The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

And it would take up a just volume to open all the typical Ordinances and Actions, which prefigured Christ:¹ from the institution of Circumcision, and the Passover or Paschal Lamb, to the end of all the Mosaical Ceremonies, Christ is the signification and the end of all. I will only crave your consideration of the custom of Sacrificing in the general: it came into the world immediately upon mans sin: we find Cain and Abel, the two first persons born into the world, employed in it. From thence to this day it hath continued (in doctrine, though the practice be restrained) with the Jews: it was no peculiar Ceremony of their Law, but hath ⟨p. 264⟩been commonly exercised by almost all Nations through the world, both Greeks, Romans and Barbarians. And it yet continueth in most countries of the Heathens, where the Doctrine of Christ hath not abolished it, as it hath done both with the Christians and Mahometans. (For the Mahometans borrow the confession of one God, and the rejection of Idols and Sacrifices originally from the Christians.) Now I must confess, that I am not able to satisfy my self of the original and universality of the custom of Sacrificing, upon any reasons, but those of the Christians: either it was a prophetical promissory institution of God himself, to lapsed Adam, to point him to a Saviour, the second Adam; or else it must be from the Law of Nature, or else it is from some other positive Institution, or else it must be an universal Error. There can no fifth way that is probable be imagined. And, 1. I am not able to see that the mere Light or Law of Nature should be the original cause; for then it would be all mens duty still: and what reason can Nature give us to judge, that God is delighted in the blood and pain of the innocent brutes? or that the killing and offering of them should be any satisfaction to his justice for our sins, or any rational means to avert his judgments, or procure our forgiveness? If it be said that [It was but a ceremonial confession, that we our selves deserve death, as that creature suffered it] I answer, Confession is indeed due from us by the Law of Nature; but the question is, of the killing of the poor beasts, and offering them in sacrifice. If the exercise of our own penitence by confession were all, that might be done as well without the creatures blood and death. What is it that this addeth to a penitent confession?