the sins which rendered a Saviour necessary ; but a pledo-e that such a Saviour as they needed should in due time be sent them.]
3. To direct their eyes to that Great Sacrifice that should in due time be offered —
[In every sacrifice which was offered, they saw the Lord Jesus Christ exhibited before them : and were reminded, that in due time he should " come to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself" They were informed, that there was to arise from the loins of Abraham, *' a Seed, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed." The Prophets Isaiah and Daniel had fully described the way in which the promised seed should effect the work assigned him : that he should " be cut off, but not for himself;" that he should be " wounded for our transgressions, and be bruised for our iniquities^;" that he should " make his soul an offering for sin ; and that in this way he should " finish transgression, and make an end of sin, and bring in an everlasting righteousness," by which all the sinners of mankind, who should believe in him, should be *' justified." Now, all this was set before them ; and was seen by them, with more or less distinctness, according to the faith they had in exercise : and in every sacrifice which, from year to year, was offered, they saw an herald sent, and heard his proclamation, " Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world ! "]
That we may bring the matter more home to our- selves, let us consider,
II. What good may be expected from stated remem- brances of sins amongst us —
It is granted, that nothing equivalent to the Mosaic ordinances is required of us. Yet, if we were to appoint stated seasons for ourselves — seasons for reviewing our past lives, and for special humiliation of our souls before God — I am persuaded we should find it highly conducive to our spiritual welfare. Such seasons would be useful,
1. For the deepening of our repentance —
[We are apt to lose, very speedily, the convictions which sin has fastened upon our mind. At first, perhaps, they are pungent, and cause considerable anguish; but in a little time the impression wears away, and we almost forget that we have
^ Isai. liii. 5,6, 11. Dan. ix. 24.