[2.] It was a sacrifice also. He had
a body prepared him, Heb. x.
5; wherein he was to accomplish what by the typical oblations
and burnt-offerings of the law was prefigured. And that body he offered,
Heb. x. 10; — that is, his whole
human nature; for “his soul” also was made “an offering for sin,” Isa. liii. 10: on which account he is
said to offer himself, Eph. v. 2;
Heb. i. 3,
ix. 26. He gave himself a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling
savour; and this he did willingly, “Observatum est a sacrificantibus, ut si hostia quæ ad aras
duceretur, fuisset vehementer reluctata, ostendissetque se invitam
altaribus admoveri, amoveretur, quia invito Deo eam offerri putabant; quæ
vero stetisset oblata, hanc volenti numini dari existimabant.” —
Macrob. Saturnal. lib. iii.
“Hoc quoque notandum, vitulos ad aras
humeris hominum allatos non fere litare; sicut nec claudicante, nec aliena
hostia placari deos; neque trahente se ab aris.” — Plin. lib. viii. cap.
45. as became him who was to be a sacrifice, — the law of
this obedience being written in his heart, Ps. xl. 8;
that is, he had a readiness, willingness, desire for its performance.