Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

ƲƲere there no moe Sacraments of the old Testament?

Yes indeed there were, as the Sabbaths, the Arke of the Coue∣nant, washings, and such like: yet they are rather to be cal∣led Types then Sacraments, if we will speake properly, because they are neuer compared with the Sacraments of the new Co∣uenant. But especially because they serued rather to illustrate the promise of grace, then to seale it by the application of them made to euery one.

For the legall Sabbath, which was so called, because of the rest, besides that it was ordayned that that day should be im∣ployed in the worshippe God, that is, in holy prayers, prea∣ching, Sacrifices, & charitable collections for the poore, to nou∣rish the peoples faitha 1.1, and that the Israelites should not wearie thēselues, or those that belonged to them with continual laborb 1.2, and to the ende they might continually remember the workes of God in the Creationc 1.3, of their deliuerance out of the bon∣dage of Aegypt, and redemption by Christ: It was further a signe and testimonie of sanctification, which did signifie that the Lord aboue doth sanctifie his by his Spirit. Exod. 31.13, 27. The Sabbath shall be a signe betweene mee and you, that ye may know that it is I the Lord that sanctifie you. Which thing also Paule sheweth to be done by Christ, hee that sanctifieth, and

they that are sanctified are all of one. Hebr. 2.11. As also of the spirituall and euerlasting Sabbath, wherein wee must rest from euerie seruile worke, that is, from sinnes, and our owne will, and suffer God to worke his owne workes in vs, and to reioyce in God thorow Christ. It was also a shadowe of the heauenly Sabbath (that is, of eternall rest in God) which we shall ob∣taine thorow faith; when being deliuered from the flesh, and the trouble thereof, we shall rest in God, when there shall bee Sabbath after Sabbath, and Sabbath without any night. Esay. 66.23.

The Arke of the Couenant did teach.

1. Christ the Authour of the Couenant betweene God and the Elect.

2 It was a visible testimonie of the presence of God. Exo. 25.10 22. I wil (saith the lord vnto Moses) Declare my self vnto the there and will talke with thee from the couer of the mercie seate be∣tweene the two Cherubins, which is aboue the Arke of the te∣stimonie, what things soeuer I will commaund thee to shewe vnto the children of Israell. Whereupon also by the Figure Meto∣nymie vsuall to types and Sacraments, it is called the King of gloried 1.4. And Iehouah, as when the Arke remooued, Moses said:e 1.5 Arise O Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let all that hate thee, flie away from thy presence. And when it stood still hee said, Returne O Lord vnto the tenne thousand thou∣sands of Israell. Numb. 10.35.

3 It was a type of Christ, in whom are conteined all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge. Surely the wood Cettim, or Cedar which is not subiect to rotting, out of which flowed a cleare and most odoriferous liquour which (because it preserueth dead bodies from putrifying) is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quickening that which is dead, it did represent the vertue and merit of the bloud of Christ.

Now these are the thinges that were ioyned to the Arke, and partly put into it.

1 The golden pot, hauing Manna in it, did shadow out Christ, who is the bread of lifef 1.6.

2 Aarons rod, which had budded, was a type of the Priest¦hood

of Iesus Christ, whose priestly scepter, whereas it had beene as it were withered in the world, after his death & resurrection it began to flourish, to fructifie, and to bring foorth the sweete fruits of the holy Gospell among the Gentilesg 1.7.

3 The Tables of the Couenant, wherein was ingrauen by the finger of God the tenne Commaundements,c 1.8 which did signi∣fie Christ the fulfilling of the law.

4 The Golden board or couer, which was aboue, which was cal∣led the propitiatory of the Graecians, the couer of the mercie seat it did signifie Christ the mediatour, who is the propitiation for our sinnes, and that couer whereby wee are couered against the anger, and horrible iudgement of Godk 1.9.

5 The Promise annexed, signified that God would thence as out of his throne speake his Oracles, and that there Christ would heare vs, who is indeed the throne & seat of God, and the word of the father, by whom he speaketh to vs, and for whose sake he heareth vs, As it is written: Whatsoeuer ye shall aske the father in my name he will giue it you. Iohn. 15.16. And the two Cherubins, seat••d vpon the couer of the Arke, ioyning their wings together, and with face to face, looking toward the Arke it selfe; did de∣clare the consent of the Prophets and Apostles in doctrine; and the stouping downe, that is, the earnest desire of the blessed Angels, to know the whole mysterie of saluation.a 1.10

* 1.11The exhibiting also whereof, euen presently so soone as Christ was borne, they declared to the Church.

