Expository notes, with practical observations; towards the opening of the five first chapters of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Delivered by way of exposition in several lords-dayes exercises.: By Benjamin Needler, minister of the gospel at Margaret Moses Friday-Street, London.

Quest. 4. verse 3, 4.

Why did Cain bring of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord, and Abel of the firstlings of his flock?

Both Cain and Abel brought such offer∣ings unto the Lord as were suitable to that [Resp.] way or calling in which God had set them: Cain was a tiller of the ground, and therefore brings as his offering the fruits thereof; Abel was a keeper of sheep, and therefore brings as his offering the first∣lings of his flock.

As Old Testment Saints had their sa∣crifices under the Law, so New Testament Saints have their sacrifices under the Gospel. Almost every duty of Christia∣nity in which a man consecrates himselfe to God, is called a sacrifice; righteousness is a sacrifice, Offer the sacrifices of righte∣ousnesse; prayer is a sacrifice, Let my prayer be set before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as an Evening sacrifice: Repentance is a sacrifice, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and con∣trite heart, Lord, thou wilt not dispise: Almes∣deeds that is a sacrifice, But to do good,

and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased: Thanksgi∣ving is a sacrifice, I will offer to thee the sacri∣fice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord.

It is usuall for the Spirit of God in the Scripture to describe spirituall duties by expressions drawn from Ceremonies, and usages under the Law; As Repen∣tance is called Washing, Wash ye, make ye cleane, put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes. So prayer is called Incense, Let my prayer be set before thee as In∣cense. And the righteousnesse of Saints, Fine linnen. And to her was granted, that she should be arayd in fine linnen, clean and white; for the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints. (Being an allusion to the garments of the Priests) so in this case Gospel-graces and duties are called Sacrifices.

A Learned Author observes, that we may parallell Christian sacrifices under the Gospel to those under the Law: Re∣pentance is as a trespasse-offering, Zeal a burnt-offering, praise a free-will-offering, sincerity the oblation of unleavened bread, &c.

Well then let us be exhorted in the words of the Apostle, To offer up our bo∣dies,

a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable un∣to God, which is our reasonable service: eve∣ry word in this verse is very Emphaticall.

1. Present your bodies, viz. your whole person; as Christ gave himselfe for you, so you must give your selves to him. As he was sacrificed for you, so you must be sacrificed for him, not your sheep, nor your Oxen, nor your Goats, but your selves. Cainistae sunt, saith Luther, offerentes non personam, sed-opus personae. Now saith Origen, Instead of a Ramme we must kill our irefull passions, instead of a Goat our unclean affections, instead of flying fowles our idle thoughts.

2. A living sacrifice; because the Jewes sacrifices were dead sacrifices. Beasts dyed when they were sacrificed, but men live when they are sacrificed, nay, they dye un∣less they be sacrificed.

3. An holy sacrifice, the Jewes might sacri∣fice beasts, and not be holy, but the Christi∣an cannot sacrifice himselfe but he must needs be holy.

4. An acceptable sacrifice; before the sacri∣fice of beasts, did not please God, unlesse they did sacrifice themselves too; but if Christians sacrifice themselves, it doth please God, though they do not sacrifice beasts.

Notes

• Psa. 4.5.
• Psal. 141. 2.
• Ps. 51.17.
• Heb. 13.16
• Psal. 116. 17.
• Isay. 1.16.
• Psa. 14.2.
• Rev. 19.8.
• Rom. 12.1.