see that the Lord is good, Psal. 34. 8. If once we taste rightly of Christ, the bread of life, we shall say, Lord evermore give us this bread, Joh. 6. 34. There is no fulson eness in this bread, neither is there any saciety therein. We condemne the Israelites of egre∣gious folly for lothing Manna, Numb. 21. 5. and preferring the cucumbers, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick before it, Numb. 11. 5. What 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may we judge of them, who loath Christ the bread of life: and prefer any thing here below before him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The meaning of this word Manna.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 di∣stribuit. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 p•…•…tio. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Manna.
• * 1.3

  God gave Manna.
• * 1.4

  Manna from heaven.
• * 1.5

  Manna a small grain.
• * 1.6

  Manna was round.
• * 1.7

  Manna 〈◊〉〈◊〉 white.
• * 1.8

  Manna was sweet.