May 10, 1833. "Sure, were not I most vile and base, He'd frown, and spurn me from his sight." LETTER FROM THE LATE REV. DR. HAWKER TO MR. My dear Friend and Brother in the Lord Jesus, THE Lord give you a Benjamin's portion, that you may dwell in safety by him; and the Lord cover you all the day long, and cause you to dwell between his shoulders, Isa. ix. 6. I take it very kind of you in your remembrance of me by letter: and although I cannot equal you in length of letter-writing, I hope not to be behind you in affection. I said on receiving it, may God bless dear.... and over and above his aboundings of grace in his new covenant faithfulness and love, give him some sweet boon for his kindness to me. I do not know whether my correspondent is in the habit of watching the Lord's footsteps on such occasions; but if he be not, he will find many a love-token from the Lord, if the Lord enables him to direct his attention that way. When we receive benefit from another, and especially from a brother in Christ, through grace we bless him that begs a blessing on us; and thus, both are blessed in the Lord. Job found much sweetness in this, Job xxix. 13. ; yea, the Lord himself hath graciously noticed it, Mal. iii. 16, 17. I observe what you have said about the prosecution of your path, which the great Head of his church hath directed for you, in passing through the present waste and howling wilderness. If you look at it through the blessed medium of the Lord's word, you will discover that it is the very way, and the right way to a city of habitation. If a synod of angels were to converse together, to appoint any other way for you, they would err. Indeed you yourself both discover the Lord's love and the Lord's wisdom in the dispensation; and my dear ... knows it now, and ere long will know it more perfectly, that the is more honourably employed than many among what are called right honourable embassies to the courts of emperors and kings of the earth. Go on, my dear brother, as the wise man, directed by God the Holy Ghost taught the people, Eccles. xi. 6. Jesus looks on, knows all, directs all, and will bless all to his people's good and his glory. .... : The very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Plymouth, April 26, 1824. Your's, dear brother in the Lord, ROBERT HAWKER. AARON'S BREASTPLATE. "And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breast-plate of judg ment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.” Exod. xxviii, 29. THE Aaronic priesthood and the Levitical economy, of which it was an important part, form a prominent feature in the Pentateuch. It was, in all its splendour, a shadow of good things to come, yet it made nothing perfect: but the bringing in of a better hope did. Imposing as this ritual was, its days are passed. Put off your sacerdotal robes, ye priests of Aaron's order, and blush in silence like nocturnal stars before the rising sun. The long desired Sun of Righteousness has arisen in the spiritual hemisphere of grace. Look how the manna, rock, and brazen serpent, meet in Jesus. See, Aaron lays his budding rod and golden robes at the foot of the cross, and the whole elect church of spiritual Israelites sabbatize in the finished work of Immanuel, while faith makes her way within the veil, and views Jehovah on the mercy-seat of the heavenly tabernacle. Yes, dear inquiring soul, the shadows have made to themselves wings, they are gone; the winter of Jewish ceremonies is past. How strikingly was this set forth, when the father of the baptist John was struck dumb while in the functions of his office. Was it not silent omen that that dispensation was at hand in which types must give way to truth, and shadows to substance: when not a priest of Aaron's order need open his mouth to pronounce that benediction upon the people, which is recorded in Numb. vi. 24, 25. "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee," &c. From the subject under consideration, the following particulars may be deduced. I. The analogy between Aaron and Christ. II. What was signified by the breastplate of judgment. III. The place on which Aaron the priest bore it, viz. on his heart. IV. The time when, and the reason why he did so. I. That Aaron was a type of Christ, none are prepared to deny, and they agree in the following things. 1. In their appointment to the office. The high priest was to be one taken from among men, his brethren. His body was to be free from blemish, to shew that he was to be fairer than the children of men. Aaron was sanctified or set 66 apart to his office: so was Christ. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified," &c.; and again," for their sakes I sanctify myself." The prominent things used in the consecration of the high priest, were blood and oil, the account of which you have in Levit. viii. 12-23. The blood was procured by the appointed sacrifices. (1.) Moses (verse 12), took the anointing oil, and poured it upon Aaron's head; compare this with Ps. cxxxii. 