HOMILETICS. ,<'rs. 1---37.-The 00fl.BeCration of the first Hi,gh Prieat. AR.rOn may be viewed R8 l'ither (1) a type of Christ, or (2) a pattern to all ministel'!I who shall come after him. I. A~ A 'l'¥PE OF CHRIST, he typifies especially Christ's priestly character. (1) Christ "glorified not himself to be me.de an high priest" (Heb. v. 6), but WM appoinieJ. by his Father, when he sware to him," 'l'hou art a priest for ever after the order of Mel- chizedek '' (PH. ex. 4). So AR.rOn took not thi, honour of the high priesthood t.o himself (Heb. v. 4), but was chosen by God (Ex. xxviii. 1---38), and invested with his office by Mose~ (Lev. Yiii. 6---36). (2) Christ wa.s "the Messiah "-the anointed one---&nointed with that profusion and abundance, with which none other ever was or will be-for "God gave not the Spirit unto him by measure" (John iii. 34:). Aaron received the holy oil in profUHion, by pouring. "The precious ointment ra.n down upon his beard" -nay, "went down to the skirts of his clothing" (Ps. cxxxiii. 2). (3) Christ was at once priest and king-" born king of the Jews" (Matt. ii. 2); crucifiec1 as "king of the Jem;" (ih. xxvii. 37); crowned by the soldiers in mockery (ib. 29); founder of an imperishable "kingdom" in reality. Aaron, in his ea.pa.city of priest, wore a diadem, a " holy crown" (Ex. xx.ix. 6 ; Lev. viii. 9), and may thus be regarded as having had cornmi ttl'd to him "a royal priesthood." ( 4) Christ ha.s " a.ll the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid e.wa.y (a,ro,cpv4,°') in him" (Col. ii. 3), and could freely declare the "ill of God to man. Aaron had the precious Urim and Thummim hid away in the folds of his breast-plate, and by their mea.ns could obtain a knowledge of God's will in any practi<'.al matter. Lastly, (5) Christ is the great mediat.or between God and man, the one and only man who can int.eroede for his brethren effectually, who can make real atonement for their sins, and reconcile them to his Father. Aaron's special office was to make continual at.onement for a.ll the sins of the people by such sacrifices as were appointed by the law, t.o int.eroede for his brethren with God continua.Uy, and t.o be a media.tor between them and him, representative of the true mediat.or. II. As A PA'ITERN TO KINISTEBS, Aaron is (1) solemnly called by God and set apart for his high office. (2) Prepared for it by an ablution, which typifies the removal of all impurity. (3) Invested with it by a human authority, viz., Moses. (4) Required on all occasions of its exercise to wear robes of office. (5) Anointed with a. holy oil, typical of the graces of the Holy Spirit. (6) Appointed t.o minister continually before God in the taberna.cle of the congregation. (7) Appointed to resolve doubts by declaring God's will in difficult ca.ses which should be brought before him. (8) Required to bear upon his brow, in the sight of a.ll men, a profession of "Holiness t. the Lord." The official Aaron is thus, in numerous respects, a pattern and example t.o all-even Christian ministers ; but the personal Aaron is, on the contrary, rather a warning. The weakness which allowed the worship of the golden calf, and the presumption which led to "murmuring age.inst Moses" (Num. XL 10---12) indicate a character which, if it had some virtues, had many and very serious defects.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1---38.-The ri,f,es of consecration for the pri,estlwod. The next portion of the Divine directions relates to the formal investiture of Aaron a.nd his sons with the Jiriests' office. This was t.o be made the occasion of a solemn a.nd imposing ceremonial. "The rites of consecration proclaimed the necessity of holiness----a holiness not their own, but imputed to them by the grace of God ; a.nd following upon this, and flowing from the same source, a plentiful endowment of gifts for their sacred office, with the manifetit i;eal of heaven's fellowship and approval" (Fairbairn). We may view the in.augurativc ceremonies a.s having reference-- I. To THE PRIESTHOOD, IN THE 11111l'LE8T IDEA OF IT (vers. 4-10). Aaron and his wus were to be---1. Washed with water-symbol of purification from all uncleannetis (ver. 4). 2. Clothed with the holy garments-which robing was the rea.l installation. Aaron was to be first robed (vers. 6, 7), afterwards his sons (vers. 8, 9). 3. Anointed -;;ymLol of the abundant communication of Divine influences (ver. 7). The anointing w,k place immediately after in,·estiture. See exposition. Nothing could be sim11ler en. XXIX. 38-42.J TUE BOOK OF EXODUS. 2D9