The most remarkable types, figures, and allegories of the Old Testament

Front matter

Rook ___.

QPO

THE MOST REMARKABLE

Preface

bruffi, and appears a devoted' champion of tkt evangelical doctrines, he is careful not to lay a disproportionate stress upon any thing by which one Christian rnay be distinguished from another. ^Professing christians agreeing in laying Jesus Christ the one and only foundation of present holiness and

ffe happiness., are not here taught or stirred uoto bite and devour cne another* No oil is here administered to increase the flame, or keep awake the conflagration of animosity and dispute, which have so long and so sadly disturbed the peace, and hindered the union of the professed friends of the truth as it is in Jesus; nor are any problematical questions here determined with authoritative airs, that may be a new bone of contention in the church.

The conciseness, the propriety, the energy, with which the several important and interesting subjects here taken into consideration are treated, will, it is presumed, both entertain and edify the intelligent reader ; delight his taste ; inform his judgment ; improve his heart ; and direct his practice.

May the God of oil grace follow the piece with

his special blessing, give it an extensive spread,

make it subservient to the glorious cause of

evangelical truth, real holiness, and christian*

charity.

THE PUBLISHERS.

TYPES, FIGURES, ALLEGORIES, &e*

Part First. Typical Persons

1. CHRIST and ADAM compared.

THE almighty Creator had now finished the universal frame of nature. He saw the heavens shining in all their glory ; he beheld the earth smiling in ail her beauty: the sea was stocked with fish; the air with fowls; the field with beasts.. But still the masterpiece of this inferior world was wanting, a creature endued with reason ; of upright stature ; and qualified at once to rule over the rest of thecreation, and correspond with his Creator. And the Lo.d God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,. and he became a living soul.* Thus far we are told by the Hebrew lawgiver. And we are further informed by the great aposde of the Gentiles, that this first man, whose name was Adam, was the type or figure of him that was to come.t For ought we know, it might not so much as enter the heart of Adam to conceive of this divine mystery ; and Moses himself, the inspired penman of that truly ancient

A a and authentic history, might not perhaps advert to it. But since God has revealed it to us by his Spirit, let us attend where the resemblance lies, of the first to the second Adam ; which we shall obviously find, whether we view him as the first man, the first father, the first lord, the first husband, or t he first covenant-head. And let us learn to contemplate the glory of that illustrious person, who was so early typified ; while we admire the depth of God's foreknowledge, in ordering matters so, that the history of the first man, who was of the earth, and earthly, was a prophecy of the second man, who is the Lord from heaven.

Tobeginwith the creation of our general ancestor,. Adam was the first man in the world of nature, wha being formed out of the dust of the ground, by the immediate hand of his Creator, was without father, and without mother, and in a sense peculiar to himself, is called the Son of God*. He was also a creature perfectly new, to whom there was nothinglike, and nothing equal, among ail the visible works, of God; for his person, consistingofa visible body, and an invisible soul, w^as made after the image, and in the likeness of God, which chiefly consist in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Now, sure it is not difiicultto perceive, that all these characters exactly agree to the second man, who is the first-born among many brethren, in the world oi

• Luke iii. 38,

CHRIST and ADAM compared. y

grace, — without father as man, — without mother a& God. His body was formed (not indeed of the dust of the ground, but in a manner equally unexampled and miraculous) of the virgin's substance, by the immediate power of God j and so soon as areasona^ ble soul was united to it, in the womb of the virgin^ both were, that very moment, assumed into the di« vine person of the Son : wherefore, in aji propriety^ that holy thing which was horn Giber, was called the Son of God ■;* or, to use the expression of an* Old Testament prophet, was a new thing created in the earth.t In the man Christ Jesus is found more of the divine likeness than ail the saints, than all the holy angels can dare to boast, For which, of them have been called at any time, the brightness of die Father's glory, and the express image cf h;s person ? or to which of them has he said, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? + Adam, indeed, might resemble his Creator, as the image on the coin resembles the king upon the throne ; but Jesus Christ resembles God, as the prince and heir to the crown: resembles his royal father, being not only like him, but of the same nature and substance with him. And though in shadowing forth the constitution of ImmanuePs person, all similitudes must be infinitely detective, yet the union* of Adam's soul and body is perhaps the best natural emblem of it we can expect to find, Nor does it seem unlawful for us to assist our conception of this * kuke i. 35* t Jer xxxi. 22. ( Heb. i. 3. 5.

