nevertheless found treating great realities of holiness with indifference if not with con- tempt. Hem~mber with what profaning hands the Holy One of God was abnse<l; he who spake concerning the temple of his body; he who was holy, not by any ruero asso- ciation, not for the purposes of some temporary economy, but essentially holy. Are there not those who, thoughtless enough of all the evil they are doing, crucify the S011 of Godo.fresh, o.nd put him to an open shame? (Heb. vi. 6.) Who.t a fenrful outlook is Indicated for those who trel\d underfoot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant, wherewith they are s11nctified, an unholy thing, and do despite unto the spirit of gmce I (Heb. x. 29.) The very s11me thing may in one way be hallowed, am'. in another be desecro.ted. '.f'here is a great semblance of hallowing in the huge family Bibles so often seen in English houses, rich, and not unfrequently tawdry, in their bind- ing o.nd gilding ; but after e.11 they may only be there as part of a reputation for respect- ability. The true hallowing is in the dog's-eared, well-worn book, poorly printed it may be, and on co=on paper, and with that indefinable appearance about it which tells of constant use. It is only too easy a thing to put superstition in the place of an intelligent, diligent, profound, and practical reverence. Even Christians are strangely negligent concerning the holiness inherent in them if they are really born again. Very unobservant are they of the persistent references in the New Testament to the holiness of a Christian's personality. How much is done, as a matter of course, that is inconsistent, yea, scarcely compatible with being, indeed, a living sacrifice !-Y. Vers. 1-33.-Thc tabernacle set up. The sanctuary did not take long in making. When hearts are willing, gifts liberal, and hands active, work is soon accomplished. Everything was ready by the first day of the new year after leaving Egypt. 'l'he new year wa.s inaugurated by the setting up of the finished dwelling. How suitable an employment for the new year, to consecrate our hearts anew as dwelling-places for Jehovah l The section conveys lessons 88 to-- I. ORDER IN THE SANCTUARY. Every thing W88 done with order and deliberation. " Set the bread in O'l'der" (vers. 4, 23). " Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. xv. 40). II. BEAUTY IN THE SANCTUARY. God's house, when completed, was a beautiful, house. er. Is. lx. 13. ill. HoLINESs IN THE SANCTUARY. The place was holy. Moses consecrated it by anointing (vers. 9--12). Those who served in it were to be holy. Thie is signified by the wearing of" holy garments" (ver. 13), and by w88hing in the laver (ver. 31). Holiness becomes God's house (Ps. xciii. 5). His servants are to serve him in " beauties of holiness " (Ps. ex. 3). IV. WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY. Moses set the bread in order on the table, lighted the lamps, burnt incense, etc. He offered burnt offerings and meat offerings on the altar (ver. 39). The tabernacle was a picture Gospel.--J. 0. Ver. 33.-The twoftnuhings. "So Moses finished the work." Cf. eh. xxxix. 32-" Thus was e.11 the work of the tabernacle finished." View the tabernacle as a type of the spiritual house-the Church. This tabernacle is being made. A time is coming when, in a more special sense, it will be reared,-the "day of Christ "-the day of" the mani- festation of the sons of God" (Rom. viii. 19. er. Rev. x:xi. 2, 3). , l. THE TABERNACLE WAS NOT REARED TILL ALL THE LABOURS IN CO:t-"'NECTION WITH THE MAKING OF IT HAD BEEN FINISHED, 1. The tabernacle was made with a view to its being reared. This was the end. So the calling, saving, and perfecting of individuals for the kingdom of God has always reference to their ultimate manifestation with Christ in glory (Rom. viii. 17-26; 2 Cor. iv. 15--18; v. 1-11; Eph. v. 25-28; Phil. i. 6, 10; Col. iii. 1-4, etc.). 2. The labours of making were entirely finished, before tbe rearing was begun. The rearing was but the bringing into visibility of an already finished work. (1) All the parts of the tabernacle were made. (2) All the furniture of the tl\bernacle was made. (3) The dress of the servants of the tabernacle was made. Not till all this was done was the co=lmd given to rear. So the day of the manifestatiou of believers will not arrive till e.11 labours preparatory to the setting up of the king~ dom of God in glory have been concluded. The Gospel preached through all the world l::XUIJU~-lL 2 D 4,12 'l'TTE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. XL. 31-:18.
(Matt. xxiv. 14.), the "elect" (vcr. :;l) g11,t.hered in, the l&st soul Mvecl, believers r::rnctified. ,,.,.cry " living Htone" (1 Pet. ii. 4) shaped a.nd fR.Shioned for the place it is ultimate]~- to occl.i.py m the heavenly building, etc. 3. These labours having been con- cluded, the rearing was proceeded with witho..,,t delay. The rearing included (1) the put.ting 0f the parts of the tabemR.Cle together. (2) The arrangement of its furniture. (a) The ordering of its service. So, whl'lll once the prep11Tiltory labours in connection with the kingdom of God ha.ve been finished, no time will be lost in setting It up in its final glory. Christ will 11ppee.r, e.nd his people will 11.ppee.r with him (Col. iii. 4). He and they will be glorified together (Rom. viii. 17). 4. The roaring of the taber- nacle was the setting of it in 'Visible glory before the eyes of the Israelites. So will Christ come to he "glorified in his se.ints, and e.dmired in 11.ll them the.t believe" (2 Thess. i. 10). 5. The rearing of the tabernacle completed the prepa.re.tion of it WI a iranct,,ary .for Jehovah. The ea.me will be true of the glorification of the Church (Rev. xxi. 3, 4). II. THE TABERNACLE, HADE BY THE PEOPl,E, WAS REARED DY MOSES. 1. Christ admits us to be fellow-workers with himself in the "labours of his Church. These are carried on by human agency (2 Cor. vi. 1). 2. He a.lone ha.s to do with the glorification of his Church. Ill. WIIEK THE TABERNACLE WAS BEARED,IT WAS FOUND THAT NOTHING WAS WANTING TO rrs PERF&orION AS A BANOTUARY. So will the glorification of the Church make manifest the beauty, symmetry, complet.eness, a.nd perfection of tHe spiritual structure. It will be found to be " e. gloriollll Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or nny such thing" (Eph. v. 27); complete as 11. place of habitation for Jehove.h; a unity, and a perfect one.-J. 0.