be attentive too to our after-conduct, " lest we lose the things that we have wrought, instead of receiving a full reward8." However carefully the offerers had observed the law before, yet, if any one presumed to eat the smallest portion of his offering on the third day, instead of being accepted of God, his offering was utterly rejected ; and he was considered as having com- mitted a deadly sin*. O that those who spend a few days in what is called ' preparing themselves' for the Lord's supper, and after receiving it return to the same worldly courses as before, would consider this ! for no service can be pleasing to God which does not issue in an immediate renunciation of every evil way, and a determined, unreserved, and abiding surrender of the soul to God. In coming to God, we must, at least in purpose and intention, be " clean ;" else we only mock God, and deceive our own souls u : and, after having come to him, we must proceed to " cleanse ourselves from all nlthiness both of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Godx."]
3. For encouragement —
[On these occasions a female offering was received, as well as a male, and leavened bread together with the unleavened. What a blessed intimation was here, that " God will not be extreme to mark what is done amiss ! " A similar intimation is given us in his acceptance of a mutilated or defective beast, when presented to him as a free-will offering ?. Our best ser- vices, alas ! are very poor and defective : corruption is blended with every thing we do : our very tears need to be washed from their defilement, and our repentances to be repented of. But, if we are sincere and without allowed guile, God will deal with us as a Parent with his beloved children, accepting with pleasure the services we render him, and overlooking the weakness with which they are performed2.]
s 2 John, ver. 8. * ver. 18. u ver. 20. x 2 Cor. vii. 1.
y Lev. xxii. 23. z Prov. xv. 8. Ps. cxlvii. 11.