Book II. CHRIST coMPARED TO ·THE BRAZEN SERPENT. 471 METAPHOR. was wirhour Poilon or Sting: It had the Similitude of a Serpent, bm had no Venom. VI. TheBrazen Serpent was not forged by Man's Hand orHammer, but in aMo)lld in the Fire. VII. ItwasmadeofBrafsand not of Gold; which Metal befides that it is of a fiery Colqr, and fa might refemble the Calor of the Serpent, is alfo ftrong and durable. Is"')' Strength, faith ]ob, the Strength of Stones, or is my Flejh of Brajs? VIII. They that looked up unto the Brazen Serpent though ever fo grievouOy wounded and frung, yet were healed and faved from Death. IX. They who looked upon their Sores and grievous WoLJnds, and not to the Sign that was ereCted by God's Appointment, died, notwith– ftanding the Serpent of Brafs. X. If they fought to Surgeons or Phyficians, or ufed any Salves or Medicines of their own, or others, yet they perifhed. PAR ALL EL. fecond though called a Sinner, and made to bear our Sins, and hact the Similitude of a finful M.m, but yet without Sin, Heb. vii. z6, 2 7·" VI. So Chrifl: was not begorten by Man, but conceived by the Holy Ghott in rhe Womb of the Virgin t VII. So was Chrifl: fent not with outward Glory or worldly pompous Shew, but mean and hum– ble in outward Appearance; Brafs being il:rong, &c. in this refpeCt, it rrtight figure out the Strength of Chriil:, who was able by the Power of the God– head to endure and overcome all hisTribulations :1: VIII. So they who look up to Chrifl: by a true Fairh, though ever fuch great Sinners, fl1all be healed and faved from eternal Death. By Reco– very of natural Life in the lfraelites, was figur– ed eternal Life by Chrifl:. IX. So they who are bitten and grievoufly wounded with Sin, if they fix their Eyes thereon and grieve and mourn in the Sight of it, and do nor look unto Chri£1: by believing, defpair and die eternally, norwith(bnding the blelfed Savior. X. So whofoever feek to any for Help bur Chrifr, or endeavor by their own Works, or Re– formation of Life, to have Peace with God; or tru£1: to, and rely upon the bare Mercy of God, conlidering his J ufl:ice; and do not come to Jefus Chri£1:, and look up to him as crucified, to fatisfy for their Sins, are like to pe– rifh for ever. Let the Men that talk of the Light within look to this. XI. The Brazen Serpent was an XI. So Chri£1: crucified is to the Jews, and unlikely Thing or Way to human many others in the World, an unlikely Way to Reafon, tobealfuchdeadlyWounds. f.we Men's Souls: We preach Chrift crucified, unto the ]ews a Stumbling-Block, and to the Greeks Fool– ijhnefs ; but unto them that are called, Chrift the Power of God, &c. I Cor. i. 22, 23. Xll. He that had a weak Eye or XII. So he that hath but a weak Faith, yet Eyes, and yet looked up to the looks up unto Chrifr, fhall be faved. We read Brazen Serpent, was cured. of three Degrees of Faith in the Gofpel, and yet the weakeO: obtained Help and Cure from Chrifr. Firfl:, one comes to him, and faith, lf I can.but touch the Hem of his Garment, I jhall be whole, Mark v. 28. The fecond faith, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canft make me whole, Luke v. I2. The third faid, lf thou canft do any thing, have Compa./}ion on us, and help us, Mark ix. 22. One would think the Jafl: had no Faith at all, it fttmed fa weak, he quefrioned the Power of Chrifl:. A weak Faith, iftrue, will jufl:ify and fave the Soul, as well as a O:rong Faith. XIII. It was a wonderful Means of Cure, and undefervedly appoint– ed by God, of his mere Pity, again£1: the Merit of thofe Mur– murers. MET APH OR. I. THE Brazen Serpent cured only the Wounds of the Body and faved thereby only from temporal Death. • Ai".fworth. XIII. So ls the Death of Chrifr to finful and rebellious Mankind, an admirable Work of un– merited Mercy, infinitely above, what we deferved; it was not only above, but againfl: our Merits: God Jo loved the World, &c. John iii. I 6. 'Behold, what manner of Love is this! &c. I ]obn iii. z. D IS PAR IT Y. I. CHRIST cures all the Difeafes and Wounds of the Soul, and thereby faves from eter– nal Death. See Phyfician. ' t Guild. t Ain/wortb. II. Chrifr
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