Chap. Xxviii.—Of The Spiritual Victim, Which Pr…
CHAP. XXVIII.—OF THE SPIRITUAL VICTIM, WHICH PRAYER IS.
For this is the spiritual victim[12] which has abolished the
pristine sacrifices. "To what purpose," saith He, "(bring ye) me the
multitude of your sacrifices? I am full of holocausts of rams, and I
desire not the fat of rams, and the blood of bulls and of goats. For
who hath required these from your hands?"[13] What, then, God has
required the Gospel teaches. "An hour will come," saith He, "when the
true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and truth. For God is a
Spirit, and accordingly requires His adorers to be such."[14] We are
the true adorers and the true priests,[15] who, praying in spirit,[16]
sacrifice, in spirit, prayer,—a victim proper and acceptable to God,
which assuredly He has required, which He has looked forward to[17] for
Himself ! This victim, devoted from the whole heart, fed on faith,
tended by truth, entire in innocence, pure in chastity, garlanded with
love,[18] we ought to escort with the pomp[19] of good works, amid
psalms and hymns, unto God's altar,[20] to obtain for us all things
from God.