On the former of those days, that I mean on which the Israelites came out of their graves in Egypt, (which was the first-fruits of their deliverance, as the wave-sheaf was of the barley harvest,) Christ rose from the dead, and rose, not as an individual, but "as the first-fruits of them that sleptf;" and has thereby assured to us the resurrection of all his people to a life of immortality and glory g.
On the latter of those days, namely, the fiftieth day, on which the law was given, (which, like the first-fruits of the wheat harvest, was the pledge and earnest of those mercies which they were afterwards to enjoy under the immediate government of God,) on that day, I say, the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Apostles11, who then "received the first-fruits of the Spirit1." As on that day God had proclaimed his law, so on that day he promulged his Gospel ; and gathered to himself three thousand souls, who were the first-fruits of that glorious har- vestk, which shall in due time be reaped, when " all shall know the Lord from the least even to the greatest," and " all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ."
In these views the feasts of which we are speaking become exceedingly important. It is true, they were but shadows, and very obscure shadows too : but to us who have the sub- stance, and on whom " the true light shine th," they are worthy of most attentive consideration ; as being the first rude drafts or models of that glorious edifice which we inhabit.]
But these feasts are of further use to us, as, III. Instructive —
[There is not any thing which we are more interested to know than our obligations to God, and our consequent duty towards him: yet these are clearly and strongly represented to us in the ordinances before us.
Behold our obligations to God. In each of these feasts the first-fruits were " waved" before God1, in token that every earthly blessing was derived from him. This was done in the name of the ivholc congregation ; so that, whatever diligence or skill any had used in the cultivation of their land, they did not arrogate any thing to themselves, but gave glory to Him " from whom alone proceeds every good and perfect gift." Happy would it be for us, if we also learned this lesson, so as to have our minds duly impressed with the goodness of our God! ]
t 1 Cor. xv. 20. e 1 Cor. xv. 21—23.
h Acts ii. 1. " Pentecost" means the fiftieth day; for which, it is evident, the communication of this blessing was reserved : and it was communicated when that day " was fully come."
1 Rom. viii. 23. k Rev. xiv. 4. l ver. 11, 17.