S TYPICAL PERSONS.

high mystery by this natural union, inasmuch as the Holy Ghost himself, in the scriptures of the New Testament, seems to allude unto it, when he calls his humanity the flesh, and his divinity the spirit. In the former he was manifested, in the latter he was justified.* In the one he was put to death, and in the other he was quick cned.t If the constitution of the tirst Adam's person was an incomprehensible mystery in nature, the constitution of the second Adam's person is no less an incomprehensible mystery of grace.

As Adam was the first man that God created, so he was the first father and progenitor of all other men, who are every one bom in his image as they come into the world of nature, and breathe the vital air. Just so, from Jesus Christ the everlasting Father, all who come into the world of grace derive their spiritual being; his image they bear,} and front him the whole family in heaven and in earth is named. || Though here also there is a considerable disparity betwixt the earthly man, and the heavenly Adam. The first man is not the immediate, but the remote father of our flesh ; for one generation goes, and another comes: but Jesus Christ is the immediate father of ail his saints who in every cge receive from him the light of life, as the silver moon, and all the sparkling stars, rev t:v. ir light immediately from the sun the glor

* I Timothy iii. 16. t l l5, ter »"• ! 3.

J i Cor, xv. 49. 8 fcpb* U|« IS*

CHRIST and ADAM compared. $.

fountain of t!he day* The first Adam as Moses relates, was made a living soul,* that he might convey a natural li r e to them who had not received it c but the second Adam, as the apostle declares, was made a quickening spirit, to impart a spiritual life to them who having now lost it, were dead in trespasses and in sins ; and at theresun'ectionofthe justto quicken also their mortal bodies. Fur as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall.all.be made alive*

Once more ; Adam was the first lord and king of the world. Being made a little lower than the angels he was crowned with glory and honour. He had dominion over the works of God's hands ; and ail things were put under his feet : all sheep and oxen, the beasts of the field, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.t But alas ! the dominion of this lord of the inferior creation was short-lived ; for being in honour, he continued not.+ Nevertheless, in the person of Jesus Christ, Gcd-man, the primeval sovereignty of the human nature is most amply restored ; for he is made head over all things unto his body the church both in the heights and depths .|j The jurisdiction of Adam, though wide . was not universal ; but the kingdom of Jesus Christ ruleth over all. He. can, if he pleases, extinguish the stars and the sun, which shine by his permission ; and of his government and peace there shall be no end.§

* I Cor. xv. 45- t Ps. viii. 3. 4. 5* t Ps. *lix; * 2 » 1 Epb. i, 22. $ Isaiab ix» 7.

Now let us come to the marriage of our great progenitor. God saw it was not goo J for man to be alone:* he casts him into a deep sleep ; opens his side ; takes from him a rib ; by his creative power forms a woman of it ; closes the wound ; presents the newly-formed creature to her husband, who being awaked, knew what was done unto him, and with wonder acknowledged this last and best gift of heaven, to be bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. For this cause, says the sacred historian, shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife.t Now, may we be allowed to allegorize this history? Does not the apostle seem to say, that this is spoken of Christ and the church ?| Let us modestly pursue the allegory a little. The second Adam, that he migh give life and being to his beloved spouse, the church, the mother of all who are truly living, was content to sleep the sleep of death. This sleep of death was not the effect of nature, for he died no>: of old age nor sickness ; but he was voluntarily cast into it, and was delivered, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, o be crucified and slain. His side was opened with a spear, and from the gaping wound came water and blood, fhat he might sanctify and cleanse, and presen. o himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.)) By thisslcep of death into which he was cast, he becomes at once

CHRIST and ADAM compared. 11

her husband and her father; for she is a part of himself, of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.* When he awaked at his resurrection, his wounds were healed; he found himself a glorious con* queror ; he saw of he travail of his soul, and was satisfied. He acknowledges vhe relation, and betrothesher to himself for ever in loving-kindness, in mercies, and in faithfulness. A bloody spouse was the church to thee, O dying Redeemer I So matchless was his love, he left his father and his mother to cleave to his unworthy bride— left his father in heaven, when he came down into this lower world, and consented to be forsaken for a seasonleft his mother on earth, when he ascended on high as the captain of salvation. He left the blessed virgin that bare him, to provide for himself; he left the church of the Jews, although his mother-church, that he might cleave unto the Gentile church, gathered out of all nations.

