011' THE BEANS EMPLOYED. 1. Distinguish between the rite itself and its fulfilment. M1m anoints with oil, God with the Spirit. The two baptisms with water and with ths Holy Ghost. 2. Special responsibility of those in office for the possession of spiritual power. We must not worship our own nets. They are nothing if not successful. By their fruits the living trees will be known. 3. God will be inquired of to bestow his grace; the anointing by his commandment was a renewal of his promise to bestow his gifts when they are asked. It was a covenant ceremony, and represented a covenant life. 4. Spiritual men engaged in the fulfilment of spiritual duties will, a.~ much as possible, separate themselves from all earthly entanglements and incumbrances. The oil was poured on the head of the priest, and flowed downwards to the skirts of his garments, to signify that he must be totally possessed by the claims of his office, and endowed in every energy and act by the bestowment of the Spirit. What an encourage- ment to holiness, and at the same time what an incentive to prayer! We are kings and priests. If we forget our anointing, we not only lose our priestly purity, but our princely power over the world. A degraded priesthood the curse of the Church and the plague of mankind. A revived ministry the hope of the future. " Brethren, pray for us." "Ye have an unction from the Holy One."-R. Vers. 13-36.-The sacrifires of consecration. Aaron and his sons. Holy week of separation. "So Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses." Moses, the mediator of the covenant, consecrated those who should afterwards fulfil the functions of the sanctuary. The order of the sacrifices was: 1. The sin offering. 2. The burnt offering. 3. The peace offering. Or (1) expiation, (2) obedience, (3) acceptance-the three great facts of the covenant life of God's people. That all these should be included in the consecration of the priesthood betokened the entire subordination of that mere temporary mediation to the fundamental relation between God and man. No priest was between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of men in any other sense than as a servant of that covenant which came out of the free grace of God. Here there is- L THE TRUE RABIB OF BELI0ION set forth. It rests on (1) the universal neeusity of man, and (2) the universality of Divine grace. Illustrate from history of man's reli- gions how this basis has been ignored. Priesthood raised above people as though holy in themselves. Favouritism in heaven the exciting motive to sacrifices. Merit in man the measure of peace. II. The typical significance of the Mosaic economy pointing to the PERFECTION OIi' '1'HE DIVINE PROVISION FOR HUMAN SALVATION. All the priests, Aaron and his sons, are sinful, and require sacrifices of atonement. Their confession of imperfection was itself an appeal to God to supply the sinless priest, the perfect service, the everlasting medi- ation. Jesus Christ the High Priest. 1. His official pe,fection, arising out of his personal dignity as Son of God, and yet able to sympathize with those for whom he intercedes as Son of man. Spotless purity and perfect obedience could alone sRtisfy the require:nents of a perfect Law. 2. Our faith in Christ sees in him not only a priestly Person, but a Sacrifice actually offered. 'l'he true sacrificial work of Christ was not merely his humiliation in living a human lifo, but his death on the cross, which was supremely the offering up of his blood, his life, as a true substitution for man. The death of the victim was a necessary part of the ceremony. Thus our High Priest must enter the holiest with blood, and no blood but his own could represent the whole humanity of man offered up-no sufferings but his could express perfect fulfilment of the Father's will. 3. The priesthood of Christ secures our acceptance, ana mak.,. l'Ur religiO'Ull life liberty, not bondage.-R.
EXPOSITION. seven days of ooneeoration being now over, CHAPTER IX. Aaron for the first time offers a sin offering Tm l'DIST PRIESTLY AOTS OF AARON AND and burnt offoring for himself, and a sin offer- ing, a burnt offering, a peace offering, o.nd a ms SONS are recounted in the chapter follow- meat offering for the congregntion. He is ing that whioh narrates their consecration. still instructed by Moses as to what he is Vera. 1-6.-0n the eighth day. The to do, but it is throu,::h him tho.t the oom- 138 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [cH. IX. 1-24.