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SERM,
XXXV.3
THE ATONEMENT OF CFiR15T.
,?9
burning
of
the
flesh
and entrails
on
the.altar
by
that
divine
fire,
which was always
kept
alive
there,
and
which was
kindled
at
first from heaven, seems
plainly
intended
to
foretel those
sacred
divine impressions
of
the
indignation
of
God
due to sinners;
which
were to be made upon
'the
holy soul
of Christ
himself,
"
when
it
pleased the
Father
to bruise
him,
and
put
hirn
to
grief
:"
For
the
indignation
of God
is
often
represented
by
fire.
We must
not
imagine therefore,
that
these levitical
ordinances
were first
in.
the
design
of
God,
as
proper
statutes
for the Jewish.
nation, and then
that
the
Son
of
Qod.canie into
the
world,
and
passed
through
such
spe-,
cial
scenes
of
life,
death, and resurrection, merely
in
or-
der
to
copy
out
these
Jewish
ordinances: But
we
must
conceive
the,
Son
of
God,
first designed
as
our
great
Atonement and
High-
priest
on
earth, and
in
heaven
:
And
in
the
view
and
foresight
hereof
all
those levitical
or-
dinances
were
given
to the
Jews
as
figures
and
emblems,
to
give
early notice before
-hand,
of
the
blessings
of the
great
Messiah, Surely
the
atonement
of
the
Messiah,
which was to be
a.
real
relief
for
the guilt
of
all
nations,
was
of
much more
importance, and
held
a higher
rank
in
the ideas
and
designs
of God, than
the mere ceremonies
given
to a
single.
nation.
If
it
should
b,e
objected
still,
that
those
Jewish
rites:
have been
plainly.
proved
by
some
learned
men
to be
po-
litical services done to
God
as
their
King and Governor,
for
he
dwelt
in.
Jérusalem
as
their
king,
and
kept
his
court among
them in the
tabernacle and the
temple.
I
answer
:
1.
This
may
very
well
be
granted
as
an inferior and
subordinate
design
of God
:
For
the consideration
of
God,
as
the
civil
or political ruler,
of
the
Jewish
nation,
is
much
inferior
to the
consideration
of
him
as
the
Crea-
tor, and the
Lord
of
the
souls
and
consciences,
not
only
of
the
nation of Israel,
but of
all
mankind, who were
to
derive benefit from the sacrifice
of
Christ.
The supreme
intent
and meaning
of
any constitution,
-does
by
no
means
destroy
those
which
are
subordinate.
It
may
be
allowed also
:
2.
That
the,
sacrifices
duly.
offered,
did make
a
real
and
proper
atonement
for the political
guilt
of
the
Israel-
ites
in
the
sight
of
God, considered.
as
their
peculiar
5