Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K

The High Priest a Type of Christ.

Parallels.

THE High Priest was a Type of Christ: 1. In his Deputation to his Office. 2.* 1.1 In his Consecration. 3. In his Apparel. 4. In the Execution of his Office, &c.

First, In his Deputation to his Office.

1. He must be chosen out of the Tribe of Levi: Christ was taken from among Men of our Flesh and Bone.

2. He must not be Blind, Lame, &c. but wholly without natural Blemish:* 1.2 to signify Christ should be without Sin, In his Month was found no guile.

3. He was to be a Man of Knowledg, or no Priest to God: which figured forth that perfect Knowledg that is in Christ.

Secondly, As to his Consecration, 'tis set down Exod. 29.1. 1. Washing. 2. Anoint∣ing. 3. Sacrificing and Purifying with Blood, and this Consecration to continue seven days together; which in general, shadowed the surpassing Sanctity and Purity of Christ, above all Men and Angels, and of his being annointed with the Holy Spirit above his Brethren,* 1.3 and of his becoming our High Priest, by the Sacrifice of himself, or by offering up his own Blood, to attone and make Peace, &c. But whereas the High Priest needed Sacrifices to offer for his own Sins, in that there is a Disparity, for Christ having no Sin, needeth no Sa∣crifice for himself.

Thirdly, the High Priest in his Apparel was a Type of Christ.

1. He was to have on a Linnen Garment, which signified Christ's Righteousness, which all that appear accepted before the Lord, must have on.

2. A Girdle, which as Ainsworth, and divers others observe, signified that Constancy and Stability that was in Christ, who is as firm as a Rock; as also to shew how fixed and stable all God's People should be, being girt about with the Girdle of Truth and Verity, and so pre∣pared ready, and strengthned to every good Work.

3. A Bonnet, which signified God's covering and protecting our Head from all Dangers, and in him, us, that no Evil may befal us.

4. The High Priest was to have an Ephod, not of Wool, nor Silk, but of Linnen, (the Matter of which riseth out of the Earth,) which signifieth, saith Dr. Taylor,* 1.4 that Holy Flesh of Christ, which veiled his Diety, as a Garment; it was a long white Garment, signifying the absolute Righteousness of Christ; which is long enough to cover all our Nakedness. It was adorned with two Onyx Stones, and in them the Names of the Twelve Tribes engraven, which he carried on his Shoulders; signifying that the Names of the Godly are not lightly written, but engraven in the Love and Memory of Christ, that Christ should carry his Church and People upon his Shoulders, or support them by his own Strength: Also the two Onyx Stones, with the Names of the Children of Israel engraven upon them, and wore upon the High Priests Shoulder, was a great Ornament to him; So Christ looks upon his People to be as precious Stones, and Jewels to him.

5. The High Priest was to have on, the Breast-Plate of Judgment, the most precious part of all his Garments.

(1.) In respect of the twelve costly and glittering Stones, which were to be set in four Rows, according to the Number of the Tribes of Israel: these Stones signified the shining Grace and Holiness of Christ, not only as it shone forth in his own Person, but also as it is communicated to all his faithful Children, these Stones shone gloriously: So do the Saints in Grace, and true Gospel Purity.

(2.) These Stones were of great Worth and Value; signifying what a value Jesus Christ puts upon his Church, they are as precious stones, and costly Jewels in his esteem, tho slighted and contemned by Men.

(3.) They were set in the Pectoral, and Aaron must carry them on his Heart; signifying that Christ hath as much care of his own People, as if they were inclosed in his Heart; they lie near him, and are always upon his Heart, and in his Mind.

(4.) In Number Twelve, according to all the Tribes: noting there is room enough in Christ's Heart for every particular Saint, he loves them all, bears them all upon his Heart, before the Throne of God.

(5.) They stood in four Rows in a comely Quadrangle: signifying the comely Order that Christ hath placed in his Church, some in a higher, and some in a lower Rank.

(6.) All the Stones, and so consequently all the Names of the Children of Israel, stood in the Breast-Plate in a narrow compass: So by Christ all the Children of God are gathered to∣gether, and sweetly vailed through the Spirit in Love: In the Breast-Plate also, was the Ʋrim and Thummim, which the Rabbi David, a Jew, saith, It is unknown to us what these signify; it is thought it was the Workmanship of no Man, but a Sacred Monument immedi∣ately received from God, but all the Learned (I have met with) agree they signified Jesus Christ. 1. Their Names, say some, signify Light; others Beauty and Perfection; in Christ is all fulness of Light, Beauty and Perfection. 2. There use, was to receive by them answer from God, in difficult Cases, when the Priest consulted with him, the Oracle by Ʋrim gave certain Direction: So Christ is the most perfect Rule and Direction, shadowed by that.* 1.5 As God spake then by Ʋrim to the Priest; so now by his own Son: Those who would have their Doubts resolved, must go to the Ʋrim, go to Christ, and to his Ordi∣nances, &c.

But to return back, and speak a little further to the Robe of the Ephod, and Bonnet on the Skirts of the Ephod,* 1.6 were fastned, the Pomegranets of blew Silk, and Purple, and Scar∣let round about: this Fruit had a most pleasant smell, sweet in it self, and sweetning other things, and is full of precious Juice and Liquor. 2. Bells of Gold between them round about a Golden Bell and a Pomegranate, &c. this Vesture or Garment, might signify the Righteousness of Christ's Human Nature, and by the sweet Pomgranates, the most excellent savour of his Righteousness and Obedience, in the Nostrils of God the Father, in the behalf of Man; which also in a Spiritual Sense was full of precious Juice and Virtue, to qualify and abate the raging heat of God's Wrath; as the Juice of Pomgranates doth allay the burning heat of an Ague or Feaver; as also they might signify what a sweet savour Christ's Righte∣ousness doth cast upon us, when wrapped, as it were, therein, who by Nature are in a stinking and loathsome Condition. 2. As to the golden Bells they might figure forth the blessed sound of the Gospel; or, as some understand, Christ's visible owning of us now in Heaven, and our publick owning of him on Earth, which must be Sincere; we must not only make a sound, but also have good Fruit; we must not on••y have a Word for God, but a Work for God; a Bell, a Pomegranate, a Word, and a Work.

