disappear like bubbles in the stream; this book, transferred d G. Gilfillan. to a higher clime, shall shine as the brightness of that eternal firmament, and as those higher stars, which are for ever and ever.d 15-19. (15) sons of Zadok, ch. xl. 46, xliii. 19. fat and the blood, v. 7. (16) sanctuary, the first chamber, known as the holy place. table, or altar. (17) linen garments," including the linen breeches, the coat, the girdle, and the bonnet. no wool, regarded as unclean, v. 18. (18) bonnets, or caps. (19) utter court, or outer court of the people. with their garments, i.e. while having on their special priestly gar ments. 46 The use of a Bible.-It was customary in Cromwell's time for his soldiers to carry each a Bible in his pocket. Among others, a profligate young man was ordered to attack some fortress. During the engagement a bullet had perforated his Bible, and gone so far as to rest opposite these words in Ecclesiastes: Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." The words, so appropriate to his case, powerfully affected his mind, and proved by the blessing of God the means of his conversion. He used to observe that the Bible had been the happy means of saving both his soul and body." 20-25. (20) shave, etc., Le. xxi. 5. grow long,' wh. was an ordinary sign of mourning. poll, cut and trim. (21) drink wine, Le. x. 9. The prohibition refers to times when the priests were actually engaged in holy service. (22) widow, Le. xxi. 13. The Levitical law for the high priest is extended to all priests. (23) teach, etc., Le. x. 10, xi.-xvi. ; Mal. ii. 7. (24) controversy, i.e. when controversies or disputes arise among the people. (25) dead person, Le. xxi. 1, 11. The duty of ministers (v. 23).-God's ministers are to be public instructors. 1. They are to teach; 2. Their instructions to be specially addressed to Israel, "My people;" 3. Their instructions to have defined purpose, to show "the difference," etc.; 4. Their method of instruction to be twofold, by example and by precept. a "The material of wh. the four vestments of the ordinary priests were made was linen,' or more accurately, bysshining cotton stuff of Egypt. These two qua lities of the byssus are specially marked as characteristic, and on them part of the symbolic meaning depended."-Spk. Com. sus, the white b"Wool soon in duces perspiration in the sultry E.,and so becomes uncleanly."Fausset. Jewish c J. Evans. shaved and un- b "Long hair was a sign of effeminacy; 1 Cor. xi. 14."-Wordsworth. 2 Sa. xiv. 26. bidden to eat 26-31. (26) cleansed, fr. the defilement ensuing in relation to a dead body, Nu. xix. 11. (27) his sin offering, Le. iv. 3. a "The Moham(28) it shall be, render v. "This shall be to them for an inhe-medans are forritance, that I am their inheritance." (29) eat, etc., for their necessary support. dedicated, or devoted thing, Le. xxvii. 21, 28. (30) first, chief, or best. oblation, or offering; gift from the produce of the ground. dough, made from the new corn. Nu. xv. 20. (31) dead of itself, Ex. xxii. 31; Le. xxii. 8. Infidels and the Bible.-No matter how infidel philosophers may regard the Bible; they may say that Genesis is awry, and that the Psalms are more than half-bitter imprecations, and the prophecies only the fantasies of brain-bewildered men, and the Gospels weak laudations of an impostor, and the Epistles only the letters of a mad Jew, and that the whole book has had its day; I that wh. dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that on wh. the name of any besides God hath been invoked; and that which hath been strangled, or killed by a blow or a fall, or by the horns of another beast; and that which. hath been torn by a wild beast, except what he himself shall kill; and that which hath been sacri ficed unto idols!" -Gadsby. bH. W. Beecher. shall cling to it until they show me a better revelation. The Bible emptied, effete, worn-out! If all the wisest men of the world were placed man to man, they could not sound the shallowest depth of the Gospel of John. O philosophers! break the shell, and fly out and let me hear how you can sing. Not of passion, I know that already; not of worldly power, I hear that everywhere; but teach me, through your song, how to find joy in sorrow, strength in weakness, and light in darkest days; how to bear buffeting and scorn, how to welcome death, and to pass through its ministration into the sphere of life; and this, not for me only, but for the whole world that groans and travails in pain; and until you can do this, speak not to me of a better revelation.' a "So called bec. was when anything offered to raised the hand." God, the offerer -Fausset. Ex. xxv. 