the carnal and proud; and known only by such as tasted his love and felt his mercy. Such was his outer appearance. But within, oh! how glorious! There dwelt the Godhead bodily; thence beamed forth, from time to time, the rays of his hidden glory, which won the hearts of those who felt the power of his grace, and bestowed upon them the blessings of his great salvation.

Oh, let us glory and rejoice in this great God our Saviour. Let us dwell upon this great mystery of godliness; God manifest in the flesh. (1 Tim. iii. 16.) Let it rejoice our hearts to be assured, that it was God who purchased the church with his own blood. (Acts xx. 28.) And let the grand theme of our song be on earth, as it will be in heaven, Behold, God is my salvation! (Is. xii. 2.)

CHAPTER XXVII.

1 The altar of burnt offering, with the vessels thereof. 9 The court of the tabernacle inclosed with hangings and pillars. 18 The measure of the court. 20 The oil for the lamp. ND thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same and thou shalt overlay it with brass. 3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shall make of brass.

4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.

5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.

6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.

7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.

8. Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as 'it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

9¶ And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:

10 And the twenty pillars thereof and their

twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

12 And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.

13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.

14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

15 And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

16 ¶ And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

17 All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.

18 ¶ The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.

19 All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

(1) Heb. he shewed. (2) Heb. fifty by fifty. (3) Heb. to ascend up.

THE several subjects consecutively brought under our notice increase in interest and importance as we proceed. We have considered the sanctuary, the ark, the mercy seat, the table, the candlesticks, and the tabernacle for the covering of the whole. In this chapter we have a description of the altar of burnt offering with its various utensils; the court of the tabernacle with all its dimensions; and the pure oil to cause the lamp to burn. All these were to be made according to the pattern shewed unto Moses in the mount.

May we not here again enquire, what are all these things to us? What are they in their spiritual and typical signification? Can we be at a loss for the meaning? Can we read the Epistle to the Hebrews, and not see that all these things related to Christ, and set forth Christ in his gracious undertaking and great salvation?

First, then, let us consider the brasen altar as a guide to the intent of the whole. This was the altar of the burnt offering. The burnt offering represented Christ in making his soul an offering for sin. (Is. liii. 10.) It likewise denoted the intensity of the sufferings he endured for our sakes. The language employed in foretelling those sufferings clearly shews of what nature they must have been. Fire is the appropriate emblem of intense pain. The wrath of God was to the innocent soul and human body of Christ what fire was to the victim offered on the altar. He was consumed thereby; he "was stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Is. liii. 4.) He was wounded, bruised, chastised. Jehovah's sword awoke against the man that was his fellow. The shepherd was smitten therewith; and Messiah was cut off. (Zech. xiii. 7; Dan. ix. 26.) The nature of the sufferings occasioned thereby is described in several of the Psalms as being of the most piercing kind, and in the most pungent terms. If you examine our Lord's history, especially that of his death, you will perceive something of what he endured. His soul was sorrowful even unto death; he was in an agony; he fell to the ground; he had a terrible cup to drink; the cries of his soul pierced the heavens; his sweat was great drops of blood rolling down. to the ground. (Luke xxii. 41-44.) This was before his crucifixion took place. Passing over all he endured from man, in the hall of judgment, behold him on the cross! Who can tell what he then and there endured? The excruciating sufferings of his body were nothing in comparison of what he suffered in his soul. All was dark without, and dark within. The cries he there uttered, and the anguish he then endured, were such as were never heard or felt before, and never will be heard nor felt again. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. xxvii.

could say, "It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." (John xix. 30.) Behold, then, the true altar, and the true burnt offering! By that obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, he finished transgression, made an end of sin, made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting righteousness. (Dan. ix. 24.) By that one offering he has perfected for ever, in all ages and throughout all generations, them that are sanctified. (Heb. x. 14.) By virtue of that great sacrifice no more offering is required for sin; that opens the way into the holy place, and the holiest of all. (Heb.' x. 18, 19.) By that offering the sinner may draw near, and find pardon, mercy, and peace. Nor is there any other means of obtaining those blessings. As there is no other way to the Father than by Christ, so there is no other offering for sin acceptable to God, or available for man, than the sacrifice of Christ alone. Were all the cattle upon a thousand hills to be offered in sacrifice to God; were all the sons and daughters of guilty Adam, from the beginning to the end of the world, to suffer even the vengeance of eternal fire, as the due reward of their sins, it would bear not the shadow of a comparison with Christ's precious oblation; nor would it avail in the smallest degree for that blessed purpose which was fully accomplished when he groaned and died on the accursed tree.

Be sure you look well to this point; be sure you rightly understand this altar of burnt offering; be sure you cordially acquiesce in the atonement thus made; be sure you truly rely thereon. This will open the way, and make all things plain before you; this will bring you nigh unto God; this will shew you how sin is atoned and forgiven; and how God will be merciful to your unrighteousnesses, and your sins and iniquities remember no more. (Jer. xxxi. 34, with Heb. x. 17.)

