This fact then being undeniable, that " God has given us the blood as an atonement for the soul," we proceed to,
II. Consider the prohibition as founded on it —
Scarcely is such energy to be found in any other prohibition throughout the whole Scriptures, as in that before us. And how is it to be accounted for ? What is there in the fact alleged that can justify such tremendous menaces as are annexed to this injunc- tion ? I answer, The prohibition was most salutary for them, as tending,
1. To excite in them reverence for their sacrifices —
[The Jews saw continually the same animals slaughtered for their own use as were slain for sacrifice : and, if no restraint had been imposed upon them in relation to the blood, they
h Lev. v. 11. • Isai. liii. 5, 10. k Matt. xxvi. 28.
i Col. i. 14, 20. m Rev. i. 5. n Rev. vii. 14.
0 Rev. xii. 11. i' Rom. v. 9. <J Rev. v. 9. VOL. I. T T
would soon have lost their reverence for the sacrifice altoge- ther. Even the daily repetition of the same sacrifices had of itself a tendency to familiarize their minds with the offerings, and to weaken the reverence which a more sparing use of them might have generated. But when they were so strictly charged to abstain from the use of the blood themselves, and saw the blood of the sacrifices consecrated exclusively to the Lord, they could scarcely fail to reverence the blood, and conse- quently to reverence those ordinances in which the welfare of their souls was so deeply concerned.]
2. To bring continually to their remembrance the
way of salvation —
[With the prohibition was communicated the reason of it, namely, that the blood was the life, and was given as an atone- ment for their souls. Now we are but too prone to forget the concerns of our souls : the mind naturally revolts from them, and puts the consideration of them far away. But this ordi- nance brought continually to their recollection, that they were sinners, needing an atonement ; and that they were to be saved only through the intervention of a vicarious sacrifice. Of what incalculable value was the prohibition in this point of view! Not a day, or scarcely an hour, could pass, but they were reminded of these most essential articles of their faith, and taught how alone they were to obtain favour in the sight of God. Various other ordinances were appointed of God for reminding them of the way in which they should serve him; but here one was instituted for bringing constantly to their remembrance the way in which they were to be saved by him.']
3. To direct their attention to the great sacrifice — [All the more intelligent and pious among the Jews saw
that their sacrifices shadowed forth some sacrifice that was of infinitely greater value. It is true, their notions respecting Christ's sacrifice were not distinct: yet they could not but see that the blood of bulls and of goats was insufficient to take away sin; and that consequently they must look forward to some other atonement which these typical sacrifices prefigured. To these views they would be further led by the prophecies which represented Christ as bearing on himself, and taking away from us, the iniquities of us all. And even at this hour, I conceive that the prohibition, which is strictly observed by every reli- gious Jew, is well calculated to lead the minds of the Jewish nation to the contemplation of their Messiah, and to the acknowledgment of Jesus in that character.]
From the foregoing subject then we may see, 1. How plain is the way of salvation!
THE PROHIBITION TO EAT BLOOD. GiS
134.]
[A Jew who had any reflection at all, could not be igno- rant that he must be saved by blood, by blood shed in a way of atonement for his sins. He would not dream that he was to make an atonement by his own tears, or alms-deeds, or obser- vances of any kind. Every sacrifice which he saw offered, yea, and every meal which he made on the flesh of animals, would remind him, that his soul could be saved by nothing but an atonement made for sin. Yet, strange as it must appear, Christians without number are ignorant of this fundamental article of our religion, and have no better hope towards God than that which is founded on their own repentances and reformations. Alas! that any who have the Christian Scrip- tures in their hands should be thus ignorant! and yet thus it is even with many who in other respects are well instructed and intelligent. But know ye assuredly, that there is but one way of salvation either for Jews or Gentiles; and that, the shadowy sacrifices having all passed away, " Christ is now set forth as a propitiation for sin through faith in his blood," and that he is "a propitiation, not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world."]