---

I. ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

1. What is the difference between natural ordinances and instituted duties? By natural duties understand such duties as we owe to God as God, and to man as man, which we should have been required to fulfil if there had been no written law in relation to them. By instituted duties understand those which, if God had not revealed them, would have had no claim on us. Natural duties refer to attributes in God's nature and character, instituted, to the expression of His will.

2. God required sacrifice as well as mercy, but with these limitations.

(1)  I will have sacrifice, but net without the spirit. Instituted worship separated from natural worship is not regarded.

(2)  Not sacrifices to make atonement for their sins.

(3)  Not sacrifices of your own devising.

3. Why should God require mercy rather than sacrifice? Because mercy is good in itself, but sacrifice is good only in reference to something else. Sacrifices are but to further us in natural duties.

II. SATISFY SOME OBJECTIONS.

1. Men's hearts are deceitful, and they may pretend cases of mercy when there is no such thing in hand. It is not for us to judge the sincerity of other men. God gives general rules for the ordering of a Christian life; and these general rules being observed, particular eases are to be ordered in prudence, faithfulness, and zeal; end where there is miscarrying through frailty, God will have mercy.

2. Can any duty of the second table be more excellent than the duties of the first? In both the tables there are internal and substantial duties and superadded duties. Comparing them it is plain that the substantial are to be preferred before the superadded. Yet God is pleased to indulge men so far that He will let the duties of the second table take precedence.

3. But if God's ordinances are duties, can they be omitted at any time? There are two sorts of precepts, negative and affirmative. A negative binds always and at all seasons, an affirmative only hinds always, but not at all seasons; for we cannot do two things at once, and one duty must be preferred to another. It is the Christian's skill, when two duties come together, which to choose. If God's own worship may be forborne in case of mercy, how much more men's institutions and inventions. God will have mercy rather than disputing about sacrifice. Mercy must be preferred before our own wills and lusts.

(Jeremiah Burroughs.)

---

---

KJV: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

WEB: For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.