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punctual performance of all those rites, and a 

 strict obedience to the ceremonial law, were the 

 terms on which the Israelites were to inherit 

 the land of Canaan ; and in a spiritual sense 

 they were to be considered as the means of 

 sharing the benefit of that great sacrifice of 

 Christ which was to lead to the inheritance of 

 the heavenly Canaan. The institution of animal 

 sacrifice had continued until the giving of the 

 law, no offering but that of an animal being 

 mentioned in scripture up to this period, except 

 that of Cain, which was rejected. But when 

 the law was ordained, we find that the connexion 

 between animal sacrifice and atonement was 

 clearly and distinctly announced ; and that 

 certain prescribed offerings were to be accepted 

 as the means of deliverance from the penal con- 

 sequences of sin. 



" He who presented a sin-offering was com- 

 manded to lay his hands upon the head of the 

 animal, as a confession of his own guilt, and as 

 an acknowledgment that the punishment he de- 

 served was, by the gracious forbearance of God, 

 transferred to the victim. On these terms the 

 offering was accepted, and a conditional pardon 

 granted. The Hebrew word for sin-offering 

 includes the sense of cleansing, expiating, and 

 making satisfaction; and therefore every sin- 

 offering, 1st, implied contrition and repentance; 

 2dly, an humble hope of averting a just chas- 



