4O2 l he Birth-.Priviledge and Covenant-holinee Ch.44 Separation for God ofperfons or ofinanin are or unreafona- ble creatures. Whether Sa. criledge be any New Tef}a- snent. fn. Separation for. God either by inffiitution or approbation, doeft thou commit adultery ? And in the Series of the words lead- ing to a charge of' Idolatry, the Apoftle changes.the phrafe, and faith, Th0 that abhorrefl Idols,doefl thou commit Sacr;lede? Rom 2. 22. This was now their fin in the other extreme, not on their own heads to put a fuppolition of holinerfc to the Lord on any thing for worfhip, but to convert to other ufes that which was fang etified as holy. I know force underfland there words in a Meta- phor, that by Sacriledge is meant the robbing of God of his ho- nour by Gnne againfl him ; but that interpretation the next words contradict, in diflin& words forbidding that Sacriledge , if they will fo call it ; and Origen will turne it into an Allegory, and un- derfland the spoiling ot'the fenfe of Scriptures, and ffealing Chrift out of the Scriptures ; but the text is plaine, that it is a reproof applied to their capacities, and in the letter convincing as well as the former of flealin , and adultery,The plaine fenfe (faith Teter Mart; r)is the meaning. May, not I now fay that there things are our examples , to the intent that we fhould not run with them in thefe extremes from an abhorrency of the one to the o- ther,from an abhorrency of Idols to the guilt of Sacriledge,which according to the Schoolmen is roi facre violatio, or rerr m facra- rum furturn, a deteining from (Jodthat mchich for an holy of parate for him, which separation is either of perfons, or of inani.. mate, or irrational creatures. I know there are thofe that affirme that there is no Inch feparation for God in Gofpel- times, and con- fequently there can be no Inch thing as this fin of Sacriledge in our times,for what is not cannot be thus violated or detained.As to the feparation of inanimate or unreafonable creattires,it cannot beful- ly denkd, nor yet mull it fully be yet lded that no Inch things are now to be accounted as feparate to the Lord, we muff therefore diftinguifli. There may be laid to be feparate for God, and confe- quently holy two wayes. r. By divine i flitution and appointment, lo the Temple and Utenfils of the Temple were . holy. 2. By di- vine approbation, when men let them apart for advancement of Inch an holy life as God approves. The former weconfeffe was proper to the times of the Law, but the later yet remaines in Go dpel- times, and upon this account Ravanellau ¡ally makes the fin of Auania4 af?etSapphira,(in keeping bark part of the price of their land that was fez apart by them for the fervice of the Church) to be the fin of Sacriledge. The Land before Pale was his own, and the
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