HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 12-18.-MOBeS ascends the mount. Observe, 1. He alone ascends (ver. 12). Aaron and his sons, with the seventy elders, were left behind. Their privilege was great as compared with the.t of the body of the people. Yet even they are not per- mitted to enter the cloud-to draw nigh into God's immediate presence. The limitations and imperfections of the legal economy a.re stamped on these arrangements. How superior the ste.nding of Christians, who are all permitted to dre.w nigh; who luwe now the privilege, formerly posses8ed only by Moses, of beholding with unveiled face the Divine glory in the ecstasy of immediate vision (2 Cor. iii. 18). 2. The design of this ascei:.ding wa.~ primarily to recei,ve the •tone tabfrs (ver. 12). These were to be written by God's own finger. God took every pains to impress upon the n;.:.nds of the people that the law they ha.d to deal with was his law. Its perpetuity was symbolised by the rock te.blets. 3. Moses made arrangements for the cond,V,Ct of bu.siness in his absence (ver. 14). His e.bsence would be e. trial of the faith and disposition of all parties. 4. T!tefire stiJ,l burned on the summit of the mount (vers. 16, 17). This, not- withstanding the vision of ver. 10. The eoonomy was outwardly and characteristically one of law; interiorly, one of grace. Even Moses had to wait seven days for the sunimons (ver. 16).~. U. Mose.s· sojourn with God the type of Chrisfs. I. THE MEDIATOR: MosEs THE TYPE OF JESUS. He must needs pass up into God's presence: "Come up to me . . . and be there." It is there, in communion with God, that gifts are received for men. The power and blessing we now receive there, are prophecies of the power and glory with which Jesus will come again. 2. He must pass up to receive the law ana command- ments which God had written. Jesus will return with the perfected will of the Father. 3. The days of seclusion a.re numbered. Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. We know not how many or few they be ; but each hour the coming of the Lord draws nearer. II. THE ATTITUDE OF Gon's PEOPLE MEANWHILE. They tarry for the Mediator·: "tarry ye here for us until we come again un.to you." The attitude of the Churches to-day should be confident, joyous e1pecte.tion: "this same Jesl.lll will in like manner come again." 2. They e.re ministered unto by those who tarry with them (ver. 14). (1) The blessing bestowed in these temporary leaders. (2) Their responsibility: let them not be leaders or helpers to the people in their idolatry, as Aaron. HI. THE VISION GRANTED THEIL The mountain is covered with clouds; but from tlu-. mountain top flames out the glory of the Lord. The eye cannot follow him who has entered within the veil; but we can behold the glory of the Lord, and know that eve.ry wqrd of God wil be fulfilled.-TJ. en. nv. 1-7.) TUE BOOK OF RXODUR.
SECTION XV.-CHAPTERS XXV.-XXXl. !NSTI\UOTJONB CONCERNING THE TAllERNACJ,F, AND ITS FURNITUR!r., 11,r,1,uon.r; Tlllr. PR!EBTl,Y AT1'1RE.
EXPOSITION.