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the spirit of God descending from heaven like a dove, and abiding upon Him; and was declared by John Baptist to be He who should baptise with the Holy Ghost. The purpose of God, in the first hour of the ministration of Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, being declared by His "witness" the "forerunner," John, to be peculiarly adapted to the wants of mankind, in the regeneration of the corrupted powers of the human heart. Whence the beloved Apostle says, that Christ" gives power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."* And thus, also, by divine authority, our blessed Saviour was inaugurated into the mysterious character of the Messiah, whom the prophetic writers had so long foretold.

In my next letter I wish to continue these observations.

I am, &c.

* John i. 12.

LETTER XIV.

ON THE TYPICAL NATURE OF THE LEVITICAL

PRIESTHOOD, AND THE VICARIOUS CHARACTER OF THE REDEEMER.

DEAR SIR,

181

LETTER XIV.

1824.

*

AMONG the variety of types and figures which had foreshown the office and sacrifice of our Redeemer, that of the Levitical priesthood, being the most prominent and continuous, is the best adapted to illustrate my subject. A few of the principal features of that type, I will consider for this purpose. "Adam and his sons, Noah and his descendants, Abraham and his posterity," offered sacrifices to God. Job also offered burnt offerings. The sacrifice of Jacob and his brethren is recorded.† The children of Israel besought Pharaoh to let them "go and do sacrifice to the Lord‡;" and after they had crossed the Red sea, Jethro the priest of Midian, " Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God." § When therefore, When therefore," in the third month," after their departure from Egypt, the Israelites came to Mount Sinai, and received the law, it is evident that the rite of sacrifice

* Job. i. 5.

Ex. iii. 18.

+ Gen. xxxi. 54.
Ex. xviii. 12.

was not instituted as a new rite, but as the adaptation of a well-known religious ceremony, to the occasion of a mutual covenant between God and His people. Thus, whilst the shedding of the blood of Christ was typified in, and through the first ages of the world, we have the foundation laid in that type, of the universal notion of a propitiatory sacrifice, which obtained among the heathen from Moloch to Pythia. The warp was set in the human mind, ready to be woven with celestial threads, but ignorance and pride supplied a woof of basest material, and wove a texture of bloody superstition. In the temple alone, the ceremonial of sacrifice would have been legally performed; but even there it was efficacious only to the purifying of the flesh *, and soon, through the darkness and corruptness of the heart, dwindled into an empty form!

"For the purpose of strict argument one clear instance is sufficient." A single type, ordained of God, acknowledged by the prophets, fulfilled by Christ, and applied by the Apostles, will give an incontrovertible instance of the design and manner of redemption. In this view the trial of Abraham's faith may be suggested. When that patriarch took his " only son" to offer him up unto God, the boy said, " Behold the fire and

*Heb. ix. 13.

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