HOMILETICS. Ver. lit-Leavened bread was not to be offered on the altar, for a reason before assigned; but, though not offered on the altar? it may_Yet be consecrated to God, not by burning, but by heaving. Thus there are lives which can~ot be wholly devoted to God and his active service and yet can be consecrated to him. Leavened bread was the bread commonly used, ~nd the secular life of a man_ engaged da)ly in th~ occupa- tions of politics or of business, or of labour, may be sanctified, and, bemg sanctified, may be accepted by God as freely and fully as are those directly given up to his especial eervice. Ver. 19.-That which is itself unclean makes whatever it touches ttnclean also. So in the more.I sphere "evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Cor. xv. 33), and "a little leaven' leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor. v. 6), and so with respect to the spread of heresy, "Their word will eat as doth a canker (or gangrene)" (2 Tim. ii. 17). On the other hand that which is itself holy makes that which it touches to be holy (eh. vi. 18). Theref~re, when the H?IY One was ?n the earth, "the '~,hole mul_titude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them (Luke v1. 19); and they" brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of bis garment: and as many as touched were ma.do perfectly whole" (Matt. xiv. 35, 36). Thus the woman with an issue of blood" ea.me behind him and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stan'ched. . . . And when the woman saw that she was not bid, she came trembling, nnd falliog down before him, she declared unto him bef~re all ,,the peop~~ for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately (Luke v111. 44-47). OH. vn.1-38.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 103
Hence, when mankind had fallen in .Adam, for the restoration of the race a new Head was found in Christ Jesus, into whom ea.eh person is baptized, and by a mystical contact with whom he me.y be sanctified. Ver. 25.-To eat of the fat of which men offer an offering made with fire unto the Lord, is to rob God of his chosen offering. The injunction condemns sacrilege in all its forms. Whoever takes to his own use things dedicated to God, " eats the fat ; " and" the soul that eateth it sha.11 be cut off from his people." Ver. 34.-The wave breast and the heave shoulder were to be the priests', as well a.s the meat offering (ver. 10) and other portions. Thus is taught the lesson enforced by St. Paul (1 Cor. ix. 13, 14), "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." The adequate maintenance of the Levitical priesthood was carefully provided for under the old dispensation by means of offerings and of tithes; and "the labourer is worthy of his hire" (Luke x. 7), and "let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things" (Gal. vi 6), are principles of the new dispensation likewise.
HOMILIES BY V .A.RIOUS AUTHORS. Ministerial aupport. Ch. vii. ; cf. 1 Cor. ix. 13 ; x. 18. We have in this chapter a detailed account of the disposal of the offerings already referred to. The leading idea of the passage is the perquisites of the priests, and the Christian counterpart of this is ministerial support. And in this connection let us observe- I. IN ALL THE OFFERINGS THE FIRST CONCERN WAS TO ALLOCATE TO GOD BlllSELF BIB DUE, In particular he had appropriated to his own use, that is, to manifest atonement, the blood of all the sacrifices; and consequently it was never to be eaten, for this would be a profane use of such a sacred thing (vers. 26, 27). It is only when we come to the realities out of the types and shadows, that we find Jesus declaring, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; a.nd I will raise him up at the last da.y. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed" (J9hn vi. 64, 55). Atoning blood can only be partaken of by faith. Moreover, the Lord appropriated the fat-the large amount of suet about the animal-which was absolutely neces!<llry to feed the fire. 'l'his was to be devoted, therefore, to this sacred use and withdrawn from all profane use. There were other portions, such as the sheep's ta.il, the kidneys, and the caul above the liver, which were burnod always on the nlta.r as God's portion. The general principle, therefore, is plain of first giving unto God his due. Now, in this particular question of ministerial support, it is with this idea of steward- ship unto God that we must begin. Men must first realize their obligation to God above before they will do justly by his ministers. 'l'he human obligation is best enforced by emphasizing the Divine. If men give God his due, if they are faithful stewards unto him, if they keep zealously the first table of the Law, 1hey will not wrong their neighbours by disregarding the second table; above all, they will not wrong God's ministers. II. AFTER GoD's PORTIONS WERE DEDICATED, THE BEST OF 'l'HE BESIDU.11: DECAME THE PRIESTS'. In some cases the priest got the whole; for example, in a privnte sin offering or trespass offering, and when, as in the peace offerings, the remainder was she.red with the person presrnting the sacrifice, the priest's portion was always the best. The wa.ve breast and the heave leg, the "choice cuts," as we would now call them, of the carcase, were assigned to the priests. In fact, there is peculiar generosity enjoined in supporting the officers of God. There is a fashion in a business age of regarding the minister very much as an ecclesia.stical tradesman, who is to be dealt with on business principles; that is, as much work is to be got out of him 11S possible for the minimum of pa.y. 'l'he sooner such poor notions cease, the better for the cause of God. ".And we beseech you, brethren," lOl THE BOOK or :tEVITICtlS. to1r, vu. 1-38.