any human means, condescend to manifest his acceptance of the sacrifices which were now offered.
He first displayed his glory before all the people. This on some occasions was done in testimony of his displeasure, and in support of his servants who acted under his authority e : but here, as also on other occasions, it was altogether a token of his favour. In what precise manner this was done, we are not informed : but we are well assured, that it must have been in a way suited to his own glorious majesty, and in a way that carried its own evidence along with it.
Of course, such exhibitions of the divine glory are not now to be expected : but there are others, which, though not visible to mortal eyes, are very perceptible by the believing heart ; and which shall be vouchsafed to those who come to God by Jesus Christ. Our blessed Lord has assured his be- lieving followers, that " he will manifest himself unto them as he does not unto the world :" which promise would be nuga- tory, if the manifestations referred to did not carry their own evidence along with them. It is not easy indeed to mark with precision the agency of the Holy Spirit, so as to distinguish it from the operations of our own mind : but in the effects we can tell infallibly, what proceeds from God, and what from ourselves. The views which we may have of God and his per- fections, may, as far as relates to the speculative part, arise from human instruction ; but the humility, the love, the peace, the purity, with all the other sanctifying effects produced by those views upon the soul, can proceed from God alone : they are the fruits of the Spirit, and of him only. Hence, though no man can conceive aright of the manifestations of God to the soul, unless he have himself experienced them, nor can know exactly what it is to have " the Spirit of God witnessing with his spirit," or " shedding abroad the love of God in his heart," yet we are in no danger of error or enthusiasm, whilst we look for these things as purchased for us through the sacrifice of Christ, and judge of them, not by any inexplicable feelings, but by plain and practical results.
In addition to this display of his glory, God sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. By this he shewed the people what fiery indignation they themselves merited, and that he had turned it from them, and caused it to fall on the sacrifice which had been substituted in their stead.
The observations just made, will apply also to tins part of our subject. We are not to expect such a visible token, that our great sacrifice is accepted for us : but all the assurances of it which God has given us in his word, shall be applied with power to our souls, and be impressed with as strong a
e Numb. xiv. 10. and xvi. 19, 42.
god's acceptance of the sacrifices. (ill
127.]
conviction upon our minds, as if we had seen a demonstration of it exhibited before our eyes.]
From the testimonies themselves let us turn our attention to, II. The effects produced by them —
It is common to visible objects to affect us strongly. Accordingly the people were deeply impressed by what they now saw. They were filled,
1. With exalted joy —
[Had they not been taught to expect some extraordinary expressions of God's regard, they would probably have been terrified, as Gideon and Manoah weref: but being prepared8, they were filled with triumphant exultation, and rent the air with their shouts h.
How far a similar mode of expressing our religious feelings at this time would in any case be proper, we will not abso- lutely determine: but we apprehend that in the general it would not. Such manifestations as those we are considering, are calculated to make a strong impression on the mind, and to call forth the affections into violent and immediate exercise : but the truths of the Gospel, and the communications of God to the soul, affect us rather through the medium of the under- standing; and, consequently, are both more slow, and more moderate, in their operation. Yet doubtless somewhat of the same emotions must be right, especially in our secret chamber, where our communion with God is usually most intimate ; and where others who are strangers to our feelings, cannot be offended by what they would deem enthusiastical or hypocritical expressions of them. The inward triumph of the Apostle Paul seems more suited to our dispensation1: and that it is both the privilege and duty of every one of us to enjoy.]