John 3:14–15

Christ here pointeth out himself as the Saviour of sinners, having sufficient vertue to cure the sinfulnesse and misery of such as flee to him by faith, and to keep them from perishing; and save them; This he doth under the type of the brazen Serpent lifted up in the wildernesse at Gods command, for curing of the Israelites bittten with the fiery Serpents, Num. 21 6, 7, 8, 9. Christ by subjoyning this to the doctrine of regeneration, doth partly teach Nicodemus the way of a taining regeneration, which is by the Spirits applying of the merit and vertue of Christs death in the first act thereof, and by the regenerate mans applying the same by faith, for carrying on that work to cure themselves perfectly; and partly, he teacheth him that regeneate men are not to rest on any thing in them, but must be led out of themselves to Christ for attaining salvation. Doctrine 1: Truly regenerate men, and such as are minding that work in earnest, will see great cause and need to make much use of Christ; for, so much doth this doctrine, and the dependance thereof teach. 2. Christ and the use to be made of him was pointed out to beleevers under the Old Testament by types and figures; which as it should sweeten unto us the reading of these things, so it should point out our mercie, that we have not such dark and long prospects through which only they could look to him, but we may see him more clearly; for, Christ sheweth here, that he was typified by the lifted up Serpent. 3. It is our duty to dip in the application of this and the like types, till we finde the agreement that is betwixt the truth and the type; for, so doth Christ cast us a copy in the explication of this type, wherein we may see, first, They agree in the original occasion: As Israels deadly misery occasioned the setting up of the Serpent, so the occasion of Christs sending into the world was mans sinne and misery, man being so bitten with that old Serpent, that the venome is gone through him all, and he become liable to intolerable pain, if his conscience were not lulled asleep. Secondly, they agree in the impulsive cause; That, as the Serpent was a remedy of Gods own prescribing out of his great mercie, so is this remedy for lost sinners. Thirdly, they agree in their present condition when they were mad use of; for, as the Serpent was like that which bit them, so was Christ true man the second Adam answering to him by whom sinne came into the world: as this Serpent was without venome, so was he without sin: as the Serpent was made of brasse, and not of gold; so appeared he not in glorious state, nor majesty: and, as the Serpent was a very unlikely mean in it self, so they needed clear eyes who would see salvation coming by a suffering Lord, by a worme and not a man. Fourthly, they agree in the use to be made of them, and in the fruits that follow thereupon. And so 1. As the Serpent was lifted up on a pole at Gods command, that the offer of this remedy might be made conspicuous unto all Israel; so Christ, in regard of Gods decree and sentence against sin, and in regard of predictions concerning him, must be lifted up on the crosse, and be broken there, that this ointment might be let out for our cure, and he is made conspicuous to the Church on the pole of the Gospel, that faith may get footing on the offer made of him. 2. As the way of cure by the Serpent was a look, so it is beleeving in him, and laying hold on him by faith, that onely bringeth cure of the guilt of sin, of the pain of conscience through sin, and of the dominion of sin. 3. As it was ground enough for any bitten Israelite to look to this Serpent, that he had need, and thirsted for cure by this appointed mean; so a felt sense of sin is a warrant sufficient for sinners to lay hold on Christ the ostered remedy. 4. As a simple look, though at great distance, and in some with weaker eyes, brought cure to them who were bitten, what ever they were; so a weak act of true faith, and at a great distance will cure the bitten sinner without exception; Whosoever beleeveth, and though his faith were never so weak, if it be faith. 5. As this look healed the bitten Israelite, and kept him from death, so though all men are in a state of perishing, and secluded from heaven without Christ, yet by faith in him sinners are freed from death, and made heirs of life, they shall not perish but have eternal life, and this includeth remission, reconciliation, perseverance, and all the means leading to these ends, and is a benefit far beyond what an Israelite got by looking to the Serpent.