2. They have their offerings. The great work of the priest was to offer sacrifice, and this is our employment, to offer sacrifices to God. What sacrifices do we offer now in the time of the gospel ? Not sin- offerings, but thank-offerings. A sin-offering can be offered but once : Heb. X. 14, ' By one offering Jesus Christ hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' And there needs no more of that kind ; that was but to be once offered, Heb. vii. 27; and therefore there remains
108 SERMONS urox rsALM c'xix. [Ser. CXVIII.
notliinf^ more to be done by us but the offering of tliank-ofiferings, and this is to be done continually: Heb. xiii. 15, ' By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of ])raise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.'
3. These offerings must be spiritual thank-offerings. Under the law the thank-offering was that of a beast, but now under the gospel we offer spiritual sacrifices ; therefore the apostle saith. 1 Peter ii. 5, * Ye are built u}) a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.' Tlie sacrifice must suit with tlie nature of the priesthood. The priesthood is spiritual, and not after the law of a carnal conunandment, and not by an external conseci-ation, but the inward anointing of the Holy Ghost. And herein we differ from the priests of the law, because the very nature and substance of our worship is more pleasing to God than the nature of theirs ; for moral worship is better and more suited to the nature of God than ceremonial : ' God is a spirit, and will be wor- shipped in spirit,' John iv. 24. And therefore, when ceremonial worship was in force, they that rested in external ceremonies, and did not look to the spiritual intent and signification of them, were not accepted by God ; though the ceremony was performed with never so much pomp, though they came with their flocks and herds, yet praying to God, and praising God with a willing mind, wliich was the soul of their offering, was that alone which was acceptable to God ; therefore it is said, Ps. Ixix. 30, 31, ' I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving : this also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs ; ' that is, which is perfect and exact according to the institutions of the law, for there was to be no blemish in the sacrifice of the law ; yet calling upon tlie name of God, and praising him, is better than the service performed with the exactest conformity to legal rites: Ps. 1. 13-15, 'Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats ? Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.' The Lord draws them off from ceremonies to the spiritual service ; it is more becoming the nature of God, and it is more reasonable service. The offering of a beast hath not so much of God's nature, nor of man's nature in it, only God would keep it up for a while ; therefore now these are the great offerings.
4. The two great sacrifices required of us, prayer and praise ; there are many others, but they are implied in these. To instance, under the gospel there is this thank-offering, presenting ourselves to the Lord, dedicating ourselves to the Lord's use and service : Rom. xii. 1, ' I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, tliat ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, whicli is your reasonable service ; ' 2 Cor. viii. 5, ' They first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.' And then there is alms : Heb. xiii. 16, ' To do good and conmiunicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well i:)leased.' And when the Philipjiians had made contribution to Paul's necessities, he saith it was 'a sacrifice of a sweet- smelling savour unto God,' Phil. iv. 18. Ay ! but now both these are included in the other two, namely, as they are evidences of our thank-
VeR. 108.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 109
fulness to God, and the sense of liis love and fiivour which we have received by Christ. The great and usual offerings are ' the fruit of * our lips,' ' the calves of our lips,' here called ' the free-will-offerings of our mouth/ prayer and praise. That prayer is a sacrifice, see Ps. cxli, 2, ' Let my prayer be set before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.' The daily offering was accom- panied with incense, and he mentions the evening sacrifice, because then was a more perfect atonement for the day, therefore when the evening sacrifice came, it was to bo understood they were perfectly reconciled to God. And then that })raise is a sacrifice, see Ps. liv. 6, ' I will freely sacrifice unto thee ; I will praise thy name, 0 Lord, for it is good.' And in that other place where the Lord rejects the flesh of bulls and blood of goats, praise is substituted, ' Will I eat the flesh of bulls and blood of goats?' No: Ps. 1. 14, ' Offer to me thanks- giving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High.' So Ps. cxvi. 17, 18. ISo that prayers and praises are the oblations which we ofler nnto God under the gospel, either acknowledgments for former mercies, or peti- tions for future deliverances. These are the two duties which contain the substance of the ceremonies under the law, and are daily and con- stantly to be performed by us.