Conco. 2a.}
15. Jan. 1692 Afternoon
1. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 25. 26.
- 2. Quest: When was this Ordinance of the Lords Supper at first instituted?
- An: The Time wherein Christ instituted this holy banquet, or Supper, is contained in those Words in the text, viz: The same night, in which he was betrayed, or in which he was delivered up, as the word signifies. Now Lord Jesus, our Saviour was delivered up (1) By God (2) by Judas; & that for different ends.
- 1. Then our Saviour was delivered up by God himself. 8. Ro. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. viz for our offences. 4. Rom. ult. God the Father delivered him out of justice, & mercy, to satisfy for, & make expiation for our sins.
- 2. Our Saviour was delivered up, i.e. betrayed to his enemies by Judas, & that out of envious covetousness. 12. Job. 4. 5. 6.
Thus we see the time when this holy Ordinance was instituted. Now here two questions farther maybe considered, viz:
- 1. Q. Why our Lord Jesus defered the appointment of this Ordinance unto night?
- 2. Q. Why he defered it untill the very last night?
- 1. Qu: Why did our Lord Jesus defer the institution of this Ordinance untill night?
- An: The reason why the Lord Jesus defered this work even untill night, is supposed to be this: viz: Christ would have this Mystery of the holy Supper to succeed that of the Paschal Lamb, & by this to Abrogate that. So that the old Sacrament being now finished, Christ passeth on to erect a new one. Now the Paschal Lamb was to be killed between the two evenings. 23 Lev. 5. 9. Num. 3. 5. 11. At the going down of the Sun the P[a]ssover Lamb was to be slain. 16. Deut. 6. And thus Christ the Antitype was slain in the evening of time, or the Last times. Now the Passover Lamb being a Type of Christ Jesus the true Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, it may be worth our while to consider
- 1. Of the qualifications of the Paschal Lamb.
- 2. Of the Rites of customs in using of it.
- 1. Then, concerning the qualifications of the Paschal, or Passover Lamb, & they were these four.
- 1. It must be a Lamb either properly so called, or a Goat, which supplyed the place of a Lamb in case a Lamb was wanting. 12. Ex. 5. Lambs & Goats are clean creatures, & naturally enclined unto a familiarity with mankind. And hereby was prefigured that Christ should be a holy sacrifice for us, full of Love & good will towards man, & making glad the Sons of men with his delights, 3. Pro. 31. Nor is it without its mistery, that the Lamb must be from the Flock, & not from the Herd, or drove of Beasts, & only from the Sheep or goats. Cattle appertaining to Herds, or great cattle, are for the most part more fierce & wild, & do not so much belong to common possession, as those which belong to the Flock: Farthermore Sheep are simple, harmless, clean, and profitable creatures. So the Lord Jesus was holy, harmless, undefiled. 7. Heb. 26. Hurtfull to none unless it be to the obstinate sinner, to whom he will be as a Lion. 10. Rev. 1. 2. 3. But profitable to all that will accept him, the only Saviour of Rich & poor. The Lamb also had respect to the deliverance of the Jews, but the Goat to the Redemption of the Gentiles, as some are of opinion.
- 2. The Lamb must be a yearling. It must not exceed a year, & althô it were somwhat less yet it must be sufficiently strong, it must not be new born, or lately born. 12. Ex. 5. A male of the first year. Hebr. a Son of a Year. i.e. not exceeding the first year. So. 22. Lev. 27. And from these texts the Jews say that the Lamb after it was eight days old & forward was allowable to be offered for the Passover; And if it were but an hour older than a year, it was unlawfull. Now within this time of age Lambs & Goats are in an especial manner sweet & savoury, & free from all sensuality, or natural concupiscence, & so meet for an offering to the Lord. Now by this yearling Lamb, or Goat, was prefigured that Christ should be made an holy offering & sacrifice for us, & that in the flower of his age.
- 3. The Lamb must be perfect both in quantity & quality, i.e. it must neither be maimed, or monstrous, nor diseased. But it must be without blemish. 12. Ex. 5. 22. Lev. 21. And here was prefigured the purity & unblemishableness of Christ. 7. Heb. 26. And 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19.
- 4. Last: The Lamb must be of the Male-kind. 12. Ex. 5. A male of the first year. Now the masculine sex is more bold, robust and strong than the female. And hereby God would instruct us, that the Saviour of the world, althô born of a weak virgin, yet himself should be most able & strong to conquer Satan, & all our enemies. Hince he is called Gods fellow, or a man next unto God. 13. Zech. 7. It is true the Lord Jesus is called the Lamb of God. 1. Joh. 29. But yet withall he is of a Lion-like strength. And hince he who is called a Lamb. 5. Rev. 6. 8. 12. 13. is also called a Lion, yea the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 5. Rev. 5. Now it is the property of the Lion to conquer such as resist him: Why so the Lord Jesus he shall tread under foot all his enemies, 110. Ps. 1. 2. 5. 6. And. 2. Ps. ⅌ totū. Thus we see the qualifications of the Passover Lamb, the Type, & how Christ the True Lamb, the Antitype was prefigured by those qualifications.
We should in the next place treat of the Rites & customs used in that institution, but time will not allow us now, so we must Leave it to another opportunity, if the Lord shall see good.