the Church cnt.holic, spiril,uRl, invisible. "The whole family in heaven and earth"- " one Clmrch, above, below." But why cRlled "first-born"? "They are partakers with Chri~t. in all the privileges of thRt right of primogeniture, which properly and essentially helongs to him alone." (Candlish.) The t.rnth figured here is, that in Christ we are adruitt.ed to the "communion of sR.ints." "I believe in the holy Catholic Church. . . . I believe in the communion of sa.ints." Yet bow little, sometimes, docs this great privilege mean t-0 us! 4. Another part of the assembly on the mount is denoted by the words -" the spirits of just men made perfect." These are the holy and good of the former dispensation, now admitted to equality of r,rivilege and blessedness with Christians (c[ Heh. xi. 40). 5. God himself sits enthroned in the midst-" Judge of all." 'l'ho expression reminds us of the writer's design, which is not consolatory, but admonitory. It is still the holy God with whom we have to do, the Judge (cf. Hom. ii. 6; 1 Pet. i. 17) a.~ well as Father ; one who will punish disobedience to bib voice now with even greater severity than be did of old (Heb. xii. 25, 29). The God of Sinai and the God of Sion are after all the same Ood. What, then, makes the difference between Sinai and Sion ~ 'l'hc an~wer is---6. "Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling." It is Christ's presence in the scene which has changed all the surroundings. To all these things, if we are indeed in Christ, we ccme. How? (1) By coming to Jesus himself. 'J'o come to Jesus, as has been well said, is to come to all else that is here described. We may or may not realise our privileges; but they are there. We are members of the spiritual commonwealth, enjoy the ministry of angels, are part of the in\'isihle Church, have rights of the first-born, etc. (2) In the realisation of spiritual pri"ilege (cf. 1 Cor. ii. 12). (3) In the use of our rights. (4) We shall "come" more perfectly at death. Hene&- III. THE C01''TRAST IN PRIVILEGE. 1. In the characrer of the privilege. In Israel's ca.-,c, the privilege was of so awful a kind, that the sense of privilege was well-nigh swallowed up in the terror which the scene inspired. How different with believers ! Their approach to this spiritual mount is solemnising indeed, yet joyful. They have boldness in drawing nigh by the blood of Christ. 2. ln the iugre,e of the privilege. The Israelites were not permitted to ascend, or even to come near the mount. Bounds were <'rected to keep them back. Did they so much a.s touch it, they would perish. How different the privilege of Christians, who not only ascend this spiritual Mount Sion, but are enrolled as citizens in its heavenly city, and have boldness to enter the holiest of all in their approaches to the throne of grace (Heb. iv. 14-16; x. 19-23).-J. 0.
Ver. 17.-Prepare to meet thy God. God's revelation of himself to man is gradual, as man can bear it. [G'f. the way in which a pa11mt reveals himself to his child, Is. xxviii. 11, with stammering lips and a feigned tongue.] Israel bad learnt to know God as a deliverer; must learn to know him further BB a lawgiver and ruler. I. THE SCENE. A long, broad valley. Rocks on each side widening out into a natural amphitheatre. Facing down the valley is a steep, precipitous mountain; grey, streaked with red. The whole scene, not unlike, on a huge scale, that presented by the avenues leading up to the Egyptian temples. It is a place where those accustomed to Egypt 1night expect to meet with God. "Now" probably the people may have _thought," we shall see for ourselves this mysterious Jehovah; he haB brought us to his temple; he will introduce us to his shrine." II. THE MEDIATOR AKD BIB .IIE8SAGE. Israel is enc.amped. Moses ascends the moun- t:t.in (ver. 3). Again God meets with him and sends a message by him to th~ people. .l\otice :-1. Reminder of what he has done for them already (ver. 4). 2. Obedience the coudition of future favour (ver. 5). Fulfil the condition an~ the promise is secure. The eanh itself iE God's temple; if Israel will obey and keep h16 covenant they shall be "a kingdom of priests, and e. holy nation." 3. The answer ~ven (ver. 8). No hesitation, no expression of doubt. The promised blessing so attractive that they are reaay to pro- n,i.sc anything, never doubting their ability to fulfil their promise. It ia easy enough Lo say" I will "-t-he hard thing is to translate it into" I do.''. . III. THE PROMISED INTERVIEW. The people shall be consc10UB of the presenceofthe1r God. Jehovah will publicly attest the authority of his servant. .Notice :-1. 'l'lte pre- paration. God requires it. It is easy for familiarity to br~ irreverence_; and irreve!en<;e iiuun Jew on to low views of the Divine character. Love 1s degraded mto mere kindli• en. ,mi:. 17-1().] TIIE BOOK OF r,:xoom;_
ness; 11n easy-going peoplo believe in 11n easy-going God. See here :-(1) Tho ponple have to prepare themselve.~ for the meeting (ver. 10). (2) The place has to be prepare<!. God reveals himself to prepared people in a prepared place. Why do so few have reve- hitions nowadays'/ Some come to the prepared place, but they omit the personal preparation ; others, even 11fter personal preparation, loso much through neglectin~ the r,repo.red/l11ee. We need to remember Eccles. v. 1, and Heh. x. 25. 2. The reuelat/cm. l'he thir day comes (ver. 16). Storm, sound of trumpet, assembly of people without the camp, trembling, earthquake, intense suspense. "Now surely God will show him- self. Can we endure the sight and live?" At length (ver. 19) "a voice "-cf. Deut. iv. 12; "no similitude, only a voice." For the present it is enough; reverence is the first lesson those whom God has delivered have to learn; "Hallowed be thy Name" is the first petition they are taught to offer. For effect (cf. xx. 18-22) which also teaches th0 object of the revelation. "That his fear may be before your faces that ye sin not." Conclusion. We have learnt many more lessons about God than the Israelites could then learn. Have we not too often slurred over or half-forgotten that first lesson ?
"Let knowledge grow from more to more, But more of reverence in us dwell ; That mind and son!, e.ccording well, May make our music e.s before, But ve.ster. We a.re fools e.nd slight; We mock thee when we do not fear; But help thy foolish ones to bear; Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light."-G