Mather - Houston-Packer Collection BS478 .M3 1705

The Gofpel of the occafional Types. 13:9 Bread of Life. And he fills and fatisfies the defires of all Believers, the whole Ifrael of God. But as in other Types, there is not only a refemblance in part, but withal a difparity, rnd pre eminence of the Antitype above the Type : So in this Chrift infinitely excels the literal Manna, as the Subftance doth the Shadow, for that only fed the Body, but Chrift feeds the Soul ; that preferved only the natural Life of the Body, and that only for a time, but could not give Life ; but Chrift preferves fpiritual Life, yea, givcs Spiritual and Eternal Life to Souls that were dead in Sins and Tiref- paffes and as he gives it, fo he maintains and preferves it for ever. Tour Fathers did eat Manna and are dead, Joh. 6.49. but he that eats thin true Bread fhatl never die, ver. Ss. 58. fo that in this (as in all things) Chrift bath the pre-eminence. 3. Something of Myftery may be obferved in the quantity they were togather, an Homer full, Exod. 16. 22. now an Homer was about two Quarts, or as others exprefs it, three Pints and an half of our meafure ; God gave them a liberal Allowance. TheHomer was the Veffel, which did contain, and wherein they were toput the Manna. The Veil ) that holds Chrift is the Heart and Soul ; and fo to get the Vefl'el full of Manna, is to get theHeart full of Chrift. And be that gathered had none to (pare, Exod. 16. 18. for it feems their manner was, when they had gathered it, to diftribute to every one the fame Proportion, quoted by the Apoftle, 2 Cor. 8. s4., II. to perfwade them a liberal Communication of outward Supplies to one another. It might alto figure that fpiritual Equality which is among Believers, all forts of Believers having an equal Portion in Chrift the true Manna, Gal. 3. 28, 29. z Pet. s. i. them that have obtained like precious Faith with us. We are all one in Chrift Jefus as to relative Priviledges -- uJli.. ficatio non fufcipit magis c'S' minus. The VirginMary her f lf, tho' fne be Santlificatior, yet fhe is not fuftificatior quam altera. All Saints are e qually juftified,and having the fame precious Faith,fhall beall made par- takers of the fame common Salvation : Every Believer is compleat in Chrift, the weak as well as the ftrong, Col. 2. so. 4. Where did they get this Manna ? There were three things chiefly remarkable as to the Place, which feem to have fomething of Myftery in them. s. It was about the Camp ofI rael ; and no where elfe to be found but there. So Chrift the Bread of Life is to be had in the Church, but no where elfe : Extra Ecclefiam non eft Salras. Where two or threeare gather- ed in bis name, there is aril), Matth. 18. His Parents found him in. T 2 chr'

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