The L'Anse sentinel., 1903-05-23

with his offering by God, because al
Of his good qualities, all his fright
eousnesses were as filthy rags
quickened by the faith which reached
up after God, obtained recognition
not only for himself but acceptance
for his offering. His offering not
only testified of his own unworthi.
ness in the sight of God, but was
prophetic of the way of salvation
which God was to work out in the
world through the person of His only
begotten Son. Christ Jesus. 1t was
not the offering of itself which God
desired, but the man behind the Of
fering which God wanted.
1.-THE Psalmist David, in the expert
ences which gave birth to the
Fifty-frst Psalm, learned this and
declares: "Thou desirest not sacri-
flee, else would / give it: Thou de-
lightest not in burnt offering. The
sacrifices of God are broken spirit;
broken and a contrite heart, o God,
Thou wilt not despise." During those
long months which intervened be-
tween David's awful sin and his con-
viction and repentance under the
bold, fearless ministry of the
Prophet Nathan, there is no possi-
bility of doubt that David sought to
whitewash the foul scandal which he
had committed in Israel by special
faithfulness to his religious obliga-
tions. His devotions I'm the taber-
nacle were marked: his sacrifices
were regularly brought and offered,
but when the arrow of conviction of
sin had pierced his heart he realized
that what God wanted was not Of
ferings, but the heart and the life,
of which the Offering was but the
expression. And the mistake which
David made is one which Christians
are constantly making. There is no
service which man can render to
God which will blot out the stain
of sin. The devotion of lifetime
cannot cover up the failure which
lies behind. Only tie blood and mer-
its of Jesus Christ can cleanse from
sin and give the soul access to God.
VAIEIGHED commercially, there is
wv no doubt that Gains offering
equaled or even exceeded in value and
in excellence that of his brother.
Weighed by God, Who looked behind
the offering to discover the attitude of
the heart towards Him, we find that He
could not have respect unto the offer
ing of Cain, but that Abel's offering
was worthy of acceptance because
faith prompted it, faith suggested the
kind of offering. faith showed the way
to make the offering. Abel by faith
knew more of the way of approach TO
God and acceptance with Him, in that
primeval day when yet the way of sal
vation was veiled in mystery. than does
many churchman to-day who rejoices
in the greater light and revelation of
this Christian age, and to whom God
has given the perfect revelation of His
will in His written Word. Abel did not
have the theology of the nineteenth
century to help him out, but God
testifies of him that he had faith, and
that faith taught him two things which
Cain was not willing to recognize.
First, it revealed to Him the absolute
righteousness of God, and, secondly.
IL showed himself sinner, separated
from God. Faith then made it plain
to his heart that his offering must
meet these conditions, that his offering
must satisfy Gods righteousness and
testify OF mans need. 1t was not
mere matter of offering. 1t must
needs be fitting offering. And so we
find Abel taking lamb without spot
or blemish. We sec him shed it's inno-
cent blood. We behold him place it
upon the glowing Goals and watch the
fire and smoke rising as sweet SMELL
lamb. instead of the golden fruits of
the field? Why the shed blood instead
of the ripened grains and full rounded
and luscious product of vine and tree?
Why the smoking altar instead of the
heaps of glorious gifts from field and
orchard? All! need we ask such ques-
tions in this day of the full revelation
of God? Need we enter into full ex-
planation of what the lamb, the shed
blood, the smoking offering typified?
Abel's faith pointed towards the cross
on Calvary, and the salvation which
God was to accomplish for the lost
human race. Our faith looks back to
the cross and sees accomplished that
which Abel's faith taught him was
sometime. somehow. to be realized.
And so, 'by faith Abel offered unto
God more excellent sacrifice than
Cain, by which he obtained witness
that he was righteous" Righteous. not
by deed. but righteous by faith, or as
Gods Word puts it. "the Righteousness
which is by faith"
DUT, you ask, how came Abel to know
. that sacrifice was needed? How
came he to take the lamb? Go with me
back into the garden of Eden. The
guilty pair stand before God with their
clothing of foliage which they have
woven together for themselves. But
God does not suffer it thus, but makes
them coats of skin. God must provide
the covering for guilty men. And so
| in the garden there sacrifice Is made
as testimony against sin and to point
| a II. H. ..sx 4