their Sacrifices. They had divers washings and carnal Ordinances impofed upon them, until the time of Reformation, faith the Apostle, Heb. 9. 10. One eminent inftance we have, I Sam. 16. there Samuel goes to Bethlehem, to Sacrifice unto the Lord, and to Feaft with Jeffe and his Sons upon part of the Oblations; but before he would either flay the Heifer, or fit down, with them at Meat, he commanded them to Sanctifie themselves, (according to the Custom) v: 5: Now these legal Purifications, were fo many Notices and Indications of that inward and Spiritual Purity, which is neceffary in all, who prefent themselves before the Lord, and profess to be of his Houfhold and Family. For which Reason the Prophets, who were Expofitors of the Law, called upon the People at every turn, to mind that Sanctity of Heart and Spirit, which was fignified by these External Rites, and without which, all their Services were so many vain Oblations. So God himself calls them, Jer. 1: 12, 13. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my Courts? Bring no more vain Oblations; that is, Heartless Sacrifices, fuch Sacrifices as were without the Heart, not of the Beast, but of the Man; empty Services, that were without a broken and

and contrite Spirit. To this purpose 'tis faid, Ifa. 66. 3. He that killeth an Ox, is as he that Slew a Man; he that Sacrificeth a Lamb, as he that cutteth off a Dog's neck; he that offereth an Oblation, as he that offe reth the Blood of Swine; and the Reason follows, because they have chofen their own ways, and their Soul delighteth in their own Abominations. 'Tis Holiness that God requires, rather than Sacrifice; and so much was intimated to them, when they were appointed to wash, before they entred into the Sanctuary. To which purpose, faith the Pfalmift, Pfal. 26. 6. I will wash my bands in Innocence, and fo will compass thine Altar: Meaning, that by cleanfing the outward parts, Men were taught to Cleanfe and Sanctifie their Minds, chiefly, and that Innocence is mainly neceffary in fuch as go about to meddle with Holy things. And this is particularly obfervable from the Ordinance concerning the Paffover, which was a Type and Shadow of this Christian Ordinance. Though every few that was. rightly Qualified, was bound under pain of Death, to bring the Offering of the Lord in his appointed Seafon; yet if he had any Legal Impurities, upon him; if he were a Leper, or had a running Issue, or had been Defiled by touching a Dead Carcafs, then he was feverely bound to for

bear

bear the Paffover for a time; he was to defer it for the space of a Month; because it was a general Rule, the Soul that eateth the Flesh of the Sacrifice of Peace-Offerings, having his Uncleanneffes upon him, even that Soul fhall be cut off from his People, Lev. 7. 20. Philo the few hath right ly obferved, that God Inftructed Men by thefe Rites and Forms and outward Symbols, how they ought to make their approaches unto his Altar, either to Pray or to give thanks unto him; that they should bring no latent Diseases, no Corruptions of Soul along with them. And never is it more neceffary for Men to lay their Impurities afide, than when they come to this Chriftian Sacrifice. The Body of the Lamb was a Type and Figure of the Flesh of Chrift; and as we cannot refuse Eating without being Guilty, as well as Foolish and Improvident; fo neither can we be, Innocent, if we Eat with our Uncleanneffes about us; this is no other, than to Eat and Drink Judgment to our felves, 1 Cor. II.

2. BESIDES, 2dly, the Nature of this Great Myftery is well to be confidered, for (as I have fhew'd) it is the Covenant Feaft under the Gospel, even as the Pafchal Supper, and other Sacrifical Banquets were under the Law: And Repentance

is indifpenfably required of all that come to Contract with God. There is a remarkable place in Pfal. 10. 16, 17. Unto the Wicked God faith, why dost thou Preach my Laws, and takeft my Covenant into thy. Mouth, whereas thou hateft to be Reformed? The Pfalmift doth manifeftly allude to an Ancient Custom of making Covenants with God by Sacrifice, as it is, v. 5. For the Offering being made upon the Altar, and part of it being burnt as God's Portion, the remainder was taken away by the Covenanting Parties, as their fhare; and their manner was, to Eat it together before the Lord, thereby teftifying that they were now in Communion and Fellowship with him. .And this the Pfalmift calls, the taking of God's Covenant in their mouths; for it was the Eating of his Sacrifice, which was a Sign and Token of the Covenant. Now, what they did of Old, when they did Communicate of the Flesh of Beafts, That (the very fame thing) we Chriftians do now; when we partake of Bread and Wine, we do Solemnly Profefs that we are in Covenant with God, and Solemnly Confirm this Covenant at his Table. Now the Terms of the Covenant under the Gospel, are these on our part, that we will ferve God in Holiness and Righteousness att the days of our Life; and if our inward intentions

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intentions be not according to our outward Profeffion, but we hate to be Reformed, what horrible Prefumption is it to take the Symbol and Seal of God's Covenant into our Mouths? All this is, Mockage, and Hypocrific, a Solemn and Theatrical kind of jeer, it Men do not ftedfaly refolve and purpose in their Hearts, to become New Men, and for ever to please God in Newness of Life.

3. ADD to this, in the third place, that the Bleffings tendred us at this Sacrament, are fuch, as do require a Sincere Repentance from dead Works, as a Qualification and Disposition to make us meet to be Partakers of them. For here Chrift is tendred, with all the Fruits and Benefits of that Sacrifice, which he once for all offe red up to his Father upon the Crofs: And of thefe, Forgiveness of Sin is one great Bleffing. But there is no Pardon to the Wicked, to fuch as are ftill in Love with their Abominations and intend to perfist and go on in their Wickedness. In order therefore to a due Celebration of this Myftery, as every Knee fhould bow, fo every Heart must be broken, and every filthy Luft Mortified. For Converfion goeth before Forgiveness, as the Condition that Capacitates the Receiver; and the Dominion of Sin must be Conquered, before the