Numbers 10:0 - The Sacred Trumpets

for that which is preached to men must also be pleaded by and for men. The substance of our faith is also the substance of our intercession. Lex credendi, lex orandi. "Our Father,… through Jesus Christ our Lord," is the norm at once of every true sermon, and of every right prayer. The death of Christ, preached, is the voice of God to start the faithful on their way to heaven; the death of Christ, shown, is the voice of the faithful to put God in mind of his sure mercies, to bring themselves into remembrance before him. Consider, therefore—

I. THAT THE SACRED TRUMPET MUST BE OF ONE WHOLE PIECE OF SILVER , NEITHER ALLOYED WITH BASER METAL , NOR MADE UP OF FRAGMENTS . The gospel which we preach or plead must be the whole faith, and the pure faith once delivered to the saints, neither alloyed with human inventions nor pieced together out of fragments and remnants of the Divine revelation. Human art and labour has no further place than in bringing the gospel—as the trumpet—into such a shape as that it can be effectually used, without adding aught to it, or diminishing aught from it.

II. That the PRIMARY USE OF THE SACRED TRUMPET was—

The gospel is preached, on the one hand, to call men from their cares, and pleasures, and earthly ties, in order to present themselves for pardon and for blessing before him who is their covenanted God and King; on the other hand, to instruct men in an orderly Christian walk, seeking the kingdom, not as isolated individuals, but as members of one body, soldiers in one army, units in one vast and organized whole.

III. THAT A PLAIN DISTINCTION OF SOUND WAS TO BE MADE IN CALLING THE ASSEMBLY , AND IN ORDERING THE MARCH . The persuasions of the gospel, by which we call men to draw nigh unto God, must needs differ in sound and in tone from the precepts of the gospel by which we seek to direct their onward march; but both are equally sacred, and equally necessary to be observed.

IV. THAT THE SUBSEQUENT USE OF THE SACRED TRUMPETS WAS TO INVOKE , WITH HOLY AND CONSECRATED SOUND , THE DIVINE AID AGAINST THE FOE , THE DIVINE ACCEPTANCE UPON THE SACRED FEAST OR OFFERING : IN DANGER OR IN WORSHIP TO BRING HIS OWN INTO REMEMBRANCE WITH THEIR GOD . The facts of the gospel which we preach, and whereby we "persuade men," the same do we plead; and thereby we "persuade God." All true prayer and intercession of the faithful for aid against spiritual enemies, for acceptance of spiritual sacrifices, is not only founded upon the gospel; it is the gospel, pleaded (whether in holy words or in holy rites) before high heaven; it is "the Lord's death" shown "until he come;" it is the sacred trumpet sounded in the ears of God prevailingly according to his command.

V. THAT THE USE OF THE TRUMPETS FOR THOSE PURPOSES WAS TO BE " AN ORDINANCE FOREVER ." The calling of men to draw nigh unto God; the ordering of their onward walk; the cry to heaven for promised aid against our unseen foes; the pleading of the finished work of Christ wherein we trust, will never cease until there shall be no more time. Neither can the Church at large, nor can any faithful soul, dare to despise or to ignore any of these uses of the gospel trumpet; for they are of Divine and perpetual appointment.