:71-e Gope.1 of the yewifG'Perítecoft. 423 Fruits of Barley and from thence to reckon fifty days to the Feaft of Weeks : So that their firm Expreffion of their Thankfulnefs to God for the Fruits of the Earth was immediately after they had killed and... eaten the Palfover. It is that which many complain of, a carnal, dead, infenfible, un- thankful frame of Heart; but you fee here both the caufe of it, and the. Cure and Remedy againft it. The Soul will come to own God, to dedicate it felf and all it hath unto God, when firft fprinkled with the Bloodof Jefus Chrift the Lamb of God, but not till then. 3. They were to begin thefe their Acknowledgments of God on the fixteenth day of the firft Month, Lev. 16. to, I I. for then Barley was ripe in thofe Climates,, at another Seafon then in thefe Northern Countries. Then they were to begin their Acknowledgments of God, they were not to delay their Thankfulnefs till they had gotten in their whole Harveft ; but they muff bring the firft unto God. It is a lovely thing to fee Men acquaint themfelves with God betimes, to give him the first ripe Fruits : And it is but equal reddere ills prima, qui nobia dedit amnia ; that we should render the fifty unto him who giveth all un- to us. q.. As they begun betimes, fo they were to proceed;. as in their Har- veft, fo in their Thankfulnefs : For they offered firft but one Wave - fheaf of Barly, Lev. 23. 10, II. but now twoWave-loaves of Wheat ; then but one Lamb,. now feven Lambs, Lev. 23. 17, 18. far greater Offerings then the former. To teach us, that a Chriftians Thankfulnefs and Fruitfulnefs Mould be increaling, till at lait he be made perfe&. We fhould not fit down in force imperfe& Beginnings, but go forward and make continual Progrefs in the ways of God ; as our time goes on, fo fhould our Thankfulnefs. Thegreater God's Blengs are to us, the greater mutt our Thank- fulnefs be to him ; as he doth increafe his Benefits, fo fhould we aug- ment and increafe our Obedience. A good Note ( faith one writing upon this Feaft) for all them to think of, towhom God bath extended a more liberal Hand then to their Brethren. Many rife up early, go. to Bed late, and part from their beloved, Sleep ; yet fare hardly, eat brown Bread (as we fay) and drink the Water of Aflii&ion. Is thy Condition better then theirs ? Art thou féd with the fineft of the Wheat inftëadof their Barley ? Remember then, that to whom much is given, ofhim find be required much, . Luke 12.48. feven Lambs for their one, and for their one Sheaf two Loaves. 2. A fecund End andMyftery of thisFeaft of Pentecoft was in reference to the giving of the'l'aw upon Mount Sinai. That this was one, part of
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