196 The Goftet of the Burwt-Offering. the Field. Or if'no reafon'for it could be affigned, we muftacquiefce in the fupreme Authority of God, fo ordaining and appointing, as why not a Hen, as well as a young Pidgeon. How abominable it was to trahfgrefs in the Matter of their Sacri- fices, you may fee by thofe Expreflions in Ifa. 66.3. He that killetb an Ox, tis as if he flew a Man r He that facrifceth a Lamb, as if be, cut off a Dogs Neck : He that offereth an Oblation, as if he offered Surines Blood. In all which, the Lord exprefl'eth the greateft Deteftation by thofe Kefemblances and Comparifons.But in this the Heathen greatly corrup- ted themfelves ; for as they forgat and loft the trueObjefi of Worfhip, offering their Sacrifices to Devils, and not unto God, t Cor. i e. ao. So they facrificed all forts of Creatures, without any difference of clean or unclean, even Swine; wherein the jews alfo did corrupt themfelves, at leaft fo far as to the eatingof it, as appears out of Ifa. 65.4. yea, they proceeded fo far as to Sacrifice Men ; their Sons and Daughters (an horrible Thing ) which the Lord commanded not, and which never came into bis Heart, Jer. 7. 31. For as it was not poffible that the Blood of Balls and Goats fhould take away Sin : So neither could the Blood of Man do it, but only of that Man who is God alfo, Offs 20..8. The Matter of the Burnt-Offering which was approved and ap- pointed of God, was of three Sorts : Of the Herd, that is, the bigger fort of Cattle ; and of the Flocks, that is, the leflér fort of Cattll, and of the Fowls ; and fo this Chapterdivides it felf into thefe Three Parts. . The Burnt-Offering of the Herd, to verf t o. a. The Burnt-Offring of the Flock, verf to. to verf. 14. 3. The Burnt- Offering of Fowls, verf. 14.. to the End. r. The Burnt-Offering of the Herd. We may here confider the Mat. ter of it; and the AI-lions to be performed about it. I. The Matter of the Offering is a Bullock, a Male without blemifh,. veil 3 fee this Law repeated and confirmed, Lev. 22. 20, to zq.. fee Mal. 1.7, 8, id.. And being fo vehemently infifted on, we may well think it is not without fome fpecial My fiery : The Belt and aloft Per- fe&, is fitteft for fo great a God. Moreover this did alfo figure and reprefent Jefes Chris 's PerfeCtion in himfelf, and ours in him. He was 'a Male and withoutfpot or blemifh, t Pet. I. 19. a Sacrifice of abfolute Pu- rity and Perfection. And the like Expreflions are ufed concerning Chrift myftical, in Ephef. 5.. 27. without fpot-or wrinkle, or any fach thing, holy, and without blemifh : We (hall be fo perfectly at that Day. And in this Life (in fome degree) there is a Perfetion of Sincerity here hái iL a blam.elefs fpotlefs Converfation.
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