to obscure the whole by any thing of a doubtful nature. Besides, there are in this type such a mul- titude of particulars, that it would not be possible to speak satisfactorily upon them all in one sermon, if we were to take them in the most comprehensive view : we shall therefore confine ourselves to such observations as will commend themselves to your judgment, without perplexing you by too great a diversity on the one hand, or by any thing fanciful or doubtful on the other.
That we may prosecute the subject in a way easy to be understood, we shall distinguish the meat- offering by its great leading feature, and consider it in that view only. The burnt-offering typified ex- clusively the atonement of Christ: the meat-offering typified our sanctification by the Spirit.
As for the meat-offerings which accompanied the stated burnt-offerings, they, together with their at- tendant drink-offerings, were wholly consumed upon the altar; but those which were offered by them- selves, were burnt only in part; the remainder being given to the priests for their support. It is of these that we are now to speak. The different materials of which they consisted, will serve us for an easy and natural distribution of the subject.
The first thing to be noticed is, "The fine flour"—
[Whatever we see burnt upon the brasen altar, we may be sure was typical of the atonement of Christ : whether it were the flesh of beasts, or the fruits of the earth, there was no difference in this respect : it equally typified his sacrifice. This appears not only from the meat-offering being frequently mentioned together with the burnt-offering in tliis very viewa, but from its being expressly referred to as a means of expiating moral guilt b. It is on this account that we number it among the propitiatory sacrifices, notwithstanding its use in other respects was widely different. There is indeed, in the mode of treating this fine flour, something well suited to shadow forth the sufferings of Christ : it was baked (in a pan or oven) or fried, and, when formed into a cake, was broken and burnt
a See Ps. xl. 6—8. and Heb. x. 5—8.
b 1 Sam. iii. 14. and xxvi. 19. The mincha is the offering spoken of in both these places.