408 A SHORT VIEW OP SCRIPTURE HISTORY. hear what are the sacrifices that.were appointed, which are also numbered among the holy things ? A. All sacrifices were offer- ings made to God : Some were of corn, or wine, or oil ; and others were offerings of living creatures, birds or beasts, which were generally to be slain : But all sacrifices must be perfect in their kind, and without ablemish ; Lev. xxii. 19, 20. Note, There is one single exception to this rule; Lev. xxii. 23. where a bullock or a lamb, which had no other blemish but some small natural imperfection or superfluity, might beoffered in the-case of a mere free-will offering, but in no other cases : The current language of scripture seems every where else to re- quire sacrifices without a blemish, that some commentators think this text most be explained some other way. 65. Q. Where were these sacrifices to be offered ? A. In no other place but at the door of the tabernacle, or the temple ; Lev. xvii. 8, 9. Deut. xii. 13. 66. Q. But do we not read of Gideon, and Samuel, and David, and Elijah building altars, and offering sacrifices in other places ? A. This was not lawful to be done but by pro- phets and inspired men, or at God's expresscommand. 67. Q. How were the sacrifices offered to God ? A. In some sacrifices the whole was burned on the altár ; in others a part was burned, and other parts were given to flue priests for their subsistence: And in some sacrifices the person who offered them was allowedto partake also. See the seven first chapters of Leviticus. 68. Q. What was done with the blood of the living crea- tures that were sacrificed ? A. The bloodwas never to be eaten, but to be poured out or sprinkled according to God's appoint- ment, for the blood is the soul or life of the beast, and it is blood that maketh atonement for the soul or life of man; See Lev. xvii. 69. Q What was the design of sacrifices of-corn wine and oil? A. These werecalled meat offerings and drink- offerings, and they were appointed chiefly to give thanks to God for his mercies received. 70. Q. What was the design of killing and burning liv- ing creatures in sacrifice ? A. Some might be designed per- haps by way of thanksgiving, but most of them were to make atonement for sins or trespasses against the law of the Jews or to purify the unclean from some ceremonial defilement ; Heb. ix. 7, 13, 22. 71. Q. How could the killing and burning of living crea- tures make atonement for sin ? A. It is not possible, as St. Paul assures us, that the blood of bulls and gouts should really take away sins committed against Godas the Lord of conscience: But When a man among the 'Jews had offended God, considered as king of the nation, by sonic civil trespass against the laws of
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