2, xxix. 24, 27. "This quantity of land could not be simply for dwellings, and was prob. in lieu of tithes, just as the prince had his definite portion of land instead of being supported by the contributions of the people."Spk. Com. c Nu. xxxv. 2. d Maclagan. a "On either side of the 25,000 reeds a strip of land, running westwards to the sea, eastwards to the Jordan, formed the possession of the prince."Spk. Com. b 1 Sa. viii. 14, 35; Je. xxii. CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIFTH. 1-5. (1) by lot, or allotment, apportionment. Reference here is to the portion assigned to Jehovah, and used for His sanctuary, priests, and Levites. oblation, Heb., heave-offering. reeds, this word is supplied by the translators, prob. correctly. The reed was twelve feet long. The whole was a square of sixty miles on each side. (2) sanctuary, including the entire temple-area. suburbs, void places; ground immediately about the temple-walls, wh. might not be built on. (3) this measure, v. 1. (4) for the priests, for their work, dwellings, and maintenance. (5) twenty chambers, LXX. trans. better, "for cities to dwell in."e The Bible a miracle.-The Bible itself is a standing and an astonishing miracle. Written fragment by fragment, throughout the course of fifteen centuries, under different states of society, and in different languages, by persons of the most opposite tempers, talents, and conditions, learned and unlearned, prince and peasant, bond and free; cast into every form of instructive composition and good writing, history, prophecy, poetry, allegory, emblematical representation, judicious interpretation, literal statement, precept, example, proverb, disquisition, epistle, sermon, prayer; in short, all rational shapes of human discourse, and treating, moreover, of subjects not obvious, but most difficult. Its authors are not found, like other writers, contradicting one another upon the most ordinary matters of fact and opinion, but are at harmony upon the whole of their sublime and momentous scheme." 6-8. (6) possession.. city, or the portion to be occupied by the city. for the whole house, i.e. it was to be regarded as belonging to the nation, and free for the use of the entire people. (7) for the prince, for his palace and private estate. His portion is thus carefully defined to prevent future encroachments, such as there had been in the past. (8) oppress, by seizing on private property. Supposed loss of the Bible.-It was very early suggested that etc.; 2 Ki. xxiii. the whole Bible had again and again been quoted piecemeal in one book or other-that it had impressed its own image on the surface of human literature, and had been reflected on its course as the stars on a stream. But alas! when lost, on investigation it was found as vain to expect that the gleam of starlight A proud Indian nabob, going along the streets one day, was at would still remain mirrored in the water when the clouds had veiled the stars themselves, as that the bright characters of the Bible would remain reflected in the books of men when they had been erased from the book of God. On inspection, it was found that every text, every phrase which had been quoted, not only in books of devotion and theology, but in those of poetry and fiction, had been remorselessly expunged. Never before had I had any adequate idea of the extent to which the Bible had moulded the intellectual and moral life of the last eighteen centuries, nor how intimately it had interfused itself with habits of thought and modes of expression; nor how naturally and extensively its comprehensive imagery and language had been introduced into human writings, and most of all where there had been most of genius. A vast portion of literature became instantly worthless, and was transformed into so much waste-paper. It was almost impossible to look into any book of merit, and read ten pages together, witout coming to some provoking erasures and mutilations, some hiatus valde deflendi, which made whole passages perfectly unintelligible. Many of the sweetest passages of Shakespeare were converted into unmeaning nonsense, from the absence of those words which his own all but divine genius had appropriated from a still diviner source. As to Milton, he was nearly ruined, as might naturally be supposed. Walter Scott's novels were filled with perpetual lacuna. I hoped it might be otherwise with the philosophers, and so it was: but even here it was curious to see what strange ravages the visitation had wrought. Some of the most beautiful and comprehensive of Bacon's aphorisms were reduced to enigmatical nonsense." popery, and the marg. expul 9-12. (9) suffice, ch. xliv. 8. exactions, sions, lit. ejections, such as Ahab's, 1 Ki. xxi. 19. bath, Le. xix. 35, 36; Pr. xi. 1. (11) bath, a fluids. homer, distinguish from omer, Ex. xvi. 36. Ex. xxx. 13. maneh, or pound.c The duty of the civil rulers (v. 9).