says the apostle, "to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake" (1 Thess. v. 12, 13). If ministers are rightly regarded, the people will feel it to be their duty, as Israel was instructed to do, to give them the best support they can. III. A PROPERLY SUSTAINED PRIESTHOOD WAS IN A POSITION TO EXERCISE FAITHFUL DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH. This ministerial support chapter, as we may properly regard eh. vii., is most particular in debarring the unclean from Church privileges. Whether we are to understand the "cutting off from the people" as death, as the V1;1lgate appea_rs to _do, or a:i 01;1ly excommunication, one thing is certain, that the pnesthood, assigned its true d1gmty and supported accordingly, were thereby encourageJ to be faithful in the exercise of discipline. And this relation of proper ministerial support to Church discipline is most im- portant. It is when the office is degraded in men's minds to a mere profession, and they consequently refuse it adequate support, that they are unwilling to submit to the discipline God's ministry should wield. To the elevation of the office in the eyes of men, and to the consequent increase of its support, all wise members of the Church of Christ should devote their attention.-R. M. E.
Vers. 15-18.-Fidelity to precept enforced. The peace offering was essentially a tribute of gratitude and praise. It was especially suited to national ,festivities and family rejoicings. Cakes and bread accompanied the flesh of the sacrificial animal. Three classes of peace offering are spoken of, viz. for thanksgiving, or for a vow, or as a free-will offering. The flesh must be partaken of by the offerers (the priests having received their portion) and consumed on the first day in the case of the first-mentioned class, and by the close of the second day in the case of the others. The stress laid upon this co=and may set in clear light the obligatoriness of Divine instructions. I. STRICT OBSERVANCE 18 DEMANDED, EVEN THOUGH THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRECEPT BE NOT PERCEIVED, Little explanation is afforded in the Law of the many ceremonies instituted. The Israelites were treated as children, whose chief virtue is unquestioning obedience. Why should the flesh be so quickly consumed? The devout Israelite might not know, yet must he rigidly conform to the order. He is not to reason, but to do. This course may be recommended to the many who wish a full explanation of the reasons for the institution of the ordinances connected with the' Christian Church. Reliance may be placed upon the wisdom of the Divine Legislator, and faith rather than knowledge may glorify God. "The secret things" (the explana- tions, the reasons)" belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which are revealed" (the facts, the commands) " belong unto us for ever, that we may do all the words of the Law." That Jesus Christ has ordained Baptism and the Lord's Supper is sufficient to lead us to practise them, however confused may be our apprehension of the mysteries and principles involved. .And in relation to the counsels addressed to us for the guidance of our lives, and the events that are seen to necessitate certain action upon our parts, it may still be said, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." Il. MoBE LIGHT MAY BE EXPECTED TO DAWN UPON US C01''TINUALLY AS TO THE .MEA.Nn-G OF DIVINE ORDINANCES. Faith is not intended to exclude or supersede knowledge, but to form a basis for it, an avenue through which it may pass to the mind, an appendix by which its volume may be supplemented. Patient and prayerful study is ever rewarded with keener appreciation of the will of God. If the Israelites reflected for a moment, they would call to mind warnings against desecrating holy things, and against treating what was offered to God as if it were a portion of common food. Surely God would distinguish thus between ordinary slaughter and sacrificial victims, and would guard against that additional risk of putrefaction to which flesh is liable in a hot climate, and which, if it occurred, would be an insult to his majesty. For us at any rate the types and ceremonies of Judaism have been interpreted by Christianity. The Great Prophet has revealed the obscure, and, endowed with his Spirit, apostles have been ins1,ired to comment authoritatively upon the prcc_eding dispensaLion. And we need not limit our aspirations after an intelligent perception of the meauing of Christian laws. Events as they occur, and reverent, persevering in- vestigation, may unfold to us with increasing clearness the ways of God, But we ought THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 105