every one of us " subscribe with our hands, and say, I am the Lord's1." We should " give up ourselves to him by a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten k." We should consider ourselves as " separated from mankind" for this very purpose1, that we may be " wholly sanctified unto him, in spirit, soul, and bodym." This St. Paul declares to be "our reasonable ser- vice"." Not that we are to be inactive in the common duties of life, or to spend our days in nothing but contemplation and devotion : this would be to strain the parallel too far : but, in the spirit and habit of our minds, we are to be entirely given up to God, so that " whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to his glory0" On the Sabbath espe- cially should this dedication of ourselves be repeated and con- firmed. We should come up to the house of God with the same mind as the priests who brought the loaves : their pur- pose was known and fixed ; and they went into the sanctuary determined not to leave it till they had executed their high office. O that we might go to God's house on purpose to consecrate ourselves to him afresh; and never leave our work dubious or incomplete ! ]
2. To be much occupied in prayer and intercession —
[The loaves were, so to speak, representatives of the tribes of Israel ; and the frankincense ascended up as a memorial to God for them. Thus should we consider ourselves interested, not for ourselves only, but for all the Church of God. As for ourselves, we are commanded to " pray always," to " pray without ceasing" and to " offer unto God the sacrifice of praise continually, giving thanks to his name ; " so, for others are we required to " make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all men." Moreover, this duty is inculcated on all : the prophetic declaration is, that, wherever God is known, " from the rising to the setting sun, even there shall incense be offered unto his name, and a pure offering D:" " all who make mention of the Lord," will be thus occupied ; they " will not keep silence, nor give God any rest, till he establish his Church, and make it a praise in the earth q." How pros- perous would individuals and churches be, if such a spirit pre- vailed more amongst them ! O that " God would pour out upon us more of a spirit of grace and of supplication ! " We should not long remain without manifest tokens of his appro- bation and love ]
3. To wait patiently for our removal hence —
[The loaves were left in the sanctuary till the time appointed
1 Isai. xliv. 5. k Jer. 1. 5. x Lev. xx. 24.
m 1 Thess. v. 23. n Rom. xii. 1. ° 1 Cor. x. 31.
p Mai. i. 11. i Isai. lxii. 6, 7.