The Types Unveiled, Chapter 35
CHAP. 35. About the standing Sacrifice of the Lamb.
THere was likewiſe an Ordinance of God inſtituted amongſt the Jews, which was this, a ſtanding ſacrifice of two Lambs which were to be offered to the Lord Morning and Evening, the one in the Morning, and the other at Evening, every day throughout the year, Exod. 29. 38, 39. This was to be done whether the people could be there at the ſacrifice yea or no, which teacheth theſe two things.
Firſt, The continual ground which God ſtill hath in his eye, for the continuing his reconciling love to the Church, and that is the death of his Son, which is called the Lamb of God, John 1 29. Chriſt is called a Lamb as he was a ſacrifice to God for him.
This ſacrifice which did at firſt fully give the Father ſatisfaction for ſin is always in the eye of God, Chriſt preſents himſelf to the Father under that conſideration always; Therefore is it ſaid the mercy-ſeat was ſprinkled wi…h the bloud of the ſacrifice, Levit. 16. 14, 15. That when ever the Father had any thing to do with the mercy-ſeat, there ſhould he always ſee the bloud of the Lamb Chriſt, which ſpeaketh better things then that of Abel, Heb 12. 24.
Secondly, It teacheth us this much, family-duty is to be kept up and maintained as an ordinance of God by all profeſſing Souls.
This ſtanding ſacrifice had a double reſpect.
Firſt, As it reſpected our Lord Jeſus, ſo it Typed out the conſtant voice of the bloud of Chriſt in the ears of God for everlaſting Reconciliation with the Elect, that as they were always ſinning, ſo here are two Lambs always ſacrificing before God for them: But ſecondly, as it reſpected the people, ſo it was as the performance of family-duty by them, for they were (as it were) but one family, and they had one head to it which was Moſes, but at morning and at evening this practice of the ſacrificing of the Lambs muſt be kept up and performed throughout the year.
O ſo much is it a duty for families to offer God the Evening and Morning ſacrifice at this day as it was then. O methinks to conſider how little God is honoured in this reſpect by the families of the earth, it is a matter moſt lamentable, Certainly mens not performing family-duty is a ſhutting out of God from being King in that family; for God is known amongſt the families of the Earth by prayer, for God upon himſelf as having a ſpecial part of his Prerogative denied him in that family which denies him family prayer, therefore is God ſtyled a God of prayer, and the God hearing prayer, and one unto whom all fleſh ſhall come; and indeed the contrary is threatned with a dreadful ſtroke (I mean the omiſſion of the duty) read Ier. 10. 25 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen, and the families which call not upon thy name: Men little know what ſecret miſchiefs they heap upon themſelves and their families, who live in the open neglect of this duty, ſaith God in Deut. 32. 23. I will heap up miſchiefs upon their heads, I will ſpend mine arrows upon them. And who ſo likely to be the perſons upon whom God will heap miſchief, as prayerleſs perſons, if you compare this of Deut. 32. 23. with Ier. 10. 22. Into what flames have God turned ſome mens houſes in one night over their heads, turning them and theirs into aſhes before the morning, which judgment might have been prevented had they performed this duty the night before; O think upon this you prayerleſs ſouls, for fear leaſt God ruſh out upon you and tear you in pieces, and there be found none to deliver you out of his hands.