6 Also the Arke of the couenant, was a type of the company of the Elect, which is fed with the heauenly Manna, is gouer∣ned with the Scepter of that Priest according to the royall order of Melchisedech: it hath the law of God, ingrauen in the tables of their hearts, and is the keeper of the bookes of the prophecies, and of the Apostles. And as the Gold mingled with Brasse did resemble the hypocrites, so the pure and perfect tried Golde, wherewith the Arke was covered on euerie side, did repre∣sent the faithfull, who are tried in the fyre of afflictionsb 1.12. And those men which are indeed like vnto Gold, are wor∣thily preferred before such as be like vnto lead, and are profane men.

7. The barres, and staues did signifie the Ministers, Doctors, and schoolemen which doe performe their message for Christes sake.

Moreouer the washings did signifie that the sins of them that beleeue should be washed away in the bloud of Christ, and that they are daily washed, and purified by the holy Ghostc 1.13.

Now the third was Chanaan, a certaine pawne and pledge of the promise of Christ, and the heauenly inheritance. So, 1. The sa∣crificing of Isaacd 1.14, did signifie the offering vp of Christ.

2. The blessing of Ephraim and Manasses, made by laying Ia∣cobs armes and hands crosse vpon them did signifie the vnlike condition of their posteritye 1.15.

3. The brasen Serpentf 1.16: the trueth as touching the lifting vp of the banner of Christ crucified.

4. The wood cast into the bitter waters, whereby they were made sweetg 1.17, signified, the branch of the stock of Isaie comfor∣ting all those which bee wearie and heauie loaden.

5. The going about or compassing of Iericho seauen daies by the Israelitesh 1.18, that the strongholds of this world shall bee cast downe by the sound of the trumpets of the Gospell: whereof the Prophet speaketh Psal. 19.5. their sound is gone forth into the whole worldi 1.19.

6. The cleansing of Naaman by washing himselfe seauen times in Iordank 1.20, the washing away of sinne, or of the spirituall leprosie by the bloud of Christl 1.21.

7. The touching of Esaies mouth with a burning coale, which one of the Seraphins had taken with the tongues from the Altar, that the Prophet was to be purged with the signe of the holie Ghost, and the word of the Lord must bee put in his mouth ^m.

8. Ezechiell eating the booke, did foresignifie that the Oracles of God must bee hid in the bottome of our hearts ⁿ. As afterward the medicinable annointing, yet not without a miracle by the A∣postles and other Saints in the Primitiue Church for to heale the sick, together with prayers vsed sometimes by faith, ^o testifying the presence, and healthfull working of the spirit, whereby God doth heale vs. The ^p man borne blinde, whose eyes Christ did annoint with clay, and washing them in the poole of Siloah; had

his sight restored ^p, signifying that the eyes of our minds, are to be inlightned with the light of Christ. And such like (which because they were inioyned and granted to some fewe onely, and for a time) are rather to be called mysticall actions, then Sacraments. For in Sacraments the signe doth represent that which God doth in trueth offer, and faith receiue. But in types, things to come, or past alreadie are shadowed out, and as it were, painted out before our eyes in a table.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Luk 4.16 12
• b 1.2

  Exod. 22.
• c 1.3

  Gen. 2.1.12
• d 1.4

  psal. 47.5.7
• e 1.5

  Psal. 68.1 2 & 2.13.1, 8
• f 1.6

  Exod. 16.33 Ioh. 6.35 Heb. 9.4
• g 1.7

  Numb. 17 8
• c 1.8

  Deut. 10.5 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• k 1.9

  Rom 3.24 Ioh. 2 2 Exod 25.32
• a 1.10

  1 Pet. 1.12
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.12

  1 Pet. 1••7
• c 1.13

  Leu. 14.8, 7
• d 1.14

  Gen. 22.10
• e 1.15

  Gen. 48.14
• f 1.16

  Numb. 2.8 Ioh. 3.14.15
• g 1.17

  Exod. 18.25
• h 1.18

  Ios. 6.5
• i 1.19

  2 Cor. 10.4
• k 1.20

  2 King. 5 10
• l 1.21

  1 Ioh. 1.7