The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 62
SECT. XLII.
THough the Lord had thus manifeſted his Wrath and Severity againſt thoſe diſobedient Iſraelites, whom he had ſentenced to die in the Wilderneſs, yet that he might ſhew that He intended to bring their Children into the good Land he had promiſed, he now enlarges and explains thoſe Laws he had formerly given concerning the Sacrifices which he would have them offer to him when they came thither; as particularly what Meat-Offerings and Drink-Offerings ſhould be offered together with their Sacrifices (whereof part was to be burnt upon the Altar) as acceſſories and appurtenances thereunto; And according as the Sacrifice was greater or leſs, ſo muſt alſo the Meat and Drink-Offerings be more or leſs; And He appoints particularly what ſhall be prepared for a Lamb or a Kid, and what for a Ram or a Bullock, that there might be a proportion obſerv'd betwixt them, Numb. 15. from verſ. 1. to 13. 2ly, He injoyns that the Stranger that is brought to embrace the ſame Religion with them, ſhall be under the ſame Laws and Ordinances that they were under. One Law and one manner ſhall be for you, and for the ſtranger that ſojourneth with you, from verſ. 13. to 17. 3ly, He injoyns them to offer a Cake of the firſt of their Dough for an Heave-Offering; that is, about the ſame quantity that they offered of their firſt Corn they ſhould offer of their Dough, and both to be offered with the ſame Ceremonies. Theſe they were to offer to the Lord, that is, to the Prieſts the Lords Receivers; for the Firſt-fruits were their portion, Ezek. 44.30. The firſt of all the Fruits of all things, and every Oblation of all of every ſort of your Oblations ſhall be the Prieſts, from verſ. 17. to 22. 4ly, Laws are given concerning Sacrifices to be offered when either the whole Congregation, or a ſingle perſon, had ſinned thorow ignorance, Levit. 4.13. There is a Law given concerning Expiation of Sins ignorantly committed, but that ſeems to be made in reference to Errors and Faults committed in common courſe of life, and this to be meant of thoſe only which are committed in things which belong to the external Worſhip and Service of God, from verſ. 22. to 30. 5ly, A Law is given for the cutting off thoſe who ſin (not of ignorance, inadvertency or infirmity, but) wilfully, boldly and preſumptuouſly, in contempt of the Laws which God hath enacted concerning his publick Worſhip. From verſ. 30. to the 31. 6ly, To deter preſumptuous Sinners, a relation is made of a bold and preſumptuous Sinner, who refuſed to conform himſelf to the Law which God had made concerning his outward Worſhip and Service. It ſeems whilſt they were in the Wilderneſs, one of the Congregation went out preſumptuouſly to gather ſticks on the Sabbath-day. This being a direct violation of the Law given concerning the Sabbath, they put the man inward till they had inquired of the Lord what ſhould be done to him. *See Levit. 24.12.That a Sabbath breaker was to be put to death they know, ſee Exod. 31.14. & 35.2. but what kind of death he ſhould die, or whither this gathering of ſticks made him obnoxious to that Sentence they were not fully reſolved, though it was evident enough to them he had done it preſumptuouſly. Moſes not willing to take away his life without certain direction, inquires of the Lord concerning the matter, and by Gods own Sentence he was adjudged to be ſtoned(t)Prudens eſt Cajetani obſervatio, ſeverius ſemper Deum animadvertiſſe in primos legum ſnarum tranſgreſſores. by the Congregation without the Camp, which was done accordingly, from 32. to 37. 7ly, A Law is given, injoyning them to make Fringes with blue Ribbands or Laces on the borders of their Garments, that by looking on them, they might remember all the Commandments of the Lord, and do them. Theſe Fringes were to mind them that they ought to be content with what was commanded, injoyned and limited by the Law of God, and muſt not run out into any ſuperſtitious Inventions, Additions or Devices of their own in his Worſhip. Which Inventions being delightful to their eyes and hearts, He knew they were very prone to go a whoring after them, and therefore more ſtrictly forbids. And another reaſon why He injoyned theſe Fringes was, that they might be diſtinguiſhed in their habit from ſtrangers, and thoſe that were Aliens from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, and might remember that they were a people federally holy, and peculiarly devoted to God.
Numb. 15. whole Chapter.