Pidgeons, the one for a Burnt Offering, the other for a Sin Offering; and the Prieft fhall make an Atonement for her, Lev. xii. 8. Here could be no Vicarious Punishment intended, becaufe no crime had been committed: And where there is no Crime, no Punishment can be justly inflicted. Nor could there be vicarious Death, because nothing had been done in this cafe to forfeit Life, or to deserve Death: And therefore thefe Sacrifices were not defigned as Intimations that the Offerer fhould think of a Life given for Life.

But tho' in these cafes it be true that Life was not given for Life, yet was not That the notion defigned to be conveyed by Piacular Sacrifices, where it is certain there was crime committed, and the Intention of the Offerer was to expiate them? I do not apprehend, that even in these cafes That was the defign of the Sacrifice. Every Animal Sacrifice was neceffarily to be killed in order that God might have his Share of it at his Table after the Animal was flain the Atonement was to be made with its Blood. Or if a Mincha of fine Flower alone was offered,

And

That

That was to be burnt upon the Altar. Previous to the Burning of the Sacrifice, or to even the Killing of the Victim, was Confeffion of Sin, and a Declaration of Repentance, and a defire expreffed of being reconciled to God: And as this Temper was profeffed in and by the presenting the Sacrifice to God, the Displeasure of God was removed, Atonement was made, and the party offending was restored to favour, and accepted by him who was offended. Not by the giving the Life of the Animal for the Life of him who had been guilty of Misdemeanour, as if that were an Equivalent, or Subftitute to be accepted in his Stead, but as a penitent humbly defiring Reconciliation, and to be admitted into a State of Friendship with God, and taking all proper Steps for that purpose.

That the Notion of giving Life for Life in fome Sort of Sacrifices has prevailed in the world is indifputable; and a thousand inftances may be produced in later Ages in confirmation of it: But I am enquiring whether, and how far, the Scriptures teach us fuch a Notion. And here I muft obferve 1. That

7. That fuch a Notion is not defigned to be conveyed by fome Sorts of Animal Sacrifices. In the cafe of Peace Offerings, (which were all either Precatory for Favours, or Thanksgivings for Mercies, or defigned as mere voluntary Acts of Devotion,) there were no circumstances in the Solemnity which fignified fuch defign; and therefore there could be no defign in these to intimate a giving Life for Life. For Peace Offerings were frequently offered by Themselves, without the addition of Burnt Offerings, or Trespass Offerings; and in courfe without any confeffion of Sin or Demerit in him that offered them. The Life of the Animal was taken away, and its blood was fprinkled on the Altar, and the Proprietor offered with it his Prayers or Thanks, and had his Share of it to eat, and to treat his Friends. But in all this there was no Intimation, no Acknowledgment of any thought of having forfeited Life; and in courfe no Notion of offering to God a Life in lieu of an Of fender's Life.

2. If Sacrifices were offered to God where there was no crime committed, nor

any

any thought of Life's being any ways for feited,-in thefe cafes likewise it is not eafily to be conceived that the Life of the Animal was given in lieu of the Life of him that offered it. To inftance in the cafe of the Nazirite who, was not to come near any dead body: Yet if any man happened to die very fuddenly by him, He was to bring a Lamb of the first year for his Trespass Offering. Did the Nazirite forfeit his own Life, or could he be supposed to forfeit it, or to have any Guilt or Sin, or Demerit in himself, because another accidentally died by him, and whofe Death he could not any ways guard against? And yet this unhappy Nazirite was to facrifice a Lamb: And upon Suppofition of the Notion that in Animal Sacrifices Life was given for Life, he must acknowledge Some Crime in himself by which his Life was forfeited. Num. vi, 12.

So again in cafe of the Leper that was to be cleanfed. The Priest that maketh him clean fhall present the man that is to be made clean, and shall take one He Lamb for a Trespass Offering,—and wave them for a Wave Offering before the Lord,

Levit. xiv. 11, 12. And this was to be done to make Atonement for him, ver. 21. Here could be no fuch thing as Sin, but Misfortune: A Misfortune indeed that made him unfit to appear in the presence of his King before he was made clean; but not any Crime that could imply forfeiture of Life, or his giving the Life of the Animal in lieu of his own.

But further ftill: The unhappy Leper, if he were able, was to bring not only a Trespass Offering, but a Sin Offering, and a Burnt Offering with a Meat Offering, in order to his being cleansed, or to have Atonement made for him. The Prieft fball offer the Sin Offering, and make an Atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his Uncleanness; and afterward be hall kill the Burnt Offering; and the Prieft fhall offer the Burnt Offering, and the Meat Offering upon the Altar. Levit. xiv. 19, 20.

So too a Woman, after Puerpery, was to bring a Lamb of the First year for a Burnt Offering. And if he were not able to bring a Lamb, then she shall bring Two Turtles or Two young Pidgeons, the one for