sense, in consequence of its having actual respect to God, and tending to conciliate his favour, unless sacrifices properly so called had the same relation and tendency. Moreover, as the sacrifice of Christ belongs to the class of piacular sacrifices, it must also be maintained in the second place, that it had respect to God in such a way as that its design was to procure from him the remission of sins: which was evidently the proper end and design of every piacular victim, whether sin offering or trespass offering. The last point is, that every one, in treating of the sacrifice of our Lord, ought to consider his death as designed to be a vicarious punishment: a sentiment enforced by the design of an expiatory victim and by the express representation of the scriptures. The last two points, in which the first is also included, were maintained as other writers have sufficiently shown by the common consent of all the early Christians; and have been embraced with a firm and constant faith by the universal church. XIII. Concerning the kingdom* given to Christ as Mediator (between which and his priesthood, as explained by us, Crellius thinks there can be no connection or agreement) we hold the following opinion.-That Christ can do all things that he will; but that he wills nothing which is not also agreeable to God, and that he wills every thing that is agreeable to him. That it is highly pleasing to God, as tending to illustrate * Let it be observed that in all the remarks we have made concerning the kingdom of Christ, we mean, not that natural kingdom which belongs to the Eternal Word; but that which the scripture declares to have been given to Christ as Mediator, on account of his perfect obedience to God in all things, especially in his voluntary death; and which is at length to be “delivered up to God, even the Father." Philip, ii. 8---11. I Cor. xv. 24. and magnify that honour which he would have to be peculiarly his own, that Jesus Christ whom he has constituted the Mediator* on behalf of men with him, as well as on his part with men, should not only teach his people truths, regulate them by laws, succour them with the aids of his Spirit, and raise them to eternal life, but also, as their patron or advocate, commend them to him. Not that God vacates the throne of his majesty,† or has committed the kingdom to Christ as Mediator, so as to abdicate it himself, or put himself in subjection to Christ: that if this were the case no prayers could be duly offered, except to Christ as Mediator; and the contrary must have been erroneously practised by the apostles and the universal church. That Christ is constituted the judge of all, that he now administers all things, but according to the will of God. That it cannot be, that he "in whom we live and move and have our be"ing," who is omnipresent and omniscient, should have no will or thought about things relating to us, but should consider himself as having no business with them; that he should have committed all things to the administration of Jesus Christ, so as to determine nothing himself respecting our affairs, but to be altogether careless about them. That therefore the will of God relates to us men as well as to all other things, and that Christ as our high priest is chiefly desirous and concerned that the will of God may be favourable and propitious towards us, and that with this view he commends both our persons and services to the divine regard. That in this principally consists that advocacy of Christ which is denominated his in ITim. M. 5. Heb. i. 3. xii. 2. + I Cor. xv. 27. tercession. And lastly, that these things prove the existence of an intimate connection between the regal and sacerdotal offices of Christ, and that neither of them is at all incompatible with the other. INDEX OF THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS. The large numeral Letters indicate the Dissertation; the small Letters, A. Aaron, consecration of him and his sons to the priesthood, by ablution, Abel's oblation, I. i. 3-6. Adjuration, forms of, among the Jews, I. xii. 9. Allar of incense, I. ii. 2.-of sacrifice, or great altar, I. viii. 1. xv. 3.- Animals, what species appointed for sacrifices by the law of Moses, I. ix. 1. Atonement by piacular victims, I. xxii.-by the death of Christ, II. vi. B. Birds, what species appointed for sacrifices, I. ix, 1.-to be slain by the C. -a Christ-typified by all the Jewish Sacrifices, I. i. 10. xviii. 5.—more emi- Congregation-Sacrifices of the whole congregation of Israel, some occa- D. Damage done to a neighbour, what compensation required for it by the Drink Offerings, I. viii. 4. |