Ixviii INTRODUCTION. 



God's acceptance of their respective sacri- 

 fices, 1 was a sufficient proof that this was no 

 act of will-worship, but one of obedience to a 

 Divine institution. The circumstance that 

 God clothed Adam and Eve in the skins of 

 beasts, proves that beasts had been slain, 

 which were most probably offered up as 

 victims representing the great atonement, the 

 promised seed and the clothing of them in 

 their skins was an indication that they wanted 

 garments, in the place of their own innocency 

 and righteousness, to cover their nakedness, 

 and that they now stood as clothed in the 

 righteousness of Him whose heel was to be 

 bruised for them. The distinction also of 

 clean and unclean beasts directly sanctioned 

 by the Deity, and which alone might be 

 offered in sacrifice, 2 is another circumstance 

 confirmative of the common opinion. 



God, both in his word and in his works, 

 for the exercise and improvement of the in- 

 tellectual powers of his servants, and that 

 " By reason of use they may have their 

 senses exercised to discern both good and 

 evil;" 3 has rendered it indispensable that those 



1 Genes, iv. 4. viii. 20, 21. 2 Ibid, and vii. 2, 3. 



3 Heb. v. 14. 



