208 The Gofpel of the Butrnt-Offering. Cloths, to fignify Purity and Holinefs : A Man mutt bow down like a Fool to a thing made of Wood or Stone, call it a Crucifix, or an Altar, or what you pleafè ; to fignify I know not what, unlefs it be that they are Imps of Antichrift, and in Heart Members of his pre- tended Monarchy thatdo fuch Things. But 1 hope'you fee, that it is not the with God's Ceremonies. If the Lord open our Eyes, we may fee wondrous Things out of his Lam, Pfal. r r g. 18.. I fuppofe the things that have been fpoken, may not have the fame Light and Evidence with all that have heard me this Day, as I .hope through Grace they have with Tome: But yet I hope there is Light enough even for the Weakeft, to fee and difcern a Difference between God's Wifdom and Man's Folly ; between Divine Ceremonies in Religion, and fuch as are meerly Humane. Humane Inventions are teaching Signs ; but they are Teachers of Lies, Heb. 2. 18. But God's Inftitutions teach Gofpel Truths. Not tomention all the other Evils of them : Our Confcienc?s are the Throne of God. But will they needs reign in our Confciences, and fo fit down in the Throne of God, and pluck the Scepter (as it were) out of Chrift's Hand, and the Crown from his Head : He will(peak to them in his Wrath for this, and vex them in his fore Difpleafure ; he will break them with his Rod of Iron, and dafh them in pieces like a Potter's Veld. Vfe a. See the fiercenefs of the Wrath ofGod againflt Sin. And it may be a Word of awakening to fecure Sinners. It is nothing but Death and Blood and Slaughter, that will appeafe offended Juftice ; God mtift and will have a Sacrifice, and the Sacrifice ;naafi be (lain, and burnt with Fire, Our God tis a confirming Fire, Heb. 12. ult. If thou haft not a Burnt-Offering to prefent him with, to be flair). and facrificed for thee, thou mutt perifh. It is not enough to fee the Power andBondage of Sin,but thou muff fee thy felf under Guilt; and that there is a Neceffity of a Sacrifice to ex- piate thy Sins, and make Atonement if ever thou art faved. You need Chrift for your 7uftification to be your Righteoufnefs, as well as to be your Santlification. If there be no Senfe of this, if you go on .refs Ling and defpiting fuch Convic&ions, if you live fo, and die fo; thou art the Man, the Woman againft whom the Lord bath Indignation for ever,, and thy Sin will not be purged with Sacrifice nor Offering for. ever, as the Lord faid of Elie's Sons, r Sam. 3. rq.. Vfe 3., Direflion under the Guilt of Sim what to do, andwhat Coiirfe to .take, to make Atonement and Reconciliation between Godand thee. Go and bring your Sacrifice to the Prieft, and by him unto God. Jefus Chrift is
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