Exodus 22

Exodus 22:29

The proportion of the first-fruits was between the fortieth and sixtieth part of the increase. By giving this they acknowledged themselves the Lord’s tenants, and thus their crop was sanctified. These first-fruits also typified Jesus Christ and his people, who are dedicated to God, and being blessings on mankind

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXII.—Behold how the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, and beholdeth the upright with a pleasant countenance! Let therefore the grace revealed in the gospel teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, rendering unto God and men their respective dues. If God be my portion, all covetousness, injustice, and infidelity, should be far from my heart and hand. If God be my pleasure, never should I wallow in fleshly lusts, or render others disgraced and miserable by my means. If God be my new-covenant husband and Lord, I should, as under the sweetest and strongest obligation, resist the devil, and detest his influence. Let me therefore honour JERROVAH with due worship, and with the first-fruits of all my increase; and regard magistrates as his deputies on earth, who are bound in the most exact manner to punish crimes against God or men. If God be my pattern, let me prepare, of my goodness, for the poor. It is more blessed to give than to receive. While I have new-covenant provision, let my soul never live on that which is corrupt, or can be torn from me; but despising the blessings of earth, shew myself fully satisfied with the rich provisions of divine grace. 3