Numbers 7

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VII.—Necessary observances in religion must always be preferred to what is merely voluntary. But the more honour and wealth persons have, the more exemplary they ought to be in laying out themselves and their substance for the Lord. Christ’s ministers and people never need to be discouraged by the hard service allotted them, for, by their often repeated exercises or remarkable comfort therein, God can render his ministers expert in their work, or can quickly bring them unexpected assistance in it; and we can scarcely enter on his service without receiving hints of changes and removals, death not excepted. Liberal hearts devise liberal things, and are never weary of giving to the Lord. But in our dedications to God we o carefully to consider what is like to be most useful in his service; and, am all, to implore pardon through Jesus our sin-offering. And, while every o careful to do that which is proper in his station, God honourably records good deeds of his people in the most particular manner, and takes pleasure manifesting his gracious acceptance thereof. But might not these twelve solen days prefigure the apostolic and millennial periods, in which princes and natio did, or shall, dedicate themselves and substance to Jesus Christ, our great tab nacle and altar: vea, the glorious fulfiller of all this Levitical dispensation