CHAPTER XXVIII.

1 Aaron and his sons are set apart for the priest's office. 2 Holy garments are appointed. 6 The ephod. 15 The breastplate with twelve precious stones.. 30 The Urim and Thummim. 31 The robe of the ephod, with pomegranates and bells. 36 The plate of the mitre. 39 The embroidered coat. 40 The garments for Aaron's sons.

thou unto thee Aaron thy bro

the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

7 It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

8 And the 'curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

12 And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon `his two shoulders for a memorial.

13 ¶ And thou shalt make ouches of gold; 14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.

15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.

17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a 'sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their 'inclosings.

21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

22 ¶ And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.

23 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

24 And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.

25 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.

26 ¶ And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.

27 And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.

28 And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.

29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

30 ¶ And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

31 ¶ And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

32 And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it,

as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be

not rent.

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33 ¶ And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:

34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.

35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

36 ¶ And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.

38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

39 ¶ And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

40 ¶ And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.

41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

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holiest of all, with the several typical apparatus assigned to each, have been already prepared, and all typify Christ.

But, as yet, there is no consecrated nor officiating priest, to serve according to the pattern of these heavenly things; and till such provision be made this typical machinery would lie as a dead letter. Motion and energy must give action to the whole. This provision was the subject of Moses' next direction.

He was to take Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, and consecrate them that they might minister before the Lord in the priest's office. The manner of the consecration, especially that of Aaron, is here distinctly described. His garments, breastplate, mitre, are all set forth for glory and beauty. It was altogether a splendid attire. It would be a grand and significant

consecration.

What do we here again behold? Jesus Christ as the great high priest of the church, consecrated unto God, glorious in his apparel, and gracious in his office and work. (Heb. v. 1-10.) It is he, and he alone, who ministers in all the holy things pertaining unto God and the life of our souls. None other but he, has been chosen of God for that office; none but he, has been set apart for that work; none other but he, is able to fulfil it. Aaron was the feeble type; Christ is the glorious antitype. Aaron was the shadow; Christ is the blessed substance. (Heb. viii. 1, 2.)

First, the appointment. "No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee." (Heb. v. 4, 5.) Christ was chosen and appointed by God the Father to this blessed office and work.

Next, his garments. Aaron's garments must have been exceedingly beautiful; but what was the shadow compared with the substance? How beautiful and glorious are the garments in which Christ is arrayed! His spotless humanity, his glorious deity, his sinless obedience, his perfect righteousness, his effectual atonement, his sovereign dominion, his supreme authority, his unspeakable pity, his infinite love, his everlasting

mercy, and all the other attributes of his glorious person as the God-man Christ Jesus, the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. ii. 5), present to the eye of faith such an object for glory and beauty as none but he himself really is, and none other ever can be! His garments, indeed, are all dipped in blood; but that constitutes their essential beauty and glory. "And he hath on his vesture a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords!" (Rev. xix. 13, 16.)

Further, his ornaments; namely, the two onyx stones, with the names of the children of Israel engraven thereon, six on each, placed upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial, to bear their names upon his shoulders before the Lord. Next, the breastplate of judgment, with its four rows of precious stones, three in a row, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraven thereon with the engraving of a signet; and this breastplate, with all the names engraven thereon, put upon Aaron's heart, and worn by him when he goeth into the holy place for a memorial before the Lord; and they shall be upon his heart; and he shall bear them upon his heart before the Lord continually (v. 6—12; v. 13, 14-29-35).

And then the glorious mitre inscribed with HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, which Aaron was to wear on his forehead, when he went in before the Lord, that the children of Israel may be accepted before the Lord! (v. 3638). Who may not see here, in all these things, the Lord Jesus Christ as the great high priest of his redeemed church and people, sustaining the government of the whole body, and bearing all their names upon his heart in his constant appearance in the presence of God for us? Oh! what a blessed, glorious, precious Redeemer is here! Come and view him in all his love, grace, and beauty. Think of this; sustained by him! never forgotten by him! Thy name engraven on his heart! never to be obliterated! and never to be out of mind! no, not even on account of all thy sins! but so engraven, and so remembered, that he might save thee from them all! And the whole of this salvation, HOLINESS TO THE LORD! to shew forth his holiness! to make thee holy! and to prepare the way for enabling thee to serve him in

righteousness and true holiness before him all the days of thy life, and for evermore. (Luke i. 68—79.) Blessed be God for such an High Priest, such a Saviour, and such a Redeemer of our souls!

CHAPTER XXIX.

1 The sacrifice and ceremonies of consecrating the priests. 38 The continual burnt offering. 45 God's promise to dwell among the children of Israel.

A

ND this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,

2 And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them.

And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams.

4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the con

gregation, and shalt wash them with water.

5 And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:

6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. 7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him. 8 And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.

9 And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and 'put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be their's for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

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