2. " that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garment.' Now let us read the son of Jesse's comment on the subject, Ps. xlv. 7. "God thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." This was to set out the fulness of the Holy Ghost that was shed upon Christ as the Head of the church, and from him the Head, descended to all the members: compare Acts iv. 27. (2.) Moses took the blood of the ram of consecration, Lev. viii. 23. and put it upon the right ear, toe, and thumb of Aaron, to shew that the whole man in all his members was sanctified by it. And was not he whom God the Father sealed, set apart by his own blood, Heb. x. 29. "the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified;" for by his own blood he dedicated himself as an eternal High Priest, and the whole church with him to God. But I proceed to shew their agreement, 2. In their apparel. The account of this you read at length in Exod. xxviii. "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty." And the church speaking in vision of the promised Messiah, says, "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious;" so that the same words that are put for the apparel of Aaron, are used to set out the beauty of Jesus. In running over them, we see first, the ephod, of various materials, to denote that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;-the breastplate, with its Urim and Thummin;" the robe of blue, his heavenly righteousness, the hem of which was hung with golden bells and pomegranates; the bells to denote the sound of his pure gospel: and the pomegranates to shew the sweet fruit that would be seen and enjoyed by those that know the joyful sound the mitre with that conspicuous inscription, "holiness to the Lord," to note that the Lord accepts the offerings of all the members, through the holiness of the Head. These were the most prominent parts of his garments. But I pass on to notice their agreement, 3. In their official functions. I think the principal offices of the priests, were the four following. (1.) To offer sacrifices for sins, Heb. v. 1. Here the agreement is sublime, for the same apostle tells us, Heb. ix. 14. that he, "through the eternal Spirit, offered himself (of glorious, precious sacrifice!) without spot unto God:" so that all the slain beasts meet, dear Jesus, in thy broken body on the tree. (2.) To intercede for the people. Look then at your great High Priest, John xvii. (3.) To bless them, Numb. vi. 24—26. And of Jesus it is recorded, that "he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them," Luke xxiv. And the Father has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in him. (4.) By the Urim and Thummim to enquire the mind of God for them and Jesus tells his disciples, "All things that I have heard of my Father, I have declared unto you," John xv. 15. Yet, let it ever be observed, that the beauty of the type is swallowed up in the glory of the antitype, Aaron made mention of, and an offering for sins every year: Jesus by his one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Aaron could have compassion on the ignorant, and those that were out of the way, but Jesus was tempted in all points like his people, and succours all the tempted in the family of God. Here is comfort for the sick-headed, faint-hearted sinners. Are you buffetted, tempted, tossed? your faithful High Priest will succour. Aaron went into the holy place, into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us. Aaron was head of the services and ordinances of the tabernacle, but he is Head over all things to the church. Aaron was removed by death," but this man, because he ever liveth, hath an unchangeable priesthood." But I proceed to notice, II. What was signified by the breastplate of judgment. This was nothing less than the whole church of Christ in her new covenant settlement of grace: for the names of the twelve tribes were engraved in twelve precious stones, and these arranged in comely order, (for God is the God of order in all the churches of the saints), and firmly set, (not slightly) into the breastplate. I shall notice the breastplate itself, emphatically called the breastplate of judgment, which I think was a type of the everlasting covenant of grace, for the following reasons. (1.) It was foursquare, like the church, Rev. xxi. 16. "And the city lieth foursquare, the length is as large as the breadth." Now that which is foursquare is equal on all sides. Was this the nature of Aaron's breastplate? so it is of the covenant. It is equal on God's part; for his justice is fully satisfied, by burying its thirsty blade in the side of the Shepherd. His law is magnified, his attributes all meet and harmonize in the work of Him who fulfilled the conditions of the covenant. But again, it is square, or equal on the part of the condemned sinner; his debts are paid, his acquittal signed in blood, and he admitted into heaven complete in Christ. (2.) It was double (ver. 16) as was the breastplate, so is the covenant. "He will give grace and glory," (3.) A span shall be the length of it, and a span the breadth of it; then it is a span every way: so is the covenant. I speak with reference to the great Eternal. What is a span but the whole extent of the hand opened and stretched? and is not the covenant the opening of the hand of his eternal love, and the extending of mercy to the chief of sinners? 