god's acceptance of the sacrifices.
Lev. ix. 23, 24. And Moses and Aaron went into the taber- nacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the peo- ple : and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came afire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat : which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
WHEN we see the great variety of ordinances instituted by Moses, and the multitudes of sacrifices
127.1 god's acceptance of the sacrifices. G0(.>
that were, either in whole or in part, to be consumed upon the altar, we are ready to ask, Of what use was all this ? and what compensation could be made to the people for all the expense and trouble to which they were put ? But in the text we have a ready, and a sufficient answer. God did not long withhold from them such communications, as would abundantly recompense all that they did, and all that they could, perform for his sake : he gave them such testimonies of his acceptance as made all their hearts to overflow with joy.
Let us consider, I. The testimonies of his acceptance —
Of these there were different kinds ;
1. Ministerial —
[Moses and Aaron, having finished all that they had to do within the tabernacle, came forth, and " blessed the people:" and in this action they were eminent types of Christ, and examples to all future ministers to the end of time.
As types of Christ, they shewed what he should do as soon as he should have completed his sacrifice. The acceptance of all his believing followers being now certain, he blessed them ; and was in the very act of blessing them, when he was taken up from them into heaven a. Scarcely had he taken possession of his throne, before he " sent down upon them the blessing of the Father," even the Holy Ghost1', to be their Guide and Comforter : and, when he shall have finished his work of inter- cession within the veil, he will come forth to pronounce upon them his final benediction, " Come, ye blessed of my Father ! inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." When on earth, he offered himself a sacrifice, and died as a sinner under the malediction of the law : but at the day of judgment he will, " unto those who look for him, appear the second time, without sin, to their complete salvation0."
As examples to ministers, they shewed what all ministers are authorized and empowered to declare unto those who rely on the great sacrifice. They are to stand forth, and, in the very name of God, to proclaim pardon and peace to every one of them without exception*1 ]
2. Personal —
[In two ways did God himself, without the intervention of
a Luke xxiv. 50, 51. b Acts ii. 33. and iii. 26.
c Heb. ix. 28. d Acts xiii. 38, 39.