6. The High Priest must be heard when he goeth into the Sanctuary; signifying, saith Dr. Taylor the Power of Christ, our High Priest's perpetual Intercession, being entered into the true Sanctuary, viz. Heaven it self for us.

As touching the Miter, or Bonnet upon the Priest's Head, made of blew Silk, and fine Linnen, like to an half Coronet, beautified with a Golden Plate, on which was written Holiness to the Lord. 1. The Miter might not only signify God's covering and protecting our Head the Lord Jesus, and us in him, but also his Kingly Dignity. 2. The Golden Plate in which was written Holiness to the Lord, figured forth in a most conspicuous manner; that most divine and perfect Holiness of the Lord our Righteousness, the Holiness of his Person, the Holiness of his Nature, the Holiness of all his Actions and Passions; his Holiness, who is the Cause, Stream, and Original of all our Holiness, that is accepted of God.

Fourthly, The Priest was a Type of Christ in the Execution of his Office.

1. The Priest must kill the Sacrifices, and none but he; signifying Jesus Christ's vo••untary Action,* 1.7 in laying down his Life for us, none could take it away from him; he was as well the Priest as the Sacrifice.

2. The Priest offered the Blood of the Sacrifices to God, and sprinkled it on the Alter; no Man might offer his ••wn Sacrifice, but he must bring it to the Priest:* 1.8 figuring there was no coming to God but by Christ, who offered up his own Blood to atone for our Sins; no other can offer any Sacrifice to take away Sin, but him alone.

3. The Priest prepared the Body of the Sacrifice, fley'd it, divided it into several parts,* 1.9 washed the Intrails, put Fire unto the Burnt-Offerings, consumed the Fat, cast the Filth and Dung into the pl••ce of Ashes, &c. signifying that Christ alone did the whole work of our Redemption, he suffered the heat of God's Wrath and Justice, he puts away all our Filth, and covers it in his own Grave, and washeth us in the Fountain of his own Blood, &c.

4. The Priest was to teach the People, The Priest's Lips must preserve Knowledg,* 1.10 and thou shalt seek the Law at his Mouth; this figured forth Christ in his Prophetical Office, who is the great Doctor and Teacher of God's Mind and Will to the Children of Men, 'tis he who hath the Tongue of the L••arned, so that never Man spake like him,* 1.11 it is he who hath the Words of everlasting Life.

5. The Priests were to preserve the Oyl for Lights, and the Incense,* 1.12 and for the daily Meat-Offering, and the anointing Oyl, &c. signifying that Jesus Christ is the Preserver of all Grace, in and for his Church, he only watcheth for the safety of his People, he preserves the light of Grace and good Works in us, and the Oyl of Gladness from decaying in our Lamps and Vessels.

There were some Actions more peculiar to the High Priest.

1. He must daily dress the holy Lamps and Lights, Morning and Evening,* 1.13 before the Lord, to preserve the Lights from going out: So Christ preserves the Light of his Word and Gospel from being put out, tho Men and Devils with all their Might have endeavoured to do it.

2. He must week••y make the Shew-Bread, and set it before the Lord continually and,* 1.14 more expresly, every Sabbath he must set on the Table twelve Loaves, according to the number of the Tribes of Israel, and take the old away, &c. In this he was a Type of Christ, who sets himself continually in the Ministry of the Word (as the Substance and Anti-type of the Shew-Bread) before the Children of Men, especially to feed and strengthen his own Children, nay an•• brings forth fresh Food, new Bread for them every Sabbath.

3. He must yearly (and that in the day of Expiation) go into the Holy of Holies,* 1.15 to make an Atonement for himself, for his House, and for all the People, but not without Blood; signifyi••g that Christ by one alone Sacrifice of hims••lf, hath opened the Sanctuary of H••aven, and by his Ascension hath made entrance into it on our behalf, and there appears be••ore God once for all to make Intercession for us. The Priest went alone without any Attendants:* 1.16 So Christ hath trod the Wine-Press alone, no Competitor, no Companion h••th he in this work, and now pleads alone, as our own, and only Mediator, by virtue of his own Blood, at the Father's right Hand; There is one (that is but one) Mediator, between God and Man, &c.

4. The High Priest continually was to decide the highest Controversies, he must judg be∣tween the cl••an and the unclean, he must put the one out, and receive the other into the Con∣gregation; signifying that Christ only, Christ alone is the Supream judg of all Controver∣sies, 'tis his Word only that can decide the Case, who is clean, and who unclean, who is to be put out, and who to be taken into his Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heb. 5 1.
• * 1.2

  Hos. 4.6.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 1.8.
• * 1.4

  Ezek 44.17.
• * 1.5

  Heb. 1.1, 2.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 28.31.
• * 1.7

  Joh. 10.18.
• * 1.8

  Lev. 7.4.
• * 1.9

  Lev. 1.6.
• * 1.10

  Mal. 2.7.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 45.2.
• * 1.12

  Luk. 24.50.
• * 1.13

  Lev. 24.2, 3.
• * 1.14

  Exod. 25.30.
• * 1.15

  Exod. 30.10. Lev. 16.2.
• * 1.16

  Heb. 10.12, 19