“The altar, what was it? His cross, say some. Nay, it was rather his divine nature, which like the altar supported, and like the altar sanctified the gift. This the cross can scarce be said to do, which was but the instrument of man’s cruelty, and a despicable piece of timber, which neither sanctified the body which it carried, nor received sanctification from it. Where then are they who address it with divine honours, and pay even to its picture that homage which is due to him alone, that expired in agonies on that shameful tree.” We shall now consider the instruments, the number, and why twenty-nine—no particular reason is assigned that I know of, any more than why the Scripture records that Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begat Terah, (Gen, xi, 24)—or that Amaziah reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem, (ii Kings xiv, 2) or that pious Hezekiah reigned the same number of years. But it must be allowed by every believer that the 29th verse of the first Chap. of John’s Gospel, contains something of vast importance to us, viz. _Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world_. Nor is it less important to call to mind that during our Lord’s secluded days, twenty-nine lambs had been offered up, before John the Baptist thus exclaimed. But waving these ideas, and viewing these knives as the instruments of the death of our dear Lord, may they not be typical of our sins—and may we not enumerate twenty-nine of the most awful sins mentioned in the scriptures, and which include all the rest that are mentioned. The Spirit has borrowed many metaphors to point out the nature of sin to us—hence in scripture it is called, 1, a Plague; 2, a Sickness; 3, a Death; 4, a loathsome Disease; 5, a Wound; 6, a Curse; 7, a Mountain; 8, a Debt; 9, a Reproach; 10, a Scourge; 11, an evil Treasure; 12, an heavy Chain; 13, a Fire; 14, a thick Cloud; 15, a Sting; 16, a Poison; 17, old Leaven; 18, a strong Hold; 19, a stony Heart; 20, Madness; 21, a Deceiver; 22, a Thief; 23, Foxes; 24, Witchcraft; 25, an abominable Thing; 26, Bitterness; 27, Unrighteousness; 28, a deep Pit; 29, miry Day. These are some of the names by which sin is called.