2. The names of the children of Israel cut in the stones, and set in the breastplate, were a type of the whole church in covenant settlements. Now the elect are the Lord's jewels," they shall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels," Mal. iii. 16. Jewels have many properties: three of which I shall mention, as applicable to the election of grace. (1.) Jewels are dearly bought so were the people of God, with the precious blood of Christ. (2.) Jewels are highly prized: so are the elect; "He shall be a peculiar treasure unto me," Exod. xix. 5. (3.) Jewels are scarce; so are the people of God; a "little flock," a few that find the gate of life. We go on to consider, III. The place on which Aaron, the high priest, bore it, namely, on his heart! the names of the children of Israel on his heart! Oh, precious thought! Mark the beautiful coincidence; "He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." John x. 3. "I have graven thee on the palms of my hands," Isa. xlix. 16. "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm :" so that Rahab and Magdalene, Peter and David, Jonah, the dying Thief, the Philippian Jailor; yea, your name and mine, dear distressed friend, are on the heart and hands of our great Aaron! What, though convulsions VOL. IX.-No. 113.] 2 M shake the earth, though the foundations of the globe are out of place, though thou hast nothing but disorder in thy family, confusion in thy soul, tumults in the nation, and schisms in the church; yet the names and persons of the saints are all in perfect order before the great Eternal. But why does he bear them on his heart? Oh, that faith could arise and look within the veil, and view our High Priest with our names upon his heart.-" Bear them on his heart." He carries them in his bosom, as the excellent of the earth, in whom his soul delights: yes, the nails of Jewish cruelty cut them on his hands, and the Roman spear graved them on his heart, as with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond: he bore them on his heart, in his death, burial, and resurrection. Look, ye doubting ones; see, your names are on the heart of Jesus. Some of the Lord's children are like Reuben, unstable as water, as to their comforts-his name was on the breastplate. Some are like Issachar, stupid and stubborn as the ass-he was there. Some like Gad; a troop of doubts, fears, sins, temptations, lusts.-Hypocrites and worldlings overcome you-his name was there: and you, like Gad, shall overcome at the last." Then look up. But we come to notice, IV. The time when, and the reason why he did so. 1. The time when he goeth into the holy place. Now Jesus is gone into heaven, with the burning incense of his merits, in the censer of his mediatorial fulness, and the efficacy of his blood, which to Jehovah is an offering of a sweet-smelling savour; so that the elect of God are now sitting together, in the mind and purpose of God, in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. What unbelieving cry is that, which saith, "the Lord hath forgotten me?" rather let us say, "I will look again toward thy holy temple." When we are saying, "Oh, that I knew where I might find him: and when shall I come and appear before God," he has our names before his eyes, as cut in the loving bosom of Jesus. He is gone in, to come no more out, till the last day. But, 2. Observe the reason why he bears the names upon the breastplate, "for a continual memorial." A memorial is that which brings a person to remembrance; so the names of the church on the bosom of Jesus, his wounded hands and side as the slain Lamb, are a continual monument of his scattered sheep; his tried, tempted, pilgrim family, in the desert on the way to their heavenly fold, their eternal home: and as the saints are crucified, dead, and buried with Christ; so he is the everlasting monument before the Father, in the holy place. Your father and mother may forsake you, the church slight you, your friends discard you; it may be so, but God will not, cannot, he remembers the kindness of our youth, and days of espousal; he remembers us with the favour that he sheweth to his chosen ; yea, he often sends the Holy Ghost as the remembrancer, to bring all things to our mind, in a way of mercy and judgment. And may our last breathings be, when sinking like the dying thief in the arms of death, "Lord, remember me," (for thy memorial's sake) now thou art in thy kingdom. July 25, 1833. C. C. B. |