Athly. That God did spiritually and mystically represent unto Moses the incarnation and mediation of Christ, with the church of the elect which was to be gathered thereby, and its spiritual © worship. And moreover, he let him know how the tabernacle and all that belonged thereunto, did represent him and them. For the tabernacle that Moses made was a sign and figure of the body of Christ. This we have proved in the exposition of the second verse of this chapter; and it is positively affirmed by the apostle, Col. ii, 17. For therein would God dwell really and substantially: Col. ii. 9, “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” And the tabernacle was but to represent. this inhabitation of God in Christ. Therefore did he dwell therein typically by sundry pledges of his presence, that he might represent the real substantial inhabitation of the Godhead in the body or
VER. 5.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 47
human nature of Christ. This, therefore, was the dpyéruros, where- unto the tabernacle was to be framed; and this was that which was showed unto Moses on the top of the mount. These were the “heavenly things,” which they served unto the resemblance and shadow of. It is therefore most probable, and most agreeable unto the mystery of the wisdom of God in these things, that, before the building of the tabernacle below, God did show unto Moses what was to be signified and represented thereby, and what he would introduce when that was to be taken away. He first showed “the true tabernacle,” then appointed a figure of it, which was to abide and serve the worship of the church, until that true one was to be introduced, when this was to be taken down and removed out of the way: which is the substance of what the apostle designeth to prove.
Té will be said, ‘That what was showed unto Moses in the mount was only 325 and rizos, as here; that is, a “likeness,” “ simili- tude,” and “type” of other things. This, therefore, could not be Christ himself and his mediation, which are the substance of hea- venly things, and not a resemblance of them.’
I answer, 1s¢. All representations of Christ himself, antecedent unto his actual exhibition in the flesh (as his appearances in human shape of old), were but resemblances and types of what should be afterwards. :
2dly. His manifestation unto Moses is so called, not that it was a type of any other things above, but because it was the prototype of all that was to be done below.
’ (1s¢.) This was the foundation of the faith of the church of Israel in all generations. Their faith in God was not confined unto the outward things they enjoyed, but [rested] on Christ in them, and re- presented by them. They believed that they were only resemblances of him and his mediation; which when they lost the faith of, they lost all acceptance with God in their worship. The relation of their ordinances unto him, their expression of him as their prototype and substance, was the line of life, wisdom, beauty, glory, and useful- ness, that ran through them all. This being now taken away, they are all as a dead thing. When Christ was in them they were the delight of God, and the joy of the souls of his saints. Now he hath unclothed himself of them, and left them to be rolled up as a ves- ture, asa monument of the garments he thought meet to wear in the immature age of the church, they are of no more use at all. Who now could see any beauty, any glory, in the old temple admi- nistrations, should they be revived? Where Christ is, there is glory, if we have the light of faith to discern it; and we may say of every thing wherein he is not, be it never so pompous unto the eyes of flesh, “ Ichabod,”—“ Where is the glory of it?” or, “It hath no
glory.”
AS AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
Jude tells us of a contest between Michael and the devil about the body of Moses, verse 9. It is generally thought that the devil would have hindered the burial of it, that in process of time it might have been an occasion of idolatry among that people. But that which was signified hereby, was the contest he made to keep the body of Moses, the whole system of Mosaical worship and ceremo- nies, from being buried, when the life and soul of it was departed. And this hath proved the ruin of the Jews unto this day.
(2dly.) Consider the progress of these heavenly things; that is, of Jesus Christ, and all the effects of his mediation in grace and lory.
[1st.] The idea, the original pattern or exemplar of them, was in the mind, the counsel, the wisdom, and will of God, Eph. i..5, 8, 9.
[2dly.| Hereof God made various accidental representations, pre- paratory for the full expression of the glorious eternal idea of his mind. So he did in the appearance of Christ in the form of human nature to Abraham, Jacob, and others; so he did in the pattern that he showed unto Moses in the mount, which infused a spirit of life into all that was made unto a resemblance of it; so he did in the tabernacle and temple, as will be more fully declared afterwards.