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of the meal was taken, heaved, and for a sin-offering; next, one bullock, waved with oil and frankincense; part two rams, and seven lambs, for a of it was burnt on the altar, together burnt-offering, and a kid of the goats with a lamb of the first year for a for a sin-offering; finally, two lambs burnt-offering, with two tenth deals for a peace-offering, the flesh of which of fine flour for a meat-offering, and was wholly sacred to the priests; a a fourth part of an hin of wine for a long with which, two loaves of leavendrink-offering; and after this, they ed bread of fine flour were presented might begin their harvest. Before at the altar. At this time also, they this feast began, not only was leaven presented their first-fruits in a soput from all their dwellings, but their lemn manner, and the silver trumhouses were often whitened. Did pets were blown over the burnt and this feast represent Jesus's state of peace-offerings. By the threefold debasement? his week of life, fulfilled in sanctity, sorrow, and suffering? and our constant living on him as the incorrupted nourishment of our soul; carefully avoiding the leaven of malice, hypocrisy, error, and corrupt practices? Was not the first period of the gospel-church a time of solemn convocation to Christ? and shall not the millenial period be more so? Did not Jesus, the corn of wheat, once die for our offences, and on the second day of unleavened bread, rise, for our justification, as the first fruits, that he might sanctify his people, and introduce the harvest period of the gathering of multitudes to himself, by means of the gospel? Exod. xii. and xiii. Lev. xxiii. 6—14. Numb. ix. 9— 14. and xxviii. 17—25. Deut. xvi. 1—|| 7. Josh. 5. 2 Chron. xxx. and xxxv.

burnt-offering, they acknowledged God their sovereign, and the proprietor of their country, in whose sight their sins needed much atonement. By the two sin-offerings, they confessed their guilt, and implored his pardon; by their peace-offering, loaves, and first fruits, they confessed his goodness, and begged his blessing on 'their increase. Did this prefigure the plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, and the marvellous spread of the gospel, and the discovery of the nature and vir tue of Christ's death, that should follow thereon? Did it portend, how pientifully the first fruits of the Gentiles should then, with great humility and thankfulness, give themselves, and all they had, to the service of Christ? Is it not observable, that as on the day of Pentecost, God gave the law from Sinai; so on that very day, the gospel-law began remarkably to come out of Zion; Lev. xxiii. 9—21. Numb. xxviii. 26-31. Deut. xxvi. 1

6. To render thanks to God for the quiet possession of Canaan, and for the mercies of the finished harvest; to commeinorate the giving of the law from Sinai; and to prefigure the descent of the Holy Ghost on the-11. Acts ii. Apostles, the Jews observed the feast of PENTECOST, on the 50th day after the second of the feast of unleavened bread; which being a week of weeks, or forty nine days, occasioned its being called the FEAST OF WEEKS. No servile work was done thereon; but they offered one he-lamb for a burntoffering, with a double meat-offering, next, two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs, for a burnt offering, with their respective meat-offering, and drink-offering, and a kid of the goats

7. When the Hebrews had ended their vintage, they observed the feast of TRUMPETS, on the same day with that of the new-moon of the seventh sacred month, and which was the first day of their civil year. It seems to have happened in our September.→→ The design of it was, to commemorate the creation of all things; to give thanks for the mercies of the finished year; to sanctify the commencing civil year, to prepare the people for the great day of expiation. "On it, there

was an holy convocation of the people ||vation, the people drew water out of to hear the law of God, and an entire the pool of Siloam, and the priests cessation from labour: besides the poured it forth mingled with wine, at daily and new-moon offering, one bul- the bottom of the brazen altar. It was lock, one ram, and seven lambs, were the design of this solemnity, to comoffered for a burnt offering, with their || memorate the Hebrews dwelling in respective meat offering and drink-tents in the wilderness; to represent offering, and a kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and from morning to night were the silver trumpets, if not also other trumpets of horn, blown over the burnt-offerings. Did this prefigure the beginning or whole of the gospel-period, wherein Jesus, as the great atonement, is preached andness? constantly exhibited; men rest from Jewish ceremonies, and Heathenish and other wicked courses, and are blessed with the distinguished knowledge of God? Numb. xxix. 1-6. and x. 10.

the fertility of Canaan, and to praise the Lord for it. And did it prefigure Jesus tabernacling in our nature, and gradually putting away sin, by the sacrifice of himself, and then rising again on the eighth or third day, and ascending to everlasting rest and glad

Did it prefigure the happy, though unfixed, state of the gospel church, in consequence of his expiation of our sins? How the nations were gathered to Shiloh, received the Holy Ghost, rested from ancient ceremonies, and sinful and legal labours; and with joy received instruction in the knowledge of God; and after the opening of seven seals, of the manifold purposes of God, shall by virtue of Christ's resurrection on the eighth day, at last enter into the complete joy of the heavenly state? The gospelsolemnities of hearing the word, and of administration of sacraments, are called the feast of tabernacles, as they suit the unfixed state of the church, and are proper seasons of much spiritual gladness, Lev. xxiii. 33-43. Numb. xxix. 12-28. Deut. xvi. 13 -15. Zech. xiv. 16-19.

