416 A SHORT VIEW OF SCRIPTURE, HISTORY. though types may be obscure when they are first appointed; yet when they are accomplished or fulfilled they are better under- stood, and shew the hand of God both in appointing the sign, and bringing to pass the thing signified. 120. Q. Can these things besaid therefore to be fulfilled or accomplished in Christ, since the meaning of all these ceremo- nies or types is not yet known even to christians themselves ? A. The New Testament has revealed to us, and taught ns to understand, the chief and most considerable both of the types and prophecies ; but neither one nor the other are understood fully ; and yet we make no doubt but the prophecies are or shall be accomplished in Christ ; and why not the types also ? Proba- bly it is reserved as one part of" the glory of that happy day, , when the Jews shall be converted, that the rest of their prophe- cies, as well as the rites and ceremoniesof their ancient worship, together with their accomplishment in Christ and the gospel, shall be more completely understood. CHAP. VI. Of the Political or Judicial Law of. the Jews. I. QUESTION. WE have had a particular. relation of the moral and ce- remonial laws of the Jews, say new, 'ghat was their judicial or political law ? A. That which related to their civil government as a nation. 2. Q. Who was their Governor ? A. God himself condes- cended to take upon him the title of their king; and lç appointed various kinds of governors under him as he thought fil, Judges viii. 23. 1 Sam. xii. 12, 13. Is. xxxiii. 22. Note. Since,the same person was both their God, and their king, the tabernacle and the temple maybe considered, not only as the residence of their God, hut as the palace of their king also ; the court of the tabernaclewas the court of the palace,'the holy of holies was the presence-chamber, the mercy-seat was his throne, the cherubs represented his attendants as God, and the priests were his Ministers bf state as a king, the high-priest his prime - minister, the levites were his officers dispersed through all the kingdom, the table of show-bread, together with some part of the sacrifices which were given to the priest, did repre- sent the provision for his household, &c. Whatsoever other go- vernors were made from time to time, either captains, judges, or kings, they'were but deputies to God, who put them in and turned them out at, pleasure. 3. Q. What did the political or civil laws, or commands, obligé the people to ? A. To many particular practices, rela- ting, 1. To war and peace.-2.`To husbands and wives.-3. Parents and children.-4. Masters and servants.-5. Food and raiment. ß. Houses and lands. -7. Corn and husbandry -8
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=