sacrifice that was offered as a thanksgiving must be eaten on the same day ; whereas the sacrifice offered as a vow or volun- tary offering, might, as being less holy, be eaten also on the second day. But, if any was left to the third day, it must be consumed by fire p.]
Having stated the principal peculiarities of this law, we shall now come to its practical improvement. We may find in it abundant matter,
1. For reproof —
[The Jews, if they wished to express their humiliation or gratitude in the way appointed by the law, were under the necessity of yielding up a part of their property (perhaps at a time when they could but ill afford it) in sacrifice to God. But no such necessity is imposed on us: " God has not made us to serve with an offering, nor wearied us with incense :" the offerings he requires of us are altogether spiritual : it is " the offering of a free heart," or " of a broken and contrite spirit," that he desires of us ; and that he will accept in preference to " the cattle upon a thousand hills." Well therefore may it be expected that we have approached God with the language of the Psalmist, " Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth q." But has this been the case? Have our sins brought us unto God in humiliation ; our necessities, in prayer; our mercies, in thankfulness ? What excuse have we for our neglects ? These sacrifices required no expense of property, and but little of time. Moreover, we should never have brought our sacrifice, without feasting on it ourselves. Think, if there had not been in us a sad aversion to communion with God, what numberless occasions we have had for drawing nigh to him in this way ! Surely every beast that was ever slaughtered on those occasions, and every portion that was ever offered, will appear in judgment against us to condemn our ingratitude and obduracy ! ]
2. For direction —
[Whether the peace-offering was presented in a way of thanksgiving or of supplication, it equally began with a sacrifice in the way of atonement. Thus, whatever be the frame of our minds, and whatever service we render unto God, we must invariably fix our minds on the atonement of Christ, as the only means whereby either our persons or our services can obtain acceptance with God. Moreover, having occasion to offer sacrifice, we must do it without delay, even as the offerers were to eat their offerings in the time appointed r We must
P ver. 15—18. Q Ps. cxix. 108.
r Heb. iii. 13—15. Ps. cxix. 60. 2 Cor. vi. 2.