Read Ebook: The Sacrifice of Life Slain by the Twenty-nine Instruments of Death Being the Substance of a Sermon Preached on Sunday Morning Nov. 28 1813 at the Obelisk Chapel by Church J John

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BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF A

SERMON,

Preached on SUNDAY MORNING, Nov. 28, 1813,

At the Obelisk Chapel.

"CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US."

"WE ARE VERILY GUILTY CONCERNING OUR BROTHER'S BLOOD."

LONDON,

A SERMON.

THE grand design of God the Father and the eternal Spirit, from all eternity, was to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in our nature; for this purpose he was set up from everlasting, to be future Man and Mediator; to obey the law his people had violated, and endure the curse which they had merited--to make intercession for the transgressors, to represent his chosen, and to communicate all spiritual blessings to them, as they severally need. This is the scripture representation of the adorable Mediator and his Work. This subject is sometimes set forth in express terms; at others by striking imagery, which infinite wisdom appears to delight to use to make his dear people acquainted with his will. Very often this grand theme is depicted by illustrious persons and sacred things; this may be particularly seen in the instance of that sacred edifice, the Temple, with all its appurtenances, which was modelled according to the plan shewed to David, and executed by Solomon. Every rite and ceremony, every utensil, however apparently insignificant, was calculated to lead the mind of an elect converted, intelligent Jew, to the contemplation of the glorious Person and Work of the adorable Saviour; so that from the person and qualifications of the High Priest, down to the bells upon his robes, the believer could view his lovely Redeemer, appearing in our nature, with the priestly robes of his righteousness, intercession and salvation, while the joyful sound of gospel truth, and the glorious fruits produced was as evident. The very Temple itself we are assured was a figure of that glorious temple of the human nature of Jesus, the joint concern of the ever-blessed Trinity in Unity; while every consecrated vessel in it, from the cups to the flagons, the golden altar to the snuffers, and the sacrifices to the knives which slew them, were all symbolical of those truths which were more clearly revealed in the New Testament.

He shines in the sun, refreshes in the breeze, Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees.

For my own part, I consider it an indulgence afforded to a spiritual man, that he is able to view his dear Saviour in every part of the sacred writings. What an entertainment to precious faith! and how sweetly can that soul hold communion with her God, while thousands of singular passages present the Lord Jesus to view--I call them singular, not dark, as there is no darkness in the Word, it is in us, not in God, or his Word.

I am sure I need make no apology for the singularity of my text; it is calculated to awaken attention--to lead into the glorious and affecting truths of the Gospel. Every part of the word of God is pure, of no private interpretation, and it must be allowed to be truly important. If this be granted, surely my text and its connexion, demand our most serious investigation. Before I immediately consider it, I shall make a quotation or two from some able writers, on the excellency of the figurative parts of God's word.

M'Ewen remarks, "As the sun paints the clouds with a variety of glowing colours, which in their own natures are but dark and lowering vapours, exhaled from the earth--so when the sun of righteousness arises, even the carnal ordinances and commandments of the law, dark and earthly as they seem, are gilded by his beams, and wear a shining appearance."

Mr. Brown says, "Christ Jesus being the subject and end of scripture revelation, we ought every where to search if we can find him."

But we have infallible authority for our guide, the Law having a shadow of good things to come. And is there any impropriety in viewing the knives spoken of in the text, as containing matters of real importance to the Church of God--and that by the daily use of these instruments upon our tables, our minds may at times be deeply affected with those instruments of death we carry about with us?--We shall just notice the text in its connexion, which will gradually open the design of the Holy Ghost, in condescending to notice these knives; and surely if it was worth the Spirit's notice, they must deserve our highest attention, let who will ridicule it.

