`l'repdrRtionrfor the Givingof theLazy® 267 and taken away, the things themfelves are among the prefent Jews turned into the greateft fupernition imaginable. Their principal vanities about thefe things haviagbeen reprefented by others out of Maintonides his Treatifeon that fubje`t, need not here be repeated. The Ian appointment of God occafioned by the mercy folemnly remembred in the Paffover, was the dedication ofall the first-born Males unto himfeif. The Law of this dedication is recorded, Exod. 13. 12, '13: and the manner of its performance is farther added, Numb.18, 15, i6, 17. Every thing that openeth the matrix, in allflefh which theybring unto the Lord, whether it be ofmen or beaft, faall be thine ; neverthelefs' the first-born ofman(halt thoufurely redeem, and the firftfirftling ofunclean beafts (halt thou redeem ; and thófc that are to be redeemedfrom amonth oldfhalt thou redeem; according to thine effimatian, for the moray offivefhekels, after the fhekel of the Sanctuary, which it twenty Gerahs. But thefirfttingof a Cow, or the firftling ofe Sheep, or the firf{ling of a Goat, thou(halt not redeem, they areholy, thou fhalt #crinkle their blood upon the Altar, and (halt burn theirfat for an offering made by fire, for a fweet favour into the 'Lord. The whole dedication of the first-born Males is, diftribtited into three parts, r. Chil- dren, who were to be redeemed with five fhekels, twenty Gerahs to one fhekel, that is about twelvefhilings ofour mony. 2. Clean beafts,fuch as were appointed to be offered in facrifice onother occaions,as theRine,the Sheep and the Goats.Thefe were to he offer- ed unto God,iu a Sacrifice of burnt -offering without redemption or commutation,after they had been kept a month with thedam. 3. ynclean beaJfs, whereofan inftance is given in the Afs, which were either to be redeemed with moray by an agreement with the Priest, or to have their necks broke at the choice of the owner. And all of this to call to remembrance the mercy ofGod in fparing them, and theirs, when the first-born ofman and beaft, clean and unclean in Egypt, weredeftroyed.. For hence a peculiar right of efpecial prefervation arofe unto God towards all their firJl-bórn, and this alto not without a profpAf towards the Redemption ofthe Church ofthe frff- barnby Jcf-isChrift. Heo. 12.23. And this gave a period to the first difpenfation of God towards the Church in the polterity of Abraham, for the flake of 43oyears, With the provifionand furnitureof thefe Ordinances of Worfhip, they left Egypt, and palling through the Red-fea, came into the WildernefsofSinai, where they received the Law; and were made perfe& in the beautyofTypical holinefs and worfhip. tinto thefe Ordinances fucceeded the Solemn top t=oía, orgiving ofthe Law on Mount Sinai, with the Precepts and Sanétions thereof, mentioned in feveral places by our Aponte, as chap. 2. 2. For if the word fPoken by Angels wasftedfaft, andevery tranf- grefton and difobedience receivedajufb rec'ompence ofreward. 'Chap. to. 28. He that de- filedMofes Law died without mercy under two or threewitneffes. Chap. 12. 18, 09, 20, 21. For ye are notcome unto theMount that might be touched, and that burnedwith fire ; or unto blackneJiand darknefl, and tempe)t, and the found ofa trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard intreated that the word fhouldnot be f¡roken to them any more; for they could not endure that which was commanded; and if fo much as abeaft . touched the mountain, it'hail be 'toned or thrujt through with a dart. And f terrible was the fight, that Mofes fail, 'exceedinglyfear and quake. ver:,25. They efcaped not who re- filed him that fpake on earth. Andin other places, Three things mull be explained in reference unto this great and folcmn foundation of that JudaicalChurch Jtate, which our Apontetreateth about in this whole Epiftle. Firft, The Preparations for it. Secondly, The Manner ofthe giving of it. Thirdly, The Law it Elf. For thepreparations for it, they areeither more remote, or immediately preceding it. The former were thofe temporary, occafional, iuftruétive Ordinances which God gave them at their entrance into the Wildernefs, before they came to re- ceive the Lawon Sinai. The first mentioned of this nature is Exod. 15. 23, 24, 25, 26. Andwhen they came to Marah, theycould not drinkof thewaters of Marah, for they were bitter ; therefore the name ofit wascalled Marah. And the people murmured againft Mofes, frying, What limit we drink? And he criedunto the Lord, andthe Lordfhewed him a tree, which when he had cafe into the waters, the waters were made fweet. Therehe made a-Statute andan Ordinance, and there be proved them, and faid, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of theLord thy God, and wilt do that which it right in hisfight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all hisftatutes, I will put none of thofe difeafes upon thee, which INava brought upon th.e Egyptians, for Iam the Lord that beal_eth thee. The whole Mm z courfe 4. 2,24 4. 23. 4.24. 4.25.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=