-1. They were to impose a check to passion, revenge, and wrong-doing; 2. To execute law and justice without respect to persons; 3. To abolish needless, and reduce necessary, taxation; 4. To institute uniform weights, measures, and coinage; 5. To do their personal share in the matter of religious offerings. eric. tions of My people."-Words worth. b 1 Ki. vii. 26, 38; 2 Chr. ii. 10, iv. 5; Is. v. 10. c 1 Ki. x. 17; Ezr. ii. 69; Ne. vii. 71. 13-17. (13) oblation, v. 1. (14) cor, prob. a synonym for a 1 Ki. v. 11; 2 homer. (15) lamb, or kid. peace offerings, or thank- Chr. ii. 10, xxvii. offerings. (15) for the prince, better, with the prince.6 5. (17) prince's part, his special duty as the prince. prepare, b "The i.c. provide. The Christian's bulwark-The Bible.-The Christian faith has been, and is still, very fiercely and obstinately attacked. How many efforts have been and are still made; how many books, serious or frivolous, able or silly, have been and are spread incessantly, in order to destroy it in men's minds! Where has this redoubtable struggle been supported with the greatest energy and success? and where has Christian faith been best defended? There where the reading of the Sacred Book is a general and assiduous part of public worship, there where it takes place in the interior of families, and in solitary meditation. It is the Bible, prince shall join with the people in making these ob lations, whereas those that follow, in the next v., are to be at the sole charge of the prince."-Lowth. a "The offerings here, and the manner of offering as to the sprinkling of the Levitical law.". the Bible itself, which combats and triumphs most efficaciously in the war between incredulity and belief. 18-21. (18) first month," see Le. xvi. 16. (19) upon the posts, etc., comp. ch. xliii. 20. (20) simple, or errs through ignorance. (21) passover, Ex. xii., etc. Its words The Bible. You find the Bible the patriot's charter-book, the blood, etc., differ child's delight, the old man's comfort, and the young man's in many respects from the injunc-guide. In its pages the sick and weary find the solace which they tions of the need, and the tempted meet with timely succour. whisper hope and peace to the dying, and minister daily food to the healthy and vigorous household. With the pious music of its sublime or plaintive songs echo the roofs of ten thousand times ten thousand Christian temples, and the child's prayer, night and morn, is lisped forth in the simple and comprehensive words which were dictated by Him who is its central light. b Dr. Beard. a "This worship was offered by bowing his head, The 22-25. (22) prepare, or provide. (23) seven, etc., comp. Nu. xxviii. 19-24. (24) meat offering, etc., vv. 11, 15. hin, sixth part of an ephah or bath. (25) feast.. days, Nu. xxix. 12. Influence of the Bible.-The Bible has been expelled for centuries, by atheistic or sacerdotal hate, from the dwellings of many of the European nations. As a matter of course, the domestic virtues have declined; the conjugal relation is disparaged; deception and intrigue have supplanted mutual confidence; and society has become diseased to its very core. very best thing we can do-the only thing which will be efficient to arrest these evils, is to restore to those nations the Word of God; to replace in their houses that Bible of which they have been robbed. Only do for France and Italy, Belgium and Spain, Portugal and Austria, what has been attempted, and to a great extent accomplished, for our country-put a Bible in every family, and a mightier change will pass over Europe than can be effected by all the diplomacy of her statesmen, or all the revolu tions projected by her patriots. CHAPTER THE FORTY-SIXTH. 1-4. (1) gate, etc., ch. xliv. 2, 3. (2) worship.. gate, comp. Sol.'s position at the dedication, 2 Chr. vi. 12, 13.o (3) bowing people.. land, standing behind their prince, and represented the earth, or fall- by him. (4) burnt offering, comp. Nu. xxviii. 9. and down his face to ing down upon the posture of Religious decision.-Consider—I. The importance of religious the ground, as decision. Important because thus only can-1. The harmonious Dios worship is operation of all the powers of the soul be secured; 2. Every elsewhere de- difficulty be successfully overcome; 3. We obtain the full approscribed."