and be accepted as an atonement instead of a slaughtered animal0? Be assured, that the sigh, the tear, the groan shall come up with acceptance before him, as much as the most fluent prayer that ever was offered ; and that the widow's mite will be found no less valuable in his sight, than the richest offerings of the great and wealthy. Only do ye " draw near to God;" and be assured, " He will draw near to you:" and, as he gave to his people formerly some visible tokens of his acceptance, so will he give to you the invisible, but not less real, manifestations of his love and favour, " shedding abroad his love in your hearts," giving you " the witness of his Spirit" in your souls, and " sealing you with the Holy Spirit of pro- mise as the earnest of your inheritance, until the time of your complete redemption."]
In concluding this subject, I would yet further say,
1. Look to the great atonement as your only hope — [I wish you very particularly to notice when it was that
God sent down this fire upon the altar. It was when Aaron had offered a sacrifice for his own sins, and a sacrifice also for the sins of the people. It was, then, whilst a part of the latter sacrifice was yet unconsumed upon the altar, that God sent down fire from heaven and consumed it instantly d. When this universal acknowledgment had been made of their affiance in the great atonement, then God honoured them with this signal token of his acceptance. And it is only when you come to him in the name of Christ, pleading the merit of his blood, and " desiring to be found in him, not having your own righteousness but his," it is then I say, and then only, that you can expect from God an answer of peace. It is of great importance that you notice this : for many persons are looking first to receive some token of his love, that they may after- wards be emboldened to come to him through Christ. But you must first come to him through Christ ; and then " he will send the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, whereby you shall cry, Abba, Father."]
2. Surrender up yourselves as living sacrifices unto
God—
[On the Jewish altar slain beasts were offered : under the Christian dispensation you must offer yourselves, your whole selves, body, soul, and spirit, a living sacrifice unto the Lord. This is the sacrifice which God looks for ; and this alone he will accept. This too, I may add, is your reasonable service e. This must precede every other offering f. A divided heart God
c Lev. v. 5 — l;J. d Lev. ix. 8, 13, 15, 17, 24.
e Rom. xii. 1. f 2 Cor. viii. 5.