drink indeedV Here the command is as universal, as, before, the prohibition was. Need we to explain this to any of you ? We would hope, there are few so ignorant as not to know what was designed by our blessed Lord : he meant, that, as he was about to give himself as an ofFering and a sacrifice for sin, we must all believe in him as the only Saviour of the world, and apply to ourselves all the benefits of his atonement.
But lest this injunction of his should be forgotten, he actually instituted an ordinance, wherein he appointed wine to be drunk in remembrance of his blood, and expressly said of the cup, when he put it into the hands of his disciples, " This is my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins ; drink ye all of this1." And St. Paul explaining the reason of this ordinance, observes, that it was instituted in order that we might " shew forth the Lord's death, till he comem." Here then we see that the prohibition under the Old Testament, and the command under the New, have one and the same object : the prohibition was to call the attention of men to the death of the Messiah at his first advent ; and the command is, to keep up the remembrance of his death till his second advent. The ends of the prohibition are the same, whether we consider it as given, or as reversed : and the duty of every living creature is pointed out, that we must look unto the blood of our great Sacrifice as the only means of reconciliation with our offended Godn. In reference to that therefore we must say, " Be sure thou eat the blood : thou may est eat ; and thou shalt eat it, that it may go well with thee."]
As an improvement of this subject, we beg leave to add a few words of advice : 1 . Think not light of any sin — [The Jews might readily have said, " What need is there of being so particular about getting out all the blood ? the meat will be improved by retaining some of it ; and no injury will be done to any one." We read indeed on one occasion, that they acted upon this presumption : they had taken great spoils from the Philistines, and were so eager to get some re- freshment, that they overlooked in their haste the divine com- mand. But was this deemed a just excuse for their conduct? No : they were severely reproved for it ; and all the people were commanded to take their cattle to be slaughtered at a particular place, where the observance of this law might be scrutinized and secured0. Let not us then presume to set aside any of God's commands, however small they may appear, or whatever reasons we may have to extenuate the violation of
k John vi. 53 — 55. ' Matt. xxvi. 27, 28.
m 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26. n Col. i. 14,20. Heb.ix.22. Rom.iii.25.
0 1 Sam. xiv. 31— 34.