and Death, and the atonement he made by the Sacrifice of himself. And there are many paffages in the New Teftament, especially in the Epiftle to the Hebrews, which will by this means be better understood. I have often thought the Book of Leviticus an excellent Comment on the Epiftle to the Hebrews. (3.) We may hence be farther convinced of the Divine Perfections. Of God's purity, who declares his hatred of Sin, by requiring piacular Sacrifices to make atonement, not thinking it fit it fhould go altogether unpunished. Befides, we may clearly fee the Divine Mercy; that God would accept any Sacrifice, is a great favour, and a greater ftill that he requires fuch as are not coftly and rare, and allows of a meaner Offering from the poor and indigent. I will not pursue this matter: Otherwife 'twere eafie to give farther inftances of the great usefulness of the knowledge of these things.

The nine first Chapters of this Book are generally spent on this Subject. We have an account of the Death of Nadab and Abihu for offering ftrange fire, ch. 10. Of the Beasts that were clean and unclean for food, ch. 11. The Law of Purification after Child-birth, ch. 12. And that concerning Leprofie, and cleanfing the Leper, ch. 13. 14. Of legal Impurities, and the cleanfing of them, ch. 15. And that of the day of expiation, and the fervice required thereupon, ch. 16. We have alfo a Law (difpenfed with afterwards) requiring the bloud of Beafts

ch. 20.

flain for food in the Wilderness, to be brought to the Tabernacle; And another forbidding the Eating of bloud, &c. ch. 17. And then follows the Law concerning unlawfull Marriages, ch.18. Many other Laws are repeated, ch. 19. And wicked Practices forbid and denounced against, We have also an account of the Mourning of the Priefts, of their Marriages, and the blemishes which hinder them from ministring in their Office, ch. 21. Which is ve ry inftructive to thofe of the Clergy, and may well awaken them to take the utmost care to be holy and exemplary, and to fhun what is a fault, or hath any appearance of Evil. Then follow Laws concerning Sacrifices and folemn and appointed Festivals, and many other particular Statutes and Precepts, ch. 22. 23, 24,25. And after these things the Bleffings of Obedience, and Mischiefs of Difobedience, are moft pathetically laid before the Ifraelites, ch. 26. And the Book ends with a Chapter concerning Vows, and devoted things, and fuch as were fet a-part to an holy use.

Here is enough in this Book to invite and engage, and highly entertain all thofe Men who are inquifitive into Theological Truths, and efpecially thofe which relate to the Priesthood of Christ, to his Death, and his Interceffion at God's right hand. Here is a Book fraught with va riety of excellent Precepts, and that is full of Symbols and Representations of better things

to come.

1.

NOTES

NOTES

ON THE

Book of LEVITICUS

CHAP. I.

The ARGUMENT.

Of the Holocauft, or whole Burnt-offering of the Herd. Of that of the Flock, viz. the Sheep or Goats. Of that of the Fowls, viz. of Turtle-doves or young Pigeons.

A

ND the LORD cal- 1
led unto Mofes, and
fpake unto him out of
the tabernacle of the

congregation, saying,
thereon, and the Glory of the Lord

of

2. Speak unto the children Ifrael, and fay unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattel, even of the berd, and of the flock.

UT of the tabernacle : Which Mo

OUT

fes was not able to enter into, becaufe the Cloud abode filled it, Exod.40. 35

2. An Offering: Or, Gift, according to the Greek, which rendring of theirs is confirmed, Mark 70 11. Matth. 5. 23. ch: 8.4

B

ch. 8. 4. The Hebrew word comes from a word that fignifies To draw near. Ye shall bring, &c. i. e. When you bring an Offering of the Cattel, it fhall be either of the Herd, or of the Flock.

3. If his offering be a burnt-facrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he fhall offer it of his own voluntary will, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.:

3. Burnt-facrifice: The Hebrew word implies Afcent. It was a Sacrifice that med, and wholly giwas intirely confuven to God. Neither

the Priest, nor Offerer, had any fhare of it, 1 Sam. 7. 9. and v. 9. of this Chapter. It is the principal Sacrifice, and is fitly mentioned firft, as being that which speaks the good Will of the Offerer, 2 Chron. 29. 31. and beft reprefents the intire and unreferved Devotion of the Worshippers of God, Rom. 12. 1. A male: Of the most perfect kind: This is required where the Burnt-offering is of the Cattel, but not when of Fowls. Without blemish: See Exod. 12. 5. Of his own voluntary will: Or, For his own acceptation, i.e. That he may be favourably accepted by God, v. 4. It is however very certain, That a whole Burnt-offering was a Sacrifice which a private perfon might offer of his voluntary Will, whereas a Sin and Trefpafs-offering could not be offered voluntarily, but then onely when they were commanded by the Law of Mofes. [See the General Argument of this Book] Before the LORD: i. e. Before that place where God more especially prefentiated himself. The Head of the Bullock (the Jews tell us) was directed, as well as the Face of the Offerer, toward the Holy of Holies, where God did ftill more efpecially dwell, Vid. Ch. 3. 1, 2. ch. 4.

4, 6.

4. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering: and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

5. And be fhall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests Aaron's fons fhall bring the

Put his hand:

See the Notes on Exod. 29. 10. Atonement: Or, Reconciliation.

5. He shall kill: The Prieft was not obliged to do it, as the Jews with good reafon

blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar, that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

reafon teach. By the door: Exod.40.29.

6. And he fhall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into his pieces.

7. And the fons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire.

7. And the fons of Aaron the priest: I hall here confider

the Offices that were peculiar to thePriefts, And that the ra

and lay them before the Reader at once. ther, because this matter is too commonly misunderstood. They were not obliged to kill the Beaft, v.5. And though they decided Controverfies, and fometimes expounded the Law, yet were not thefe things peculiarly the Office and Function of Priefts. Generally fpeaking, their Office and Holy Function confifted in two things: [I.] In bleffing the People, Numb. 6. 23. [II.] In miniftring in Holy Things, and performing Divine Offices. Them the Lord thy God bath chofen to minister unto him, and to blefs in the Name of the Lord, Deut. 21. 5. And elsewhere Aaron is faid to be feparated that he should fanctifie the most holy things, be and his fons for ever, to burn incenfe before the Lord, to minifter unto him, and to blefs in his name, 1 Chron. 23.16. A Prieft is, ftrictly speaking, the Peoples Advocate with God: And the Miniftry required of the Priefts, the Sons of Aaron, was various, viz. It generally related either to the Altar of Incenfe within the Veil, where they were obliged to offer up Incenfe, Numb. 18.7. or the Altar of Burntoffering without. And as to the latter, they were obliged to Sprinkle the Blood. (Levit. 1. 5. and ch. 4. 6.) To put Fire and Wood on the Altar (Levit. 1. 11. Numb. 18.3,7.) To burn the parts (Lev. 1. 8.) To remove the Ashes (Lev. 6. 10, 11.) And to offer the Memorial of the Meatoffering (Lev. 2. 2. ch. 6.15.) 'Twas their work also to light the Lamps (Num. 8. 2.) To blow the Trumpets (Num. 10.8.) and to judge of the Leprofie (Lev. 13.) Put fire: i. e. Shall order and difpofe the Fire which was never quite extinguished, ch. 6. 12, 13.

B 2

8. And