The faithfulness of God was about to appear to his ancient people the Jews, in their return from the Babylonish Captivity--the 70 years determined were accomplished, and the Lord stirred up the spirit of the lovely Prince Cyrus, of whom Isaiah prophesied long before. This Prince made a proclamation throughout all his dominions, that the Israelites might depart to their own country, build an house to the God of Israel, and again inhabit their land. The King likewise encouraged them with wishing God to be with them; and then he kindly restored to them all the vessels of gold and silver which Nebuchadnezzar had impiously placed in the house of his god, the temple of Belus, at Babylon; these were commanded to be brought forth, and returned to the Jews, by the hand of the Treasurer, and committed to one of the trusty princes of Judah, Zerubbabel, called Sheshbazzar; it appears he had two names, one signifies he rejoiced in tribulation, the other, that he was a stranger in Babylon. The historian then relates what were put into his hands--Thirty chargers of gold and a thousand chargers of silver. These were vessels in which they gathered the blood of the sacrifices--and nine and twenty knives; probably their handles were gold and silver, as they were reckoned among the valuables, and were large knives which the priests used in slaying and cutting up the sacrifices. The chargers, which held the blood of the slain, most probably were typical of the word of truth, the writings of the Prophets and Apostles--likewise of Gospel Sermons, which are full of Christ our Passover, who was sacrificed--and which must be served by every faithful gospel minister to the Lord's family. Those chargers which held the blood also, as well as the meat, were typical of the Ordinances of the Gospel, especially of the Lord's Supper, wherein Christ Jesus is eminently set forth crucified. They may represent our faith, which receives the atonement and death of the Redeemer. In the Tabernacle there were but twelve, but in the Temple there were thirty golden and one thousand silver ones.--The knives are then mentioned among them; and as every utensil and instrument was figurative, those knives must have a figurative sense likewise. What will open this subject more clearly is a passage in Ezekiel xlth Chap. The Prophet had seen an amazing City and Temple, which doubtless referred to the Gospel Dispensation. The Prophet likewise saw the utensils and the knives which are spoken of in the text; and as the vision was intirely spiritual, we must look for the Gospel sense of the whole vision, and the knives among them.

We see, Secondly, The infinite love of the adorable Trinity--the amazing wisdom, and the astonishing pity and compassion of the covenant Three, in providing for our miseries, in a way surpassing all human thought, even by the Assumption of our Nature, appearing in flesh, as a sinner, and putting away sin by the sacrifice of himself--and it is the work of precious faith, upon every discovery of our vileness, misery, and guilt, to eye the adorable Mediator, as the gift of the Father's love, to heal our every woe.

"Sacrificing is a religious action, in which a creature devoted to God was in a solemn manner destroyed in his presence, for sacred ends; and it was a mode of worship that obtained in the most early ages of the world. It may not only be traced up to the famous aera of giving the law from Mount Sinai; for the ancient patriarchs did commonly practise it. How many altars were built by Abraham and his grandchild Jacob? Job offered sacrifices both for his children and for his friends; and God smelled a savour of rest, when Noah sacrificed clean beasts and birds on the altar which he built unto the Lord. But why mention these personages as the most ancient practisers of sacrificial worship, when it may be more than conjectured, that Adam himself did practise it? Can we think when Abel offered, up to the Lord the firstlings of his flock, that his father did not instruct him to testify in this manner his fear of the Lord? And what shall we say of the coats of skins which the Lord made for them, or directed them to make? The beasts to whom they belonged, cannot, so soon after the creation, be supposed to have died of age; they behoved therefore to be slain. How natural to suppose that they were slain in sacrifice, rather than for any other use? Perhaps it was not without a meaning, that the skins of these beasts should clothe their bodies, whose blood made atonement for their souls. To be short then, though we can by no means assent, that in the state of innocence, there would have been the least occasion for them, they seem, however, to be as ancient as the promise about the seed of the woman, who was to have his heel bruised, while he braised the serpent's bead."

"Let us here glance at some of the most glaring parallels only, betwixt the sacrifices of Moses and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ."

"And first, we may take notice of the qualities of the sacrificed creatures, especially of the animal kind. It was not left as a matter of indifference, and wholly in the option of God's peculiar people, with what victims they should stain his altars.--The integrity and perfection which God required in the bodies of these beasts may easily be accommodated to the glorious Antitype, who would have been wholly incapacitated, by any the smallest blemish, from the discharge of his priestly function. For though it became the typical nation of the Jews to have an high-priest involved in the same guilt of actual transgression with his brethren, who was therefore to offer first for his own sin, before he presumed to offer for the errors of the people; yet such an high-priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, Heb. vii. 26.--It is also worthy of notice, that of all those beasts the first-born was most acceptable, and according to the law, all such were holy unto the Lord. Was not this a prelude, that he whom God would give to expiate our transgression, should be the first born among many brethren, whom they should honor as the excellency of dignity, and to whom they should owe their deliverance from death, and title to inheritance?"

