Exposition on the Seven Psalms of Repentance, Exposition 51 · Verse 19
Verſe. 19. Then ſhalt thou accept the ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe, euen the burnt offering and oblation: then ſhall they offer calues vponupon thine altar.
THis is the promiſe of thankefulneſſe to God, wherein is ſet downe a correſpondence or reſtipulation betwixt the people who ſhall offer ſacrifices, and God who will accept them. And Gods ſeruice then goeth well, when we offer willingly, and God accepteth gladly.
If our ſinnes be forgiuen vsus, God will heare our p…er… Gen. 4.5.Then. Marke the time, when God hath beene fauorable to his Church in forgiuing her ſinnes, then he will accept the offerings. For pray what ye pleaſe, and diſtribute to the poore, if God doe not like of it, all is in vaine. Caine offered ſacrifices, but the Lord accepted them not, becauſe he hated his cruell heart. Abel offered in faith and was accepted.
But how ſhall ye know if your offerings be acceptable to God, ſeeing there is no fire to fall downe from heauen, as that which burnt vp Elias ſacrifice?1. Ki 18.34 Yee ſhall know that albeit an elementarie or materiall fire falleth not downe,Nota. yet the fire of the Spirit falleth on our hearts, the fire burning vp the droſſe of our corruptions by vnfained repentance, warmeing our hearts with the louelove of God, kindling our hearts with a zeale of Gods glorie. This is the fire which will fall downe from heauen vponupon our ſoules; which ſenſiblie we feele, if the Lord heare our prayers.
The ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe… Some expound theſe offerings to be ſuch as agree to his will. I reuerence their iudgement; but I ſee not how that expoſition can agree with the text. But it may be expounded of that righteouſneſſe which we ought to doe to our neighbours, as we offer a ſacrifice of a contrite heart, the calues of our lippes by praiſes, and theſe are the ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe by our hands, ſo that heart, tongue, hand, ſhould be all offered to God, for God liketh well of righteous dealing… that our hand be not defiled with thirſt, couetouſneſſe, oppreſſion, which if we ſacrifice to Sathan by ſinne, let vsus not lift to God by prayer, but lift vp pure hands, waſh our hands in innocencie and then compaſſe Gods altar.
It would ſeem to be ſome differenc, wher God ſaid, Obiect. he would hauehave none of their ſacrifices, and now they promiſe ſacrifices? Indeed if the ſacrifices be onelyonly externall, Solut. what accounteth God of them, if they want merciemercy and righteouſneſſe, for he will hauehave merciemercy and not ſacrifice. Therefore let externall and internall worſhip be conioyned, and then God will like beſt of it: but being ſeperated from ſpirituall offerings, it is abominable and a burden to the Lord.
Which be the ſacrifices of righteouſnes. The alter Ieſus Chriſt… by whom we muſt offer our prayers to the Father.The ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe are thoſe which be lawfull and are commanded by God.
They ſhall offer calues vponupon thine altar. The calues are the calues of the lippes; the alter Ieſus Chriſt, who was both repreſented by the braſen altar, and by the golden alter. For no ſacrifice or prayer could euer be acceptable to God, vnleſſe it were offered vponupon Ieſus Chriſt, for he is ſacrificium; ſacerdes, et altare; Auguſtine ſaith, he is the Prieſt, the Altar, and the Sacrifice; the offer…r, the thing offered, and the altar vponupon which it is offered.
All the moſaicall altars are abrogated, becauſe the ſacrifice is made. The heathniſh altars hauehave no place; The popiſh altars are abominable, after the apiſh imitation of the Iewiſh altars, they would offer that incrementum ſacrificium …iſſa; without any warrand of Gods word. It is enough for vsus to offer, not Chriſt to the Father, but our prayers by Chriſt to the Father, who will ſmell aſweet ſauour of reſt, of all our peticions and thankes which are preſented vponupon Chriſt, and for thirſt of him. Lord keep vsus from the altar of Damaſ…us, and let vsus offer all our offences vponupon Ieſus Chriſt, with whom we ſhall be very heartily welcome to God Amen.