Numbers 29

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIX.—In these numerous and complex oblations, and their often repeated occasions, I remark the insufficiency of the Jewish ceremonies. Yet I cannot but behold and admire the one oblation of the Redeemer himself, so fully satisfying to justice, expiating sin, procuring peace, and purchasing life and comfort, for every believer. In virtue and usefulness so answerable to, but in glory so infinitely transcending, them all,—But while I travel through such groups of typical feasts and oblations, let me, illuminated by gospel light, stop to behold in them the blessed new covenant of grace; let me view it in its gracious origin, glorious parties, wonderful construction, important parts, condition and promise; its wise, effectual, and infinitely useful administration, and its delightful properties; as all my salvation and all my desire! Here let me contemplate Jesus in his savoury and saving names, his wonderful natures, his glorious person as God-man, his endearing excellencies and qualifications, his saving offices of Mediator, Saviour, Redeemer, Prophet, Priest, and King, and his heart-captivating relations to God and men; let me consider his infinitely diversified, but necessary, states of humiliation and exaltation, his delightful labours of love in undertaking for us, assuming our nature, obeying and suffering in our stead, rising from the dead, ascending to glory, appearing in the presence of God as our advocate, and returning to judge the world, to complete and carry to the highest our eternal salvation; while I admire all his fulness, natural or communicative, as lodged in him for sinful men. Let me behold the ten commandments as a broken covenant of works fulfilled, magnified, and made honourable for me, in having the Lawgiver himself, its obedient subject, fulfilling at once both its precept and penalty in the highest degree, and in the most disadvantageous circumstances, amidst poverty, reproach, distress, persecution by men, temptation and harassment by devils, and under an infinite load of sins imputed, curses of God fixed, and wrath inflicted on him.—Thus all my sins, all the sins of an elect world, were transferred on the Son of God, satisfied for by him, removed from him and from us, in our respective justification, destroyed in us by sanctification, marvellously improved by Providence for our good, and their fruits shall be finally and perfectly abolished in our glorification. Thus a great and everlasting salvation was effected for sinful men,—for ME,—devised in God’s ancient counsel of peace, purchased with the blood of his Son, freely offered in the gospel, powerfully applied by the Holy Ghost, and in time and eternity is enjoyed in full right of marriage, law, and sonship, and in the most delightful possession. Thus the spirituality, self-existence, infinity, eternity, unchangeableness, independency, sovereignty, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth, of the most High, the great JEHOVAH, are vindicated from all reproach, all the injury done to them by sin is fully resented, and themselves glorified to the highest; and in consequence hereof they all appear smiling and breathing forth unbounded love and mercy to sinful men,—to sinful me. Thus a redeeming Godhead in all his persons, perfections, purposes, works, fulness, and property, is offered to bestowed on, enjoyed, and to be for ever enjoyed, by rebellious men, by rebellious me, as my ALL and in ALL.—Let me then observe that my whole life whether I fast, or whether I feast, whether I weep, or whether I rejoice, ought to be a life of faith on the Son of God, who loved me, and thus gave himself for me; and that, while I study to have as many solemn feasts on his death as I can, I ought never, morning or evening, to neglect the daily service of God in my closet and my family. 3