Lastly, Adam was the first covenant-head, and public representative. It is true, \he hints of this transaction are but sparingly given in the book of Genesis. However, the truth of it is clearly evinced from the tenor of divine revelation ; and it is evident, that before the law was given by Moses, a law was given to Adam, because death reigned from Adam to Moses, and there behoved to be a law by which this death did reign. For, as the inspired apostle argues with the greatest force of Tea.- son. Sin is not imputed where ihere is no law.* Was i here then a law before the covenant of Sinai f I( was surely none other but the law of works, which God gave to the first man; in whom, as vheir covenant-head, his posterity were either to stand or fail. Full well we know the doleful even* . Buta& by one man's disobedience many were made sinners: so by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous.t The first Adam hrough pride disobeyed ihe most easy precept ; and the last Adam obeyed ihe mos difficult commandment. The first Adam, being a man, affected to-be as God: the second Adam, being God, was found in fashion as a man. The first Adam was assaulted by the. a in paradise, and was overcome : the second Adam was tempted in the wilderness, by the same malicious spirit, but he was a conqueror. The first Adam breaking the law inline point, was guilty of all: the last Adam observing it in every point, did magnify and make it honourable. The moment we become 'he children of Adam by natural generation we die for a sin which we could not personally cemmi* : ?he moment we become the children of Christ by regeneration, we are made alive, by a righieousness which we could not actually workout. In Adam we are condemned for our sin; but in Christ we a re justified from innumerable offe. In the first book of the Bible we have a melancholy •Horn. v. 13. t Ver. 1?.

The HISTORY of NOAH, n

relation, how the first Adam was so far from being able to transmit life and happiness to his posterity,, or to give them to eat of the tree of life, that himself was driven out from the terrestrial paradise, and debarred from all access to that sacramental tree : But in the last book of the sacred oracles, we are presented with a view of the second Adam, in a far more glorious place than that happy garden, and hear him declaring from his own mouth, To him that over come th, will I give to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God.*

For ever blessed be the glorious name of God, that what the first Adam could not keep, the second hath amply restored to us : For as in Adam sin hath reigned unto death ; so grace hath reigned through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord :t Who is not only come that we might have life, but that we might have it more abundantly. J

2. THE HISTORY OF NOAH.

^HHAT Noah was a figure of Jesus Christ, "** seems not obscurely hinted in his very name given him by his religious father, not without prophetic instinct. It signifies rest, comfort, and, as some have observed, grace, when its letters are a little transposed. So Christ is our consolation, our rest, and by him grace reigns unto eternal life. f){ him we may truly say with the strictest propriety,

* Rev. ii, 7. » f Roni. v, iu t John x. 10.

B

This same shall comfort us concerning our work and Coil of our hands.* Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and walked with God,t when the wickedness of men was grown to the most exorbitant height, and all flesh had corrupted their way. He dared to be good, when all were turned degenerate ; and, fearless of reproach or violence, he admonished them of their wicked ways, preaching righteousness in their assemblies. J So Christ preserved his integrity in every the smallest instance, in an evil and adulterous generation, preaching what he practised, with not unlike success to Noah. For it is written of him ki the Psalms, I have preached righteousness in the great congregation : Lo, I have not refrained my lips O Lord thou knowest, § In seme seasons of the Almighty's vengeance, we are informed, that the righteousness of .Noah, Daniel, and job, could not deliver a sinning people, nor yet their nearest relations, from the lifti d stroke J| Truly Noah, though righteous, could not by his righteousness avert the waters of the flood* But the righteousness of our adorable Rener is cf such infinite value and perfection, as to deliver from death an innumerable multitude of transgressors.

But let us chiefly consider that memorable histor

rv of Noah, his preparing an ark for the saving of his

L8€ ; the an&t) pc of which remarkable event, wc

• Gen. v 29 f Cbap. vi. 6. \ 2 Pet- Li. 5- § Psal. *l 9 ily,

The HISTORY of NOAH. IS

sure informed by the apostle Peter, is, cur being saved by baptism (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.* — - The long-suffering of God was now tired out, and his Spirit ceased to strive with rebellious men, whom all means had proved ineffectual to reclaim. The time was come, when the threatened vengeance was to descend with resistless fury. Noah being long before warned of God, had prepared an ark against the approaching deluge : For he believed God; and being moved with fear, he obeyed the commandment of the Lord. He despised the jeers of the unbelieving world ; and considered not the huge difficulties he behoved to surmount, before he could get a vessel constructed, of such bulk as would contain in its capacious hold, all sorts of beasts and birds, together with their necessary provisions, for so long a time as he was to be there a prisoner. That God who commanded him, that God in whom he believed, and whom he feared ? enabled him also both to begin and finish. The ship is built ; the cargo is taken in ; the flood comes ; and the waters prevail above the tallest trees, and lof^eat mountains. The sinful race of men is buried in a watry grave. But the ark, the peculiar care of Keaven, though without helm or mast, rides triumphant over the foaming billow \ is preserved from dashing on the craggy rocks, or • i Pet iii, 21, 2ih

