A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

CHAP. III.

Josh. the Third relateth the miracle of Israel's passing through Jordan, in all its cir∣cumstances of time, place, manner, &c.

The First Remark upon this Relation is, the solemn preparation of Israel for their best Reception of this Miracle of mercy: Israel had three Days time not only to pro∣vide necessaries for a march from Shittim to the Banks of Jordan, Josh. 1.11. but also to prepare themselves both in Body and Soul, with Ceremonial and Spiritual Purifica∣tions to render them capable of that glorious Efficacy of Gods powerful presence, in dividing Jordan, vers. 5. God oft call'd them to a sanctifying themselves for his pre∣sence, Exod. 19.10, 15. Levit. 20.7, 8. Numb. 11, 18. &c. a due preparation for Gods presence brings a true participation of it, and the more that our minds are purified for meeting the Lord, the more influence hath his presence upon our Spirits, and the deeper impression it maketh upon our memories.

The Second Remark is, the Cloudy Pillar being now departed at Moses's Death (shewing, the shadows of the Law, cannot lead us into the Land of promise,) The

Ark of the Covenant (being a Type of the Angel of the Covenant, Mal. 3.1. the Lord Jesus) takes the Conduct of Israel through Jordan into Canaan, Josh. 3.3, 11. which shew, that the order of the march of the Ark of God in Moses's time was in the midst of the Camp, Numb. 2.17, &c. But now this course was changed in Joshua's time, for the glorious Cloud being gone, the Ark of God must go before Israel, who must follow after it, denoting, That as there was no other way of entrance into the Earthly Ca∣naan, but by following the Ark of God; so there is no other way of entrance into the Heavenly Canaan, but only by following the Lord Jesus Christ, Joh. 14.6. Act. 4.12. Matth. 16.24.

The Third Remarks is, The much Congruity or Parity 'twixt this Ark, the Type, and Christ, the Antitype, as (1.) The Ark was made of Shittim-Wood, Exod. 25, 10, &c. A Wood most durable, and not subject to putrefaction. So Christ was neither subject to the corruption of Sin, nor to the putrefaction of the Grave, Heb. 27.1. and 4.15. Psal. 16.9, 10. (2.) the Ark was covered with pure Gold: So Christ had the Gold of his Godhead covering his Manhood, Col. 2.9. (3.) it had the Tables of the Testimony and pot of Manna, &c. so Christ had Treasures of Wisdom hid in him, Col. 2.3, &c.

Fourthly; the Ark was an Assurance of Gods presence with Israel; Josh. 3.11. calls it the Lo••d of the whole Earth, which is added to corroborate Israel's confidence; for if that God (who made the whole Earth out of nothing, and governeth all things contain∣ed in it, by his wise and powerful providence) did dwell in the Ark that passed over before them, there could be no place left for incredibility, or so much as doubting of their ill success; where the Ark was, there God was. Hence the Ark is call'd Gods Face, Psal. 105 4. and 'tis call'd God himself, Psal. 132.5. wherewith God was pre∣sent in casting down Dagon and plaguing the Philistins, 1 Sam. 5.2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12. and 6.19, 20. Where the Ark is, and where the ordinances are, there God is, &c. Thus. Christ is both the cause, and the assurance of Gods merciful presence with us, Joh. 17.21. The Son's union with the Father is an assurance of our Union, both with the Father and the Son, and of theirs with us.

Fifthly, a reverend respect must be had to the Ark of God, so that the People must not come near to it; but keep at distance from it two thousand Cubits or a thousand Yards Josh. 3.4. Which distance was prescribed to affect their Hearts with a due Venera∣tion to Gods presence, whereof the Ark was a Sign, in which respect, at the giving of the Law there were bounds appointed about the Mount Sinai, to keep the People from approaching too near it, Exod. 19.12. Thus Gods Command concerning this Ark was [they shall not go in to see it,] Numb. 4.20. The Men of Bethshemesh paid dear for their peeping, 1 Sam 6.19. Gods secrets must not be searched into, Deut. 29.29. Hic oportet mirari potiùs quàm Rimari: Arcana Dei sunt Ara Dea; a presumptuous prying into the work of Gods Arcanum's, is not only an Impious curiosity, but 'tis also for∣bidden upon pain of Death as above; and Peter giveth charge against that Curiosity as against Theft or Murder, 1 Pet. 4.15. 'tis Bucholcer's Counsel.

Tu fuge ceu pestem, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

We should be wise to sobriety, and not rush rashly into Gods ordinances or Sacra∣ments, Dr. Hall saith well, God loves at once Familiarity and Fear, Familiarity with him in our Conversation, and fear of him in his Commands: God loves to be acquainted with Men in the Walks of their Obedience, yet he takes state upon him in his ordi∣nances, and will be trembled at in his Word and Judgments. Thus it is said of Christ.

Surely, they will Reverence my Son, Matth. 21.37. As the Ark of Gods presence and Hearers are all here and before the Lord to hear his word, Act. 10.33. which ought to be trembled at, then God will respect us, Isa. 66.2.

There be many more Parities or Congruities follow to be spoke to in their proper place; the Sixth whereof leads in.

The Fourth Remark, which is, As by the Ark of God the River Jordan was divided and dried up, insomuch that the People went dry and safe over to Canaan; So by the Son of God a most plain, easy, and ready way is made through the Horrours of Death for us to come safely to our Heavenly Canaan and Kingdom, Psal. 23.4. Heb. 10.19, 20. This drying up of Jordan by the Ark approaching it, Josh. 3.13. was a wonderful work of God, and much admired by the Psalmist, Psal. 11.4, 3, 5. The many circum∣stances of this miracle make it the more marvelous, as (1.) the Time when, namely, at such a time when Jordan overflowed all its Banks, Josh. 3.15. at the time of Barly Harvest.