"From the qualities of the victims let us go on to the sacred rites of oblation, and we shall find something in our great Sacrifice corresponding to them all. When the creature that was to surrender its life for its owner was pitched upon, it was brought unto the priest, and solemnly sisted before the Lord. But our Lord Jesus was not brought by others, like the irrational animal, but he voluntarily presented himself before the Lord, when his time was fully come. Fully apprised of what was to be done unto him, he set his face to go up to Jerusalem, and patiently expected, in the melancholy garden, the coming of the traitor, and his band of armed men, to whom he was to deliver himself. The sacred animal being sisted before the Lord, was rendered ceremonially guilty, by the imposition of hands on its head, and by confessing over it the sins of the offerer. It was the Lord himself that laid on him the iniquities of us all. O Jesus! it is our guilt alone that can justify the Judge of all the earth in taking pleasure to bruise thee! And this doubtless was one great reason why he opened not his mouth, while the Roman governor wondered at his silence. It was this consideration that fortified his mind at the approach of his inconceivably bitter agonies, and held in his mouth, as with a bridle, when these astonishing words dropped from his lips, 'Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say?'--In the next place, the blood of the innocent animal, now made guilty by imputation, was shed, was poured out, and sprinkled around; for, 'without the shedding of blood was no remission of sin,' Heb. ix. 22. That it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul, is asserted by the God of Israel himself, who expressly assigns this reason of the strict prohibition given to his ancient people, 'No soul of you shall eat blood; neither shall any stranger that sojourns among you.' Lev. xvii. 12. It is easy to see how this prefigured the violent death of the Son of God, who poured out his soul unto death, and whose blood cleanses from all sin. The pulling off the skin from the butchered animals, dividing their bodies, and burning them with fire, are certainly intended to denote the exquisite torments he was to endure, when the assembly of the wicked inclosed him, and his heart was melted in the midst of his bowels like wax before the fire.--The towering of the smoke to heaven, which was sometimes perfumed with burning incense, signified how acceptable the sacrifice of Christ should be to God, and of what sweet smelling savour.--In the time of offering, prayers were offered up. And we know, that in the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers, tears, and strong cries, to him that was able to save him from death.--The blowing of trumpets, and praising God, in the time of the holy rites, with music vocal and instrumental, which was often practised, may no doubt, put us in mind of that praise, which waiteth for God in Zion, on account of purging away our transgression by himself, which would have prevailed for ever against us.--The carrying the blood of the victims into the holy place, the figure of the heavenly sanctuary, corresponds to the intercession of our High-Priest within the vail, where he appears as a lamb that has been slain."

"The altar, what was it? His cross, say some. Nay, it was rather his divine nature, which like the altar supported, and like the altar sanctified the gift. This the cross can scarce be said to do, which was but the instrument of man's cruelty, and a despicable piece of timber, which neither sanctified the body which it carried, nor received sanctification from it. Where then are they who address it with divine honours, and pay even to its picture that homage which is due to him alone, that expired in agonies on that shameful tree."

I might likewise here mention the most awful sins that the scriptures hold forth, which are to be found in the hearts of all mankind, and which the regenerate mind groans beneath, upon every discovery of them; it is the new man sighs when the old man works. In this we groan, being burthened, longing to get to glory, to enjoy these two following blessings,

There we shall see his face, And never, never sin.

'Twere you my sins, my cruel sins, That his tormentors were.

O that this affecting thought might have its proper effect on all our hearts, and produce in our minds that repentance which is a tear of love, dropping from the eye of faith, beholding Christ crucified for sin. I do not pretend to say the handles of the knives had any particular reference; but if any, may we not consider them as shewing how precious the same people were to the Saviour, whose sins put him to death; hence they are called the precious Sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold: these were reckoned among the valuables, the gold and silver vessels in the Temple.

FINIS.

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