B % foundering in the mighty waters. At length a dove, fetching in her mouth an olive-leaf,* informs the inhabitants of the ark, that die waters were abated. They are at last released from their tedious confinement. The venerable patriarch, overwhelmed with gratitude for such a wonderful preservation amidst the howling waste, sacrifices unto the Lord, who smells a savour of rest,t and renews with him his gracious covenant, that he will no more curse the ground for man's sake. A glorious rainbow is seen over his head stamping the clouds £ which from that time became a peaceful sign, that the waters shall never more cover the face of the earth; and that though the waves should toss themselves against the sandy shores, they shall never prevail. — Who sees not in this whole transaction, a lively picture of the method of our salvation by Jesus Christ, from a far more dreadful flood, that shall, sooner or later, descend upon the head of ev* ery sinner ? In Jesus Christ we have the antitype of Nosh, both floating in the ark, standing at the altar, and compassed with the rainbow. Indeed he is at cnce the ark that saves us from the floods of divine wrath, the sacrifice that atones the incensed justice of God, and the rainbow that makes our clouds of every sort to wear sweet smiles. Though Noah's ark, and sacrifice, and rainbow, were things different from himself, and from one another, in Jesus Christ they are all conjoined.

* Gen. viii- II. t Vcr, 21. J Chap. ix. 13.

The HISTORY of NOAH. 1?

What mortal wit would hare contrived such an expedient as the ark of Noah, to save from a universal deluge ? There is no doubt but the whole scheme appeared very ridiculous to the generality of the world. Noah himself was not the contriver of this project. It was wholly planned by God. — - Even so, if men and angels had tortured their invention to save a guilty world, they could never have so much as suggested that method which the wisdom of God has fallen upon in the mediation of Jesus Christ. So far does it transcend the thoughts of men, that naturally they cannot receive the mystery of God's will. For it is to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness.* In

this wonderful vessel were found only eight souls,t the little family of Noah ; and how small was that number to the myriads that perished in the waves ? Even so the flock of Christ is but a little flock ; for though many are called, yet few are chosen. J O

how unsearchable are his judgments ! It was no

doubt very strange to see the wildest beasts and birds dwelling peaceably together under the same roof, in that time of common danger : But not more strange than what happens every time when sinners are converted unto God, and enter into his sanctuary. For in Jesus Christ, the men of ravenous natures forget their natural ferocity, and put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind,

* i Cor. i. 23, f 1 pet. iii. 20. \ Matt . xx. i&>

B 3 meekness, and long-suffering ; and to use the lofty stile of the prophet, The wolf shall dwell with the Limb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the young lion and the fading together :— They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,*

Dreadful, to be sure, were the bufferings of the

rolling surges on the sides of the ark, when heaven and earth seemed to conspire its ruin ; but being protected by a superior providence, the vessel, tho' heavy laden, weathered the storm, preserved alive all the creatures that were within her, and at last rested upon the mountains of Ararat. So did the waves and billows of the Father's wrath go over thine head, O suffering Saviour, and the floods of ungodly men made thee afraid ;t But thou wast more than a conqueror, and at last did find thy rest on the mountains of eternal glory, having both saved thyself and all that are found in thee : Thou art our hiding-place from the storm, and a covert from the tempest. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, the waters of God's wrath had swallowed us up qukk : Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gene over our soul ; the proud

waters had g. tie over our soul.J When we

are told in the sacred history, that a dove alighted on the ark with the olive-leaf, what should hinder us to think of the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, who a* lighted upon him in the waters of Jordan, in the ness of that gentle bird ? and who brings glad ti- * l3a. xi. 6. t -'* I' *v: ii. 4 t Psal. exxiv. 4»

