The Gofpel of theBrazen Altair. 3r 6. The Fire of the Altar came from Heaven, Lev. 9.24.. 2 Chron. .. I. Strange Fire is forbidden, Lev. io. I. ( I.) Humane Inventions which he had not commanded them, Lev. 30. I. (2. ) Carnal Wrath andPafJion ; this is not the Fire of the Altar, but strange Fire, ja,nes 3. 17. Wifdom from above is firfl pure, then peaceable, &c. the Wrath of .Man accomplifhes not the Righteoufnefs of God, Jam. t. 20. 7. The Vfe of the Altar in reference to the Sacrifice was to fupport and fan&ify it : The Altar did two Things, both which Faith is to eye and look unto, as done in Chriff, and to be done in us. I. To fupport the Sacrifice and bear it up : So Chrift was born up by the Power of his Deity. Z. To make it acceptable : So Chrift's Sufl"erings are fo infinitely precious and acceptable with the Lord, through the Glory and Excel- lency of his Perfon ; there is nothing elfe will bear up a Soul under fenfe of Guilt but this, to confider who it was that died and fuffered for us It was the Son of God. And the reafon of many fears and tremblings of Unbelief is, becaufe theSoul looks at theSacrifice with- out theAltar, looks at the Death of Chrift, but confiders not the Al- tar, the Deity that fanetifies theGift. As to us, we need both Support and Acceptance ; eye both thefe in Chrift, eye Chrift for them to your own Souls. i. Support : When the Heart is ready to fink, and to be overwhelm- ed with the Difficulties that do occur, thou art weak, but here is Strength. z. Acceptance ; Ifa. 56.7. their Burnt- Offerings and their Sacrifices (hall be accepted upon mine Altar; thou art unworthy, but leave thy Gift up- on the Altar, and it (hall be accepted ; whatfoever tosicheth the Atar (hall be Holy. Vfe 't. See the unlawfulnefs, yea, the abominablenefs of material Altars and Altar-worfhip under the New Teffament. For the Altar was a Type of Jefus Chrift in his Deity and Priefthood, therefore Al- tars are ceafed. For is not Jefus Chrift theSon of God ? Or bath God another Son to die for us ? Or do we look for another Gofpel that we muft build Altars to typify the Myfteries thereof ?. Becaufe it liesdi- I c;.tly in my way, and it is one of the worft andgrofl'ed of the Super- stitions and Corruptions of Worfhip in our Times, I may not well pafs it by : Confider but two Things here. (I.) The Lord's Table is not an Altar, ought not to be fo called or fo acconted. (2.) The many other Evils that ave involved in this and go along with it. 1. The Communion Table is not an Altar, and ought not to be focal- led nor fo accounted Take three Arguments for the Proofof this. B b b 2 Reaf
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