The saints sacrifice

¹A Sacrifice (as the word is usually taken in the Law) was A pious rite whereby something was offered to God. I term it, a rite, because it was one of those external ceremonies which God ordained to be used in his Church till the fullness of time should come. I add this attribute, pious, unto it, to show that it was an action of piety, a part of divine worship. In every sacrifice something either with, or without life, was brought, and by the Priest, in the name of him that brought it, offered to the Lord. Herein lieth a main difference betwixt this, and other rites, and in special betwixt a sacrifice and a sacrament. The essential action of a ²sacrament is a receiving from God; of a sacrifice, an offering to God. They which entered into the ark, and abode therein, they which passed through the red sea, and they which were under the cloud (^aall which were sacramental rites, answerable to our sacrament of Baptism) received thereby preservation, protection, and direction from the Lord. So they which were circumcised received the seal of remission of sins. They which celebrated the Passover received the scale of deliverance from bondage. They also which eat Manna, and drank the water that flowed out of the rock (^bwhich answered to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper) apparently received both spiritual and temporal blessings from the Lord. But in all manner of sacrifices something was brought and offered to the Lord, as will more evidently appear by a particular enumeration of the several sacrifices: which may thus be distinguished.