The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 97

at the altar, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings." The abiding sacrifice, on the abiding altar, with the abiding fire, receives the occasional offering of the individual worshipper. Here is the great truth of an abiding merit, an ever-living intercession set forth. I. God, by his grace, has provided for us THE TRUE METHOD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS A.ND ACCEPTANCE, 1. The superiority of Christ's sacrifice to all other-because of his person, his active and passive obedience, his declared acceptance by his baptism, trans- figuration, resurrection, ascension. 2. The simple work of faith, in layina the offering on the ashes of the burnt sacrifice, in attaching the imperfect obedience of man to the infinite merit of Christ. A peace offering in the highest sense when we thus lay all upon the altar of the true mediation. The fire consuming denoted acceptance. God, in Christ, declares himself not only well pleased in his beloved Son, but in e.11 who spiritually are identified with him. The lesser burnt offering is absorbed into the greater and abiding burnt offering, onr obedience in Christ's. IL Thus is set forth THE TRUE ORDER OF THE ETHIOAL LIFE. The lesser sacrifice t1,pon the greater. The peace offering on the burnt offering. 1. Common mistake to attempt t-0 reverse this order. Man supposes himself capable of building up merit by moral acts. God teaches him that all ethical worth must rest upon religious complete- ness. The relation between God and man must be true and perfect, otherwise morality is not rral, but only disguised selfishness. 2. The offering up of human life in activity, in suffering, cannot be peace offering unless it be religious. We want the greatest motive to actuate and sustain. We seem to waste our offering unless we can see it in ats relation with God's work, with a redeemed and renewed world. 3. The sweetness -of life is a return into our own hearts of what the Lord hath found delightful. The -"sweet savour" of a consecrated obedience pervades the whole existence, and makes it cfragrant both to ourselves and others. Wonderful transmuting power of religion in ~iving value to the apparently worthless in human character, and beauty to the com- monest, and nobleness to the humblest; the whole garment of sanctity covering the lllative imperfections. Yet no sweet savour without fire. 'l'here must be the reality of a spiritual life-the power of God, not the mere form and appearance of the offering.-R. Vers. 6--16.-Varieties in the offerings-'Unity in the sacrifice. Whether from the herd or from the flock, an offering of larger or smaller value, the same principle applies -the unblemished gift, the separation of the fat and of the blood, the observance of .all prescri beJ order and detail I. Here is the TilUE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Obedience according to ability, "doing the will of God from the heart." The vatiety which is necessitated in God's children by -their different capabilities and circumstances is not displeasing to him. If we cannot bring an offering from the herd, then from the flock; if not a sheep, then a lamb; if neither, then the will for the deed. Yet all can do something. " Unto every one of -us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ" (Eph. iv. and l Cor. xii.). IL II ere is the secret of BOOIAL PEACE AND B'l'RENGTH-the only true equality ; God's altar bringing to;;ether rich and poor, high and low. All, offering what they can to him, find out each other's nearness and worth. In the house of God the poor man may be a higher servant of the sal!ctuary than the rich. Society rests on religion as its basis, Mistake of philosophy, wbicli gives us not brotherhood but altruism-not family life but mere expediency. The tnie conception of a State is every one having a place, and every one in his place. None but the religious view, which makes the altar of God the centre, really effects this union of the individual interest with that of the community. The true mother does not despise the sickly child. Philosophy exalts the great and depresses the little. Religion humbles the great and exalts the low. The revelation is to babes. The offering is accepted from the weakest hands. All are one in Christ. The perfect Sacrifice blends all togetber.-R. en. IV. 1-35.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.