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 ...

§. 171. Of passing through the red Sea Sacramentally considered.

THE Apostle maketh this passing of the Israelites through the red Sea, to be such a Sacrament unto them, as Baptism is unto us, where he saith, They were all Baptized in the Sea: 1 Cor 10. 2.

Hereupon having distinctly noted the main points of the history, I hold it meet to open the Mysterie, and for that end,

• 1. To shew what kind of Sacrament their passing through the red Sea was.
• 2. To manifest wherein that Sacrament agreeth with Baptism.

That Sacrament may thus be described; It was one of the Jewes extraordina∣ry* 1.1 Sacraments wherein by their safe passing through the Sea, their preservation from the common destruction of mankind was represented and sealed up unto them.

• 1. That it was a Sacrament, is evident by this phrase, they were baptized in the Sea, 1 Cor. 10. 2. and in that it had the essentiall parts of a Sacrament, as we shall shew in comparing it with Baptism.
• 2. It was a Sacrament of the Iewes: apperteining to that Church alone. It was not for the Egyptians, They were drowned in the Sea. Hereby it is distin∣guished from the Ark, which was a generall Sacrament for the whole world, and also from Christian Sacraments.
• ...

  3. It was an extraordinary Sacrament, in that it was but once for all used.

  Hereby it was distinguished from the Jewes ordinary Sacraments, which were Circumcision and the Passover.

• 4. It is said to be one of their extraordinary Sacraments: to shew that the Jews had more extraordinary Sacraments than this. They had four. Two ans∣wered Baptism; This and the Cloud. 1 Cor. 10. 2. The two other answered the Lords Supper, which were Manna, and the Water that came out of the Rock.
• 5. The outward sign of this Sacrament was the red Sea: they passed through it.
• ...

• 6. The thing signified was Christs Blood, Christs Blood is the Sea that keeps us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from that destruction that falls upon others.
• 7. The fit resemblance betwixt the sign and thing signified, sheweth, that this was represented by that, namely, that our spiritual preservation was represented by the manner of that temporal preservation.
• 8. The adding of the means to the promise, sheweth, that this was a Seal. The promise was first made to Abraham. Gen. 15. 14. and confirmed. Exod. 3. 8. and 14. 13. and by this passing through the red Sea ratified. This was an especial 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of strengthning their faith. Exod. 14. 31.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What kind of Sacrament the Israelites pas∣sing through the red Sea was.