2. The second spring of the beauty of the old worship — wdrich was, indeed, the hinge upon which the whole turned — was the priest- hood of Aaron, with all the administrations committed to his charge. The pomp, state, and ceremonies, that the Papists have invented in their outward worship, or that heap which they have, in several parcels, borrowed of the Heathen and Jews, is a toy in comparison of the magnificence of the Aaronical administrations. The high priest under the gospel is Christ alone. Now, I shall spare the pains of comparing these together; — partly, because it will be by all confessed that Christ is incomparably more excellent and glorious ; and partly, because the apostle, on set purpose, handles this comparison in sundry instances in the Epistle to the Hebrews ; where any one may run and read it, it being the main subject-matter of that most excellent epistle.
84 OF WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD.
3. The order, glory, number, significancy, of their sacrifices, was another part of their glory. And, indeed, he that shall seriously con- sider that one solemn anniversary sacrifice of expiation and atone- ment, which is instituted, Lev. xvi., will quickly see that there was very much glory and solemnity in the outward ceremony of it. "But now," saith the aj>ostle, " w e have a better sacrifice," Heb. ix. 23. We have him who is the high priest, and altar, and sacrifice, — all himself; of worth, value, glory, beauty, — upon the account of his own person, the efficacy of his oblation, the real effect of it, — more than a whole creation, if it might have been all offered up at one sacrifice. This is the standing sacrifice of the saints, offered " once for all;" — as effectual now any day as if offered every day : and other sacrifices, properly so called, they have none. I might mention other parti- culars; but I suppose, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have in some measure manifested the excellency, beauty, order, and uniformity, of the spiritual worship of the gospel ; and that both absolutely in itself, and in comparison with any other way of worship whatever. From all which it will be easily made to appear, that this may well be reckoned among the unspeakable privileges that are purchased for us by the death of Christ ; — which was the thing first proposed to consideration.
SERMON V.
OF WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD.
" And to walk humbly with thy God." — Mic. vi. 8.
The beginning of this chapter contains a most pathetical expostula- tion of God, by the prophet, with his people, about their sins and unworthy walking before him. Having, with an apostrophe to the mountains and hills, verses 1, 2, stirred up their attention, and raised them to the consideration of his plea with them in verses 3-5, he emphatically presses them with the mercies he had of old bestowed upon them, with the patience and love toward them which he showed and exercised in his dealings with them.
The conviction being effectual to awaken them, and fill them with a sense of their horrible ingratitude and rebellions, verses 6, 7, they begin to make inquiry, according as is the custom of persons under the power of conviction, what course they shah take to avoid the wrath of God, which they could not but acknowledge was due to them. And here, as God speaks, Hos. vii. 1, when he would heal
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them, their iniquity and wickedness is discovered more and more ; they discover the wretched principles whereon they were acted, in all that they had to do with God.
Indeed convictions, on what account soever, made effectual upon the soul, draw out its inward principles; which are not otherwise to be discovered. Many there are who have, in notion, received the doctrine of free justification by the blood of Christ, whom, while they are secure in their ways, without trouble or distress, it is impossible to persuade that they do not live and act upon that principle, and walk before God in the strength of it. Let any great conviction, from the word or by any imminent or pressing danger, befall these men, — then their hearts are laid open, — then all their hopes are in their repentance, amendment of life, performance of duties in a better manner; and the iniquity of their self-righteousness is discovered.
Thus was it with these Jews. Their sins being charged home upon them by the prophet, so that they are not able to stand under their weight and burden, he now discovers the bottom of all their princi- ples in dealing with God ; and that is this, that having provoked him, something they must do whereby to appease him and atone his anger.
In their contrivance to this purpose, they fix on two general heads. First, They propose things which God himself had appointed, verses 6, 7; — secondly, Things of their own finding out, which they supposed might have a farther and better efficacy to the end aimed at than any thing appointed of God himself, verse 7.
First. They look to sacrifices and burnt-offerings for help ; — they consider whether by them, and on their account, they may not come before the Lord, and bow themselves before the high God ; that is, perform such a worship for which they may be acquitted from the guilt of their sins.