The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-19
IN by the tide of enthusiasm which surged

moved thereto by the popular current of feel
ing In the community. So, many make con-
fession of faith IN Christ from deepest convic-
ton of sinfulness and profound apprehension
OF the grace of God as revealed to him; while
others come to confession with but superficial
conviction, not apprehending to any extent the
"s1nfulness of SIM" or the exceeding great
ness of the grace of God"
3.-ALL AcoEPTE.D
This is a wonderful thing, that notwith-
standing the very certain disparity between
one and another as to the degree of their sim
certify and the depth and intelligence of their
feelings" they were all accepted on their
confession. So God accepts all who come to
Him, leaving the development of their faith
and their growth in grace and knowledge to
the unfoldings of time and circumstances.
Many who have come to Christ very
weak in the faith" have turned
who have come with every evidence of clear
and deep conviction and great faith, have not
continued steadfast to the end" 1t is better
to begin the life of God with small faith and
end with great strength, than to begin with
much feeling and end in shipwreck.
IH.-The Covenant Ratified.
The formal ratification of this covenant is
very full of interest. Great and solemn pre-
parations were made by Moses, AT his COM
mand, early in the morning, before the last
and formal reading of tho covenant, IAN altar
was builded under the hill" That represent
ed God in the transaction. Twelve pillars.
according to the twelve tribes of Israel" were
also erected. These represented Israel in the
transaction. Then burnt offerings We're offer
ed and ".peaco9 offerings OF oxen
covenant Moses took half the blood OF
the burnt Offering and sprinkled it upon the
altar, which was for God his solemn act of
acceptance; after the people had heard the
covenant read and had responded to it, Moses
took the other half ofthe blood which he had
kept in basins and sprinkled it on the people,
and said: "Behold the blood of the covenant
which the Lord hath made with you concern
ing all these words" We learn from this that
in all Gods dealings with man he first COM
pletes his own offer and then makes his prop
osition to man when we accept, then blood is
applied to us and we are accepted. God did
not wait for mans consent to grace before he
gave us his Son, but first gave him, ''who died
for us and rose again" Then the offer
Of grace is made to us; when we accept
the Finished work of Christ" his accepted
sacrifice and righteousness is applied to us
and we stand henceforth clothed upon
with all his wealth and worth, and are before
God as he is. Concerning the special sgnif-
canoe of the offerings and sacrifices, the follow
ing among others may be mentioned:
1.-THE BURNT OFFERING.
This offering was primarily symbol of self
surrender; the recognition on the part of the
offerer that he owed to God and rendered to
God an offering of his whole spirit, soul, and
ditional surrender of the oiferer with all that
he was and had to God" 1t is to this Offering
that the apostle alludes in Rom. xii, /, where
he says: II beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that We present your
bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to
God which is your reasonable service But the
Offering of that sacrifice had also on this occasion
the element of Precipitation in it, as is evident
from the sprnkling of blood upon the altar
and upon the people. It was through the pro-
pitiating blood that peace was made and that
reconciliation was brought about. 1t told of
the sinfulness of Israel; it reminded them
that it was not on legal but on gracious
grounds that they were accepted and admitted
into covenant relations, and that their attitude
under this covenant was one of sincere en-
deavor to fulfill the law of righteousness in an
evangelical rather than legal spirit, not rs a
condition. but as an expression OF life; that
their motive in the service of God should
spring from sense of sins forgiven and not
from self-sufficiency under the law. 1t was
thus that "the way of righteousness without
law was witnessed by the law" Rom. I'LL, 21.)
1.-THE PEACE OFFERING.
This was an offering for communion. 1t was
eaten and drunken in the presence of God by
the priests who represented God and the
people, signifying reconciliation and COM
munion; in fact, it was kind of Old Tesla
ment Lords Supper, a holy COM
teach teach us how the Gospel shines
out from the Old Testament, which, in fact, is
a shadow of the gospel and prophecy of it.
Iy.-The Vision of God.
After the solemn ratification of the cove
nant by the shedding and sprinkiing of blood,
"then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab and
Abihu and seventy of the elders of Isreal,"
and there they had vision Of the ''God of
Israeli not in bodily FORM but in symbolic
form. They saw something which they UNI
derstood to be representation of him, and a
glorious vision of sapphire pavement under
L foa I.11r, &c
in its clearness." The meaning of this vision
was very clear to Israel.
LIT WAS A VISION OF GOD IN GRACIOUS COM
PLAcENCY TOWARD THEM.
The very opposite of the vision and sight
and sounds OF terror which they saw and heard
on Sinai. There he was revealed only in the
majesty of his righteousness, burning and
laundering against sin. Here he is seen in
Precipitation and at peace with his people. 1t
foretold that view of the graGiousness of God
which was afterward associated with him in
connection with the mercy seat, and finally in
the person Of Jesus our Lord.
2.-No HARM CAME TO THEM IN THE PRESENCE
OF GOD THUS REVEALED.
While at Sinai, If any one so much as
touched the mount he died. Here they dwell
in safety. land upon the mobiles of the child
rem Of Israel he laid not his hand"
3.-"THEY SAW GOD AND DID EAT"
This completes the picture of perfect recon-
Citation. No terror of him shook their souls
In the presence of the glory of that soft and
beautiful vision of God in grace and holiness
''they did eat and drink Of the peace offer
ing"
Surely we may all praise God for these early
manifestations of His grace toward His sinful
people, but much more may and ought we re-
joice in the greater fullness-yea, in the peace
full fulness-of the revelation of grace in
Jesus Christ and in the way of approach to
God made for us by Him who "loved us and
gave Himself for u.s." bearing our sins that
He might bring US to God"
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