HOMILETICS. Vera. 32-34.-Memorials of mercies. It is indicative of the weakness and imperfec- tion of human nature, that memorials of mercies should be needed. But frail humanity cannot do without them ; and God in his goodness, knowing this, sanctions them. As he had the rod of Aaron, which budded (N um. xvii. 10), and the pot of manna, made per- manent portions of the furnitnre of the tabernacle for memorials, so he had memorial days established, Sabbath, and Passover, and Pentecost, and memorial seasons, as the feasts uf unleavened bread and tabernacles, that the children of Israel might keep his mercies in perpetual remembrance. We Christians have no such material memorials as the tables of stone, the rod, and the manna; for the "True Cross" is historically untrustworthy, !l.nd the "Holy Coat" could not have been a Jewish garment. We have, however, memorials of mercies.- I. IN OUR HOLY DAYB. Our Sunday is a perpetual memorial and reminder of the great mercy of Christ's Resurrection, the earnest, and efficient cause, of our own. Christmas-day, Good Friday, Ascension-day, are memorials of the same kind; not so universally acknowledged, but UBeful memorials, where they are estabUshed and observed. Christianity commands that no man shall judge another ii;, n:spect of such observances; but it would be an ill day for Christendom, if they were universally given up. Thousands find them great helps to devotion, great stimulants to gratitude and love. II. IN om~ HOLY EMBLEMS. The Cross, the Lamb, the Eagle, the Crown of Thorns, the Vine, the Rose, the Lily of the Valley, wherever we behold them, are memorials of divine mercies, never sufficiently remembered, most useful in recalling to our minds the acts, events, persons, wherewith they are scripturally connected. Some minds are so constituted as not to require such reminders. But to the mass of men they are of inexpressible value, waking up (as they do) twenty times a day holy thoughts trot might otherwise have slumbered, and stirring the heart to devotions that might other- wise have been unthought of. III. IN OUR HOLY BUILDINGS. What the entire tabernacle was to the Israelites in the wilderness, what the temple, so long as it stood, was to the I=elite nation, such to Christians are their cathedrals, abbeys, churches, chapels, oratories, perpetual reminders of holy things, memorials pointing heavenwards, and bringing to mind all that God has done for us. That they are also intended for practical use as places where we may worship in common, and be taught in common, does not prevent their being at the same time memorials. It is as memorials that they lift themselves up so high, ascending in tier over tier of useless pinnacle, and high-pitched roof, and spire-crowued tower. 'lhey 3.im at catching our attention, forcing us to look at them, and making us think of Gou's mercies.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vcrs. 32-34.-The pot of manna. Aaron was ordered to take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for future genera- tions. The pot of manna is alluded to in Hebrews, where it is described as "gult.len," and as laid up in the ark (Heb. ix. 4). It may be questioned how so corruptible a sub- stance admitted of preservation. But it is not so plain that the manna. had in itself auy tendency to corrupt, so that the miracle is perhaps to be looked for, not iu the keeping fresh of the portion laid up in the ark, but in the smiting with corruption of any portions sinfully hoarded by the Israelites (ver. 20). We are taught-- I. THAT TllE GREATER MERCIES OF GoD OUGHT SPECIALLY TO BE RE.MEMDERED BY US. It is fitting, even in the Church, to appoint memorials of them. JI. 'filAT THE PECULIAR LESSONS OF THE MANNA OUGHT SPECIALLY TO BE KEPT IN RF.ME.MBRANCE. Among these note the following :-1. "Man doth not live by breau alone," etc. (cf. Deut. viii. 4; Matt. iv. 4). 2. 'l'he lesson of dependence o~ Uou for ~upply of daily wants (Matt. vi. 2). 3. Typical lessons. The manua. remmds us of Christ1 our Breau of Life, in heaven. "Your life is hid with Christ in Gou" (Col. iii. 3). 'l'hc " hiddon manna" in Rev. ii. 17, would seem to inilicatc the spiritual uuurishmon, 60 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [ea. XVII. 1-7.
in com?1union with God and Christ which will maintain soul and body for ever in the possession of an incorruptible life-life undecaying, self-renewing, everlasting. Ill. THE IKDISSOLUBLE UNION OF LAW AND GRACE IN Goo's DEAt.INfl.'1 wtTll ms CHFRCH. The pot of manna was laid up (after the ark was made) "before tlle tesu- rnon::, to be _kept" (ver. 34). ~he law is the s\ern background, but near it is the golden rot, tilled with the manna which told of Gods goodness and grace to a people whom mere law would have condemned. God can be thus gracious to his Church not because his law has been set aside, but because it has been magnified and ~ade honourable by Christ, whose blood pleads at the mercy-seat for the transgressor.-J. O.