This might be Natural 1 Chron. 12.15. as to Nilus and other Rivers caused by the melting of Snow, which lieth all Winter upon the adjacent Mountains, and is melted in their Harvest time by the Heat of the Sun: Therefore the drying of it up when it was under its most dreadful innundation must needs be the more Supernatural: Here∣upon the Psalmist asks the Question [what ailed thee oh thou Jordan that thou wast driven back, &c?] Psal. 114.5. as if he had said, what was the matter? What power overpower'd thee? Can there any natural reasons be rendred for it? No; it was God powerful presence, thou saw, that did affright thee, and not only stop'd thee in thy natural course, but also caused thee to run a Retrograde Motion: as God chused this very time of an Innundation (1.) that his powerful kindness to Israel might be more singular, and the Miracle the more admirable; when God will perform his promises of deliverance to his People, no created Being can obstruct his Proceedings, for all Creatures are Gods Servants, Psal. 119.91. and shall contribute their help and not hindrances. (2.) So it most highly commends the strong Faith of those Holy Priests that did first set their Feet up∣on those Waters while they so fearfully overflowed, and ran with such a rapid, fierce and strong Currant (3.) and Lastly, this time likewise gives the greatest illustration of Gods good providence toward his People in bringing them into the Land of their Enemies, even in Harvest time, when it was the best furnished with all necessary Provision both for the present and the following Year; here one Sowed and another Reaped, Joh. 4.37.

The Second Circumstance that exalts this Miracle is, The place where it was wrought, what part of Jordan must be dried up for Israel's March over into Canaan: No place of Jordan must serve, but that part which was Right over against Jericho Josh. 3.16. This was the place which God chose, because, (1.) God would shew himself to be their Captain who would lead them over in safety there, where there was a strong City, a potent King, and a valiant People; (2.) Because this wonderful wafting Israel over safely there, would strike a greater terror upon the Hearts of their Enemies; (3.) To Signalize this very place, call'd after Bethabara, Trajectum, or place of passage, where John the Baptist did Baptize the Lord Jesus, Joh. 1.28. &c. Here Baptism was first Administred, not without Divine Direction, being fore-shadowed by Israel's passage through Jordan (as before through the Red-Sea, 1 Cor. 10.2.) to signify that Christ is the true Beth-Abara or place of passage, into our Heavenly inheritance, Eph. 2.18. To which may be added (4.) because this place led Israel to the most pleasant and fruitful part of Canaan, and therefore the most convenient both for Israel's refreshment after their long and tedious Marches; and for their encouragement to their present expe∣dition.

The (3.) Circumstance that makes this Miracle famous, is, The manner how this differ'd from the drying up of the Red-Sea; for (1.) That deliver'd them from the Egyptians, but this led them into Canaan: (2.) In that the Waters stood up on each side as a wall, in this the upper Waters only stood up on an heap, the nether Waters were clean cut off (as with a Sword, Job 6.17. saith Tremellius) and ran away into the Dead Sea. (3.) There the Waters were divided at the stretching out of Moses's Rod, but this was done by the presence of the Ark of Gods presence. (Lastly) this huge Heap of the upper Waters of Jordan, did not fall all at once (as the Red Sea did to drown the Egyptians) but, being Restrain'd by the power of God, abated by little and little and brought to their ordinary course, otherwise the Heap being higher than the Banks had drown'd all the Country, by a sudden and entire Fall.

The Fourth Circumstance of this marvelous Miracle is, The means whereby Israel was transported, it was not by Bridges, or by Boats, &c. but on Foot yet dry shod notwith∣standing the vast Innundation which teacheth us, that such as are Israelites indeed Joh. 1.47. Need not to fear their passage through Jordan, the Agonies of a corporal Death (having the Ark of Gods Covenant in their Eye,) to take possession of the Heavenly Canaan, Eph. 2.18.

The Fifth Remark is, These Holy Priests, that bare the Ark of the Lord, stood be∣twixt the People and danger, as a wall of Defence to them, whether their station ap∣pointed them were either in the middle of Jordan (as some say from vers. 17.) then they preserved them from fear of the Flood overflowing them in the midst of the River; or if the Priests marched end-Ways through the River to the brink of it on the other side (as others do interpret, vers. 8. lest the People should otherwise get before the Ark, who were bid to follow after it) then the Priests exposed themselves to the Pe∣ril of the Enemy who might be ready to hinder their Landing, as Rationally could not but be expected. In which case the Peril of those Holy Priests must needs be the

greater, because of their distance 2000 Cubits from the rest of the Army: However understood, it teacheth us, That 'tis the frequent State and Portion of Gospel-Mini∣sters to be most exposed unto Peril from Persecutors, whose constant Cry, is, smite the Shepherds, and the Sheep be soon scattered, &c. Zech. 13.7. Oh pray for Pastors who bear the brunt and burden of the Day.

The Sixth and last Remark is, Those whom God gives up to Destruction, he first gives them over to Infatuation, which is the English of [quos Deus vult destrui, priùs dementat] Tho' it be the common Dictate of the Light of Nature, that Nations in danger of Invasion, do carefully secure their Coasts, and guard their Frontiers; yet those Canaanites, in neglecting this here, seem deprived of their reasons; probably, their present security might be, because they look'd on it as Impossible for: Israel to pass over Jordan when it overflow'd its Banks; but certainly they were struck with such a Terror by this Miracle, that they durst not come forth, but immured themselves in the High wall'd-City.