doubt but it was well adapted to the Genius of the People, and to the Times.

2. A GREAT Part of thofe Symbols and Figures are of little Ufe to us now adays; and therefore it is of no great Confequence whether we do, or do not understand them. But their Sacrifices feem to bear fuch Relation to the Death of Chrift; and are fo frequently referred to in the Writings of the New Teftament, that it feems neceffary to have just Ideas of the one, in order to our forming a right Judgment of the other.

3. SACRIFICES were to be offered in the Sanctuary, and in no other Place, that being confidered as the House, or Palace of God; where his extraordinary Presence was fignified by the Ark of the Covenant, and a bright Appearance above it. A fplendid Apparatus of Utenfils, and great Numbers of felect Perfons were employed in the facred Rites. Various were the Offerings here prefented; Bullocks, Rams, Lambs, Goats, Kids, Pigeons, Turtles, Corn, Wine, Oil, &c. Various were the Ceremonies with which, and the Occafions upon which, they' were offered.

4. I. THE Occafions were either general, or particular. General, when no fpecial Reason is given for Sacrificing; but it seems to have been an Act of Homage paid to

God,

Ch. I. The Occafions of offering Sacrifices.

God, as the Maker, Owner, Ruler, and Preferver of all things. Under this Head moft of the Sacrifices before the Law of Mofes are to be ranked; and they commonly go by the Name of Burnt-Offerings.

5. THE particular Occafions of Sacrific ing were three: Either for the Impetration of Bleffings defired; or for Thanksgiving, when received; or for the Removal of fome Guilt or Uncleannefs. Sacrifices under the two first Heads are called Peace-Offerings, Lev. vii. 11, 12, 16. Those on the last Account are distinguished into Sin-Offerings and Trefspafs-Offerings; otherwife called, in the Language of modern Divines, Piacular or Expiatory Sacrifices.

6. THE Sins and Trefpaffes for which they were offered, were generally Sins of Ignorance, or ceremonial Pollutions. See Lev. iv. 2, 3, 13, 22, 27.-V. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.-xii. 6. -xiv. 1, 2, &c. -xv. 13, 14, 15. Numb. vi, 11. —XV. 22, &c. It is added Ver. 30. But the Soul that doth ought prefumptuously, the fame reproacheth the Lord; and that Soul shall be cut off from among his people. No Sacrifices were to be offered for him that did ought prefumptuously, i. e. knowingly and wilfully. And yet there are three Cafes which feem to be Exceptions from this general Rule. (1.) When a Perfon upon his Oath before a Magistrate did not utter what he had seen

or known, Lev. v. 1. (2.) When a Man dealt fraudulently with his Neighbour, Lev. vi. 1, &c. (3.) The vitiating of a Bond maid, Lev. xix. 20. In the Rules for the Day of Atonement mention is made of all the Iniquities of the Children of Ifrael, and all their Tranfgreffions in all their Sins, Lev. xvi. 21. But thofe Sins must be excepted which were threatened with Excifion, or Cutting off.

7. II. THE Ceremonies ufed in offering Sacrifices were as follows. The Beast, Bullock, Sheep or Goat, being without Blemish, was brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, Lev. iv. 4, &c. Where, whether it was Burnt-offering Lev. i. 4. or Peace-offering Lev. iii. 1, 2, 6, 8, 13. or Sin-offering Lev. iv. 4, 15, 24, 29, 33. the Offerer was to lay his Hand upon the Head of it. Then, having flain it, the Priest fprinkled the Blood round about the Altar; if it was a Burnt-offering, or a Peace-offering Lev. i. 5, 11.-iii. 2, 8, 13. But if it was a Sin-offering for the High-prieft, or for the whole Congregation; the Priest took of the Blood, and brought it into the Tabernacle of the Congregation; and dipping his finger in it, fprinkled it feven times before the Lord, before the vail of the Sanctu ary; or before the Holy of Holies, where the Ark and other Symbols of the Divine

Prefence

Prefence were. And moreover, in all Sinofferings, he put fome of the blood upon the horns of the altar of fweet incenfe; and lastly, poured out all the reft at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, which was at the door of the tabernacle. Lev. iv. 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, 25, 30. —v. 9.

8. IN Burnt-offerings, after the Blood was fprinkled, the Head, Inwards and Legs were separated from the Carcafe; the Inwards and Legs washed in Water, and, together with the Head and the Fat, laid upon the Fire on the Altar; then the whole Body of the Sacrifice; and all were burnt on the Altar. Lev. i. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13.

9. IN Peace or Sin-offerings, all the Fat upon the Inwards, the two Kidneys, and the Fat upon them, which is by the Flanks, and the Caul above the Liver, were separated from the Body, and burnt on the Altar, upon the [daily] burnt-offering, Lev. iii. 3, 4, &c. iv. 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 35. Moreover, in Peace-offerings the Breast, and the right Shoulder were alfo to be taken off, and being firft waved, or heaved to and fro, were given to the Priests to be eaten by them; and the reft of the Sacrifice was eaten by the Offerer, his Family and Friends. Lev. vii. 15, 16, 30, 32, 33, 34.-X.

14, 15.

10. IN thofe Sin-offerings, where the Blood was brought into the Tabernacle,

the

*

the Carcase of the Beast was carryed out of the Camp (afterwards out of Jerufa lem, the City being fupposed to be the Camp) unto a clean Place, and there was burnt. (Lev. iv. 12, 21. —vi. 30. —xvi. 27.) And he, who burnt it, was obliged to wash his Clothes, and bathe his Flesh, before he returned into the Camp, as being unclean, But when the Blood was not brought into the Tabernacle, all the Beaft (excepting the Parts burnt upon the Altar) fell to the Priests; and was to be eaten by no other Perfons, and in no other Place, but in the Sanctuary. Numb. xviii. 9, 10. Levit. VI. 25, 20, 27.

11. IN Lev. xvi. 1, &c. are defcribed the Ceremonies obferved on the annual Day of Atonement; when, for himself and Family, the High-priest offered a Bullock for a Sin-offering. For the whole Congregation of the People two Goats were provided, and Lots caft upon them; and according as the Lot fell, the one was for a Sin-offering, the other referved alive for another Ufe. When the Sin-offerings were flain, the Highpriest took a Cenfer of burning Coals from the Altar, and a Handful of Incense; and entering, with the greatest Solemnity, through the Vail, into the Holy of Holies; he fet the Cenfer down before the Ark of the Covenant, and poured the Incense upon the Coals, that the Smoke of it might cover,

* Heb. xiii. 11, 12, 13.

of