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is not at all improbable that this was the case, "The Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations. And that ye

may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." They were to be free from the least possible excitement from every stimulating drink; so as to be able to exercise a clear and sound judgment in the discharge of their official duties. This precept is a very ancient one, given more than three thousand years ago by God himself, to direct the conduct of those who were engaged in his peculiar service. It shows the danger to which the mode rate use of wine might expose them, in the performance of their duties, and which must be proper guarded against under the penalty of death itself. What they were permitted to do, in this respect, at other times when they were not about to enter the tabernacle, we are not informed. The reason, indeed, of the command would seem to apply with equal force to other occasions demanding similar self-possession and clearness of understanding, though no mention is made of them.

How is this danger increased, from the moderate

use of all drinks which can intoxicate, at the present day, and among all classes and conditions of men! For the temptations to excess, and the means of indulgence, have increased a thousand fold! If Aaron and his sons were commanded to practice total abstinence under the peculiar circumstances in which, at seasons occurring daily and frequently, they were placed; may we not, all of us, now be placed, from the peculiar circumstances of the country and age in which we live, under obligations to follow their example in this respect, at all times, except when sickness, or pressing bodily infirmity, furnish an exception. What follower of Christ, (and we should all be his followers,) but must desire always to be able to put a difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.

CHAPTER XLI.

Additional laws. The son of Shelomith. Promises and threatenings.

Aaron, at this time, received one more injunction from Moses respecting the offerings. He and his sons were commanded to eat what remained of

those which were made by fire. It was a portion justly belonging to them, and one of the means of their support, separated, as they were from all worldly employments, and consecrated to the survice of God. And this was to be a perpetual statute for all who should succeed them in the priests' office. After giving this command, Moses found that the goat which had been sacrificed as a sin-offering, was entirely consumed by fire, and that Aaron and his sons had not eaten of it, as they had been directed to do. He was greatly displeased at what appeared to him to be an act of disobedience, and inquired particularly into the cause of it.

Behold," said Aaron in reply, "this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord." He pleaded the affecting circumstances in which he was placed, and the bitter anguish that he felt on account of the death of Nadab and Abihu; to show that to eat without any appetite for food, and when his soul was sick with have been no acceptable service on his sorrow, would that of his sons.

part and

'Moses felt the force of the sentiment, and sympathizing with his brother, expressed his approbation of what he had done; nor do we find God himself passing any censure upon it. A striking

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incident to show, that he desires mercy rather than sacrifice, and that he knows how to pity, and make allowance for, the weaknesses and distresses of our

nature.

After those transactions, and while the Israelites were still encamped near Mount Sinai, Moses received from God, and communicated to the people, many additional laws and ordinances. They are recorded in Leviticus, and need to be studied and understood as an essential part of the Jewish code; and as illustrating the principles of the divine government, in separating the children of Israel from all the rest of mankind, to be his peculiar people, and to have him for their immediate, temporal Ruler and Sovereign. No one can derive that full instruction from the Bible which it was intended to impart, without giving particular attention to these and the other laws and ordinances of the Mosaic economy; and the author would again urge upon his reader the great importance of doing this.

Before bringing his instructions to Moses to a close, God, at this time, manifested his indignation, in a very severe manner, against a new offence which was committed among the Israelites. The son of Shelomith, an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, strove with a man of Israel in the camp. During the struggle he be came so enraged, that he blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. He was taken into custody

and

and carried to Moses, who ordered him, for the present, to be put into confinement, until the will of the Lord should be made known respecting him. This being done, Moses, as we have reason to think, resorted to the tabernacle, and, standing before the Divine glory, made inquiry on the subject. The response was a fearful one, showing the extent of the displeasure of Jehovah against such a sin, and worthy of our perpetual remembrance.

Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him, lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, whosoever curseth his God, shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.”

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This sentence was carried into immediate exe cution, and is left on record to remind us of the heinous guilt of the blasphemer; who, though now not suffer the penalty that was threatened by the Mosaic law, will have to meet that more awful one in the future world which Divine Justice will inflict, unless he repents and obtains pardon through the Redeemer.

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