rot.t~nm,ss ent~red int-0 my bones, and I trembled in myself" (eh, iii. 16), In part, no cln11 ht, weakness trembles before strength, littleness before greatness finiteness before ,nlinity; bui, nrninly, it is sinfulness that quakes and shrinks befon: perfect holiness corruption that shivers before incorruption, rottenness before absolute purity. ' JI. 'l'!IE PREPAHATION NEEDED ERE WE APPROACH mM. Only the "pure in heart" can "sec God." In all our approaches t-0 him, we must seek first to be made fit for propinquity by separation from sin. Moses was bidden to "sanctify the people" (ver. l 0), which he could only do outwardly. This true sanctification, tho true purification, was heart-felt repentance, deep contrition, and the earnest reS-Olve to forsake sin o.nd henceforth live righteously. 'l'his preparation each man had to make for himself. It was in vain that he should wash himself seven times, or seven times seven, in vain that he should J?Urify his gai:ments, and keep himself free from material pollutions of every sort and kmd-somethmg more was needed-he ,-equired to be purified in heart o.nl. suul. And so it is with Christians-with all men universally. God must be approached with humility-not in the spirit of the Pharisee; with reverence-head bowed down, and voice hushed to a low tone, and heart full of the fear of his holiness• with a pure mind-that is, with a mind averse from sin, and resolved henceforth to d~ rigllteously. The publican's approach was better than the pharisee's. Let men "smite upon their breast," let them be deeply convinced of sin, o.nd own themselves si1111ers; let them implore the blotting out of their sins, and the cleansina of their -,n1.ire nature; let them heartily resolve to sin no more, but walk in newn:Ss of life a11J there is no contact which they need dread, no nearness of approach from which they nee<l shrink. We are not, indeed, to hope in this life for that vision of God, or for that degree of communion, which our souls desire. "Now we see through a glass darkly-now we know in part." The full vision of God, full access to him, complete communion, is reserved for the next world, where it will form our perfect bliss o.nd cou~ wnm.'ltion.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 10-25.-" The mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire" (Heh. xii. 18). It is interesting to observe that, with the latter part of this chapter, we enter on an entirely new phase in the history of God's revelation of himself to Israel. Terror enough there has been in the previous portions of the book-terror alld "a. mighty hand "-awful manifestations of God's power and holiness; but towards Israel there has been displayed only benignity and fatherly a.lfection. Their wants have bee11 u.n,,,=dgingly supplied; even their murmlll'ings, as we have seen, did not elicit from. God more than a passing reproof. But now that Jehovah takes his awful seat on Si11ai, and proceeds to give forth his law, he clothes himself, even towards Israel, with a majesty and terror which strike the people with dismay. The fact is obviously one of ,ieep significance, requiring, as it will repay, our close attention. What, meanwhile, we have to note is, that God did not reveal himself in la.wand terror till he had given the people many practical evidences of his love for them, and so had won their confidence. Without this, the terrors of Sinai could scarcely have been borne by them. L THE PREPARATION (vers. 10-16). The revelation at Sinai was distinctively a revelation of the Divine holiness. From this fact, rightly apprehended, we may deduce tile necessity for the preparations o.nd precautions referred to in the text. 'l'he design of the lawgiving was to bring to light, o.nd impress on men's minds, that holiness and _justice which are essential parts of God's character, and which underlie all his dealings with them, even when most veiled by tenderness and grace. The time had come which Gud judged best for such a revelation being made. Made it had to be at some point or olher in the history of the Divine dealings with men; and no time was so suitable for iL as this of the colllititution of the covenant with Israel, The instructions issued to tile people accord with this design, o.nd have as their end the impressing of their minds with a deep sen.se of the holiness of the Being into whose presence they are approach- i11g, and of their own unholineBB and unfitness to draw near to him. Holiness is-I. .Ab~ulute rr.oral pwrity anut perfe,d,i,on. It is sanctity of character. It implies, whether iu Gu<l or man, the steadfast bent of the will towards all that is good and true and just BJ,ll JHlfe. lo Gurl, it io au iu/lexiLle determination tu uphdd at all costs the interests CII. XIX. 10-Z5.] 'f!Jr◄; BOOK Ol◄' F,X()DUS. 11!)