The HISTORY of NOAH. ir

dings of great joy to all the inhabitants of the ark,- when he assures them, by the most incontestibie proofs, that the winter of wrath is past, and the rain is over and gone.* — The holy fire is now gone forth at the appointed season ; and beholding the dismal desolation, he offers an atoning sacrifice of every clean bird and beast - 7 and the Lord smelled a savour of rest. This naturally leads us to think of him who gave himself for us an offering and a sa* crifice of a sweet-smelling savour, t So well pleased is God with Jesus Christ, that with him he establishes his covenant, and with all his seed, that they shall never come into condemnation. Hear what himself declares by the mouth of the holy prophet Isaiah : This is as the waiters of Noah unto me : for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee, O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted. J See how the frowning clouds now smile with the glorious colours of the rainbow, the cheerful token of God's covenant. It is a bow, but it has no arrow : and the face of it is turned awav from us in token of reconciliation. Such is the glorious transformation of all your afflictions by Jesus Christ, O ye heirs of righteousness. They are clouds indeed, dark clouds, but so far from drowning, they shall even fructify your soul, and make you revive as the corn. What before was an indi- * Song it 11. t Epk. y. 2. \ Isa. liv, 9.

cation of wrath, and a cause of fear, is now a tokesi of love, and an encouragement of faith, A rainbow forever encompasses the throne of your God, # tho* from it should proceed lightnings, and thunders, and voices. Though like that mighty angel in the Revelation,! he should be clothed with a cloud in the dispensations of his providence, his sunny face will produce a rainbow round abouthis head. He is ever mindful of his covenant, and you need not fear the terrors of his glory.

3. THE HISTORY OF MELCHIZEDEC.

NOW we shall came to the short, but comprehensive history of Melchizedec ; the figurative meaning of which is not only hinted to us in the sacred oracles, but the Holy Ghost condescends to enter on a very particular explication of it.J The narrative related by Moses is shortly this.§ The patriarch Abram had, with his little army, surprised and defeated the forces of ihe confederate kings, who had plundered Sodom, and among other prisoners, had carried away captive his kinsman Lot, who, living in that wicked city, was now a very singular blessing o his sinful fellow-citizens, being the occasion of their rescue from the invaders of their country. As he returned from the slaugh ter he was met by the king of Sodom, with another king of a very dhTerent character : His name wa& Melchizedec, which, though a very fine one, for it • Rev. iv. 3. t Chap. x. 1. { IUb. vii. § See Gen. *i*.

The HISTORY of MELCHIZEDEC. 21

signifies king of righteousness, was not unsuitable to his real character, and is a proper admonition to all other kings for what they should be distinguished. The name of his city was Salem : Whether it was that Salem where Jehovah afterwards had his tabernacle, or another place of the same name, is not precisely determined. However, we are assured, that upon this occasion he brought forth bread and wine, not as a sacrifice to God, O ye Papists, but to refresh the patriarch's men, fatigued with toil. But the most extraordinary circumstance of all is, that though living in that wicked country, he was priest of the Most High God, and vested with regal dignity. When all around him were sunk is superstition and idolatry, this illustrious Gentile retained the knowledge of the true God, and thought it no disparagement of his kingly honour to officiate in the solemn rites of his holy worship. The hospitable monarch was a no less religious priest. As in the former capacity, he brought forth bread and wine ; so in the latter, he blessed the renowned patriarch, and received from him tithes of all. Thus far the sacred story. But from what parents he descended, when he was born, or when he died, who were his predecessors, cr who succeeded him, are questions we are not permitted to resolve. And even the silence of the scripture is expressive ! u For he was made like unto the Son of God," both in what Moses relates concerning him, and in what he conceals from the curious inquirer* Let us carefully observe these two heads of resemblance, and we shall easily understand, how David in spirit says of the Messiah, Thou art a priest for ever> after the order of Melchizedec*

We shall first begin with what Moses relates of

this extraordinary man. To whom can his name

Melchizedec so properly belong, as to the king that reigns in righteousness , who, righteous himself, has wrought for all his subjects a justifying righteousness by the merit of his blood, and works in all his subjects a sanctifying righteousness by the power of his Spirit ? — He, he is King of Salem, which is by interpretation, King of peace. Peace is the disposition for which he was renowned, who with his dying breath implored forgiveness to his bloody murderers : peace is the grand blessing he died to purchase, and lives to confer. O glorious peace, of which righteousness is the foundation, and joy in the Holy Ghost the inseparable anendant I Hail ye subjects of his auspicious government, who call the blessings of his purchase all your own ! Lo, in your princely Saviour, the great Jehovah lays aside his vindictive wrath, and becomes your loving Father ; the angels no more stand aloof, but commence your mi listers and guardians ; \he inferior creatures are turned into your faithful friends and allies ; the Jews and Gentiie, forgetting their former enmity, join in the most cordial friendship ; and conscience, no more an accuser, whispers peace in gentlest ac»