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8. Passing the FAST of expiation on the tenth day of this seventh month, as it has been already noticed, the feast of TABERNACLES began on the 15th day, and continued eight days; and on the first, and eighth, there was a solemn convocation, on which no servile work was allowed. On the first they cut down branches of palmtrees, willows, and such others as had plenty of leaves, and with these erected booths for themselves to dwell in during the feast. They also carried small bundies of beautiful branches, to the temple or synagogue, waving them towards the four winds and cry- 9. The seventh year, or year of ing HOSANNA. On this day, they of- RELEASE, was a continued festival; a fered 13 bullocks, two rams, and 14 season of spiritual instruction; a relambs for a burnt-offering with their lief to poor debtors; a monitor to respective meat-offering and drink-of-teach the Hebrews, that their land was fering, and one kid for a sin offering. the Lord's property; and his proviThis oblation was repeated, during dence, not its fruitful soil, their secu the first seven days, except that therity for provision. It began with the number of the bullocks was daily di- 7th sacred month: the land lay untilminished by one. On the eighth day, led; the spontaneous growth was the which they reckoned the principal, property of the poor, the fatherless, and they offered one bullock, one ram, and widow: the people spent their time seven lambs, for a burnt-offering, within reading and hearing the law of the their respective meat offering, and Lord: every debt owing by an Hebrew drink-offering, and one kid for a sin- was forborne, if not forgiven. On offering. With singing, Ye shall with any seventh year, a Hebrew bond-serjoy draw water out of the wells of sal-vant who had served six years, was

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licity, when the times of rest and refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and we shall obtain the heavenly bliss long forfeited by sin? Lev. xxv. 8-55.

At three of these feasts, viz. the passover, Pentecost, and the feast of tabernacles, all the Hebrew males capable of travel were to attend, with gifts to their God; nor did ever the enemy then invade their land, till the wickedness of the Jews was great, or the feasts no longer binding: as when Titus laid siege to Jerusalem.

dismissed free, if he pleased, with a || variety of compliments from his masDid this typify our acceptable year of gospel-release? Jesus having finished his course of bond-service, is dismissed from under the law, and hath received gifts for men. What spiritual rest and instruction! what forgiveness of sin! what blessings spontaneously flowing from the love of God are exhibited and given to us poor sinners of the Gentiles!-And when we have finished our course of hard service on earth, with what solemnity shall we be dismissed into the ever-ny of these feasts were in the beginlasting joy of our Lord! Lev. xxv. 2 ning of the month, or in the beginning -7. Deut. xv. 1—18. Isa. lxi. 1-3. of their sacred or civil year: does and Ixiii. 4. not this teach us, that all our holiness and happiness must be founded on our feasting by faith on the atonement and fulness of Jesus?

10. The JUBILEE was every 49th or 50th year. It commenced on the very day of the FAST of expiation. It was proclaimed with the sound of rams horns. No servile work was done on it: the land lay untilled: what grew of itself belonged to the poor and needy: whatever debt the Hebrews owed to one another was wholly remitted: hired as well as bond-servants, of the Hebrew race, obtained their liberty: inheritances reverted to their original proprietors; and so, as the jubilee approached, the Hebrew lands bore the less price. By this means, their possessions were kept fixed to particular families, and their genealogies kept clear; and sinful hasting to be rich was discouraged. And, did it not prefigure the happy period of the gospel-dispensation, founded on the death and resurrection of Christ; when, on the preaching of the gospel by weak instruments, the sinners of mankind, especially of the Gentiles, had their sins forgiven, shared of freedom and rest from legal ceremonies, and the slavery of sin; and the Heathens returned to the church, from which they had been long almost excluded? Was it not an emblem of our spiritual rest, freedom, forgiveness, and wealth, in our new-covenant state? Was it not a figure of our eternal feVOL. I.

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About A. M. 3840, Judas Maccabeus instituted the FEAST of dedication, to commemorate the recovery of the temple from the Syro-Grecians, the purging it of idols, and other abominations, and the careful reparation, and dedication of it to the service of God. It was in the winter, beginning on the 25th day of Chisleu, which answers to part of our December, and lasted eight days. These were spent in civil joy and gladness. To commemorate their restored prosperity, lamps were lighted in every family; sometimes one for every man; sometimes one for every person, man, or woman: and some added a lamp every day, for every person in their house. Thus, if the family consisted of ten persons, 10 lamps were lighted the first day, 20 the second, and so on to 80 on the eighth day. This feast was observed in other places, as well as at Jerusalem, John x. 22. Esther and Mordecai appointed the FEAST of PUR, PURIM, or lots, to commemorate the Jews' deliverance from the universal massacre which Haman had by lot determined against them. On the 13th day of the month Adar, which partly answers to our Februa ry, the Jews observe a strict fast, eat, -3 S

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