--Lowth. bation of God. II. The philosophy of religious decision. To serve the Lord demands the action of the will. 1. The will is b "The prince occupies an ana- the controlling faculty of the soul; 2. To be virtuous in its logous position, action or volition it must be free; 3. Its action is determined, to standing in front of the porch of a great extent, by the influences which are brought to bear upon the eastern gate it. III. The urgency of religious decision. "This day," because of the inner-1. Procrastination is dangerous; 2. Your advantages will never court, while the be greater than they are now; 3. It is criminal to hesitate to do priests are sacrificing before that which is so manifestly your reasonable duty. If you will him."-Spk. Com. not decide while it is a day of grace, you must for ever perish. M.A. poor preparation Heathen and Jewish worship contrasted.—We have met with a P. L. Davies, very curious engraving in the Antiquités d'Herculaneum, after an ancient painting found at Portici, representing the Egyptian It would be a worship of Isis. This we have copied; for while some allege for my first Sabthat the forms of the Hebrew worship resembled, essentially, bath in heaven, those of the Egyptians, and others contend that their forms were to have misspent designedly made as different as possible from those of Egypt, it my last Sabbath is an advantage to ascertain the truth from the unexceptionable testimony of an ancient painting." 5-8. (5) able to give, i.e. the amount is to be settled by his own ability and willingness. (6) new moon, Nu. xxviii. 11, 15. (7) meat offering, v. 5. (8) that gate, v. 1. Choose your God.-I. What will you live for if not for God? 1. Pleasure. And what does this promise you? Live as you like, it says; but will it last? 2. Wealth. But will your wealth make you happy? Is a miser happy? 3. Praise. Fame says, I will blow my trumpet loud over your grave. Over your grave! Will you hear it then? Will you sleep the sweeter for it? At God's bar it may be a heavy curse. 4. Affection: friendship. Now, this in itself is beautiful. But earthly friends must die; and then they are not perfect. No, you want something better than this. II. Why you should live for God. In Him-1. You have what nothing else can give; 2. You may have all the other portions, too, as far as they are worth having.a on earth. d Dr. Kitto. a Dr. J. Ed monds. "Among all that has been pub lished on ethical subjects, on science, on sociology,on physical economy, can you find any book that SO inspires courage, and hope, and correct judgment, and love of holiness, as the Bible does ?" Beecher. "The Bible will our 9-15. (9) over against it, i.e. by the gate on the opposite not be less, but side. (10) in the midst, as their representative. (11) able rather more, to give, v. 5. (12) voluntary, etc., as an act and expression of personal piety. (13) daily, etc., Ex. xxix. 38. (14) continually, a daily solemn recognition that all things they had were the Lord's. (15) prepare, or provide. The presence of the prince (v. 10).-I. He is in the midst of his people; 2. His presence is apprehended by his people; 3. He is accessible to his people; 4. His presence is for practical purposes. Apply :-(1) Live as in the presence of your Prince; (2) Beware of going where you cannot expect Him to follow; (3) Be willing to follow where He leads; (4) So cherish His presence in life that when you go out of this world He may still be with you. 16–18. (16) give a gift, it could only be from his allotted portion; and to his sons, not to his servants. He must not alienate any portion from his family. (17) year of liberty, jubilee year, when property was restored." (18) take.. oppression, ch. xlv. 8. The trumpet, the law, and the crown (v. 17).—I. The trumpet of the year of liberty. 1. When sounded; 2. Where sounded; 3. For what purpose sounded. II. The law of the year of liberty; its duties are typical. 1. Unworldliness; 2. Entire devotion to God. III. The crown of the year of liberty. 1. It spake of the joy of the recipient of special blessings; 2. It spake also of sympathy. 19-24. (19) a place, for cooking the priests' food. (20) boil, 2 Chr. xxxv. 13. bake, Le. ii. 4, 5, 7. (21) every corner a court, for cooking the flesh of the peace-offerings, of wh. the people partook along with the priests." (22) joined, better, as marg., "had chimneys." (23) row of buildings, furnaces, prized by occasionally turning from it to open another and equally divine volume, to read some pages of the Book of Nature." a Sons may have freehold rights, but servants only leasehold rights. "Tie Jubilee year was restored after the captivity."-Josephus. bStems and Twigs. a Faustet. "The growth of a believer is not like a mushroom, but like an oak, |