Reader, pause, and, in the presence of the Searcher of hearts, ask yourself this plain, pointed question: Am I sanctioning by my presence, or adopting in my practice, any departure from, or neglect of, the Word of God? Make this a solemn, personal matter before the Lord. Be assured of it, it is of the very deepest moment--the very last importance. If you find that you have been in any wise connected with, or involved in, aught that wears not the distinct stamp of divine sanction, reject it at once and forever. Yes, reject it, though arrayed in the imposing vestments of antiquity, accredited by the voice of tradition, and putting forward the almost irresistible plea of expediency. If you cannot say, in reference to every thing with which you stand connected, "This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded," then away with it unhesitatingly, away with it forever. Remember these words, "As He hath done this day, so the Lord hath commanded to do." Yes, remember the "as" and the "so;" see that you are connecting them in your ways and associations, and let them never be separated.
"So Aaron and his sons did _all things which the Lord commanded_ by the hand of Moses." (Chap. viii. 36.) "And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat; which, when all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces." (Chap. ix. 23, 24.) Here we have an "eighth day" scene--a scene of resurrection-glory. Aaron, having offered the sacrifice, lifted up his hands in priestly benediction upon the people; and then Moses and Aaron retire into the tabernacle, and disappear, while the whole assembly is seen in waiting outside. Finally, Moses and Aaron, representing Christ in His double character as Priest and King, come forth, and bless the people; the glory appears in all its splendor, the fire consumes the sacrifice, and the entire congregation falls prostrate in worship before the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
Now, all this was literally enacted at the consecration of Aaron and his sons; and, moreover, all this was the result of strict adherence to the Word of Jehovah. But ere I turn from this branch of the subject, let me remind the reader that all that these chapters contain is but "a shadow of good things to come." This, indeed, holds good in reference to the entire Mosaic economy. (Heb. x. 1.) Aaron and his sons together represent Christ and His priestly house; Aaron alone represents Christ in His sacrificial and intercessory functions; Moses and Aaron together represent Christ as King and Priest; "the eighth day" represents the day of resurrection-glory, when the congregation of Israel shall see the Messiah, seated as a Royal Priest upon His throne, and when the glory of Jehovah shall fill the whole earth, as the waters cover the sea. These sublime truths are largely unfolded in the Word, they glitter like gems of celestial brilliancy all along the inspired page; but lest they should, to any reader, wear the suspicious aspect of novelty, I shall refer him to the following direct Scripture proofs; viz., Num. xiv. 21; Isaiah ix. 6, 7; xi.; xxv. 6-12; xxxii. 1, 2; xxxv.; xxxvii. 31, 32; xl. 1-5; liv.; lix. 16-21; lx.-lxvi.; _passim_, Jer. xxiii. 5-8; xxx. 10-24; xxxiii. 6-22; Ezek. xlviii. 35; Dan. vii. 13, 14; Hos. xiv. 4-9; Zeph. iii. 14-20; Zech. iii. 8-10; vi. 12, 13; xiv.