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people? "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you" (John xiv. 27), "that in me ye might have peace." (John xvi. 33.) And where is that peace felt and enjoyed, but in the inner man, which is, as it were, altogether absorbed and consumed by the fervent desire that is inwardly cherished for Christ and his salvation? And when it comes, and is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, is it not the peace of God which passeth all understanding? Such is the efficacy of that blood of sprinkling, which all true believers in Christ enjoy. (Heb. xii. 22—24.)

Now, let us ask, have we this peace; have we come to this blessedness? Perhaps not. You are strangers to this mercy; you are burdened with guilt; or you are bowed down with fear. Possibly you desire the blessing; but you have it not. May we tell you why? Have you laid the hand of faith upon the head of Christ as your burnt offering, saying, That is mine; that is offered for me; that is the redemption of my soul? Have you laid the hand of faith upon Christ as your peace, saying, He is my peace; he made peace by the blood of his cross? Till you are brought to this point, you cannot have this blessing; till this be the case, you will be agitated in your mind like the troubled sea when it cannot rest; nor will you find relief to your soul till you come to Christ for life and salvation. (Matt. xi. 28-30.)

CHAPTER IV.

1 The sin offering of ignorance, 3 for the priest, 13 for the congregation, 22 for the ruler, 27 for any of the people.

ND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:

3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.

4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.

5 And the priest that is anointed shall take

of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:

6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.

7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,

10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.

11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,

12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forthwithout the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: 2 where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

13 ¶ And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;

14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.

15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.

16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:

17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail.

18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood

at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

19 And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.

20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.

22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;

23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:

24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD it is a sin offering.

25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.

26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

27 ¶ And if 3 any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;

28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.

31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an

atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.

34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:

35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

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THE three first chapters of this book evidently relate to essential points in the Jewish typical worship. They set forth some of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel under the typical use of the burnt offering, the meat offering, and peace offering; which denote the redemption, the life, and the peace and comfort of the soul in and through the faith of Christ.

But these truths must be extensively applied. They are not only necessary at first, but needful constantly from day to day. Amidst the various circumstances of the sinner's case, and the several conditions of the believer's life, there will be perpetual need of using or referring for renewed application to these grand provisions of the gospel. Such is the extended use, such the diversified application set forth in the chapter now before us.

Here is the case of a soul sinning through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord, concerning things which ought not to be done, and doing against any of them. Every such soul required the atoning sacrifice. If a priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; if the whole congregation sin through ignorance; if a ruler have sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the com

mandments of the Lord his God; if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, and be guilty; in all these cases the offering for sin must be made by and for them all. The hand must be laid on the head of the animal; the victim must die; the blood must be sprinkled; and the sacrifice consumed by fire. What do all these things denote as thus stated throughout this chapter?

The evil of sin. Sin is a deadly, destroying thing; it is an offence against the Majesty of heaven; and, therefore, ruinous to the soul. One sin can destroy the soul. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezek. xviii. 4.) That sin nothing can atone, nothing can pardon, nothing can put away, but the precious sacrifice and blood of Christ.

The universality of sin. The cases here enumerated are not casual, but certain; they anticipate not merely what possibly might be, but what would certainly happen. All are sinners. The priest that is anointed is a sinner. The whole congregation are sinners. The ruler that governs them is a sinner. The common people are sinners. All are sinners without exception, from the least to the greatest. Nay, every mouth is stopped; and

word of God given? Why are they ignorant of his will? Are we not commanded to "search the Scriptures," and to "hear that we may live?" Away, then, with these excuses. It is a sin to be ignorant of God's will. Every thing done contrary to that will, though in ignorance, is sin also. Would the man that took away the life of another be excused his offence, if he were to stand up and say, I did not know I should be liable to be put to death for so doing? Would that excuse deliver him from the penalty of the law?

Who, then, has not need of the Saviour? Who can reckon up all his offences; all that he has done in ignorance, as well as committed in every other way? Oh, the precious blood of Christ! Blessed be God for that offering! Who has not cause to pray, From all my sins of ignorance, and all my other sins, O Lord, I beseech thee, to deliver me?

CHAPTER V.

1 He that sinneth in concealing his knowledge, 2 in touching an unclean thing, 4 or in making an oath. 6 His trespass offering, of the flock, 7 of fowls, 11 or of flour. 14 The trespass offering in sacrilege, 17 and in sins of ignorance.

