416 The Gofpel of the .7ewif% Feffivars. The Initru&ion we are here to learn is this, namely, to fee the tendernefs of GO towards his People, even as to the outwardMan. As he will have Mèrcy rather then Sacrifice : So he orders the matters of Sacrifice and Worfhip with Tendernefs and Mercy even to the Boo dies of his People; yea, the Spirit of God vouchfafes todwell in their very Bodies, as well as in their Souls, and he preferves the Daft there- of as precious Reliques in the Treafures of his "Providence, and will ga- ther thofe difperfed Atoms, and bring them forth again, and raite them rip to everlafting Life. How great is his Goodnefs to us ! It (hews there is a Duty incumbent uponus in reference to our Bo- dies ; and how great a Sin it is in Men to wrong and hurt their Bodies, when the Lord 'rrìmfelf is tender of them. 3. They were not to come empty- handed, Exod. 23. Dent. 16. 16, 17. true Religion is bountiful : Duties of Worfhip are to be accompanied with 'Duties of Mercy and Bounty ; fo upon the Chriftian Sabbath, there (hould be Colle&ions for thePoor, ,I Cor. 16 a. Hypocrify di- vides thefe, it is willing to ferve God, but in the cheapeft way : Hy- pocrites are all for a cheapReligion. 4. W hereas there was danger of Invafion by their Enemies, when all the Males were abfent;. the Lord fecures them by a Promife of fpecial Protection, Exod. 34. 24.. Neither ¡halt any Man defsre thy Land, when ¡bonlimit go up to appear before the Lord thy God, thrice in the Tear. Learn here, that while we are in our Duty, God will take care of our Safety : The way of Duty i the way ofSafety. When the Churchof the Jews was gone fromGod, and had crucified the Lord of Life, this proteEingProvidence forfook them. For at the Pafl'over it was, that the Romons took and deftroyed yerafalem. This Ordinance which was at firft, and ever after, ameans of Safety to them, the Lord now makes it a Snare to bring them all together as it were into a Pound, that the Romans might take them and cut themoff: But while they abodewith God in Purity of Worship and Obedience, he abode with them in his protehingProvidence. This fhould be a great Encouragement to us in the Work and Worenip of God, to run all Hazards, and to fear no Colours, but be "refolute in the Difcharge and Performance of Duty. The Lord is with us in fuch a Cafe, and then who can be againft us ? . Thefe Feafts ( asto their End and life) were both commemora- tive of former Benefits, and alfo prefigurative of future. It may be faid fo ofother Holy Times, and Holy Things alfo; but it holds eminently true concerning thefe three folemn anniverfary Feafts. Thus much for :thegeneral Rules which concerns all thefe Feafts. The
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