though the wore\ is usod in J<:x. xxvii. 23, supposed t.n have been hdwcen 10,0001. und in the place of tongs, had not been in- 11,U0IJ!. of our money. rcntcd, and were indeed unknown to tue Ver. 40.-Their pattern, which was shewed sncients. thee in the mount. Compare ver. IJ. and the Ver. 39.-0f a talent of pnre gold ■hall he comment nd to,:. It would se-,m from this make it,. Tho candlestick, with all its o.ppur- poBBage that the "po.tterns" were shown t-0 tena!l'hes, was to weigh exactly o. talent of Moses first.. all!! the directions us to the gold. The voJuo of the Hebrew gold talent is making gireu afterwards.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 31--40.-Tlie symbolism of the r.andlestick. The light which illuminated the darkness of the tabernacle can represent nothing but the Holy Spirit of God, which illuminates the dark places of the earth and the recesses of the heart of man. That the light was sevenfold is closely analogous to the representation of the Holy Spirit in the Hevelation of St. John, where there are said to be" seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God" (Rev. iv. 5). lt is generally allowed that these "seven spirits" represent the one indivisible but sevenfold Spirit, who imparts of his sevenfold gifts to men. Seven is, in fact, one of the numbers which express perfection and completeness; and a sevenfold light is merely a light which is full and ample, which irradiates sufficiently e.11 that it is designed to throw light upon. The light from the golden candlestick especially irradiated the opposite wall of the tabernacle where the table of shew-bread was set, showing how the offerings of the natural man require to be steeped in the radiance of the Spirit of God in order to be an acceptable gift to the Almighty. We may see- 1. lN THE PURE GOLD OF THE CANDLESTICK THE SPOTLESS PERFECTIO~ OF Hlll, WHOSE EMBLEM 1B THE INNOCENT DOVE-WHO IB "THE SPIRIT OF l'URITY." The pure light of the refined olive oil, and the pure gold of the candlestick were in harmuny. Both indicated alike the Spirit's awful holiness. Both taught the presence of One, who was "o! purer eyes then to behold iniquity." lf. IN THE SIMPLE YET BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTATION OF ALMOND BUDS, A!.TJ> POME- GRANATES, AND LILIES, WE MAY SEE THE DELIGHT OF THE SPIRIT IN ALL TB~GS LOVELY, SWEET, AND INNOCENT. 'l'he Spirit of God, which, when the earth was first made, " brooded upon the face of the waters" (Gen. i. 2), still tenderly watches over creation, and rejoices in the loveliness spread over it by his own influences. Flowers and fruits are among the most beautiful of created things, and well befit the interior of the sanctuary where God's presence is manifested, whether cunningly carved in stone, or fashioned in metal-work, or, best of all, in their own simple natural fresh- ness. Ill. IN THE SOFT RADIANCE SHED AROUND BY THE CANDLESTICK, WE ll['(J'ST SEE THE ILLUMINATING POWER OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH GIVES LIGHT TO THE WOfil.D. Spiritual gifts, however diverse, are his gifts. "To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing; to another faith ; to another prophecy; to another miracles; to another tongues ; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the self-same Hpirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Cor. xii. 8-11). It is he who "doth our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire." It is he from whom all w!sdom and knowledge, and spiritual illumination are derived. He informs the conscience, guides the reason, quickens the spiritual insight, gives~ discern_mei:i,t between _good ~d evil. Christ is "the liaht of the world," but Christ diffuses his hght by his Spmt. Man's contact is closest with the Third Person of the Trinity, who co=unicates to the soul every good and perfect gift which has come down to it from the Father of liahts. 0 Jllumination is especially his gift; and it is therefore that light and fire are ru ad/l the especial symbols of his presence (Matt. iii. 11; Acts ii. 3, 4; Rev. iv. 5). IV. IN THE SEVENi'OLD LIOHT OF THE SEVEN LAMPS WE JIU.Y SEE THE FULXES8 AND COMJ'LETENESS OF 1'HE ILLUMINATION WHICH THE SPIRIT VOUCHSAFES TO M...l.~. Fulness and completeness in respect to man's needs-not absolute completeness or fulness; for "Now, we sec thruugh a glass darkly," "we know in part only-not a.-; Wt ~ ~ THE IlOOK OF EXODUS. [m. U\'. :Jl-40.
are known." But" his grace is ijUfficient for us." \Ve know all tha.t we need to know -we see all that we need to see. " Full light" and " true knowledge" are for another i;phere; but st1ll, even here, we are privileged to see and know 88 much 88 would be of ad,·antage to us. Inspired messengel'I! have declared to U8 what they ha•c felt ju~tified in c_alling "the whole counsel of God" (Acts xx. 27). We a.re familiarly acq~amted with mysteries, which the very "angels desire to look into'' (1 Pet. i. 12). \ , lN THE PROVISION OF TONG8 AND 8?-."UFF-DISHEB WE HAY l!EE TH.AT THE CO-OPERA- TION OF MAN IS REQUIRED, IF THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIGHT VOUCHSAFED TO Hill IS TO REMAIN UNDIMMED. The lamps of the golden candlestick had to be "dressed" each morning. Perpetual vigila.nce is necessary. Phrases once instinct with power lose their force; and new phrases, adapted to each new generation, have to be coined and circulated. The translation of the word of God in ea.eh country has from time to time to be revised, or an accretion of usage will dim the light of the pure word and oven,hadow it with traditional glosses. Tea.chers must be watchful, that they d~ not suffer the light of their teaching to grow dim; hearers must be watchful, that they do not by their obstinacy refuse to give the l~ht passage into their souls.