AND if a soul sin, and hear the voice of

all the world is guilty before God. (Rom. ii. A swearing, and is a witness, whether he

19.) Do not all, then, need the atoning sacrifice of Christ? Do not all stand in need of pardon, mercy, and forgiveness? The priest, the people, the ruler, must they not all come to Christ for that pardon and mercy, if ever they be forgiven?

The particular kind of sin here specified. This whole chapter relates to sins of ignorance, whether committed by priest, congregation, ruler, or by the common people. These are sins committed against any of the commandments of the Lord from not knowing what those commandments of the Lord are, what they forbid, or what they enjoin. Now, many people think little or nothing of such sins. That which the word of God here condemns, they consider as their excuse. They are ready to say, We did not know any better! We were not aware that such things were forbidden; and that others were commanded to be done; and, therefore, they hope that God will be merciful, and that they need not fear! Such are some of the vain excuses of men.

But why do not men know? Is there no

hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. 3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man. whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:

6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid. of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he

hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

8 And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:

9 And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.

10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.

11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.

12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering.

13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

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19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

(1) Heb. his hand cannot reach to the sufficiency of a lamb.
(2) Or, ordinance.

WE have seen the commencement of the application of the three great typical institutions of the law; namely, the burnt offering, the meat offering, and the peace offering. The cases enumerated in the last chapter, included sins committed in ignorance by a soul, a priest, the whole congregation, a ruler, or by the common people; all being guilty, they would all require atonement, mercy, pardon, peace, through the blood of Christ.

We have now cases of a different kind described; yet all in the same condition, and all requiring the same atonement. The instances supposed in this chapter are such as these: If a soul sin and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity (v. 1). This is conniving at the sin of others; seeing others sin, or hearing of the sins of others, and taking no notice of them; winking at their sin, or hiding their sin, or thinking their sin of no consequence. This is one particular. Another case is that of persons who are contaminated by the bad principles and wicked practices of others. This is set forth under various sorts of ceremonial uncleanness (v. 2, 3). These persons do not rush headlong all at once into these evil ways, but are drawn on gradually, step by step, not seeing the evil at first, till they are entangled and overcome. They, too, are guilty. A third case supposed is, that of a man who profanes his words by oaths, pronouncing with his lips to do good or evil; he swears almost in every thing he says; he cannot speak without an oath; he is a common swearer; whether it be right or wrong, good or bad, which he utters, he cannot speak of either, with intent to perform, without an oath. In this case, too, it may be hid from him; that is, such swearing may be so common with others, or he may be so habituated to it himself, that he hardly knows when he swears, or whether there is any harm in the practice when he does so (v. 4). Still he is guilty. He is either a thoughtless and inconsiderate, or a hardened and profane swearer. He is a sinner.

Besides these three instances, there are two other cases named in this chapter. One is, that of a person committing a trespass and sin through ignorance, in any of the holy things of the Lord (v. 15). The other is, that of a person committing any of those things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord (v. 17). These, too, are guilty; though they knew it not, they are guilty, and shall bear their iniquity. All these supposed particulars regard the atonement, mercy, and forgiveness, typically set forth by the several sacrifices here enjoined.

against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in 1 fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;

3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:

4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass

Does not this chapter convey a loud lesson to us all? May we not here see, that God's commands are exceeding broad? Is it not a very common case, for one person to wink at the sins of another? contaminated by the wicked maxims and ways with which they are surrounded? Do not many delight to draw others into sin? Is not swearing a very common crime? Are not many so accustomed to this sin, that they swear almost at every word they speak? Whether the thing they utter be right or wrong, true or false, how frequently does a horrid oath stamp their words with a foul enormity! And how many sins are committed in holy things! Does not sin mix with all our duties and all our performances? We may not always think so, indeed; but does not God see and mark the offence? Besides, how often have we openly or secretly done the things which the Lord hath forbidden? Are not, then, all guilty? Are not all condemned? Do not all need the atoning blood of Christ? Have not all certainly trespassed against the Lord? Come, then, to Christ for mercy. He is the true sin offering, the trespass offering, the burnt offering; his blood cleanseth from all sin; believing in him, all your sins and all your offences shall be forgiven; but if you reject his atoning blood, you must bear your iniquity, and perish for

offering. Are not numbers

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34

6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:

7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

5

9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.

10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.

burning in it; it shall not be put out: and 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.

13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

14 And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.

15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is

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