also declared, "I am He who searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." How impressive is this announcement of that righteous scrutiny, to which we must be subjected in the presence of Him who "dwelleth in the light;" to whom "the night shineth as the day!" and how calculated to abase every human spirit, under a consciousness of deep unworthiness! but how dreadful when realized by the soul of the sinner, who has not yielded to the converting "grace and truth" which came by Jesus Christ."

CHAP. XLIII.—The high priest and his sons, who ministered in the tabernacle, were consecrated by an offering, repeated for seven successive days, of a ram, the blood of which, together with the anointing oil, was sprinkled on them and on their garments, as well as upon the altar of burnt sacrifice; and they were commanded to eat the flesh of the ram "wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them." This is beautifully typical of that preparation which every true minister of the gospel must ex

perience "through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience; and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:" partaking, from one day to another, of that heavenly food, of which the blessed Redeemer spake, when he declared, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." Thus, also, is every obedient child of God, who walks in the light, sanctified through the Spirit, which applies to the soul "the blood of Christ" that "cleanseth from all sin." And these are of that number whom the Apostle Peter addresses "as lively stones, built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

The Lord gave unto Moses particular directions respecting offerings for sins of ignorance, and also for those which were committed wittingly: but it is worthy of special consideration, that for every trespass, whether greater or less-whether wrought consciously or ignorantly—the high priest was commanded "to make an atonement for it before the Lord," by offering, on the altar of burnt sacrifice, a lamb, or a kid, or a ram

the animal to be without blemish-and the blood was to be sprinkled upon the horns of the altar, and poured round the bottom of the altar-the fire on which, like the flame of heavenly love within the truly devoted heart, was kept "ever burning," never being suffered to go out.

Various were the sacrifices of atonement and cleansing which, by the command of Jehovah, the priest of the outward tabernacle offered for the people; for, as saith the Apostle, "almost all things" were "by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission." Of these we may mention the ordinance for the healing of the leper. Whosoever was thus defiled was to "be shut up"-" to dwell alone without the camp," and the priest was to visit him every seven days, and to "take two birds, alive and clean," and to "kill one of them in an earthen vessel over running water," sprinkling the leper with the blood of the slain bird, dipping the living bird also in the blood, and then to "let the living bird loose into the open field." This observance was succeeded by the sin offering-a lamb without

blemish, which, said the Lord, "the priest shall offer, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness." The dwelling also of the leper, having become tainted, was to be emptied, and by various operations cleansed by the priest, and lastly, by the sprinkling of blood. This was, in all its details, a remarkable type of the inherent vileness and deep corruption of the natural mind-the spiritual leprosy so difficult to cure-and the bondage in which the sinner is shut up; as without the camp; yet mercifully regarded and visited by Christ, through the convictions of His grace: the inmost soul defiled, the conduct-the example-and the influence on all around being, like the infected habitation, corrupted by the contagion of evil. Yet fallen and diseased as is the heart of man, foul with the leprosy of sin, there is a stream of running water-the purifying power of the Holy Spirit-in which he may be cleansed: and there is the precious blood of Christ, an all-sufficient atonement for his iniquity. But, be it remembered, that the blood shed over the running water, must of necessity become mingled with it; thus teaching us, that there

is an inseparable connexion between those sanctifying operations, by which the habit of sin is destroyed within us, and the application of that propitiatory sacrifice, through which the penitent soul receives forgiveness and mercy. By yielding to "the washing of regeneration" he experiences "the Lamb of God" to take away his sin; and being ransomed from its thraldom, his soul can rise in newness of life, like the living bird, "let loose" to fly "in the open field."

CHAP. XLIV.-Whenever the people of Israel were numbered, they were required. to observe an ordinance, calculated to renew on their minds the sense of their entire dependence on Jehovah, and to inspire the remembrance of fealty to Him: they were commanded to "give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord"-this was accounted "the atonement money;" its amount was "half a shekel of the sanctuary;" and the Lord said, "The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less:" it was appointed for the service of the tabernacle, as a memorial before the Lord to make an atonement