As Old Testment Saints had their sacrifices under the Law, so New Testament Saints have their sacrifices under the Gospel. Almost every duty of Christianity in which a man consecrates himselfe to God, is called a sacrifice; righteousness is a sacrifice, “Offer the sacrifices of righteousnesse” (Psa. 4.5); prayer is a sacrifice, “Let my prayer be set before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as an Evening sacrifice” (Psal. 141.2): Repentance is a sacrifice, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, Lord, thou wilt not dispise” (Ps. 51.17): Almesdeeds that is a sacrifice, “But to do good, and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13.16): Thanksgiving is a sacrifice, “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord” (Psal. 116.17).

Benjamin Needler, Expository Notes on Genesis (1655), at Gen. 4:3–4. (New edition forthcoming.)